I ran into Ben, Melia's boyfriend, and Ian at the spot on the lighthouse road where you can watch the sunset. We hang out a bit, just like we've done it a hundred times. I tried to get Alida to join, but she was meditating during that time.
Tuesday, 11/30/10
Kauai is such a wonderful place. Its very nice to have a simple life and share it with some of the nicest strangers. Actually, the people I run into are simply friends I haven't met yet. Once I say hi to someone and see them somewhere later on, they're always pleased to share a moment.
Monday, 11/29/10
This afternoon Alida and I went for a walk to Rock Quarries after yoga. She forgot her camera again. It was a beautiful afternoon as we played in the ocean. Gave her some pointers with body surfing and all around holding her own in the ocean. As we were walking down the beach after we got out Alida found some Oakley sunglasses that look virtually brand new. They're a guys style and she gives them to me. $180 sunglasses and I lost mine a couple days ago. Sweetness!
Sunday 11/28/10
Went to Hanalei with Alida for some more Yoga. The owner of the studio taught the class. There definitely was a different level of intensity. The details were not explained in as much detail. It proved to be quite the challenge for me. After Yoga we went to lunch at the Hanalei Dolphin. Expecting sushi, unfortunately the sushi bar is open only for dinner. Alida did a 180 and had fish and chips. I had sashimi, which is one of my favorites. So happens, her cousin, Melia, was there with a friend dropping off her boyfriend at work. They sat down and had lunch with us. Ian and Melia were fun to hang out with. Later, Melia, Alida, and I went to the beach hoping for nice weather. We wound up with off and on drizzling rain, determined to have a good day at the beach. Not long after we decided volleyball would be fun, we see a guy walking in our direction with a bag of volleyballs. Alida says, "I wonder if he'd like to play volleyball with us. At the same moment, he says, "Would you like to play?" Turns out he's a riot, very good at volleyball, and loves playing it with girls in bikinis. Who doesn't? A couple of his friends show up and we play 4 or 5 games. It was such a blast, we're going to meet next Sunday to do it again. We got a ride home from Melia, I left my flipflops in her car (which I didn't realize for two days), and used my only towel to dry off. When we got home, I put my towel in the dryer and had Alida bring me the towel straight out of the dryer. The water wasn't as hot as it could of been (solar water heater) so the towel was wonderful. Alida and I bundle up and watch a movie on my tiny laptop.
Saturday 11/27/10
Yesterday I went to Lihue with Alida to drop off her friend Julie's rental car. We left anticipating ridiculous traffic. Our entire day was totally relaxed, no time pressure, everything seemed to fall in place. It took 5 minutes once we dropped off the car for us to get to Walmart. We waited for the bus for only 5 minutes to go to Kapa'a. We had a leisurely lunch, hung out on the beach, picked up my bamboo chair, did some browsing in a couple stores and then met up with Julie, who got off work early, to go to Bikram Yoga. WOW. Ridiculously hot room temperature and holding your body in weird contorted positions for extended periods. The after-effects was really rewarding, I just don't know if I can put myself through that kind of agony on a regular basis.
On Thanksgiving I ate pbnj sandwiches and went surfing. I hitched to Hanalei in the rain, using my surfboard to block the rain. Didn't have much trouble getting a ride fortunately. People in the water were really chill. There was a lot of people out. For a little while, the crowd wasn't all that bad. More and more people came out and it got to a point where there were so many people I had to turn off the wave and not hit somebody. So many people don't know how to get out of the way. As the wind picked up and the crowds got thicker, I decided to go in.
Sunday 11/21/10
Woke up this morning kind of slowly. Started making my ritual pbnj breakfast and remembered I bought a mango! Mangoes are the best kind of breakfast. An hour later I had my pbnj anyway. I got invited to go to yoga class with Alida. I mentioned to her before that I think I should try it. We hitched a ride into Hanalei. I bought a two week pass for $50. One session is $15, so if I go 4 times in 2 weeks, its worth it. I think I'll go 4 times this week. On top of that, it'll be a great way to get into Hanalei regularly and do some job hunting. Alida invited me to join her on the 930 bus to go to yoga tomorrow as well.
Yoga was great for me, it took all the tension (that I can tell) out of my body. Our yoga instructor mentioned the stress in our minds exist in our body as well since they are connected. With yoga we relieve the tension in our bodies and remove the issues from our tissues. It made me smile. During the hour and a half class I could feel myself releasing my stress and tension. The rest of the day was wonderful because of the class. I will do yoga a lot from here on out.
