On the road to Forks

We decided to stop and enjoy the view and the quiet on the drive from
Port Angeles to Forks. This is a large peaceful lake in a national
forest along the road.

On the ferry

As part of our get away we are riding the ferry from Edmonds to
Kingston. It is a beautiful day for a drive - boat ride. Too bad they
are predicting rain for the rest of the weekend.

Tim wins an award

Last night Cindy and I got to attend the Special Invention Awards
ceremony from my company. It was a hosted bar, then a great dinner
(salmon and a steak filet), and then the ceremony. There 14 "teams"
awarded. My team was just me.

Now Cindy and I are off on a weekend getaway. More on that later.

Fall colors

Fall is here. The kids are back in school, the leaves are changing,
and it is the anniversary of "9-11" again. Okay, maybe that last
doesn't belong. Fall has always been my favorite time of the year.

Just out on a walk at lunch. Boy do I need the exercise! My wife is
going to the gym regularly now so before long she is going to be trim
and buff, and I will still be the fat slob I am now. So time for me to
start exercising more.

Picking our own lettuce

We (well, really my mother-in-law) are growing some of our own food
this year. Tonight we are going to have BLT sandwiches for dinner so
we are picking our own lettuce.

My project today

Today I built this new potting bench for my mother-in-law (the one in
red in the picture). Ben assisted me, and I think we did a pretty
terrif job in just a few hours (okay, maybe four hours). This was
built completely from scrap wood that we had laying around the house.
It has a 27 x 54 inch top surface made from 1 inch plywood, and four 4
x 4 legs. It is plenty strong enough to hold the two boys, as you can
tell. All without a trip to Home Depot or Lowes.

At the park

We are down at the park near our house on a sunny, lazy Sunday.

On the way home

Just got sat down on the plane for the flight home. On the way!

- Tim A.

Made it to the office.

My plane actually landed early, and traffic was heavy bit moving, so I
have arrived about 15 minutes early.

Time to earn my dollars for the day!

- Tim A.

Another week another trip

Well, here I am heading out on yet another business trip. This time
I'm heading down to San Jose, CA. unlike all my previous trips,
however, this time it is a single day trip. I'm flying down this
morning and home tonight. It is going to make for a very long day!

Oh, and the stuffed pet is our son's (Ben). He likes us to take it on
trips and email him pictures.

On the ground

Now at Washington National Airport. On the ground safe and sound.

- Tim A.

On another trip

On my way to Washington, DC. just barely got on the plane on time.

- Tim A.

Summer games are over

I'm tired and almost home.

SOWA opening ceremony

Well we have now marched in and taken our seats at the opening
ceremonies for the Washington State Special Olympics Summer Games.
Other teams are still streaming in.

Off to the Summer Games

It is that time of the year. This weekend is the Washington State
Special Olympics Summer Games. I am a chaperone, with both Alan and
Ben participating (Ben is part of the "unified" relay team). We are on
the bus heading to Fort Lewis.

At the base of the falls

So here we are at the base of the falls. You can see the Salish Lodge
on the top to the left. Cindy didn't want to do the climbing necessary
to get down here on the rocks, so only us boys made it. It is actually
quite damp down here, the spray from the waterfall is pretty heavy
even this far away.

Snoqualmie falls

We decided to come up here for Memorial Day. Along with about a
hundred thousand other people!

Ben is in there

I know you can't see him, but he is in the back row. About to sing the
national anthem.

At a Rainiers game

Ben's elementary school is singing the national anthem at the
Rainier's game tonight. We have never been at one here before, but we
are having a good time so far. Of course, the game hasn't started yet.

At Highland games

We are at the Special Olympics Highland Games in Bellevue, WA. Alan
and Ben are competing in a number of events. The picture is of Ben and
his friend Sam playing YuGoOh between events.

At home

Glad to be home again. Back to regular life. And I'm loving it.

This one is my plane

My plane's here and waiting for us. Boarding should start in about 15
minutes, and I'm headed home. Yeah!

Lunch of champions

Okay - not really my whole lunch. The pulled pork BBQ sandwich is on
the way.

I'm at the airport and having some lunch before the flight. Gawd am I
happy to be headed home!

Not my airplane

Not my airplane (I'm on Hawaiin air) but a nice view of a 747. My son,
alan, loves big airplanes! So here's one for you, Alan.

