mr. splashy-pants!!!

okay, so i didn't take this picture. but i totally saw whales yesterday at onekahakaha! kaari got here friday night and yesterday we met some of my co-workers in downtown hilo, and it was kind of cloudy so we picked the closest beach park to the sunshine. well as soon as we rolled up, we got a whale show! flippers waving at us, big jumps.... no tail action, tho -- apparently that's for the deep water and these guys were really close to shore. like 100 yards close. of course i didn't have my camera, but it was awesome anyway.

yay, whales!

mom and dad fly into kona today but i can't join them until Friday cause i got to work all week. Kaari is going over there tomorrow to enjoy the timeshare jacuzzi while i slave away...

merry christmas to everybody! maybe i'll post again before then, but just in case.

new orleans

shoo! i meant to post as soon as i got back from the Big Greazy while things were still fresh in my mind. but that time has past and now i'm packing my freshly unpacked bag to attend my grandmother's funeral in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday. She passed away peacefully, in her own house, in her own bed, on Saturday morning, with all her faculties about her -- just like she wanted. she turned 91 years old October 4th. she was a great lady. sassy right til the end. so i'm going to pay my respects and be with my mama and the rest of the family. but especially my mama.

so. new orleans. Hoo! New Orleans looks GREAT! I know you're supposed to say that about people you haven't seen in a while, but wow. Everyone had their best Halloween trimmings on the house and yard. Here are a few of my favorites:

Tim and I spent our first night back in the legendary Columns Hotel. Here's our room:

and of course we had folks over for cocktails in the Columns' equally legendary bar. we had the added luxury of having an upstairs patio all to ourselves.

let's see if i can recall what happened after that. we had a lovely Columns breakfast, then made our way over to Miz Smarty Pants' lovely Fountainbleu retreat. Let me tell y'all, Miz Smarty Pants, a.k.a. Laura, could give that Martha Stewart a run for her money. We had a smashing guest room with fresh roses, linen sprays, and candles galore! *And* she threw a fabulous soiree for Timmaay that evening with the chiminea blazing, dozens of candles, jambalaya, a cheese torte i'll not soon forget, and various and sundry other yummies. which were later augmented by Beth Oubre's bananas foster bread pudding. yes, you heard me right. it was heaven. we were serenaded by Tim's friend RJ, who did a mellow rendition of Beck's 'Loser", in addition to other tunes. Summer and Gary arrived from Jackson, Emily made a rare appearance, and a very good time was had by all.

at some point Laura and Tim and I all started talking like y'ats. (that's folks from deep in the Parrish for you yankee types.) Actually it was more like a cross between y'ats (almost a bronx accent) and the way New Orleans people talk in movies. Sort of Gone With The Wind-y/Blanche DuBoise-y. It was very odd and none of us could stop ourselves even when we tried. It was like after Katrina, staying with Gary (a Glaswegian) and Summer (a Jacksonian)-- everyone began to adopt a Scottish lilt. these things just happen.

Tim left on Halloween, and I went to stay with Chris and Brandy. Or was it Yaggy? They all put me up and were wonderful hosts. I've always depended on the kindness of.... see, there i go again!

This will be the longest post in the world if i don't start condensing. Here are some highlights:

- turn-down service with chocolates on pillow at Laura's;

- fog machine, bubble machine, strobe light, creepy halloween music, and wine on Laura's fantastic porch;

- going to Folahan's school and seeing all the children dressed up for halloween and jacked up on candy and soda;

- seeing the New Pornographers with Ian and Yaggy on Halloween;

-a lovely day at the zoo with Brandy;

- many drinks with Belle and Husband and Amy and Blake, esp. cocktails Chez Buchert/Woodruff;

- QT with Emily and Jerrilynn; down-slash-q-time with Chris and Brandy;

- Cocktails with the monkey house crew;

- Lots and Lots of great new orleans food (the 5-pound weight gain I foretold did indeed happen): Frankie and Johnny's, Crepe Nanou, Rivershack, Coop's, Langenstein's, Crabby Jack's, Felix's, Acme... i think i just peed a little remembering it...

