Who's Yo Mama?

Goodbye 2011

2011-12-27T10:28:00.009-10:00

2011 was a momentous year for me in many ways, and as this year comes to end in four more days, I'm reflecting upon the wins and losses & joys and sorrows as I usually do at this time of year.

First--the losses: Four golden-oldie friends crossed over the rainbow this year: Rick, Richard, Brian, and Joyce. Since I have a strong spirit connection with all four, I feel them visit me from time to time. Yet they are missed! Every now and then I still get a jolt when I remember they are no longer here in this 3-D reality!

Probably the most challenging decision for me was closing down my cetacean research & education nonprofit organization which I had founded in 1993. This organization had been a huge part of my life, and many of my ideals and dreams were embedded in it.

However, it was time for me to move on, and although there was no great need to close it down, it simply felt like it was time. This 'knowing' helped assuage my grief and assisted in closure.

Second--the wins: At the tail end of last year, my longtime partner sold his business and retired. His retirement opened the door for much more travel than we had previously been able to do because of his work. And thus 2011 has been a whirlwind of travel, both in the States and abroad.

We have visited every one of his relatives & friends spread out all over the globe, and I managed to squeeze in a few of mine too.

We also visited places on my Bucket List which have been awaiting me for many a year! Assisi Italy had been on this list, and Assisi was as delightful, peaceful and inspiring as I had always imagined it to be. Ever since I saw the film, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" a long, long time ago, I had wished to spend time in and around Assisi. Many of my Assisi photos I've placed on my Flickr site. This photo is a view from our hotel balcony in Assisi.

Since my Bucket List is a long one (as is my partner's), we have lots of travel plans scheduled for 2012. First we're heading off to Cambodia and Vietnam for 27 days. After recuperating at home here in the Islands, we then plan to travel to Panama.

One of the important phases of travel for me is the time to recuperate and process, especially when I've been to very foreign, exotic places. And there's no better place for me to r & r than our beautiful home--specifically my hammock. When the stressors of travel begin to get to me on long journeys, I daydream of my hammock and visualize myself gently rocking in it and listening to the sound of the chimes on the deck and the palm tree fronds gently clacking in the breeze. Ahhhhhhh! Truly, there is nothing quite as wondrous & healing as being home in the Islands! The Hawaiian Islands are more heavenly than any others I've ever visited, and I've been to quite a few.

However, I have high hopes for Moorea, Bora Bora and Tahiti---these islands are on my Bucket List too! :-) Maybe one of these days, I'll make it there too.

Everyone has their favorite Hawaiian Island, and each island has a different energy and response to an individual. For me, it's Mama Maui--she is warm, nurturing, and from the get-go, she wrapped her big old arms around me and gave me a home. I'm so full of gratitude for all the blessings she has brought into my life. Even with the slumping economy, highest gas in the nation and closure of so many wonderful ma & pa stores, Maui is No Ka Oi (Maui Is The Best)!

Since we'll be traveling off & on in 2012, be sure to follow me on Twitter as I'll be posting photos and updates there.

Mele Kalikimaka and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

May 2012 bless you with great health, wisdom, joy, peace, prosperity & courage!

So Very Grateful This Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T16:51:00.012-10:00

As I write this post on Thanksgiving Eve, I'm feeling over-the-top with joy & gratitude for all the multiple blessings bestowed upon my family and me this past year.

We're still living the beach-y life on Maui after my partner's business sale & his retirement. We're having much more time to relax, play, create, and enjoy the NOW!

We're beach-walking, swimming, jacuzzi-ing, meditating, sailing, hanging out with old friends and new, relaxing, attending films & events, traveling, exploring, trying new things, and in general: praising and blessing all we meet.

Here are some photos from a beach walk in South Maui the other day which I finally got around to uploading today.

The first photo was taken from our table at the Five Palms Restaurant looking out to sea. It was early--breakfast--and this is why you don't see the beach chairs full of people. Quite often at this time of year you'll view Humpback Whale activity off shore as you dine here. The Humpbacks arrive sometimes as early as late October, and they get really active in the winter months. This restaurant and beach are often a great viewing place for these whales.

This photo below depicts a yearly ritual of pulling down the coconuts from our coconut trees. I've blogged about this before in previous years. We've had the same people climb, chop and haul away the coconuts from our six tall coconut trees for many years. These guys are fast--in several hours, they're done, and we're relieved our coconut trees have been pruned.
This photo shows the carvings of a famous Maui artist as he works on his latest sculpture of Father Damien. He carved both of these--one is still in progress.
This last photo may gross out some people. It's a fish which caused controversy and remarks from those gathered around this recently speared fish. One lady said that this beautiful fish is protected, and she was quite displeased to see it lying there. Another lady weighed in with her comment that it wasn't even edible, and yet another said that it was quite tasty. It is/was a parrotfish or in the Hawaiian language, an uhu.

Since I've never eaten such a fish, I don't know. All I know was that I felt stunned and saddened to see it lying there. It is such an amazing, beautiful fish to view underwater in it's natural habitat. Now here it was on the cement.

And so the beach-y life goes--the ups and downs. One never knows who you'll meet, what you'll see, and how you'll feel when your Maui day begins and ends. Will you be amazed, elated, relieved, or saddened?

To all my loyal readers who've been waiting for a new post from me, I thank you from my heart!

You're da best!

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours!

Coming Up For Air

2011-11-02T14:33:00.016-10:00

It's been about 2 years since I've posted on this blog, and I've truly enjoyed the time off.

When I first began blogging and told others I blogged, they'd ask me: "what is a blog?"

That's how new blogging was seven years ago!

Now it seems everyone and their dog (and or cat) has a blog!

I juggled many blogs for too many years, and I was burnt out when I slowed down from posting.

However, I have a natural inclination to share news, so I haven't been totally absent from the internet. I still maintain my Stumbleupon blog even though big changes happened to Stumbleupon this October when this blogging platform decided not to be a blogging platform anymore and just a link & review platform. Many outraged Stumblers moved to Tumblr, but I stayed, even though my beautiful violet background is now gone as this is the new format. If you'd like to see some of what interest me, this is the place to go.

And I maintain my daily Tumblr.

My Twitter account (kuanyin) is still being updated as is my Facebook.

Maui has changed a LOT in the seven years since I began posting on this blog. In some ways, not at all. Rampant greed, old methods of cane burn, outsized egos, economic decline, vog, foreclosures, drug problems--they're here. We have it all.

And OH DO WE HAVE BEAUTY! We have starry nights, warm ocean full of dolphins and whales in season, gorgeous beaches, beautiful people of all ages, and ALOHA, lots of aloha!

A number of years ago Lahaina town no longer was allowed to celebrate the yearly Halloween festivities because of a new law. I had been attending this Front Street parade for many years when it closed, and like many others, I was bummed for this was a fun event and one I looked forward to every year with a different creative costume each year.

The Good News is that the party came back this year, 2011. It was called "Back On Front".
And I attended with a friend just like the good ol days!

It was heartwarming to see the Maui community in costume and revelry once again. Despite the economic downturn, the spirit of the community was alive 'n well on Front!

Mahalo to Mayor Mayor Alan Arakawa for bringing back this festive tradition.

As always I took way too many photos, and most of them will probably eventually land on my Flickr page, but until then, here's some of the best of the night:

Alive and Well and Living On Maui

2009-07-30T11:59:00.007-10:00

I'd like to thank all of you who've written me & wondered why I've not been posting. Your concern and lovely words about my blogs and well-being is so kind. I've been derelict in placing a notice here and on my other blogs that I'm ALIVE and WELL, and I apologize for taking so long to notify many who have taken the time to write and inquire.

I've merely been taking a hiatus from blogging.

It's uncertain when I'll resume consistent blogging as many other passions are keeping me busy.

If you want to keep updated about my life, you can read my tweets on my Twitter account by clicking here or my Plurk account by clicking here. I usually find time for these two no matter how busy I am because they're quick and easy.

This past April and May I journeyed with others to China, Tibet, and Nepal. There were many events which transpired on this pilgrimage which prompted me to readjust my priorities upon my return. The above snapshot was taken of me and a fellow pilgrim in a Beijing peony garden.

If you'd like to see more photos from my recent journey, click on my Flickr account here.

From time to time I'll post as Spirit moves me, so please subscribe and this way you'll be notified when I've updated.

In Great Gratitude,

Spring Cleaning Feels So Right

2009-03-23T14:55:00.002-10:00

Whenever the Spring season arrives, I feel the urge to clean and weed everything in sight. And this Spring is no different!

However, this year I've not only been cleaning out old 'stuff' from our home, I've been deleting old computer files, links, emails, and blogs as well. Thus far, two blogs have been laid to rest forever unless the Way Back Machine ever revives them. These two blogs were begun in 2006 with the onset of my blogging passion, and I rarely posted on them in recent years.

I haven't been posting on most of my blogs anyway as other activities have kept me busy.

Releasing old email correspondence and carefully-filed, saved links on the sidebars of our computers has felt so liberating! Truly this is the renewal I've been sensing and awaiting when I posted on Feb. 3, 2009.

Cleaning out clutter and organizing for others could be a career option for me as it brings me such satisfaction--a natural high!

Next month I'll begin a three month retreat, and when I leave, I'm gonna feel so much lighter!

The most challenging to part with are my beloved books--doing so requires sifting through them since these books have been such a big part of my life. Some of these books have been written by cherished friends and inscribed with lovely words, and thus, they hold wonderful memories. Some books I've held onto since my early twenties, and one still has the chewed edge from my former cockapoo pooch. This chewed edge means a lot to me because whenever I see it, I remember this darling dog.

And back to spring cleaning I go--there's still so much to do!

Letters To Editors

2009-03-13T10:50:00.004-10:00

I'm a big fan of Letters To Editors and of those who speak their mind in public ways. Before blogging came along, 'letters to editors' were my favorite newspaper reading because of much of the truth contained therein. These letters are more passionate and unfiltered than regular news. I honor those who fire off a letter.

My partner loves the Sports section of the newspaper, and my daughter has a fascination with Classified Ads. But I'm a "l-to-e" gal all the way. I just finished reading my daily Maui News letters online which is where I read the letters now.

I recognize many of the names writing these letters as well as many of the names making the news. This is what happens when you've lived a long time in one place.

Thus far, I've yet to write an impassioned letter to an editor. In fact, I've only written one letter of complaint in my life, and this was to Delta Airlines for which I received an apology form letter. Needless to say, we rarely fly Delta anymore. Not that we're holding a grudge against Delta because this situation was just one instance of crappy service, but we generally prefer the services of other airlines, and we've developed our favorite airlines through the years. I sure wish Virgin Airlines would fly to Hawaii.

Check out all the sweet offerings Virgin America offers to their customers here.

It's my belief that in future times, customer service will absolutely be paramount. Public opinion will count. Consumers will direct the markets.

In the meantime, I respect all of you who make your voices heard.

Miracles

2009-03-03T10:55:00.003-10:00

Recently our cable has been non-functioning, and since we have both our home phone and internet connected by Oceanic Cable, we've been unable to receive phone calls or get on on the Internet.

Since I'm more than a little *addicted* to my correspondence with others, I'm using my notebook at another location to get online.

Today is FINALLY the day the repairman from the cable company is due to arrive, even though we had been told by Oceanic representatives that it would be yesterday!

So I was awoken this morning by my family with their excitement over the morning miracle. My partner, B., had a doctor's appointment--a very, important appointment which he had re-arranged his day for.

Whilst I was still sleeping, they both heard our home phone ring! Even though the message machine didn't come on because the phone isn't working, we were able to see who called and trace the call. He called the number and discovered his appointment had been changed to another day because of an emergency from the doctor. Knowing this, B. could then change his plans and not waste a drive to the doctor's office!

This is just another example of what we call our "angels" working on our behalf in mysterious and unknown ways. These angels perform miracles!

Maui At The Crossroads

2009-02-23T17:12:00.007-10:00

Photo: Kuanyin

Even though there has been a downturn in Maui's economy, we don't sit around and talk about this recession most of the time. What good would it do? It is what it is.

Of course, every now and then we question when the next shoe will drop or business to fold.

But for the most part, we marvel at how lucky we are to live on Maui! For richer or poorer, this is home! New technologies and new methods of earning monies will be born from the changes. People will become resourceful in creating jobs for themselves. Maui is STILL one stop short of Heaven on Earth.

Not everyone is hurting here.

Some business's and people are flourishing.

For example, a friend told me today about her friend's bamboo business in Kipahulu which is doing well, the Whispering Winds Bamboo company. The first crop of bamboo is ready for harvest, and they will be featured on the Discovery Network's Planet Green. You can read more about them here.

IMHO, it would be much better if the ban on vacation rentals in private homes would be lifted. It would be much better for marriage celebrants to NOT pay a fee for beach weddings. It would be a great idea for commercial landlords to lower their leases. Professionals should be able to work out of their homes. Perhaps these changes will come about if the times become hard enough, and those in charge begin to feel the pain. Long range planning should begin now, or else Maui may become a ghost town like Las Vegas.

For tourists there's not been a better time (in my lifetime) to get great hotel rates and fares. So c'mon over! The whales are abundant. Prices are lower. The ocean is inviting, and everyone will be happy to see you!

More of our friends arrive next week-- every year like the Humpback Whales they return. They rent the same condo year after year, and judging from their emails, they can't wait to get back here. Returning to Maui is like winning a fabulous prize or passing Go!

We hear the harsh stories of life on the Mainland from others, and we give thanks every day we live here!

Staying Calm In A Speeded-Up World

2009-02-17T10:45:00.004-10:00

Each of us has a gadzillion things to do these days. Most likely nobody in history has ever been busier or more overwhelmed than we are. Not only do we have information overload, we are are required to work harder than ever before to maintain our lifestyles.

Do you remember the days when the pace wasn't so hectic? That time seems so very long ago. When I visited a girlfriend this year who was totally tech-phobic, she said she wished we could all go back to the '40's and '50's before technology invaded our lives. Probably a lot of people feel like that. But I'm not one of them.

I love I can take a photo with my phone and have it posted on a blog right away!

I love I can communicate with people around the world so easily and quickly.

I love I can DVR television shows, watch them later, and then miss the tiring commercials! The other night as we watched television the 'regular' way, my partner counted ten commercials between each segment of the show we were watching. We both grumbled because we're spoiled by technology.

As you may have surmised, I'm kept very busy by family, creativity, friends, commitments of all kinds and more. You're probably in the same boat. I'm amazed anyone has any time at all to read blogs, and I'm always pleasantly surprised when I see a comment on one of my blogs.

