It was a grand day… I got to go to the Hawaii Temple and take in a session…and made it back just in time to pick up Paul to meet Mom and Nathan at the Polynesian Cultural Center… We went to all 7 of the island centers and saw many great musical and informational performances about the islands…had a great guide… and took a canoe ride.. and watched a fabulous big show with everything from simple hula’s to the fire eaters and fire dance…. It was great…
This morning it is raining and the waves are pounding the shore outside our door and it is very soothing… but I am getting hungry and thinking about packing up and heading south towards the airport to go home… I cannot wait to give hugs to everyone… but I am sure we will be tired after our long flight… we will be at the Minneapolis airport for a few hours waiting though…but that is part of travel…Yeah…a great vacation and then home again.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Splurge
Vacation update 6
I had been getting mild cold symptoms for a few days. By Saturday I was down for the count. I had so little energy I could hardly move, but it was travel time. We flew back to Honolulu and checked into a hotel at Waikiki beach. (I can’t recommend staying there. It is so urban, you might as well be in downtown Los Angeles.) It hardly mattered, I slept pretty much the whole two days I was there. Just as I was starting to feel better, Lynn and I drove around the island and checked into Turtle Beach resort in the more isolated north shore. This is a classy place.
Lynn treated herself and me to a massage and a skin treatment where you get your whole body scrubbed, oiled with local lotions and potions, then wrapped in tea leaves. It was a very sensual and relaxing experience. I'm still floating.
I had been getting mild cold symptoms for a few days. By Saturday I was down for the count. I had so little energy I could hardly move, but it was travel time. We flew back to Honolulu and checked into a hotel at Waikiki beach. (I can’t recommend staying there. It is so urban, you might as well be in downtown Los Angeles.) It hardly mattered, I slept pretty much the whole two days I was there. Just as I was starting to feel better, Lynn and I drove around the island and checked into Turtle Beach resort in the more isolated north shore. This is a classy place.
Lynn treated herself and me to a massage and a skin treatment where you get your whole body scrubbed, oiled with local lotions and potions, then wrapped in tea leaves. It was a very sensual and relaxing experience. I'm still floating.
Top of the world
Vacation Update 5
Friday night, Lynn and I were sitting on top of Hawaii, cuddled into parkas and shivering. We were watching the spectacular sunset that can only be seen from top of a 13000 foot mountain in the middle of a tropical ocean. We were touring the observatories on top of mauna Kea. While watching the sunset in this rather remote place, I decided to check my cell phone, and it worked. This seemed so amazing to me that I disturbed some of my kids by calling them from the top of the world after their bedtime.
The tour guides and drivers only stay at the top for about a half hour. There is so little oxygen at that height that they start getting loopy if they stay longer. I was noticing a few weird physiological effects in myself. We descended to 9000 feet and set up telescopes and got a bunch of lessons about the (incredibly clear) night sky.
Friday night, Lynn and I were sitting on top of Hawaii, cuddled into parkas and shivering. We were watching the spectacular sunset that can only be seen from top of a 13000 foot mountain in the middle of a tropical ocean. We were touring the observatories on top of mauna Kea. While watching the sunset in this rather remote place, I decided to check my cell phone, and it worked. This seemed so amazing to me that I disturbed some of my kids by calling them from the top of the world after their bedtime.
The tour guides and drivers only stay at the top for about a half hour. There is so little oxygen at that height that they start getting loopy if they stay longer. I was noticing a few weird physiological effects in myself. We descended to 9000 feet and set up telescopes and got a bunch of lessons about the (incredibly clear) night sky.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Vacation update 4, By Lynn
I got burned today as I was snorkeling on fantastic reefs and along shores with lots of wonderful fishes… and corals… and it was a great morning to be out in a raft with super powerful motors and in the ocean…very salty… and with a bright sun shining… yes I put on sun screen, but I think I should have put more on before the 2nd snorkel stop… near the Capt Cook monument on English soil here in Hawaii… lots of fun again…this lasted from 8:00am until after noon… yeah… what a life…then we had a great meal and then came back to the motel for a rest…and then I found out I was really sore… lots of red on the back of my legs and back… I wore cold wet towels for about an hour while watching to see what the hurricane in the gulf was doing… and so now we are going to play a good game of Rummikube…with Mom and Nathan and they get to get up early tomorrow while we sleep in… until later…
Lynn
Lynn
Vacation Update 3
Short alphabet = many syllables
Hawaiian words seem so long and complicated. Yesterday I mentioned king Hamehameha. His name is short. Check out the name of the state fish… Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (pronounced…who moo who moo new coo new coo ah poo ah ah).
