I'm out of blog ideas so here's another sunset.
And, Baron, I am finally leaving for my trip tomorrow. I am all pau with work. And folks, don't expect any posts from the bottom of the Grand Canyon! You'll just have to wait a while.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Two...Two...Two
Two more days of work before VACATION! The count down is on and my coworkers must be sick of hearing about it. I fly out Wednesday and my Grand Canyon hike begins Friday. My backpack is packed and ready. I took it for a hike today up the hills in the neighborhood to test it out. It weighs 23 pounds now. That's before food and water. So it will probably be a bit over 30 lbs for the hike. I had hoped to keep it a little less than that but there's not really anything I can eliminate.
Here's what I'm packing:
tent
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
two shirts and a tank top
two pairs of shorts
warm fleece top
convertible pants
rain jacket
river sandals
socks and underwear
one swim suit
small Maglit (also doubles as a hammer to pound in tent stakes)
toothbrush and toothpaste
campsuds
sunscreen
comb
hand lotion
sunglasses
digital camera w/ recently purchased 2 gig flash card
teeny, tiny notepad, pen, and super small (like 2 point type) New Testament
Now that I look at that long list, no wonder all that stuff weighs 23 pounds. But it's hard to decide what to leave behind. I guess living for 5 days with 23 pounds of stuff is pretty good. I know women whose purses probably outweigh that.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Fool for Jesus
I certainly felt silly tonight. I went over to Calvary Community Church, which was my church until I started going somewhere else about 8 months ago. I was in the mood to worship Jesus, and figured I'd just sit in the back and slip out when the music was over. God had a different idea. When I got there Tsuneo asked me to lead worship because there was no one else to do it. I just started laughing. "I can't do that!" "Well you can sing, can't you?" "We'll I DO sing, that doesn't mean I CAN sing." But it made me sad to think this service would take place without any worship so I reluctantly went home to get my guitar. Tsuneo made me leave my Bible behind at the church. I asked her, "are you afraid I won't come back?" "Yes," she said.
I pulled out my dusty guitar, rusty strings and all and just started playing whatever songs I could find that have easy chords. I had to stop playing one song because I forgot how to make an 'E' chord. It was also a bit shocking to be singing into a microphone. The only time I have done that is at the Parott's Lounge after a few Kona brews. But I guess it was a neat experience. It amazes me that God wants to be a part of our lives, and will use us for his purposes, even if we really don't know what we are doing. I doubt the music sounded very pretty tonight, but if it caused someone to think about how good God is, or if it caused someone to sing praise about him, then I suppose it got the job done. I am really stoked that God could have a use for me, and that he wants to be a part of my life. Is that cool or what? I am used to making myself look ridiculous, anyway, so I figure I might was well be a fool for Jesus.
I certainly felt silly tonight. I went over to Calvary Community Church, which was my church until I started going somewhere else about 8 months ago. I was in the mood to worship Jesus, and figured I'd just sit in the back and slip out when the music was over. God had a different idea. When I got there Tsuneo asked me to lead worship because there was no one else to do it. I just started laughing. "I can't do that!" "Well you can sing, can't you?" "We'll I DO sing, that doesn't mean I CAN sing." But it made me sad to think this service would take place without any worship so I reluctantly went home to get my guitar. Tsuneo made me leave my Bible behind at the church. I asked her, "are you afraid I won't come back?" "Yes," she said.
I pulled out my dusty guitar, rusty strings and all and just started playing whatever songs I could find that have easy chords. I had to stop playing one song because I forgot how to make an 'E' chord. It was also a bit shocking to be singing into a microphone. The only time I have done that is at the Parott's Lounge after a few Kona brews. But I guess it was a neat experience. It amazes me that God wants to be a part of our lives, and will use us for his purposes, even if we really don't know what we are doing. I doubt the music sounded very pretty tonight, but if it caused someone to think about how good God is, or if it caused someone to sing praise about him, then I suppose it got the job done. I am really stoked that God could have a use for me, and that he wants to be a part of my life. Is that cool or what? I am used to making myself look ridiculous, anyway, so I figure I might was well be a fool for Jesus.
Bummer, Dude
Sometimes we have to live with disappointment. After a crappy day Tuesday I came home to find a letter from Sierra Club in my mailbox. The Grand Canyon hike I signed up for 8 months ago has been cancelled. I have wanted to hike the canyon for as long as I can remember. I've been training in my neighborhood by walking up steep hills with a backpack full of water bottles and books. I have already purchased non-refundable airline tickets. (is there such a thing as a refundable airline ticket?)
First I felt disbelief. Then anger. I felt like Ken Mattingly who was set to pilot Apollo 13 when he was "grounded" for having been exposed to the measles.