So what keeps me carrying-on without losing it? How do I remain *mostly* stress-free with so much going on?

Here are some of my methods:

I take time-out between tasks to meditate...I lie down and use my chi machine which pleasantly rocks oxygen into my system and relaxes me...I find time to jacuzzi...I prioritize...I delegate whenever I possibly can...I exercise even it's for only fifteen minutes. Sometimes I take a cat-nap if I can fit it in. I'm a big believer in cat naps. I've learned to say no.

What are your methods for staying sane and calm?

Waiting For Renewal

2009-02-03T13:36:00.005-10:00

It's a blustery, stormy day on Maui. I sit here in front of my computer and read the news of what is happening elsewhere and feel very grateful.

I'm sure those in Europe, the Midwest, and the Northeast are pretty much fed-up with winter already. The ice storms have caused so much misery, and the thought of being stuck without power in freezing weather as are so many is a horrifying one to me.

The economic fallout continues as the greedy ones want more, more, more, and the rest of us simply try to hold onto our jobs, our homes, our pensions, and abilities to care for our loved ones.

On Maui the economic situation is very bad since we depend upon tourism, and without tourists, everyone on Maui suffers. Many business's have closed, and others are hanging on week to week.

I still hold the dream and promise of peace, even as I observe the banksters and others still spending millions of dollars on luxuries, government currencies becoming worthless, the Gaza atrocities continuing, the poor and hungry getting poorer and hungrier, and the bailout going to those who have hoarded it. Sometimes it's hard to see the justice.

Like everyone else, I ask: where has ALL the money gone? Did it end up in a vault somewhere? Is there a way to fast forward through all the hijinks and craziness so that everyone has enough?

I'm dreaming of a time when Spring has returned and everything is blooming and stirring again for everyone and when the world awakens from the nightmare.

My photo above speaks to this dream: these tiny pink roses bloomed for a long time, and then one by one, the roses fell. I moved the plant outdoors to be nourished by the sun and rain six months ago.

And this week I was overjoyed to see the roses blooming again.

May everything come up roses for everyone! May all be delivered from the old paradigm and remember what it's like to live without fear, worry, grief, and sadness!

I'm so ready. And you?

Testing Myself

2009-01-29T17:46:00.007-10:00

Through my blogging/online/cyber explorations, I've tried many an application and new *whatever* that's happening online. Curiosity and being an early adopter keeps me young I tell myself.

And this "tech-me" is always challenged and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d!

Nothing ever comes easy--does it?

Take today, for example:

I signed up for the beta Skitch *amongst other new online 'toys' I've experimented with today*.

And I tested to see if it would work for me...but NO! Back to the drawing board....or is it that Windows hasn't approved it yet? The mysteries of cyberspace are daunting. No wonder so many people are Luddites. I actually KNOW people would who prefer to go back to the '50's!

And on some days, I can't blame them.

The people who don't mess around with computers and the latest trendy thing seem perfectly content.

But our paths have separated. It's not that I'm discontent. It's more like I want to explore and see what's new.

P.S. The illustration above is my Manga which I created last year, and which I guarantee you 99.99 percent of my friends are clueless.

Wassup on Maui

2009-01-27T14:48:00.007-10:00

*Photo taken by me of the Chinese New Year celebration at the Maui Mall*

Recently I posted on one of my microblogs that I hadn't been blogging lately. And someone wrote back to me, "Blogging is for the zealous."

This comment caught my imagination and attention, and I considered the implications. Had I become a blogging zealot--a "fanatically committed person" in regard to my blogs?

Perhaps it was time to take a longer blog vacation?! After all, I've been blogging for FIVE YEARS, way before most people even knew the word 'blogging'!

And so if you've wondered why I haven't posted here for awhile, this is why: I've been enjoying my blog vacation! I've been able to catch-up on much needed business, creative projects, and exercise. I still make daily posts on Wailea Daily Photo, Twitter, and Plurk. Please feel free to follow me on my Twitter.

Many inquire of me what's happening here on Maui, so I'll fill you in:

1. The Maui economy is hurting, and thus, there are many great deals on room rates at hotels and resorts if you're considering a vacation now.
2. Despite the down-turn in the Islands, there STILL seems to be many vacationing here and swarming the restaurants. Some of our old favorite restaurants have closed such as Manana Garage, and we're hoping some of our other favorite Maui eateries will survive.
3. We've had our fair share of rain this year, and according to my partner who has lived here twenty five years, he has never seen Maui this green.
4. Modified Prius electric cars are now being driven on Maui--three of them!
5. Rentals are in abundance, and prices are lower as is real estate. Jobs are scarcer. Some employees at a major resort are working every OTHER day.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

My Wordle Of The Day

2009-01-20T12:01:00.003-10:00

Click on the above Wordle to see it in larger size. And if you'd like to see the Obama Speech Wordle, click on the link.

I'm still so overcome with emotion about the Inauguration. Our family all cried as we watched the Inaugural events on tv.

Oh Happy Day!

Inaugural Fever Is In The Air

2009-01-19T17:51:00.009-10:00

Photo: Charles Pfeil

Can you feel the Inaugural Fever?

I sure can! The excitement about tomorrow's Presidential Inauguration is building and building...it's everywhere--in people's hearts, in conversation, on the net, on tv and radio. This fever is floating through the ethers, and one can't help but catch it.

Never in my lifetime have I felt such a fever or observed others with such fever.

Like millions of people around the world, I'll be joyfully imbibing this historic Washington D.C. event.

From afar...

And yet connected to all by heart strings of hope, faith, and love.

An Evening With Dzongkar Choede Lamas

2009-01-14T08:39:00.010-10:00

Last evening we attended a get-together with the five Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Dzongkar Choede Monastery of Mysore, India who are creating a sand mandala at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center from Jan 13-18th.

This 7-foot-by-7-foot medicine Buddha sand mandala is laid out in ancient Buddhist texts, and you can watch the creation of it online here. If you miss it, you can also watch the archives of the creation by the monks here.

And if you've never heard of sand mandalas and their purpose before, you can read about them here. Here's a snippet from this site: "Mandala, a Sanskrit word for "circle,” is a sacred diagram for the passing on of ancient knowledge in Buddhist text. The creation of sand mandala symbolizes the transience of life and the ideal of non-attachment to the material world. The meditative processes of sand mandala share the symbolisms of ancient teachings and allow participators to allude new meanings. All in all, this collaborative art embraces the unity of creations shared by those whom participate."

Sponsored by Lama Dhondup Gyaltsen of the Tashi Pendey Foundation, the Tibetan Cultural Fair is a yearly event.

The Buddha shown in the photo above (taken by me at last evening's gathering) is over 700 years old, and everyone present last evening had the honor of being blessed by this Buddha when the Buddha was placed briefly on our heads. We were also blessed by ancient relics, some as old as 1300 years old. The lama holding the Buddha is Lama Jampa Sopa, a sand mandala Master.

Dzongkar Choede is a monastic community of 280 monks located near Mysore India.

Once the sand mandala is finished, it will be destroyed, and the millions of grains of dyed sand will be released into the ocean. It's believed that all who see the mandala are blessed. **Since I posted this information this morning, I have since learned that no longer are the grains dispersed into the ocean upon completion of the mandala. Instead, the grains are handed out to the public to be taken home for blessings.***

As well as watching the monks create the sand mandala, the public can view Tibetan arts, crafts, carpets and thangkas from Tibet. The funds raised from this event will help support Tibetans living in exile.

If you'd like to view more photos, click here for more at my Flickr website.

Belated Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T16:52:00.003-10:00

What did I accomplish this past 2008 I asked myself today.

Suddenly it dawned on me that a New Year had finally/absolutely/completely arrived!

After introspection, here's my analysis of accomplishments, failures, and thoughts/feelings about beloved Maui:

1. I came to terms with my *geeky* self in 2008. The geeky self had always been there, but out of deference to my *vain* self who was very aware of image and beauty, she'd stepped back to allow the *vain* me to shine. No more. She's proud to be a geek and maybe even a nerd. She doesn't fear wearing her geek badge anymore, and ya know what...I really like her! She's very smart and shining.

My geekiness overflows in multiple, yet organized online folders, emails, blogs, file cabinets, and bookmarks.

2. The books I've been writing for many years no longer resonate with me! I've outgrown them. Mind you, I'm not deleting the computer files because that part of myself might cycle around again. One never knows. Now these manuscripts feel far too frivolous. Every now and then, I re-read them, and say, "Hey, this is a great story!" And then I happily put them away. and ponder, "Who were you when you wrote these books?" Hah!

3. Over the past year I've dived with passion into social networking and writing with only 140 characters...or is it 160 characters per message? These short twitters, purks, ideas, feelings, links, photos, and thoughts have become my norm--text messaging with many folks from around the world--colorful, funny, creative people.

From Plurk to Twitter to Identi.ca to Facebook to Tumblr to Populus and many others, online people reaching out for connection have touched my heart and taught me so much! Even the ones hustling to make a living and marketing to me touch my heart--maybe them even more so because I feel such compassion for their diligence and industry to survive in these challenging economic times.

I foresee a big future for social networking--a trend which will go more mainstream.

People you'd most likely never meet in real life follow you, and you read each other's words or view their photos.

Who knows how many id's are faked, air-brushed, tweaked or are from someone's younger years. But truth is truth, and their nature is revealed. For example, a cab driver from London followed me on Twitter, and as I read his brief tweets, I touched into a world far from one I've ever experienced. As I read them, I could imagine what it's like to a be a London taxi driver. His words felt authentic and raw and foreign and oh, so touching. I could visualize him waiting for his fares as he twittered away on his 'smart' phone. He didn't post a photo of himself, but I didn't need one to 'get' him.

4. I made some headway with my Flickr account, much of which had to be scanned into my computer from old photographs, a laborious process, and one which I have yet to complete. We've done so much traveling before the digital times, and these stories and photos are fabulous and deserve to be shared.

5. My daughter became a geek like her Mother, and like the cliched duck to water, she's enjoying it almost as much as her mom. Even though I rarely post on my MySpace blog, G. pimped it for me so I'm not totally ashamed. I'm still too embarrassed to link to it. When last I looked, I had twelve friends including my daughter and a sprinkling of famous folks who friend everyone. I convinced G. to join Facebook, and she's done so... and is discovering a different group of friends online. And so it goes. Mother and daughter growing our geekiness together...

6. Maui's leadership continued to disappoint me: first, the stipulation against vacation rentals which caused a lot of hurt to lots of folks who could no longer rent out a room or rooms....then came the fee for beach weddings! I could go on, but the good old Maui I used to love is gone which saddens me. Many people I know are moving to greener pastures like Costa Rica and Panama, and I can't say I blame them. One of the candidates which could have done a lot of good for Maui lost her bid in last year's election. This was a loss for all of us, and I shudder to think what will happen to Maui when such gifted leaders are not given a chance to right the wrongs and light the way. Will Maui become another Oahu?

7. Our family had ONE great adventure when we traveled to the Mainland and then eventually on to South America. Each of us learned a lot about one another and grew through the challenges of traveling in foreign countries, dealing with airlines, people, and unusual situations. Who knows when our family will be able to travel again together again in this lifetime? What a treat it was!

I've not covered everything, but I've got to get a move on for dinner.

Happy New Year!

The Christmas Blur

2008-12-30T15:23:00.004-10:00

The Good News is that we survived another Holiday Season. The Bad News is that the holidays are nearly over...with the countdown to the New Year of 2009 beginning tomorrow.

As is usual for me, the Season is One Big Blur with too much going on and too much disorganization running rampant in our home. Where did I put my receipts? Where did my 'To Do' list go? What was it that I walked into another room for and completely forgot as soon as I got there? Blogs--'oh, I'll get to those later', I b.s. myself.

There are highlights of ever season, and low lights too. Whenever a Christmas card we mailed out is returned to us, we wonder what happened. Did someone move and forget to tell us? Or perhaps pass-on? We then attempt to discover who is still with us in the world of the 'living'. Lots of major changes happened to those we know this past year we have now learned.

Even though we live in tropical South Maui, I've been wishing for a small outdoor fire pit--it's turned chilly here in the evenings! I imagine it would be nice to sit by the fire as I stargaze. That is, when it's not raining which it's been doing a lot of lately.

As I write this post today, the skies are still overcast, and it's been raining off and on for days. I love this time of year--when the rains come--for the pastures and open areas are resplendent with emerald greenery.

I'm hoping the skies clear for the Wailea fireworks on New Year's Eve though. I'd love to see 2009 come-in with lots of razzle and dazzle!

In case I don't return to this blog again and the Blur continues, let me take this opportunity to say: Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!!!

Mele Kalikimaka

2008-12-23T15:26:00.007-10:00

Many people tell me they like to read my posts, but they don't desire to email, comment on my posts, IM, chat or text--they're just not *up* for the wired world. Merely reading online is all they care to do. These are people who send snail mail cards and letters, and we receive their yearly updates during the holiday season.

What sagas, adventures, stories, and milestones we read about in their letters! Some of them merely sign their name, and this is all we did this year--sign our name with maybe a short note. I usually write a long, long letter which I insert into our Christmas cards, but I didn't feel like writing one this year.

Not that anything didn't go on for us-- a whole helluva lot did!

But this year I didn't choose to share the stories online or in a Christmas letter. Some of my Christmas letters in the past have had a *backfire* effect--not everyone is happy for our achievements we've learned from experience.

Fact #1: I only share a smidgen of my life online, and the current transparency trend isn't for me--it may work for some bloggers, but it's not for me. Every time my partner tells me I should post this or that, I tell him, "No Way Jose!" I'm like an iceberg with only a little of me showing above water, and I plan to keep it that way and remain a mystery. It's very different with trusted friends--I'm an open book and a blunt, tell-it-as-I-see-it kind of gal.

Fact #2: I have zero desire to meet online acquaintances in person. On one occasion I did so, but this is rare for me. I prefer to keep my online world separate from my personal world. This may change someday, but right now, this feels comfortable.

Fact #3: Our cat, Anela, has sniffed out the Santa Claus photographed above and deemed him acceptable to live in HER space, and that's saying a lot.

Just in case I'm not back online to wish all of you the Happiest of Holidays, I'll do so now with the beautiful Hawaiian words: Mele Kalikimaka!!!

And for J. Suldog, here's a photo of Kiki, our long-lasting poinsetta plant, which is once again in bloom--she/we send the warmest aloha to your family and fellow, old-timer poinsettia plant. She's still kickin' it as are we!