It started to make sense when one of the guides pointed out that the native language only has 13 letters in its alphabet. Like in many other cultures, Hawaiian names tend to be very descriptive, but because of the short alphabet, they use the same few sounds over and over.
Land, Air and Sea
Lynn had to buy me a T shirt with the state fish on it. The next day we went on a raft tour of the Kona coast. It turned out that this little raft had 260 horsepower and cruised at 30 miles per hour. We saw many caves carved by the wave action, and we snorkled in wonderfully clear calm waters. We even recognized and chased our favorite fish with the long name.
We were told that ideally we should tour the island by land, air and sea. We did. Today Lynn and I will add outer space to it. We will tour the observatories on the mountain.
Hawaiian words seem so long and complicated. Yesterday I mentioned king Hamehameha. His name is short. Check out the name of the state fish… Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (pronounced…who moo who moo new coo new coo ah poo ah ah).
It started to make sense when one of the guides pointed out that the native language only has 13 letters in its alphabet. Like in many other cultures, Hawaiian names tend to be very descriptive, but because of the short alphabet, they use the same few sounds over and over.
Land, Air and Sea
Lynn had to buy me a T shirt with the state fish on it. The next day we went on a raft tour of the Kona coast. It turned out that this little raft had 260 horsepower and cruised at 30 miles per hour. We saw many caves carved by the wave action, and we snorkled in wonderfully clear calm waters. We even recognized and chased our favorite fish with the long name.
We were told that ideally we should tour the island by land, air and sea. We did. Today Lynn and I will add outer space to it. We will tour the observatories on the mountain.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Vacation update 2
Tuesday (at the crack of dawn again) we were at the airport to tour the island by air. The guy who runs Big Island Air is an artist. It is immediately obvious that he loves his plane (a Cessna Caravan). It has high wings for stable operation and good viewing. Everyone gets a window seat. He gives you first class noise blocking headphones, and he keeps up a fun patter as he explains everything. He even manages to remember everyone’s name and where they are from, wasting no opportunity to use that info while he talks. High class music (in stereo) is always playing in the background, and the volume comes up a little when he is not talking.
The plane takes off smoothly and flies like a dream. In the headphones it feels surreal because the flight seems incredibly smooth and quiet (like in a travel movie). As we were flying low around a spot where red hot lava was pouring into the ocean, the theme from Jurassic Park was playing. I don’t know if the pilot had full control of that or it was just good timing, but it was very effective.
This is such a beautiful contrast to a rattling smelly bus.
Wednesday morning
Again we got up early, this time to go parasailing. This one had been calling my name for the last three years. They reel you out 400 feet, then they flap their arms at you. If you ignore them they leave you at 400. If you flap your arms they reel out to 800 feet (for an added price). If you are still up for it, they reel you out to 1200 feet. Once you get out there, it feels so peaceful and gorgeous. I loved it.
Lynn wasn’t sure she wanted to go. When she finally did, she entertained everyone on the boat with her “whoo-hoos”. Her old nickname "Lynn the Grinn" still applies. She was so enthused that she bought a zillion of their T shirts and gave them a big tip.
The plane takes off smoothly and flies like a dream. In the headphones it feels surreal because the flight seems incredibly smooth and quiet (like in a travel movie). As we were flying low around a spot where red hot lava was pouring into the ocean, the theme from Jurassic Park was playing. I don’t know if the pilot had full control of that or it was just good timing, but it was very effective.
This is such a beautiful contrast to a rattling smelly bus.
Wednesday morning
Again we got up early, this time to go parasailing. This one had been calling my name for the last three years. They reel you out 400 feet, then they flap their arms at you. If you ignore them they leave you at 400. If you flap your arms they reel out to 800 feet (for an added price). If you are still up for it, they reel you out to 1200 feet. Once you get out there, it feels so peaceful and gorgeous. I loved it.
Lynn wasn’t sure she wanted to go. When she finally did, she entertained everyone on the boat with her “whoo-hoos”. Her old nickname "Lynn the Grinn" still applies. She was so enthused that she bought a zillion of their T shirts and gave them a big tip.
Vacation update 1
Lynn and I had a smooth flight to Hawaii. It really is gorgeous here. The most dangerous part was letting Lynn and Ruth talk to the concierge. They got us so heavily booked doing fun things that almost every day of my “vacation” has to start with a pre dawn alarm clock.
