over before it started

My learning capacity is about as expansive as a hairline crack. I don't know if it is my creativity or patience that has withered into dust, but something has turned me into a Seus-ian: happy and blissfully ignorant.

It could be worse. I could be a depressed or malicious intellectual.
It must be the lack of sleep, exercise, and the surplus of sugar and sweets.

My three-and-a-half-month-old son has more focus than I do.

Whale!

From about January through end of April, you can see whales just about everywhere. I took this picture on Kuhio Highway just south of Kealia Beach. I would see them almost every day as I drove into work.

Moloa'a Bay

Nice calm day, clear water, coral.

Moloa'a Bay

This picture was taken around the bay after walking across some rocks.

Moloa'a Bay

Down the road a bit from the Mango Shack is Moloa'a Bay.

Mango Shack

This is the sweet little vacation rental we got for Neil's birthday called the Mango Shack located in Moloa'a.

Neil's birthday

We had some friends from O'ahu come visit for Neil's birthday. We loaded them in the back of Neil's van after picking them up from the airport. They are all wearing sunglasses (and snorkel gear) because apparently, Neil had lots of sawdust in his van that was whipping into their faces. We're sorry! We were also driving with the van door open since it has no A/C.

Neil at work

Neil at work. He is in the red shirt on the left. The other red beastie is the chipper machine.

closeup of tree

here is the same tree.
it reminds me of those plastic lanyard things we used to make in girl scouts.

greenery

Here is a photo of one of the trees up on the mountain.

The view from halfway

View from halfway mark. Bottom right are some taro fields. Hanalei Bay in background. If you were driving and continued around the point seen at the top, you'd hit Wainiha and Ha'ena, and eventually, the end of the road.

Look at us

I woke him up at 5:45 a.m. to come with me on this hike.

close up of flower

Another flower.

Purple flower

Purple orchid-like flower. I've seen a few of these along the trail.

Yellow flower

This is some sort of yellow orchid along the trail.

Okolehao Trail

This is the bridge to my current favorite hiking trail located in Hanalei on the North Shore. You take this wooden bridge into the jungle, and it's pretty much straight up the mountain with a few turns. It's really nice to be up there when the trades are blowing and you can hear the wind through the leaves. There are also some neat bird sounds, orchids and a few strawberry guavas along the way.

New stuff

since my last post was on Feb 2, and it is now May 18, I guess there is some updating to do.
Here's the short version:
1. I'm 18 weeks pregnant
2. We are still living in the same apartment
a. We have not had to call the cops on our neighbors since mid-April and rumor has it that they are vacating before June.
3. I am still at the same job; it's still very enjoyable.
4. Neil is still at the same job, risking life for limb (tree trimmer)
5. The weather is still gorgeous - we did have a bout with vog but that has cleared up
6. I've discovered hiking and love it
7. I've only been surfing while pregnant once so far, and yes, we did stand up but it was on a wave that was probably six inches high
8. We will be taking vacation in about two weeks to the East Coast and we are very excited
9. The baby is due October 18 and we are not finding out what sex it is, so I guess this gives my brother permission to still call the baby "Aiden's cousin it"

And new pictures are on the way!

Miss you all,
Ellen

I've jumped on the bangwagon

I guess this is what happens when you have a day off from work and it's a little rainy outside. You get the bangs. That's right, after a 16-year hiatus, I've jumped back on the bangwagon of my elementary years.

here they are in all their glory....









This is me taking a picture of myself

















here is my serious indie rocker look










and this is perhaps the most frightful picture I have ever taken of myself.

Poltergeist Microwave

Sound asleep, no one else in the house but Neil and I, when a jolt of electromagnetic waves wake us up. A whir and bright light and I look to my right and see Neil still in bed and he looks to his left and sees me still in bed so the mystery is, how in the hell did the microwave turn on and start cooking?

I doubt either one of us had sleptwalk because if we had, you can be sure there would a least be some food in the microwave but it was empty and counting down from 3-plus minutes.

This is not the first time our microwave has acted up. A week ago, it began to beep every minute or so until we unplugged it. But nothing was creepier than last night.

I'm hoping our poltergeist will at least throw some snacks in the microwave the next time. Or maybe our poltergeist will pack our lunches for work. Just a few small requests. Afterall, it's not paying us any rent.

So what Thanksgiving was three months ago?

The man in the khaki-colored shorts (second from left) and ponytail is our friend Kaipo. He kept us in good spirits for much of our stay at Haena.