After class we had lunch and hitched to Anini Beach for a friend's kid's birthday party. The park is at the end of the road which goes along the beach for about a mile. We hung out for about an hour. It was really nice there, watching the kids play and being at such a beautiful spot in perfect weather.
When Alida and I got back we had ice cream at my favorite spot near home. I'm officially addicted. After ice cream, we played Scrabble. Just as we finished, Indy stuck his head in the door and said, "Are you ready?" But he was just messing around. I then quickly jumped up and said the full moon and scooted out the door. Alida followed because of our excitement. Indy's just because he's always excited and mine because I knew it would be a beautiful night. We biked up to the top of the hill at the bird sanctuary near the Kilauea Lighthouse. The evening sky was magical. Alida led us in a chant which was to the moon so that we could harness the energy from it. Life is good.
Saturday 11/20/10
Ok, so I knew my bike wasn't sounding right so I have been taking the bus to work until I have time to work on it. The bus is every other hour on Saturdays and I didn't check to see if it came by at 930, when I was supposed to head to Kapaa for work. SO, to avoid being incredibly late for work, I decide to give my scooter a try. I break down 9 miles from home. The thing is, its not the thing I thought was wrong. My drive belt has been sounding like its flapping and hitting the casing, but the engine died. It sort of feels like I don't have any compression. Bill says it could be related to the timing chain.
I get picked up by the guy, I now at this point, used to work for. Used to, as in his wife drove me nuts today trying to talk to me during the middle of our lunch rush. She's quite demanding and not polite at all. On top of that, she's unorganized and not proactive in making sure we have what is needed to prepare food. I told her that I've been working my ass off and can't talk on the phone because orders need to be handled and then hung up on her. She would have talked to me for 5 minutes. At the end of the day she calls and talks to me, yells at me for talking to her the way I hear her husband talk to her. She explains that I need to listen to her and do as she says if I want to work there. I told her that I don't want to work for her and she can find someone else to. Later on, I get asked why I quit and to not get into details I said that the reason why is there's no aloha where I worked.
I take the bus home and have plans for ice cream and ganja and sunset and moonrise. None of that happened. My roommate, Alida, made us Indian food. It was good. Alida is from British Colombia. She'll be here a month and is on her way to New Zealand!
Thursday 11/11/10
What a day I've had. Went back to the same spot I surfed yesterday. There was one guy out surfing already when I got there around 730. I decided to surf a different wave than he was, since its a big ocean and all. The spot I picked was barreling real nicely. I couldn't believe I was actually surfing big hollow waves. Well, I tried to surf big hollow waves. The first wave I caught was kind of wimpy, I got a big fast drop then the wave got weak. I spent about 30 minutes trying to find the best spot. I paddled after about 6 waves, missing half and chickening out on half. I then got caught too far in after trying real hard for a wave and had to duck dive. Fortunately, I saw it coming and paddled real hard and didn't have any problem. After seeing how nice this larger set was, I set up for the next time some that size rolled through. I'd say the sets were 6 or 7 feet Hawaiian Scale (double the # for everyone else). I went after the next wave that came for the spot I was in, didn't like the drop I was going to have to take and didn't take it. I should have taken it.
When I was surfing in Costa Rica with Wes, I repeatedly went after a big wave, got a little wide-eyed looking down the face of the waves and wouldn't go for it. I had to force myself to just go and if I fall, deal with the long time holding my breath (getting taken into shore getting tossed like a rag doll) and the long paddle back out. In Florida when the waves are this big and you have a huge drop in front of you, the wave usually closes out. That means you have a lot of paddling ahead of you without the gratification of catching a wave. Consequently, you wind up going further in than if you rode a wave. For beach breaks, you have to catch the very edge of the wave and not the very peak. I've been doing this for a real long time.
Anyway, back to Hawaii. I didn't go on the wave because I'm used to not making that kind of drop. Its easier here, believe it or not. Well, I now have a wonderful reminder to take the wave I go after. I have to be decisive and not miss. Why? Because when you duck dive a wave the size of a building you don't make it. You get tossed like a rag doll all the way in. I was ready for the surface so I gave a nice big kick to swim to the surface. Its real shallow where I was surfing. Remember the nice hollow waves I was talking about? Yeah, its hollow because of the sharp reef below those waves.
