The Week Is Gone!

Posted on Friday, April 3, 2026 by Paul

The day started with scraping and pounding on the walls.  Our painters have been working for five days doing prep.  The walls look great now, and next week they get a paint job!  The painter will start with the front of the house first since it will be bright white (we want the Govee lights to reflect better).

We stayed inside doing our computer things until Carlos, our trusted gardener, showed up, and then we put him to work.  He did the following for us (as we are getting too old).

  • Planted two climbing roses in the front yard
  • Planted our new boysenberry and blueberry plants
  • Fixed front sprinkler head

I then began finishing off my Birthday/Christmas present to myself; my very own bidet!  Yeah!   Mary saw me curled up like a sow bug with one leg in the bathtub and began giggling uncontrollably.  Of course,e she got the camera and took a picture of me doing my latest yoga moves.

It’s a lot more difficult than it was 40 years ago!!!

The painters were hard at work preparing the house for painting.  They have spent five days so far just getting ready to paint.  I am excited about testing the new paint on the front of the house!

The preparation work takes four times as long as painting the house!

After the gift installation and painting status walk was complete, we headed to the garden and provided directions to our wonderful gardener.

Climbing roses are not true climbers; they lack tendrils and must be manually tied to structures, often growing 8–20 feet high. Known as “madmen” for their rapid growth, they can bloom multiple times a season. For maximum flowers, canes should be trained horizontally, which encourages vertical, blooming side-shoots.

This is a climbing rose, and we expect it to crawl up the front gate by next Monday (or we want our money back!)

I caught a glimpse of the wabbit who was visiting the garden again!

Tomorrow I will set a trap for this pesky wabbit!

A Day of Garden Chaos (Mostly) began right after our fancy lunch made from the garden—basically, we ate our future.  Then we went right back out to destroy— I mean, improve—the rest of it.  Today consisted of four phases of activity:

The Great Hydrangea Relocation of 2026: I had hydrangeas to transplant, which is fancy-speak for “dig up these plants and move them three feet over because apparently they had an opinion about their current location.” Hydrangeas are dramatic.  They’ll either thrive or stage a slow, leafy protest.  No in-between.

The Rose’s Witness Protection Program: Then there was the rose that had been living in the shade like some gothic Victorian novel.  “I’m too delicate for this sunlight!” it probably cried.  Well, NOT ANYMORE, ROSE.   Time to get a tan and deal with it.

Mary: The Flower Assassin:  Mary, meanwhile, went full Edward Scissorhands on the patio flowers and roses.  Snip   Snip.  SNIP.  Dead blossoms are gone.  Overgrown petals?  Obliterated.  She was basically a tiny, focused tornado with pruning shears.

The Grand Finale:  And why, because Easter is coming, and by God, THIS garden will look SPECTACULAR… even if it’s just us three admiring it like we’re posing for a home and garden magazine shoot.

We checked the soaker hoses, and they are operating as expected; everything is getting the necessary water.

Below are twelve melons and six watermelons. Watermelons are botanically fruits (they’re the ripened ovary of a flowering plant), but they’re not vegetables in the culinary sense.

We have almost 75 feet of soaker hose in the corn/melon garden.

We love our blueberries!  Blueberries are one of the few truly blue foods, native to North America and historically called “star berries” by Indigenous peoples due to the five-pointed star shape on their blossom end.  Packed with antioxidants, they are considered a superfood and were even brought to space by NASA.

The roses are doing quite well, and Mother Nature (Mary) keeps them deadheaded, pruned,  and deweeded.

What is the difference between deadheading and pruning?
Deadheading and pruning are often confused, but they serve different purposes in the garden.  Deadheading flowers is the simple act of removing faded flowers to encourage more bloom.  It’s a quick task you can do with pruning snips as you walk through your garden.  Pruning, on the other hand, involves more extensive trimming to shape the plant and promote overall health.

I ran across a picture from 1954 with Judy, Claudia (my cousin), and yours truly.

We are going somewhere, but for the life og me, I have no idea…. It was, after all, 70+ years ago!

So, I ran it through one of my many AI photoprocessors, and it looks pretty good!

The turning point for home color photos was the 1930s-1950s, with the advent of Kodachrome (1935), a game-changer—better quality and more affordable —and then Ektachrome (1946), which made color even more accessible.  Color home photography was pricey, with color film costing 3-4x more than black & white.

Most casual family photos were still black & white through the 1950s-60s.  By the 1970s, color was common but not universal.  By the 1980s, color was standard.

The 1990s brought digital photography, and in the 2020s, AI could turn black-and-white photos into color!  We lived in an amazing time.

Judy is out of the picture these days, but I still talk to Claudia every few weeks!

Today is Jonathan’s 37th birthday!  He and his bride are celebrating this evening.  Mary and I called and sang happy birthday to him!

Jon and Sarah are somewhere in the Caribbean!

I also found a picture of Jon, Colleen, and me from a recent Caribbean trip.  We had a lot of fun on the two-week cruise.

We love our grandson!!

At 6:00 pm, Robin and Bob dropped by on their way to Europe for a three-week vacation!  We walked them through the garden, shared a bottle of champagne, and sent them off in a limo to LAX.  We will really miss them!

Be safe and take a lot of pictures!!

