It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...which is really surreal, because it doesn't snow here and evergreens are not native to the Islands. This kind of thing never bothered me in LA, but for some reason being in a tropical place for the lead-up to the Christmas season is just messing with my brain.

But, moving right along. Remember that ceramics class I said I was going to take? Well, I wish I had something to show for it, but I missed two classes (one because of my trip to Connecticut, and another because I had to be at a dress rehearsal for my choir concert). So I only got to the glazing/firing stage on one piece and the shaping/drying stage on two others. But I had a lot of fun and I fully intend to take the class again whenever it's offered next semester and then, I promise, I will have pictures of my work!

Speaking of the visit to Eamon, it was unspeakably great to see him. We both needed time together so badly, so we worked around his class schedule as best we could. I got sick towards the end - the dry weather did a number on my throat, which had been spoiled by lovely humidity for three months - but it wasn't that bad. The weekend was the best because he didn't have duty and could go off-base, so on Saturday we wandered around the incredibly picturesque nearby town of Mystic, and then on Sunday we drove to Boston to visit with a good friend of mine from the program at Simmons and her husband. We saw the legendary Topol in Fiddler on the Roof at the Opera House. What a show, and what a lead!! He did an amazing job, and the supporting cast was also excellent.

Perhaps the best thing about seeing Eamon was that while I was there, we made arrangements for the next visit, which is now only 12 days away!! He'll be here for a whole week starting the 18th, and this will be a real whole week because I'll be done with classes, so we can just hang out and do as we please. Of course he's never been to Hawai'i (and there's a lot on this island I haven't explored yet) so we may go on some excursions, but the main point is we'll be together the whole time. We're heading back to LA on the 25th (yeah, I know...) and then Eamon has to leave for Connecticut again on the 27th :-( I'll be in LA until the 4th, though, so I hope I'll be able to see people!!

Just before Thanksgiving I got together with some lovely ladies from the aforementioned Republic of Pemberley for Afternoon Tea at the Kahala Hotel. Our table was out on the lanai overlooking the ocean and a lagoon with three or four real dolphins swimming around it. The tea was simply scrumptious - I can't wait to go back!

Thanksgiving itself was warm and wonderful. Tim Ryan and Nancy Wilcox (friends of my parents' from way back) invited me to their house in beautiful Aina Haina - all together there were about 15 of us there, enjoying excellent food and delightful conversation. I swear, Tim knows everyone - and not just in Hawai'i, I mean everywhere. And boy, can he tell a story.

Last weekend I took yet another hike with the Leisure Center (how can you go wrong - great destinations and activities all around the island, transportation included - it's genius). This was to Ka'ena Point, the westernmost tip of Oahu. It's like this big, sharp arrowhead jutting out into the ocean (look it up in GoogleMaps, set it to satellite mode and then zoom way out - it's really cool!) The hike was more of a long walk on a rough-terrain 4x4 road. The jagged cliffs to one side and crashing waves to the other made for really impressive scenery. As we got near the edge of the point, the clay mud suddenly turned to sand dunes and the landscape changed completely. It's a protected area for nesting Albatross (Albatri?) - I spotted a pair hunkered down right by the path:


These guys are like seagulls on 'roids - they're HUGE. I tried to take a good picture of one in flight but they're incredibly fast for their size. Anyway, I think you can tell they have a massive wingspan from this shot:


The area is also a natural habitat for Monk Seals, a highly endangered species native to the Islands (I read on one site that there are only 1300 of them - total). We got lucky enough to see TWO. I got pretty snap-happy with one of them - it kept adjusting positions for maximum comfiness and belly exposure. Seriously, I couldn't help myself, it was just being so friggin' adorable.

Can't you just see the thought bubble on this one? "Aaaaaahhhh..."


Here's my favorite, which is also my new desktop wallpaper (and because I have a terrible memory, it makes me squeeee!!! every time I turn on my monitor):


That's it for now. To be perfectly honest with myself and with you, my dear readers, I probably won't write another post until after the holidays. I hope you all get to spend them with the one(s) you love, and have a wonderful New Year!