Sunday we actually got to sleep in, after being up for 21 hours traveling the day before. Then we went to a luau with a feast fit for a king ( king Kamehameha to be exact).
Early Monday we loaded ourselves into a big diesel bus and toured the island. 12 hours of sitting in the back of a diesel bus has me prepared to bend anyone’s ear about how to design better busses. Busses cost a lot of money. It’s hard to fathom that they can’t be built to run smooth and clean and quiet like a car. After that I just couldn't be forced to drive to a restuarant to eat. If I had to tell my body to get into another motor vehicle at that time, every one of my cells would have gone awol.
Sunday we actually got to sleep in, after being up for 21 hours traveling the day before. Then we went to a luau with a feast fit for a king ( king Kamehameha to be exact).
Early Monday we loaded ourselves into a big diesel bus and toured the island. 12 hours of sitting in the back of a diesel bus has me prepared to bend anyone’s ear about how to design better busses. Busses cost a lot of money. It’s hard to fathom that they can’t be built to run smooth and clean and quiet like a car. After that I just couldn't be forced to drive to a restuarant to eat. If I had to tell my body to get into another motor vehicle at that time, every one of my cells would have gone awol.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Dichotomy
One way to recognize a great truth is when the exact opposite is also a great truth.
I was contemplating the fact that we really have very little control over our attitudes. The complex factors that create our attitudes run very deep. They include our culture, our heritage, our personal past, our economics, our neighborhood, our friends, and ultimately our habits. They influence even the physical structure of our brain.
I then remembered that the ONLY thing in life we really have control over is our attitude.
For a while it made me feel small.
Then I realized that we just identified a great truth.
The more I contemplate, the more I feel its power.
I was contemplating the fact that we really have very little control over our attitudes. The complex factors that create our attitudes run very deep. They include our culture, our heritage, our personal past, our economics, our neighborhood, our friends, and ultimately our habits. They influence even the physical structure of our brain.
I then remembered that the ONLY thing in life we really have control over is our attitude.
For a while it made me feel small.
Then I realized that we just identified a great truth.
The more I contemplate, the more I feel its power.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Send Kate energy
I've gotta admit that it shakes me up when I think I'm hearing any bad news about Kate.
We need to send lots of energy to get her blood count up and her tumor marker down. It's not unusual for the numbers to vary a little, as long as the trend is in the right direction.
Let's get them in the right direction.
We need to send lots of energy to get her blood count up and her tumor marker down. It's not unusual for the numbers to vary a little, as long as the trend is in the right direction.
Let's get them in the right direction.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Poor people
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.
Poverty has less to do with actual money and more to do with attitude.
This week we have heard countless radio and tv interviews with refugees from New Orleans. Some of the people talk about how they prepared and how they were resourceful when the worst happenned. Others talk about how they couldn't afford to prepare, or to leave, and they were condemmed to die because of their poverty. They didn't have anything to drink for days.
I can see that it would be hard to evacuate with no car and nowhere to go, but let's get serious about getting prepared. How much does it cost to fill a bunch of jugs and bottles with water? How about a few baggies of trail mix? A portable radio can be picked up cheap or free at rummage sales. Garbage bags would be handy. A flashlight.
There is virtually no able bodied person in America who couldn't scrounge up enough stuff to be prepared for a three day disaster. Truely poor people think they can't afford to be prepared, for storms or anything else in life. For some reason they are always unlucky. Temporarly broke people prepare for things. Eventually things go well for them.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Got Time?
Thoughts that can stand alone
But they also add up.
Life path
Each of us occupies only a tiny speck in the vastness of poly dimensional space. If you followed our journey through life, it would look like a long thread. As we pick our path toward the unknown, the thread twists and weaves its way around a zillion other threads, creating the tapestry of life.
Our job
According to many theologies, our ultimate goal is to create awareness. We are the neurons in the brain of God.
If we are the neurons, our life paths are the dendrites; the many connections to other parts of the brain.
Bored
If we know we can do something, it becomes boring and eventually we need to try something we are not sure we can do. We evolved to pursue challenges. It’s how we grow. We are programmed to pursue the path for which we don’t know the outcome.
Maybe that is why we perceive time as we do…
Our life path goes only into the future because we are programmed to steer toward the unknown. In poly dimensional space, the future is merely a place we haven’t been yet.
But they also add up.
Life path
Each of us occupies only a tiny speck in the vastness of poly dimensional space. If you followed our journey through life, it would look like a long thread. As we pick our path toward the unknown, the thread twists and weaves its way around a zillion other threads, creating the tapestry of life.