I reacted quite bitterly to the letter and I was not someone you would want to hang around with last week. But I did manage to find a hike through a private tour company. It won't be as neat as Sierra Club's because it's going down the North Kaibab trail on the north rim and up Bright Angel on the south rim, which are the most commonly taken routes. I am afraid it will feel touristy and not remote and adventurous. This hike costs more and I had to change one of my plane tickets which cost me $125. The good news is that I am still going. Ken Mattingly finally made it to the moon on Apollo 16, and darn it, I am hiking the Grand Canyon.
Sometimes we have to live with disappointment. After a crappy day Tuesday I came home to find a letter from Sierra Club in my mailbox. The Grand Canyon hike I signed up for 8 months ago has been cancelled. I have wanted to hike the canyon for as long as I can remember. I've been training in my neighborhood by walking up steep hills with a backpack full of water bottles and books. I have already purchased non-refundable airline tickets. (is there such a thing as a refundable airline ticket?)
First I felt disbelief. Then anger. I felt like Ken Mattingly who was set to pilot Apollo 13 when he was "grounded" for having been exposed to the measles.
I reacted quite bitterly to the letter and I was not someone you would want to hang around with last week. But I did manage to find a hike through a private tour company. It won't be as neat as Sierra Club's because it's going down the North Kaibab trail on the north rim and up Bright Angel on the south rim, which are the most commonly taken routes. I am afraid it will feel touristy and not remote and adventurous. This hike costs more and I had to change one of my plane tickets which cost me $125. The good news is that I am still going. Ken Mattingly finally made it to the moon on Apollo 16, and darn it, I am hiking the Grand Canyon.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
The Good Life
What a fantastic day I am having. I woke up just in time to watch the start of the Queen Liliuokalani long distance canoe race to Honaunau from my lanai. The women paddle 18 miles with the current to Honaunau, then the men paddle 18 miles against the current back to Kailua Bay.
For breakfast I treated myself to Sunlights Donuts in Keauhou. My favorite cinnamon twists were fresh out of the pan when I got there, warm and crispy.
My folks are out of town and I found my dad's Jeep keys hidden in a cooler in the garage. So I rode his Jeep on down to Makalawena, and I was the first person on the beach. The most beautiful soft, white sand in existence. And it was all mine for about 10 minutes. As nice as that was, the drive was the highlight. WEEEE! I'll be lifting my Liberty soon, for the sole purpose of driving to Makalawena.
Then I went to Costco and stocked up on meat and beer for my party next Wednesday. (when the cat's away...) I got extravagant and bought some King Crab legs. Then I stopped at Hawaii Forest and Trail and bought a pair of pants with zip-off legs. I have always wanted some.
Then it was crab leg eating time! MMMMM. I washed them down with fresh Castaway IPA, fresh from the growler. Just as I put that buttery crab to my lips I saw the men returning from Honaunau in the canoes. A perfect day so far and it's only 3 in the afternoon.
What a fantastic day I am having. I woke up just in time to watch the start of the Queen Liliuokalani long distance canoe race to Honaunau from my lanai. The women paddle 18 miles with the current to Honaunau, then the men paddle 18 miles against the current back to Kailua Bay.
For breakfast I treated myself to Sunlights Donuts in Keauhou. My favorite cinnamon twists were fresh out of the pan when I got there, warm and crispy.
My folks are out of town and I found my dad's Jeep keys hidden in a cooler in the garage. So I rode his Jeep on down to Makalawena, and I was the first person on the beach. The most beautiful soft, white sand in existence. And it was all mine for about 10 minutes. As nice as that was, the drive was the highlight. WEEEE! I'll be lifting my Liberty soon, for the sole purpose of driving to Makalawena.
Then I went to Costco and stocked up on meat and beer for my party next Wednesday. (when the cat's away...) I got extravagant and bought some King Crab legs. Then I stopped at Hawaii Forest and Trail and bought a pair of pants with zip-off legs. I have always wanted some.
Then it was crab leg eating time! MMMMM. I washed them down with fresh Castaway IPA, fresh from the growler. Just as I put that buttery crab to my lips I saw the men returning from Honaunau in the canoes. A perfect day so far and it's only 3 in the afternoon.
Lucky I Live Hawaii
The following posts are about our trip to California. It was a great vacation, even if we were only there for three days. Having a friend who works for the airlines sure is an advantage!
I've never been to Southern Cali, and I used to make fun of California. I'll continue to do so. I was amazed by the long sandy beaches and the surf breaks are less crowded than ours. There are also countless bars, people, activities, concerts, etc. But something was missing...the aloha.