I cut my foot open with that kick. It hurts. A lot. I've cleaned it and cleaned it and bandaged it and it hurts. A lot.
And now to add insult to injury. Literally!
Just when I get home to clean myself up, I get a phone call. I was hoping it was a friend who wanted to smoke me out. That would have been a great way to deal with my experience. Instead, its the owner of the restaurant I work at. They'd like me to come in because they got an order of 12 lunches to be catered. Do I say no, I cut my foot on the reef, I should stay off it. NO! I'm a dumb ass, always willing to help, no matter if I shouldn't be on my feet. I clean and bandage my foot, I'm not home for 15 minutes and I get picked up and we go to the store to prepare the food. After we drop off the luncheons, we go to their daughter's birthday party. I don't get to go home. After the party, I get to go to their house because in an hour, they have to pick up someone from the airport whose staying with them and their house isn't clean. SO, I sit on their couch and finally get home around 5:30.
Some day off, eh?
On top of that I'll be working by myself tomorrow and Saturday because they have a Shaman who is doing a ceremony from 9pm-9am Friday and Saturday night. I can't wait!
Thursday 11/11/10
Credit & Copyright: Left - Stefano De Rosa, Right - Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)
Explanation: Venus rose in a glowing dawn sky on November 5th, just before the Sun. For early morning risers, its brilliant crescent phase was best appreciated with binoculars or a small telescope. On that day the crescent Venus also appeared in close conjunction with another lovely crescent that hugs the eastern horizon in planet Earth's morning skies, the waning crescent Moon. The celestial photo-op is captured here from two locations. Left, separated by less than a degree, the two crescents hover above a sea of clouds. The picture was recorded from an Alpine mountain pass not far from Turin, Italy. On the right is a sharp telephoto view taken before an earlier sunrise, farther east in the Alborz Mountains of Iran. In steady skies the slender Moon is still sliding toward Venus, the bright planet's compact crescent just clearing the mountainous horizon. For now, the crescent phase of Venus remains easy to enjoy with binoculars in November's dawn skies. The first observations of the phases of Venus, made by Galileo with his telescope in 1610, agreed with the predictions of the heliocentric Copernican model of the Solar System.
Here's a link to a large version of the picture, definitely worth viewing!
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/1011/APOD2010-11-10.jpg
Wednesday 11/10/10
went this morning to a new surf spot.. i've been watching it since my third day here...waiting for the right swell. it was inconsistent today, yesterday went and watched about a dozen people surf 3 different waves. today i was there alone. it was kinda punchy (breaks real hard and fast then lingers with an occasional burst). i only had 40 minutes before i had to leave for work. i caught one good wave, fell on two and had one crappy wave. they were head high. small for hawaii. i still laugh at myself when i say head high waves are small. its amazing how quick i've forgotten my decades of knee high surfing.
i'm off tomorrow, i'm going to the same spot and going to try and get better acquainted with how it breaks.
Sunday, 11/7/10
Yesterday I went to my second Hanalei Board Swap and got a 7'6" gun/thruster hybrid. It has a bit more volume to it than a regular gun (its wider basically) and has a tapered tail so it can turn like a smaller board. Its the largest maneuverable board I've owned. I got it so I can surf the break closest to home, Rock Quarries. When I've surfed there before, I wouldn't have enough speed. This is my $100 answer for that.
I went to surf Rock Quarries this morning, but there's no swell left. I came across a bit of a rude awakening as well...Its been raining a bit more lately, and the road to Rock Quarries is not paved. Toward the end, the road gets pretty bad. The holes I usually meander around. Well, now they're puddles and there's mud everywhere. Taking the Ruckus around these puddles with muddy slopes is going to take some skill. I am certain a time will come when I wind up going in or through one of these puddles. I elected to not go all the way to the break since I could see it from the road and it would have been a challenge going around the puddles.
Friday 11/5/2010
Just got home from my first happy hour in Kilauea. Met a couple of interesting bar flies. I talked with a guy who saw me in the water at Kaliahiwai, a pretty heavy surf spot near my house. For the rest of the world, outside Hawaii, its REALLY heavy. The waves were small. 5 foot Hawaiian. That means the backs of the waves are only 5 feet tall. OR you can consider the waves to be double the height of what the measurement is. I only had an hour to surf before work, so I knew there was a chance I wouldn't catch any waves. I went after 5. caught 2 and got slammed. There's a lot to this wave. My roommate told me about this wave. I took him seriously and only went out after I watched the swell several times. To be honest, I watched the early stages of the swell and the peak of it. As it was diminishing, I decided to give it a shot. from the shore it didn't look so bad, so I figured I'd be able to get a wave in before work. NO CHANCE. This fucker has power. A LOT of power!
