Overheard on the beach today ...

"There's sand in the poop deck!"

This statement was loudly made by a boy as he launched his inflatable water toy. He later identified himself as "Sir Cheeky Head Pirate, in search of treasure."

Da vog

As Kilauea continues to vent over on the big island of Hawaii and West Maui's trade breezes die away to puffs we get steamy afternoons and remarkable pastel sunsets.

The daytime sky takes on the appearance of a mid-winter day in the Pacific Northwest when the vog (volcanic smog) settles in. If it weren't for the palms and 80 degree ocean water, you might think you're on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

To consider that this atmosphere is created by an active volcano on an island just over there can give one pause. So I don't think about it. I just take pictures when the sunset is particuarily lovely and turn the ceiling fan to "high".

Meet my friend the mo'o

The house geckos who live here at the House of Good Living have become especially rambunctious of late.

Commonly known in Hawaii as mo'o (pronounced mow-o), these little bug-zapping machines make their homes behind mirrors and pictures and in the lanai closet. They dart about quickly and gobble up unsuspecting gnats, punctuating their meals with chirps of delight (or terror, I suppose, if pursued by larger and hungrier members of their own species).

Our usual trade breezes disappeared this afternoon and Big Island vog is rolling in, bringing the moist, warm pineapple-scented air that sends bugs swirling. The mo'o party line is probably buzzing excitedly at the prospect of their big buffet tonight.

99 Things

This time of year finds me counting life's blessings and pondering what adventures may lie in the future. In that spirit, I've borrowed this exercise from Ceri. "99 Things" appeared all over the on-line world this past month. Mea culpa if you've already taken this particular stroll down memory lane.

List items in bold are ones I've experienced (with varying degrees of gratefulness). What on this list have you enjoyed/tolerated/endured?

1. Started your own personal/family website or blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I associate most of these occurances with favorite people (except for the getting fired part) and find myself chuckling more than grimacing at most of the memories. To all those who've been a part of my (not quite) "99 Things": Thank you.

And he thought fish were his friends

The men of the House of Good Living took to the deep again today. Their destination: the Five Graves dive spot near Makena in south Maui. Maybe it was the name or perhaps it was just his time. Whatever the reason, it wasn't long after entering the water that An Adventure Ensued.

This is what I've learned from eyewitness accounts:

The dive was proceeding as planned when suddenly, out of the deep, the Butterfly fish swarmed (schooled?) around Greg. Overwhelmed with fluttery, finny yellowness, his eyes grew big and his hair stood on end. A photo was taken and then another as Greg disappeared within their midst.

The man who chases sharks, the man who wakes up turtles, my fearless shell warrior (sigh) was nearly obliterated by pretty aquarium fish.

Not to worry, he's okay now. No damage was done and the buddies are already planning their next underwater excursion.

Once again, most grateful mahalos to Jeff for the photographic record of the adventure

Finding the happy

Playing in the dirt makes me feel good. I'm pleased when what I put in the dirt actually grows. You can imagine my delight when growth becomes blossom.

As a participant in a "living small" exercise, I've had to scale down my garden accordingly. The sprawling mainland garden with fire pit has been replaced by two pots of mystery plants and yet another "treasure" Greg discovered in the dumpster downstairs.

My capacity for enjoying life has been challenged of late by anxiety our nation's climate of crisis has generated. The House of Good Living can create it's own bad juju, too. Combine worry with resentment, add tweaky hormones and this Taurus needs dirt to dig in.

So, I fuss with my plants. I admire a new bloom and dribble a little water around the roots. Then, at dusk we light the pint-sized chiminea and, looking for Jupiter before it drops behind Lanai, I count my blessings.

It's looking like one of those days

Have you had a perilous day recently?
What measures do you take to cope with the sharks in your life?
Does it seem like you're swimming with them daily? Do you ever feel like just hiding under your beach towel, mumbling "make them go away"?

Cousin Teri introduced me to this nifty social networking site which provides me with so many lovely little colorful fish to play with, I manage to ignore the big fins in the distance.

What do you use to distract yourself when the water gets scary?

(mahalo to Jeff & Joan for this photo taken earlier in the week a few short miles south of the House of Good Living)

When it rains ...

Aloha, faithful visitor. It's nice of you to stop by the House of Good Living.

Your timing couldn't be better; the rain appears to be over and the leak in the ceiling has slowed to just a few drips a minute. Now we can catch up without the wind blowing the door open and gusting the pillows off the furniture.

These storms sure do make life interesting. And damp. And maybe, just maybe, they bring on a touch of cabin fever. 568 square feet goes from cozy to cell-like when occupied by two frustrated (don't forget damp) leaky ceiling-obsessed people.

But the sun finally showed up. You stopped by, too. And together we can enjoy the return of calm and the hibiscus blossoms I rescued from the rain. When you drop by next we may even have time to get around to discussing Greg's shrimpish news.

Stay tuned for breaking news

A select few have already heard the latest about my own personal pirate (every girl should have one). Don't worry - you won't have to read about shipwrecks, plague or scurvy. This will be interesting news.

You see, Greg has a new role and you'll get all the details in the next day or two. There'll be some photos, too. However, those might just make women weep and men run in terror.

Gifts

Yesterday someone left three papaya at my doorstep. No note of explanation - just three lovely, ripe papaya. Mahalo, mysterious giver of fruit.

Today's present was the opportunity to choose between a long, shade-dappled walk at Kapalua with pals or a shorter, steep hike up to the airport with another friend who leaves the island tomorrow. I'm grateful for choices like this.

As concrete saws scream and hammers pound 30 feet down the walkway from where I type this, I'm getting ready to claim the gift of wax earplugs. I'd much rather have fruit.