Hawaii - Day 6

I just noticed that the dates on the top of my blog are the current date, not our trip day. So just ignore it!

Wednesday, December 1st we went to Pearl Harbor to visit the Arizona Memorial. It is remarkable when you consider the ship went down 69 years ago.

The memorial sits above the mid-section of the ship. In the center of the memorial, there is an open area where you can actually view the ship. 1177 sailors died and are entombed in the ship. Several of the visitors were dropping flowers from lei's into the water above the ship. It was very moving.

This is a listing of the names of all who died there on December 7, 1941.

It's hard to believe after 69 years, but the ship is still leaking oil.

The memorial grounds were interesting, too. This is one of the guns on display there. I don't look too comfortable, do I?

Hawaii - Day 5

Today we went to the National Cemetery of the Pacific. It's in the "Punchbowl" overlooking Honolulu--an extinct volcano. It is very impressive. Jay is standing in front of one of the maps showing the campaigns in the Pacific during WWII.




This is the entry to the cemetery and the Memorial Walk. It's quite impressive. I was a little intimidated by the steps up to this statue after having walked up Diamond Head but it wasn't too bad and well worth it to view all the memorials. We met one of the cemetery custodians who told us he came to Hawaii on a two-week vacation six years ago! He cashed in his return ticket and decided to stay. I can understand that!

Hawaii Day 4

MAUI!

Today we flew to Maui and spent a day exploring the west end of the island. First we headed up the coast to Lahaina. It was a really interesting place. It used to be a rough and tumble whaling village and now is a tourist town with lots of history to explore. This is just one of the beautiful scenes along the way.


One of the most remarkable sights was the banyan tree outside the Heritage Museum which is housed in the old courthouse. What looks like several trees is really just one which rooted in several places. It's hard to describe but was an awesome sight.

More pictures along the way.

I really enjoyed Lahaina and if I had known what was ahead, I probably would have stayed there. We decided to drive from West Maui around to the Upcountry. There was a note in the travel guide that you should check with your rental car company before attempting this road and we found out why. It was a beautiful drive, basically up a mountain, but a rough road at times and often a one-lane road (which can be exciting around hairpin curves with traffic coming toward you) and several one-lane bridges. Oh, and did I mention the falling rocks all along the road? But after we "made it" we ended up in a little artsy town called Paia where we had dinner before flying back. We ate at Charley's and then did a little shopping. I bought a dress to wear to the Luau Thursday night and Jay got a hawaiian shirt!

We flew back to Honolulu and got to the hotel around 9:30 p.m. So that's my excuse for not blogging yesterday. So I'm a day behind but I'm going to close now and will try to catch up tomorrow!

Hawaii- Day 3

Today was quite a day! But first I should tell you about last night's Luau. We had a really good time and met some interesting people--a young couple from Russia (they life in Chicago now) and also a couple from Australia who had been traveling for some time. They went to several American cities and took a cruise from Florida through the Panama Canal. The food was ok (nothing to write home about) but the entertainment was great! We had a good enough time that we decided to go to the Luau here at the Hale Koa Thursday night before we board our plane home.

This morning we went to Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. That was an experience as well. The church was beautiful with a marble altar but unfortunately there was a screen blocking it from the "new" altar facing the people--well, sort of. The pews were arranged so the people faced each other with the altar at one end and the ambo at the other. A little strange. The priest paced back and forth between the two as he gave his homily. Also most of the kneelers had been removed with just a few left (so I guess taking them out must have been controversial and the result was a compromise.)

Our Lady of Peace

We walked around downtown for a while and saw the Queen's Palace (from the outside--it was closed since it was Sunday) and the State Capitol which had a statue of St. Damien outside. He really is revered here--there was a side altar in the church with one of his relics displayed.

After lunch, we walked on the beach for a while and then I got the bright idea to hike Diamond Head (an extinct crater). I had no idea what I was in for. Jay made the climb easily but I really struggled--but I made it. These pictures don't do justice to the challenge, but the view from the top made it all worth it.

This is me going back down. You wouldn't want to see the expression on my face going up.

Well, here I am climbing up (thank heavens for the railing)!

After burning about 10,000 calories today I felt entitled to a hot fudge sundae after dinner so I indulged myself. Then Jay and I took a walk along the beach before coming back to our room.

Tomorrow we go to Maui. We probably won't get back until 10 p.m. or so but if I'm not too tired, I'll blog about that experience! Talk to you then.

Hawaii Day 2

This is our hotel lobby. It's kind of interesting, because it's actually outdoors!

Here's a couple of pictures taken from our hotel balcony this morning.

Obviously, this one looks toward the beach and the ocean.

This view is of downtown Waikiki.