We watched some TV and crashed around 10:30 pm.  It’s been a long day!

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The Week Is Almost Over Already!?

Posted on Thursday, April 2, 2026 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

I was a bit embarassed last night.  There was a man at the bar, drunk.  I picked him up off the floor and offered to take him home. On the way to my car, he fell three times.  When I get to his house, I help him out of the car, and on the way to the front door, he falls four more times.  I rang the bell and said, “Here’s your husband!” The man’s wife says, “Where’s his wheelchair?”  I must be more careful next time!

The Sun is up and so are we!  7:30 am should be banned!  Today, I have some serious chores that must get done.

  • Replace the garbage disposal wall switch, and
  • Install my Christmas and Birthday present to myself (guess what it is?)

I got to thinking about “time” and what “pm “and “am” really mean.  In Latin, “a.m.” stands for ante meridiem.  Translated, this means “before midday.” The counterpart, “p.m.,” stands for post meridiem, which, naturally, translates to “after midday.” In establishing the timekeeping standards, midday was set to be 12 noon.

To further clarify, it was decided that 00:00, the start of the new day, would be known as 12 midnight.  And 12, high noon, would be the transition to the p.m. hours.  (Technically, there is no 12 pm because it is not “post,” but there is a 12:01 pm) .

To avoid confusion, many say “midnight” or “noon” instead of the 12 o’clock times.  While context (setting doctors’ appointments, requesting work meetings) usually clarifies whether someone is referring to 3 am or 3 pm, it’s always helpful to add a quick “in the morning” if the time is a bit more ambiguous.

For example, a night owl may have no problem showing up for 10 pm plans, but their friends will be sitting at 10 am brunch, wondering why they got stood up.

Perhaps I should NOT think so hard!

Duh!!

Last night, Mary tried to fire up the garbage disposal and got… absolutely nothing.  I assumed the cleaning crew just flipped the”noisy kitchen thing” switch off at the wall.  Alas, no—turns out the wall switch has officially retired.

Plan of attack: a) Kill power at the breaker (because I enjoy living), b) Swap the dead switch for a new one (aka a romantic trip to Home Depot), c) Restore power and see if we’ve resurrected the disposal—or if it demands a larger offering.

It would have curled my hair IF I had any!!

Then a miracle occurred!  After removing the switch from the wall and finding out it was OK after all, it seems that the connection to the wire just needed to be redone.  Within a few minutes, all was well in the kitchen!

At 10:00 am, we headed to the Elks via the dry cleaners.  Then off to the Elks for a celebration of something, anything!

I’ve tried Buddhism, Scientology, Numerology, Transcendental Meditation, Qabbala, t’ai chi, feng shui, and Deepak Chopra, but I find straight gin works best.

We had a great time, and Bob Carlson was there to celebrate his 90th birthday!!!  Mary attacked Ronnie and “slap-coined” him!

Ronnie promised us a drink on Friday night!

We headed for home around 1:30 pm and immediately took a nap; we were both tired.  I did not wake up until 5:30 pm, and alas, no Mary present.  Where could she be, I wondered.  I heard a strange sound in the garden and went outside to investigate.

To my surprise, there was Mary in her easter Bunny costume, practicing hiding eggs in our garden!  When I was a little boy, the Easter Bunny did NOT look like that!!!

I may join her in hiding eggs this weekend!

We worked on the garden for about an hour before going inside and watching some TV.  Before going to bed, we arranged some of the storage in the garage and walked the front yard.

We watched a goofy movie about people stranded on an island with dinosaurs; it was so silly we didn’t even show the trailer.

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Back To “Normal”

Posted on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 by Paul

Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid medication used to reduce inflammation, itching, and swelling, or to replace the natural cortisol produced by the adrenal glands in adrenal gland conditions.  It is available as creams, ointments, tablets, and injections, and treats conditions such as eczema, allergies, arthritis, and skin irritation.

It’s Wednesday, and that means another day of early morning punishment at the gym.  My back is still sore from the fall two weeks ago, so I am taking it easy.

After the gym, we hit the testing center so Mary could donate a vial of courage (and blood).  Since we were practically next door to the Orange Circle, we figured we’d reward ourselves with the Elks’ legendary turkey sandwich… only to remember the Elks doesn’t open until noon.  So we basically went: fitness, blood, and then got rejected by a sandwich.

NOTE TO SELF: The Elks in Orange opens for lunch at noon!

We wondered why we were there by ourselves!

The Lodge is relatively small but quite nice, and the people are very friendly!

Since Renata’s was next door, we just went two more doors and had a great Italian lunch with Mary doing the veal piccata while I enjoyed the Penne Sinatra special.

Veal piccata is a classic Italian dish consisting of thin, tender veal cutlets (scallopini) dredged in flour, pan-seared, and served in a bright, tangy sauce made from lemon juice, white wine, butter, and capers.  Often prepared in under 30 minutes, it balances delicate meat with a savory, acidic, and buttery pan sauce.

Mary’s favorite.

Returning home, Mary cleaned the house since the house cleaners were coming at 3:00 pm.  I headed outside to finish off the drip lines for the veggies we planted yesterday.  This required a trip to Home Depot to get three 25′ long soaker hoses and a few other necessities of life.  I finished off the garden watering system around 6:00 pm.

Mary came out to help and entertain me.