Creme puffs

One of the more interesting discoveries here in Hawaii has been Beard
Papa's. They make creme puffs. And that's pretty much all they do.
They are good creme puffs, of course. And I have eaten more then my
fair share. Yummy!

Ate here too

LOL - I ate here a few times as well. Not unusual or overly
interesting, but familiar and comfortable. The food wasn't "bad", just
uninspired.

Ate here a couple times

Actually really enjoyed eating at this Mexican place. It was a great
change of pace.

Ready to to home

I'm going home today. Finally. Just few more hours and it's off to the
airport. It was fun to be here, but it was too long. I am very glad to
be headed home.

Oh, the picture is the entrance to the Hilton hotel I've been staying
in.

The dinner view

And here is the view sitting here in LuLu's without you having to look
at my dinner.

Dinner time

Sitting at LuLu's overlooking Waikiki beach eating a sizzling steak.
Sucks to be me, huh?

As far as we got

So, here is the view from the place we ended up stopping and turning
around.

The hike up Koko Head

Today my coworker and I, both being trapped here on Oahu, decided to
take a hike. Our first choice was closed, so we went over to Koko Head
to try that. This picture is from very near the base looking up the
hill/mountain/volcano. It is some kind of old tram track but is now a
"starcase" up the side of the mountain. It is as steep as it appears
in this photo, and is indeed straight up.

The day was quite warm and muggy, and I am way too out of shape. I
estimate we made it three quarters up before turning back. I was so
tired going up I was getting ill and thought I was going to throw up.

Saturday morning on Waikiki

This is the attack of the birds edition.

I started my day in the pretty normal way with a walk down to
Starbucks for a coffee and scone. The line was actually pretty short.
Then I headed out here to the beach to sit on a bench and watch the
waves. So I'm sitting here eating my scone when these birds (acting
like rats with wings) start coming up to me. Most fly away when I shoo
them, but this one sticks around.

Now, I don't feed them. I knows better (even if my lovely wife hasn't
learned her lesson yet). But this bird in the picture just keeps on
patroling around me. It can we I'm eating and seems to think I owe it
something. I tried repeatedly to shoo it away, but it keeps circling
back.

Finally I decide to try to just ignore it. Then it gets bold and hops
up on the bench to me left. It is sitting six inches from me and just
staring at me! Apparently my NOT shooing it away at this point is some
kind of invitation, so it hops onto my leg! I'm not kidding. It
decided to climb on me to get my scone, which I just want to eat in
peace.

Well feeling it's talons on my bare flesh was too much of a surprise
so I jerk my leg and swat at the greedy bird. It returned to the
ground, but was unrepentant, continuing to circle my feet and bench.
Right up to the point I finished my scone. Then it wandered away.

I guess I'm just lucky there weren't more of them!

Dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise

Dinner time. Wasn't really in the mood to be out here, but what was I
going to do? Room service is really crazy expensive. And I needed a
drink (or two or three), today sucked.

Still in Hawaii

I haven't written

I know it has been awhile since last I wrote. Nothing much has changed
her on Oahu. The weather is still beautiful most of the time (even if
overcast frequently). My work (9+ hours a day) continues to be much
boring waiting punctuated by short intense periods of activity. Now
that Cindy's visit is past I am feeling more and more lonely. I miss
the boys, my wife, my own bed, and the comfortable routine of family
life. Hawaii without someone to share it with isn't much fun.

And I still have a week and a half to go!

Time for my morning cup of Starbucks.

- Tim A.

Longer stay

Well, after much reflection and consideration I have decided to extend
my stay here in Hawaii. Work has wanted me to stay until May 8 since
we knew this activity was originally planned. I had said no. But there
really isn't anyone else to represent my software.

Over the weekend with my wife here with me we talked through this
decision. I know work wanted me to stay, but I don't like the idea of
being away from my family so long. The boys are already unhappy that I
have been away so long. But after we talked it out we decided together
that it would me okay for me to stay the extra week.

Work is happy about it. I'm not real happy about it, but this is a big
deal for my software. So I'm stuck here for another two weeks. I am
getting pretty tired of eating out.

- Tim A.

Dinner drinks

Cindy and I each got one of these, a pineapple filled with Pina Colada
(non alcoholic, since the Mormons run this place).

Cindy shopping

Actually cindy made the fish from woven coconut leaves, and was just
trying on the hat here in the Polynisian Culture Center. We are taking
a little bit of a break to get out of the sun.