Today we walked over to the Hilton Hawaiian Village to find a restaurant for breakfast (the one in our hotel was way too busy). So we ate at CJ's NY Deli. It was really good. We walked back to our hotel along the beach and decided to go out to Hickam AFB (near the airport and Pearl Harbor). We had fun shopping in the BX and had lunch there too.

Tonight we are going to a luau and will post any pictures tomorrow.

Hawaii Day 1

We made it! We got up at 5:30 a.m. and made it to the airport for an 8:40 a.m. flight. Parking was a bit of a problem, since the off-airport lot we planned to use was full, and so was our alternative. So we went to the airport to use their more expensive lot. But I guess $10 a day isn't too bad.

We flew from Albuquerque to Salt Lake City where it was 15 degrees. Brr. Here's a couple of views from our airplane.




We were too tired to have dinner where I'd planned so we ate at the hotel. It was really good and I even had chocolate mousse cake for dessert! Then we took a walk along the beach and saw some singers and dancers (hula) putting on a show. People were all waiting for the fireworks but we decided to go back to the hotel, since it was about 11 p.m. NM time.

Here's the nighttime view from our hotel balcony.

Ashley's Latest

Ashley just sent me this via picture text, and I had to share it. It's her latest project for art class. I'm so glad she decided to pursue a degree in the arts (interior design). Her work just gets better and better.

Spring Camporee Cochiti

Dustin went on his first overnight campout with the Boy Scouts this weekend! He had a great time. When he came home Sunday, he couldn't wait to tell us about all the fun he had, from making pancakes without water (they used orange Kool-Aid) to lighting a fire using a stick and a rope. Now he can't wait for summer camp!

Mom looks a little apprehensive at the sendoff, doesn't she?

Dustin and a few of his friends!

Cooking Breakfast

You can see Dustin just isn't having any fun, right?

Happy Easter!

Sunday it will be Easter! Although spring is not my favorite time of year in Albuquerque (too much wind, and dust that gets in your eyes and your teeth if you have to venture outside), I have such wonderful memories of this season growing up in NY. We always spent Easter in Lockport, my mom's hometown. Mass was always at St. Pat's, and dinner either at Aunt Clara's or Aunt Frannie's. I'm sure we had a great meal with ham and all the trimmings, but what I remember is Aunt Clara's jello salad with carrots and maybe pineapple that I loved. Being a finicky eater, it was probably the only thing I ate!

I remember one Easter back in the days when Lent ended at noon on Holy Saturday, and my cousin Keeta and I went "downstreet" (meaning to town) and stopped at every candy store we passed in anticipation of ending our chocolate fast. When we got back to her house, we piled it all on the floor and waited until the stroke of noon and then dived in! Wow! Was that ever a feast!

I also remember one cold Easter morning as we walked to St. Pat's for Easter Mass, stopping on the way to pick up my cousin Marion and her kids (I think she had four at the time), and they were all dressed alike in outfits Marion had made. So cute, but it was SO COLD.

My last memory of Easter in Lockport was shortly before I was married. Jay and I were staying at Aunt Frannie's. She tells me it was a wild weekend as she had several guests, including Father Simons, I think, but I don't remember that part at all! I do remember we were celebrating and she gave us some champagne and told us not to tell my mom! I think I still have the bulletin from that Mass stuck in one of my old missals.

How I wish I could be in Lockport for Easter this year!

New Mexico Comfort Food

Typical Spring in New Mexico--it can't decide whether it's still winter or not. We had two mornings with snow cover (about 1") and a day or two in the 60s! This morning we had a heavy snow squall for about 1/2 hour while we were in church, and by the time we left it had warmed up and the snow was gone! So it's hard to know what to make for dinner--one of the winter dishes like soup or stew, or if we should haul out the barbeque and grill some steaks!

I decided since it was technically still winter, we'd have some NM comfort food otherwise known as Green Chile Stew. I also decided not to use a recipe so of course it turned out to be the best I'd made. We finished the last of it today at lunch. Here's my attempt at trying to create a recipe:

3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded into big pieces
1 can of Hatch green chile enchilada sauce (medium heat)
1 tub of frozen hot green chile, thawed
2-3 cups of chicken broth
1 can of diced tomatoes
2-3 potatoes, diced in large pieces

Put all together in a soup pot and simmer until all flavors are blended. Serve with warmed tortillas and shredded cheese. You could also add some pinto or black beans to the pot. Also, some chopped onions if you like.

Six More Weeks of Winter??

Yesterday was Groundhog Day and it looks like Winter will be with us for a while. In fact, we are under a Winter Storm Watch today through tomorrow night. We'll see. The last time this happened (last week), all 20 or so snowplows the city owns were strategically placed around town, waiting for the snow that never came. Oh, the foothills got about two inches, but the rest of the city, nada. However, despite the lack of snow, city workers were released early, and ALL state workers were on a two-hour delay the following morning. Makes you wonder who makes these decisions! At least the schools weren't closed, except for the mountain schools, of course.