Mary assisted me in installing the Happy Easter banner on our front fence. With the spotlights on, it really looks pretty sharp!

We get a lot of comments about our home and its decorations.

We finally sat down and watched the last 45 minutes of Avatar while nibbling on yesterday’s leftovers.  We also had a bunch of our own strawberries directly from the yard.

One more move called “Watch The Skies”.  Summary:  Set in Sweden in the 1990s, the film follows Denise, a rebellious teenager who’s never stopped believing her missing father didn’t just abandon her—he may have been taken in connection with a UFO incident.  When she crosses paths with a small, ridiculed UFO association called UFO Sweden, she convinces them to help investigate her father’s disappearance.

As they dig into old sightings and strange evidence, their amateur investigation escalates into something much bigger: a real, ongoing phenomenon that powerful people want kept quiet.  Denise and the group race to uncover the truth, facing surveillance, danger, and mounting proof that what’s in the sky may be connected to what happened to her father.

At 9:15 pm, we crashed with Mary going off to sleep immediately.  I stayed up a while as I got a few bug bites out in the garden, which was driving me crazy (an admittedly short drive).  I applied various treatments and finally got the itching under control around midnight,

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Errands And Gardening Plus A Visit To The Elks!

Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 by Paul

We kicked things off at the doctor’s office to return the sleep machine—because nothing says “adulting” like dropping off a piece of equipment that looks like it belongs on a submarine.  We found out the machine failed to record anything, so we had to get it replaced. Here goes another night of trying to turn over with a wire protruding from ALMOST every orifice.

Then we doubled back to scoop up Dianne and headed to H&H Nursery in Long Beach.

On the way, we figured we’d outsmart the lunch rush by eating early at The Fish Company—sidestepping the 12:00–1:30 psychiatric hospital like tactical geniuses.  We called Vicky, and she joined us for a really delightful lunch.

The four of us ate with purpose and dedication until we were officially, unmistakably full.

I teased the waiter, Eddie, and asked for a glass of wine with a straw!

Sometimes you get what you ask for!!

On our way out, the lunchtime crew had filtered in, and the kitchen was going great guns!  The poor chef was cooking up a batch of seafood and some steaks as we departed.

Burn baby burn!

We landed at H&H Nursery and proceeded to separate.  The girls “went for the roses,” leaving me to ramble through the veggies, where I found our watermelons, cantaloupe, and spaghetti squash, and I added some beets, strawberries, and a few new goodies.

And at long last: mission accomplished.  Dianne finally got her Christmas present from us—rose bushes!  Only a few months late, which means it’s not late… It’s “extended holiday enjoyment.”

The back of the van was empty after taking Dianne and her new rose collection home.

We hauled everything to the backyard and began digging like a couple of gophers, planting everything by 6:30 pm.

We know this to be a fact: she married me!

On my hands and knees, I planted six spaghetti squash, four acorn squash, and six watermelons—then crawled around spreading straw mulch like I was auditioning for “Gardening: The Musical.”

While I was at it, I dumped two more bags of compost into the bed and hand-dug it in about six inches deep… because apparently I’ve decided rototillers are for people who enjoy comfort and free time.

Guess whose back is really sore tonight?

We were so pooped that we bypassed the spa and went right to the TV room, where Mary got to see her beloved Avatar: Wind and Air and Dirt and Stuff.   That ovie lasted three hours, and thanks to Mother Nature and my tiredness, I lasted 20 minutes.  I woke up with 40 minutes left in this three-hour-long movie and decided to finish the daily diary and rest my ears.

We again attached the sleep machine to me and will try again tonight.  We hope this works.

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Home Sweet Home! AKA, Back To Work!

Posted on Monday, March 30, 2026 by Paul

We both woke up dreaming about Hawaii, but then reality hit!

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!  My niece is now officially thirty years young and happily married with a beautiful son!  Wow, how time flies!!

Lisa, I remember when!!!

We had to sprint out the door to the gym for our twice-a-week appointment with the Stretch Council—aka the place where flexibility is optional, but suffering is mandatory.

As we passed the front door, our chair, normally empty, was groaning under the weight of last week’s mail and Amazon deliveries.

HELP HELP HELP!!!  I am being suffocated!!!

So off we went to get professionally bent out of shape—and they did not disappoint.  I had no idea the human body even had that many muscles, let alone that they could all file pain complaints simultaneously.

Mary crushed her workout like a responsible adult. I, meanwhile, took the “floor model” approach while my trainer rearranged my back into something that might survive yard work later—basically a pit stop for my spine.

That dumbbell really got a workout today!

After the gym, we ran by home to meet with the painters before going to the “sleep doctor” to pick up my sleep testing kit.

Seeing as how we were both tired and wanted to get to doing garden work without delay, I suggested to the boss that we stop at Roberto’s for a good Mexican meal.  She agreed, and we did!

The greeter was in rare form today!

No margaritas before lunch, says no one!!

I had one of their excellent burritos, and it was so good I took half home!

“Burrito” translates to “little donkey” in Spanish, likely referring to the donkey-carried bedrolls they resemble or the heavy loads of food they hold.  Originating in Mexico in the 1910s, they became popular in the US during the 1930s.  The San Francisco “Mission-style” (1960s) gave rise to the giant, rice-filled, foil-wrapped version popular today.

