Sunday, September 13, 2009
Lahainaluna
We didn't have time to do much but lay by the pool. I got some shopping done and Dash was able to catch up on Sponge Bob.
Maui will always be the most special place in my life. The center point where everything changed. It's almost too painful to return to the crushing weight of nostalgia.
Turns out Dash had no school on Friday anyway because HELCO shut the power off for the day.
He is adjusting slowly to middle school. He had a few problems with an older kid, but I think they are resolved for now. Electives are his big excitement this year, and he's taking Hawaiian, Law, Horticulture, and Crafts.
He had a great summer hanging out with different friends and just relaxing. We did manage to get in some beach trips to the other side of the island. Dean had a great trip to Yokohama and is still hoping to somehow get a permanent position at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He has a great boss who is trying hard to get him in some how. President Obama, can't you do something about this?
I was very fortunate to get a lead role in a musical called The Family Tree, an original production by two University of Hawaii students and an excellent local composer. So if you're planning a trip to Hawaii, include October 23-24 in your itinerary. I've been singing all over the place. Karaoke show tunes at a coffee bar on Saturday, church band on Sunday, Kilauea Festival Chorus practice on Wednesday, voice lessons on Thursday, and Family Tree rehearsal Tuesday and Friday. Monday is my only quiet day and I hate it!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Hula in Hawaii
Friday, July 10, 2009
I just want to do theater without all the drama!
Hanging out backstage with 14-year-old girls, trading make-up, watching them be silly (and being almost 30 years older than them) has given me a lot of perspective on my own girlhood, and has helped me forgive myself a little more for all the foolish things I did back then! Yes, there is quite a lot of backstage drama, but thank goodness it doesn't involve me. I am not the only person over 20 in the cast, there's at least 7 more of us "aunties and uncles."
Also, it's confirmed that I have some kind of learning disability for dance, or I'm just cursed with the "Honky-ain't-got-no-rhythm" gene. I can't believe they expect me to sing, dance and act all at the same time!
Other News
Dean was chosen to go to Japan in a few weeks to represent Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at the island visitor's bureau show in Yokohama. Unfortunately it's during the closing weekend of the play, so I'm not going. We were able to have our lot refinanced again, so we have a few more years to try to get something built on it. Every time I turn around I meet another builder, so I don't think we'll have any trouble figuring out the process.
Dash and I went to Maui to see my Mom, right after April 15. I don't remember much but sleeping and laying by the pool. He also celebrated his 11th birthday with a wild party of pudding-eating contests, silly string wars and other messy things that boys love.
I had a lot of opportunities to sing this spring. I got to pick all the songs and lead worship for a women's day at church, and our 'band' got to perform in downtown Hilo at an island-wide church concert. We didn't do Hawaiian songs, mostly bluesy, reggae, rock-n-roll style.
Can you believe Dash is entering middle school this fall? He will be going to the same school, so I don't think it will be that traumatic for him, even with puberty looming on the horizon.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou
Dean has been working as a paid Interpretive Ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park since March. He gets to do really cool stuff, including taking VIPs close up to flowing lava and leading hikes "Into the Volcano."
Also in March, Halema'uma'u crater (less than 3 miles away) blew a hole in its side and a plume of steam and sulphur dioxide climbing high into the sky became a part of our daily landscape. For a few months there was a glow from the lava just a few hundred feet lower in the tube. Lately, 'da plume' (as we call it) has been coming and going. Today, the tradewinds have stopped and a blue haze of sulphur has settled over our neighborhood.
Dash turned 10 this year and camped out with his friends in our backyard.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Winter is Almost Pau
I am slowly getting more local clients, and being asked to do more and more volunteer stuff. I have officially drawn the line, NO MORE VOLUNTEERING! I got voted in as the Secretary for the Volcano Community Association, and just before that ocurred, I had agreed to be the Secretary for the incoming board for my Rotary club. I am getting good at taking minutes (which is probably why I'm not posting on this site very frequently). We changed from emailing our weekly update to posting on a blogspot--if you are curious click here: http://www.rotaryclubofvolcano.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Discovering New Traditions
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..
We just survived a nasty storm, non-stop rain for 4 days, over 20 inches, accompanied by high winds and blasting thunderstorms. But when it all cleared up, we were surprised with snow on both our mountains. This pic is Mauna Loa, I just drove around the corner to get a good shot of it this morning. Now it's pouring rain again, with thunder.
Dash has been home with a sore throat the last 2 days. A friend gave us a bag of about 14 DVD's of family movies so he is okay. I just finished a community Christmas party, the "Kilauea Kalikimaka." Complete with the hula team from our church, and a Hawaiian Santa.
We enjoyed a festive Thanksgiving at our next door neighbors. It was a traditional turkey dinner, but we did get to play ukulele and sing afterwards. I sang all 2 of the Hawaiian songs I know. Dean strummed along on his new ukulele that I got him for his birthday.
And Dash got baptised! Most of our church drove to Hilo and had a big party (with lots more ukulele and singing of course). I love this picture of all of us holding hands, overlooking Hilo Harbor. And below is Wendell, our ukulele teacher. We had a huge potluck afterwards, with kalua pork. Somebody brought coleslaw so I made a pork sandwhich that was almost like Sonny's BBQ, but without the sauce. I'm seriously craving Sonny's BBQ..
School gets out this week for the holidays and doesn't start again for 3 weeks. Dash just finishd his first big project on the Hopi Indians, including a 3-page report, a poster, and a papier-mache model of a pueblo (with the help of Dean).
I think we're officially in the rainy season now. And it's getting colder, it was in the 40s yesterday morning. But it does warm up to the 60s during the day. My Mom's coming over for Christmas--so I have to run out and buy a new couch!