Much Love and adventure on the Big Island!

Hello all!  Been away from the internet posting world for a couple of weeks, but I had to get settled a bit before I tried to hard to fill in the 'Diaries.  It would have just felt too forced otherwise!

Things have ben great since my last post!  I hear that the weather all over the mainland is bitterly cold as natural gas supplies freeze up, and water pipes burst all over the place.  It's funny to hear people chat about the weather here (as people do EVERYWHERE).  Instead of talking about the weather HERE - because what would we say...

"pretty sunny today eh?

uhhh...yep, same as yesterday.

I hear it's gonna be sunny tomorrow too!

Probably a little voggy*, but yep, heard that too!"

...people talk about how cold it is everywhere else, and how it explains the inordinately high number of tourists cruising around!  It's nice to hear that locals don't necessarily resent the tourism; it's more just...part of the weather report!

*Volcano Fog

Let's see, since my last post I:

(Not necessarily in this order)

-Worked 2 shifts at Pacific Quest
-Celebrated My 29th birthday
-Went and hung out in Hawi (pronounced Hahvee)
-Saw Midnite (reggae band from the Virgin Islands)
-Saw The Vagina Monologues (2nd time!)
-Saw I Love You Phillip Morris
-Got a blister and cut my feet on the lava 3 times (Goodbye Malahini feet!)
-Saw many other movies - some new, some repeats

-Purchased my 1st bottle of Tequila

-Got Drunk

-Got Hungover
-Became familiar with the island and major cities I live near
-Researched a beautiful! house for myself in a place called "Vacationland"
-Saved $$!!
-Helped to raise a new puppy!
-Snorkeled

-Sunbathed

-Contemplated my life and my future

-Made Goals re: aforementioned contemplation  

-Drank coconuts

Now for the Photos:

Birthday Cake

Birthday Beer

I gotta say, my birthday this year was different than LAST YEAR:

MY BIRTHDAY CAKE!! 3 store-bought pastries stacked up.  And yes, that is a lighter I'm blowing out. Had a BBQ with Kofla, Nati, Lane, Sherri, and me.

And Just as AWESOME in it's own way!

My Birthday beer was purchased by this man:

Named Lynx

who made his own machete - with a bone handle if you look carefully!

He showed me the basics of:

Climbing a coconut tree

And cutting yourself out some delicious coconuts!

Me enjoying the fruits of his labor!

(Thanks Lynx!)

 Even-ing out the tan a bit!

The Lanai at my (possible) future house.

Lanai #2

And the Main Room

The house that we stayed at in Hawi.  Yes that is a hot tub on the porch, and what you can't see in this picture is that the Island of Maui is visible just slightly North-out-of-frame-to-the-left. What you CAN see if you look carefully is the puppy Kukui!

The mouth of the Valley of Pololu - one of many valleys on the North part of the island that was, and still is, an ancient Native Hawaiian home.

A "natural" playground on the valley floor - Rope Swing, sitting swing made out of cloth and rope, and a teeter totter made out of a rope and driftwood!  GREAT!

The Beach at Pololu - Dogs are Maya and Lohe; the dogs we were watching - also notice a 2nd sneaky shot of Kukui Nut!

The sushi Kalia and I ate at Sushi Rock after our hike and beach time!  (Notice my fancy new chopsticks!)

And since I've teased y'all a bit I will give you a couple of shots of the Beautiful Puppy in case you are not much of a Facebook-er:

Her name is Kukui Nut.

A picture of her loving her Mom Kalia!

A pretty picture of a Plumeria - A sign of Spring here on the island!  Don't worry Mainland-It's headed your way!! (way more flower pictures available upon request)

Though I didn't think to take a picture of myself whilst contemplating life and my goals, I assure you it is happening!  Things manifest quickly on the island, and being in the mystery of life - and grateful for it - brings happiness swiftly from many surprising places!  Goals seem within reach, and everything feels like a gift!  Just this morning I was on the saddle road - the drive that takes you between the 2 largest mountains in the world: Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa.  (For those fact grubbers out there, let me point out that even though Everest might be the tallest, these two behemoths start WAAAAYYYY beneath the ocean; hence: biggest mountains in the world!)

Not to mention that Pele - The Hawaiian Goddess who lives at Kilauea (the most active volcano on Earth) is constantly releasing a lot of the earth's energy about 30 miles down the road.  The observation was shared with me that when people show up here, THEIR energy comes up and out.  This has definitely been my experience.  My time off from work has been nearly as instructive as my time in the field with the kids!  I am so grateful for all of it!!

Wish you were here!!