Yummy!

Being a good girl, Mary ordered the salad.  It was so good she made it a two-parter: half for dinner today, half for” look how responsible I am” tonight.

Rofrigo’s on Katella is an excellent place to dine!

Eating Mexican and giving us the Hawaiian sign confused me, so I decided to have a margarita anyway!  BTW, the name “margarita” is Spanish for “daisy”—and the drink is closely related to the Daisy cocktail family (spirit + citrus + sweetener).

That salad is not long for this world.

When we got home, the painters were power-washing the house, and paint chips were flying everywhere.  I am anxious to see the “new house”.  We are having the front side painted bright white so the Govee lights will reflect the color better.

We hit the garden for a full veggie checkup—leaf inspections, stem audits, and a very serious “How are we feeling today?” assessment.  Tomorrow we’re going to H&H to pick up watermelons and spaghetti squash… because nothing says “we have our life together” like impulse-buying produce the size of a small toddler.

Almost as high as an elephant’s eye.

The lyric “The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye” came to mind as I saw something moving in the corn!

This was worrying, so I took a second look!

I began whistling “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'” from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!  (1943) and before I knew it, the object raised its head.

Nope!  It was not an elephant; it was my AW (auto weeder) in action.  I nicknamed it Mary-Digger.  It removes weeds by simply pouring wine into it, attaching a hand spade, and a bucket to the arm-like extremities.   It is very efficient, water-cooled, and makes little noise (unless you ask it a question).  It does not rust and operates rain or shine.  It runs for hours, only stopping when the moans grow loud and last several seconds.  Thank you, Amazon, best tool I have in the shed!

I found out the hard way that if confronted, it roars!

Mary did the weeds, and I trimmed the grapes back as they were going crazy.  Now they are nicely trimmed and attached to their wires.  With the extra growth trimmed back, the grapes will get fuller since the energy will be directed into them.

Trimmed, tied up, and ready to provide a lot of grapes this summer!

We are going to put tree fertilizer on the various fruit trees around the property tomorrow.  The plum tree is going wild, with hundreds of blossoms already.  We noticed the apple tree already has 30 apples on it.

Loaded for bear!

After working for almost five hours straight, we headed to the hot tub for some serious soaking.  We watched the movie “Logan’s War” starring Chuck Norris.

Mary folded some clothes, and we finally crashed.

We attempted to watch TV, and by 10:30 pm, we were not ready for bed, one more than the other!!

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Coming Home…

Posted on Sunday, March 29, 2026 by Paul

We were up bright and early, and Mary whipped up the official Wake-Up Juice (FDA approval still pending).  After a final round of” Did we pack this?” we finished loading up, then grabbed an Uber to the airport—because nothing says “ready for travel” like trusting a stranger with your life before breakfast.

I looked out the window, and sure enough, Diamond Head was still there.

It was a beautiful Hawaiian morning.

Packing expert at your service.  I helped by removing the coffee pot, the two towel racks, and the wall mirror.

Last-minute packing.

We Ubered to the airport in a brand-new Chevy Super Van that still had paper plates.  I was amazed that it was getting 18.5 MPG in the city!

Arriving at our gate, it read “FINAL CALL” for our flight!  We panicked, but then a nice lady next to us said that the column applied to gate E7, not our flight.  We were relieved.

We panicked.

We had a hamburger before the flight, talked about our lives together, and agreed with this little duck below.

Then we relaxed.

With a thunderclap that sounded like Zeus clearing his throat, our mighty airplane bounced down the runway and launched into the sky.   ff in the distance, Diamond Head appeared—calm, majestic, and clearly judging our takeoff technique.

First Class has its advantages.  We were in row 2, so close to the action I felt morally responsible for the landing.  The bartender arrived instantly, like he’d been waiting for our order his whole life.

“Wine for the lady,” I said smoothly, “and a sarsaparilla for the gentleman.”
Then I leaned in and whispered, with the seriousness of a top-secret mission:  “Bourbon and Seven”.

Bye Bye Hawaii!

Five hours and several drinks later (plus an excellent mid-afternoon dinner), we arrived in LA.

Hello, Los Angeles.

Bob Z. picked us up, and we wondered why we were so tired.  Duh, we already walked two miles today, plus the five from yesterday!

The airport gates are far apart.

Bob dropped us off at home, we unpacked the necessities of life, and went to bed, happy to be back home!  Except for the effort of getting on and off the airplane, it was a relaxing journey.

We hit the sack almost immediately after Bob Z. dropped us off.

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Day Eight/Saturday: PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center) Here We Come

Posted on Saturday, March 28, 2026 by Paul

NOTE: Mary thought that by going here, we would get some culture, but alas, nothing changed.  She asked for her money back.

We were up and ready for today’s adventure.  Megan met us in the room at 9;45 am, giving us 15 minutes to get to the departure point.  We walked to the Ross Store, our pickup point, and after about 8 minutes, the bus showed up.  I went to the ABC Store for supplies (water, cookies, macadamia chocolates, etc.).

