QUIET AWESOME DAY

We got up pretty early this morning.  We went to the bank, got coffee at McD's and hit the market.  Bill wanted to get some flowers, and he certainly did!  I didn't even get out of the car.  I am reading a really good book so I just stayed in the car and read.

We took the flowers home and then headed out to Mackenna Landing to watch the snorkelers and read some more.  But...when we got there there were cars lined up both sides of the road and the parking lot was full.  And this is how its been since we got here.  JEEZ!!!  I am hoping that after this Easter weekend and the end of Spring Break, this little island will empty out a little.

We drove out towards the lava beds and found an ocean spot to park.  In fact just over from us some locals had set up an elaborate day camp (which a lot of them do) and had several fishing poles set up.  They were just finishing the last one and it was very interesting to watch.  I took some pics (like your interested LOL!!!) that I shall post.  I know I fell asleep twice and napped.  Then it started to rain and oh my goodness the earth smelled delicious!

This place is a mess.  I just don't know how we do it.  Bill sits in two different spots inside here and at both of them the floor is black.  And he leaves his junk around at both places.  But neither of those spots can equal my spot.  The couch has all sorts of stuff piled on it and so does the coffee table.  Cookie and Brian are coming next Wednesday and I think we have lots to do before they get here!

RAIN IN KIHEI....UNHEARD OF

BILL'S FLOWERS ON OUR LANAI

GETTING LIVE BAIT FROM HIS BUCKET

GETTING READY TO TAKE THE LINE OUT

HE HAS THE END OF LINE AND IS TAKING IT OUT

THIS ONE IS KEEPING THE LINE UNTANGLED AND ROLLING OUT

THATS HIM WAY OUT THERE

THE BELL THEY ATTACH TO THE POLE TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN THERE'S A FISH ON

TOASTING A MARSHMALLOW

THESE GUYS WERE A LONG WAY AWAY...I USED BILL'S CAMERA...GOOD ZOOM





Hopefully tomorrow's post will be a little more interesting!   TTYL  hey!!  the print got tiny!

MY WEIGHT GUESS

So, today, this morning, I finally checked my blood sugar.  It is supposed to be between 4 and 6.  It was 24.  Eeeek!!  I am going to take my numbers through this day, eating without any caution.  Just to see.  Tomorrow I will be switching to diabetic conscious foods and start working on those numbers.  I am also going to weigh, and this scares me even more.  I know I am way bigger than I was six months ago and I know why now.  But even knowing how the diabetes has effected that number, it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.  I am going to take a guess that I am 278.00  That feels about right but I could be way more, I just don't know.  Your waist doesn't get bigger, the fat roll just gets lower.  "sigh"

Something else I have noticed since coming back here to Maui.  The last spell here I committed to writing a poem every day until I had 100.  It was really tough at times and I had to finish once I got back to Vancouver.  But I did finish and wrote 100 of them.  I didn't really think about it again until I got here.  Several times now I have had the sudden thought that I need to write a poem.  I think a habit did actually get formed.  I started to re read some of them and I have decided that I am going to do it again.  But this time I am going to not head for a certain number but commit to writing a poem a day while I am in Maui...forever more.  I know no one will ever read them but I don't care.  Its a discipline I am happy to embrace again!

Now its the end of day.  About 11 this morning we took off up to Lahaina to Klimos for an amazing lunch.  Fish tacos and fish and chips, a seat by the ocean, a cool breeze...so pleasant.  We then drove to Kahului along the banana bread trail.  There seems to be an awful lot of people on the island right now. There were a couple of difficult passings on that narrow road, we were doing the backing up.  One yellow hummer tried to pull into the cliff side and get us to pass him on his right, our left, on the drop off side.  I think NOT!!  We backed up til we found a spot to back into and let him squeeze by.  Scary road!  We bought banana bread of course, but given my scary sugar numbers I am not partaking.  (much)

We then went to two back to back movies.  Identity Theft (so funny) and Emperor (so interesting).  Now I am tired and going to bed.  TTYL!!