Catching Up From The Christmas Blur

2008-12-20T09:17:00.005-10:00

Every year I tell myself I will be MORE organized the following Christmas, and every year, the same thing happens: the "To-Do" list keeps me extremely busy!

BUT not to busy to stargaze at night--a delight at this time of year because the nights are cool-ish! At this time I slow down and open myself to 'Presence' and know Peace.

In my last post I wrote about sharing links to blogs and sites I love--even if I don't get around to reading them as often as I'd like.

If you get a chance and are hungry for photos of Maui, bounce on over to my photo blog Wailea Daily Photo where I rarely miss a day posting a Maui photo. Plus I'm usually putting up fun photos on my Flickr page.

Here are some great blogs I relish:

Photography: Barcelona Photoblog

Norweigan Culture, Traditions, and Habits: Terella

Funny Storytelling: Suldog

Travel: Lifecruiser

Cat Stories: My Cats and Funny Stories

Politics, Cats, and other stuff: Maui Girls Meanderings

Happy Holy Days!

A Maui Christmas

2008-12-13T11:03:00.005-10:00

This is one of my favorite times of the year, even though the Christmas Season always keeps me MORE than busy.

Since I've not been blogging as much due to my heavy schedule, I've decided to give you *blog post links* gifts which are well written, entertaining, and informative.

When I'm weary, I'd rather read than write, and thus, I've been doing much more reading lately.

And so it is that I share these links:

The writer, Richard Skaare, of the blog Pocket Change makes some very good points. Click here for the link.

And since there's NOT that many outrageous outdoor Christmas tree lights on Maui as in other places of the world, I share this link with you from Life In The Fast Lane blog.

Just Wanna Hang-out

2008-12-01T15:35:00.006-10:00

Since I had a deep revelation/insight this past week I've been living very much in the present. Thus, I haven't been blogging much, and if I do post on any of my many blogs, my posts are brief---almost texting!

When I was at the beach the other day, I observed children as they played. They were so in-the-moment--the same nowment where I currently reside.

So what have I been up to:

I've been enjoying the cooler temperature of Maui, the beach, and the warm, inviting ocean.

I've been awestruck by the beauty of the Venus, Jupiter, Crescent Moon triangulation in the evening sky.

I've been swooning over the smell of our night blooming jasmine which are blooming.

I've been reading, viewing films, laughing, cooking, eating, emailing, meditating, working-out, shopping, swimming, jacuzzing, dining-out, loving, laughing, sleeping well, taking lots and lots of photos, hanging out with friends and family, and in general, enjoying every moment of my blessed life.

That's it.

That's all, and that's enough.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T09:22:00.010-10:00

Today our family exchanged cards and gathered to express our gratitude for all the wondrous blessings we've received and enjoy on a daily basis. The day began with my 'podner' B creating a beautiful breakfast of cold, ripe, strawberry papaya topped with fresh squeezed lime juice, bananas, and a fruit that tasted like dates.

When I bought these fruits at a farmer's market yesterday, I thought I was purchasing kiwi fruit. However, when B. opened it, the fruit turned out to be a kiwi imposter! We marveled at this fruit and wondered what it is. So if anyone who reads this blog knows what looks like a kiwi fruit but tastes like a date, please offer us some edification via comment.

Here are some photos I took on our cutting board.

Before our BIG Thanksgiving feast tonight with friends, we're exercising to loose a couple of pounds which we're quite sure we'll put on! So I'm going to make this post a short one. :Smile:

And if any of you have the opportunity to catch a film today, I highly recommend "Australia". We saw it yesterday at the Maui Mall Theater Complex--it is a film which will touch your heart!

And for you: I wish you a bountiful Thanksgiving with countless blessings to share.

Vog casts a haze over Maui

2008-11-21T13:02:00.009-10:00

We call it Vog in Hawaii--volcanic smog! And it's been bad this year, very bad.

This Vog is drifting or blowing over from our neighbor island, the Big Island, and it is full of toxic gas, sulfur dioxide, which makes our eyes burn...our noses run...and our throats sore.

Today is the worst day I've seen in a long, long time--check out the photos I shot at the beach. This is what Hawaii looks like some (not all!) of the time. And the vog is increasing--truly, it feels as if we're living in The Twilight Zone.

Thursday Thirteen--Favorite Reads

2008-11-20T07:36:00.005-10:00

Because of a bad 'cold', I've taken some time away (primarily on this blog) to recuperate and heal. I haven't been posting much, except for photos on my photo blogs, a twit here and a plurk or two there. I'm at the tail-end of this 'thing', so soon I should be back to regular posting.

However, I've still enjoyed reading. I share only thirteen of my favorites:

1. Fast Fast Lane
2. Dark Roasted Blend
3. Web Urbanist
4. Gadgettastic
5. Haha nu
6. Buzzfeed
7. Mashable
8. Techotic
9. Treehugger
10. Funnyblogs
11. Inhabitat
12. Grist
13. Mercola

To find out about Thursday Thirteen, click here.

Balancing Rocks As A Hobby

2008-11-09T17:58:00.002-10:00

I wonder why the rock balancing hobby hasn't become popular on Maui.

Looking Back On Palin

2008-11-07T17:41:00.003-10:00

Most people would say it's so...

Tina Fey doing her 'Palin' was certainly NOT a good thing for the Republicans.

It felt icky to me for a woman such as Governor Palin to be mocked in the media.

As a compassionate being, I feel badly when I see another put-down, even if in a humorous way.

This is why I would prefer ANY another other occupation than politics--it's too hurtful, rejecting, humiliating, and mean for my sensitive nature. It takes a being of great courage, thick-skin, resolve, and strong self-esteem to swim in those shark-filled waters.

Palin is an attractive woman with a future to follow.

She has shown her grit. Now we'll watch as she matures in front of our eyes.

What will she do next?

Oh Happy Day!

2008-11-06T10:45:00.003-10:00

I rescued this newspaper from the trashcan--hence, the smudge on one side.

History was made, and this paper is a keeper! Only ONE of my favorites didn't achieve their election bid, and I'm truly sad about this for she would've made a great person to have onboard Maui's team.

Saying Goodbye to The Maui Halloween

2008-11-03T11:06:00.005-10:00

We survived another Halloween on Maui, our 19th! This year offered some surprises.

First of all, Maui County has put the kabosh on the revelry in Lahaina town by not cordoning off the streets as in all the years I've been here. Now the costumed party people can ONLY walk on the sidewalks which is a huge bummer because it's not easy to get around. There were cars and motorcycles on Front Steet, and the sidewalks were jammed. The energy was much more chaotic. And forget the klieg lighting--just awful!

This was the first year I've ever fallen.

Backwards.

On my rear!

I was attempting to take a photograph in the crowd, and when I backed up, I didn't see this!
I'm sure these cones served some useful purpose, but they were my downfall.

A kindly fireman and my daughter pulled me off the ground, and the first thing I checked wasn't my rear but my digital camera. I was happy I fell the way I did because it didn't break!

Whilst I was down on the ground, my partner B looked around and didn't see me. So he surged ahead with the crowd thinking I went that-a-away. Then our group became separated. I had neglected to bring my cell with me, and so we had to track him down.

Lahaina town merchants weren't happy at all with this new rule because they lost money from sales! Once known at the Mardi Gras of the Pacific, the party is not the same, and the new limitations are ruining businesss. There's no more vendors selling food, no more music on stages or in the streets, no more portable toilets, and no more adult costume contest.

Just more police.

And speaking of police, about a block from our home, a police car turned its lights on and pulled my partner B over. He hadn't been drinking, so he passed the breathalizer test and others easily and the cops and him talked sports, but STILL...

The Good Ol Days on Maui are slowly vanishing.

Halloween Cards Make Me Smile

2008-10-31T08:39:00.005-10:00

Our family is one that gives greeting cards for every occasion, and sometimes there doesn't even have to be an occasion because we'll give each other a card for the helluva it.

This morning my partner B handed me a bunch of envelopes, and said,

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Being only partially awake myself, I said, "I get THREE cards this year?"

"No, one of them is for Anela!" (our cat)

You can probably pick out Anela's card from the pile of cards we exchanged today, right?

Yes, we're saps.

But loving saps.

The Krispy Kreme Donut Downfall Day

2008-10-30T09:59:00.009-10:00

With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays around the corner and lots of parties for us to attend, this IS the time I SHOULD be watching my food intake. Right?

This is my plan--attending to my health and waistline.

Krispy Kreme donuts changed this excellent plan yesterday.

First, I noticed a sign for 5 Cents coffee as we drove past Krispy Kreme donuts. I said to my partner B, "Wow, is that ever the sign of the times! Let's go around the block so I can take a photo of that!"

As everyone knows, food and drink are very expensive on Maui, and *anything* for 5 cents is unheard of! I wanted to document this posted sign for posterity.

So B. accommodated me, and we drove around the block. And then B. confessed he had never driven through the KK donut shop. I was astonished. He had been so strict with his healthy eating, and the thought had never occurred to him to wolf down a fattening donut! He didn't even know there was such a thing as drive-through donuts.

It was at this moment I decided we must sample the coffee offered for 5 cents and a donut or two! The coffee was very good as were the fattening donuts.

And that's how we spent nearly $8.

So much for plans!

And it's back to the treadmill today!

Outside My Window

2008-10-27T14:43:00.005-10:00

Lately I've been taking a sabbatical from blogging as some might have noticed.

I've done so for several reasons: health issues, blog burn-out, and a lot of other things calling me.

As I considered today's post, I searched for the word which most summed up my time away from this particular blog. Even though I manage to post on my photo blogs and microblogs on a daily basis, they're fast and easy.

The word 'sabbatical' is a delightful word, and I wish everyone could have the opportunity to take frequent sabbaticals to refresh themselves. Sabbatical sounds so much more glorious than 'leave of absence', does it not?

Here are some examples of my other favorite words:

splendor, aquamarine, and vermillion

Don't ask me why. These words just make me smile. They conjure images for me. And bring me peace and joy just like the photo from my window (above).

Back To The Future

2008-10-21T09:51:00.005-10:00

Today I received an email from my Future Me!

Yes, I had signed up last summer--June 10, 2008-at the Future Me organization and sent an email to myself to be received today. Of course, with my busy life and serious internet/blog addiction, I'd completely forgotten about signing up and sending myself this email.

And how very timely it is!

This is the email:

The following is an e-mail from the past, composed on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, and sent via FutureMe.org
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Dear FutureMe, Congratulations on your Letting-Go project! You have successfully given away lots of old stuff, outworn beliefs, and extra baggage of all kinds. Are you sure you have missed anything? Love...Your Future Self"

---------------------------------------------

When I read this email today and the last sentence, I felt a shiver run down my spine.

And I knew what I still have to let go of and have been dragging my feet because of guilt.

This past week I watched the tv series, "Brothers and Sisters", and the Mother was FINALLY letting go of her dead husband's possessions at her garage sale. She was conflicted with many emotions about this process, and as I was watching the show, I KNEW there were also many 'things' which I had been given from a relative which hadn't been let-go!

The synchronicity of receiving this email today along with the gentle reminder from the tv show tells me I've got to cut through the guilt and find a home for these possessions tucked into closets. I've asked other family members if they want them, and they said ABSOLUTELY NOT, but I want these beautiful, old treasures to find a happy home with people I know. Getting rid of them on E-Bay or a garage sale would make me too sad, and I would end-up in tears like the Mother on the tv show.

All I can say is I'm happy Christmas is on the way.

Go To The Mountain

2008-10-19T11:10:00.004-10:00

Photo: Gen

People from time immemorial have gone to the mountains when they need to re-connect with Spirit and their Inner Selves. And this is what my daughter Gen and I did yesterday when we made the pilgrimage to Haleakala, our sacred Maui mountain.

We took along our cameras. Gen was recently gifted a beautiful new Sony digital camera by my partner B. She absolutely loves it, and she's fallen in love with photography just like her Mother.

Yesterday was a very mystical day on The Mountain. We communed with a gaggle of the state bird of Hawaii, the Nene goose. We drooled over flowers and views, rainbows, and scents of wild, fresh earth and evergreens. We purchased roadside flowers. We shopped at the lovely and charming Kula Market.

And we came home elated, relaxed, and rejuvenated.

Here is another memory of yesterday with another here and here.

Neighbors Who've Moved On

2008-10-17T14:44:00.004-10:00

For a brief period of time we shared the neighborhood with a wise woman. She was wise in many regards, and her specialty was gardening. She was writing a book on the subject of gardening, having taught it for many years both here on Maui and in Alaska.

One day we were standing in front of my home chatting when she looked over at a tree of ours which is in our front yard.

"That tree needs whacking," she said.

Horrified of whacking a tree, I simply raised my eyebrows.

"Yes, can't you see where someone has whacked it before?", she asked me as she pointed out what looked like knife marks on one side of the tree.

I could see them alright, but I never would have imagined someone would be whacking our tree.

"Go outside at night when no one is around with a large knife and give it a couple of good whacks," she counseled me.

I considered doing as she said because this whacking was supposed to help my tree which wasn't then in bloom, but I just couldn't make myself do it.

Then she moved away, and our tree is full of beautiful, red blossoms as in the photo above.

I've wondered if she came over one night and secretly whacked it.

Just as a gesture of love, of course.

Ho Hum--It's Halloween Time Almost

2008-10-15T18:08:00.004-10:00

For over a decade, my partner, friends, family and me have shown up for the annual Lahaina Halloween festivity on Front Street. I think we've only missed two years out of 17....not bad, eh?

Every year we've worn different costumes. This change of costume makes it easier to keep the years straight. If we didn't do so, I fear the years might blend into one another since we basically do the same thing every year: go out to dinner and then walk up and down Front Street and ogle others and stop off at a bar here and there as we stroll back and forth. In the really OLD days, a couple of our friends used to rent a room at the Pioneer Inn, and we'd go up to their room facing Front Street and hang-out on the balcony with them.

There have been fantastic, fun years on Front Street and some dismal years too. One year it rained most of the night.

We've been TRYING to get excited about this year's party, but for some reason we've just can't get excited enough to make a decision about our yearly costumes. The other day I went around and looked at costumes in stores and got even more turned off at the outrageous prices for crummy, polyester costumes.

The last costume my partner wore was a Caesar outfit which I ordered for him online. He made a GREAT Caesar, and that year he was a huge hit with lots of folks wanting their photo with him.

