Dropping Pennies

Finding a penny is lucky. At least, that's what I've always believed. Many people think that finding a penny means a wish will be granted. Others think that found pennies are messages from loved ones who have died - that each found penny is a special visitation from beyond.

I pick up pennies and make wishes whenever possible. I was thinking that it might be good to spread some of that happiness around. I've started dropping pennies.

The other day I was sitting in the car, waiting, at the credit union. I was cleaning out my coat pocket and found a penny inside. I opened the car door and dropped it to the pavement, wondering if anyone would ever pick it up.

A few minutes later, a family parked next to me. Mom, Dad, and two kids got out. A boy about 7 or 8 years old yelled, "Hey Dad! Look! I found a penny!". He scooped it up and skipped down the sidewalk with it.

Even if it doesn't bring him good luck, it brought him a small bit of happiness. And gave me some too.

EP

White Elephant Gin

Hey Sparky - I got the BEST present at our staff Holiday Party!

We have a white elephant exchange where everyone brings an anonymous gift and puts them in a pile. Numbers are drawn and each person picks a wrapped gift to open - or you can steal a gift from someone else.

You know how you usually get a candle or an ornament or some similar useless item - well, this year I got a
big bottle of GIN!!!!

Sure, it's a cheap brand. It's in a big, half-gallon sized plastic bottle. But it's still a great gift!

Cheers!
EP

Just Four Days Ago We Were Swimming...

It's hard to believe that just a few days ago we were wearing swimsuits and shorts and drinking Mai Tai's! We spent seven days at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. On Thursday we drove over to Hilo to see the sights on the wet side of the island and visit the University of Hawaii campus.


On Friday we went south of Kailua-Kona to Kealakekua Bay for snorkeling. There was no beach, just mounds of old volcanic rock to walk on and hop off from. The photo of the Bay on the right is from HawaiiWeb.com.

The reefs and fish were beautiful! I'm borrowing a couple of photos from the website: www.leler.com/hawaii/ . You can see how bright the fish are and the water is so clear and blue, it actually looks just like this!

On the way back north we stopped at Holualoa, an artist village on the slopes above Kona. We especially wanted to visit Darrell Hill's Gallery to see his paintings. We love his Impressionistic style and gorgeous colors. The painting pictured here is titled "Kohala" and is very similar to a Darrell Hill painting we bought on Maui called "Mauna Lani Beach".

On Saturday we drove to Hawi, another artist village on the north tip of the island. Then we drove over the Kohala mountain range to Waimea. This is ranch country, with lots of horses and cattle. The green colors are really vivid. These photos are from http://satftp.soest.hawaii.edu

 T


Two of our very favorite things about Hawaii are watching the hula dancers and the sunsets. We never get tired of either.

 

Hawaii Sun and Oregon Snow

We are back from the Big Island. The weather was grand. Water was clear. Fun was had. Now, we're back to windy, rainy, gray times in Oregon. Folks who live on the Big Island are still shaken from the recent earthquakes. And the Mauna Kea Resort has been closed indefinitely because of structural damage. They said that about 400 people are out of work because of the closure.

While we were gone, there have been more Oregon tragedies. At Thanksgiving, the Kim family traveled from California to Seattle. On their way back to California, they drove through Oregon, intending to cross over the coastal mountains in order to stay on the coast. Unfortunately, they chose a bad winter road over the pass, took a wrong turn onto a snowy mountain logging road, and got stuck in deep drifts. The husband took off on foot while the wife and two small children waited in the car. After nine days, the wife and kids were found alive. Unfortunately, the husband died of hypothermia out in the elements.

Now, there are three mountain climbers lost on Mt. Hood and rescuers can't get close because of blizzard conditions. They've been missing for a week. Another mountaineer was stuck in a snow cave on Mt. Hood for 13 days before being rescued, so there is still hope.

You Are There....Almost

Hey Sparky! Well, in about a week I will not be here. I will be there. Where is there? "There" is the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii!!!

Entrance road off the lava fields

Palms in front of Resort

View of hotel from beach side

Hapuna Resort Pool

Photo of Hapuna Prince and beach

Hapuna Beach!

Another view of Hapuna Beach!

Doggie Acupuncture

Our dog Jack is having acupuncture treatments. Last spring he was running through a field out at Champoeg Park and stumbled. He came up limping, but we figured he'd be fine in a week or so. He's done it before and always recovered from a twist or sprain.

This time he didn't get better. We've taken him to three vets - one a surgical specialist. He's had x-rays and poking and prodding, all to no avail. He still limps, bows his front leg out, and walks on the side of his paw. The best they can say is that he most likely has a soft tissue injury in a tendon or ligament.

He's had three acupuncture treatments so far and seems to be feeling better. He's also getting an injection and taking three medications. He's been a good sport about the needles and electrodes, but it freaked him out at first. Shelties are hyper by nature and sitting still is not a strong point for them. He gets hooked up and has to lie quietly for 20 minutes. It takes alot of treats and happy talk, but I think he likes it. The vet says that the needles release endorphins and ease the pain in his back and leg. Jack is more lively and stands better. We are hoping for the best!

EP

Mary Poppins Sing-A-Long

Another birthday outing was a Mary Poppins sing-a-long movie with my neighbor. The Cinema 21 Theater shows old musicals and makes a party of it! The words to songs are shown on screen. Costume prizes are awarded. The audience is encouraged to shout out remarks. It's a tame version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show dress up show.

We got participation bags with little drink umbrellas (to open when Mary floats down out of the sky), a flavored sugar stick (to eat with "A Spoonful of Sugar", foil-wrapped, chocolate coins (for "Tuppence a Bag"), a firecracker/popper (when the Admiral shoots off the cannon atop his house), kazoos (for something), and I can't remember the rest.

The costumes people wore were inventive. There were lots of nannies, chimney sweeps, kids, and suffregettes. The best prize went to a mother/daughter combo who were a box of sugar and a bottle of medicine. The mom wore a big square of white quilted material in the shape of a sugar box. The daughter wore a long, red, straight piece of fabric around her body,with shoulder straps and red sweater - a tall white cap. They carried a huge tin-foil wrapped spoon.

It was great fun!

EP