I THOUGHT THIS WAS PRETTY...NEIGHBOURS GLASS OF WINE

THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY CRAZY BUMPER STICKERS

LUNCH

LOOK WHO CAME TO LUNCH

THATS BANANA BREAD VALLEY DOWN THERE

THE HUMMER THAT TRIED TO GET US TO GO AROUND THEM ON THE SCARY SIDE

THEY STOPPED AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, ITS A MILE DOWN THAT CLIFF TO THE OCEAN

SHE GOT OUT TO GUIDE HER HUSBAND TO BACK UP TO THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF SO WE COULD PASS

HERE WE GO

This time the packing and getting the house clean and getting here seemed to be a lot easier.  I think its because Bill really helped out at home.  He did all the vacuuming and dusting and the dishwasher.  He also washed out all the stuff in the bathroom.  Its amazing how much easier it makes everything when there is two of us doing it.

Plane ride over was uneventful except for one thing.  I was the first person off the plane!!  Had to kind of mow down the little family that was sitting on the other side of row one...but i did it!  I have never ever been the first one off.  So exciting!!

It was so good to get into the condo.  It really does feel like we have two homes.  And people that have stayed here (there have been three groups) so very very generously left us surprises.  It was like Christmas.  We found two very generous gift certificates (one for Costco, our most favourite store in the world), and one to a favourite restaurant, two beautiful books, an amazing kerig coffee system!!!, a box of Bailey's and glasses! and a completely organized den (thanks Christine and Jay) and an internet that actually works (bless your heart Jay!!!!!!).  We love to share our home here.  The slightest cloud on the horizon though is that Don, our main caretaker guy here, has told us that there have been questions on whether we are renting it out on a holiday basis and not declaring the income.  Not sure how we solve this one.  Bill is talking to people and trying to figure it all out.

We took off to Costco immediately.  We bought lots of good healthy food, with the intention of bbq'ing steaks, making greek salad, and heating up some buns.  Didn't happen.  When we finished unloading the car and putting it all away we were so flipping tired.  It was about 6:30 pm here, but 9:30 at home and we had arisen horribly early that morning, around 4 am.  We snacked on some salsa we had bought and went straight to bed.

Yesterday we went back to costco for stuff we missed, and KMart first for other stuff.  As I was walking across the parking lot to Kmart, la tourista hit me, unexpectedly, no warning, and boy I gotta say, its a good thing I knew where the loos were in there.  Half an hour later, three trips back to the loo, I told Bill I just wanted to go home.  Jeez!!!  Thank goodness for Pepto Bismal.

I spent the rest of the day unpacking and reacquainting with our stuff.  Last night we did finally bbq and we ate out on the lanai.  It was perfect.  It isn't overly hot here right now for some reason.  And now, this morning, I am just finishing making breakfast which we shall eat as we facebook.  Ahhhh, life is good!

TYPICAL SCENE IN PAIA!

PEACEFUL MORNING

WISHFUL THINKING



We had the most amazing day to day as you can see.  Whales, surfers, and a quick trip to Makawao.  More fun tomorrow.  Not sure what we are doing but I am looking forward to it.  TTYL

I WAS RIGHT

As soon as I said I wasn't going to post, I do nothing but post!

I went to the doctor and he sent me for a ton of tests.  I told him I was pretty sure I had type 2 diabetes...as I have mentioned before.  When I went in this morning he greeted me with, "Hello Dr. Price."  Huh??  You were right he says, you are diabetic, just like you thought!

I was so relieved...if it hadn't turned out to be diabetes then an ugly hunt for what it could be would have started.  All my other tests, lipids, kidneys, thyroid, vitamin levels, everything, came   back perfect.   I am a relieved person tonite!

But, starting next week, I will be logging blood pressure and morning blood count, just a warning!  Oh, and probably weight..if it isn't too horrific.  The doc told me all about how you gain weight and why when you have too much sugar booting about in your blood stream.  "sigh"  Maybe now I shall start losing a little easier.

We only have three more days for cleaning and packing.  Eeeek!!!  I am nowhere near ready.  We are all going out Sunday night for final family dinner/April's birthday/Dorothy's birthday dinner.  Burgoos!!!  Ignore the failed video below...I tried but it didn't work and I can't get rid of it!

