Kind of a slow month...

For Paradise, written anyway.  I've been finding myself quite busy off-line though, although, Facebook has made keeping up with old friends and family much easier... so much easier that I've not been updating here... but such is life.  Anyway, speaking of life... Larenda and I were lying on the roof of my building a few weeks back getting some sun by the pool, when the thought occurred to me that I was ready to lose some weight... well... I decided right then and there that I was going to drink water only for one month and see what happens... well... I did, or I should say, I am... I think it was like the 13th or 14th of July when I decided, and tomorrow is the 3rd of August, so it's been nearly three weeks.  No beer, no wine, no sodas, heck, not even drinking Gatorade... just water.  I am drinking coffee with no cream or sugar in the mornings at work, and I'll also drink an unsweetened iced green tea from Starbucks when Larenda brings me one (green tea is supposed to be pretty good for you) but other than that all water... well... what motivated me to do only water was the fact that I had a cousin who I was talking to at our family reunion back in June and he had lost like 20 lbs just drinking water... well, as we were sitting there on the roof in the sun, I was looking at my belly thinking, I really need to do something about this... I remembered my cousin's water-trick, I thought, why not?  So I committed to it.  And I've stuck to it as well- it's been about 20 days so far... and it's actually done pretty well for me.  My skin, in some areas has improved, which a waitress, who was also a skin specialist, asked me if it had improved, and I hadn't even thought about that, but it in fact has, and I also have lost some weight... but I must add... once I decided that I was going to do this water thing for a month, I thought, why not work in a decent work-out program and see how that plays out?  Well... I bought the 'Body-for-Life' book waaaay back in 2000... my buddy Scotty and I started it out and did it for about 2 weeks or so, but I wasn't committed to it.  Well, I had found the book recently, and decided to give that a go as well... before you know it, I was on a full-up diet and exercise program.  Well, the first night I started this program, I was 190 lbs.  The lowest I've seen so far since then is 183... 184-185 is about the norm for me.... but I can say that my waist is shrinking and I'm getting a little more lean and shaped up top, which is always good... and get this- I had my flight physical done in June- I've historically always had borderline high blood-pressure, well, last time I had it checked in June for my annual flight physical, it was like 132/87 or something like that.  Not so great honestly.  Well, with Body-for-Life, not only am I working out 6 days a week, but I'm also on a much healthier meal-plan (low-fat, lot's of protein, 6 small meals a day)... well, I went to the dentist this last Friday, and they took my blood pressure, and it was down to a svelte 110/71!!  I couldn't believe it- the dental tech was like "That's a really good reading..." I was pretty happy about it... all from just changing up my diet really... I've actually been running fairly regularly this year, so I don't think it was from any changes in exercise... just from changing up my diet... so anyway- needless to say, I haven't been writing much this month, but I've sure been active.  I work out about 45 minutes each day except Sundays, which are may day off of both working out, as well as dieting, and it's been going fairly well.  That is one of the great parts of the Body for Life program, is one day a week, you get to eat whatever you want.  That gives me something to look forward to each week... last week I had some pizza and wings... along with some of my favorite guava-filled french toast at Wailana Cafe...  I've been happy with the results, and I feel a lot better too.  Those that know me also know I've never really been into working out much, but for some reason, I'm just really enjoying this... maybe it's Hawaii... who knows.  All I know is that I'm glad I'm doing it.

In other news, I'm looking at buying a house here in Hawaii in the next 6 months... if I've got the guts for it, that is.  The prices are coming down out here as well, although not as much as on the mainland, but I feel like it's time I owned my own place.  The scary part, is the bank just approved me for over half a million dollars in debt... and the median price of homes here on Oahu is $620,000.... isn't that crazy?  I've been looking at trying to swing a deal on a foreclosed home... we shall see... I've got a lot of learning to do, that's for sure... but I'm ready to move into the burbs.  This year has been good living in Waikiki, but I'm kind of ready to move into a bigger place with a yard... I think.  Who knows.  Anyway- that's what's been going on in my life this month.  Among a lot of other things...  Cheers and Aloha from Paradise.

(A Generic) One Year... (post)

Well, it was one year ago today that I stepped off of that plane in Chicago's O'hare airport after flying in from Narita International in Japan and was re-introduced into American culture... I've become more 'American-ized' if you will in the last year, as I've rejoined western civilization as we know it, but I still consider myself having a small amount of Asian culture remaining... L and her sister and mother and I ate lunch at this great Thai place on the North Shore today, and I found myself using chop-sticks without even thinking about it to put away a nice plate of Chicken Curry... wow- it was tasty too!  Thanks L, for the great recommendation!