Our job
According to many theologies, our ultimate goal is to create awareness. We are the neurons in the brain of God.
If we are the neurons, our life paths are the dendrites; the many connections to other parts of the brain.
Bored
If we know we can do something, it becomes boring and eventually we need to try something we are not sure we can do. We evolved to pursue challenges. It’s how we grow. We are programmed to pursue the path for which we don’t know the outcome.
Maybe that is why we perceive time as we do…
Our life path goes only into the future because we are programmed to steer toward the unknown. In poly dimensional space, the future is merely a place we haven’t been yet.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Secrets
Lynn told me I should write this down...
Recently another guy who is trying to build an ecological research campus wanted to explore how our two businesses can work more closely with each other. As a matter of course any businesses sharing information with each other usually sign a non disclosure document that says they won't disclose any secrets. When he handed me the document to sign, I gave him my speech...
When we freely share information about what we are doing, people want to help. They will happily give pointers and advice. They will connect you to people you need to know and will share the excitement of your project. People like to help someone be a success. To be successful, your project needs to have the right people talking about it to everyone who could help. (There is a reason why fame and fortune are intimately linked.)
When it comes to having technical secrets; I have found that there are basically two kinds of people. One kind couldn’t make use of your know-how if you personally handed them all your notes. The other kind (much more rare) could simply see the concept of what you are doing and they could work out a way to do it better. There is no sense keeping a secret from either one.
There are a lot of reasons to share (mostly) openly with both kinds of people. They can help you.
Recently another guy who is trying to build an ecological research campus wanted to explore how our two businesses can work more closely with each other. As a matter of course any businesses sharing information with each other usually sign a non disclosure document that says they won't disclose any secrets. When he handed me the document to sign, I gave him my speech...
When we freely share information about what we are doing, people want to help. They will happily give pointers and advice. They will connect you to people you need to know and will share the excitement of your project. People like to help someone be a success. To be successful, your project needs to have the right people talking about it to everyone who could help. (There is a reason why fame and fortune are intimately linked.)
When it comes to having technical secrets; I have found that there are basically two kinds of people. One kind couldn’t make use of your know-how if you personally handed them all your notes. The other kind (much more rare) could simply see the concept of what you are doing and they could work out a way to do it better. There is no sense keeping a secret from either one.
There are a lot of reasons to share (mostly) openly with both kinds of people. They can help you.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
The adventures of Elwood
Ryan was left home to handle his kids alone yesterday while Amber went on a day trip. He had fresh surgery on his hand so there was some concern that he might have a hard time. On the contrary! He was having way too much fun.
He had a bunch of round and oblong wooden sticks lying around, and he had a video camera, so he and Ethan created Elwood, and they made him a star.
The adventures of Elwood is cute and cheesy. When I watched them I was laughing aerobically. Later Amber watched and reported that she laughed her head off.
Elwood is just a collection of wooden sticks, but he has facial expressions and body language that work incredibly well. He could become a cult classic.
He had a bunch of round and oblong wooden sticks lying around, and he had a video camera, so he and Ethan created Elwood, and they made him a star.
The adventures of Elwood is cute and cheesy. When I watched them I was laughing aerobically. Later Amber watched and reported that she laughed her head off.
Elwood is just a collection of wooden sticks, but he has facial expressions and body language that work incredibly well. He could become a cult classic.
Slow blogging time
There is something about this time of year that makes it harder to write a blog. I think everyone is busy getting in the last bit of summer. Still, some of us manage to create a gem once in a while.
This is from Rambling with Isha It is worth repeating.
_____________________________
* Life is NOT a poker game. You are dealt a hand, but that is as far as it goes. In life you can pick up cards along the way. You can discard the cards you don't like. And most importantly, you can make up the rules as you go. If your hand is better for Go-Fish, great. Have a super Bridge hand? Wonderful. It's sad when someone is too busy hating their Poker hand to realize that they have a winning Crazy 8s hand.
_____________________________
This is from Rambling with Isha It is worth repeating.
_____________________________
* Life is NOT a poker game. You are dealt a hand, but that is as far as it goes. In life you can pick up cards along the way. You can discard the cards you don't like. And most importantly, you can make up the rules as you go. If your hand is better for Go-Fish, great. Have a super Bridge hand? Wonderful. It's sad when someone is too busy hating their Poker hand to realize that they have a winning Crazy 8s hand.
_____________________________
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