More Lanterns.

More Rebecca and the Cucch hang out time happened,
and we released another few lanterns before dinner.
As the third one went into the sky,
this nice older homeless man asked if I was videotaping.
I wasn't.
So then when Meryl and I got back to the condo we asked her sisters for help,
and we released the last two.
This time I did take video.



Here's two lanterns trying to reach the moon.

Kicking it Off.

New Year's Eve.
Meryl and I met up with Rebecca for a lunch at Fresh Mint,
an all vegan place in Pa'ia.
Such a good final lunch of 2011.
Then, after he got off work, the Cucch joined us,
and we ate dinner and rang in the New Year as a big group.

I had those 30 Japanese floating lanterns

(think mini hot air balloons)
and we went to the beach to set them off.

It was so windy,

but we managed to release a bunch before midnight.

A couple of them didn't clear the ocean,

but the rest were headed south last time we saw them.

And they were cruising.

I think I took a nap after that,
and "woke up" at 3:00 am.
The family got into the rental car and drove a few, windy hours
up to the top of Mt Haleakala to watch the sunrise.
Hatsuhinode is the Japanese word for the first sunrise of the New Year,
and their traditions of new years firsts is something I'm so brutally into.
So we saw the first sunrise of 2012 from the top of a volcano,
and it was awesome.
10,000 feet above sea level,
and we were sitting above the clouds.
It was even cold up there.

Goodbye 2011.
Hello 2012.
I think I'm f'n ready.
I get home from Hawaii soon,
then I'm off to Grants Pass, Oregon.
I've set up this year to be the best ever.
I hope everyone had a beautiful beginning to this new year.
All my best wishes to you all.

Hiding from the sun (continued)

It's a crazy place, this Hawaii,

especially for tattooed weirdies trying to avoid the sun (like me).

Yesterday we got driven around Maui in the back of an old bio-diesel Mercedes by the Cucch and Rebecca, and it was so amazing.

We hit black sand beaches, red sand beaches, a billion waterfalls,

caves, spring fed pools, and other other-worldly views.

All of this on a 12 hour, too-close-for-comfort,

driving-on-the-side-of-some-cliffs kind of adventure.

Highway to Hana.

It's even better when someone else is driving,

and you can hang out the sunroof.

Not Allowed in Hawaii

Oh man,

I forgot my memory [card] at work today,

so here's just a cellphone photo of the baby hedgehog tattoo I did.

It's probably better than any of the real camera shots I took, anyway.

{edit: nope, this real photo is WAY better, so i got rid of the cellphone one}

I did it on a day off because Rebecca leaves for Hawaii tomorrow.

But don't worry, she's planning on hanging out for a few months,

so I don't have to fret about her exposing it to the sand and sun while it heals.

She's moving out there to keep the Cucch company,

but we're all invited.

(except for your hedgehogs, they are illegal)

Meryl and I already have tickets (no kidding).

Christmas in Hawaii, kids.

Like pizza in Minnesota;

it exists, but it's weird and out of place.

I also got my foot tattoo finished,

so it's back to sexy gladiator sandals for the next few days.

(good thing it'll be a high of 34° tomorrow)

I have no idea what's on the books for tomorrow tattoo-wise,

but Handsome Adam is back at the shop,

so the day is starting with coffee,

and a grapefruit juice chaser.

Got to start the week off right....