Not only was the costume cool and comfortable, he loved receiving attention! Of course, he will deny this when he reads this post. Hah!

I saw a black t-shirt in one of the stores which read, " This IS my costume", and I momentarily considered this option just for a change. However, that would be cheating myself.

How often do I get a chance to walk around looking slutty and getting away with it? How often do I slap on heavy make-up or crazy clothes and feel good about myself? No, I have to find something wild and crazy to excite me and break these pre-Halloween blahs.

The above photos are from FUN years past! There are many more photos I could post, but I'll wait and show-off our fantastic NEW 2008 looks later here in another post.

And what are you doing for Halloween?

Trampoline Joy

2008-10-07T10:42:00.006-10:00

For a long, long time I've had a trampoline in my life--a mini trampoline. However, for the last year or so, it's only been my partner who has been using it and not me. The trampoline sits outdoors, and my partner does daily morning jumping jacks on it.

The other day I decided it was time for me to get back on the trampoline and move my lymph around, and so I dragged the trampoline indoors, put on a dance music CD and reacquainted myself with the joy of bouncing.

Since my legs are in great shape due to having worn fitness footwear MBT shoes for quite a while, I haven't experienced pain in my legs, but I have had the heavy-breathing experience-- which is exactly what I wanted for my lymph.

Rebounding exercise is supposed to be one of the best exercises you can do. Here's a website with some rebounding tips.

My morning routine has now changed...and instead of spending hours chained to the computer writing and blogging and researching and commenting, now I'm rebounding and dancing.

Most of my friends & family would agree this is a good thing. :Smile:

Vacation Memories

2008-10-04T09:08:00.005-10:00

Since returning from our recent vacation, I've been sifting through our many vacation photos and uploading some of them on my Flickr account. Here's one I haven't uploaded yet (above), and it has a story to accompany it.

While visiting the small village of Vilcabamba, Ecuador, the Vice-President of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, came to visit. Moreno is the one in the wheelchair above, and as you can see, when I took this photo, all of the eyes of security team turned towards me--it was one of those moments when I felt very obvious as a foreigner and tourist. Gulp!

This past Sunday Ecuadoreans ratified the new constitution which will help the poor and the hardworking of Ecuador. Here's a link.

How Magic Happens

2008-10-02T09:43:00.005-10:00

It was in 2007 that my daughter brought my attention to the Interstellar Light Collector. Gen had watched a story on CNN about this device and shared her excitement with me. Since I'm a curious cat and intrigued with the Moon, I went online and googled this invention.

I became excited as something stirred in my memory bank, and I faintly remembered how the Moon was utilized long, long ago.

I then blogged about this amazing invention on my astrology/moon blog Moonlight Becomes Me on Sept. 4, 2007.

Click here to read what I wrote.

Shortly after posting, I received an email from the public relations rep for the Interstellar Light Collector inviting me to visit and interview the inventor of the collector, Richard Chapin.

At that moment I set my intention to find my way to the remote Arizona Sonora Desert location to take her up on the offer and to experience the Moonlight Collector!

And almost exactly a year later--on September 13, 2008--my daughter and I stood on a boom lift in the Arizona desert night facing this enormous device.

"The non-imaging optical array is parabolic and composed of 84 mirrored collection panels (4' x 8' each). At 6 stories high, 60 feet across and weighing 25 tons, this breathtaking hydraulic device concentrates moonlight to many times its natural occurrence."

The Full Moon was two days away, and we were told the days prior to a Full Moon are the optimal time to experience the Moonlight Collector.

My daughter, Gen, and I stood alone on the raised boom lift with the boom lift operator, a kindly man. He communicated with another ground-crew member to tilt each of these panels ever so slightly towards us as the moon slowly moved overhead.

At one point, my daughter grabbed my arm as she nearly fainted from the intensity/bliss of the experience. She also experienced a powerful vision. I simply felt bliss, and afterwards, we both were surely glowing for we were at the receiving end of 15 minutes of concentrated moonlight--an experience we may never have the opportunity to repeat again in this lifetime.

Even though this moonlight experience was passive and receptive, I would rate it up there with some of the other more surreal experiences of my life such as having a private audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his home in MacLeod Ganj or galloping on a fast steed past the pyramids in Egypt with my partner.

Mahalo Nui Loa Patty, Monica and Richard Chapin, and all the other Interstellar team members for your warm reception and invitation!

Following is my interview with Richard Chapin, the inventor:

1. Your website mentions the "moonlight's unique qualities" which offers many benefits and that you're researching the "brightest stars and celestial bodies' spectral alternative properties." Please elaborate upon the research with the stars and celestial bodies.

At this time we are focused primarily on the moon. These will be future studies. We have great interest in Sirius, which we intend to begin some focus on in October.

2. Scientists and other researchers are collaborating with you on your project. Are astrologers also studying the effects of the Interstellar Light Collector?

Astrologers have always studied the effect the moon on peoples’ charts. Some feel the concentrated phases of the moon on a person could help in healing.

3. You write on your website that crystals which are infused in the moonlight collector "take on the vibration pattern of the moon." I'd like to know more details about this. What was your inspiration to connect crystals with the moon?

Dr. Robert Downs has told us that the crystals, put into the concentrated moonlight, have molecularly changed. This is not a temporary change, but a permanent change. Ancient civilizations have used the moon to purify crystals for centuries. We infuse the crystals the same as people, except for a longer period of time.

4. I also read the application of focused moonlight "may lead to discoveries in industry, agriculture, biology, medicine, and in alternative healing practices." Are you also researching ways to harvest the moonlight for an alternative energy source?

We are looking into batteries, generators, capacitors, moon panels, etc.

5. Have you read the book, "Who Built The Moon?", and if so, what are your thoughts about Knight and Butler's theories and final summation?

Interesting findings, however, it goes to show you how far observation can go. Can we prove anything? Probably, this goes too far.

6. Have you researched and made discoveries about benefits from various Moon phases? Do you primarily research the New and Full Moons phases? Is there a Moon phase which is more beneficial and 'healing' than another phase?

Different phases indicate different results – our in-house testing draws from different research published from universities.

7. You will be releasing the Lunar Therapy DVD soon I read on your website. Tell me/us more about this DVD.

It has testimonials from people who have experienced the focused moonlight and professionals talking about this new therapy. We also offer a fifteen-minute light experience, filming and using the light directly from our moonlight collector.

8. Watching the video on your website, I heard you'd been involved with astronomy. Were you a professional astronomer or a student? What is your background in this regard?

I built my first telescope at age 8 and started my high school astronomy club, which was very popular. I also took university courses.

9. In your desire to help your dying friend, you began studying full spectrum light therapy. Was there an 'aha' moment as you were studying this therapy which led to the invention of the Moonlight Collector?

There was an aha moment on a star-lit night, a good friend and I were in deep discussion about the stars and the moon and how they fit together with humans, then it just came to me.

10. Do you have a goal to build another Moonlight Collector? Or a bigger collector? What are some of your future plans which you can reveal at this time?

We are hopeful of having many more moonlight collectors built by universities, institutions, and other interested parties, etc.

************

If you'd like to purchase products infused with concentrated Moonlight, click here.

************

Below is my 'not-so-great' photo from the backside of the Moonlight Collector. You can see better photos on the website.

Kissing Maui Again

2008-09-30T08:09:00.004-10:00

One of the biggest rewards of travel for me is the blessed relief of returning home to Maui again!

Maui No Ka Oi! This translates to Maui Is The Best!

Even though we traveled to wondrous places on our journey, met fascinating people, tried new things, sampled different food, played, laughed, rejuvenated, and enjoyed the company of old friends, there is nothing quite like Maui to make my heart sing.

I've been busy downloading photos from our cameras, and yesterday I placed some of them on my Flickr account. If you'd like to see a small sampling of what I've posted thus far, click here.

As time allows, I'll be posting more to Flickr and also adding stories to accompany the photos on my travel blog Vintage-Tees.

And I'm once again posting daily photos on Wailea Daily Photo.

Keep an eye out here for my upcoming post with photos and interview with an amazing inventor from Arizona.

Yes, tourism has fallen off dramatically with the economic crisis in our country, BUT on our Sunday beach day, the beaches were still packed! I'm grateful for the tourists and delighted they have the opportunity to experience the splendor of Maui.

Maui is truly a Blessed Isle.

Mixed Drinks Maui Style

2008-09-06T12:03:00.006-10:00

Two famous tropical mixed drinks which are popular with Island visitors are the Blue Hawaiian and the Lava Flow--both photographed by me last evening as we dined with visiting Mainland friends.

Both are coconut-based drinks. The Lava Flow can be made a 'virgin', but the Blue Hawaiian requires the Blue Curacao Liqueur to make the drink blue. Both drinks are loaded with calories!

Here's the main ingredients of the Blue Hawaiian: Creme of Coconut, pineapple juice, rum, and the aforementioned Blue Curacao Liqueur.

The main ingredients of the Lava Flow are strawberries, coconut rum, Creme of Coconut, and rum.

One of these drinks will usually suffice as they're quite potent. Along with the infamous Mai Tai, these drinks have been known to make a sunset appear even more majestic, magnificent and memorable.

However, if you're not drinking one of these drinks as you're reading this post, you will see the photograph of last night's sunset--and it's hard to imagine a lovelier sunset.

And zero Hawaiian drinks are required to note the beauty!

Musings on Holidays

2008-09-02T09:01:00.005-10:00

I've decided I'm zero a lover of 'holidays'. They feel forced, contrived, and well...rather lonely.

IMHO there's a sense of obligation to Be Happy on holidays. Or Patriotic. Or Thankful. Etc.

Plus there's always the Holiday Hangover! This has nothing to do with alcohol.

Am I the only Holiday Grinch?

I propose SURPRISE holidays for everyone, and this is how 'surprise' holidays might play out:

You would receive a phone call the morning of the holiday notifying you that you have a day to do whatever you wish.
You can feel any way you wish this day without the 'holiday' theme curse

Sealed With A Kiss

2008-08-31T11:11:00.003-10:00

We shared a beautiful 'moment in time' with our ohana (extended family) at yesterday's wedding of Andrea and Steve. The above photo is one of my favorites.

Growing-Up

2008-08-30T08:25:00.004-10:00

Yesterday I had a couple reminders that I'm growing-up. I use these words 'growing-up' rather than 'growing older' as the words growing older make me feel melancholy. I much prefer the expression 'youngering'. Did I create that word 'youngering', or did I read it somewhere? In any event, I really like it!

This is what happened yesterday:

The waitress at the restaurant where we had lunch turned out to be the (once) young child who is our neighbor. We've watched as she's grown from a young 'un to now (surprise!) a beautiful young lady.

We attended a barbecue in honor of a young man who will be getting Maui'd today--that's married for those who don't know this expression. We've known Steve since he was a teenager, and we saw him for the first time last night after many long years. He said we looked just the same as he remembered us, and we wondered about this. We want to feel we're youngering, but just the same...

Thursday Thirteen--Summer Fun

2008-08-28T09:16:00.002-10:00

Maui has it's seasons even if they're not as pronounced as in many other places of the world.

Summer's hotter here just like most places, and for the last couple of years, we've felt the difference of the Sun. It feels as if the solar rays have intensified!

So what have I done for fun this Summer? Here's my Thursday Thirteen list:

1. Plurk is a new microblogging platform similar to Twitter (which I'm also on!), and I've enjoyed and LOL'd a lot with the humorous Plurkers and the crazy 'threads' of bite-size conversations which happen there. Plurk is one of my first stops when I get on the 'puter in the mornings.

If you'd like to join me, here's your invite.

You can design your own background and chat with people from all over the world.

2. Second Life is an alternative reality where you create an avatar, fly, swim like a mermaid, build a home, shop, sell, and do almost anything you can do in Real Life. When friends of mine plunged into Second Life with a passion this year, they lured me back into SL, and now I'm totally hooked! They are masterful creators in Second Life, and they've inspired me!

If you'd like to see some of the places I visit in Second Life, click on my Flickr link on the sidebar. I'll be uploading more SL pictures to Flickr as time goes by. I encourage you to make the jump to the other side of the mirror and discover what an amazing experience it is!

Far from being just a kiddie phenom, many big institutions have made a home on SL. Check out this link to see just a SMALL fraction of the big time organizations whom have staked out a place on Second Life.

3. We've been enjoying the company of our daughter who moved back in with us several weeks ago. She's a joy to have around again, and our home is rocking with laughter all the time.

4. My partner and I threw a party, a pre-season themed college football party, and we sent out e-vites to his football buddies. Our home nearly levitated from all the football cheers they gave, fueled no doubt by pitchers and pitchers of my delish, fresh Mango Margaritas. The mangos were from our Mango Giving Trees which were gifting us an abundance of mangoes this year. It took me several weeks to get our home back in order, but everyone had such a great time, it was well worth it!

5. As a Virgo, I heart organization and everything being ship-shape. Sadly, I'm never as organized as I'd like to be--but I'm getting there! One of my summer accomplishments has been to scan old, pre-digital photos of our travels and then download them into my Flickr account--and then organize the photos into collections on Flickr. This WHOLE process is very time-consuming, and I'm not even close to completion. However, I've had fun getting organized!!! Go figure! Virgos will totally get it.

6. Our television guilty secret is we enjoy the series "Big Brother", and we watch it three times a week. Should we be away from the tv, we DVR it. The characters with all their follies, foibles, and frailties grow on you, and the Production and Direction are very well done.

7. Our second favorite summertime tv show is the CBS game show,"Greatest American Dog", and again, I can't convey how hilarious this show is! You simply have to watch it. We HOWL, and we never miss an episode. Credit once again goes to Production and Direction as well as to casting! Even if you're not a dog lover, this show will put a smile on your face.

8. I would be remiss if I weren't to add that I've enjoyed exercising on our treadmill with my headphones, sweating, and running to music. I always feel so much better afterwards, and once I finish this post, this is where I'm heading. From our treadmill one has a magnificent view of the South Maui coastline--a real treat. What is it about a grand view which elevates one's Spirit?

9. The Maui Ocean. Warm. Inviting. Many Shades Of Blue from cobalt to turquoise. Float and Swim. Pure Bliss.

10. ART! Besides my passion for photography (which I'm always attempting to improve), I've been creating art: collage, painting, and writing.

11. I went through a month of being obsessed with the Feng Shui of our home! I've been practicing Feng Shui (both forms) for many years, but every now and then, I'll find myself wanting to 'tweak' the feng shui of our home and improve upon it. This f.s. obsession came and went, but it was FUN while it lasted! And the changes I made have improved everything in our lives, so the magnificent feng shui obsessive period paid off.