Anyhow, in anticipation of our new "storm" I thought I'd post a couple pictures from last week (obviously we live in the foothills, as we were blessed with a little bit of the white stuff).

Don't laugh! The kids haven't had much practice with snowmen.

A couple of days after the big storm. At least the mountains still had snow!

Thank Heaven for Green Chile

I decided to make PW's chicken noodle recipe (?) she posted today. Not my best effort! First I drove all over town trying to find the frozen noodles, to no avail. I went to Walmart, Sunflower, and Smiths. I probably should have tried Trader Joe's but ran out of energy. So after I got home I had the brain storm to make my own noodles. Not a good decision! So I used
five of my last six eggs, rolled out the dough (obviously not thin enough), sliced it and cooked it. The result was not good. I think Ashley said it resembled brain tissue. Ugh. Plan C was to use some curly noodles (whole wheat though, so they were kinda healthy).

I followed the rest of the recipe but it never did thicken up--I think four quarts of water is just too much. So I got the bowls out and we decided to call it soup. Everyone thought it needed something, and of course, the solution to that is ALWAYS green chile! It did the trick, plus Pattie added a little shredded parmesan cheese that was good, as well.

I think I'll go back to my own green chile chicken soup recipe.

My New "Job"

Yesterday I started my new "job," volunteering at Wherry Elementary School as a reading tutor for "Albuquerque Reads." The program is only in three schools, all Title I schools, and we work with kindergarteners (since when did they learn reading before first grade?). Anyhow it was pretty interesting. I was assigned as a "floater" to cover for a tutor who was absent. There are about 100 kids at Wherry who are tutored. It's a 100% Title I school, which I find amazing. Their population is drawn from the area around Kirtland AFB known as the "war zone," although the teachers call it the "International Zone," which is a little more PC.

My first student was a very smart and active little boy. He definitely had a mind of his own, didn't want to take his coat off or follow the activities in the program. He had his own ideas of what he wanted to do! When it came to reading, he zipped through the book, not reading the words, but making up his own story from the pictures. Finally (with the help of the coordinator) I got him to settle down and read each word on the page. He did remind me of Daniel! Or maybe Lorenzo.

My second student was a little girl, very quiet, who couldn't read at all. But if I would say the words, she would say them right after me. The only problem was she wanted to look at me instead of the page. When it came to the drawing activity, she was great! Quite a perfectionist, though, as she kept erasing her work and starting again. She finally finished a self-portrait. What I loved about her picture was that she drew herself with a great big smile on her face! The coordinator had told us that these kids don't have a lot of the experiences that middle class kids do, like going to the zoo, or visiting a farm. It was certainly true in her case, as she didn't know what an elephant was, and thought a lion was a tiger. She is going to be a lot of fun, though. I hope I get her again next week.

I think I'm going to love my new job!

World's Best Banana Bread

Yesterday I made this banana bread. It's so good, it's already half gone! It's from Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook (my favorite next to PW). I've made it twice and it's been delicious both times. Must be the sour cream. It's great even without toasting it or adding butter!

Ashley and I had an interesting day today. We went down to UNM so she could get her parking pass, and when we were coming home we noticed that our neighbor on the corner had a garbage can lying in the ditch near their driveway. We drove a little further and saw another garbage can the same way in front of another neighbor's house. Hmm, seemed a little strange. Then we got to OUR HOUSE and noticed two of our garbage cans were missing! So putting two and two together we figured out the ones we saw were ours! So we trudged on down the street and collected our garbage cans (and what had fallen out) and headed back home. We met one of the neighbors who told us that several neighbors had seen a white SUV coming down the street about 80 mph (speed limit is 30). Apparently the driver got out, took our cans, put them in the street and then proceeded to hit them, again at about 80 mph, which explained why they were halfway down the street from our house. Unfortunately no one got a license number. We are hoping this was just a prank by a brain-dead teenager with too much time on his hands, but Ashley's a little concerned it could be a young man whose been harassing her (also brain-dead). Anyhow, it's good to know we have such caring neighbors--three people stopped to tell us what they had seen.

Road Trip!

Well, Ashley and I are off on our great adventure to check out Northern Arizona University. It should be about a five hour trip, but an easy one on I-40. It's supposed to be cold there (12 above) tonight with light snow. Hopefully I'll have some pictures when we get back on Saturday!

Winter in New Mexico

New Mexico is a land of contrasts--tree-covered mountains in the north, and deserts in the south. And sometimes it can't decide what season it is. This picture captures it perfectly, with snow on my roses.