Oahu Safe and Sound

Bamboo stand

Tuesday I left my house at 4 am and arrived at my sister's condo in Honolulu at 4 pm, gaining 3 hours in the process. It was a long trip with close connections and long hours crossing the ocean to get to my destination. However I made it safely and that I am thankful for.

Nancy and I have been going to the saltine pool every morning at 5:30 am at her condo complex. Watching the stars and floating easily in the salt water, treading water for an hour. Most times it is breezy and there is some shower activity, but the water is warm and the experience meditation like.

View of Diamond Head

I have met with my financial advisor for the first time, getting to know the man behind the voice. He took both Nancy and I out to lunch Thursday.  Nancy and I also went to the Iolani Palace where we took a tour into the past when a monarchy still ruled the islands. She encouraged me to read up on my Hawaiian history and it made the tour much more interesting. Nancy, Jim (Nancy's friend) and I also went out to dinner at the restaurant, The Top of Waikiki where the restaurant moves in a circular motion. There was great food, wine and company!

Today we are heading to the Arizona Memorial to honor all the Veterans that have gone before us in the name of freedom. Aloha!

Aloha!

Aloha, meaning good-bye and hello. Good bye for now on the mainland and hello to those on Oahu Hawaii. Heading to the island to spend sometime with my sis and have a different type of Thanksgiving  this year. Maybe I am trying to change things up a bit since it is the first holiday season without Brian.
But the trip should be fun and I get to meet my financial advisor in person. Not just a voice on the other end of the line.

Saturday Jessamyn, Andra, Joy and I traveled down to Scottsbluff for Paqui's baby shower at the Sky Port Restaurant at the airport. Trisha did an excellent job of hosting a beautiful shower with brunch and mimosa. She received many nice gifts and showed the latest ultrasound pictures of the little Gonzales boy. I say that since they haven't decided on the name yet. It was nice to see my niece Ila who also is pregnant and due in February and Vicki and Donn who drove down from Sterling. It was the perfect party until the snow started to fall. The trip home was pretty dicy for all of us who had to drive a distance due to the poor visibility and icy roads. We all made home safe and sound in the end, thank goodness!

Well appreciated gifts for the little boy.

Mommy and Special Guest

Paqui and Ila

Zeyda looking a little overwhelmed.

Jessamyn, Hostess Trisha, Jody, and Paqui

Post Political Stress Syndrome

Sorry this post is a little late this week. I have had a little internet problem and had to have it fixed yesterday. Fortunately, with a height increase off the roof due to growing trees the problem seems to be fixed. Speeds have increased and downloads and uploads are again possible, hence I am blogging again.

Halloween has come and gone with it spent in Scottsbluff with my cute little witch Zeyda. She had a preschool Halloween program and we went trick and treating in the evening. Saturday my friend Linda and I headed back to Scottsbluff to catch the holiday crafts show at the Civic Center in Gering. We also lunched and shopped while listening to the nail biter Nebraska Cornhusker game. I just don't know how I could have watched it on the TV anyway, too stressful! Fortunately, the Husker's prevailed.

Sunday I went to church and then back down to Scottsbluff for the Hospice candlelight memorial service to honor all the hospice clients that have passed away in the last year. Paqui and Zeyda also went with me. It was too far for Jessamyn to come, especially because she has to come down to Scottsbluff this next Saturday for Paqui's baby shower. The service was emotional for all present and brought up all those feelings I had tried to suppress over the past seven months. It was very comforting to know others were struggling also and it is all right to let yourself grieve for what you have lost. It isn't fair, but we all have to go on. 

Thank goodness the election is over! Whether you agree with the results or not, it is time to for both parties to start to work on behalf of the people and not political party agendas.  I and many others are suffering from post political stress syndrome.

These wild turkeys across my fence line better be aware that Thanksgiving dinner is in the near future!