12. Movies are always on my FUN list, no matter what season. However, my TWO favorite movies of the summer were "Mama Mia" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", both movies which were located in foreign countries, Greece and Spain. These movies whetted my travel appetite, and since we've not traveled this summer, these movies sated my travel desires somewhat. Not all the way by a long shot!

13. The angels led me to My Maui Dream Home, and I've driven by the property many times envisioning what it'd be like to live there. I keep photos of this property on my digital camera, and I review the paperwork and design which I keep on my bedside table and look at often. This dream brings me JOY, and everytime I imagine myself living there, my heart skips a beat because this home is so ME!

This will go up on the Thursday Thirteen page.

And For An Uplifting Change Of Pace...

2008-08-26T12:03:00.017-10:00

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let not this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
- Desiderata - by Max Ehrmann

(All photos and artwork above were created by Kuanyin. You can see more photos on my Flickr page. Click the Flickr link on the side bar to view.)

Summer Nights

2008-08-25T22:06:00.005-10:00

Now that our daughter has moved back in with us, we're enjoying a different rhythm to our evenings. We find ourselves more often on our back deck in the evenings 'talking story'.

The weather has been sublime--not too hot, not too humid--and without mosquitoes, gnats or bugs. I have arranged comfortable chairs around a circular coffee table, and on this table I have a large brass Moroccan candle holder which looks quite beautiful with the candlelight flickering within.

MY chair is a purple hammock chair which I purchased in Cozumel, Mexico earlier this year. And I swing back and forth in it usually with a glass of pinot as we talk story, eat, and drink.

Today there was another fire in Kihei which backed up traffic for a long time on the Piilani Highway. Unfortunately my podner got caught in this traffic jam which was the biggest bummer of his day. My daughter had a rougher day.

She's a teacher and had to single-handedly break up a fist fight between two young, strong teenage boys. She really didn't know how she got the strength to pull one boy off the boy he was pounding on, but she did! When strength is called for, it's amazing what one can do.

My day was delightfully uneventful, and I didn't have to cope with traffic or angry young men. Instead I do what I most love doing-- writing, communicating, creating art, meditating, exercising, and enjoying my family.

Life is Good!

My Laugh Of The Day

2008-08-24T14:25:00.002-10:00

A friend sent this on today, and I had to share it with you. This is MUCH funnier than those stupid Yearbook Hair Styles that everyone is downloading and posting on their blogs.

************************

If you receive an email entitled 'Bedtimes'delete it IMMEDIATELY. Do not open it . Apparently this one is pretty nasty. It will not only erase everything on your hard drive, but it will also delete anything on disks within 20 feet of your computer. It demagnetizes the stripes on ALL of your credit cards. It reprograms your ATM access code, screws up the tracking on your VCR, and uses subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD's you attempt to play. It will program your phone auto dial to call only 0898 numbers.U> This virus will mix antifreeze into your fish tank !!

IT WILL CAUSE YOUR TOILET TO FLUSH WHILE YOU ARE SHOWERING. It will drink ALL your beer. FOR GOD'S SAKE, ARE YOU LISTENING??It will leave dirty underwear on the coffee table when you are expecting company. It will replace your shampoo with Nair and your Nair with Rogaine. If the 'Bedtimes' message is opened in a Microsoft Windows environment, it will leave the toilet seat up and leave your hair dryer plugged in dangerously close to a full bathtub. It will not only remove the forbidden tags from your mattresses and pillows, it will also refill your skim milk with whole milk.

***
WARN AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. ***
And if you don't send this to 5000 people in 20 seconds, you'll fart so hard that your right leg will spasm and shoot straight out in front of you, sending sparks that will ignite the person nearest you.
Send this warning to everyone !!!

Taking A Wee Break

2008-08-23T10:37:00.005-10:00

A friend emailed this photo to me today, and it was too cute not to share--especially since this is how I've been feeling lately in regards to blogging!

Microblogs are my current favorites because they're short, fast, and easy!

And the above picture is my Avatar in Second Life, Kuanyin Yiyuan, styled by the amazing stylist, Starheart of Second Life.

Startheart loves to shop, and she's a Master at creating beautiful avatars. Today she's working on another outfit for me -- I've only at a brief peek thus far, and it's totally WOW!

If you'd like Starheart's SL contact information, leave me a comment, and I'll post it.

The Yearning

2008-08-20T17:21:00.006-10:00

For approximately 14 years I've yearned for someone, a very special someone.

This someone would fulfill the role as my personal assistant, and the job description would be:

Reply to emails in a lovely, friendly manner; pick up weird little things on the floor that shouldn't be there and who even knows where or how they got there; field and reply to phone calls; mail packages and letters; research; purchase supplies at the grocery store (and other such places); update my online data; water plants; manage my social calendar;and so on and so forth. You get the drift. By most standards, I need a wife!

Alas, I haven't found such an animal, and currently I have been the ONLY animal doing this and so much more. Trying to fit everything in one's life and enjoying a quality family and friend life has become more and more challenging. There's simply not enough hours in my day!

Thus, I've taken SOME time off lately to renew my fitness regime, meditate/commune, learn new technologies, assist others in their major life passages, and dream my future.

So if you've wondered where I've been, I've been balancing out the missing pieces.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Where Are The Candles?

2008-08-15T13:55:00.005-10:00

This notice was forwarded to me by a friend, and I'm sharing it with you (author unknown):

"DUE TO RECENT BUDGET CUTS AND THE SPIRALING COST OF ENERGY,

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL HAS BEEN TURNED OFF

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE."

Enjoy the Lunar Eclipse weekend!

Be Kind to One Another and to Yourself!

Don't Worry....Be Happy!

Note: The photo above is the most recent version of myself in Second Life.

Bet You Didn't Know I've Been Diving

2008-08-13T21:59:00.001-10:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

On Parties

2008-08-11T15:49:00.005-10:00

Lately I've been super busy because we wanted to throw a big party at our home. This party took me several weeks to prepare for and another three days to clean-up and put our home back in order.

Order is important for me, and I prefer everything to be in it's 'right place'. When objects go missing, I'm concerned. A pair of scissors is still running around in our home, but who knows where they're hiding. I'm sure they'll eventually show up--in a most unlikely place.

Throwing a big party is a time-consuming affair. We don't have them as often as we once did. In former times, we were always having gatherings. Now we prefer peace, quiet and ORDER!

One of my concerns about parties in our home is safety. Since we have lots of stairs in our home, I worry if a mango margarita, a guest, and a stairway will mix well. We also have a weird 'trip-zone' which if one isn't looking, one can easily trip and fly through the air. One friend always manages to find this trip-zone when she visits. Most people seem to navigate it well, and at our last party, nobody flew through the air. This made me happy.

So yes, our home can be a little bit risky. According to an article I read in the online Treehugger, risk is good for children. This article says that kids aren't climbing trees like they used to, and they need risk in their lives. Click here for the link.

As for me, I lived in the woods as a kid and loved to climb trees! As a tomboy, I took lots of risks and was usually sporting multiple bruises and skinned knees and elbows. I performed crazy daredevil stunts and had a blast doing them.

Nowadays the riskiest thing I do is throw a party. Times have changed. :Smile:

I'm Convinced It's The Dog Daze...

2008-08-08T10:03:00.001-10:00

Paris Knows Politics

2008-08-06T09:56:00.003-10:00

And she agrees that Maui's the best place to tan! Thus, Maui + Paris + politics = the Dog Daze of August. Craziness has arrived on the scene. Care to dance?

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Swinging To The New World

2008-08-05T08:03:00.007-10:00

Art courtesy of Love Peace Happiness

After seeing the new movie "Swing Vote", my writing Muse wouldn't let me sleep UNTIL I grokked the deeper significance of the movie. The next morning my plan was to blog about my insights, but Spirit had a different plan and kept me running full tilt boogie.

Today I told myself: I'm gonna post these insights and zero let anything disrupt me. Of course, Spirit had another plan! And here it is--Tuesday evening-- two days later, and I'm finally finding time to post.

Here's my review of "Swing Vote":

The young twelve-year-old daughter in the movie symbolizes attempts by the Divine Feminine to wake-up the old, checked-out world--the character of Bud Johnson played by Kevin Costner. This is why scene after scene the theme is repeated--the child trying to arouse her Father from sleep and stupor. The old world paradigm is having great difficulty awakening to the new reality.

Those who embody this old paradigm are coasting-through-life, cynical, irresponsible, and without hope. Creature comforts are the main focus.

The Divine Feminine is played by an amazing young actress, Madeline Carroll. She is relentless in waking-up her Father to the Paradigm Change, but he firmly resists and wants to continue his habitual, slacking ways.

This drama involves us all right now: the old 3-D world of duality (Swing Vote--get it?!) has run it's course and going unconscious. Birthing right alongside this dying world is the New Earth, the New Paradigm which is extremely capable, conscious, creative, united, and wise.

The cast is superb with great performances by the likes of Kelsey Grammar, Dennis Hopper, and Nathan Lane to mention a few of the high caliber actors in this extremely noteworthy film.

This movie shouts out the message: it's time to awaken and participate in Change. There's no longer a choice to coast because the Divine Feminine will keep waking you up no matter how much you'd like to go back to sleep!

Silly Money Test

2008-07-31T22:38:00.005-10:00

MONEY is on everyone's mind right now due to the world economic climate, and like most, I'm pondering and contemplating what's next around the subject of money and finances.

Thus, I took this silly test titled "Which Billionaire Are You?". I assure you the questions are SILLY to the max, and I went 'arggh' to many a question. However, the test wasn't too painfully long.

I'm posting my test results below, and even with the silly questions, the test nailed me. Yup, that's me--the Idealist! I'm praying for a kinder, gentler, more equitable world for all (including all animals and Nature), and KNOW in my bones this NEW world is as close as a whisper. Bring it on!

What would you do with your money?

The Nightmare

2008-07-30T11:37:00.005-10:00

Last night I had such a freaky nightmare that I'm still reeling from it. As I'm not usually the kind of person who has nightmares or ever has had many nightmares, I'm reflecting upon why I experienced this nightmare.

I guess what separates a nightmare from a normal dream (for me) is that a nightmare SEEMS so REAL! As a person who often lucid dreams and then interprets the dreams within the dreams, the dreamworld doesn't usually grab me or shake me!

However, NOT LAST NIGHT!

My partner thinks it was the cookies we ate before bedtime, but zero store-bought cookies have ever done that to me before. :Smile:

In my nightmare our home was invaded by sci-fi characters and robots, and they were looking for something and tearing our house and yard apart in the process. My partner kept going to sleep while all this commotion was happening. I wanted his help, so at one point, I pulled him out of our bed and slapped him around to bring him to consciousness--only in the dream of course. Even then with his help, we weren't capable of stopping this home invasion.

Everything was being dismantled down to the bare wood framework. Many small robots kept moving by as they did their systemic search. There's more, but you've got the gist.

I've been analyzing this dream all morning long attempting to understand it. Some of the pieces I totally GET, and other pieces of the dream leave me full of dread.

Obama Buttons

2008-07-26T18:16:00.006-10:00

We received an email the other day where we were offered a FREE Obama button.

Naturally, I put our name on the list to receive one--this button will be a collectible--maybe not in the normal way of perceiving a 'collectible'. History is in the making with the strong possibility that Barack Obama will be the first black President of the United States, and these buttons are a sign of what's blowing in the wind--BIG CHANGE.

Here's the lovely reply mail we received after ordering the free button:

"Thank you. In the last few days, MoveOn members like you have ordered over 600,000 Obama buttons—way, way more than we expected.

So we've decided to print more, so you can share them with everyone who might want one.

Can you forward the short message below to all your friends so they can get free Obama buttons, too? Here's the link for them to get buttons:

http://pol.moveon.org/obamabuttons/?id=13339-7992640-NRUqw9x&t=3

If together we can give out a million buttons, people are going to start seeing them everywhere they go.

And the more that people see these buttons, the more they'll get the message that Barack Obama is the candidate with the buzz, momentum, excitement—and sincere support of regular folks across the country.

Thanks for all you do."

So I'm passing on this link so ya'll can get your free buttons--if you're so inclined.

Never A Lack Of Anything

2008-07-24T12:22:00.003-10:00

I don't know about you, but speaking for myself and most people I know, we're never bored nor lacking THINGS TO DO! Yes, that famous list I mocked a couple of posts back is still alive and well! My days fly by! My To-Do List is always crossed-0ff, and then I add new things right back on!

And every day I discover something new and fun and fabulous and/or challenging or aggravating or time-consuming TO DO! I much prefer Be-ing, but I suppose a balance between be-ing and do-ing is the best.

Since I love to learn new things, I attract new lessons and studies all the time. This morning has been spent in studying with the attendant (and sometimes terrifying) learning curves!

My theory is that when you're learning new things, you don't grow old. You younger! The stimulus is anti-aging!

What have you learned lately? Where have you explored?

Hey, today is the TWO YEAR OLD BIRTHDAY of another one of my blogs, Way Khool Sites. Go check it out if you haven't already and wish her a Happy Birthday! I don't know why it's a 'her'. It just is!

Angels and Loch Ness

2008-07-22T19:07:00.006-10:00

My calendar tells me that today is the "first modern recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster, 1930". And it's interesting that I just scanned in two old photos of the hotel we stayed at Loch Ness, Scotland oh so many years ago.

Of course, there's an ANGEL STORY attached to this stay, and here's how the angels intervened on our behalf: we arrived in Loch Ness without a reservation, never dreaming the place would be packed with so many people. There wasn't a place available we discovered after driving around for several hours. So we returned to this place (the one photographed above) well after dark.

We were hungry, and we surrendered that we were going to do some hard driving later that night to find a place to stay elsewhere. So we had a very enjoyable dinner and drinks while not even considering our predicament.

And as we were paying the bill, my partner got a tap on the shoulder from the manager of the restaurant/hotel. Suddenly a room had become available. Did we want it?

Did we ever! We grabbed our bags out of the car and quickly lugged them up the stairs....and went straight to bed! Our angels are da best!

We're always telling our angels MAHALO!

How 'bout you? Any angelic interventions?

Gripe Of The Day Is Born

2008-07-21T09:53:00.008-10:00

If you're anything at all like me, your weekends FLY BY! We need longer weekends and shorter work weeks, dontcha think? We need to stop being a country of over-achievers and become more like France and Italy, nations which know how to live the good life.