- St. Joseph's Plantation tour in the Earth F***er (rented Ford Expedition), full of sightseers;

- and last but not least, of course, being reunited with my beloved Timothea.

The bad news: my suitcase broke shortly after arrival. piece of crap. it was only its fourth voyage. then it REALLY broke just as i was getting ready to leave! it had no handles and brandy had to haul it downstairs from the 5-9-4-1 for me! i left it with yaggy in case the Suitcase People wanted proof that it was all fooshed up, but when i emailed them, they said oh no problem, we'll credit you back, just throw that sucker out. they've also given me discounts when they run sales on things i just purchased at pre-sale prices. So that's my little plug for the suitcase people.

At the NOLA airport I saw something I'd been meaning to get on my stay: Barbeque Shrimp Mix!!! So as soon as I got home (Molly and Corinna picked me up, and they brought me a lei!! how sweet is that???) and got my wits about me, I went and got 6 pounds of scriuuumphs and made BBQ scrimps for the neighbors, catsitters, and colleagues. I also was hell-bent on recreating Langenstein's creole potato salad at home, and I am happy to say I cracked it! and, while that is happy news indeed, I must report that it, like all great food, has a Context. What I made tastes damn good, but it doesn't seem right eating it in Hawaii. I'm gonna, tho, every time I make potato salad!!

Yup, so now it's off to Iowa (BRRR! I was cold even in New Orleans! I packed better for Iowa, though. I even have a pair of grandma's leather & cashmere gloves to wear. yay!)

Hope all's well everywhere, and that happy halloweens were had by all.

puppies and froggies and more weird fruit

first, let me say how interesting it is to me that i used to post almost Every Single Day, and now it's every month at best?? jeez. oh well.

the neighbors have a breeding pair of miniature dachshunds. that means little wrinkly hot dog babies!! here's one of them at 6 days old (with worried mama in the background). awwuh!! the puppy neighbors, incidentally, are moving away so they can be the caretakers of Kenny Loggins' big self-sustaining homestead he built for his family in Hawi on the north side of the island. It was a Y2K retreat, apparently. Kenny's apparently been yacht-rockin' lots of benefit concerts for schools and environmental protection organizations. (wonder if he does Footloose?)anyway, he's going to pay my soon-to be ex-neighbor lots of money to keep up his solar power station and to eat organic fruit from his hippie wife's orchards. sweet.

but i digress. in other Cute News, another coqui frog got in the house. I got to this one before Doodle did (unlike the last several, who became Cat Toys and then Dead Cat Toys). I suppose i really should let him have them, since i'm working on the invasive species and all, but look at those sticky feet! i just can't bring myself to do it.

dragonfruit are pretty. see?

but they taste like nothing. watery and a tiny bit sweet with crunchy poppyseed-esque action. no more dragonfruit for me, thanks. i'm still eagerly anticipating meeting my first mangosteen. and i have discovered that lilikoi, or passionfruit, a fruit once too strong for my tender taste buds, has become super-addictive. it's a megadose of vitamin C. really perks ya up. and the homemade ice cream place up the street makes sorbet out of them. i never tasted anything so yummy (especially when paired with mango ice cream).

i haven't posted a picture of the doodle lately. he's getting fat again! gained 2 pounds last month. we're going to have to take measures if this trend continues. south beach diet has been suggested. i'm going to have to make him his own naptry! there ain't no room for me!

arright kids, i'm off to the tidepools to molest the marine creatures. i'm trying to make sure i hit the mainland with some semblance of a tan, but i may disappoint some people. since that burn i got, sunscreen is my friend.

happy rocktober, everybody! special birthday shoutouts to amy (oct 2), grandma (91 on oct 4), and molly (oct 5). october's a big birthday month. so happy b-day in advance to: kee, eleanor, rob, summer, ian, brandy, and ME!!!!!

six months already??!?

