Remembering Dad

On this day last year, my dad removed an oxygen mask that enabled his pneumonia ridden lungs to bring oxygen into his body. His body, weakened from stomach cancer, held on to life for about an hour before he transcended. While he labored his last breaths, I walked the beach praying for him....praying for my family...crying. It is so difficult to say good-bye. All I can do is keep on trucking along, carrying his love and memories with me. I can support my family in their grief. I can rest knowing his spirit is enjoying a ride on a John Deer tractor through a freshly mowed green lawn. Perhaps my own lawn here in Hawaii.

Tsunami

The Chilean 8.8 shaker sent a wave toward our island. Luckily it was just a small 1-2 foot tsunami. It did make some major changes in our day. We were awaken at 2:00am with the news. Ya see, Timber's school is an evacuation shelter so the school is one of the first groups to get the news. Once that news hit the "coconut wireless" it spread like swine flu. We were getting solid calls for the rest of the day. I am grateful we have so many people who care for us...but at 2:00am?! We were at a hotel in Kona. So once we got up and moving, we started heading back to our side of the island. All across the island we saw Civil Defense and emergency employees gearing up for the event. We are really impressed with the preparedness. We watched the event from Carrie and Brian's house in Kaumana City. There was definitely changes in the bay...but nothing huge and disastrous. Thank goodness.
It was an exciting day! We loved hanging with Carrie, Brian, and Mason. The babies played and played. We had a wonderful tsunami soup. We all napped. And we all were cozy in our homes for the evening.

The Good and the Bad

This weekend was the Hilo Hat Draw Ultimate Frisbee Tournament. It was a weekend of good..no great things, and well one plain old shitty thing.

So first, the good...

We had a wonderful weekend hanging with our friends. Dine was here from out-of-town. Our Ohau buddies were out and about. Our Hilo friends and babies came out to play hard and enjoy the sun. If you want to check out photos, there might be some up at www.hiloultimate.blogspot.com.

Timber and I both played in the tournament. We were on the same team. We did this thinking it would be easier to have both of us at the same field to care for Miley. But we didn't even have to think about Miley while we played. Ya see, Sara took care of Miley the entire time. She took Miley away from our playing field so baby couldn't see us. That was clutch because I get distracted easily when I hear Miley cry. So I was able to focus on my game. Sara did such a good job, I forgot I was a mom.

Our team played awesome together. We played 7 games and went undefeated as tournament champions. Whoo-Hoo. Neither Timber or I have ever been tourney champs. She we feel pretty high.

But one unfortunate event brought us back to earth quickly. My wedding ring broke while we were playing. I've lost the three middle stones. Almost everyone who played in the tourney helped us comb the fields looking for the missing stones. No luck.

I am trying to get my hands on a metal detector (so they even detect gold?). I have shaken out and washed everything we used this weekend hoping it will be hiding in a pocket...no luck. Isn't that just shitty!

With Love

Happy Valentine's Day

Miley and I are basking in our love here at home. We're going to make some Valentine's cards and maybe some bread. It is an overcast and rainy day (finally) so it is perfect for tea. Perhaps some friends will want to come over and play.

Timber is on Ohau for Kamina Klassik (an ultimate frisbee tournament). His team, HeLoLo, is a great bunch of guys who grow facial hair for a few months leading up to the tourney. Then they all shave moustaches. They look totally sleazy. It's terrible and fun! We miss him... not the stach...and are send heaps of kisses his way.

Miley hopes you all have a great day full of love. She recommends eating hearts and contemplating the meaning of true love (hearts stuck to your face might help you with that meditation.)

MLK day at the Beach

We're having a bit of a drought here in Hawaii. Which means great weather! Usually winter brings days and days of gloomy, gray, weather. This year has been beautiful. We took a day last weekend to enjoy the sun with our friends Carrie, Brian, and their son Mason. We hiked out to Shipman (Kea'au) Beach. Babies were loaded in backpacks and off we tromped through the forest.

At the beach we enjoyed the cool, shallow water, honu, and the kiddos.

We're grateful our friends could join us. Thanks to Jen for the baby backpack. Thanks to Katie, Phil and Gus for the baby float. Thanks to mama nature for such a lovely place. Authome!

Memories of Dad

My dad was born on January 21st 1941. He would have been 69 this year. Here are just a few of the wonderful sayings or "Jim'isms" that linger in my head from the years and years of him repeating them.

"I was feeling good, but I'll get over it."

"Rounding you kids up is like trying to catch a fart in a windstorm."

"Shit fire and save matches."

"Want in one hand, shit in the other; see which one fills up faster."


When he didn't know the answer to a question..."Don't start me to lying."

While driving..."hey Jean, open the trunk, this guy(tailgater) wants in."

I miss dad. He was such a character with his coffee, quesadillas, PBS television, and the same ol' saying. If he were here he would advise me against getting chickens (I wouldn't listen and would probably regret it). He would hate being dragged to Hawaii with mom to visit Miley. He would love Miley to pieces but act like he didn't.
We're hoping she doesn't get dad's ears, toes, or fingernails, but that his wit, memory, and love are copious traits.

Happy New Year

Two Thousand Zen

We had a little fire and a lot of bacon greese to bring in the New Year.

I guess that really isn't zen...but we're shooting for zen throughout the rest of the year.