We are here and I am starting to relax! I guess tropical islands have that kind of influence on a person. Yesterday we did next to nothing, eat, sleep, read, three of my favorite things. Today we went to the beach. Paula and Ward arrived. We are going to Bubba's, the local hamburger joint with island grown meat, for dinner. We went to one of the many farmers markets today as well. A lady tried to sell me a mongo for 5$ and I said no way.
We are staying in Princeville at a condo next door to Paula and Ward's. It is very comfortable and pleasant. After the hectic weeks of preparation I am so glad we landed here and not in Bangkok. I was last here over 20 years ago when it was less touristy and mellower in every way. But its still Hawaii and its hard for that to be bad with or without tourists!
More to come....
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
We leave TODAY
I have been thinking about things I want to write or share here but there has been no time. I can't believe I am even taking the time to write this! But everyone else is still asleep and I must be in denial that we are leaving today and there is still a ton to do. The preparation in the last two weeks has gotten more and more stressful. Add a 13 year old into that and let me tell you the fun factor is completely missing.
Everyone we tell from friends to store clerks say how exciting, lucky, great etc this is going to be. I am counting on that. It does not feel that way right now. It feels like I am torturing my family because of some crazy dream I had. I know you are probably reading this thinking what a whiner, but imagine everything you have to think of and do to leave for a year. Pack your entire life into boxes, store your computer, set up online banking and bill pay, how to deal with security online while on the road, do something with your car(s), buy things you need for the trip, set up blogs, make sure you have contact information for all your friends and family, health insurance here, health insurance away (the topic of health insurance could be a whole blog and I am sure it is), saying good bye to friends, who is taking care of the cat? Oh and did I mention dealing with your mother who has had her cancer come back? This is not the fun part but I am trusting that part is coming.
I have to say being in a stressful situation shows you who your friends are. Who comes to help you pack, has you over for dinner, stops by to say good bye, does any task for you that you need done, helps you find your wallet when you lose it in the mess of it all (you know who you are!). We have amazing friends and community here. I am so grateful and appreciative for the support and love.
Of course the stress of all these decisions and tasks needing to get done is challenging and does not bring out the best in family dynamics. But we are almost there. Tonight we will be driven to SF to spend the night and get a flight at 7:00 am for Seattle and then Hawaii. I will let you know when we arrive!
Everyone we tell from friends to store clerks say how exciting, lucky, great etc this is going to be. I am counting on that. It does not feel that way right now. It feels like I am torturing my family because of some crazy dream I had. I know you are probably reading this thinking what a whiner, but imagine everything you have to think of and do to leave for a year. Pack your entire life into boxes, store your computer, set up online banking and bill pay, how to deal with security online while on the road, do something with your car(s), buy things you need for the trip, set up blogs, make sure you have contact information for all your friends and family, health insurance here, health insurance away (the topic of health insurance could be a whole blog and I am sure it is), saying good bye to friends, who is taking care of the cat? Oh and did I mention dealing with your mother who has had her cancer come back? This is not the fun part but I am trusting that part is coming.
I have to say being in a stressful situation shows you who your friends are. Who comes to help you pack, has you over for dinner, stops by to say good bye, does any task for you that you need done, helps you find your wallet when you lose it in the mess of it all (you know who you are!). We have amazing friends and community here. I am so grateful and appreciative for the support and love.
Of course the stress of all these decisions and tasks needing to get done is challenging and does not bring out the best in family dynamics. But we are almost there. Tonight we will be driven to SF to spend the night and get a flight at 7:00 am for Seattle and then Hawaii. I will let you know when we arrive!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Books- I need recommendations!
Opps, I meant to post this on the last post. I need book recommendations. I have a new e reader, not a Kindle. Its called a Bebook Neo and comes form Holland. I wanted to buy books from book shop Santa Cruz and not be restricted to Amazon. This is the e reader that is most popular out side of the US where the Kindle reins. I want o buy a bunch in advance before I go so please send recommendations. I like fiction and non fiction, memoirs and biographies and more. (Gary S. I already got "The Help" on your recommendation. Its the first ebook I bought.) So send my ideas here or at my email which I think you all have.
Getting Ready to go and I need books!
Hi-
We are in the whirl wind of the last few weeks before we leave July 17. Our trip to visit with my mom was good over all. Although we came home to news that her cancer is back that we are now trying to deal with that. There is always something in life to add to what you are already doing. I am hoping after I talk to her Dr. this will turnout to be manageable. Luckily we only have tickets until Jan 2012 and trip insurance to cover trip interruption or termination.
We used to the trip to Phila. to test drive our new luggage. One pack and one pack with wheels. In airports the rolling pack won hands down. We are going to be in a lot of airports so I am leaning toward two rolling packs and one just regular pack. We are only taking carry on so these are all carry on size. If anyone is interested we can post a list of what we are bringing. I have heard from one follower of this blog that they would like to hear about preparing for a trip like this so I am including some of that here.
The house is slowly going into boxes. Every day I deal with new things like online banking, buying trip insurance, reorganizing my papers, preparing for if I need to look for a job for when we get back while on the road, saying good bye to friends, keeping the almost 13 year old calm and more. The best part of preparing I did today was reading more about Thailand this morning which got me more excited about going. A lot of the rest of preparing feels like having a job believe it or not.
Got to get back to work. Please comment or ask questions to direct whatI write about.I don't want to bore you all!
We are in the whirl wind of the last few weeks before we leave July 17. Our trip to visit with my mom was good over all. Although we came home to news that her cancer is back that we are now trying to deal with that. There is always something in life to add to what you are already doing. I am hoping after I talk to her Dr. this will turnout to be manageable. Luckily we only have tickets until Jan 2012 and trip insurance to cover trip interruption or termination.
We used to the trip to Phila. to test drive our new luggage. One pack and one pack with wheels. In airports the rolling pack won hands down. We are going to be in a lot of airports so I am leaning toward two rolling packs and one just regular pack. We are only taking carry on so these are all carry on size. If anyone is interested we can post a list of what we are bringing. I have heard from one follower of this blog that they would like to hear about preparing for a trip like this so I am including some of that here.
The house is slowly going into boxes. Every day I deal with new things like online banking, buying trip insurance, reorganizing my papers, preparing for if I need to look for a job for when we get back while on the road, saying good bye to friends, keeping the almost 13 year old calm and more. The best part of preparing I did today was reading more about Thailand this morning which got me more excited about going. A lot of the rest of preparing feels like having a job believe it or not.
Got to get back to work. Please comment or ask questions to direct whatI write about.I don't want to bore you all!
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