Whale Counting 101

Wear sun screen! The Hawaii sun is like a friendly enemy. You don’t know the damage it is inflicting until it’s too late! I had a blast and enjoyed my first whale counting experience but did pay the price that night from not wearing sun screen. But it was worth it. I consider myself lucky because I saw more than I thought I would from the shore.

There were about 20 of us for whale counting at La ie Point. A couple who has been married for over 20 years were our Site Leaders. They've been doing this for 9 years and 8 at this same location. Whale counting takes patience and time! We sat in one place for 4 hours. At this location there is no shelter or bathroom. It started out a bit overcast for the first hour or so and then the sun came out. But with the perfect trade winds it never seemed like it got too hot and I didn't realize the sun was that strong. So no, I didn't use sun screen, but I had it with me.

Whenever anyone saw something we'd holler out so everyone could look and hopefully see. I thought we'd go out to the end of the point but our site leader said from the cement wall we could see over all the rocks and have the best view. They like you to work in pairs for counting and recording. Both will watch the ocean and when you start seeing you have to count the number of whales you see (and if any are calves) and the type of activity you see. Spout (most common), breach, slap, dive, etc. We worked in pairs so I worked with Roland. He's a retiree who has moved to the island with his wife. His wife was supposed to be here but she recently made a trip home to New Jersey and got caught there due to the snow storm. .

I feel lucky because I personally saw about 9 instances of a whale breaking the water. I saw one breach while looking through the binoculars that was cool! It was actually about 2 miles away but through binoculars seemed much, much closer. I also saw one break the water off in the distance (no binoculars) where the sun sparkled off the skin but not sure what part of the whale actually came out of the water. In the morning most of the sightings were about .3 to 1 mile off shore, which is considered close. As the morning went on the whales were further out, closer to 2 to 4 miles off shore, which is more common.

Ah, you may be wondering what I mean by spout, breach and skin? I hope this helps.
Typical humpback whale behaviors include:
Blow – this is the water that a whale pushes through it’s spout when it comes ot the surface. On average, adults’ surface and breathe every 10 to 15 minutes but can stay submerged for up to 45 minutes. Calves (or babies) must come to the surface every 3 to 5 minutes.
Head Rise or Spy Hop – this happens when a whale rises vertically toward the surface with only it’s head out of the water. Some think this allows the whale to see the activity going on above the water.
Tail Slap – this is when a humpback raises its tail flukes out of the water and slaps them forcefully on the surface. A lot of times this happens in rapid succession. Some think this is a warning of some sort.
Pec Slap – this happens when the whale slaps the water surface with one or both fins at the same time. This may be a communication.
Head Slap – this is a competitive display when the whale lunges forward with only its head raised above water.
Penduncle Slap – when the whale throws its tail out of the water and in the process slaps its penduncle on the surface.
Dive – the humpback will arch its back up out of the water. The tail may or may not been seen. If this happens the whale will not be seen for sometime after.
Breach – the whale uses its tail to launch itself out of the water then lands back on the water with a slap.

I wish I could share pictures of everything I saw but it’s impossible. Things happen so quick you don't have time to react. There is definitely practice needed to whale count and as the day went on I felt like I started to get the hang of it. It takes patience! They break the 4 hours into 30 minute sets and for the entire time you stare out into the ocean hoping to see something. It's easier to see when the water is calm and the winds are calm. The spouts from the whales (water in the air) will stay in the air longer for easier viewing. As the sea got choppy, the swells got larger and the winds picked up it was hard to tell the difference between white caps and whales and the water would dissipate much faster. I'm definitely looking forward to February 26th, the next time we count whales.

The only reason they count whales between 8:00 am and Noon is for volunteers. They wanted to pick a time that would allow people to still have most of the day to do whatever they needed so it didn’t seem like a big inconvenience. And counting on the last Saturday of the month is for consistency. And when doing the whale counting, it happens on the same day at the same time on all islands at all locations. This way, if a whale is spotted at one location you know it isn’t the same whale spotted at a different location at the same time.