We entered from the side (where the buses meet)

We love the flowers!  Hawaii is home to more than only animals and plants found nowhere else on the planet: it also has seven unique hibiscus species, though most visitors and residents see Chinese hibiscus and hybrids.   On the other hand, the vibrant, jazzy flower, which comes in a variety of colors ranging from bright pink to white, has come to characterize Hawaii, with the yellow hibiscus, also known as pua alo alo, acting as an emblem of the state.  Hibiscus flowers bloom every day on the islands, but their petals fade almost as quickly—most hibiscus don’t live much past dusk.

We grow these at home.

Being hungry and from SoCal, we headed to the Hawaiian Tacos Stand.  The food was pretty good, although $65 for two tacos, a casadea, and a small burrito seemed a bit pricy!

We filled up and are ready to roam the South Pacific.

A serious study of the map was needed.  Megan checks our coordinates on the iPhone, which Captain Mary revisits her mapping skills from the army!

P-s-s-s-s-s-t. Mary, the map is upside down.

The statue was enjoying being photographed.  Polynesian statues are primarily known as Moai (or mo?ai) when referring to the massive, monolithic stone figures on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), which represent deified ancestors.  Generally, across Polynesian culture, carved humanoid figures made of wood or stone are referred to as Tiki, representing gods or the divine.

Don’t make Mr. Tiki mad!!

OK, girls, time to visit the islands.

The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is a family-centered cultural tourist attraction and living museum in Laie on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii.  The PCC is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), was dedicated on October 12, 1963, and occupies 42 acres (17 hectares) of land belonging to nearby Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii).

The PCC encompasses eight simulated tropical villages where performers demonstrate various arts and crafts from throughout Polynesia.  Visitors may also take a free shuttle tour of the university and see the LDS Church’s Laie, Hawaii, Temple and its associated visitors’ center.

Seventy percent of the PCC’s approximately 1,300 employees are students at BYU-Hawaii.  Since opening, the PCC has provided financial assistance to more than 12,000 BYU-Hawaii students.  Students may work up to 20 hours per week during school terms and up to 40 hours per week during breaks.  As a non-profit organization, PCC uses its revenue for daily operations and to support education.

Get ready, get set, GO!

Tiki culture, popularizing a romanticized Polynesian aesthetic, was founded by Donn Beach in 1934 and boomed in the 1940s-50s as a postwar escapist trend.   It is defined by rum cocktails, exotic decor, and iconic statues representing gods or ancestors.  Key figures include Donn Beach and Trader Vic, creators of classics like the Mai Tai

Exploring, we will go!

There are maps all over the facility

We did not know that New Zealand is part of Polynesia!

New Zealand (Aotearoa) is considered part of Polynesia.  The indigenousM?orii people are Polynesians who migrated from East Polynesia in waka (canoes) between approximately 1280 and 1350 CE.  New Zealand forms the southwestern corner of the “Polynesian Triangle,” with Hawaii and Easter Island being the other two corners.

We walked through all the islands and put 2.8 miles on our shoes!

Vicky and Jim came to mind when we saw the Ukulele Experience store.  The ukulele originated in Hawaii in the late 19th century, adapted from Portuguese instruments (the braguinha or machete) brought by settlers.  It means “jumping flea,” likely referring to a player’s fast finger movements, or “the gift that came here,” as termed by QueenLili’okalanii.

They have a few items for sale!!!  In 2012, over 4,750 people gathered to form the world’s largest ukulele ensemble.  Was Jim there?

Perhaps we should give Vicky a thousand pounds of clay so she can sculpt Jim in action??

They have live demonstrations of the various cultures.  The Tonga group was cooking up a storm, and the instructor is actually a student at the university.  He was VERY funny!!

I needed a costume like the one he is wearing.

We had to get a fresh coconut!  Coconuts are actually drupes (stone fruits), not nuts, and are renowned as the “Tree of Life” because every part—from water to husks—is used for food, fuel, and shelter.  They are highly buoyant, capable of traveling across oceans to grow, and can even be used as an emergency blood plasma substitute.

It was quite refreshing.

Here are the key reasons and trivia behind Polynesian longhouses:

Communal Living & Social Structure: Polynesian society was based on large, extended family units (ramages) that lived together.  A single, large house allowed multiple generations to live under one roof, strengthening kinship ties, sharing resources, and providing collective child-rearing.

Adaptation to Climate (Open Walls): Rather than solid, permanent walls, many traditional Polynesian homes used retractable mats that could be rolled down for privacy or protection from storms and rolled up to let in cool breezes, helping them deal with tropical heat and humidity.

Symbol of Authority: Large, elaborate longhouses were often occupied by chiefs (ali?i) and served as community gathering places or guest houses (fale talimalo), showcasing the family’s prestige.

Coastal Defense & Location: Villages were frequently built along the coast, and longhouses could be positioned to watch the ocean while protected by surrounding palm groves or palisades.

Construction Techniques: The homes typically featured strong, central, notched wooden pillars and steep, thatched, beehive-shaped roofs, well-suited to high rainfall and wind resistance.

We saw many different kinds of dancing, and we took notes.

My back ached just watching them move.

We are heading to a Hawaiian wedding now.

Mary and I renewed our vows; Megan giggled.

The question was asked, “Will you ever leave her?”  When I answered, “No, unless there is a bar nearby!” I was reminded who the boss is.

We have been walking for several hours; it’s time to sit and eat again!

The buffet was HUGE!  Casual restaurant featuring a large selection of all-you-can-eat comfort food, plus live entertainment.

