Hey it's Tuesday, December 31, the last day of the year 2019. This post will finish up my Friday 5 Answers Blog for 2019 as I answer these questions as published to Scrivener's Friday 5 blog. Here's wishing anyone reading this, a Happy New Year in 2020. The Roaring 20's are back. And now the questions with answers:
1. Who is your 2019 most valuable player?
In short order: MYSELF. If I don't value me, then what more is there to value?
2. Who is your 2019 newcomer of the year?
My new Grand Niece born April 11, 2019. She lives with her Mom and Dad in Texas.
3. Who is your 2019 most improved player?
My sister. She and my cousins took the lead with our family reunion this past May.
4. Who is your 2019 comeback player of the year?
My friend who lives in Waikiki for being resilient against the bad things put upon him by his family.
5. Who receives your 2019 team spirit award?
My friend Lisa for encouragement, optimism, talent, knowledge, perseverance and survival against tremendous odds. Despite the anguish and pain that she is in, I've found her to be very kind and helpful toward others and myself through the years and today.
The last sunrise of 2019, December 31 - Honolulu, Hawaii
The following questions are from Scrivener's weekly Friday 5 blog. I started working on this last week, but only now got around to finishing it. Happy and safe driving folks.
1. Where did you go the first time you drove by yourself?
I became a legal driver several decades ago when I was 15. Where did I go the first time I soloed? I probably went about 2 miles to downtown Honokaa, went to the store and then another 2 miles to home. I think. It was so long ago how can I totally remember that? But a short drive would be the thing I would have done.
2. Who was the first non-family non-instructor you drove anywhere, and where did you go?
Again this was so long ago, I don't exactly remember. More than likely it was one of my school classmates. Can't even remember where I went.
3. What’s the dumbest thing you’ve done behind the wheel?
Again many, many years ago on a two lane highway I was trying to pass two large, slow moving trucks at the same time.... um.... the tiny little Toyota I was driving did not have enough power to accelerate on the slight incline going up the highway. I had barely passed the first truck when a large car was coming straight for me.... um.... the two trucks were fairly close together.... luckily the driver of the truck I passed slowed down and I think the one in front sped up a bit and left me an opening so that I could get back into my lane.
As soon as I made it into my lane, the oncoming car passed swiftly by. It was only a few seconds to spare.... if the opening was not there, I probably would have gotten into a bad accident and perhaps died.
4. What’s the nicest drive you’ve ever taken?
I haven't been to or drove to many places outside of Hawaii. Therefore most of my driving have been done in Hawaii. For each island that I drove on, here are the nicest places:
Kauai island - Back in 2005 I drove all the way to the end of the road up to Kauai's north shore. Going through Hanalei and passing over that iconic steel bridge that gets flooded out during heavy rains was nice. The road up there ends up at a nice beach. Everything in Hanalei and the North shore of Kauai is green, wet and beautiful.
Island of Oahu - Driving in Honolulu sucks because of traffic... and it is not very scenic except maybe passing near Waikiki Beach. Driving out to Waimanalo and Kailua is pretty scenic along Kalanianaole Highway... Otherwise the most scenic drive is on the long and winding road up and down Tantalus drive.
Island of Maui - The drive up to Haleakala crater is always nice. The last time I did that one was back in 1983. Long before that my Dad drove us along the Hana Highway to Hana and back to Lahaina... decades ago.
Island of Hawaii (Big Island) - There are plenty of roads that I consider scenic on the my favorite island. Here is a list of them:
Kohala mauka highway, from Waimea town to Hawi along the slopes of Kohala Mountain. Beautiful drive especially in the late afternoon during "golden hour" to get a view of Mauna Kea and other areas from the height advantage of Kohala... the colors of the setting sun are nice from here.
Anywhere along the Hamakua Coast, Highway 19 from Hilo to Honokaa. There are several older side roads which offer drivers beautiful green scenery. The scenic highway between Pepeekeo and Papaikou is especially green and beautiful. If you have $$, a stop at Hawaii Botanical Gardens is well worth the price of the high admission... at least once to take pictures.
Puna / Volcano area - Many scenic spots in this hostile area, recently overrun by lava last year. Volcanoes National Park and the Chain of Craters road within are must do drives and stops.
Ahualoa Road / Old Mamalahoa Highway to Waimea - A nice scenic drive through a forested but homesteaded area, and then through several miles of green pastureland to the main highway near Waimea.
Mana Road - If you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, this is a nice road to take if you have access through the higher back country of rain forest and pasture grasslands.
Unfortunately I have never driven up the roads to Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, nor all the way through the Saddle Road. When I am on Hawaii Island, those roads don't go where I need or want to go, and I don't have access to a 4 wheel drive vehicle without paying money to use one.
5. Who’s the worst driver you know?
The ones who cut in front of you all of a sudden, and those drivers who lane dive while you patiently await your turn in the designated lane.
"Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!
1. What’s something you’re in the middle of?
Disappointment, Frustration, Recovery, Healing, more. 2. What’s in the middle of you?
Fat
3. What is your residence in the middle of?
Remodeling and upgrade 4. What’s a great food that features something in its middle?
Hamburger (Bun on top, veggies, hamburger, cheese, sauce, bun on bottom)
5. What’s the nearest you’ve been to the middle of nowhere?
A strange one this week from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog that seems to be disjointed but allows for plenty of pictures. Here we go.
1. How self-conscious do you get when someone’s pointing a camera at you?
I hate having my photo taken, especially in this digital age when you don't have any control of your image and you don't know where that image may end up.
2. What was the last meal you took a photo of?
I take photos of food on a regular basis. The last food item I took a picture of were a box of Hostess Ding Dongs. The last "meal" I took a photo of is posted below. The entire photo stream of food appears in the slideshow below.
3. When were you last bitten or stung by something?
Possibly a few weeks ago by a mosquito.
4. What’s something people miss most when they move away from your area?
1. The beach. 2. The sand. 3. The surf. 4. Warm weather year round. 5. Pretty Girls. 6. sunsets
5. On long day-trips, do you prefer to be the driver or passenger? Why?
I would prefer to be the front seat passenger because I like to take pictures as we go along.
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.