A few bits of information I learned:

• The humpback whales migrate to the warm waters of Hawaii for birthing and teaching the young how to hunt for food.
• You might see one whale, or two or three together. Many times you’ll see one large spout which is the Mom and a small spout which is the baby. Sometimes there will be another large spout and it is the escort. They don’t know why there is an escort. It could be a male looking for something from the female or the father of the baby, who knows. 
• January is usually the slowest month for sightings. February should be better and weather permitting March is the best. The numbers for February are a bit skewed from last year since the count was supposed to take place at the same time as a tsunami warning. So counting didn’t happen as in past years.

And for me, no trip to the North Shore is complete without stopping at Sunset Beach. The waves were about 10 to 12 feet and the surfers were having fun. I still can’t believe they can navigate the surf without injury; at least today.

So until next time; love, hugs and prayers to my faithful followers, if your still out there!

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

How are you, or did you, spend New Year’s Eve? Mine has been smoky and loud! I can’t take credit for writing everything below but I can take credit for sharing it with you.

LOUD: Oahu appears headed for a loud and smoky New Years' Eve. Almost 2,000 more permits for firecrackers were sold this year than last. In 2009 8,050 permits were sold. Thursday afternoon, when the city stopped selling permits for the 2010 New Years celebration, 10,008 permits had been issued. Each $25 permit allows its holder to purchase strands of 5,000 fire crackers. Fireworks can only be used between 9 p.m. December 31st and 1 a.m. January 1st. As of January 2nd, 2011, most consumer fireworks will be banned on Oahu. Sparklers, fountains, snakes, and other ground-based fireworks will be illegal to possess and use. But firecrackers will still be available with the purchase of a $25 permit.

SMOKY: Tradewinds are departing with the old year, which means Oahu is in for very hazy and smoky conditions for New Year's Eve. Persons with respiratory problems should take precautions because of fireworks smoke.

TRADITIONS: Many people serve or eat sashimi for New Year’s Eve and New Years. People flock to fresh fish markets looking for the best quality fish for the right price for the New Year's party. Prices for the higher end quality ahi were hovering around $30. Friday morning, some supplies of certain grades of fish were already running low. Some shoppers were waiting in line even before markets opened!

What is sashimi? Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy. It primarily consists of very fresh raw seafood, sliced into thin pieces, and served only with a dipping sauce (soy sauce with wasabi paste or such condiments as grated fresh ginger, or ponzu), and such garnishes as shiso and shredded daikon radish. The word sashimi means pierced body.

NEW YEAR’S DAY: Fukubukuro (lucky bag, mystery bag) is a Japanese New Year's Day custom where merchants make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within. The low prices are usually done to attract customers to shop at that store during the New Year. Fukubukuro usually are snapped up quickly by eager customers, with some stores having long lines snake around city blocks hours before the store opens on New Year's Day. Formerly, Fukubukuro were an easy way for stores to unload excess and unwanted merchandise from the previous year, due to a Japanese superstition that one must not start the New Year with unwanted trash from the previous year and start clean. Nowadays, Fukubukuro are pushed as a lavish New Year's event rather than a way for stores to get rid of excess merchandise.

WHALE WATCHING: To Hawaiians, the whale is a representation of the Hawaiian god, Kanaloa - the god of animals in the ocean. Humpback whales (na kohola) are found in all oceans, although they generally prefer near shore and near-island habitats for both feeding and breeding. Since adult whales rarely feed in Hawaii, many of the behaviors are specific to mating.

A large percentage of the North Pacific humpback whales migrate to the main Hawaiian islands during the winter months - November through May - each year. The round-trip distance they travel during this annual migration is approximately 4,000 miles, one of the longest migration distances of any animal species. During their stay in Hawaii, they do not feed, but rely upon stored energy. Near the islands, the whales devote most of their time to mating and giving birth to their calves. While visiting the islands, kohola have become renowned for their various acrobatic displays.

2011: The first weekend of the New Year may be a wet one for Oahu! Another disturbance is due in Saturday night with scattered showers and maybe even a few thunderstorms through Sunday. More normal tradewind weather is due back Monday. In Hawaii these winter “disturbances” can be similar to a winter weather watch or warning back in Kansas. This means heavy rain coming straight down (no wind), for days; brown water advisories and winds out of the south. Winds out of the south are also known as “kona” winds since they come from the direction of the big island. These winds bring vog, poor air quality and high humidity. Brown water advisories mean to stay away from brown water in the streets, yards and ocean. The water becomes brown from the chemicals, pesticides and other “crap” in the ground.