yes, today is my 6-month anniversary! doodle and i may have some sashimi to celebrate. things have been a little tight moneywise, and i'm still acclimating to the job, but all in all i'm happy about the way things are going. i just got an advancement at work, i am now an Entomological Research Associate instead of a mere Assistant, and i get more money for that, yay! in addition, the project i'm leading is in full swing and i'm happy to be doing it. this month we get 3 new interns which means i will have 5 gung-ho helpers to do my evil bidding! i can just sit back and eat bon-bons and make them do all the work. not. they are an enormous help, though. i can't imagine what the lab would do without them.

i don't have much to share picture-wise, but check out these purple sweet potatoes. they are so tasty i can't even believe it. i don't like the orangey kind, but these ones? they have crack in them.

i said i'd report on the jaboticaba. they were good, but there's not much to them after you get rid of the slightly bitter skin and the pit on the inside. yummy, though. one dollar well spent. here's the current fruit situation at Hale Snook:

that is a tiny little 2-pound pineapple grown here on the island. organic white Puna pineapple. 79 cents a pound. i think he's adorable. he's for the chopping block today for sure. he'll probably turn into pineapple salsa with a few chunks reserved to garnish the mai-tai. all i'm gonna do today is eat and go to the beach. i think that's a fitting anniversary present!

i'm coming back to the mainland at the end of October (happy birthday to me), but instead of the cross-country extravaganza i had planned, i'm only going to new orleans. i'll be there the 25th of october till the 4th of november if anyone wants to come have a nawlins halloween with me!

this week has had its share of bad news, though: kelly lost her mom, laura her dad, and amber jolene her grandmother. i'm thinking about all three of you, ladies. i wish i could be there to give you all big hugs.

that's it for now. everybody take care and remember the ppl you love won't be around forever. love 'em as much as you can now.

xoxo,

k

omg i have a guacamole tree!!!!!!

i've been seeing some little pear-shaped fruits on a tree by our laundry room and wondering what they were gonna turn into. well. now there's about sixty great big avocados hangin up there. i just picked my first one! okay, it only saves me a dollar, cause that's what you pay for an avocado as big as yr head at the market, but still. now i have papayas and avocados. who knows what else i've missed? i gotta look around a little better. i's ignant.

in other tropical fruit news, i just bought my first jaboticabas. i will let you know how they are. i also had acai/mango sorbet (delicious!) and have been eyeing the dragonfruit. they're expyonsive at the natural food store right now, and i haven't seen any at the farmers market just yet, but i will let you know.

that's all for now, i reckon. no big news. the weather has been un-freekin-beatable since Flossie disintegrated. Every day has been absolutely gorgeous. I feel really bad for all y'all in the heat. hang in there and wait til fall. just make a note of how hot you are and think about coming to see me next summer, okay? my high temp is just a little higher than your lows. yikers. stay cool & safe. i miss y'all!

xoxo
k

Holy $@#&ing &$#%!!!

so i'm getting all prepared for Flossie (thanks for all the "moooooo"s, btw, and for telling me she's only gonna "graze" us here, lol), and we have a BIG FREAKIN 5.3 EARTHQUAKE!!!! wow. the whole house shook, stuff fell over, the fridge walked across the room, doodle freaked. the only casualties were my John Preble print (just needs new glass now, no biggie) and, snif -- my goblet that Kelly made me with her own two hands. looks like i need to do some earthquake-proofing around here. i wish i liked plastic. but i just don't.

i feel like i just got off a crazy ride at the carnival. the whole neighborhood's all a-twitter. smells like somebody's Costco-sized bottle of Drakkar Noir broke, too. Yukka.

all i need now's a tsunami.....

Funny, too. it was an absolutely beautiful day today.

will someone *please* send NOAA a list of hurricane name ideas???

