Vacation

Mmmmmmmm… (10 of 30)

November 10, 2008 by kathi

Sometimes it’s not the most famous or highest quality cuisine of your hometown that you miss the most. Sometimes it’s just the little things you can’t get anywhere else.

This is a very little thing indeed.

There is a special edition Hershey’s Kiss – the macadamia nut kiss – that is sold only in Hawaii (and from what I understand, at least one online source). While some candy lovers complain about the small quantity of macadamia nuts in each kiss (c’mon, a kiss is a very small candy), I think they are just wonderful. Just enough chocolate and just enough macadamia nut flavor. Of course that would be too much chocolate if you just keep nibbling on them, because they are soooo darn good.

Yes, I have a couple of bags to take back to the vast midwestern wasteland with me. Mmmm mmm mmm!

Analog man in paradise (9 of 30)

November 9, 2008 by kathi

The idea of blogging from vacation is probably not my most brilliant one ever.

Today was not spent enjoying sea and sun and other typical Hawaiian vacation things. Since TV is going 100% digital in February 2009, and my dad is total analog man, it’s up to me and my husband to leave my folks’ house digital-ready before we go.

I am sure I am not the only one who has had to fight past parents’ reluctance to adopt technology. There is no cable or satellite TV in this house. I am not completely sure why my dad is so adamantly against getting it. He usually blames me, for a variety of reasons going back to when I was about five years old that are so absurd that I will not put them in writing.

To add to the fun, Hawaii is going all-digital a month before the rest of the country. I can totally get behind the reason for doing so. The dismantling of the analog broadcast facilities needs to be completed before the nesting season of the Hawaiian petrel on Maui. I’m all for saving birds and their habitats. But this means we have to get the digital converters installed on this trip for my parents and two of my aunts.

This burden falls mostly on my husband because my technology smarts are limited mainly to computer matters. I’ve done my part there. I’m typing this on my mom’s year-old iMac which is connected to the ‘net via wireless high-speed broadband. She is not nearly as analog as my dad and actually uses this computer quite a bit.

Hopefully tomorrow I’ll actually get to somewhere more scenic than Sam’s Club and Best Buy, and have a tale more exciting than one of dragging reluctant people into the 21st century. Once again, a fond Aloha!

Live from Honolulu (8 of 30)

November 8, 2008 by kathi

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)

November 7, 2008 by kathi

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!

Less than three days to go! (5 of 30)

November 5, 2008 by kathi

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!