Anyway- so I guess I'm sitting here tonight, being somewhat introspective about how my life has changed in the last year... I guess because it was such a drastic change moving back from another country, and really, well, a marker for me in my life, because I feel I came back still the same old Hal, but changed in some deeper ways that may not be evident on the surface.  So I guess I'm just trying to identify if there is anything that I've changed in my life since I've moved back... well, one thing is certain... I'm in better shape.  I've gotten to where I'm running a lot more, and it's helped me out in life all around.  In fact, I'm even going to run the Honolulu Marathon this year.  Back when I turned 30, I said I was going to do it that year, well, that didn't happen, so I'm a few years removed from that year, so I'm doing it this decade... I won't be hanging with the Ethiopians, but I should be a middle-of-the-pack runner... probably 3 hours and some change...  what else... hmm... well, I do feel one thing has changed in the last year... I feel like I've gotten a little more selfish... and a little less patient.  I specifically remember thinking that patience was one thing that I brought back with me from Japan... and I think, to a small degree, I still have that quality, but sometimes, when it is tested a bit much, I have to take a deep breath and remember that patience is indeed a virtue.  A valuable one.  Our culture, unfortunately, no longer values patience.  But it is, indeed, a good virtue to possess.  May I have more patience... selfishness... another quality that I feel has crept up on me.  I don't know... I feel like I'm a pretty giving person, but sometimes I feel like I don't make sacrifices where I should make sacrifices... and that leaves me feeling selfish.  Fortunately, I'm not want for anything else in my life materialistically, but I think sometimes I'm selfish with my time... but I'll leave it at that.

One thing that I'm so thankful that has happened to me, relatively of late, is my relationship with a wonderful woman named Larenda.  For those of you that don't know, we met actually, at the Dog Park of all places.  Living in a Condo in Waikiki with an Irish Setter requires quite a bit of exercise, if you can imagine... well, Larenda also has a dog, and we managed to start synching our trips to the dog park without actually talking about it.  Just so we 'happened' to run into each other each evening around the same time... I'm a big fan in case you can't tell... more details later, as I need to hit the rack, but I just wanted to mention how thankful I am for Larenda in so many, many ways, and also, just put a post up for my one year anniversary of being back in the states.  Hawaii is definitely the best state to be in that's for sure.

That's all for now.  1 year back in the states... still proud to be an American, and really glad to be living here.

Oh yeah- got some new slippers (Flip-Flops for you mainlanders) today... Larenda has been extolling the virtues of the Rainbow Slipper pretty much since I met her, and well, since I blew out one of my flip-flops when I was home for the reunion... I needed a new pair.  She had no problem talking me into getting a pair.  They are great- they have leather soles and conform to the soles of your feet... plus they are guaranteed not to blow out until you've worn out the sole completely.  Not bad if you ask me.  So now Larenda and I have matching slippers... I told her we needed to get matching Aloha shirts and walk around in Waikiki with them.  Not a chance was the vibe I got back from her.  Thanks for the recommendation L.  You're the best!

Take that, Diamond Head...

Ran from one end of Waikiki to the other, lapped Diamond Head, and ran back just now.  9.21 Miles, 1 hour, 17 minutes, 39 seconds... I feel good!

Things I'm digging today...

Life

Texting 'I love you' to my Mom... just because I can...

The song 'White Moth' by Xavier Rudd

Good Co-workers

Murphy constantly putting a toy in my lap while I'm trying to blog...

Knowing I'm going sailing on Thursday and Sunday

Having to plan for the big Kaneohe Sandbar trip on Saturday... it's kind of turned into a monster... 40 people!

Living in Hawaii.

I found an old poem recently that I've had since one of my summers in college selling books door-to-door (yes I did that for 3 summers) and it's always kind of been a good one for me, so I think I'll share it today:

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving,
and tolerant of the weak and of the strong.
Because someday you will have been all of these.

-George Washington Carver

Sodoku, Saddles and Seclusion...

So L and I took a weekend trip to Moloka'i (pronounced 'mohl-oh-kah-ee' for those studying the Hawaiian language) this weekend... wow.  What a great trip.  I was actually introduced to Sodoku for the first time... and I've turned into a fan.  L is a fanatic about them, and she does them all the time sitting at Starbucks, but I've just never really had the patience to learn how to do them.  Turns out, they are really simple... as probably most of the world actually knows, but whatever...I find them entertainment for the brain.  I'm still learning, but we were sitting drinking coffee and eating some raisin bread and eclairs one morning when I asked her to show me how to do them... she happily obliged... of course, she's about 10x faster than me at them... but I'm getting there.  I haven't raced her yet, but once I get the hang of it, I plan on giving her a run for her money... look out L... I'm practicing for you... :D

