Photos from Hawaii.
Hawaii is not completely horrible… despite what you may have heard.
It was nice to do absolutely nothing, have no responsibilities, and just be with Paul… I guess this is why people go on vacation?
I was SUPER looking forward to the zip line; SEDENTARY EXCITEMENT! Has a more compelling phrase ever been written? But there was lightning on the day of our reservation, and that was the end of that.
Fortunately, THEY HAVE CATS HERE.
What’s that?
You didn’t expect CATS?
lol.
CATS!
WHAT I’M READING:
To Hawaii, I took: Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America’s Most Storied Hospital… and Fast Food Genocide.
I started Bellvue on the trip out; Fast Food Genocide would have been my first choice, but trying to mount my Righteousaurus on the plane seemed like it would be a real hassle.
HI HO SILVER!
Away!
Bellevue is everything I hoped it would be; a salacious tabloid of history… Grave robbing. Innovation. Public health policy. Extraordinary scientific breakthroughs. Controversy. Poverty. Culture. Diversity… basically, the history of Bellevue is the history of New York City.
It is also a fascinating lens through which to view our current perception of healthcare, mental illness, class, gender, sexuality, race.
I didn’t start Fast Food Genocide until I got home… because, when I read stuff about how corporations have convinced parents to POISON THEIR OWN CHILDREN, I need to be able to bellow pronouncements and run wildly through the McDonalds drivethru; waving my arms and shouting: SAVE YOURSELVES!
You think I’m kidding.
I ROCK A DRIVETHRU.
Sometimes the subway.
Will it ever stop?
Yo, I don’t know.
Then we were reminded of this thing called snow…a tree in our backyard tree split a huge chunk off and fell right over the patio… it crashed down on EVERYTHING… The giant Victorian urn we restored, and these stone planters, (which were my very first Craigslist-blog-post! I went back to revisit how amazing it was… and. um. no.)
SOMEHOW the tree ONLY destroyed that Adirondack bench; which I have been campaigning to trash forever… Paul is always like, IT’S GOOD SEATING… and I’m like– NO, it is terrible, uncomfortable seating, AND SO UGLY.
But LOOK at the photo! If the bench had not been there… SMASHED PLANTER! (I drew a white squiggly arrow for your visual assistance!) THE TREE ACTUALLY PUSHED IT OFF THE BASE.
March 15, 2018 @ 10:35 am
Love the Vanilla Ice ref as well as the Bellevue rec. I always look forward to your posts!
March 15, 2018 @ 10:37 am
Falling trees can be fortuitous. We lost one in the last storm that honestly blocked way too much light from my garden. I am excited for spring when I will have way more blooms than usual. 🙂
March 15, 2018 @ 11:57 am
Same experience here in Virginia. We had the prettiest triple trunked Maple tree on our front area (no lawn) just mulched with roses ,hydrangea and all of the dollar rejects from the big box stores at the end of season sales. This tree was my pride and joy,it arched over the drive and the wrought iron gate to our small yard where a seven foot fence restrains my sons 175 lb Rottie. It became so heavy with snow and ice that small branches were catching my hair when I exited the car so- sob -it had to go….But Eureka ,my two japanese maples are now flourishing,growing branches where there were none and losing a very lopsided appearance-so definitely trees gone can absolutely be fortuitous.
March 15, 2018 @ 10:46 am
Last fall when a Hurricane blew our way we lost 3 massive trees. Two of which needed to come down anyway.
Caused us a lot of unexpected work but its done and we didnt have to pay to have them taken down. So win.
Loved your pics of Hawaii. Doubt I will ever make it there so love seeing pics of it.
March 15, 2018 @ 11:04 am
Us also, it was a huge mess, and tree companies were in bliss and scheduling nightmares!
March 15, 2018 @ 10:46 am
Oooh ooh oooh. That’s for the Bellevue recommendation. Separately, so glad that all those awful rumors about Hawaii are Fake News. Meanwhile, editorially speaking (that’s what I do to pay the mortgage and feed the cats), sedentary excitement indeed <3 =^..^= xoxoxo
March 15, 2018 @ 10:49 am
a) the pic of you is adorable
b) that is a big chunk of tree! i know you know you are very fortunate it didn’t do any grave damage, and
c) yay for the gone bench! 🙂
March 15, 2018 @ 11:07 am
Helen Glenn Court , the rumors about Hawaii are true. They just hide it from the tourists. I have many relatives in Hawaii and I get updates every day. Many homeless, it’s not fake news.
March 15, 2018 @ 11:32 am
Housing in Hawaii is very expensive, but no more so than in major U.S. cities. And because it’s warm there, homeless people from the mainland scrape together enough money for a one way ticket and add to the existing homeless population. Then there are those who fantasize about living in Hawaii and move without understanding the costs and difficulties. It would be interesting to know how many of the homeless were born there.
March 15, 2018 @ 3:20 pm
Housing is only one issue. Food and goods that must be shipped there because they don’t have them are costly. They have strong restrictions regarding imported goods, as I was told, because they worry about insects and vermin destroying their crops. When we were there, we woke early the first day due to jet lag. Decided to get coffee and walk Waikiki beach, where we discovered a few homeless folks sleeping on the beach. Workers were walking the beach waking them and telling them to vacate the beach. (I assume so tourists would not see them.) I totally believe they are “hidden”. If you are out and about in the wee hours, you will see things you don’t want to see. They also hose down the sidewalks very early, for obvious reasons. But it’s a beautiful place! If I had seen it when I was in my 20’s, I may have never left either!!!
Sorry about your tree and lovely urn. I know you will find a replacement, and now that the bench is toast, more room for GFT’s!!! Glad it only hit the patio and not the house!