I've thought of a new blog concept recently, but rather than take on more blog obligations than the fifteen blogs and one Squidoo I already post on, I decided to incorporate my idea into this blog, so one day a week I'll post my GRIPE OF THE DAY!

Not knowing which day my gripe will be posted, I can't warn you to steer clear of this blog if you don't wanna hear my gripe. So if you read the title, this will be your clue if you don't wanna hear a gripe and only want to read positivity. I'll put Gripe in the title, and you can click onto another page, and save yourself from my griping. Fair enough?

Ok...you've been warned, and here's my FIRST Gripe Of The Day!

Recently I paid GOOD monies online to a spyware protection company to update this computer's protections against all the nasties out there that wanna invade your computer. They took my monies via credit card, and then they sent me a LONG license number which I had to input on my end to get the whole thing up and running.

Only problem is the number doesn't work! I tried it a couple of times. The 0 could have been a zero.

No that wasn't it. The 1 could have been a capital I.

No that wasn't it either.

And so it went with me fuming over this stupid code and eyeballing it with a magnifying glass! I emailed their customer service department, and the robot reply was that I had been issued a number and a customer service rep would get back to me and help me resolve my problem.

A week later, and I'm STILL waiting!

Of course, this company doesn't have a phone number where I could call and get some resolution! So today I will write them again! And ya know what, I'd RATHER be doing lots of other things!!

Like Going To The Beach or Walking On My Treadmill or Blogging!

I feel much bettah now that I griped, and I hope this griping wasn't too terribly harsh on ya.

Mahalo Nui Loa for reading and hopefully commiserating with me.

Second Life and Me

2008-07-18T07:35:00.005-10:00

Yes, I'm attending the BlogHer Conference in Second Life beginning today, and that's me (errr, my avatar) in the front row--the hot number in the pink dress with the long black hair covering her face. She turns her head a lot, so it's not always easy to catch a good snapshot of her before she twitches and moves again. My Second Life friend Chiron has given me instructions on how to remedy the movement of my avatar so I can take better snapshots and reveal her face, and I have yet to follow his instructions. This is because I can't remember where I put them!

There's so much to learn about Second Life! The learning curve can be a bit intimidating and daunting. I have many note cards with instructions stashed away awaiting my attention.

Plus I have a closetful of outfits in my wardrobe (inventory) I could wear and lots of skins, hair, eyes, etc., but I'm favoring this naughty number for my avatar's BlogHer attendance. :Smile:

Suldog and Gen--try and find me here for the Food Fight! Dare ya!

Back to the BlogHer Conference, this is the second year I'm attending, and thus far, this years attendance doesn't seem to be that great as you can see by the empty seats in the grandstand.
The seats have filled up somewhat since I sent myself this snapshot, and now there's a bald DUDE with a beard sitting next to me. Hmmmm.....

The speakers on the panel are STILL working out the sound problems as I post this. Even the techies have challenges in SL it seems!

Maybe something has begun by now, so I'm moving back there to see what's going on...or not!

What Is Summer Without A Food Fight?

2008-07-16T14:52:00.005-10:00

Summertime is supposed to be a time to play, have fun, act silly, and take vacations. Since I can't go on vacation right now, at least I can play and have a food fight!

And thanks to the ingenious Food Fighting site, I can! They have a selection of food items on this site to throw at your friends through email, but I'm going to have to throw the food at you through this blog. Of course, I always post my email on my blogs, so you're welcome to throw food back at me if you care to.

I wish Oprah would join us. She'd be great fun to have a food fight with.

Below is my selection of food to throw at you from the website. I picked this one because it looks the gooiest and creamiest and should make a most excellent splat! Plus this concoction will look good plastered on your face! Who knows...it might taste delish if you have a good imagination.

Here I come...Ready, set, GO!!!

Multislacking

2008-07-13T13:28:00.004-10:00

Multislacking is my favorite new word I learned from the Urban Dictionary. It's a great summertime word, don't you think?

The definition according to the U.D.: "Doing multiple slacker-esque things concurrently."

And what exactly is a slacker thing you ask. If you don't know, you'll hafta go look it up yourself in the U.D.

Why? Because I'm busy multislacking!

Or maybe I'm only experiencing burn-out from loading photos into my Flickr account all week.

Whatever is ailing me, I'm happy the new season of the vile Big Brother series begins tonight.

And this new "Flee" camera looks really cool. Perfect for a multislacker like me.

Click here to check it out.

Stories Which Make You Wonder

2008-07-11T15:48:00.004-10:00

And it's not just humans who are having a rough time of it these days with anxiety, depression, anger, and fear. It's animals too.

Folks, when our dogs need Prozac and antidepressants, perhaps there really IS something to worry about.

Read the following story about Pill Popping Pets and consider the implications.

We don't have a dog in our home-- even though I love dogs. We have one cat who is leading La Dolce Vita, and thus far, she isn't acting depressed and meowing for meds.

But then again, Maui is slow to catch up with the rest of the world.

And that's another reason I like living here.

Mango Salsa Up The Ying Yang

2008-07-08T15:54:00.006-10:00

Have I mentioned that our mango trees runneth over with mangoes?

We've been sharing them with others and eating them with everything imaginable. About two months ago I made a huge batch of mango chutney which was extra delish by the addition of spices given to us by our Indian friend Shanti.

Today I made a huge dish of fresh mango salsa which is scrumptious. Here is my recipe:

Four big mangoes (peeled, seeded, and smashed--I prefer smashed.)
1 Maui onion
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/2 fresh jalapeno chile pepper (adds BITE!)
1/2 lime--freshly squeezed
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup organic raisins

The salsa is chilling in the fridge waiting for my partner to scarf down when he comes home. I'll serve it with Garden of Eatin' Black Bean All Natural Tortilla Chips made from organic yellow corn and black beans. This brand is made with no genetically engineered ingredients the package states. I don't trust most brands of tortilla chips these days after reading how genetically engineered foods can alter your dna.

The above photo is a small dish of the salsa photographed expressly for those of you who probably believe I live inside my computer.

Yes, I'm a foodie too! :Smile:

To Do List

2008-07-07T17:44:00.004-10:00

via Oddpicsblog

Ok...what's next? Now that I have NOTHING marked off! Perchance a vacation?

Checking Out New Rides

2008-07-03T19:28:00.003-10:00

What does the future hold in regards to the price of gasoline? Are electric cars gonna be the new thing? What about Smart cars? What will I be driving in the next year or so? What will you?

Consider the following:

Smart cars

Hi tech futuristic motorcyle

Tesla electric car

Which one would you choose?

I know which on I would.

Are People Becoming Stupider?

2008-06-30T12:00:00.004-10:00

I present you with the evidence:

First, here's an email which was sent to me today. I don't know who wrote this, but the message said to pass it on, so I'm doing this. If the owner/writer wishes credit for this, contact me.

*************************************************************************************

This is too true to be funny.

The next time you hear a politician use the
word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the 'politicians' spending
YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.

A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.

D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E.
A billion dollars ago was only
8 hours and 20 minutes,
at the rate our government
is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain...
let's take a look at New Orleans ..
It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.

Louisiana Senator,
Mary Landrieu (D)
is presently asking Congress for
250 BILLION DOLLARS
to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number...
what does it mean?

A.
Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman, and child)
you each get $516,528.

B.
Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.

C.
Or... if you are a family of four...
your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D. C

< HELLO! >
Are all your calculators broken??

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax <>
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt...
We had the largest middle class in the world...
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?
Can you spell 'politicians!'

And I still have to
press '1'
for English.

I hope this goes around the
USA
at least 100 times

What the heck happened?????

********************************************************************************

And second, here's a link which is really thought-provoking!!!

The title is "Is Google Making Us Stupider?" Click here for the article.

NOW YOU TELL ME--what do YOU think?

Sunday At The Beach

2008-06-29T16:42:00.004-10:00

I finally shared another Sunday-At-The-Beach with my daughter today! Both she and I are beach lovers! We've missed hanging out together at the beach while eating, catching-up on personal news, swimming, and enjoying the parade of people and happy dogs passing by. And this was the FIRST time in ages we've made it to the beach together for one reason or another, so we had big ol smiles on our faces.

Plus there are so many things that happen that make us laugh. One guy nearly creamed another guy with his kayak as he picked it up and walked away--it just missed this guy's head by inches.

One father and totally nekkid young daughter ran and jumped into the ocean and frolicked. They were having so much fun it was pure joy watching them.

Naturally I always take lots and lots of photos, and this is one of my favorites of the day.

The day wasn't too hot or cold which was perfect for this Goldilocks. The beach was packed with people. It's hard to believe that tourism is down by the amount of people on the beach, cars on the road, people in the stores and restaurants, and people walking down South Kihei Road. Maui appears to be flourishing to me.

Maybe the tourism downturn rumor is merely one of those cyclical things. I certainly hope so, for I want Maui to thrive and offer a Sunday-At-The-Beach kind of day to those from elsewhere.

I've read that fewer flights will be coming to Maui, so if you're reading this post from elsewhere and want a Maui vacation, plan ahead and plan early.

The Secret To Happiness

2008-06-28T10:12:00.004-10:00

Art courtesy of Love Peace Happiness

The Secret To Happiness is probably one of the most searched for items on Google besides images of Pamela Anderson--especially now with our U.S. economy in the dumpster.

So many people these days are seeking the answer to happiness, financial improvement, better health and change. How can they be happier? Is there a secret they should know about?

I recently discovered a news article titled, "The secret of happiness: grinning on the Internet". The link will be given at the end of this post.

And even though this article seemed like a fluff piece at first, after printing it out, re-reading it several times, and then contemplating what was written therein, I believe it's an excellent article and I'd like to share it with you.

The first first two sentences pack a wallop: "How happy you are is influenced by your social links you've never heard of and never met.

That's the conclusion of a US study looking for the spread of happiness and depression across social networks."

The article then goes on to say, "Happy people cluster together..."

Isn't that the old cliche, "Bird of a feather flock together"?

In real and in the virtual worlds, we join together with those with whom we resonate. And our happiness ripples out to our friends' friends' friends.

The contagion of others over long distances is finally being recognized. Our thought forms have power. Our happiness has power. Our GRINS have power.

Once you truly get-it that we live in a quantum universe, this insight will rock your world.

At the quantum level, we aren't energetically separated. We are our environment. We are our friends. We are our connections.

But as the article goes on to state, "Geographical distance is important--your friends are more influential the nearer they live."

However, my thoughts are this: if you're a global being with many friends on the net (as I am and undoubtedly many of you are, or you wouldn't be reading this post), you're perhaps very influenced by me-- and likewise, I'm influenced by you.

So here's GRINNING/Smiling/laughing with you my friends! Have a great weekend!

Click here for the link to the article.

Stuff Synchronicity Strikes Again

2008-06-25T09:14:00.004-10:00

So yesterday I posted about my de-cluttering, weeding process, and then later the same day I stumbled onto an online Time article titled "How To Live With Just 100 Things."

Click here if you'd like to read it.

Is Spirit giving me a nudge, ya think?

100 things seems way too little for me.

Maybe if I lived in a Japanese style home, I would be ok with less because that's the style.

This article pushed me to contemplate STUFF and ownership and possessions and our need to acquire, own, and hold onto things. This trait of collecting is even done by some animals. Remember the story of Ziggy the cat burglar who snuck out of her home every night to steal from others and bring the treasures home? And there is another cat who steals gardening gloves.

Did you see the Oprah special where the children of a pack-rat Mother and Father turned them into Oprah for help? This cluttered home was something scary! But of course, the Good Fairy Oprah resolved their Stuff Overload for them with her team.

But I don't even think Oprah's Team could pull my teddybears away from me!

Pack Rat Or Collector?

2008-06-24T10:56:00.005-10:00

My Mother was a pack rat, and all her children acknowledged this. Closets in our childhood homes were totally filled to the brim--so much so that were you to open one, there wasn't an inch to spare to stuff anything else in. She saved everything: food, string, old bottles, clothes, magazines, every childhood report card and exam, letters. Well, you get the picture.

Like a lot of children, I never wanted to 'turn-into' my Mom, so I've been a person who likes to weed out the excess stuff in my life and pass it onto others--a never-ending task. I've been applying myself to weeding and organizing once again these last couple of months and excavating the layers of acquired stuff in our home with the thought that should we move, the less stuff we have to drag along with us.

And this weeding has been supremely successful, even though it's yet to be completed!

I'm now at the weeding phase where I'm asking myself: Do I really, truly need to hold onto my various collections? It seems I have a bit of my Mother in me after all. I prefer the word 'collector' to 'pack-rat', don't you?

Here are some of the things I've collected: teddy bears, t-shirts from international travels, photos, cards, thangkas, card decks, statues, crystals and stones, BOOKS, cd's, dvd's, and mermaid and faery paraphernalia and objects. Most of these collections are in boxes. So I've been asking myself over and over, "Can I part with one of these collections or maybe several?"

Part of me is very resistant to letting-go! The teddybear collection has a big place in my heart. The unique mermaid teddybear in the photo above was given to me as a gift (as were most of the stuff in my collections) by my pod-ner's nephew Brandon, a sweetheart if there ever was one. I don't know where he found it to give to me, but I've never seen another one like it.

In my teddybear collection, I have some collectibles and some that are antiques such as an ancient Smokey the Bear which has a battery and walks and talks!

Some of my smaller teddybears I have out of boxes, and the rest are screaming to be let out, but I don't want our home to be decorated with stuffed teddybears, so they're going to have to remain in boxes or finally find a home elsewhere.

If only the teddybears didn't look so cute and hold so many memories, it would be a lot easier.

Do you have collections of which you have a hard time letting-go?

Fantasy Of The Summer: Jetson Jet Pack

2008-06-22T19:04:00.003-10:00

Apparently these personal turbine jet packs will soon be available for everyone and on the market for around $226,000 from Jet Pack International.

This is just what I need NOW to combat the summer blahs.

Sending Ya'll A Maui Postcard

2008-06-18T15:09:00.004-10:00

Aloha From Maui!

Aloha Kuanyin,

You are going to share this beautiful Maui postcard with your blog fans. Won't they ever be ready to hop on a plane and come for a vacation after seeing this!

The Famous Blog Queen--the One and Only KUANYIN

*********

You too can send your very own Maui postcard. All you hafta do is click on the Visit Maui website, and scroll down to the bottom of the page and select one of the images (such as the beach image I used above), write your message, and email it. Simple, eh?