The thing is I'm goofy footed, that means my left foot is on the back of the board. The other way the guy in the picture is surfing. Its a lot harder to surf a powerful wave this way. I spent a lot of time cussing while getting pummeled by the wave as it sends me closer to the shore and its nearby cliff. No big deal, the current sends you away from the cliff as you get closer and all you have to do is get on your board when the ride is over and paddle the fuck out of there. Typical surfing.
Anyway, I want to master this wave. It looks like a lot of fun. Today, the guys surfing at Kalihiwai were encouraging me. Come to find out, they were encouraging me to ride the closeouts. It didn't seem right when I'd look at a wave and would not like the way it'd look and they'd say, "Go, go go!" I never bit on their encouragement. They just knew I was new and wanted me to get pounded so I wouldn't surf there. I feel like trying tomorrow but the board swap in Hanalei is tomorrow and I really want some more surfboards.
I took some pretty aggressive drops and didn't make it. I want a full day at Kalihiwai without having to jockey for position and I'll be able to catch this wave. Unfortunately, thats now how it works here. All good breaks are very popular. Fortunately, the same guys surf these waves all the time and eventually they'll get to recognize me. If they like my style I'll be allowed to catch waves. If they don't I'll have to get faster boards and drop in closer to the peak of the wave and rule these waves. This takes skill. I have the nerve to obtain this skill. Unfortunately, these waves get REALLY big. We're talking triple of what I've surfed so far. I told the guy I talked to at the bar today that I expect to spend a year learning how the different spots break and pick it up in the next year. He says it will take ten.
To be continued...
Aside from the topic of surfing, I took my first ride home from work today in the rain. Not just a sprinkle, but a real rainstorm. 30 mph winds and at least an inch of rain. I anticipate 12 inches during my ride home at some point in the future. But that's another story (when it happens, I'll tell a story about it). In the meantime, my homemade windscreen (rainscreen?) worked nicely. My arms got wet, oh well. I want to lower my seat and install foot pegs so its easier to stay out of the weather. I've ordered a piece of diamond plate that will bolt to the floor of m scooter to strengthen it, but thats unrelated to me staying out of the weather. Next time I'm at Walmart, I'll get some footpegs.
This morning I made coffee and put it in my water bottle to go in my holder on my Ruckus. I rode to Kalihiwai, froze on the way in the rain, drank my coffee, did some stretches and paddled out. Much better than paddling out freezing cold from my scooter ride. Ironically, to the guy I talked to at the bar, I was the guy without the wetsuit.
Holy cow, this is my third addition to my Friday edition to my blog....
At work today, I got to take the owner of the restaurant I work at to the hospital. This is on my way to Costco. Unfortunately, her husband didn't buy any gas with the money I loaned them two days ago (the drawer was short on cash after going to the farmer's market, so I elected to give them some of my daily pay to buy gas. I would get the money back the next day. Her husband didn't buy gas! SO, on our way, I forgot to buy gas because we went around town and didn't see a gas station on our way AND we ran out of gas! He says it was MY fault! HAHAHAHA!!!! Whatever, doesn't bother me. We'll see how this plays out. When we ran out of gas, I ran to the nearest gas station (approx. 1 mile away) and filled a 32 ounce Gatorade jug with dino juice. Put it in the gas tank and dropped a bit in the intake. Start her up and get a less than stellar performance from their 1999 Dodge Caravan. After come encouragement from Janet, I try to get her going and just drive! Well we get to a spot in the road where there's an armco barrier on our side of the road and BLOCK TRAFFIC! Minutes later the DOT and shortly thereafter, the police arrive. TO OUR RESCUE! They push us out of the road to a nearby apron on the opposite side of the road. AAA comes and puts more than a quart of gas in the van and gets it off the road.
BTW this is the Reader's Digest version. Its too much to blog all the crazy details..... =)
Wednesday, 11/3/10
Just found out local pro surfer Andy Irons died yesterday. The world of surfing has lost one of its best. He called the north shore of Kauai his home. His wife of three years is pregnant with their first child which is due in December. Please keep him in your thought and prayers.
