Or more like, dead from Honolulu. Man, is that a long flight.
Photos and stories will begin tomorrow, after jet lag has dissipated. Aloha!
What am I forgetting? (7 of 30)
Sad to say, this won’t be a very interesting read. I’m scrambling about trying to get ready to leave for vacation tomorrow morning, and that’s not a particularly inspiring topic. But it is well before midnight, and writing this will allow me to say that I’ve made it successfully through the first week of NaBloPoMo! Yay, me!
I always marvel at my ineptitude in planning a day, or even a half day, of relaxation before leaving on vacation. Not only did I have to work today, I had to work late. So I am not relaxed at all. I’m a little bit stressed out and hoping I didn’t leave anything important at work.
I keep reminding myself that I’m traveling within the United States and that there are stores, even 24-hour stores, at my destination. If I forget something, it won’t be the end of the world.
Hopefully tomorrow’s post will be made from Honolulu! See you then and hope along with me that I don’t forget my camera!
Kittyweiler (6 of 30)
If you found me via NaBloPoMo or Facebook, you’ve seen my icon featuring lovely Freya and feisty Oliver.
Oliver is about a year old in this photo (he’ll be 3 years old in March 2009). Unlike our older cat Annie who prefers to stay away from the dogs and wouldn’t dream of actually touching them, Oliver embraces his inner Rottweiler. He is often spotted chasing or being chased by the resident Rottweilers. Slow speed, of course; they (mostly) abide by the proper rules of indoor games. They also often wrestle as in the photo. Oliver really does think he’s winning once he gets a good grip on a snout or leg.
Freya was in a false pregnancy following a heat when Oliver came to live with us. During a false pregnancy, the pseudo-expectant mom will often adopt an object as her “newborn puppy.” Although Freya’s usual puppy was a stuffed animal, this time she adopted Oliver as her funny-looking orange puppy. He was raised as a Rottweiler by a Rottweiler, and this is just what he does.
Take a moment if you would to click on the small photo and enjoy a short sequence of a Freya and Oliver wrestling match!
Less than three days to go! (5 of 30)
Less than three days to go until we leave on our annual fall trip to Honolulu, that is! Due to some unfortunate schedule conflicts, we had to drop the dogs off at the boarding kennel today instead of Friday. It is very quiet without the pitter-patter, or should that be rumble-thunder-whomp, of giant Rottweiler paws through the house.
For those that didn’t “know” me before NaBloPoMo, I was born in Honolulu and lived there until I went away to college (Northwestern University, Evanston, IL). I didn’t graduate, but I did stay in Chicago since it was a great place to make a decent living at the time. The reason the trip to Honolulu is an annual one is because the rest of my family is way smarter than I am, and stayed there or returned there after their time away.
And in regards to an earlier post where I stated I was unwilling to fully support either presidential candidiate, I’m sure some of you are now wondering how it is that I couldn’t support someone whose life took the same geographic path that mine did. For the record: I’m 3 years older than Barack Obama. I also went to Punahou, but only until the third grade (I graduated from a public high school, McKinley). If you saw the photos from Obama’s trip to Honolulu to visit his grandmother, her apartment is a block from the Buddhist temple my grandmother belonged to, and the dormitory where my mother worked for a few years. One of my own jobs during high school was in that neighborhood as well. My life in Chicago has been almost completely apolitical though, except for belonging to ABATE (motorcyclists rights group) and making my phone calls or writing my letters against any type of breed-specific legislation.
I might come back to that later, or not. Not tonight though. I also think I’ll save any Honolulu-related thoughts for when I’m actually there, and when I can post photos to go along with my thoughts.
Back to the Rottweilers for a moment though. I miss them already. Soooooo quiet here!
Election Night 2008 (4 of 30)
The evening sort of got away from me, so this will be very brief. Just watched McCain’s concession, and waiting for Obama at Grant Park. Hopefully the celebration will remain as peaceful as it has been thus far. As you all know, I did not fully support either candidate. But now it’s time to move forward and support our new President.