Parade of canoes

Dancers on canoes from each of the island chains.

Polynesian culture center today

We at the PCC today, for the whole day.

Shopping mall - Waikiki style

This is a very upscale shopping mall right along the main drive along
the Waikiki beach. Cindy's here so of course we have to hit all these
kinds of places.

Okay - to be fair I was already here before Cindy came out. I was just
scoping it out for her... Really... Honest!

Starbucks on Waikiki

Starbucks is a popular place even on the beach at Waikiki, HI.

Oh - there are ugly things in Hawaii

Ugly, huh? I can't believe they have this in front of a hotel just off
Waikiki. Blah .

Late lunch/early dinner

Got off work a little early today, but missed lunch. So I'm treating
myself to a nice Linner. I'm at the Jimmy Buffet restaurant. It's very
nice and "theme" based. Time for some jerk chicken and a few mai tia.

Look who stopped by!

Just back in my room. Long day at work, lots to do requiring much
thinking. Most of my brain is mush.

Talked to my family on the phone, it was nice to hear that they are
doing so well. Also very nice get to chat with the boys for a few
minutes (I have been talking with Cindy everyday).

I was just about to head out and find something for dinner when I
noticed this little fellow on my balcony.

It rained

It rained last night, and more is on the way. At least the weekend was
beautiful. I hate the humidity though, it sucks.

- Tim A.

Another view of the beach

Just another view of the crowded beach from the sidewalk. Note the
statue. There are a lot of these all up and down the sidewalk in front
of the Waikiki beach. And each one has leis on them, placed fresh ever
day (or so).

Crowded beach

The beach got much more crowded as the afternoon started. No more
strolling on the beach until the crowds thin out -a lot.

Inside the Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Guess where I'm eating lunch.

Sunglasses in Hawaii

I don't get it. There is direct, bright, hot sun and yet the vast
majority (probably >80%) of the people in the beach and walking on the
sidewalks are not wearing sunglasses. I tried taking mine off and was
nearly blinded by how bright it is out here.

- Tim A.

Serious about the jellyfish

Found this one as I was just walking along the beach. It was still
twitching, but having been warned about the sting I wasn't about to
touch it.

Danger on the beach

Very few people in the water today due to the jellyfish warning signs
posted all along the beach. Weather is awesome though, so lots of sun
bathers.

Finally up and moving

Sunday morning and I decided to just rest in my room this morning. So
I'm only just now (10:00 am local time) getting out. This is the view
from the window at the elevators on the 33rd floor of the hotel.

A successful shopping trip

I bought a lot of stuff at the swap meet today. You like the hat and
shirt? Needed the hat to cover my head and keep from getting a sunburn
on the top of my head. I now own four new Hawaiin shirts as well. Only
$12 each, which I thought was a great price. And I picked up some
gifts as well.

Shopping at the swap meet

Cheap place to pick up Hawaiin shirts, and just about anything else!

Lizards

I just had the nicest little conversation with two older ladies. I've
been randomly walking down the beach front and stopping to just look
around. This time I stopped and sat at a slat bench that looks out
over a low rock wall and hedge onto a curve of the beach. I was
looking out at the sky, the beach, and the water when this older woman
quietly slid up and sat on the far end of my bench.

"do you see the lizards?" she asked in a highly Italian accented
English. I really could bare understand her. But eventually I realized
she was pointing out these little lizards living in the hedge and
rocks right in front of me. I hadn't even noticed them after sitting
here for at least five minutes.

When I started trying to snap pictures with my iPhone, another older
lady (this time an island native) started also pointing them out to
me. The three of us were having a good time locating them. We even
noticed the males puffing out their throat flaps (which are bright red
but can't normally be seen) trying to attract the smaller female
lizards. The ladies kept pointing out which ones I should take
pictures of. It was fun.

They have both left now, having other things to do. But I am left
wondering how often we all miss the little beauty, detai, and funl
right under our nose while we are looking at things too far away?

Good morning

Just sitting here on the edge of the beach, sipping my latte, and
letting the world pass me by. Joggers running behind me, these guys
setting up a beach volleyball tournement in front of me, airplanes
occasionally flying out from the airport, but I'm fine just sitting
and soaking it all in.

By the way, who in their right mind would heat up an apple fritter
(donut)? Both Starbucks I've been to here in the mornings has asked me
if I want it heated up. Weird.