A FULL MOON: A box jellyfish influx is expected 7 to 11 days after a full moon. Typically warning signs go up during these periods, people are warned to stay out of the ocean and the influx is included in the weather forecast on local tv.

Until 2011, love, hugs and prayers to my faithful followers, if your still out there!

The Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the land where palm trees sway!

By the time you read this Brent and Tammi will have made it through their first Thanksgiving and Christmas apart since being married. How was it? Now we can say it was okay but on those special days it was rough. Tammi immersed herself in work preparing for year end in payroll and accounting by working 16 hour days. Brent volunteered to be on call for Thanksgiving and Christmas staying busy with work and household chores. Tammi started a Hawaiian Christmas tradition of spending time at the beach and putting her toes in the water. Brent enjoyed some good home cooking as his parents made the trip from Fulton to Wichita for both holidays.

So, you know what Thanksgiving and Christmas are like on the mainland but you may be wondering what they are like in Hawaii. Well, basically the same just a little warmer. For Thanksgiving, meals differ from family to family as they do on the mainland. Most people I talked to had the traditional turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie. Some have never tasted scalloped potatoes or my famous, fattening mashed potatoes but the menus seem to be the same. Oh, but add rice to the meal! I think rice is served with every meal here! For Christmas most people I talked with were having ham, turkey, beef or prime rib for dinner. A few were heading to the mainland to enjoy some skiing and others were heading to another island to be with family.

The big retail stores were selling fall decorations but there didn’t seem to be the large selection that I remember in Kansas. I also didn’t see many decorations as I travelled around Oahu. Of course, I don’t go very far now that I’m working long hours. Christmas is Christmas is Christmas. The stores were full of decorations, gifts and shoppers! People go all out here decorating just like they do on the mainland. The major differences I see in Hawaii are the weather and the people. It was 80 degrees and sunny on Christmas Eve and Christmas on the leeward side of the island. The windward side wasn’t as lucky! Christmas Eve it rained like cats and dogs (so heavy they said it was coming down at the rate of 2 inches per hour for awhile)! The windward side of the island happens to be where the Obama’s are staying.

About the people. I can’t believe the number of people who were out and about on Christmas! Waikiki was packed with tourists and the stores and restaurants were open 10 am to 10 pm. As they say in Waikiki, every day is a holiday. I don’t miss the days I spent in retail! Most gifts on the shelves seem to be the same that you would find on the mainland but add a bit of an Asian feel. Lots of rice cookers and small food items that are popular in Japan. It makes sense since most tourists here are from Japan and I think most everyone living on the island has Japanese ancestry.

Oh the lights, the lights, the lights! If you ever get to Oahu in December be sure to check out the Honolulu City Lights! Very nice! However, at this point I don’t recommend visiting Hawaii in December unless you like rain! Winter in Hawaii is the rainy season. Although, if you want a white Christmas I can guarantee one in Hawaii; white sand! And while it may rain the temperature remains around 80 and shorts are still the best attire!

I promised some interesting holiday facts or trivia about Hawaii in my last post. Hopefully this fulfills my promise…

Mele Kalikimaka - Merry Christmas. The words "Mele Kalikimaka" are a phonetic translation. When the missionaries and other Westerners first brought the custom of Christmas to the islands the Hawaiians had difficulty pronouncing Merry Christmas and turned it into words that rolled more easily off their tongues.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou - Happy New Year. The western Christmas and New Year fell during this same time of the year that the Hawaiians traditionally honored the earth for giving them plenty to eat. This period of resting and feasting was called Makahiki (mah-kah-HEE- kee). It lasted for 4 months, and no wars or conflicts were allowed during this time. Because makahiki also means "year", the Hawaiian phrase for "Happy New Year" became "Hau'oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new)"(how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee

Mahalo Nui Loa - Thank you very much. When you receive a nice gift or are treated to a s pecial meal or beautiful song, you'll want to express your appreciation for the kindness.

Until New Year’s eve, love, hugs and prayers to my faithful followers, if your still out there!

