I am sure you are tired of hearing me complain about the oh-so-lovely winter we are experiencing in Chicago (will it help if I mention that we’ve already surpassed our usual snowfall for the entire winter, and it’s not quite mid-January? No? I didn’t think so), so I am happy to report that a brief trip to Hawaii is coming up in the near future. We need a nice change of scenery. Please ignore the fact that we just had one in November. Hopefully this record-setting winter won’t interfere in a bad way.
The Sumatran tiger cubs born in September at the Honolulu Zoo weren’t ready to receive visitors during our last trip in November. We’ll be able to see them this time, though. Their public debut was in December (during the Obama family vacation, how about that).
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s renovation is almost done. Part of the hotel is open now, and more rooms and the ballrooms and restaurants will be opening for an Inauguration Night gala. The grand reopening is in March, but I’m hoping that the Mai Tai Bar will remain open between Inauguration Night and the grand reopening, to accommodate one of our favorite traditions, if nothing else.
On the down side, Hawaii has had its share of bad winter weather as well this year. Frigid temperatures are obviously not involved, but there have been some severe rainstorms and that well-publicized island-wide blackout back in December which was caused by lightning strikes.
You won’t even want to read this blog if we get to Hawaii only to be hit by nasty winter rainstorms. Although I must admit that warm rain beats the living hell out of freaking “wintry mix” any day!
Speaking of a change in scenery, I’ve been feeling that way about online scenery as well. I’ve been spending more time with Facebook, Twitter, CrackBerry and my blogs and journals, and way less time in all VZones worlds and a few forums I used to enjoy. I think I spend about the same amount of time in dog forums, but I don’t “work” for any of them any longer.
In the past, I’ve often been a forum or game moderator or administrator, so when I’d come online, I’d usually have a definite purpose. Not so much any more. In some ways it is great to not be working, but it’s also a strange feeling to not be “needed” anywhere online.
What’s that? Yes, you’re right. I am needed in one place. That website of mine that I have procrastinated on for yet another month. I really do need to get it done before Axel gets his championship!