Memorial Day Weekend

I haven't updated the blog in more than a week. Work has been really hectic and frustrating and the customers have been more out of control than usual. It's been wearing on me and at night I am too tired to do anything.

But the three day weekend and observance of Memorial Day refreshed me and left me thinking of the things that make this country great.

Washing our Jeeps and waxing up our surfboards, grilling burgers and listening to John Mellencamp. Jim Nabors singing Back Home Again in Indiana at the start of the Indy 500 followed by that famous exclamation, "Lady and gentlemen, start your engines!" There's no prouder moment to be an American and a Hoosier. You can bet my 9 1/2 foot flag was on display this weekend. God bless America!

There was a fun potluck at church, plenty of eating, basketball, volleyball and tom foolery. I am embarrassed to be from Indiana but not know how to play basketball. The rope swing proved to be more fun. We weren't supposed to play on it, but I didn't know that until later when I heard Pastor Bruce telling the kids not use the swing anymore. I didn't have the courage to tell him I was the one who climbed the tree and got the swing down in the first place. I think I am busted, though, because Kim Jensen took this photo and now I am posting to evidence online.

God's Gas

That's what Hank Hill calls it. No wonder he has dedicated his life to selling propane and propane accessories. We went out to NELHA Friday night to fire up the hibachi in celebration of my mom's 60th birthday. That little grill took FOREVER.

Today was the one-year anniversary sale at Leisure Island Grill. I counted myself blessed just to see their amazing grills in action. The chef from Jackie Rey's was there cooking up seared ahi, rotisserie chicken and beef, and it was delicious! They should have charged admission. The store sells high-end BBQs and designs and builds custom outdoor kitchens. You'd have to see these things to believe them. My dad's boss bought a $1,200 grill there last week for his vacation rental, and it's not one of the fancy ones. If you live in Kona you really need to go see their showroom. It's truly inspirational. These American-made stainless steel beauties use infrared technology that heats up to 1,100 degrees. And they come with a 20-year warranty.

Here's where the story is going. The store had a drawing to win a portable, stainless steel, infrared grill. And my mom won! My folks went straight from the grill store to Costco to buy meat. The grill is a beauty. She heats up immediately and she burns so hot if you shut the lid it will warp. This table-top miracle cooked a T-bone to perfection in just under 6 minutes.

I'm starting to feel like Colleen!

Remember how Colleen celebrated her birthday for a whole month? And she got 18 going away parties before she moved to the mainland? (or was it 19?)

Today my parents gave me a water bottle and cross bars for the roof of my Jeep. Mom made potato doughnuts for breakfast and baked me a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Friends from work took me and another birthday girl, Cindy, to lunch, and tonight we went to Teshima's.

Folks really know how to make me feel special and I really appreciate it. Mahalo!

Whew! I am just about all birthdayed out for this year.

The birthday celebrations continue!

Sarah took me to the prime rib & seafood buffet at the King Kam hotel. They have everything there! But I really kept my focus and mainly went for the good stuff: Shrimp tempura, sashimi, and CRAB LEGS!

The Celebrations Begin

In honor of my birthday we held our weekly advertising team meeting at the Kona Brew Pub Friday. Bob wouldn't let us order a beer until our meeting was pau. (the bum!) And he made fun of me because of the look on my face when I tried to order a Steam Vent and was told no. The folks on my team really know how to make me feel special, they got me a brew pub towel and sun visor.

So Monday is my birthday. I am offering a prize to the first person who guesses how old I will be.

(Only one guess per person. Void where prohibited.)

Wet Okoles are installed!

I can see why these car seat covers cost so much. They are tailored to fit the seats like a glove, and they're made of thick, high-quality wet suit material. (And they're made in USA) The 60/40 bench seat was a bit tricky and I had to do part of it twice because I covered up the middle seat belt the first time, but for the most part they were extremely easy to put on.

Bikini Bottom, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

It's mid-week and I'm a little desperate for blog topics. So here's another underwater photo for you. These are the fun Sponge Bob Squarepants ornaments I bought at Stockley's for my aquarium. The coconut is supposed to open and close as it fills with air but the plastic it's made of is too buoyant so it stays open all the time.

Coupon Tom's Wild Ride

The advertising staff at work is organized into teams. I am on the Five Star team along with Dianne, Dino and Jerri (who you have met in previous posts) Now meet Tom.

We took my dad's Jeep to the top of Hualalai today with the Soil and Water Conservation group and we were lucky enough to have Tom join us for the long, bumpy ride. It was pretty cloudy all day so we never caught a view of the coastline but we saw a lot strange volcanic features and Ohia trees and we learned some cool stuff from a volcanologist. I think my dad is a little uneasy to know the volcano our house sits on is overdue for an erruption.

Here's a photo of me at the Shotgun Crater:

Cinco de Mayo

This is what Dianne looks like through an empty beer glass. (incase anyone was wondering)

A bunch of us WHT folks enjoyed cold beers, good company, and a beautiful sunset at the Royal Kona Resort Friday.

I don't want to exclude Dino, so here's a photo of him doing what he does best. (You may be surprised to know that his best talent isn't selling sweet bread.)

PT Gal

Jerri got a new car yesterday. She's so happy she's glowing. I wonder how many miles she'll put on this weekend?

My Lips Itch!

I'm allergic to mango tree sap. About five years ago I went climbing around in mango trees, picking mangos, eating mangos, and rubbing my face with mango sap covered hands. Two days later they sent me home from work because my bumpy, splotchy face and swollen shut eyes were scaring the customers.

So I was pretty careful around the mango trees on Jennifer's farm in Holualoa Sunday. Not careful enough, apparently, because my lips still are swollen, bumpy and itchy three days later.

I did climb this mystery tree. No one knows what kind it is, but I am certain it's not mango. I'd rather confront poison ivy, oak or sumac than to take on another mango tree. Thankfully, poison ivy, oak and sumac are three things I don't have to worry about now that I live in Hawaii. Here's a fun poison ivy, oak and sumac website. Brings me back to my Midwestern roots.