I See Familiar Faces in Strangers

Wow! I’ve been a bad blog owner. I’ve been so caught up in work and my boys that I’ve neglected my blog. I appreciate all the comments I hear from people asking why I haven’t updated my blog. It’s nice to know someone out there is reading and I thank you for that.

Yes, the boys arrived safe and sound and in the past 4 months have made themselves right at home in our little Hawaiian apartment. Zosimos loves lying in the front window and passerby’s love playing with him through the window. Some people have even stopped to take his picture while he’s lying in the front window! Achates likes to lie in the bedroom window, or in the top of the closet or under the bed. He still hides from me often but I can always figure out where he is. The boys love it when I leave the front door open. They like to lie in front of the screen door and watch and listen to everything going on outside. They like to act like big cats but when a loud sound comes echoing our way they run and hide like little kittens. But they are my boys and I love spending time with them. They have made my life in Hawaii seem much more like home.

I guess I am feeling a bit home sick after living in Hawaii for almost 8 months. It seems as if each day I see someone walking nearby and I could swear they were someone I know from back home but after looking closer they are simply a stranger. I’ve seen old co-workers, favorite school teachers, best friends and even my chiropractor in the face of strangers walking by but no one I know has actually walked by. Oh, and I’m beginning to recognize the same homeless people in Waikiki. It’s sad to know that these people live on the streets and don’t know where their next meal will come from yet at the same time it’s comforting to see them because it means they made it one more day in this world. From what locals tell me, you don’t want to give money to the homeless, stop to talk to them or anything like that. Some can get violent and some just aren’t right in the head. So what I do is leave my recyclables in plastic bags by trash cans. Recycling plastic and other items is very popular in Hawaii; you can get 5 cents for one plastic bottle! It took me 2 months to save enough plastic to get $5 and since I have no storage space for my plastic now I leave it by a dumpster for a homeless person to collect.

As my family and friends in Kansas head into fall and winter we too here in Hawaii are heading into fall and winter. The highs during the day are now between 83 and 87 and the lows fall to about 70. I’ve been able to sleep with the windows open a couple of nights so far but it can still be pretty muggy here so not every night. With fall and winter here comes the rainy season. So far it seems to rain a bit more often each day and the weather forecast predicts rain much more often as well. I am actually finding myself getting cold in my office at work and a bit chilled when I leave work at night now. So I guess my blood is thinning and I am acclimating to the weather on Oahu.

Hawaii does not participate in daylight savings time. So until spring I am only 4 hours behind Kansas. That extra hour sure does make a difference; more than I thought it would! The time change is still one of the biggest challenges to having family in Kansas but we are making it work. Now as we head into the holiday season we are facing new challenges and trying to tell ourselves that we can make it work. This will be the first Thanksgiving and Christmas that Brent and I will spend apart in the 13 years we have been married. Neither one of us plans to decorate (who am I kidding, Brent wouldn’t decorate even if I was home) for the holidays; it just doesn’t seem right since we won’t be together. Airfare to Hawaii goes up in the winter and the most expensive day each year to fly to Hawaii is December 26th so that isn’t an option either. Brent has volunteered to be on call with his work and I will be working long hours during the season so hopefully we’ll make it through the first holiday season apart without too many tears.

On a positive note, I’ve learned about another beach on the island from some locals. Sunset Beach on the north shore. They tell me it is the most beautiful beach on the island. I am hoping to have a free day soon to go check it out. That maybe how I spend my Thanksgiving. But you have to be prepared during the winter months if you plan to travel to the north shore. The waves are huge during the winter months on the north shore; we’re talking upwards of 20 feet! This is the time of year that everyone flocks to the north shore to either surf or watch surfing. It normally takes about an hour to travel from my apartment to the north shore but this time of year I’ve been told it can take triple that time and finding parking can be impossible. But I am really looking forward to seeing some experienced world class surfers this winter!

How would you like to spend your Thanksgiving camping on the beach? That’s what many people do in Hawaii. Unfortunately, they have to camp out to get the camping permit! Yes, I said that right, people are camping out in front of government buildings so they can purchase the limited number of camping permits that are available for this Thanksgiving. During the winter months only certain beaches allow camping unlike the summer months. And one of the beaches campsites are all taken by homeless people so the number of permits available is very limited. Kind of reminds me of Labor Day at the lake in Kansas. Oh and the typical Thanksgiving meal in Hawaii is turkey and dressing. I thought it would involve spam or pig but it is the same as back home.

