May 31, 2011

Stress fracture to the left foot.  What a great way to start the summer!  Dave wants me to note this happened while I was on a regular run in my Vibram 5-finger shoes.  It's true, that's when it happened.  I mentioned this to my Doc and she says it has nothing to do with it.  She then went on to say these things just happen as we get older.  Thanks, I feel so much better now.
Kailua, Hawaii

May 30, 2011

Memorial Day.  Thank you, thank you.
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Kaneohe, Hawaii

May 29, 2011

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from the Aloha Council on Oahu spent the afternoon staking flags and placing leis at the head of every single headstone in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also know as Punchbowl Nation Cemetery. Since it's dedication on September 2, 1949, 34,000 veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars have been interred here.  Please take a moment to reflect upon the men and women of our great nation who serve and protect us today and those who went before them.
Honolulu, Hawaii

May 28, 2011

We chose to spend the afternoon at the big base pool and diving well.  The boys had a blast jumping off the diving boards, going down the loopty-loo water slide and hanging out together in the water.  Karen and I enjoyed the show and some sunshine.  Another great day in Hawaii!
Kailua, Hawaii

May 27, 2011

Dave and I took a drive down to Lanikai this morning.  The beaches are sandy white and the water is pristine aqua blue.  There are quite a few public parks and launch points for kayakers, paddle boarders, windsurfers and kite surfers.  Pretty good people watching too!
Lanikai, Hawaii

May 26, 2011

As I stated in a previous blog there is a big exercise going on somewhere nearby in the islands and our air traffic activity has increased significantly.  We've seen a lot of different aircraft we don't normally get to see here.  For today though, I thought I'd show off some of the regulars.  This big baby is an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III.   They're stationed on the Leeward side of Oahu, but use the Windward side to bounce and practice landing/take off.  Since this plane is SO large it's intriguing to watch.   I find myself silently and mentally urging the plane back up into the air as it slowly but surely leaves the end of the runway. Check them out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III .   In the background is a row of Navy P-3 Orions.  They are at the "Hot Spot" and being loaded up with "gear" for their part in the exercise.   This aircraft was originally designed to hunt submarines but has proven itself many times over as a multi functional warrior in many arenas from the Cuban Missile Crisis to Vietnam to Desert Storm, Shield and Iraqi Freedom to Afghanistan and Pakistan to Somalia to Latin America and most recently to Libya and Japan.  For more info on this mighty aircraft go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-3_Orion .

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Kailua, HI

May 25, 2011

There seems to be a big exercise going on close by because there are lots of different types of visiting airplanes here.  This is an Air Force F 15 Strike Eagle.  The details came from Dave this time.  He says the boys need to work on their identification skills because they told me it was a Navy F/A 18 Hornet....  All I know is they are LOUD!
Kailua, Hawaii