Dontcha wish your beach was as great as mine?

Recovering From Film Overload

2008-06-17T18:08:00.005-10:00

Just in case anyone has been wondering about my whereabouts, my podner and I've been ultra busy attending films at the recent (June 11-15th) Maui Film Festival.

Being the movie-aholics that we are, we outdid ourselves with films. Now I don't even want to watch tv as I'm recovering from film overload.

Blogging is challenging and typing these few sentences is pushing myself. About the only thing I've done is Plurk & Twitter a little.

If you'd like to join me on Plurk, click here.

If you'd like to join me on Twitter, click here.

Now I'm going to go swing in my purple hammock chair, watch the sunset, jacuzzi, and chill!

My Mama Said There Would Be Dayz Like This

2008-06-11T12:31:00.005-10:00

Got outta bed and took off my aromatherapy sleep mask, and the mask fell to the carpet. This clue foretold what kind of day I would be experiencing.

And thus began my Day of Dropsies!

Everything wants to fall out of my hands today or spill or tip over and leave water or coffee stains all over the floor! WTF!

I even poked my left F-U finger with a bougainvillea thorn in my home renovation project. That hurt like a *$%H&!!! These bougainvillea thorns are sharp.

Me thinks it's best to lay low or curl up with a book that has zero sharp corners, but then again, I'll need to watch out for paper cuts.

It's one of those days every Mother warns you about.

And they know. They know ALL too well.

*********

Late this afternoon, synchronicity strikes again, and I read these words in the latest What's Up On Planet Earth update:

"If you are one who has found yourself dropping things, noticing things falling through your fingers, and experiencing a strange inability to hold onto much of anything (whether literally in the physical sense or otherwise), it is simply because we are now finally poised to have something very new to hold onto once again.

Yes, a new anchor is finally arriving. Are you ready?"

***********

Uh-oh!

The Summer Of Our Discontent

2008-06-10T11:29:00.005-10:00

When June arrives for us, our discontent with Maui begins. This is a yearly, predictable discontent, and our discontent usually lasts until late September/early October.

Of course most people would find it unbelievable to have discontent if they were living on Maui. Yet this is our truth. We blame our discontent on anything and everything and gritch like this:

It's toooo damned hot.

Why is the electric bill so high?

The grass beside the road and the vegetation looks brown and dry and ready for brush fires.

Everyone else in the whole wide world seems to be on vacation except for us. Sob!

Where is everyone anyway? The roads seem quiet.

Why hasn't it rained? We NEED rain.

It's time for us to move someplace cleaner and cheaper.

Can you believe this water bill?

And thus it goes for us every summer. Of course, there are a few cuss words thrown in for flavor and emphasis which I won't add for public consumption.

We search for things to be grateful for during the summer, and of course, there are MANY, many things for which we're grateful. However, if there was any season for us to count our blessings and work-it, it's the summer for us!

My inner child doesn't want to stay put in the summer. It wants to go off to camp....or to travel...to play all day and stay out late all night...it wants to eat ice cream, drink rose wine, swim and splash, dance to loud music...and it especially wants to be cool, comfortable, and merry. It wants to goof-off.

And what about you? Is summer time hard for you too?

What Were YOU Doing Two Years Ago?

2008-06-07T16:58:00.004-10:00

This is a humorous cartoon/self-portrait I drew for my humor blog, Blog-Blond, at the beginning of June '06. At that time I began investing my energy in the blogosphere, and with much determination, taxing of my brain-power, and wearing the same baggy pants for days on end, I blogged day after day.

However, I wasn't very computer savvy, and since I had few friends who were blogging at that time, most of my learning came through trial and error and with the aid of computer angels. Mahalo Nui Loa for all those that helped me!

I made jokes about pulling my hair out and going bonkers. But those jokes were very close to home. Most of the acquaintances I know didn't want to hear me talk about blogging, and they'd rudely change the subject if I brought it up at parties.

My close family members totally supported me and encouraged my new passion. Another Mahalo to ya'll--I love you soooo much!

If anything could go wrong in constructing a blog, it did. Murphy had me on his radar. Sidebars would enrage me. I screwed up all the time, and I wouldn't know how to fix what I had done wrong. Those early days were frustrating times, but I kept creating blogs and learning something new every day. I was jazzed, and my output was amazing. Now I look back on my learning curve two years later, I can barely believe all that I created!

Those were the days before I got into Facebook, MyBlogLog, Twitter, Blog Catalog, Pownce, Fuel My Blog, Spicy Blog, Second Life, Squidoo, memes up the ying-yang, Digg, Mixx, and more!

Now I'm an old blog pro. Hah! I've got the basics down, and it's less time-consuming for me to post, yet there's always something new to learn, for the blogosphere is ever changing.

I have become smitten with blogs. Many bloggers are such talented writers and artists. Most of the ones I've grown to know have huge, loving hearts. Like Maui Girl, a blog buddy, who wrote recently in one of her posts that she plans to spend her holiday on Cape Cod catching up on her blog reading, I feel the same. I want to have a vacation where I can lounge around and read blogs all day long.

I blog less these days because I'm very busy working on other time-consuming projects, but there's usually at least one blog I post on daily. Blogging is in my blood now, and once you get your creative juices flowing, there's no stopping.

When I was very sick last year and close to checking-out, I STILL blogged.

That says something about the nature of creativity. And blogging!

And obsession.

Been There--Done That!

2008-06-05T19:25:00.005-10:00

On Maui we see lots of (false) gurus of all shapes and sizes come and go. Most of them keep on going. However, there are some that keep coming back again and again. And of course, they keep promoting themselves to me....or their minions do. I do my best to ignore them or their backers/sugar daddys/slaves.

But the truth is once you're running around on the net, they find you or they cross you path like a black cat. And they annoy the hell out of me. They quote preposterous trainings and titles. In fact, they act entitled. They PRESUME they are MY/YOUR teachers, leaders, and healers.

NOT!

Several such *false* ones have come to my attention recently through my net connections in yet another bid for attention and moolah, and I grumbled: "argghhh--not THEM again!"

Since Maui is on the New Age trail which includes Sedona, Marin, Santa Fe, etc., eventually these hucksters will pass their way through here or try to make this their home base....for awhile anyway.

I recently read a very well written article on how to spot these charlatans and false gurus, and you can click on the link here.

But I would like to add to this list by saying this:

The more they elaborate on their trainings, credentials, diplomas, and what-not, the MORE I distrust their offerings.

It's like these spiritual teachers/false gurus are trying too hard.

Their hard sell desperation is so visible. Don't they know it?

Sex And The Single Girl TWICE!

2008-06-02T13:30:00.003-10:00

My MALE partner and I went to the opening night of the movie Sex And The Single Girl, and the crowd--mostly women--was on fire! So buzzed was this crowd that they continued talking and loudly laughing while waiting for the commercials and previews to end!

Once the movie started, there was TOTAL silence.

Let me tell ya--the girls love this movie, and it's having a great reception at the box office.

My partner and I critiqued it afterwards, and we agreed we liked the television series better. The fashion seemed so retro, and we were both mildly disappointed with the writing and wit. We didn't feel it transitioned well to the big screen, and the women looked better on tv.

BUT then I attended the movie again yesterday with a WOMAN!

And I experienced the movie in a totally different way. As a matter of fact, I REALLY liked it the second time around!! I even cried at the bridge scene.

Now I'm ready for another Girly Movie. There's simply not enough movies of this genre. Bring 'em on movie directors and producers.

We women are hungry!

Lost and Found

2008-05-30T07:32:00.004-10:00

Last night as my honey and I were watching the season finale of Lost, there was a scene that really struck me, and I had one of those famous 'aha' moments that Oprah's always talking about. I love those 'aha' moments, don't you?

Here was the scene: six passengers were aboard a helicopter on the way to the rescue boat, but a hole in the fuel tank caused by a bullet from a previous gun fight caused the copter to loose fuel, and thus the pilot told everyone to throw all heavy objects into the ocean so they would have enough fuel to make it to the boat. However, even after tossing lots of stuff, the pilot said the coptor was still about two hundred pounds overweight, and they had another five minutes to reach the boat. The fuel tank was leaking fast. What to do?

This is when Sawyer (the bad ass rascal of the group) suddenly puts one last big smacker on Kate, whispers something in her ear, and jumps from the copter to the ocean--his heroic act to save the group. He begins swimming back to the island from which the group had finally escaped.

This was Sawyer's redemption for he had always been self-serving.

My 'aha' moment in regards to this scene:

I've been LETTING-GO of STUFF--physical items--for many long months. As I've moved deeper into this process, I've noticed that not only is our home becoming more spacious and expansive, so am I. Beliefs, habits, thoughts, emotions, and attachments are no longer relevant. I'm not my body, my mind, my emotions, my nationality, my skin color, my religion, my stuff--I'm a limitless me. In keeping myself so busy taking care of business and 'doing' life and managing stuff, I forgot to experience life as the divine spark I truly am.

In tying up the loose ends and taking care of unfinished business, I've made room for the awareness of the infinite God Force within.

Once this awareness is re-ignited, jumping is easy.

Who Is That Masked Man?

2008-05-25T08:19:00.006-10:00

Sorting through and organizing old photos is a very melancholy process for me, but luckily for me, once a week I've recruited my willing daughter to aid me with this HUGE project--one which will eventually result in digital and physical scrapbooks with different subject matters.

When she's helping me, we laugh uproariously over many of the crazy photos. We critique our different hairstyles through the years. We wonder what ever happened to so and so. We marvel at how some people have grown better looking through the years while others haven't. We grieve over the loss of many dear ones. We wish we STILL had every pet we've ever been blessed to spend time with. We talk story about the memories that arise from these photos. We are reminded how fast the years have sped by and how many different beings we've been. Was that really US who did that and looked that way?

With her helping me, I only tiptoe a mite into a dreadful melancholy space.

It's been intense dealing with the thousands of photos I've taken and collected through the years. And I'm really just two steps into the beginning of the project with four more steps to go before completion so who knows how long it's gonna take me/us to finish this.

One of the Mother's Day gifts from my daughter was a scrapbook set, and I've always wanted to scrapbook, so here we go! There's a fabulous scrap booking shop on Maui too, so if we need extra goodies, we'll have a shop to plunder. Plus I discovered a digital scrap book site online --"a fun site dedicated to digital scrapbooking freebies that you can really use. We add new high quality freebies frequently - generally at least 1 - 3 times per month."

The above photo is of my S.O. in one of his many crazy Halloween get-ups, all of which I purchased for him and forced him to wear. How patient he's been with me! And how grateful he'll be when he reads this post and see I didn't post some of his WAY OVER THE TOP costumes! :Smile:

I really do have lots of blackmail material in my collection, but that's not my style.

Yet.

A Pot of Gold

2008-05-22T16:05:00.007-10:00

Recently friends from Ohio visited us, and they just couldn't stop talking about the high prices on Maui. They were especially shocked about the cost of food.

The price of food on Maui is high alright, but if you're lucky enough to have great friends such a we do, you can get by.

For example, this is what we were given this week by a beloved friend: organic lemons! If you were to go to the store to purchase one lemon, you're talking around a dollar or more.

Talk about a Pot of Gold!

And to top off this great gift, he also gave us a wee lemon tree. Isn't it cute?
With the cost of gas on Maui moving to the $5 range and other prices of goods moving up as well, it's good to be self-sufficient to some degree... and have friends.

Bartering may soon be commonplace.

Seasons End, But Chicken Jokes Live On

2008-05-19T14:49:00.004-10:00

Most of my favorite tv shows are having their season endings about this time. Last night we watched the two hour season finale for Desperate Housewives, a show which has brilliant writing, editing, and carefully crafted plots.

But it was horrifying to see what happens to Gabrielle in 5 years! Say this is a bad dream writers and producers of Desperate Housewives!

And yes, it's still a little voggy here on Maui which is making everyone suffer to one degree or another. Oh, for the tradewinds to blow again!

My day has been lightened by an email sent from a friend: chicken jokes.

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it
was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road
because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation
and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally
helped that little chicken to cross the road. This
experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure -- right
from Day One! -- that every chicken in this country gets
the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this
really isn't about me.......

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken
crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on
our side of the road or not. The chicken is either against
us or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can
clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing
the road...

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN: We have reason to believe there
is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have
access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross
the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to
cross, and I was misled about the chicken's
intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against
it.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because
he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way
he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking
American.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross
it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why
it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't
you people see the plain truth? That's why they call
it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends that chicken
is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay,
too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this
abomination that the liberal media white washes with
seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side.'
That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as
plain and as simple as that.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the
road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world
crossing roads together, in peace.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road
or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with THAT
chicken!...... What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white?...... We
need some black chickens!

What are your favorites?

Letting Go And Vog

2008-05-16T15:18:00.006-10:00

You see the photo above of this tall, ugly big brown thing? This is my giant file cabinet in our office, and it has been my project over the last week to weed and the main reason why I haven't been blogging much. To tell you that going through this stuffed file cabinet was daunting, challenging, difficult, scarifying, and time-consuming would be phrasing it mildly.

There was way too much paperwork in this file cabinet which is now totally irrelevant and well past-it's expiration date! Forcing myself to go through it has been an agonizing trip down memory lane!

Who was I?

Industrious, idealistic, curious, dreamy, and hungry for knowledge. It seems like another person printed all these pages out, wrote these things, dreamed this and that. I've changed!!

Inside this file cabinet was another me, another time, another world.

And the 'important papers' with pages which I underlined with exclamation marks and made notes and diligently filed in categories are so NOT ME.

Today is an extremely voggy day on Maui--one of the very worst I've seen. The sky is gray, and there are no trade winds--a day that's perfect to reflect on the past and let go.

And indeed I have because I filled so many garbage bags full of the old today that our huge trashcan which gets picked up twice a week is nearly full once again!

On Motherhood

2008-05-11T09:54:00.005-10:00

The VERY best thing that ever happened to me was becoming a Mother! And today is the day when my family celebrates me as Mother because it's Mother's Day, and I celebrate all the other Mothers of the world. We deserve our celebration as we are the backbone of society.

Few of us were well prepared to be a Mother. Most of us simply learned 'on the job'--sometimes making mistakes. I had a bit of an education in that I babysat young babies during my teenage years, and so I knew the basics. But that was about it--the basics!

Let me tell you, I've earned every one of my white hairs! And I'm proud of them even if I choose to cover them up. :Smile:

My young daughter now has a few white hairs which is shocking--it must be genetic! Or maybe it's because she serves as a surrogate Mother in her teaching job with children. When you're taking care of children of any age, there are scary moments when something is going down which takes your breath away and immediately a white hair will appear. Like magic.

