Happy 2019. Back to “normal”
We hope that everyone's holiday was happy and that you are all in good health even as we all seem to be undergoing the medical repairs of active older people. Judy and I were on the mainland for 3 weeks. High Speed, low temperature, noise, crowds and traffic are very different there. Mike did the driving and it sometimes felt overwhelming. Now back in Hawaii we return to a regular routine and restarting our weekly blog. We brought a few pounds back with each of us. Testimony to great meals. Last night we went to our Tai Chi class which was great. There we met a fellow resident of Holualoa who mentioned a Holualoa slide. We learned it was like a Taboggen slide that went straight down hill sometimes 4000 feet in a slick track. It was a sport of the Hawaiian Royalty and quite dangerous. Apparently there is some remnant of a slide close to us. Don't think we would be ready to do it, but interesting Hawaiian history.
We were lucky to spend time with all of Judy's brothers and their families. Everyone seems to be healthy and happy. We spent Christmas with our daughter and her family in Carson City (with our 2 oldest grandchildren) and are delighted by how well they are all doing. Sven is working 7 days a week keeping Tesla afloat with his magical powers of making any product they need. Matteas and Katarina continue competitive swimming and are outstanding students. And, Kimberly continues to be super-organized in her teaching and managing her active home and is thriving. We also spent time with a number of friends. It was so rewarding to spend time with friends we are often thinking about and catch up on their news. Naturally there were some whose schedules didn't match but hopefully next time. Imagine choosing a 3 week period and squeezing in visits with friends almost daily. It felt so good.
Back on the island, we have been recapturing our life. We retrieved our kitty from the kitty concierge and she seemed very glad to be back with us. She has returned to sleeping at Judy's head at night.
The rats ate all the leaves off the papaya seedlings as expected but little damage to the other plants thankfully. We had an irrigation system on them so they survived our absence since there was no rain for three weeks. Originally we were told that we do not need an irrigation system because of the rain but the weather station Mike installed in the nursery confirmed the lack of rain. So, when on the mainland, we brought back a 30 zone irrigation timer/controller. Oh, so much easier to plan this in advance.
We visited our favorite lighting store in Berkeley and, of course, came back with one light. Unfortunately, the manufacturer had discontinued it and there was only the one. Greater variety and price on the mainland than here.
The house building is slowly progressing. Pictures attached. Our contractor, Jzon, hopes to have the first cement pour this coming Thursday. We are hoping for and looking forward to it. This will be a big pour--the first of 5. Next after this is the 10 foot retaining wall to hold the hill where the main part of the house will sit. The first pad has enough steel and will be built strong enough to be a parking lot for loaded 18 wheelers.
Judy has been slowly recapturing movement in her injured shoulder. She learned from an MRI that she has a significant tear in her rotator cuff. The issue is to decide on surgery or not. We are researching and evaluating options. But for now she has greater movement, is in much less pain, does her physical therapy exercises, and improves. Dedication! Lucky as well to have Hiam, our daughter in law, who is a physical therapist and is helping evaluate which way to go.
Best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year. We feel grateful you are all in our lives.
Judy and Mike
We were lucky to spend time with all of Judy's brothers and their families. Everyone seems to be healthy and happy. We spent Christmas with our daughter and her family in Carson City (with our 2 oldest grandchildren) and are delighted by how well they are all doing. Sven is working 7 days a week keeping Tesla afloat with his magical powers of making any product they need. Matteas and Katarina continue competitive swimming and are outstanding students. And, Kimberly continues to be super-organized in her teaching and managing her active home and is thriving. We also spent time with a number of friends. It was so rewarding to spend time with friends we are often thinking about and catch up on their news. Naturally there were some whose schedules didn't match but hopefully next time. Imagine choosing a 3 week period and squeezing in visits with friends almost daily. It felt so good.
Back on the island, we have been recapturing our life. We retrieved our kitty from the kitty concierge and she seemed very glad to be back with us. She has returned to sleeping at Judy's head at night.
The rats ate all the leaves off the papaya seedlings as expected but little damage to the other plants thankfully. We had an irrigation system on them so they survived our absence since there was no rain for three weeks. Originally we were told that we do not need an irrigation system because of the rain but the weather station Mike installed in the nursery confirmed the lack of rain. So, when on the mainland, we brought back a 30 zone irrigation timer/controller. Oh, so much easier to plan this in advance.
We visited our favorite lighting store in Berkeley and, of course, came back with one light. Unfortunately, the manufacturer had discontinued it and there was only the one. Greater variety and price on the mainland than here.
The house building is slowly progressing. Pictures attached. Our contractor, Jzon, hopes to have the first cement pour this coming Thursday. We are hoping for and looking forward to it. This will be a big pour--the first of 5. Next after this is the 10 foot retaining wall to hold the hill where the main part of the house will sit. The first pad has enough steel and will be built strong enough to be a parking lot for loaded 18 wheelers.
Judy has been slowly recapturing movement in her injured shoulder. She learned from an MRI that she has a significant tear in her rotator cuff. The issue is to decide on surgery or not. We are researching and evaluating options. But for now she has greater movement, is in much less pain, does her physical therapy exercises, and improves. Dedication! Lucky as well to have Hiam, our daughter in law, who is a physical therapist and is helping evaluate which way to go.
Best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year. We feel grateful you are all in our lives.
Judy and Mike
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