October 7, 2012

Today we had the Hawaii Youth Sailing Association Race #8 and final one for the season!  Another long, full day of being out on the water in Kaneohe Bay.  The winds ranged from crazy light to almost non-existent, making for a difficult race.  Sam took first and Nate took 2nd for the C2 category, while Zach jumped up to take 4th place in the C1 category.  A great finish of the season for all three boys!  After the race was completed our boys were the only ones who had to continue sailing to get back to their home port across the bay for gear breakdown and haul out.  As they were moving down wind over the long distance toward our docks they crossed paths with these much bigger, colorful J24 racers and got some friendly kudos on a job well done for their races. 

Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii 

October 6, 2012

We had race number 7 for the season out on our home waters of Kaneohe Bay today.  All day.  Nathan was not with us as he was up on the North Shore participating in his Boy Scout Order of the Arrow Ordeal.  Zach and Sam were two of the 48 racers.  These Open Bic boats were a new addition to the regular line up of El Toros and Lasers.  They have open end, self bailing hulls, allow the occupants to stand up and sail with one or two people. Very interesting set up.

Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

October 5, 2012

Yes, that's my ballot in the mailbox!  And a Netflix return movie (Battleship -- fun flick with the kids), but that's not the point I'm trying to make.   It's not just a right, but a responsibility.  For those who are voting by absentee ballot like me... the final step is actually placing it in the mail!!!

Kailua, Hawaii

October 4, 2012

I love leftovers for lunch!  Last night we had spicy lentil barley patties with a tropical salsa and fresh veggie salad for dinner.  I had only enough for one serving tucked in the fridge so I was the lucky person who got to enjoy it for a second time.  Yum!

Kailua, Hawaii

October 3, 2012

Anyone remember these?   In my house, at least three of them are consumed EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Lately, we've noticed an odd phenomenon... when we removed a new box from the freezer and open it up, not all of them are frozen despite being in the cold box for an extended period of time.  But when we lay them out on the counter, the liquid ones soon begin to frost over and solidify.   Pretty cool thermodynamics at work.

Kailua, Hawaii

October 2, 2012

I helped Dave run his errands today.  On the leeward side of the island.  Honolulu.  It's busier, with lots more people, more traffic.  At one point we had time to kill so we hit the big commissary for the weekly shop.  The Pearl Harbor commissary (military grocery store) is almost three times larger than the one we normally frequent in Kaneohe on the windward (quiet and less populated) side of the island.... and has an exponentially greater number of shoppers.   And even though the two said stores are run by the same corporation, they are not set up in the same fashion.   Peanuts and popcorn should be across the aisle from the cereals, just down from the candy.... cheeses should be in the dairy case, not in the deli.... and why do you not carry our favorite yogurt or Italian ice when the little store does?!?!   Well, I guess I'm a creature of habit and I don't do well with change.  I think that's why this valley, the mountains behind it and the puffy clouds over head were such a welcoming sight when I pulled off the H3 and headed toward home.  

Kaneohe, Hawaii

October 1, 2012

So what is this?  Well... once a month at noon on the first business day of each month our island does a Tsunami early warning test across the entire island.  This is our warning siren tower... just down the street atop our local firehouse.  We can hear it loud and clear.  

Kailua, Hawaii