Anyway- I had a few days left in my vacation, and we were considering going to Maui or maybe Kauai, but neither of them just really felt right, and L was telling me about this Hawaiian blessing that they'd had at her work... apparently, the salt that they used in the ceremony or whatever was from this peninsula on the north shore of Moloka'i called 'Kaulapapa'... which happens to be where in the 1800's they sent all the lepers from the Hawaiian islands.  As it turns out, I had, in fact, heard of this place, and even read an article about it before I came to Hawaii... and given that we were looking for a place to go, during this discussion, we decided we would try and go to Moloka'i and visit this very place.  So we did.  It was great... we found a condo online  and couldn't have been happier with it.  We took a tour to the former Leper colony on Friday, spent Saturday on the beach and came back today, refreshed and rejuvenated.  

So about this former Leper colony, Kaulapapa (pronounced 'Cow-la-papa' for those interested)... it began in the mid to early 1800's, when Hawaiians began contracting Leprosy (or Hansen's Disease as it is known today), and were unusually susceptible to it.  This peninsula on Moloka'i was chosen as the site for the colony, because it was naturally barricaded by nearly 2,000' cliffs as well as ocean.  It may have well been a deserted island.  In the early days, they just dropped people off there that had the disease.  They had to live off of the land, and had no supplies or anything given to them.  Anarchy was also the rule of the day, as there was no formalized government, well the Catholic church established a small outpost there in the 1850's and a 33 year old priest by the name of Father Damien spent a 30 day mission there, and, realizing how much this distraught community of lepers needed spiritual leadership, as well as guidance and leadership in general, volunteered to come back and dedicate his life to helping these people.  While we were there, we saw areas where he had changed the cemeteries by building walls around them to keep the feral pigs from digging up the shallow graves, saw two huge fresh-water wells that he dug, a reservoir for collecting and storing rain-water, a small cathedral that he built, which I found especially touching because he cut holes in the floor along each pew so that those afflicted with leprosy, that had lost control of their mouths and/or saliva, could spit into the holes without interrupting the service and walking out.  It was quite moving to say the least.  Because of his commitment to these people he unfortunately was afflicted with their disease as well, and 16 years after starting his service to the lepers, he succumbed to the disease himself.  He was buried on Kaulapapa, and in 1935, his body was exhumed and he was sent to his fatherland of Belgium.  Eventually, his right hand was returned and buried again at his original grave site, where it is today.  He is currently awaiting Sainthood and was beautified in 1995.  Read more about him and his life here... It was moving to be around this spectacularly serene tropical environment, and hear all the stories of those afflicted with this disease.  At the height of the population, this 5 square mile peninsula had over 5,000 lepers on it.  So Father Damien, and his staff that accumulated over the years, had quite a large undertaking.  Today, Kaulapapa is a Hawaiian county itself, and there currently reside approximately 15 original patients that are still living.  Fortunately, due to the wonders of pharmacology, Leprosy is no longer a threat, and is treatable, but those that remain are some of the last patients to ever have been confined to this colony.  There are currently 26 of them still living.  Quite a touching story really.

About the Saddles... in order to get to this particular locale, one must traverse said 2,000' cliffs... and there happens to be an outfit designed specifically for this purpose.  With Mules.  So L and I plopped down our dough, and saddled up.  Literally.  It was quite an enjoyable ride, albeit a little frightening at times, especially when my Mule, 'Chevy' (glad he wasn't a Ford), decided that he wanted to take the outside of the path, meaning here I was staring off of my saddle down a 2,000' drop... but Chevy, in all his nearly 20 year career has yet to drop anyone, and alas, his flawless record continues.  I did have a bit of a scare, as Chevy and I were the lead mule and ass in the train... we came upon what appeared to be a hastily built bridge, over a small gulch that had some lumber off to the side... well, Mister Chevy, seeing something different than what he's seen on that trail would have none of it... first he stopped... to which I prodded him to continue with a kick and a click... and he decided he was going to turn his ass around... which he did.  Or at least try to... even with me kicking him and pulling him... and trying not to think about me and my ass going over the side of this cliff... it was an interesting moment... fortunately Chevy's cool head prevailed after Bobby, our trusty mule-skinner, got off his mule, and walked Chevy across that bridge.  It was interesting to say the least... I was wondering if I was going to kiss my ass Chevy goodbye there for a second or two... ironically, I was filming a video at the time too... maybe I'll post it to YouTube, so my readership can see it... 