We received our daily security system summary and called Robin, who was staying at the house.

 

After dinner, we walked around and shopped some more.

We look pretty good after walking three miles!

We thought of Donna when we saw the roosters on display.

Chickens are everywhere on the islands.

We waited outside the Pacific Theater.  The symbolic story of Mana and his beloved Lani, punctuated by Polynesian dance, music, and blazing fireknives, is told in “H?: Breath of Life,” in the stunning evening show featuring Pacific Islanders, special effects, animation, and surround sound.  It is a Pacific isle saga of birth and death, love and family, tragedy and triumph.

It looked small from the outside.

The interior was spectacular, an open-air theater complete with waterfalls, mountains, and a large stage.  There were over 60 performers in the play.

We were worn out, so the bus ride home provided well-needed rest.  As the lights of Honolulu came into view, we were ready to go to the hotel and pack.  Tomorrow we are leaving for home.

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Day Seven/Friday: City Tour And Pearl Harbor

Posted on Friday, March 27, 2026 by Paul

We are ready to go!

We have a full day ahead of us.  I was worried about whether Mary was up for another day of sightseeing, so I asked her, and her response was somewhat unexpected!

We walked next door to the Aloha Landing Garage, the only place big enough for the large tour buses to get close to the hotel.

Mary has settled down now, so we can proceed.

Megan and Mary await the arrival of our tour bus.

“Hurry up, bus, before Nana Mary breaks out in another dance!”

We hit Interstate H-1 on our way to downtown Honolulu.  Traffic was light at 10:00 am.

Interstate H-1 (H-1) is the longest and busiest Interstate Highway in the US state of Hawaii.  The highway is located on the island of Oahu and runs 27.16 miles (43.71 km).  Despite the number, this is an east–west highway; the ‘H’-series (for Hawaii) numbering reflects the order in which routes were funded and built.

Our driver/tour guide was magnificent.

He mentioned that Chinatown was safe during the daylight, but he recommended staying away during the evening.  Honolulu’s Chinatown, established in the 1840s/50s, is one of the oldest in the US and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Known for its resilience, it survived devastating fires, including one in 1900 that burned 38 acres, and it was used to combat the bubonic plague.  Today, it is a bustling, multi-ethnic hub of markets, temples, and art galleries.

Chinatown is two blocks by four blocks.

The driver made his own video to help explain things.  We were surprised by eggs being $12.99 a dozen.

The driver’s preparations were great!

In 1795, the Kingdom of Hawaii was formed. From 1795 until 1874, the Kamehameha dynasty reigned over the islands. However, it wasn’t until the reign of Kamehameha I that Honolulu became the capital. Like any good king, he needed a good palace. He commissioned the construction of Iolani Palace, but died before it was completed. Today, it houses the Supreme Court.

In the building’s courtyard stands the famed gold-leaf statue of Kamehameha the Great.

Meet the Motley Crew

Not too bad for a windy day!!

We are dressed for the occasion.

Our ride awaits us.

It was a comfortable ride.

Back onto the freeway for a trip to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

High-rise buildings are everywhere.

I am helping.

I refrained from making bus sounds, even though my “backfire” sound is well known!

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (informally known as Punchbowl Cemetery) is a national cemetery located at Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu, Hawaii.  It serves as a memorial to honor those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces, and those who have been killed in doing so.

It is administered by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Millions of visitors visit the cemetery each year, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hawaii.

Next stop was Pearl Harbor, where we visited three museums before taking the shuttle boat to the memorial.  We walked through the “Preparing for War” and “The Attack” museums.

The girls walked ahead to the submarine museum while I rested my back.

It was a windy but beautiful day!

Megan was here once with her school, but this is a more leisurely paced visit.

That’s my girl, RED, WHITE, and BLUE!

The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, spans the sunken battleship, serving as a tomb for over 900 of the 1,177 crew members kDecember 7ecember 7, 1941.  Dedicated in 1962, the 184-foot-long structure features a dipping center, symbolizing American loss, and remains a top tourist site, accessible only by boat

The memorial is built to straddle the wreck, allowing visitors to look down directly onto the submerged deck and the rusted barbettes.

Above the waterline at the USS Arizona Memorial, visitors can see several parts of the sunken battleship and its ongoing, symbolic presence:

Barbette #3 (a fixed armored housing at the base of a gun turret on a warship or armored vehicle.): The most prominent feature visible is the massive, rusted, circular steel ring that once held gun turret #3.  It is constantly above water and clearly visible near the memorial.

“Black Tears” of the Arizona: Small, consistent droplets of fuel oil rise from the submerged wreckage, creating a rainbow-colored sheen on the water’s surface.

The Flagpole/Mainmast: A flagpole is attached to the remains of the ship’s sunken mainmast, where the US flag is raised and lowered, marking the site as a national cemetery.

Turret #2: Depending on the tide, the top of the rear #2 turret can sometimes be seen, though it is usually mostly submerged.

Remains of the superstructure: Various rusted parts of the deck and damaged structural supports, which were not removed during post-attack salvaging, are visible just beneath or barely breaking the surface.

Inside the memorial are all the names of the 1137 people who died that morning, December 7ber 7th, 1941.  It is a very sobering experience.

USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa-class battleship built for the United States Navy in the 1940s and is now a museum ship.  Completed in 1944, she is the last battleship commissioned by the United States.

The USS Missouri (BB-63) battleship is permanently berthed as a museum ship at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, specifically on “Battleship Row” at Ford Island.  It sits near the USS Arizona Memorial, located at 63 Cowpens St, Honolulu, HI 96818, and is accessible via shuttles from the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center.

Our water taxi gave us a swift ride back to the dock.

On the way back to the hotel, I picked up a lot of interesting factoids about life in the city.

It’s one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. In Honolulu, the cost of living is 88% higher than the national average. It’s the third most expensive city to live in the United States, after New York and San Francisco. Utilities are notably pricy, costing residents a hefty 102% more than the national average. Groceries are expensive too, weighing in 70% above the national average. Surprisingly, average wages are not much higher than the US national average.

Honolulu means ‘Sheltered Harbour’.  Honolulu means ‘calm port’ or ‘sheltered harbour’. ‘Hono’ means port, and ‘lulu’ means calm or quiet. Sandy Island shelters the natural port.

The ‘sheltered’ part has nothing to do with the weather, though. In fact, Honolulu averages 90 rainy days each year, more than the US average. The rainiest time to visit is December, with an average of 10 days of rain, while the driest is August, with just 6.

First things first, we hit the bar while Megan returned to school for her gym practice.

We tried several Mai Tais; they were all good.

Then it happened.  I decided to go to the beach and put my tootsties in the sand, but all I had on was my blue thong.  What was I to do??  I made a mad dash to the water but was caught by the hotel security staff.

Oops!

I was immediately ordered to go to my room without dinner.  The hotel security guards had a good giggle.

BTW, I checked the newspapers the next morning, and I was NOT featured.

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Day Six/Thursday: Exploring The Hotel And Going A To A Luau!

Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2026 by Paul

We could not go to the Elks this morning, so we settled for the hotel’s offerings.  Adjacent to the MaiTai Bar was a restaurant unknown to us.

We had an enjoyable breakfast and a fantastic waiter who asked the chef to remove the ham and bacon from the everything omelet and put them on the side.  Mary and I shared that omelet.  We also shared a pink pancake stack, washing it all down with a Bloody Mary.

Average meal, healthy, a bit expensive, amazing waiter.

We returned to our room and awaited Megan to join us.  From there, the three of us went to the lobby and waited for the Hotel Tour, which was led by a very knowledgeable lady who has worked as a guide for 55 years (and she surfs every morning)!

Our first stop was the ever-changing sandcastle.  Every year, a couple comes from Florida and creates a new sand display at the hotel.  The sand has to be brought in because removing sand from Waikiki is illegal.  In fact, the sand at Waikiki has its own story!

Waikiki Beach’s sand is largely artificial and imported, created through decades of replenishment due to chronic erosion.  Historically, sand was imported by barge from Manhattan Beach, California, in the 1920s-30s, but modern sand primarily comes from offshore sources, other Hawaiian locations, or crushed marine organisms such as coral.

Off on a tour of the facility!

We got a lesson on 1920s and 1930s culture from our guide.  Apparently, folks would visit and promenade up and down the mail hall dressed in their finest.  Around 8:00 pm, they would go to the dining room (below) and be entertained by an orchestra until around 11:00 pm.

The dining room is a historical monument and cannot be changed!

After dinner, they would promenade to the Great Hall, where they would dance until sunup to the music of popular orchestras.

Opening evening 1927.

During the tour, we were shown the “Ladies’ Lounge,” which was popular in the 1930s.

It was an amazing facility.

We strutted outside to investigate the infamous “Pink Paint Job” and, oh yes, we got the full story.

Let’s say: it involves bold decisions, questionable color charts, and possibly someone who shouldn’t be trusted alone at Home Depot.

Curious?  Go ahead and ask—I dare you.  It’s a legendary tale of how one building went from normal… to Flamingo Chic.

The Pink Lady!

Guess who?  She was America’s sweetheart in the 1930s, and she came to Hawaii several times.

Shirley Temple visited Hawaii multiple times, most notably in July 1935 when she was greeted by 10,000 to 15,000 fans upon arrival.  During her trips, she stayed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, performed at Iolani Palace, and even met her second husband, Charles Black, in Hawaii in 1950.1935 Visit: At seven years old, Temple took a working vacation to Hawaii, where she was escorted by Duke Kahanamoku and visited the Shriners’ Hospital.  She performed “On the Good Ship Lollipop” and was named an honorary Colonel in the Hawaii National Guard.

1950 Visit: She returned to Oahu and met her future husband, Charles Black.
Connection: She loved the islands, often staying at the “Pink Palace” (Royal Hawaiian Hotel), and is famously associated with creating the Shirley Temple at Waikiki Beach.

Hi Shirley!

On the opening evening in 1927, people gathered before going into the main ballroom for dancing after 11:00 pm.   They danced until 4:00 am!

Celebration time!!!

The tour was over, so we headed to our room to freshen up before going to the Elks and then the Luau.

Just us!

OK, now it’s time for a visit to the elks for a pre-Luau bite to eat!

Mary gets her first lesson in using Aber, thanks to her granddaughter Megan!

We had a quick meal at the Elks before the Luau.

Slurp, burp, belch!

