Friday 5 for January 14: Feelingverse

 

These came from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. When did you take the road less traveled?

It wasn't less traveled the last time I took the Crater Rim Drive road around Kilauea caldera back in 2005. Today it is the road way less traveled since half the road collapsed into the crater at the time of the 2018 volcano eruption. So now it is the road less traveled, at least near the southern end of the caldera.

2. When have you told the truth but told it slant?

Now why would I want to admit to that in a public forum? Pass.

3. When did you most recently strike out?

Bought a SIM card for one of my phones and it did not work. The phone is unlocked. I lost the ICCID number which is not the same as the IMEI number. The ICCID number was printed on the packaging the card came with. I more than likely tossed the packaging into the trash or hopefully misplaced it.  The service provider need that ICCID number to match the card with the phone. Ugh!

4. In what way is today like a summer’s day?

Well this is Honolulu, Hawaii. In the middle of the winter today... the sunshine is out, I am sure the beach will be busy. There is a slight chill this morning at around 70 degrees... but it will heat up as the day progresses and the sunshine climbs higher in the sky without any threat rain, hail or snow today.

5.  Where do you go to find yourself?

Home.

Friday 5 for June 19: Under lock and key

This week's Friday 5 - Under lock and key. Yep. Welcome to our dystopian world where government overregulation has crept deeper into our lives and taken away many of our personal freedoms, thanks to COVID-19. What a bummer. Questions are from Scrivener as usual on this blog.

1. What’s your mask situation like?

My current inventory consists of 10 cloth type masks that sell for $5.99 a pack at Don Quijote. These are just those light blue generic types, which I have found last quite a while. You can hand wash them and let them dry in the sun. Use them again and again. Yes, I am cheap.

These are government mandated fashions. Why should I spend too much money on this crap when it doesn't really protect me.

I have two colorful cloth masks given to me by a friend. Thanks Sandra C. I am saving the one I have for myself and gave the other to my friend. The second set of masks was given to me by someone that work in the organization that I do their website for. I got two patriotic masks with the American flag and an eagle on them. Haven't used them unless I go to something that deserves me to be seen in them.

I had two black cloth masks that I first bought when this whole mess started for $5 each. They were nice. One thing that I have found is that the elastic straps on these masks break easily. Both of mine broke and I no longer use those masks. I refuse to buy anymore expensive masks if the straps are the weak point.

I also have two N95 masks that someone else gave me several months ago when this whole crisis was in its infancy. I dare not wear those in public. There may be people out there who chastise individuals who wear N95s because "we are denying healthcare workers from getting one"..... bull-crap.

A cottage industry has developed because of this government mandate, with individuals as well as small and large businesses selling masks, most starting at $5 to $6 each. High end ones go for a lot more. No thanks.

Government is forcing me under penalty of being fined to wear a mask. After my two initial masks broke, I decided no thanks to any pricey masks unless I can find one that looks this:

2. In what way is your life better today than a few months ago?

Up until recently it was nice to drive on the streets without too much traffic on the roads. Now that things are opening up again, traffic is spiking up to near normal levels. Other than that, nothing else is better.

3. What do you miss from normal living?

Let's see if I can come up with a top 10 list to this one....

1. Being everywhere mask free. Duh????
2. Going to work
3. The monthly sidewalk sale for cheap records and CDs at Idea's Books and Music.
4. Eating inside a restaurant
5. Meeting my friends for lunch, even though I hardly did that.
6. Be worry free about touching things or brushing up against people who may be carrying the COVID-19 virus. 
7. I hate those places that require a temp check before entering. So far I am avoiding them.
8. I cannot go to the Big Island of Hawaii without a) subjecting myself to quarantine (up to June 15) and now b) having to fill out some stupid disclosure form before traveling and then submitting it to the government so that they may contact trace you. Ugh! Plus wearing masks in planes, airports, etc. suck.  So sorry Southwest and Hawaiian Airlines.... I am not flying until everything about that process reverts to normal pre-COVID19 levels.
9. Going to scenic points to take photos. Currently most of them are still closed I think.
10. Freedoms we had before this mess started.

4. When this is over, what will be your major takeaway?

Will the COVID-19 crisis ever get over? Hawaii is spiking up again since more businesses and socialization opportunities have reopened. Could the state and the rest of the nation go back into lockdown mode later this year during the fall and winter months? We are half way now to a year with this thing.

Perhaps the major takeaway could be to change the leadership of our local government through the elections coming up this year.

Buy a dumb burner phone.

5. What are your feelings about getting back out there sooner, rather than later?

Just be careful. Avoid gathering with large groups in the same place for a length of time.... perhaps 10 minutes or longer. Good thing for me is that I am not a group type of person. I don't go to movies, concerts or other large gatherings mainly due to cost, so avoiding these will be easy.

Surely though, the state should open up to tourism again since no matter what everyone says, it will bring the economy back since there are so many people unemployed and many businesses dying on the vine.

Friday 5 for May 11: Travel

From Scrivener's Friday 5 - Travel

 

1. If you could get on a plane tomorrow, where would you go for a week? Where would you go for a month?

 

 A week? - I would go to the Big Island of Hawaii - Hilo to Honokaa and places nearby. Fact is I will be there later this month.

 A month? - Big Island of Hawaii - Hilo to Honokaa and places nearby. I will be there again later this summer, fall and winter.

 2. Where do you want most to return to?

 

Big Island of Hawaii - Hilo, Honokaa, Waimea, Volcanoes National Park - Do I like the Big Island of Hawaii? Yes I do. My favorite place.

3. What was your most memorable meal or drink while traveling? 

I don't do any alcoholic beverages at all - so if it came to drinks.... well... soft drinks will do or simply water.



For most people who have lived or visited Honolulu (where I live), the most breathtaking view is from the top of Diamond Head crater looking out west to the rest of Honolulu. For me I like the view from the top of Tantalus since it is easier to get there (drive vs. hike) and grab the view shown above. Of course anything from the air is always breathtaking.... see photo below:

 

 In my travels - I almost never travel out of state. I live in "paradise" even thought taxes are high and the cost of living is very expensive.... That being said, here are some favorite images:

 

Volcanoes National Park on the Big island of Hawaii - Crater Rim Drive above. Below lehua blossoms.

 

 Hilo in the Keaukaha area:





Hilo near Rainbow Falls:



 The town of Honokaa, though I would not call it "breathtaking":



The island of Kauai:





I would also say a trip to Hana on the island of Maui and the sunrise at the top of Haleakala also on the island of Maui would be among my photos here... alas those were taken a long time ago with a 35mm SLR camera and I have never gotten around to scan them in. Perhaps a return trip to Maui is in store. The last time I went to that island was in late 2007 and I was only there for about an hour!


5. What’s the most touristy thing you’ve done? 

Went on a two week tour with a bunch of other tourists to the East and West Coast of the continental United States... this was a very long time ago when there were no cell phones, no digital cameras, no Macintosh computers, no internet, almost nothing that we take for granted today... but yes we had jet airplanes, cars, ships and trains. Hence I don't have any decent photos of that tour. I rarely travel out of state.

Someday perhaps a short cruise would be nice or another trip to the U.S. mainland may be in store.

All of the photos provided in this entry were taken by me.