I saw a local surf movie two weeks ago with Andy in it. He was a class act. Such a loss.
talked to a guy at a shop in California that modifies these bikes and was told to cut off the odd tooth to make them all look the same.
also, I used some epoxy to adhere the broken part on the clutch so things are all consistent. this should be only a temporary fix, but long term I think I want to replace it.
Friday 10/29/10
I got the clutch assembly apart. Its amazing how a little sleep can go a long way with your ability to think. It took me all of 20 seconds.
Anyway here's a video. Please watch and provide me with opinions!!!!
Thursday 10/28/10
This morning I rode to work in my normal fashion. 5 minutes after I got there there was quite a downpour. I ran an errand a couple hours later and my bike wouldn't leave low gear. Later I find out my drive belt has been slipping. I find that there are some damaged parts on my clutch assembly. I wanted to completely disassemble it tonight and clean up the marred areas and try it tomorrow. Taking it apart without proper tools is a pain in the ass.
I've been to the local Honda dealer several times so they guys there have gotten to know me. I got a hand taking apart my bike and took what we think is the broken part home. Hopefully I can solve the problem and put my bike back together tomorrow. I don't have a plan b.
Here's the shirt I wore today. Go Warriors! I guess.
The guy who I hitched a ride home from shared with me some of the things that tend to happen to people when they move to the island. For starters, the island has whats called manu, spiritual power. When you first move here, its said that the island tests you, to see if you belong here. Yeah, I've been tested. Apparently you'll live a good life here on Kauai if you simply respect others and respect the place you live (the island itself). Ironically, I turned down a job with Verizon because I didn't want to make money selling stuff to people they don't need. In the same week my bike breaks. There is a reason for all this, right?
Tuesday 10/26
Over the weekend I worked on my bike a bit. Some parts came in from ebay and since I had Saturday and Sunday off (I work every other Saturday) I decided to install them. I now have led turn indicators and a homemade windscreen. I think I'm going to redo the windscreen, its kinda disproportionate. I have another piece, so it won't cost me anything. I have maybe 20 hours into the fabrications. I still need to put some resistors in line with the turn indicators (led lights don't draw enough power for the flasher relay to work) but everything looks pretty good. I installed two tail lights to make sure I am seen, and they are plenty bright. I also installed bar end mirrors. Its a fashion thing. My stock mirrors were kinda crusty and I like the profile of the bike without the mirrors in the way.
I looked at some bamboo sheets today to replace my battery box. A sheet is $38 and its 5 times more than what I need. Its really nice material, so I know I'll find a use for the rest. Now all I need is a way to get it home.
Saturday I discovered an amazing estate sale and bought a jig saw for $5. I'll be using it when I make the bamboo battery box. I tried really hard to find something else I could use. There were people every where buying stuff. A guy noticed some fishing poles just before I did unfortunately.
I got rained on for the second time on my way home. No big deal. Just a quick 1 minute downpour and then nothing. Three times. I can't wait for the rainy season. I have my rain gear (zip lock bag). And I have a dry bag with a spare change of clothes on me all the time.
The windscreen I installed helps a lot with my average speed. My top speed is still 47, but I'm now going several mph faster when there's a headwind or when I'm climbing a hill. Acceleration is better as well. When I first rode the Ruckus before I tuned the carb, it took me 40 something minutes to go to Kapa'a. I now do it in 25. Bitchin.
I'm selling my brand new bicycle. I'm just not using it. I have $25o into the bike w/ all the accessories and I'm trying to get $200. Its a good deal for me, to have cost only $50 to get to this point using the bike is great. I'm actually trying to trade it for another surfboard, but nobody is biting on that idea.
Time for dinner and I'm tired of what I have to eat. If I go to the store I'll wind up with a $15-$20 meal (with leftovers so maybe 3 meals) and I'm really trying to keep my spending down. I can get cheaper food in Kapa'a, but it takes planning and I'm an impulsive eater
Day 34: Monday, 10/18/2010
Things have started to mellow down a bit for me. I work six days a week, 5 hours a day. Its not bad. My commute to work has been 30 minutes minimum. If there's traffic, I have to slow down to get them to pass. I'm so considerate. 
Yesterday I replaced some parts on my Ruckus and I now go 5-10 miles an hour faster! Now I'm no loner going 28 up the worst hills, I'm going 33! Down hills I top out at about 50 where 40mph was top speed. 50 is FAST on this bike. If I decide I want to go any faster I'll have to strengthen the frame first.
