Decisions

Ok. Here it is Thursday. I'm on my way back from the beach. The tide was out and the winds were low today so the waves were gentle (less than 7 feet) and they let me swim in the ocean.
I could stay all day, except for the little detail about the blazing sun and my exceptionally pale complexion. Only a few more days here - we return to the mainland on Monday.

I seem to recall that my dermatologist firmly advised me to go and have a cold beer after spending 30 minutes in the bright light. But, I stopped in the library to get a new book - I have been reading too much fiction - I should check out the Mainland papers and see how my retirement fund is doing. Ah well what could go wrong?

Anyhow, I have an hour on this computer and I could spend it updating the blog... Or, I could go across the street to Pizzettas, where Happy Hour runs from noon to six o'clock, and I can get an icy pint of Kona Red Rock Pale Ale on draft there for $2.50. It's 86 degrees outside and the air conditioner here is not working too well. Hmmn what shall I do?

They Don't Celebrate St. Paddy's Day in Paradise

Humph. Like I am the only guy on the Island wearing green socks yesterday, proudly displaying my Irish heritage and beer belly. The locals are not interested in St Patrick. There have never never been any serpents in this Garden Isle - hence the proliferation of wild chickens - and perhaps this fact leaves poor St Patrick as a non-hero in their eyes. I not see a shamrock or a touch o green anywhere. The bars we selling the same Mai Tai and Rum Runner specials, but no Harp or Guinness to be seen anywhere.

I did hear that there was an Irish Pub in Honolulu, but that's a long swim from here. Besides, my keeper only allows me to have 2 beers a day, so it's not like I can party with the other FFI's. (to use the acronym my friend George uses to refer to Fat-faced Irishmen). So I contented myself with a Sam Adams to wash down my Irish Mahimahi at dinner last night.

Today I am back to white socks, and I am not getting the same stares.

Hot Enough for you?

Greetings from Kaua'i. We are taking refuge from the blasting sun in the Princeville Library, northern end of the island. We ate lunch at Hannalei Bay, the most beutiful beach I have ever seen - with a view of fabled Bali Hi from South Pacific. It is pronounced "Honalayee" - and is reputed to be the inspiration for the old Peter, Paul and Mary song called "Puff the Magic Dragon." The mountains lie like a sprawling dragon along to the west while you look out at 5 foot green rollers.
We are now 6 hours behind Boston. We are watching the closing stock market prices at breakfast.

The other day I was in the surf when the lifeguard whistled me in.
"There's a pretty strong rip in there." he said.
"Yah, I felt it. "
"So, you look like you are doing ok, but it would help if you moved over there..." he pointed to a part of the beach where the waves were less turbid, where the little kids were allowed to swim by themselves.
"Just so nobody sees you in there and thinks they can... you know, gets themselves in trouble..." he gives me a nice friendly grin.
I moved over and floated around in the 2 foot waves . I figured it was just his firendly way of telling me that he is tired of pulling blubbery drowning geezers out of the surf.

They are very worried about tourists drowning here. I guess they lose a few every month. It doesn't look good on their lifeguard resumes, I am sure.
We are having a great time. Stop hating us.