I hope I haven’t rambled too much and I hope you’ve learned something new about Hawaii. I’ll try to dig up some interesting holiday facts about Hawaii for my next entry. So until then, love, hugs and prayers to my faithful followers, if your still out there!

Like Being an Expectant Mother

What does it take to get 2 cats from Kansas to Hawaii? Time, patience, organization and money; but it is so worth everything (I think)!

They say that it takes 6 months to go through the entire process but I would plan on a year so you can also save money so it isn’t a big hit to your bank account! We managed to do it thanks to a great Vet Assistant and a great company’s relocation package. So why does it take so long and where do you start?

Zosimos has no idea about the long journey that he is about to embark on!

The answer begins and ends with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Hawaii is rabies-free. Hawaii's quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the introduction and spread of rabies. All dogs and cats, regardless of age (puppies and kittens included) or purpose, must comply with Hawaii’s dog and cat import requirements. Luckily, the web can be your best friend when oceans separate you from the state you are moving to! http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info

The next thing to know is that your animals will have to undergo 120 days of “quarantine.” If you follow the checklist on the web, plan accordingly and be patient, the animals can undergo the 120 day quarantine while in the comfort of their own home. At one time all animals had to go thru the 120 day quarantine in Hawaii, in their kennel near the airport. How awful would that be! Because our cats could go through the 120 day quarantine at home we proceeded with our plans.

Zosimos relaxing at his home in Kansas, the night before moving to Hawaii

Rabies Vaccinations: Your animal must have been vaccinated at least twice in its lifetime and these must have been more than 30 days apart. The last shot has to be given more than 90 days before the animal arrives in Hawaii. The pet’s most recent vaccination must not be expired when the animal arrives in Hawaii.

Microchip: Your pet must have an electronic microchip implanted. This also has to be done before the blood test is performed, and I haven’t gotten to that part yet. And you also have to ensure that the microchip has been scanned by a Vet to verify that it is working and that the number matches the documentation. They mark this as important on the form so I am guessing people have gotten microchips implanted and then they didn’t work. Go figure!

Achates has no idea what he is about to experience!

Blood Test: This part can be technical. For example I could tell you that the OIE-FAVN Rabies Blood Test results must be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/ml. But leave that to the Kansas State University or the DOD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory in Texas. In simple terms you have to have your Vet draw blood from your pet and send it to KSU for tests to prove that your pet doesn’t have rabies. Oh, and make sure the blood samples reach K-State more than 120 days but less than 36 months before your pet arrives in Hawaii.

I warned you that you had to be organized! Luckily our Vet Assistant was used to handling animals moving from country to country so this was a tad easier than that!

Then again, maybe Achates does know about his upcoming journey and is trying to talk Dad out of it!

Quarantine or Waiting Period: Early arrival into Hawaii will mean that your pet is disqualified from the airport release program and will have to undergo quarantine at the facility. This would be horrible! Bottom line is this: once you get the good blood test result your pet must wait at least 120 days before arriving in Hawaii. Luckily, our cats were able to do this in the comfort of our home in Kansas!

Documents: Remember that you are dealing with a government body so there is lots of paperwork that must be completed properly, submitted to the right place at the right time with the right money! If you do this, have all papers completed in BLUE ink. Trust me that this will save you time and frustration in the end. So what papers do you need? Ready? Original ink signature rabies vaccination certificate for the two most recent rabies vaccinations your pet received. These must be in English and have specific information like vaccine name, lot or serial number and so on. An original health certificate, once again in English, must be done within 14 days of arrival in Hawaii. Also within 14 days of arrival you must have your Vet treat your pet for ticks and this must be noted on the health certificate. All documents, except the Health certificate must be sent to Hawaii more than 10 days before your pet arrives in Hawaii. Oh, and yes, there are forms on the Hawaii web site that also have to be completed, notarized and submitted as well.

The window seat in Hawaii is ready and waiting!

