Ray's new friend

When we want to go to a beach nearby, we walk a few blocks down the street to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. So far they haven't kicked Ray out for using their pool although I can't believe they haven't noticed him doing his cannonballs into the water. We've met a couple new buddies whom I call Frenchie and Motorola. Frenchie is a nice lady from California who is French and teaches sign language locally as a volunteer. Motorola is a former club circuit piano player who has the bluest eyes I've ever seen on a human. I call her Motorola because she talks non stop and never takes a breath. She's nearing 70 and has lived a few. She recently moved here from Vegas after her boyfriend died. She is actively looking for a man, Italian in particular, and asked if there were any Italian men in TN. I said no, so I think she has settled on Ray. The other day he went over alone and was happily floating way out near the breakers on his big deluxe float. (If it were placed on a frame, it would be a queen-sized bed.) He's halfway dozing when out of the blue he hears a voice. I think he thought it was the Lord at first and was startled, but it was Motorola. She said hey and asked him something about the place we are staying. She starts talking and drones on and on until eventually he lets his float drift away to escape. He came back to our apt. and said, "Do you know who is in the best shape on the island? Motorola, she can tread water indefinately!"
I'm going to have to keep closer tabs on Ray...

RAY ID OK!

Queenie has a new hair color and even hinted ole Steve at Macy's should give me a "Cut" Dogs will fly before he touches my locks..alas I had to write so everyone would know I had not been thrown overboard by the Beach..ha actually all is well. I did not want Queenie to feel homesick with school starting so we are leaving tue (Aug 4) for 5 days on the 'Big Island". She loves all her friends and I know misses the children but all the work teachers actually do is "overwhelming" and causes much stress...her ulcer has cleared up and yes there is "life after working.....or as a friend of mine says "work is very overrated" ....be safe everyone and I will report back in next week with new photos...ray

On our way to snorkel in Hanauma bay the other day, we decided to stop at the post office in Hawaii Kai to drop off a couple post cards. It's a very upscale small town and also the home of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and I thought I might get lucky and spot Dog or Beth, my Hawaiian heroes. We had been to this post office on previous trips, but couldn't remember exactly where it was. I remembered it being right down from the McDonalds. I mentioned this several times, but we drove on every other side street, even driving down a few more than once. I know we passed Cosco about 4 times. Finally, we are pulling out onto the main street to turn right to go down by McDonalds (I thought) and Ray is turning LEFT. I politely asked, "Why are you going left?" He said, "Oh, we'll just look for a post office in another town." The piercing scream that rent the air and startled nearby birds on a phone line made him rethink that idea.... We drove down the McDonald's street and just as he was saying, "There's nothing down here" the flag pole in front of the post office came into view...I invited him to kiss big whitey. Julie A is my witness.

The only thing I half way have control over is my hair. I just got home from "Steve"...he's a fifty something, ex-Californian/moved here from the big island. I got to my appointment at five til ten as my app. was at ten. He wasn't there yet but came right in...At ELEVEN, I called Ray and whispered that he was just going back to mix up the color. The whole hour prior was him consulting with me and discussing all the cardboard samples from color books, with the fake hair stapled to the ends. I did start to become concerned at this point, and was tempted to leave when he went back to mix the five bowls of color. After about ten minutes, he came out for his apron...I thought surely to ....he is ready to begin---nope just getting the apron. During his precolor conference he talked alot about how my hair was past the color levels of normal on the charts and needed to have other shades woven in, which I thought ok, I'm in a nice shop in Waikiki and maybe it is over processed...He worked and worked and highlighted every tendril and I've paid and come home. It's hardly any different from when I went in. Still the basic dark roots with a few muting shades woven through, distracted only by the super short bangs from my last mishap there with another stylist. If I had just got out of bed and looked, I wouldn't have noticed a difference. Except my really blonde that I liked is gone and I basically look like hell. Plus, the ride home in the jeep didn't help much, and I had to hear Ray say, "I've always thought you spent too much on your hair..." Ray better be learning to fly because he might be going over the balcony...

Ray is actually off the computer for a moment! Here are a few shots that I found amazing.

The mountains are as spectacular as the ocean! A quick shot from the car.

This shot from the car almost seems as if the mountain is an erupting volcano! It's just the cloud cover on this overcast day.

I am always striving to capture the natural beauty with my camera. Sometimes I'm amazed at the beauty surrounding the most ordinary things! Here's a shot of a Burger King!

MORE BEACH BASHING PHOTOS

More photos with the sunset as we left the beach....aloha

REID'S BIRTHDAY BEACH BASH..

Wow! We had a great wednesday at Reid's Birthday Party. He turned twenty and Mary, Bruce And Vanassa had a great party for him at White Plains Beach. Many of his friends came and enjoyed a great day of fellowship, surfing and eating cousin Bruce's burgers and hot dogs.. the party started at 11am and we got home at 9pm. HAPPY BIRTHDAY REID.. some party pictured attached.