When you become a Mother, you put someone else's welfare before your own.

You compromise.

You surrender.

You love deeper than you ever thought possible.

You sacrifice.

You try not to worry.

You plan ahead.

And you're never ever the same.

And I'm grateful and blessed to be a Mother!

Oh Lord, Give Me a Decent Movie!

2008-05-09T19:16:00.004-10:00

So we went to the movies again recently to see "Made of Honor", and I was totally dismayed with this formulaic movie. I can't say anything good about it. I see this movie advertised on tv as the "Top Romantic Comedy", and I wonder why? How?!

Are we to believe that a womanizer SUDDENLY falls in love with his best (girl) friend? Are we to believe that because she's fallen in love with a Scottish hunk that he's now awoken to how much he has always loved her? A serial marrying father arguing for prenups before his 6th wedding is so retarded. The gay jokes and marry cliches are so retro. Come on! I felt as if I landed on another planet with this movie, one that is so stuck on an old track.

The only thing I can figure as to why this movie might be doing good box office is that people desire to escape the doom and gloom of the bad news of the economy and world events.

People must be desperate for fantasy.

On Hangovers

2008-05-07T07:04:00.004-10:00

It doesn't take much for me to acquire a hangover because I'm a very light drinker (if I drink at all), and so when I have ONLY one tequila shooter and one margarita as I did on the night of Cinco de May, I paid for it dearly yesterday!

The drinking of the night before made me drag around the whole day, and then last night I had a strange, long, and complicated dream which could be summed up something like this:

What we call life is really death, but we don't think it is because since we were babies, we were told (programmed) by our parents and the world that we are LIVING. And when people pass out of our world, we are told they died. Instead they were born into the world of the living--a much more expansive, unlimited world.

In the dream I was able to visit both worlds, and I could even take a child to the other world.

So I awoke contemplating this provocative concept which is probably a 'religion' somewhere on this planet of religions.

What if it were true? Would I live my life differently in this dreamworld known as "life"? Would you? Even contemplating this concept is probably considered 'heresy' somewhere. Oh well.

I'll just blame it on the tequila.

We're So Very Back!

2008-05-02T10:21:00.005-10:00

After recuperating from a cold I acquired on the last leg of our long journey home to Maui and playing the game of 'catch-up', I'm ready to blog again! It has taken me awhile to find the time and energy to do so. I think one of the reasons is that the Maui energy is very, very different from the East Coast and Caribbean energy, and thus it takes a while to acclimate again to Maui's energies.

It was rejuvenating to take a long blog break and let my mind rest. After becoming an obsessive blogger, my mind was always churning with ideas, thoughts, feelings, and stories to blog. I was wearing out a perfectly good mind!

The very best part of the Caribbean cruise for me was to sit on the deck outside our suite on our cruise ship at night and commune with the elements of wind, water, and starlight. I never thought about blogging or email, and my mind and spirit were soothed and healed by Nature.

Arriving at the cruise ship was an adventure in itself which I blogged about on another of my blogs, Moonlight Becomes Me.

I also posted a photo of a stingray on Wailea Daily Photo today. The stingray excursion was also one of the highlights of our cruise, and I took tons of photos as well as having the opportunity to kiss a sting ray and receive a sting ray back massage. Ooh la la!

Besides meeting-up with sting rays, we interacted with dolphins, exotic birds, and lots of weird people... and managed to stay away from the dreaded expanded waist line. Instead of ten pounds most individuals normally gain on a cruise, we only put on four pounds each due to our daily discipline of working out at the gym on board and cutting-back on the ABUNDANT food offerings! I lost my four pounds the first week and then five more.

Both of us prefer to eat lighter than we did on our vacation. It feels better and healthier to simply have a small salad for an early dinner rather than dine at 8:30 PM with many courses of food brought to our table!! We left many courses uneaten, but as we did so, I had to wonder what cruise ships do with all the left-over food? Where does it go?

Now please excuse the following piece of housekeeping, but MyBlogLog has a new rule I see where I have to add the following piece of code to authenticate this blog.

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Vacation--Here I Come!

2008-03-21T09:08:00.008-10:00

I spotted a girl recently standing in line with the Hawaiian Islands artfully tattooed on her back. Isn't it amazing?

Packing and dreaming and counting down the days and hours until we leave Paradise for our Spring Break Vacation! I'm eager to see other places, other faces.

If you're new to this blog and want to see more Maui photography, click here for Maui Skies and here for Wailea Daily Photo.

And should you wish to sign the petition to help the Tibetans, click here for the link.

I recently discovered an amazing photo blog with photos taken by Tibetan refugees. Click here for the link to the blog Unseen Dharamsala.

We visited Dharamsala for three weeks in 2006, and I fell in love with the beauty of the place and the people. I also went photo crazy there. Below is the photo of our charming bedroom in the Chonor House, right across from the main temple. The decoration in each room is different and authentic. The hotel is owned by the Tibetan government in exile, and I highly recommend it.

I'll be bringing back LOTS of photos from our vacation to share with you.

Have a Blessed Easter!

Speaking Of Ireland

2008-03-18T10:50:00.004-10:00

Following up on the Irish thread from the last post, here's a link to a great MSNBC story titled, "'New' Ireland's changes goes more than skin deep".

And I just read on Newsmax that beer fights cancer--the darker the better!

Who would have thunk?

Reflections On Ireland and St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-18T09:06:00.005-10:00

Both my Significant Other and I grew up with fathers who were alcoholics, and we've witnessed the worst of this disease in our respective childhoods and know full well how devastating this disease can be to children and families.

Thus, neither of us are heavy social drinkers. My partner has an Irish last name, and I too carry some Irish blood. And here it was coming around again: St. Patrick's Day--the day for all Irish people everywhere to celebrate! Whatcha gonna do?

So out dining with friends, he had two beers. Usually one is his max if we're celebrating something! And I had two glasses of wine! The following day we both went ugh and knew we didn't want to drink two of anything alchololic again anytime soon! We're obviously not your normal hard-partying Irish people. Our bodies feel better when they're alcohol free.

Many years ago we traveled to Ireland, and we drove all over. Actually I drove because the roads scared him. They scared me too, but I was the least scared. With only one middle lane to pass on the narrow roads and with crazy drivers probably just leaving a pub with more than one beer in them, I had to totally focus on the road.

On one particularly unnerving, twisting road round in West Ireland, I came around a corner and a huge tourist bus was coming right at us. I scooted our rental car over as far as I could to escape this monster bus, but the rocks alongside the road kept me in place. I could see our car was going to be hit, and there was nothing to do about it. So I turned the key off and prayed and waited.....and by some miracle, the bus missed us!

Yes, there is magic in Ireland. After this incident, I was a true believer.

Another Sunday At The Beach

2008-03-17T08:02:00.002-10:00

The Wailea Beach Trail

2008-03-13T13:40:00.006-10:00

I just returned from my favorite beach walk in the whole world with my girlfriend, and I'll be posting photos of the journey on my photo blog Wailea Daily Photo for the next week or so.

If you want to see photos of places of beauty on this gorgeous trail which snakes around the South Maui Coast, be sure to pop over there or subscribe. This is one of my most popular blogs, and even though it doesn't always get a lot of comments, I can see the traffic flowing to it through the Stat Counter.

Since my friend's a great photographer and also loves to take photos as much as I do, we had to stop many times for photo ops.

Here's a photo of her Nikon camera and shadow:

My digital camera is very small even though it does have 10.1 mega pixels. Hey, it works for me!

Missing Time

2008-03-10T09:57:00.007-10:00

Where does the time go is the age-old question-- and one which I'm still asking!

Because I've got a push on to once again wear my size 6 clothes, I've changed my blogging habits, and instead of getting sucked into the computer first thing in the morning and remaining there, I've begun a new morning habit: the treadmill.

After checking out emails and comments and before responding to others, I head directly to the treadmill! If I get my body moving first thing in the morning, I've discovered I have more energy for the day. Trouble is with this new exercise program: I begin moving and doing so many other things that I very often don't make it back to the computer until late....and by then, I'm tired. Dog tired!

The photo above was originally going to be used for a photo website which changes it's theme every week and to which I often contribute a photo. I had planned to use my self-portrait for the weekly theme (that's me taking the photo of my reflection in a friend's Grandfather clock), but by the time I came home, it was late...and well, you know the story. The bed looked so inviting.

So my Blogging Addiction is taking a bit hit! I've been seriously blogging for the last two years, and between all my many blogs, I've posted a lot of images and text. I want to do it all: exercise, blog, make time for friends and family, create, learn, research, work, and relax.Yet my days go by so quickly. Too quickly for everything I desire to include!

Is time speeding-up? Or is just me? Or is time missing?

How do you manage your time?

Mystery Package Arrives At Our Home

2008-03-08T16:58:00.004-10:00

Today a mystery package arrived addressed to my partner. Inside was a book signed by the author Will Bowen, a bumper sticker, one purple bracelet, and a t-shirt with a quote by author Maya Angelou on it which read, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."

We don't know which friend gifted us with this impressive package, but we're grateful. And if you're reading this blog, well then--Mahalo Nui Loa!

We have several people in mind who we think it could be, but since it came from the A Complaint Free World headquarters, there wasn't the clue of a mailing address to help us out.

In any event, right now my partner has his nose in the book titled "A Complaint Free World", and I have the purple bracelet on my left wrist next to my Red String bracelet and Philip Stein watch. The directions on the letter in the package said that "every time you complain, gossip or criticize, move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again. Keep moving the bracelet from wrist-to-wrist- until you keep it on the same arm 21 consecutive days."

And should I see someone wearing the bracelet complaining, I can point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; "But if you're going to do this, you must move your bracelet first because you're complaining about their complaining."

I'm up for this challenge as I don't complain or criticize very often, although I've been known to gossip a bit! So this will be a good exercise for me. I could say something snarky here about why this package was mailed to my partner, but that would be speculating and perhaps gossiping, so I'll end this post while I'm ahead. I've only had the bracelet on my arm for less than a half hour. Restraining from complaining, criticizing, or gossiping might not be all that easy.

Check out the web site A Complaint Free World if you're intrigued.

Makeovers

2008-03-04T15:31:00.004-10:00

Have you ever thought to yourself you'd like to do a makeover on a celebrity? I often imagine what a huge difference another hair style, color, make-up, and style of dress would do for another.

Such is the case with Hillary Clinton. I'd love to do a makeover on her.

Here's my list:

1. I'd soften her hair style, and instead of having it so perfectly styled and brushed back or parted to the side as it is now, I'd bring her hair down on her forehead a bit with some whispy bangs, and I'd have it cut and shaped to suggest a more modern look. The overall effect would be a more relaxed-looking Hillary.

2. She loves pant suits, and far be it for me to put her in something in which she doesn't feel comfortable, but I'd like to see her in edgier designs/styles of pant suits. And every now and then mix in some bold, tasteful jewelry. This would punch up her look.

3. As far as her makeup goes, I'd like to see the lipstick not quite as dark as it photographs--a soft pink or dark, nude shade would be better. I'd change around her eye makeup too to emphasize her beautiful eyes--they need to be highlighted.

Older voters are supposed to be the ones preferring Hillary, but I think she could STILL appeal to them--even after my makeover.

What do you think? Do you imagine makeovers on people too?

We'll see what the vote results bring tonight. Maybe she'll be ready for a makeover.

Reading and Wondering

2008-03-03T07:18:00.004-10:00

I read a news article in the Thursday February 28th edition of The Maui News which has kept me pondering for many days now. The headline read, "Doctors say kidney disease affects 1 in 7 residents of Hawaii." And since I've been living in Hawaii (Maui) for the last seventeen years, why wouldn't I pay attention to these odds?!

The article stated that Hawaii ranks highest in the nation for chronic kidney disease! And "if these numbers grow, clinics will be overwhelmed and the disease's toll will rise." Reading this made me wonder WHY, and I'm not buying the speculation printed in the article which suggested that the reason kidney disease is so prevalent is because it "more often affects minorities like Native Hawaiians, Filiponos and Japanese."

I think the cause is the Vog (volcanic pollution coming from Kilauea on the Big Island) which I've mentioned before in this blog. The vog is well known to cause respiratory problems in many residents, especially those with asthma. There are currently studies being done to determine what else the vog is doing to residents, and eventually, I think they're going to discover that vog is also impacting people's kidneys.

Many of my friends who aren't minorities have suffered with kidney problems, and they are all long-time residents of Hawaii. As I write this post this morning, I can barely see the West Maui Mountains or Upcountry because of the continuing voggy conditions. Yes, I'm concerned! I like my Maui with beautiful vivid blue skies!

Thursday Thirteen--Weight Loss Tips

2008-02-28T10:35:00.007-10:00

With a 7-day cruise coming right around the corner and knowing full-well everyone puts on at least 10 pounds when on a cruise, I've decided to take off twenty pounds so that I can enjoy adding the ten pounds on the cruise. This plan makes sense to me--this way I won't grow out of my cruise clothes!

Today I'm contributing thirteen weight-loss tips to take off inches and extra pounds:

1. Fasting--I like to fast at the minimum once or twice a year to clean out the body. And Springtime is an excellent time to get off that winter fat. The fast I use is the famous Stanley Burroughs lemonade fast: a little red pepper, organic pure maple syrup to taste, and squeezed organic lemons. Sip this through a straw as the concoction is bad for your teeth, although very cleansing and good for your body.

2. Teaspoon of Norwegian Cod Liver Oil right before bed

3. Herbal Weight-Loss Formula--of ayurvedic herbals

4. Tonalin XS-CLA--which helps reduce body fat and increase muscle tone

5. Walking on the treadmill until breaking a good sweat

6. Love Handler--a Bliss product for lazy abdominals

7. Throw off the "set point" by breaking the fast and then returning to the fast--this confuses the body and helps keep the weight loss moving.

8. Exercise with dumbbells--muscles help burn fat.

9. Drinking lots of pure water and Yerba Mate tea.

10. Keeping weight loss buddies informed of my daily success (or failure!)--this keeps me accountable.

11. Weighing myself first thing in the morning and periodically taking measurements. This way I don't go into denial which is soooo easy to do.

12. Journal my emotions/feelings/thoughts. Weight-loss isn't JUST about the body!

13. Employ EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) as often as needed.

If you'd like to join Thursday Thirteen, click here.