Yesterday I replaced some parts on my Ruckus and I now go 5-10 miles an hour faster! Now I'm no loner going 28 up the worst hills, I'm going 33! Down hills I top out at about 50 where 40mph was top speed. 50 is FAST on this bike. If I decide I want to go any faster I'll have to strengthen the frame first.I think my next step is toward aerodynamics. When I tuck in I go about 1-2mph faster. If I lower the seat (which seems real popular and I thought it was for looks) and put up a windscreen, my acceleration and average speed will increase substantially. I'm concerned about where I'm going to put my long legs if I lower the seat. to be continued...
After I installed these parts I decided to go for a victory lap up to Haena Point. The ride from Hanalei to Haena is great. I could feel the spray of the ocean on my face at some points. I can't wait to go surfing at Tunnels (on the way to Haena). I think it'll be a lot of fun.
Day 27: Monday 10/11/10
I used to get a kick out of dates with repeating numbers. I only got to write/type yesterday once. Wait till next year! (11/11/11, oooh...)
Anyway
The second day of the Homegrown Festival was neat. Not as rockin, mostly due to the fact that there's some sourpuss neighbors that don't have ear plugs or a way to leave the house for a couple hours. Chris Berry is freakin crazy groovin with his thumb piano. His life is outstanding as well check out www.panjeamusic.com and scope his bio. Burning Bush is a cool local reggae band that I gotta see when the cops aren't at the entrance to where I'm listening (puff puff pass). Iris and the Feel I gotta see when she's aloud to really throw down. She was told to keep it quiet so we didn't all have to go home early. Dove Presents, the promotion company (run by a dude named Dove believe it or not), put on a really great weekend. Totally cool people. There's this guy, Swamp Daddy (aka Kevin) who was the MC, was pretty good with a harmonica and had his Krazy Chili there. 12 peppers, and nicely spicy. He had a great twist on what I'm used to as a sausage dog (Hawaiian style link w/ spicy bbq sauce). I ran into this girl Adrian, who I met at the Kilauea Bakery, and she introduced me to this crazy physicist. I may work for him. He charges water so the molecules are all aligned. Yeah.
Today I had off thanks to Chris Colombus. I think we should get rid of Colombus Day and have two days off for Thanksgiving as a trade. Or maybe Valentines Day, or maybe your birthday should be a national holiday. Think about it, the government tells you that your birthday should be your own personal, official holiday. Bitchin!
Went surfing today again at Waicocos. Same kinda weird waves as last time. No agro Hawaiians. Got some pretty sick waves though. I fell right in front of this really hot surfer chick. Damn me and my clumsiness. Wave etiquette requires whoever goes after a wave closest to the peak gets the wave. This chick started WAAY after me, closer to the peak. But I fell. My wave or hers according to etiquette?
Since I changed my spark plug and fuel filter, I think my bike runs much better now. I think it does, and thats all that matters for $12. I've decided I'm going to remove my battery box (the camo part on the front of a Ruckus) and repair it. Then I'm going to have a local artist paint a Hawaiian landscape on it. I want to have the work done by trade. Thats real popular I here.
I've done a lot of interesting other things than my prescribed dishwashing and food prep at work. I've taken my boss shopping (Costco, AT&T, Macy's for kitchen supplies and SHOES!), tomorrow I'll be cleaning the inside of her car, and I've also scoped out new places for obtaining ingredients. I need a challenge all the time.
I think thats why I love surfing. Its not just the rush, harnessing the natural power of a wave, its the constant challenge to be in exactly the right place and maneuver yourself to get the most out of the wave. Surfing in Florida 95% of the time was no longer a challenge. Today it took me 30 minutes to figure out the break in order to get good rides. Good fun I had I tell yah.
I watched this video of tow surfing at Jaws on Maui. HOLY SHIT! Harnessing the power of a wave at a new level. I'm impressed, but I don't like it. Its like using a vibrator while fucking. There's still the natural experience, but there's this machine buzzing, polluting the connection between you and your experience with her (girl or ma ocean). Big difference is surfing is all for you, and sex is a two way street (well, at least sometimes....in theory....for some).
