Memorial Day Kayaking

We kayaked with the Jensen family to the Mokulua "Twin" Islands, or the Mokes off the coast of Lanikai. Gorgeous water, perfect day, great memories...love the ocean. Worth the cancer.

Depends on Your Definition of Trailerpark

One caustic dilemma in our family revolves around the bathroom windows in the master bedroom. They are a set of three "awning" windows (they open outward from the bottom) that measure 6 feet across and 3 feet high. Our home is on the corner of two busy streets. There's traffic. Every hour of the day. Voyeurs in the making, you might say. After several months of crouching beneath the view of the oncoming traffic during my morning and nightly rituals, I was delighted to find a disposable paper shade that was 6x3! Perfect! Except that it was 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. Two of the three windows were covered--I could work with that. Jeff's response?

"Whoa...what's up with that!" he said with menacing tones and vengeance in his eyes.

"Don't worry, it's just temporary. I'm working on it, but it's going to take some time," I replied soothingly.

"It looks totally trailerpark."

"It's better than nothing, and it gives me great pleasure to know that now I can walk free and proud in front of two of our windows."

So imagine my alarm when one evening, after Jeff had left the island and was safely on the mainland, I beheld this startling sight:

Easy-access handle holes? Intentionally carved with the skill and care of a surgeon? Talk about trailerpark!

In the end, all is well. Target makes great therapy. So glad it's finally on the island!

Boston Tea for Two Party

Thanks to some good friends willing to take our kids, Jeff and I just returned from a fun jaunt to Boston for a work conference. Highlights include:

1. I got to finish three books I'd started, when usually I can't get through one a month.

2. I remembered that long ago I used to be a fast walker before motherhood, and enjoyed going through town at my old pace. (It was so fun!)

3. The food! Ah, I ate some very tasty carrots in a horseradish dressing at a French restaurant...I'm inspired to try to make my own.

4. I had the most spectacular moment on my solo flight home. I found myself feeling unusually joyous sitting all alone in the airport eating cheesecake. Simple pleasures.

5. I had the distinction of staying in the very hotel where the Craigslist murder occurred.

Kickin' It in Kauai

I didn't think it was possible to feel more relaxed than living in Hawaii, but we just spent our Spring Break in Kauai, and came home feeling VERY relaxed. Here are some highlights of our trip.

Glass Beach, Kauai

This was one of the highlights of our trip to Kauai for Spring Break. It is a beach made entirely of glass fragments washed in from a nearby dump. Backed by huge gasoline tanks, it's not the loveliest setting, but it is the most incredible thing to see. We expected to find some sea glass washed onto the shore. We were amazed to find that the shore IS sea glass of varying sizes.