In fact, here it is:

Finally, seclusion... we stayed at 'Paniolo Hale' (pan-ee-oh-lo ha-lay meaning Cowboy House in Hawaiian) near several beautiful beaches and a beautiful Ted Robinson designed Golf Course... except, due to the unique depressed economy on Moloka'i, it was closed.  So here was this incredible golf course, on an incredible beach, in an incredible place, that had been unkempt for a couple of years.  L and I walked around the complex (it was also a resort at one time) and the buildings all look like people just left things as is... it kind of reminded me of 'I am Legend' except in Hawaii... the beach had a pretty good break, and so there were surfers there of course, and oddly enough, the pool was still being kept up (we guessed for the residents of the nearby condo's) but other than that, it was completely a ghost town... almost eerily so.  Fortunately, it was a pretty popular beach, so there were a few people here and there, but for the most part, it was quite secluded.  And we liked it like that.  The nights were still and quiet, save for the occasional bird calling out... a far cry from the streets of Waikiki that can get quite crowded and noisy at times.

Well, that's all I've got for now.  It's bedtime... and back to work tomorrow.

Cheers and Aloha.

Hal

Family Fun...

So this week, I've spent with my extended family at the Hilton Grand Vacation Resort in Orlando.  It's been quite the week actually... in fact, I believe the last time we got together a group of this magnitude was 1998, also here in Orlando.  The families have grown... my cousins family trees' have branched and I honestly think we had more kids here than adults this week.  Cranium, Cards, Golf, Sea World, Pool, Beach, Ping Pong, Shuffleboard, Chess, Snacking, Sunning, Talking, Eating, Snacking, Repeat.  What could be better?  I'm blessed to have some pretty interesting cousins, as well as cousin-in-laws, and it's made for a good week.  I was honestly a bit apprehensive about spending the money to come all the way back to the east coast, but the family had sort of planted a stake in the ground on the dates, and everyone made an effort to get here.  I'm glad to say, it was worth every penny.  It's funny how, the older I get, the more I appreciate my family.  Especially being that I'm still single... and well, don't have a nuclear family of my own quite yet, but being here this week has somewhat reconfirmed the fact that I love my family.  Even if I don't get to see them all quite often, and well, don't even really communicate with them all that often either.  Fortunately, several of us are bloggers, and we manage to share our lives, and even have a genuine interest in each others' lives... which is good, in my opinion.  So seeing everyone in the flesh this week has been great.  In addition to some real good conversations with some of my cousin-in-laws... (I've got tons of female cousins, and two male cousins... one of which didn't come... so that makes for a fair amount of cousin-in-laws, if you get my drift) anyway- in addition to catching up with my cousins' husbands... getting some good quality pool time in with the nieces and cousins' kids was another highlight.  There is nothing more fun than making the little ones' happy.  And it seems to be so simple some times... my nieces are the greatest though... My sister has done such a good job raising them to be so well behaved...  but they LOVE to play- especially in the pool.  It's funny how I can see the changes in them since last summer, when I saw them after coming back from Japan.  Madison, the middle one, who is the artist in the bunch... was quite timid in the pool last year.  This year, there isn't much she won't do in the pool.  One of her favorites is to have me throw her in the water.  Her frankness is sometimes stunning as well... 'Grandpa throws better than you! (in a stern matter-of-fact tone)' was one that I heard this week... which had to make me smile... and of course, the never ending requests' to 'Throw me Uncle Hal!', 'Let me ride on your back Uncle Hal!', 'Flip me Uncle Hal!' and 'Let's be Alligators (or Sharks, minnows, or insert waterborne-creature here) Uncle Hal!' from her or Katie or Claire, or anyone of the other kids... it truly was a delight.  Being a childless single man, I don't get nearly as much interaction with kids of these age, actually none, really.  But I truly enjoy spending time with them, and helping them have a good time... and honestly, after seeing all my friends blogging about their kids, I now understand even a little more, why they do it.  Kids are truly a blessing... in fact... doesn't the Bible say something about Kids?  Jesus said..."Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

Thanks God, for Kids.  And especially thanks for my wonderful family.  And I'm especially thankful to my Grandmother for raising all her kids as Christians.  What a wonderful heritage you've got Grandma.  This week was a visible testament to all that you've done over the years.

Well, I'm staying up all night tonight.  It's currently 8:49 Hawaii time, and 2:49AM Orlando time, I'm sitting at the table in my parent's condo here waiting for my dad to wake up at 4:30 and so kindly drive me to the Airport.  I've learned you've got to be straight up offensive on getting even with Jet-Lag, so I've decided to take no prisoners.  No sleep for me, until I saddle into 22A on that Continental 757-300 at 6:30 this morning.

Later.  Maybe once I get back to spending a little more time on my Island, I'll stop blogging about my Jet-Lag so much.

Live from WWDC...

Watching the live WWDC Steve Jobs Keynote this morning before work... 

http://live.iphonebuzz.com/