Juana's...

So there is this great little beach bar/restaurant about 2 miles from my Aunt and Uncles house on Navarre Beach, called Juana's... it's great because it has the most beautiful view of the sunset across the Santa Rosa Sound, Juana's has a big complex with about 4 or 5 beach volleyball courts, the bar is in this giant thatched roof pagoda that is kind of like a tropical gazebo. They have a giant deck, and a really good restaurant that is located next door. The people are pretty cool... Navarre Beach's theme is 'Florida's Best Kept Secret', and it's really true, because there are hardly any tourists and it's just a great, laid back spot- white sands and beautiful water. There could be worse places to have a school in the military.

By the way, last night at Juana's, we met a guy that won the Florida lottery last year. He asked us what we did after he heard us talking about work, so of course we asked him the same. He was a total redneck- NASCAR T-shirt... mesh hat, three days growth of a beard, but as happy as a clam... he has a house on the water, and apparently just goes to Juana's to drink on a regular basis. The funny thing is, he asked my buddy to use his cell phone to call someone... ? I would think a millionaire would have his own phone. Oh well... who needs a phone when you don't have to worry about money?

Study, study, study...

Well, my aunt and uncle got back from their trip to central Florida today... how great it is to see them... got a chance to see some of their family as well... (my Aunts daughter and family...) My Uncle is the greatest family man known to man... he's just the greatest... he's a psychologist, so he's a good listener, but he just has this knack for making people feel at home, and just welcoming everyone... we swam, talked, swam, talked, drank a glass of wine, listened to Creedence Clearwater Revival, swam some more, then retired for the evening.  Am I really going to be here for X more weeks?  What a great respite from the school I'm in every day... the funny thing is, when I was in flight school in Pensacola, they opened their home up to me then as well... just great people.  Well, I should go to sleep... work comes in 7 hours... really??  My thought for the day... 'Fortunate Son' by CCR, is by definition, the greatest song known to man... at least for today... read the lyrics... what a great song!  I can't say it's me... but, I can definitely connect with it:

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, theyre red, white and blue.
And when the band plays hail to the chief,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, dont they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son, no.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give? 
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no military son, son.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, one.

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate one, no no no,
It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate son, no no no,

Back in Florida...

Uncle Sam calls.  Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.  Even my dream vacation.  Today I sat through 8 riveting hours of... well... Pentagon-speak.  Talk about a good time!  I can't wait for the next X weeks of it!!  Seriously.  Or not.  Well, I guess it's really a small price to pay for being paid to live in Paradise.  As I write this, I'm at Uncle and Aunt's house in west Florida.  It's so beautiful here... they wouldn't have it any other way for me to stay anywhere other than with them while I'm going to school nearby.  They have a beautiful house, and pool... twist my arm OK?  So I get to stay with them... of course, they are already plotting their Hawaii trip on Orbitz.com and my Uncle  is searching for golf courses to play... it's so great having family members like them.  My Uncle is an absolute riot.  Since I've been back in the states we talk quite regularly.  Can't say enough good things about the guy.  Tonight they are in central Florida for one of his grandkids wedding... kind of strange to do it on a Tuesday, but it's being driven by the school year... he called me tonight at 11:45 to report that he needed a 6 to win his hand at Phase 10... otherwise he was being beaten handily by his 8 grandsons... I'm sure the wine wasn't affecting his card playing at all... anyway- I'm jetlagged.  And it sucks.  I haven't made any effort to get over it since I got back from Hawaii.  Almost like my body is telling me I belong back in Hawaii... I agree.  But that still doesn't change the fact I have to be up for work in 4 hours.  Yesterday, on my drive out, I stopped by and saw my sister and her family... she made lunch, and then we all swam in their little temporary pool that they bought for the kids... Played a little Marco Polo (or a lot) I forgot how competitive my brother-in-law can be until he stepped on his oldest trying to escape my 'Marco' reach... watching the middle one squint her eyes and track her 'Polo' targets perfectly was one of the highlights... and sitting with my sister afterwards was another.  We talked about how sometimes I feel like I'm on another planet from my parents... at least in regards to relationships.  I'll spare you the details, but I'll just say this- I'm 13 years older than my parents were when they married.  So I've got 13 years of maturing as a single man... (maturing may be a stretch)... but they had kids on the T-Ball team when they were my age... (me!) so sometimes, it's difficult for them to deal with my singleness.  It's strange... seriously... almost alien... I tried to talk to them about something that was on my mind... and because I haven't seen them much in the last three years, it's like they have this pent up message that they want to get across to me... GET MARRIED!!!  Not that they said it directly... oblique would be a better word... but the message was definitely received... Sister asked me if I told them to take a hike... strangely I didn't.  5 years ago I would have.  This time... I just swallowed it.  Of course apologies and we-love-you's followed... but sometimes I wonder if it's my fault that my parents don't understand me.  Well... enough.  Sleep is necessary.  Or I could always just sleep in class tomorrow... that's the best idea I've had all day.