Day 26: Sunday, 10/10/10
This weekend is Kauai's Homegrown Festival. Ken Emerson with his Slack Key Guitar, Sashamon, Donnovan Frankenriter, The Yes Men, Skunk Dog, Animal Dream, Kapaia Stream were all awesome. Today there's going to be plenty more. Its so cool that I get to go to a music festival of all the best local bands. At the festival, which is on a farm, I got to park my Ruckus on the farm and not on the side of the road. What a treat. The set up was wonderful, a hillside was carved into a crude amphitheater with a landscaped stage. The whole setting was very earthy and chill. I met so many people and really got a nice local vibe from going. AND I get to do it again today! It starts at noon, and is only a 10 minute scooter ride away!
How 'bout those Cocks! All hail Steve Spurrier!
I replaced my fuel filter, air filter and spark plug. The bike runs a bit better. I have a new belt and some parts to manipulate the CVT on order. They'll be here Tuesday I bet. Can't wait!
Work is starting to get routine. I think I know more about running a restaurant that what I give myself credit. But I'm a dishwasher/prep cook.
I've gone out to go surf twice without there being waves. Finding the right break depending on swell direction is difficult. Friday I went to find "Middles" per Jim's recommendation. Middles was tiny, but Waicocos was pretty nice. Met come cool guys on the water (two of them play for Kapaia Stream I later find) and after they left an agro Hawaiian wanted to do gay things with his surf board to me. I don't feel threatened. I wonder how long it'll take before someone tries to start a fist fight with me. No worries, its hard to throw a punch on a surf board.
Time for some lunch before I go soak up some more local grooves.
Day 18: Saturday 10/2/10
I bought a board today. $50 at the Hanalei board swap. First Saturday of every month. I'll be there every month until I have every type of board I need. At $50 a piece, I can have 12 boards for the price of my last one! Rode the Ruckus to Hanalei. I was rather concerned that I'd get a lot of unfriendly drivers but it wasn't so bad. I had to put my board under my butt and ride "Bali style" (minus the bungee) in order to get it home. I went to the Princeville hardware store to get supplies to make a rack. $60 for pvc and accessories. not happenin. I bought a manufactured one for $100 on craigslist since i got my board so cheap n all.
I painted for my roommate (who is remodeling for a friend) for 16 hours this week. It was really nice having that extra cash. It was also really nice of Jim to have me help.
I really like my Ruckus. I don't think I'll ever own a car again. I just need to spend about $200 on upgrades so that I don't go 28 mph up hills and my stuff doesn't get wet when I ride in the rain. A new battery box would be nice (the front part that's camo) but they're expensive. Mine's cracked. I think I'll do some ghetto fabulous repair. Either that or remove it and make one out of something that doesn't belong on a motorcycle.
I applied to work for Common Ground to be their Events Manager. I really hope I get it. I spent 20 hours on my resume and cover letter to get this job. www.commongroundkauai.net if you're interested. You should be if you're not so click the link and start your own commonground(your hometown here).net!
Day 14: Tuesday 9/28/10
Lately I've been tied up doing regular day to day stuff. I have a job that starts Monday, its at a vegan restaurant called Rainbow Living Foods. They make Tiramisu! YAY! I put down a deposit on a cheap Honda Ruckus today and will be picking it up tomorrow. My roommate is remodeling a friends house and has asked me to help. I gots no problems wit makin mo money. Painting for $12/hr cash is pretty sweet. Got some stickers from the bike shop for my pinkish purple la ptop that I bought on accident. Walmart sucks. Met some more cool people. This one girl I met at the local pizza/bakery joint is producing a documentary and was on her way to go meet a potential investor. She's wierdo/intelligent/artsy. Apparently she has some of her works at my new job. I'll be checking that out next time I'm over there. Speaking of which, yesterday I stopped in to my workplace cuz I had time before the bus picked up. The owner (hottest 40+ woman ever) was whirring about there were 3 other people there working and there were no customers. Everyone was busy. She has this lime mint water she keeps on giving me. I love it! Okay, handyman at 8am. Sleepytime.
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Day 9: Thursday 9/23/10
Wow, another trip to Walmart. Typical Walmart fashion, they're out of what I want so I have to get the next best thing. Turns out after I get home, the computer I bought is pink. Fuck it. I'm buying some stickers tomorrow! Try for a couple more jobs online. I'd clean someone's toenails for the right money at this point. I'd like to get a job, a car, and a surf board. I've hesitated on so many things other than looking for a job, hoping the job will make everything else easier. Everyone I run into says I have the right personality and approach to getting a job, I just haven't found the job yet. Well, I'm still under review (3 days now) for on call Banquet House Attendant according to the Starwood Resorts website. That would be an awesome gig. On call means awesome pay and its an in to a big employer with plenty of opportunity.