HEADING DOWN TO THE FERRY LANDING

LOOKING OUT OVER THE BAY

I don't have much in the way of pics.  Just a couple from horseshoe bay the other day.  We drove the kids out to catch the boat to Keats Island.  There will be lots more next week!!!  TTYL

I FOUND IT!!!

I wasn't going to make another entry until we were in Maui next week.....but....I was trolling through a bunch of general pinterest pics (and I am loving all your stuff Jennifer Neil!!!).  Its kind of fun and you see lots of totally new (to me) ideas.  So, this morning I was scrolling along and suddenly came across my perfect house.

I know it seems callous, and I hope Bill is around forever :), but one can't help but think about your ideal living space and place if you were to find yourself all alone in the world.  Well today I found it!

I have always known that my final place would be tiny.  I love having family close by and this would work for that too.  Here is the picture.  I can just pull it into whichever friend/family members' yard, level it off, load up the fridge and good to go.

You may think I am joking but I am not.  This is exactly what I would live in if I could.  I LOVE it!!!

HOLY CRAP!!! SO MUCH HAPPENING

I arrived home from Port Alberni on Saturday the tenth.  On Sunday morning Bill had some kind of spazz, and I don't even know what it was about now, and I took exception to it.  And...for the first time ever in our marriage, I took my suitcase, which I had not even unpacked yet, threw it in the car and took off.  I spent the first night with Cookie and Brian.  She happened to be cooking a turkey she found in her freezer so I settled in to a lovely dinner, great conversation, and a comfy bed for the night.

The next morning I headed up to Kamloops.  It was a lovely trip, no snow or rain, and free to listen to whatever I wanted on the radio.  I loved it.  But I stopped in the parking lot of Walmart in Merritt and phoned Bill.  We had a long talk and worked it out.  I felt much better after that.

I spent a few days at my lovely sister's home in Kamloops.  I enjoyed the company so much.  I had long awesome visits with Emily and Jocelyn and Jo's husband Craig.  I visited with my Mom...which I so enjoyed.  If you talk slowly and keep it simple, she keeps up. And she can be so funny!!!  So I cooked a couple dinners, did a little shopping, visited people and Kerry, bless his heart, managed to use a chisel and hammer and got my gross jade bracelet off!!  I have been trying forever to get that sucker off my wrist.  I will be eternally grateful to him!

Home on Thursday and off to the Doctor on Friday.  I am almost 100% sure I have developed type two diabetes.  Now its project time.  There are six full days before heading off to Maui and I have a major project to get done each day, not the least of which is going to the denturist on Tuesday to get my dentures, and going to the Dr. to get my results of my blood tests.

So on that happy note I am signing off.  Once I get to Maui I will be blogging each night.  I will be recording diets, pictures, visitors adventures etc...so til then...Aloha!!

BILL IS SOOOOO ANNOYING

I forgot how flipping annoying he is.  He is driving me crazy.  Honestly, how is it one person can be so objectionable, I ask.  This last week away has been a treat but now I have to slow down and think like Bill...not easy!!!

He was whining to me that I wasn't telling him anything about the week.  So, I started to tell him about going to the SPCA's and seeing the dogs and the ridiculous process they insist on.  Right smack in the middle he gets up out of his chair and goes over to the guinea pig cage on the fireplace.  So while I am trying to talk to him, at his request mind you, he starts chirping and whistling at the pig.  Now, this is a man that cannot do two things at once.  So I stop, mid sentence.  He doesn't even notice.  So I wait.  And wait.  And wait.  Finally I go back to what I was doing and he says "Hey, so what happened?  Why did you stop?"  I asked him what he heard last and he couldn't even remember what I was telling him, again...at HIS request.  So now I am ignoring him and he can't understand why.  Achhhh....I could smack him!!!  LOL!!!  (not really!)

