The list of things to do can get pretty long before a move. A move is about to occur. And it's coming upon us, quickly. We need money. Hah! Doesn't everyone? The dogs are pretty much good to go. Fine samples of blood were drawn out of the necks of both our canines just the other day and are being fedexed to a lab in Kansas to ensure that they're rabies-free and can in fact, return to these rabies-free islands when our adventure in Nicaragua is over for the season. This was a mere $135 per dog. I've mentioned in a previous post that their "Hawaii re-entry fee" is another $165 per dog. And I think I mentioned in that afore mentioned post, that both dogs are going to cost $400 each way to be transported as cargo. Good news though. Continental allows you to fly with two surfboards in one bag for $100. Now we can bring four boards for $200, where as United charges $175 per board! Robbery!
As I mentioned, we're moving to Ian's parents house on Feb 1 which will be nice, as it will certainly put us in "leaving the country" mode. It's time to start minimizing. I know this drill well. Less is more. But what to bring????? I joked about wanting to bring my 9x13" pyrex baking dish with us and Ian proceeded to tell me that it's hard to find good cooking utensils down there. Suddenly, it wasn't a joke in my head anymore. I started thinking about packing measuring spoons and 9" pie pans and which bag they'd best fit in and how I was going to get them there without any breakage. Then I started thinking about what we need for the dogs and if those things would be hard to find. Is there a vet nearby? Can dogs get stung by jellyfish? Do the ticks in Nicaragua have Lyme's Disease? Is there fancy, organic fish and sweet potato dog food in Nicaragua or will they have to suffer on Purina? So many questions!
Eventually though, time runs out and you can't prepare anymore. You just go. I'm excited for that day. The day we just go. In the meantime, work, work, work. I'm just about ready to be done with it. Here's to savin'! And here's to the dogs coughing up their portion, any day now .......
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Naleialoha Place
Uncle Eddie wearing plaid, patriarch of Naleialoha Place, sitting or laying on the futon couch.
We could always see him through the open door of the compound, the house that looks like three houses, on the corner that is Hawaiian family. He'd sit under the flourescent light in the downstairs room with high ceilings, sometimes the TV would be on, sometimes there'd be a church group around or someone cooking in the attatched kitchen behind him. The door would remain open late at night, with the light still on and no one to be seen. I always figured someone helped Uncle Eddie upstairs, to a more comfortable bed, where he remained in plaid, sleeping the night away.
His funeral was today. His family has been celebrating his life and passing for two days in the yard of the compound, the yard with the massive mango trees. I was introduced to Uncle Eddie once. It was a serious introduction that I regard with much respect. He was sick and frail and he didn't speak, but he smiled. That's what I remember about Uncle Eddie.
I'm going to miss this branching driveway of a neighborhood that has its own street name in the valley of Kuliouou with the most perfectly amazing breeze I have ever felt in my life. We're moving to Ian's parents house on February 1st to save more money in our last months here. Despite being the only house on the block that isn't part of this massive family, we've always felt welcome and we've always felt safe. Our departure from Naleialoha symbolizes the start of our adventure and the ending of something that will be reminisced with greatness. Except for the dogs. Not our dogs. Their dogs. All of their dogs. Every single barking and howling one of them.
RIP Uncle Eddie.
We could always see him through the open door of the compound, the house that looks like three houses, on the corner that is Hawaiian family. He'd sit under the flourescent light in the downstairs room with high ceilings, sometimes the TV would be on, sometimes there'd be a church group around or someone cooking in the attatched kitchen behind him. The door would remain open late at night, with the light still on and no one to be seen. I always figured someone helped Uncle Eddie upstairs, to a more comfortable bed, where he remained in plaid, sleeping the night away.
His funeral was today. His family has been celebrating his life and passing for two days in the yard of the compound, the yard with the massive mango trees. I was introduced to Uncle Eddie once. It was a serious introduction that I regard with much respect. He was sick and frail and he didn't speak, but he smiled. That's what I remember about Uncle Eddie.
I'm going to miss this branching driveway of a neighborhood that has its own street name in the valley of Kuliouou with the most perfectly amazing breeze I have ever felt in my life. We're moving to Ian's parents house on February 1st to save more money in our last months here. Despite being the only house on the block that isn't part of this massive family, we've always felt welcome and we've always felt safe. Our departure from Naleialoha symbolizes the start of our adventure and the ending of something that will be reminisced with greatness. Except for the dogs. Not our dogs. Their dogs. All of their dogs. Every single barking and howling one of them.
RIP Uncle Eddie.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
With the holidays at their official end, I can safely say, I'm stuffed. Get me back in the water please.
It's been a while since I've updated. Flipping through the picture file on our Toshiba laptop tonight, I came across the photos from our trip to Cali last January. There are a couple of pics that I absolutely adore for more reasons than one, namely that they are from the start of my love for Ian but also, because it clearly demonstrates his love for waves, which of course, is what this blog is about. I wanted to take a minute to slap these photos on this page because a) the one of him in the hood is classic, and b) Ocean Beach was big and cold and scary looking that day.
These pics also remind me that it's been a great year and I have much to be thankful for.
I also came across this one of Rubsters. Ruby lives with Ian's parents. She was rescued from the Humane Society about six months ago and has shaped up to be the world's sweetest dog. Puna and Lea love going to visit their cousin Ruby in Kailua.
Ok. And here's one more from the final day of the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa.
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