Tuesday 5/31/05 - Sunday 6/5/05

Tonight, I went to the Radisson with some friends to listen to Larry Rivera who has been singing at Coco Palms for 52 years (Be sure to look at the Articles section about the news on rebuilding - more recent articles on other sites, but gives you an idea regarding what a big deal it is - it is discussed at all the gatherings here).  Larry's music reminded me so much of Dad playing the reel to reel of Hawaiian music while we were growing up.  Hawaiian music has always brought good memories of Dad being home between flights.  I also remember when he brought home the rattan furniture set, for the patio, but can't remember if that was from when he was flying to Indonesia or Hawaii.  I do remember him bringing home plumeria all the time when he did the UAL Hawaii flights though and a lei one time for a special school event I had.  He really loved Kauai.  Maybe Bill, Hal, or Paul will remember where the rattan furniture came from.  Mom was pretty excited and couldn't believe he brought it home on the plane.  We had that furniture forever.  I had it as my living room furniture as a new bride, and then Bill got it.  Do you still have it Bill?  It was a great evening of sing along songs with the over 70 crowd.  Larry's grandchildren danced and his daughter sang with him and also did a hula dance.  An older woman did a hula that Larry had written about his sister giving out plumeria leis to the island visitors.  She also did a hula to a song that was pretty funny about Papaya Mary who gave the papaya's away that was very risky.  It had me in tears as she put a silly flower hat on and I swear it was my mother up there.  Mom was pretty straight laced most of the time but I remember her dressing up in silly costumes for the Yorba Linda Women's club and doing skits.  She often wore silly hats like that.  I was surprised at how many of the songs I knew as we sang along.  I hear most of them on the local radio channel I listen to and some I remember as a child.  I have most of Dads CDs and listen to them all the time.  I would love to have CDs of the old reels but don't even remember if any of us still has them.  It was a nice evening out and I think I'll go hotel hopping with my friends more often.

Tomorrow is my physical.  Brenda (at CHRISTUS) checked my blood pressure often when I worked there and I seem to always scrape by but I haven't tested it since I've been here so I'm a little concerned.  I've felt so good with the 35 pounds I've lost I'm sure it's good but we'll see.

I'm most excited about my next adventure on Friday.  I will be going on a two hour hike to a waterfall I found out about.  It is a long trip into the hills (Ralph, the resident manager of my place, and the article I found on the internet, state that it's a moderate walk).  Since it requires crossing a river and a long trip I have asked Todd to go with me and he's pretty excited about it also.  No walk could be worse than the hour I walked down that hill and across the lava rocks to Queens Bath.  The waterfall is called Ho'opii Falls and is at the very end of the road I live on.  I'll be taking my camera and expect to see some pretty good things along the way.  It is listed as a state path, along a river, with narrow access through private property.  I've had to wait a week since I found out about it to get someone to go with me.  I scoped out the dirt parking place when I went to yard sales last weekend.  I'm very excited about this adventure and hope I'm not disappointed.  We'll leave early so we can get back before dark.  Two hours there, two hours back, and at least 2 hours of swimming will take all day.

Friday 6/3/05

The doctor put me on a 24 hour monitor for my blood pressure yesterday.  All of the other tests came up great but my blood pressure was considered an issue.  I wore it all night and took it back today and the readout is borderline but acceptable.  My numbers are different than they have ever been.  He says probably because of the weight loss and my diligence about not including salt or caffeine in my diet since I came here.  I used to always be concerned about my high diastolic rate.  It is now lower than I can ever remember.  Posting from the mid 70s to 80.  It used to always be 92 to 98.  My Systolic is now the issue.  Twenty percent of the time it is too high.  The mean is 139 during the day and then it's considerably lower during the night.  So now, I will work on more exercise to go with my new diet.  This will fit in with my next plan anyway.  My new place has a gym and I had just been on the tour three days ago.  So, tonight I went for the first time.  It's funny but the best part was I wore my bathing suit, exercised on two machines for 15 minutes and then went to the pool which has been my practice anyway.  I felt really good and enjoyed the gym.  It has windows that look out on the tennis courts and forests beyond that.  It has a huge fan which made the room comfortable.  There is also a racquet ball court and sauna in the same building.  So, anyway my paperwork is now complete for the job I am seeking.  All I now need is the 2x2 photo and I'm all set to get my drivers license and then apply for the job.

Because of having to wear the Blood Pressure monitor I couldn't go to the falls I was going to explore today.  Todd and I will try for next week.

Weight Watch.... 35 pounds since I left Corpus.  With my new plan for exercising I'm hoping to drop enough to bring my pressure to a more manageable number.

Sunday 6/5/05 - Yesterday I went to Anini beach.  It was nice because it was not crowded.  I imagine because it is really not apparent where the beach is.  It took me one wrong turn with a stop to look over the Cliffside to see which road I should be on.  This is the description of it:

Anini Beach -- Kauai's North Shore.
This beach is one of the safest and most protected along the North Shore of the island. A fringed reef runs the entire length of beach and is Hawaii's longest reef. Expensive homes of the "rich and famous" are located on the bluff above and front this scenic area. Honeymoon in Vegas was filmed at one of these homes. The water at Anini is very shallow in parts, but the reef appears to go on forever. Anini provides more than ample exploration of the underwater canyons at the reef's edge where larger reef and pelagic or deep-sea fish can sometimes be seen. Anini is suitable for beginners, but for safety sake only venture there during an incoming tide--which occurs immediately after a low tide. Beware: currents draining the reef on an outgoing tide can be strong.

I went to the left section of it and around the point and there were some fish but nothing spectacular.  Since it was a new location to me and a sparsely populated I didn't go out past the reef's edge as it states you can.  I wanted to see how the tides and canyons were for returning.  It was a protected beach by two cliffs on each side so the water was calm which this time of year is nice.  Lately when I have gone to some of my favorite locations the tide has been a bit rough.  Even at Salt Pond which was very calm until mid May when it became a bit rough to snorkel.  I will definitely go again as the back part of the beach is shaded with Kamani trees and Silk Oaks that are often mistaken for pine trees (they have long nettles and drop small pinecones).  I also think the reef looked very promising and want to explore it.  I also liked how it wasn't too far from where I live.  Just a 30 minute drive.

Today I went into town to get my mail and got my passport photo for my drivers license so Monday I should be able to finish my application for my CDL drivers license and thus apply for the bus/van driving job.

I've been in the gym three times now.  I like the stepper the best.  It is easy on my knees, easy to operate, and has readouts for pulse, bps, time, distance, calories, and a fan.  It is similar to this:

There is also a bicycle I tried once and might do again after I get my stamina up a bit, but so far I like this the best.  I wear my suit, take a bottle of water and a towel, and swim afterwards.  I'm enjoying it so far.