April 1, 2006

My Trip to Arizona for my niece April's wedding was great fun.  The first thing I did the morning I left was leave early.  The rain was starting at 2 inches per hour and I was very anxious to leave.  I spent more time at the Honolulu airport before my flight to Phoenix but that was fine with me.  I was ready to get off... the island.  Something I thought I would never wish.  I almost didn't make plans to go to the wedding because I didn't want to leave here.

My brother Bill arranged a golf game with my brother Paul and his friend Brad my first morning there.  We went to a great course and I rode in the cart and enjoyed the heck out of it.  (I went to the driving range with Samantha this morning as it totally made me want to play and it's very cheap here for residents).  We'll sign up for some clinics soon.

Hal (brother) and Karen (his wife) came later that afternoon.  I helped with the reception room decorations and then we went to dinner while Bill attended the rehearsal dinner.

The next day we sat out at the pool and then attended the wedding which was great.  April looked very pretty and it was nice to see some old acquaintances.  After the wedding a few met at the restaurant nearby.  It was a great day.

The next day Bill, Claudia (Bill's wife), and a couple I had known in California went to an Indian Casino.  What fun!  I went in with 100 dollars and left 3 hours later with 102 dollars. I had about 200 dollars at one time. I'd like to do that again.

I almost missed my flight back.  I got held up at the ticket counter and also at the inspection area.  It was very crowded.  I took off my sandals and really booked it to the gate.  As I was running down the hall a man asked me if I was on the Hawaii flight and when I said yes he spoke into his radio that "the last one is coming".  When I got to the gate I told the next guy that there were about 20 behind me and he said "last one" and shut the door behind me.  That was the last flight so I really felt bad for them but very happy I rushed.  I got a great row of seats for the flight back.

JOB STUFF (Everyone has been asking about what I'm actually doing now)

I now work for Kauai Community College full time as a "casual employee".  I'm a training coordinator for OCET (Office of Continuing Education and Training).  I still teach and still do the one-on-one training for our contract with the county but I work the rest of the time out of the office.  This started as an additional duty to manage the International Student Tour (more about that later) and has turned into some very interesting responsibilities.  I love working there but the full time stuff is hard to get used to again.  I'm turning in my notice to Movie Tours tomorrow and am very unhappy about that, but I just can't keep working full time and also weekends.  I will miss doing it as it has been great fun.  I hesitated about doing it as the full time position is not permanent - meaning it can be terminated at every 89 days, but we'll see.   With summer coming soon I'd still want the weekends off anyway so I'll live.  I just hate to quit as it has been the most fun of all the things I've been doing here.

The International Study tour was very interesting.  We had two groups.  One of 16, with one escort and one of 35 with two escorts.  They came from Okinawa and Tokyo.  I helped to organize transportation, lodging, excursions, classes, cookout events, food, and a big graduation event at the end.  It was something I've never done before and I learned tons.  The students stay at a hotel during the two weeks and one weekend they stay with "homestay" families.  I took two one weekend and it was really fun.  The college does this two times a year and I hope to be involved in the next one.  These students were Freshmen and their studies were mostly elementary education.  The next group will be nursing students.  Very interesting.

Samantha (my daughter) is still here (about a month now and determined to stay here forever also).  It's been the greatest to have her with me.  She works at an organic farm and also has started to get some other jobs, like painting and screening in a lanai for neighbors.  We walked down the hill to dinner tonight and met a friend at the coffee place in town.  I'm really enjoying having her around.

I haven't built any new databases lately but still get requests for them.  There is just no time.  I am helping a neighbor learn about her computer and trading her for a watercolor - waterfall painting though.  There is no way anyone can not have enough work here.

I am taking on two new websites.  One, I'm trading plants for.  It's a website for a business that sells plants and does tree trimming, etc.  Debbie, the owner, took a class from me and I'm really excited about managing their website for trade of plants.  Sam says she has some really nice plants.  I haven't seen her place yet.  The second one is on Oahu and I'm waiting for them to finish with their marketing company for their logos, etc. and then will take it over to maintain.  This will make 4 websites I maintain.  I really enjoy doing them as I can do them in the evenings.

The rain has lessened and today was really nice.  The water is still muddy but the waves are white again.  I'm really looking forward to snorkeling again soon.  I also miss having fresh fish.  I just can't stand paying for it, and haven't been spear fishing at all in about 2 months with this weather.  I hear news from everyone via email and it seems the weather is wacky everywhere.

Aloha!  Happy April Fools Day.