Don't get me wrong, I met some great people like Jim's friend Stacey. But being in Southern California is in no way like being in Hawaii. It's loud and crowded and hectic. I always pictured L.A. as a big, glamorous city like Chicago. But there's actually no skyline to speak of. It's just sprawl- endless packed expressways surrounded by chain stores, offices and cement. One huge, smog-covered suburb stretches as far as the eye can see.
At least that's what I saw. Obviously, it's hard to get a fair impression in three days. It was a great trip, but now that I am home I can't stop repeating the phrase, "Lucky I live Hawaii!"
The following posts are about our trip to California. It was a great vacation, even if we were only there for three days. Having a friend who works for the airlines sure is an advantage!
I've never been to Southern Cali, and I used to make fun of California. I'll continue to do so. I was amazed by the long sandy beaches and the surf breaks are less crowded than ours. There are also countless bars, people, activities, concerts, etc. But something was missing...the aloha.
Don't get me wrong, I met some great people like Jim's friend Stacey. But being in Southern California is in no way like being in Hawaii. It's loud and crowded and hectic. I always pictured L.A. as a big, glamorous city like Chicago. But there's actually no skyline to speak of. It's just sprawl- endless packed expressways surrounded by chain stores, offices and cement. One huge, smog-covered suburb stretches as far as the eye can see.
At least that's what I saw. Obviously, it's hard to get a fair impression in three days. It was a great trip, but now that I am home I can't stop repeating the phrase, "Lucky I live Hawaii!"
Friday, September 01, 2006
So Much to Say...
...about the Dave Matthews Band concerts
I almost forgot how good live music can sound. I have seen Dave Matthews Band a few other times and it was always amazing, but not like the two shows we saw in California. And they had the most creative lighting display I have ever seen at a concert.
Friday in Irvine, Dave opened with Pantala Naga Pampa then played Rapunzel, just like the start of the Before These Crowded Streets album. The entire show was like a crab leg buffet for my ears, I just wanted to take it all in and savor every note. Hearing Boyd Tinsley jam on Lie in Our Graves was a definite highlight, so was Sister, a song Dave played alone on stage with beautiful lighting that created a city scape backdrop. Toward the end of the song lights appeared to stream down like rain. They played plenty of new songs, and dug deep into their repertoire for others. They even played a new, unreleased track called Break Free. Butch Taylor's trumpet added a lot of depth to the music, and Louisiana Bayou, not my favorite Dave song, was brought to life with Robert Randolf on the slide guitar. Then they ended with my favorite, Ants Marching.
And the Saturday show in Chula Vista was even better. The sound system was superior to the previous venue and we liked the set list better. They opened with Jim's favorite, Don't Drink the Water. And the list included many Dave classics like Jimi Thing, So Much to Say, Too Much, Two Step, What Would You Say and Tripping Billies. An unforgettable show! I only wish we could go again!
On the mainland I was a concert fanatic. For several summers my goal was to either attend a concert or go to an amusement park at least once a week. And I just about achieved that goal. Those are two things I miss in the islands.
Coming soon...a top 10 list of the best concerts I have ever been to.
...about the Dave Matthews Band concerts
I almost forgot how good live music can sound. I have seen Dave Matthews Band a few other times and it was always amazing, but not like the two shows we saw in California. And they had the most creative lighting display I have ever seen at a concert.
Friday in Irvine, Dave opened with Pantala Naga Pampa then played Rapunzel, just like the start of the Before These Crowded Streets album. The entire show was like a crab leg buffet for my ears, I just wanted to take it all in and savor every note. Hearing Boyd Tinsley jam on Lie in Our Graves was a definite highlight, so was Sister, a song Dave played alone on stage with beautiful lighting that created a city scape backdrop. Toward the end of the song lights appeared to stream down like rain. They played plenty of new songs, and dug deep into their repertoire for others. They even played a new, unreleased track called Break Free. Butch Taylor's trumpet added a lot of depth to the music, and Louisiana Bayou, not my favorite Dave song, was brought to life with Robert Randolf on the slide guitar. Then they ended with my favorite, Ants Marching.
And the Saturday show in Chula Vista was even better. The sound system was superior to the previous venue and we liked the set list better. They opened with Jim's favorite, Don't Drink the Water. And the list included many Dave classics like Jimi Thing, So Much to Say, Too Much, Two Step, What Would You Say and Tripping Billies. An unforgettable show! I only wish we could go again!
On the mainland I was a concert fanatic. For several summers my goal was to either attend a concert or go to an amusement park at least once a week. And I just about achieved that goal. Those are two things I miss in the islands.
Coming soon...a top 10 list of the best concerts I have ever been to.
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