March 15, 2018 @ 11:22 am
I love it when accidents take care of stuff that I want to get rid of (and my husband wants to cherish) whoops…there’s a big whole in your “nice” chair guess that doesn’t match anything. Guess it’s gotta go…
xAllie http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com
March 15, 2018 @ 11:42 am
https://strawssuck.co.uk/ but that’s a paper one right? It’s just a little straw, right?
But those small straws add up. We use more than 500 million plastic straws each day. Plastic can last for 600 years which means every straw you have used in your life time still exists in some form.
Pledge to go #plasticfree and when you order a drink say, “Without a straw, please!”
March 15, 2018 @ 12:20 pm
Yes! The straw caught my eye too and I’m glad you beat me to the comment. 🙂 Its the little things that add up.
Love the Hawaii pictures and how wonderful to skip out on the snow and bask in the warm sunshine for a bit.
Congrats on the tree demo!
March 15, 2018 @ 12:03 pm
How much plastic is produced each year worldwide?
Here is why: About 300 million tons of plastic is produced globally each year. Only about 10 percent of that is recycled. Of the plastic that is simply trashed, an estimated seven million tons ends up in the sea each year. There, it breaks down into smaller and smaller fragments over the years.Aug 14, 2011
March 15, 2018 @ 12:53 pm
I blame The Graduate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaCHH5D74Fs
March 15, 2018 @ 3:23 pm
HA HA HA!
March 15, 2018 @ 12:10 pm
I don’t know about the books you’re reading or the fallen tree situation, but your photos of Hawaii are breathtaking. 🙂
March 15, 2018 @ 12:16 pm
Your pictures are breath-taking.
Also, when I saw your headline, I knew there would be cats! Cats are everywhere!
I can’t go on a rant with you right now. I would, because I share your views, but fear of the situation this country is in right now is a heavy burden. I look to your posts for reminders that people are good.
March 15, 2018 @ 12:31 pm
Love your posts. But I really like your outfit in the pic of you in Hawaii. Did you buy the belt (or obi whatever it is called)? You look great !
March 15, 2018 @ 12:51 pm
I thought the same thing. The ever fashionable Miss Victoria in yet another charming outfit. Looking as adorable as one can when not covered in fur.
March 15, 2018 @ 1:06 pm
Oh, I wish I’d thought to tell you about the feral cats of Hanauma Bay before you left! When you get there early, there are herds (prides?) of them around the visitor’s center! https://disneytravelbabble.com/trip-reports/aulani-to-wdw/day-3a/
March 15, 2018 @ 1:13 pm
Which island(s) are you visiting Victoria?
March 15, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
Glad you included some cats! The big question though — did you learn to do the hula?
March 15, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
Uh….about that line regarding cats in Hawaii that you cleverly slipped into the post….
Got me thinking about my upcoming trip through Kotor, Montenegro. In simple research into what my friends and I might enjoy doing there for a few days, I could not help but notice that every picture seems to include one or more cats. As in stray cats. Unowned cats. Populated by a centuries-long group of sea-going cats who jumped ship in Kotor. They are said to be well-fed and adored by townspeople and tourists alike.
Kotor has a cat museum, which helps raise funds for their care. All cats, worldwide, are entitled to free lifetime membership in the museum, so naturally mind signed up immediately. For a few Euros I can get them each a certificate of membership, but since I’m trying to simplify my life and rid our house of everything not in the GFT category, I think I’ll give a donation instead.
So, having encountered cats in Hawaii, I wondered if you had any advice for travelers and vacationers hoping to come home without additional cats? I am getting worried about the prospect of either 1) abandoning home to stay on with the Kotor Kitties (that’s one way to simplify things) or 2) the financial and familial problems I’ll create by attempting to ship the entire population of Kotor Kitties home to the states.
Any advice would be most welcome.
March 15, 2018 @ 3:01 pm
You are so funny! Running through McDonald’s “bellowing ‘Save Yoursevles'”! LOLOL You must have read by now, about the all the plastic particles found in 93% of bottled water? BTW, loved your pictures of Hawaii thrown in among your comments about the books you’re reading/have read. Looking forward to your next post!
March 15, 2018 @ 6:36 pm
Such a lovely place to visit. A group of cats is called a clowder or a glaring. The last two storms have been crazy. We only lost power two days but half my lilacs were destroyed (they’ll grow back fine). The two big branches off my weeping cherry was tough. The maples dropped some big branches but they always do. And we got 24.3 inches the second storm but it wasn’t as destructive. LOL, can’t wait to see what happens next Tuesday when the 4th storm of the month hits. Bellevue sounds fascinating.
March 16, 2018 @ 2:09 pm
When in the name of sanity and survival are we going to realize that melting our Polar Ice caps down to bedrock is going to result in a veritable ocean of water coming down. That which goes up into our Atmosphere is destined and determined to come down-storm after storm -torrential rainfall and devastating changes to drought and flooded areas. I feel such dread for the young people of today. We can effect change,we must effect change. If this offends you,my sincere apologies-we have a beautiful world with the potential for happy productive lives for all her beautiful fascinating creatures ,but just like our homes we must care for and protect our planet.
March 16, 2018 @ 9:16 am
You might also enjoy Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell. (Hawaiian history)
March 18, 2018 @ 5:09 pm
Love your blog–I love giant fancy and not so giant fancy things as well, but I don’t have a Paul to minimally suppress the amount of stuff I bring home, or to help with hauling it home. Hawaii may have cats, but does it have any giant fancy things? If not, then it’s just a place to visit (although I’m sure it’s a nice place to visit).