Guest Blogger

Akaka Falls

Care of Grandma Ewing... Back from a day up island. Went to Laupahoehoe Point Park to see the big waves. Truly awesome... Took a ton of pictures. Then over to Akaka Falls where Dennis lost the lens cap to his camera and almost threw himself over the edge trying to retrieve it...but the gods spit him back and kept the lens cap. Took a trip down to Hilo..said Hilo and goodbye at the same time. I think all of the old hippies and other species have been there since the original eruption. Scary place, wouldn't go there again. Well Scotch time, Aloha for now...

December 25, 2011

Mele Kalikimaka from the Chen's! Thank you Santa for our wonderful Christmas on the beach. Thank you for our great friends and family. Thank you for reminding us to believe in our dreams and for watching them come true!

Mom's 65th Birthday Dinner

Kamuela Provision Company

For those of you that have nothing better to do, you may be following along with our year long adventures and wondering why the hell we have a blog we don't keep up to date on a regular basis. We first off, as I stated before, I am technically challenged here and am relying on my sister to post pics that correspond with our posts. Secondly, we aren't that exciting. And finally we have actually been crazy busy over the last two days... So my mom arrived on Wednesday which in and of itself is a success. Ever time she travels something runs amok in the universe. True to form this trip did not disappoint - Dennis and I arrived to pick her up at the airport and after waiting over a half an hour and three other flights, we realized that she was not there to be picked up. Once Dennis got over his elation, the worry kicked in as to what country she actually ended up in. One phone call later we realized there are actually two arrival gates and lo and behold she had been waiting at the other one for a half an hour plus. Once we picked her up she entertained us with the tale of her lost luggage. It has now been three days and still no luggage!
So as you can probably guess we have spent the better part of the first evening at Target buying new undies. We also managed to take her to Kona to a restaurant on the beach called "Huggos". This is a beach bar with plenty of tropical libations, happy hour snacks and Hawaiian entertainment, all while raking sand through your toes beneath your chair and watching the sun set. Yesterday, day two, was much the same with shopping and sodas but the evening was a night to remember.

For mom's 65th birthday we took her for a fabulous dinner at the Kamuela Provision Company at the Waikoloa Hilton. We sat outside overlooking the ocean and had the most amazing gastronomical experience. With beautiful pictures to capture the evening I think her birthday will be one to remember. Day three, still no luggage, but we did manage to extend mom's stay on the island until January 9th. This will allow her to see more of what this great place has to offer undies or not!
Today we went up island to Lapakahi State Park for some great views and on to Hawi. Our plan was to continue on but it was raining quite consistently so we looped back along the Kohala Mountain Road to Waimea. Saw two beautiful double rainbows and plenty of countryside.

Just finishing up our day with Dennis doing laundry and making dinner. We are enjoying a nice bottle of vino and some Mahi Mahi and each others company which will round out a jam packed few days. Let's hope the harmony continues as it is a long swim back to the mainland for whomever cracks first. Nothing like family togetherness at Christmas time. Wishing you all a happy holiday season with you loved ones!

Token bikini shot!

Aloha! Well we dropped Marla at the airport and she arrived home and is back to work, so it is safe to assume I can now post the token bikini shots for this trip care of Marla (the topless one is courtesy of Dennis and his sandcastle skills)! We have officially come to the end of our second week but happy to say we haven't yet reached the halfway mark.
After a whirlwind week with Marla we spent yesterday restocking groceries, doing laundry and relaxing. We had the joy of talking to the Jones' via Face Time yesterday and were thoroughly entertained with Edynn's rendition of a song she will be singing at her Christmas concert today - although I am sure today's version will not include a guitar rock solo or lyrics pertaining to grandma drinking scotch! ;) This technology really is amazing though as we were able to spend time with the family almost like being there, screaming and all.. Mom arrives on Wednesday for Christmas and we are looking forward to showing her around.

We have a nice dinner planned for Thursday which happens to be her 65th birthday. Today we have the pleasure of going to the chiropractor as Dennis hasn't been sleeping as he has done something to his shoulder - my bet lies with the body surfing! We have both already had massages due to back pain from a very nice lady who comes to your house. No "happy ending" massage here much to my husband's dismay. :) Although we are having a great time we really are missing all of you and rest assured we are having many drinks in your honor!!

Guest Blogger

Vicki & Marla enjoying their Lava Flows!

Aloha from Marla! Everyday is Saturday this week for me, but apparently I must blog in return for accommodations... Oh the things I must suffer through! Visiting with the Chen's has been full of laughter and good times, and it's only Wednesday. The weather Goddess has been a bit cranky, but at least there was no guilt in watching football all day on Sunday (there is always a positive!). Cocktails? Cocktails anyone? The Lava Flows are just as good if not better than Vicki & I remembered. Food has been delectable- the Tommy Bahamas open air grill was an unexpectedly amazing meal. Popped in for a refreshment and stayed for what I would have to say was a feast for the senses. And the dessert tray needs no additional commentary... 

Working on the tan lines. Sunshine is making it through. Another beach day tomorrow with snorkeling in the afternoon. And refreshments whenever, wherever! The pace of the days is by far the most outstanding thing yet... Although I do have a pair of Vera Wang tassel booties coming my way. Internet shopping knows no boundaries! And when you are your own Santa, you can switch back and forth from the naughty/nice list as the situation dictates! Be happy, be merry and keep smiling! xo Marla

And so it begins...

So I am having a little trouble with my email - I can receive, but not send on my iPhone. The good news is I can still access everything off of my iPad, the bad news, I didn't realize how technically incompetent I can be. Where are you Felicia when I need you? So we are coming up on the end of our first week in Paradise and what you ask have we been up to since we arrived? Not much and damn does it feel good!

Our Hawaii trip started with a wonderful dinner at the Four Seasons with the couple we are renting the condo from, followed by an evening at their place with homemade raspberry Chambourd souffles. There is an interesting story to all of this that I choose not to blog at this time, but will fill you all in on when we return. Just one of the many interesting couples I am sure we will meet over the upcoming year since my husband is the social butterfly you all know him to be! So I can now add to my bucket list - attempt to make a souffle. You are all invited to be guinea pigs to the first of many dishes I am going to attempt to make in the upcoming year as I try to become a better master baker - not masterbater - that must be on someone else's bucket list ( insert your own name here) if you haven't started your own bucket list as of yet...

We have spent part of a day at Hapuna beach but the wind was so bad we ended up eating sand sandwiches for lunch. Still there was no wind chill so this is still mo' bettah as the Hawaiians would say in their pidgin dialect. We have also spent time at 'Anaeho'omalu beach or "A Bay" as this 6 syllable tongue twister is better known even to those born and raised here. We saw 14 turtles yesterday alone, two of which basked in the sun bedside us. Well I am off to enjoy a good red and some smoked Gouda while I watch the sun set. Does it get any better than this? Stay tuned...

T-Minus 1 Day

I sit here with a glass of wine and begin the first post of many, in a year where I plan to tap into the fantasy oriented dreamer I call my right brain. Not only am I taking a year off of work to create myself as I choose to be, but I am taking a year off from my logical, reality based, rule following left brain, whose skills I have honed since I left my childhood behind. I want to dance in the rain, eat cookie dough with my fingers, and play with my best friend (my husband) as we drink, eat and travel through many upcoming adventures - and as we live everyday like it is Saturday!