And speaking of the SPCA.......I am never setting foot in one again.  And I mean it this time.  One of these times, if I keep going into them, I am going to get arrested for disturbing the peace.  They are power trippers, pure and simple.  In order to see a flipping dog, just to see if its one you might be interested in, you have to fill out a four page, unbelievably nosy and invasive questionnaire, complete with your vet number, so they can check if you are a good owner or not.  There is no "open viewing" anymore.  I kind of held back because I was with Monte but finally I couldn't take it and let loose.  The stupid b--ch made me so mad.  So after hooping and hollering about how stupid the whole process was, and how I believed they were simply power tripping, we just want to see the damned dog and then decide if we would apply.....etc......  Monte kind of told me to calm down and said he didn't mind filling out the form etc......so I went outside.  He filled out all that personal info, finally got to see the dog and she just wasn't the right fit....after all that.  I don't like the SPCA.  Shelters are awesome.  You can go in and see all the dogs and walk them if they are walkable etc...no third degree and asking me what colour my underwear is.

KEENAI  (means Brother Bear)  ten months old

We ended up at the Coombs SPCA.  I stayed in the car.  But after about 15 minutes, out came Monte leading the loveliest sweet Pyranees dog.  And I do believe he will be the one!! I shall post a pic here for the people I am not fb friends with!  TTYL

CHERYL IS GREAT!!!!!!

(Is that a better title to see for a while Cheryl???)

A gentle reminder today from my awesome daughter in law that something needed to change and happen on this blog!  So here is an update:

We got back from the trip on the 23rd of Feb. and promptly got sick and so tired.  I just don't come home easily from these long jaunts off somewhere around the world.  I literally stuck to my bed for a week!  Happily I might add.  It was so nice to just wallow and not have to go steaming out into the city and get it all in and see everything.  I was sick of weird food too.  I had Bill buy me a loaf of gushy white bread and a stack of Bologna!  So yummy and easy to digest.  I fit a couple of appointments in with the dentist and taxied kids around etc...  But...what I really needed, and probably so did he, was a break from Bill.

So, Monte and I jumped into the car and headed up to Courtenay.  We stayed at the Travelodge for a couple of nights and spent some time with Kevin and Tandy and the kids.  They went out one night, not something that happens very often for them.  I got to play with the kids, feed them dinner, bath them, read them stories and tuck them in.  A true treat when you haven't done it in forever.  The kids were amazingly good.  Honestly, they did all they were supposed to and then simply went to sleep.  I was truly impressed.

Monte and I left on Tuesday morning and came to Port Alberni.  We spent the few days since, cleaning and feng shuiying his house.  He really got the clean bug and just dug right in.  And now its all clean, organized and furniture in better placement.  He did an amazing job.  I couldn't do much but do some directing from a chair.  My back is out again, stupid thing, and sometimes I can hardly move.  It seems to be a lot better now, now that the work is mostly done!

Today we hopped into the car and went to Nanaimo.  We met a friend of his there and took her out to a lovely loooooong delicious lunch.  I LOVE those kinds of lunches.  And this girl is smart, political, philosophical,  and talkative.  Perfect!!!  We had very lively conversation and most enjoyable.  Then we hit every store in town looking for bookshelves.  Jeez!!!  Does no one need book shelves anymore?  We finally found two baker's racks at Home Sense and picked them up.  I shall post pics below.  It was kind of fun this week...reminded me of when I was young and would finally clean my house and I would swear I was going to keep it that way forever....yeah....like that happened.

HE HAD TO COUNT TO 88....WHEN HE REACHED 29 HE DIDN'T KNOW THE NEXT NUMBER.  SO HE WENT AND GOT HIS COUNTING BOOK AND LOOKED IT UP.  EVERY TIME HE HIT THE 29 OR 39 OR 49 HE WOULD LOOK UP THE NEXT NUMBER!

ELISE WAS POURING THE TWELVE CUPS OF RICE KRISPIES.  I FORGOT HOW LITTLE ONES POUR TOWARDS THEMSELVES...SO FUNNY

THE FAMILY BAND!

MAKING FILIPINO MEATBALLS

MONTE'S REALLY CLEAN KITCHEN

THE BAKER'S RACKS WE FOUND TODAY

THE MUSIC HALF OF HIS LIVING ROOM

Now its off to bed and home tomorrow.  We need to make a few stops on the way but should be home by five.  I promise Cheryl, I won't go more that two days without and entry now!!!  Thanks for the push...I needed it.  TTYL