Let’s review the documents needed:

Completed Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-278 which must be notarized.
2 original rabies vaccination certificates with actual veterinarian signature in ink.
Cashier’s check for $165 to $224.  One check for each animal.
Pet’s microchip number.
Keep copies of everything just incase!

Direct Release at Airport: This can only be done between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:30 pm due to budget cutbacks. If your pet arrives after 3:30 pm it will have to be held at the facility until the next day. Once again, awful! Your pet will only be released to someone listed on Form AQS-278 that you had to have filled out and notarized. The original health certificate should travel with your pet.

The litter box is filled and waiting!

So, do you still want to send your pet to Hawaii? Because we aren’t done yet! We’ve only got the paperwork taken care of and I really skimmed over it. There is a twenty some page document on the web that goes into great detail about everything that has to be done and completed! So, now we need to think about the cats and what they will travel in. Of course any old pet carrier will not do. You have to have one that is FAA approved and big enough but not too big. For our cats we were told to have one that they can stand up in, turn around in and still be comfortable. And there can’t be any openings on the top of the crate. The brand Pet Taxi was recommended and we had one so we went with that in a medium size. And one crate per animal; you can’t double up animals in crates no matter the size. Then you have to have 2 water dishes that can be attached to the inside of each crate. It was recommend that we fill them with water in advance and freeze the dishes before transport. This way, as the cats travel the water will thaw and be there if they need it. You’ll also want to put lots of shredded paper or potty pads in the bottom of the crates because you know there will be messes. Oh, and include a t-shirt or towel with a scent familiar to the pet in the crate. Brent put t-shirts of his that he had slept in, in each crate to help comfort the cats. It is also recommended that you attach a small baggy with some hard food to the crate just in case. I doubt our cats will eat or drink anything during their transport but its there in case. And I took it one step further! I made Brent tape a current, color picture of the cat to the top of the crate. Just incase there was an escape or something!

Whew! I think I covered everything! Oh, what about the plane ticket? Duh! Because Hawaii is a quarantine state the animals are not allowed to travel in the same cabin as passengers; they have to travel with the luggage. Yes, this was very upsetting to me and I asked lots of questions of anyone who would listen. I was promised that the temperature and air pressure is maintained in the luggage compartments and that our cats would not be exposed to extreme temperatures. I also learned that it is best to let the cats travel alone and not with a person. This allows the people arranging everything to concentrate on the cats comfort and needs and not be bothered with the people.

Cat perches have been bought, assembled and waiting to be torn up!

Did you catch that? This allows the people arranging everything to concentrate on the cats. We were very fortunate to have a company hired for us to help coordinate the entire process. This is the part where they really worked. There are NO direct flights from Kansas to Hawaii. And try getting two cats from Kansas to Hawaii during the heat of the summer! There is a potential for the cats to spend time on a tarmac in the heat which can be deadly. Also remember that I am writing this the night before our cats begin their journey so I only know what I know until now. I am going on pure faith in the company hired to coordinate this, the airline and God. I could easily point out all sorts of horror stories about animals who have been transported by air; and one very recently from Hawaii who didn’t survive. But there are also lots of animals who have travelled and never had a problem. So continued prayers until you see an update, please!

So here is the game plan for Achates and Zosimos and their journey from Kansas to Hawaii. The boys will get tuna for breakfast the morning of their flight. Brent and his parents will lovingly prepare the boys for departure and the boys will be picked up at home around 2:00 pm CST. The boys will fly from Wichita to Atlanta on Delta airlines. In Atlanta they will be met by an animal service company who will pick the boys up and take them to a facility where they can get out of their crates and be together in a cat condo type setting. The boys will leave Atlanta at 10:50 the following morning and fly directly to Hawaii. They should arrive in Honolulu around 2:30 Hawaii time. Once in Hawaii they will be picked up by two agents of the Little Friends Pet Care and they will see that the boys pass inspection and are released. From there Little Friends Pet Care will then transport the boys to my apartment. I’m getting excited and teary eyed just typing this part. I will leave work around 3:00 pm and anxiously be waiting at home for my boys. I also plan to work from home on Friday so I can observe the boys and ensure they are doing good physically and mentally.

Even bought the "As Seen on TV-Cat Emery Board" for the boys!