Flossie?? FLOSSIE?!?! that's a name for a cow, not a stinkin' hurricane!!! If Flossie destroys anything anywhere, it just adds insult to injury that the poor schmoes have to go the rest of their lives talking about what Flossie did to them (us?) in '07. Good god ammighty. It's bad enough I have to recall the ass-whoopin i took from Fran in NC back whenever that was. So obviously, NOAA needs some help with name ideas, especially girl names that start with F. I recommend they get ethnic and/or get some ppl with some imagination on staff, STAT, so they can come up with some names that ppl won't be embarrassed to say. Hurricane Fatima. Hurricane Felicia. Hurricane Francoise. Hurricane Fabiola. Florence. Frida. Frances, not Fran. Fran sounds like she'd be at the bingo parlor. (Frances is my grandma's name, and maybe that's why Frances sounds more formidable than 'Fran' to me.) Hurricane, I donno, Fookeisha. I mean, what's next on NOAA's list? Fluffy? Fancy? give me a break.

so yeah, it's kinda cloudy here, and that makes me mad because i wanted to see the Perseid meteor shower tonight. And i have to cuss at somebody named Flossie. i just can't stop imagining her with a bell around her neck. in the words of tim darby, it ain't right. it ain't fittin'.

in other news. you see that i've been un-posty lately. let me tell you why. see, here in hawaii, apparently, people like to work All The Freakin Time. Really. i'm trying to motivate myself to a whole new level of work ethic, and i just don't know how they do it. ppl that get paid a lot less than me do a whoooole lot more. and my peeps at the monkey house remember how hard i worked there..... NOT. that was such a low-output gig, i'm kind of in shock now at how much i need to accomplish. so that's been kind of taking all my energy. i even woke up today, a sunday, thinking about things i have to do at work. that kind of sucks -- except that i don't have anything better to think about! so i'm entering a phase of Knuckling Down, i reckon.

Oh and i have a lovely Kilauea Field Station Tan to show for it. I forgot to reapply my sunscreen (SPF 50, previously an unheard-of number in my sunscreen repertoire, which has always ended at 8) one day, just one stinkin' day, and look what happened! owie owie owie! note the line where the sunglasses were. oh, and i had that mineral powder concealer on -- i.d. bare escentuals, ladies, spf one million. it lasted all day. see those white splotches on my otherwise livid red cheek? that's where the concealer was.

amazingly, the next day i was just a little pink. i thought for sure my face was gonna peel right off! i was even wearing a hat and everything.

yeah. and boy, are my arms brown. But my legs are pasty white! I need to get to the beach and equilibrate. i look like i have a congenital skin condition. or several.

i did get to go back up on Mauna Kea the other week when it was a full moon, tho. i tried to take a picture, as it was sitting up above the cloud line, making everything all silvery and impossibly surreal, but my camera wouldn't cooperate and all i got was a fuzzy white orb on a black background. booooo. digital cameras aren't for every situation, sadly.

Anyway, there are nene, the endangered hawaiian goose, all up on that mountain. here's a gang of them that were givin' me the stink-eye. they attacked poor emily last time she went up on the mountain. they evolved from canada geese, and now they've lost the webbing on their feet and are purely terrestrial. like most geese, they enjoy golf courses, so if you ever want to see one, check out the golf course at Volcanoes National Park.

what else. there's some lava action going on. these lava ponds have formed that become "perched": the pool forms, the sides solidify into a sort of levee, the pond level rises, so does the exterior wall, until you have something that resembles an above-ground swimming pool -- full of molten lava! sounds pretty cool but you couldn't pay me to get anywhere near that thing.

that's all i got to report. netflix is still my best friend here. and i'm still waiting for the mangosteens to hit the farmers' market, will keep you apprised of that situation. doesn't anybody wanna come visit me, in the meantime? my next visitors aren't til December. boooooo!

hey, i am seriously thinking about a New Zealand/Australia trip in winter '08. (our winter, that is.) I need a travel companion. anyone? anyone? kristcha? we could be kristcha and kristcha in christchurch. heh. saljie? anybody? group trip? let me know.

last of all, here's a lovely gimungous hawaiian raspberry i found up there on the mountain. they have no thorns and are gimongous. the perfect berry.

Piece, y'all! keep it raaael.

k