Oh the places you'll go...

And the people you'll meet... did you ever read that Dr. Seuss book?  I was given it as a gift when I graduated from High School.... my Pre-School teacher, who is a friend of my family, hosted a nice little graduation party for all of my old, old friends that I was in Pre-School with and gave us all that book... at any rate... the people I've met... one thing I love about travelling is all the interesting people I've met... just a few examples of folks that I've met on my travels the last month...

A technical supervisor for PG&E

An operations director for PG&E

A vice-president for PG&E

A General Contractor.

4 Bikers on their way back from a Harley Road Rally... (see above)

A Traveling Nurse

A 2nd AD in the film industry (and former Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Baily Circus Clown)

3 dudes I flew with in Japan that still live there...

A guy with a Ph. D. in Chemistry who teaches at a community college here in Honolulu

A Physician for the UH Football Team

An Officer in the NOAA Corps... (never even knew that service had 'officers' who wear the same uniform as the US Navy)

An On-Air News Reporter for the local CBS affiliate here in Honolulu

The Director of a Women's Health Clinic in Monterey, CA

The Principal of a Montessori School

A Rocket Scientist  (seriously... A Rocket Scientist...)

An Ornithologist... (who incidentally sat in the same chair as the Rocket Scientist in the Delta Crown Room in Honolulu)

These are just the ones that I can remember... anyway- I love meeting new people... and Hawaii is a great place to do it...

Well- heading back home in a few hours... it's going to be a marathon of a trip, but looking forward to actually getting back to work again.  Sort of... actually, not really, but oh well.  Vacation has been fun.  I've met some incredible people...

Cheers and Aloha...

Idyllic would be a drastic understatement of the truth...

Well, as I write this, I'm sitting in the Bachelors Officer Quarters of Pearl Harbor, HI.  I've just arrived back on the island of Oahu after a weeks vacation in Maui.  What an amazing time.  If you've never been to Maui, you've never been to paradise.  I mean, you may have been to somewhere nice... but until you've watched the sun sink into the western pacific, lighting the blue sky into a cacophony of yellow, orange, purple and white... felt freshly manicured grass between your toes, enjoyed a frosty adult beverage and smelled the sizzling steaks on a gas grill overlooking the lapping crystal clear waters of the pacific while watching the occasional sea turtle stick it's head out of the water for a breath of fresh air... you just haven't been to paradise.  I can't really describe it any better than that- that was my evening every night for the last 7 days.  A friend of mine, Bob, whom I met a couple of weeks ago on my trip to Northern California, was kind enough to give me his weeks stay at their condo time-share in Maui.  So that is where I've been for the last week.  I had the good fortune of meeting a couple of really cool people from Alabama, who had just moved to Maui themselves, and they really showed me a good time.  It was absolutely amazing.  A synopsis:

Friday Night:  Front Street in Lahaina, Maui- I meet Emily for the first time at Moose McGillicutty's.  What a neat girl... she invites me to go hiking at some waterfalls with her sister on the Road to Hana on Saturday.

Saturday:  We take the trip on the Road to Hana, stop at two streams that have some of the most amazing streams and waterfalls I've ever seen.  Rope swings, cliff jumping, waterfall climbing, bamboo forest trekking; the works.  One stream we had to leave all of our stuff behind, and just swim 200 yards or so up stream, climb up some more rocks, then we were in this magnificent pool with about an 80 foot waterfall.  No tourists.  Even better.  Met some locals, and had a great time.  Cooked out at my place that evening.  Sunset, Steaks, Vegetables, Baked Potatoes and Coors Light.  Handstands, Somersaults, and Noise Complaints.  Questions?

Sunday:  My new found tour guides volunteer to take me to Makena beach state park.  By far the best beach I've ever seen.  An azure colored water, light tan colored sand, blue skies, views of Lanai and another small island.  

Monday:  Swam with the Sea Turtles in the water outside of my backdoor... unbelievable.

Tuesday:  The Blow Hole with Emily, followed by an exquisite dinner at 'Roy's' in Kahana... fish prepared every way you could imagine, incredible szeschwan ribs, martini's for the ladies, wine and rum and coke for me... tuna seared with a macadamia wasabe blacken- some exquisite Hawaiian 'poke' absolutely one of the best meals I've had in a LONG time.

Wednesday:  Hobie Cat at Waimea... Erik Sayler is in town with his new wife on their honeymoon.  Took them swimming with the Sea Turtles at my place and we had drinks before they took off to go to a Luau in Lahaina.

Thursday:  Haleakela summit trip, small hike near the top, and then one final Sunset Dinner with the 'Alabama Slamma' as I've affectionately begun referring to them as... good people, good times, incredible memories.  Why do such good things happen sometimes?

Anyway- so now I'm back to reality... sort of- I'm house-hunting these next few days.  Before heading back to the mainland.  It should be fun, but it's no Maui.

Here today, Gone to Maui...

Aloha-

Hal