So there you have it. The process from beginning to end of how to get two cats from Kansas to Hawaii. I plan to take pictures of the arrival Thursday and everything that happens that night and Friday. I’ll update this blog as quickly as possible incase others are interested. So please continue to pray for Achates and Zosimos’s safe travel to Hawaii!

Until then, love and hugs to my faithful followers; if your still out there!

Do I have enough toys for the boys?

I Slept Thru the Fireworks and Almost Drowned!

What a week this has been! I learned that my landlord (of the apartment I lived in first) was being foreclosed and the unit was going up for sale on August 31st! Needless to say I was shocked and worried. After much worry, several emails and a phone conversation I decided that my landlord was not being honest and hadn’t been honest from day one. I won’t bore you with the details but I began searching for a new apartment. Finding an apartment that meets my needs near Waikiki is very easy EXCEPT finding one that allows pets! In the end I found a cute little apartment on the west end of Waikiki that allows pets and is the same rent as my first apartment. The entire apartment complex is owned by a reputable Hawaiian businessman and women and is managed by a company. I found it on Craigslist. Funny thing is this apartment complex has been on Craigslist for longer than I have been in Hawaii. I ignored it because I thought I wanted to live in a high rise building. This is considered a low rise building; less than 4 floors.


I’m not sure how people look for apartments to rent on the mainland because I’ve never had to do that. I do know that in Honolulu many people use Craigslist and it’s been successful for me. But a hard learned lesson and warning to anyone reading this who may rent an apartment or house: rent from a reputable company or person. There are many people out there trying to make a buck who are not honest. They may mean well but they are still dishonest. I’ve also learned that there have been laws passed for renters during this time of uncertainty with home loans and mortgages. These laws are in effect until 2012 but there is a bit of help there for renters who are affected by foreclosure.

With the move on Wednesday and working long hours on Thursday and Friday I was exhausted by Friday night. Guess I am getting old because Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights I fell asleep before the fireworks! Yes, we had fireworks all three nights. We have fireworks every Friday night courtesy of the Hawaiian Hilton Village, on the west end of Waikiki. They go off between 7:30 pm and 8:15 pm every Friday night. Saturday and Sunday we had fireworks for the 4th of July. Saturday night fireworks were about 1 mile west of me and I couldn’t tell you what they were, how long they were or if they were good; I was in dreamland. But Sunday night fireworks I could see from my bedroom! Kind of cool to lay in bed and watch the sky light up above the apartment!

Evidently, on this island you have to buy a $25 permit to shoot off your own private fireworks. Due to the budget crisis the state has begun what they call “Furlough Fridays” where the state offices are closed one Friday a month. This past Friday the offices were closed so there were a lot of people who couldn’t buy the permits for fireworks and were upset. Oh, and the island is so dry that there ended up being 10 brush fires ignited from fireworks. I think all are out now but it is pretty serious here. They say the big island is the most drought stricken state in the US right now. And the island of Maui has had too many large fires in the last month.

I spent part of my Sunday trying to find a beach to enjoy! Usually the beaches are packed by noon so for a change I decided to head towards a beach by 10:00 am. I picked Lanakai which is nearby, great for swimming and beautiful. I decided to go early because parking can be tough as you have to park on side streets in a residential neighborhood. Big mistake! Can you say “high tide?” Evidently, high tide was right around 10:00 am Sunday morning because there wasn’t a beach to sit on! The tide was high enough that 90% of Lanakai beach was under water! After unloading the car, walking down to the beach, seeing no dry beach, walking back to the car, loading the car and driving for another spot 3 times I decided to go to Sandy Beach to watch the surfers. I got to Sandy Beach early enough to get a good parking spot and unloaded the car and trudged to a good spot on the beach to watch people and surfers. After about an hour on the beach I wanted to get wet by taking a little dip in the water. Mind you, Sandy Beach is for surfers and experienced surfers at that. But I love the water, consider myself a good swimmer and didn’t think the rough water was too rough so off I go.