Back we go to the Royal Hawaiian for the Luau.  We went to our room to freshen up and then downstairs to the Luau area.  The tables were already set up for this evening’s entertainment.

Open air, 75 degrees, slight breeze, and wonderful floral aromas.

Dinner was served, and it was quite good!

Amazing Hawaiian food.

The Hula Girls began the show.  I tried to join them, but Mama Mary told me no!

Love those grass shirts!

The ladies gave us an amazing presentation.

Aloha Ou!

Then came the fire dancer!  Flames were everywhere.  The staff raised a fireproof netting behind the stage just in case.

 

We called the HFD, but they did not show up.  I was selected to light the fire.  It was a sizzling experience.

We loved the performance related to the 1940s!  We were ready to dance.  We almost got up and danced, but alas, my poor back would not allow the urge.

We had a heck of a time dining and enjoying the show.  Megan, Mary, and I were ready to perform on stage, but the audience decided we should not go on stage!

I took a picture looking straight up from my perch (lying on the ground).  I drank one too many Diet Cokes!

I fell out of my chair and got a great picture!

We said goodbye as Megan headed for home, and we headed to our room.

Oahu Island Illuminated waterfront skyline of Honolulu, U Ala Wai Boat Harbor at Night – Twilight Ala Wai Boat Harbor, Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

Tomorrow we are off to the Arizona Monument!

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Day Five/Wednesday: The Meet Begins!

Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 by Paul

Today we were lazy!  We walked to the beach and had a White Russian for pre-breakfast before going to the Elks.

We met some folks from Australia, shared stories, and enjoyed a drink with them.

Definitely an amazing breakfast in Hawaii!

We had to eat something for breakfast, so we had the hummus, and it was quite tasty.  The meal held us until 1:30 pm, when we went to the Elks.

Lunch at the Elks

At the Elks, we had a hamburger (Mary), and I feasted on a Caesar Salad loaded with shrimp!  We watched the world go by as we enjoyed each other’s company and the terrific view of the Pacific Ocean.

We wondered where he was sailing to and how long it would take to get there.

We watched the large container ships enter and leave Honolulu harbor.

Honolulu Harbor, originally known as Ke? Awa O Kou, nicknamed “Fair Haven,” was first entered by Westerners in the late 18th century and developed from a small, reef-sheltered basin into Hawaii’s primary commercial port.  It played a key role in the 19th-century sandalwood trade and as a whaling hub.

Mary loaded up her camera with pictures of the “cats” and their magnificently colored sails.  I see her now doing some serious watercoloring.

The “cats” were going back and forth.

It was that time, we needed to be at the gym at 5:45 pm, so we went on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.  In and out back streets, through alleys, over curbs, down the sidewalk, barely missing someone pert chicken, we went at Warp 2.

The University bought an old Catholic School gym, refurbished it, and it looked pretty good, but it was hidden away in the depths of Honolulu.

Meet the team!

The team gets ready!

Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) boasts a highly competitive Acrobatics and Tumbling team, often recognized as a top-ranked program in the country (ranked 12th as of March 2025). Based in Honolulu, the Sharks compete in the NCATA, performing in compulsory, acrobatics, and pyramid heats.

In Hawaii, the Shaka (thumb and baby finger pointing in opposite directions) represents the “aloha spirit,” conveying friendship, understanding, compassion, and solidarity.  It is a quintessential gesture of positivity, frequently used to mean “hang loose,” “right on,” “thank you,” or to say hello and goodbye.  It is officially recognized as Hawaii’s state gesture, symbolizing local culture and respect.

Mega” Meg” Gilliland, a 5’5 base, mid-base, and tumbler from Camarillo, California, joins the Sharks with a decorated background in acrobatics and tumbling.  Training under Jasmine Honors and Sergio Restrepo at Rancho Campana High School, she was part of teams that won 10 Acro & Tumbling National Titles at the Level 3 division between 2022 and 2023.  Known for her versatility and strength across multiple positions, Gilliland continues her athletic career at Hawai’i Pacific while pursuing a degree in mathematics.  She chose HPU for the team’s supportive environment and coaching staff, which she felt would help her grow not just as an athlete but also as an individual.

I was going to clap and whistle, but in Hawaii, whistling at night is believed to summon the HuakaI’I P’  (Night Marchers), the spirits of ancient Hawaiian warriors.  According to local superstition, this action attracts malicious spirits or bad luck, or causes them to follow you home. It is strongly advised to avoid whistling at night, especially near forests.

The performance was dizzying!

At the end of the meeting, things went wild.  The teams did their final, and it was dizzying.

Megan comes to the front of the group, and the team says goodbye to the judges.

Someone is a happy girl.

The team did well, coming within 2.5 points of winning against the #3 team in the league.

Congratulations, Megan, on a fine performance.

Saying hello to the judges.  On August 1, 2014, HPU athletics announced that they had changed their name from the Sea Warriors to the Sharks as part of a fundraising effort.

Mary and I were on national TV!!

The results were pretty close!

We prearranged for the cab to pick us up at 8:30 pm, and we headed to the MaiTai Bar at the hotel for a nightcap!  Tomorrow is the hotel tour followed by the Grand Luau.

Posted in Adventures, Family, Fun, Travel | Comments Off on Day Five/Wednesday: The Meet Begins!