Ankle deep water, feels good. Calf high water feels even better. Knee high water, perfect. Thigh high water, oops! Here comes a huge wave and down I go! I’m not talking a slow, graceful slip onto the soft sand. I’m talking a pounding surf, picking up a heavy girl and slamming her into the hard, wet sand! A couple more waves like that and I finally got control of myself and moved back so I could sit on the beach. Still being hit with water but not pounded. By this time my heart was beating so fast I should have had a heart attack! I just knew a lifeguard was on his way over to save the fat old lady without a brain! Nope! But a lady nearby was watching me with her mouth open like I was going to die. After what seemed like hours, I got enough control of myself to get out of the water and walk back to my chair and towel. Once sitting I realized I was covered in sand! I’m not talking sand on the feet from being wet. I’m talking sand EVERYWHERE between my skin and my swimsuit; and in places my doctor has never seen! I am okay and have a new respect for surfers! Especially anyone who surfs at Sandy Beach! If you have the pleasure of vacationing in Hawaii, please visit Sandy Beach but DON’T go in the water!

It seems like this post has been one long ramble and I’m sorry about that. Welcome to my mind! Brent and I did make it through our first 4th of July apart since he proposed to me in 1996! It was a tough day for me but anyone who knows me knows that I am an emotional person and cry easy. Needless to say I used my share of Kleenex. Now I’m not writing this to make anyone feel sorry for me; simply telling you what it’s like to live thousands of miles apart from your best friend and husband. Brent also went back to his hometown for the first time since I moved to Hawaii for a family wedding. He had a strange trip as he usually has me with him nagging along the way about his driving, needing to stop for the bathroom and other unimportant things. But we made it!

As you can imagine, living over 2,000 miles apart and sharing one checkbook and checking account can be a challenge. But thanks to cell phones, email and texting we manage and haven't overdrawn or bounced a check yet; knock on wood!

Below are several pictures of the new apartment.  This one feels more like a home than the first so I'm thinking all the hassle I went through was worth it.  This apartment reminds me a lot of the small house my Mom lived in before she passed away.  Once I get the finishing touches up I will share some pictures of the finished apartment.  But here's a small bit of trivia for anyone who watched the TV series Lost.  I live right behind the Hawaii Convention Center that Lost actually turned into the Airport on the series.  Even though the apartment is in a very busy area of town it is tucked away in a quiet, residential area.  Maybe one day you can visit and enjoy our cozy, little Hawaiian home!

Until next time, love and hugs to "my faithful followers!"

The walking path in front of the apartment buildings.  This is the Ala Wai canal that begins at the ocean and leads to a dead end (they never finished the canal).

The front of my apartment building.  There is another building next to this one that is identical.

The view from the kitchen of the living room.  I love the color of the front door!

The view of the living room and kitchen from the front door.  The little "cubby" hole to the left of the kitchen will be where the litter box is hidden.

The kitchen corner.  There is tons of storage in this small pie shaped kitchen!

Ready for the cats!

The backside of the apartment building I live in.  And Elliott in his reserved parking space!

A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Now I can laugh at the week I just had
It would have been okay if it was just “bad”
But it was the worst, and that’s not a rumor
But now that it’s over I can find a bit of humor

There were so many things that seemed to go wrong
For a while there I thought I’d not last very long
You probably won’t believe half the things I say
Believe me it was worse than just having a bad day

To start with, I came down with a nasty old flu
The stomach virus got me, hope you don’t get it too
Many trips to the porcelain bowl left me weak
It was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Then I found out I could have unexpected exposure
My landlord announced the apartments going into foreclosure
I just moved in… now another castle I must seek
It was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Five of our pond fish died, for no apparent reason
How does that happen? Is it that time of season?
If left floating on the water they begin to reek
It was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

What happened to the electricity? Where is the power?
For hours the whole block in the dark had to cower
If I can’t use my laptop soon, I’ll just freak
It was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Why does my living room carpet feel so boggy?
There’s a lot of water coming from somewhere, making it soggy
Oh look, my air conditioner has a leak
It was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Oh no! The cats broke the thermometer glass
Of course, the dogs had to see what’s come to pass
Now they’re all cut up ‘cuz they just had to peek
It was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

I’ll spare the other details of the week I just had
Just so you know it got pretty sad
But I kept trying to think positive, down to the letter
And thought, “Hey well, you know, it can only get better!”

Written by Dave Twelker
Inspiration provided by Tammi Fletcher

Haleakala Volcano, Maui, Hawaii 2007 courtesy of "Knitting Bitch"