Day 8: Wednesday 9/22/10
Wow, I've been here a week. In the morning, I work for three hours. I wind up trimming Guava trees in to hedges rather than weed wacking. Well, actually, I'm just putting cut branches in piles for three hours. There's $30 for yah. In the afternoon I ask around for more work. I decide to get some ice cream down the street from where I'm staying. Turns out this is the best ice cream in the world. I have cream lychee! $5 for a waffle cone and if I were employed I'd get one every day. The owner of the shop and I chat for a bit. He asks for my # and will try to find me a job. I think he's maybe the 6th person to ask for my # to help out. I decide to head to rock quarrys (a nice spot hidden from tourists) to get a look at the full moon. I meet Steph (guy) who is fishing I ask him a couple questions about fishing and we hit it off. 3 hours later he hasn't caught any fish but I heard some great fish stories. We go back to his place for some beer and more bsing. I meet his beautiful wife who goes out to get us beer. Steph tells me she's never done that before! We hang out on this deck he built above his driveway that you access from the second floor of his house. Its made from this really expensive hardwood that doesn't warp, splinter or crack. He built it. Come to find out he's a contractor and has a job coming up in a week or so and apparently he needs some more help for this one. I've been asked if I'd like to help. Oh yeah! On top of it all, I'm going out in his boat this weekend for some big time fishing. We're talking 250 pound mahi, 100 pound ono (wahoo) kind of fishing. The whole time we're chatting I'm almost giggling about what this guy knows and what he's caught. Crazy thing, he kind of reminds me of Gator Dave.
Day 7: Tuesday 9/21/10
Anxious to install my ceiling fan I plan to head to Princeville Ace Hardware (Island Hardware) before I head to Hanalei to look for jobs. Before I head out I decide to finally try out the bakery and get a sticky bun and a coffee. Erin, the cashier when I got my application was not working, but came by for free breakfast and brought her dog. A very young looking 39 year old blond brought her bird with her (I remember the bird from the day before). She's German and from LA. We got to talking and come to find out she's friends with the owner's of a nearby art gallery. She's going to ask if they'd like to employ me. After breakfast I go to apply at the health food store. No go there, but I meet Sun, who works Kilauea Farms. I'll be weed wacking for $10 an hour. Jim says I should get $15. We'll see. After that I bus to Ace hardware and get my electrical box and a multitool. While I'm there I get an application. In the check out aisle I meet Michoel, the island's Rabbi. I ask him if he plans on using all of the 200 zip ties today and he said yes. Being the incredible detective that I am, I asked him if he was building a Succos! He was amazed I knew that. After chatting, he asks me to help and I agree to. For two hours I harvest bamboo, shortly there after the bamboo is loaded up in the truck David (another Rabbi) brings. We have a hard time making sure the load stays in. Kevin shows up and helps us. We all build this beautiful Succos and I get tipped $50.
Day 6: Monday
I sleep in 'till 7:30ish, finally! Today I've applied to more places than I've done since I got here. autism caretaker, farmer, banquet server, just to mention a couple things. Spent another $100 at Walmart. Food mostly, thankfully. Bought orange oil for the walls in my room, it made the place not feel so old. I still live in a 12x12 carpeted shipping crate, but at least there's some luster to the walls now. I also got a ceiling fan. Believe it or not I have no a/c and no ceiling fan for $560 a month (utilities incl.). Daytona would have this for $300. This is NOT Daytona! Everyone has an interesting story to tell and they're not toothless drunks. There's a lot of drinkers here, but they're different for some reason. Maybe its because a 12 pack of Heineken is almost $20. Oh yeah, almost forgot only 2 bikes at a time on the bus!
Day 5: Sunday 9/19/10
5 am I'm up. 5:30 Jim's ready to surf. We drive to Hanalei Beach Park. I watch and study the break. It rains. 8:00 the rental place opens. I paddle out and get pounded after I go off the back of my first wave. I'm doing something wrong. After watching others, you paddle around the break, not through! Three spots, the point (wrong board for this spot today), the shelf, and the bowl. I found the bowl and put two and two together. Two hours and I'm hungry and sunburnt (yes, I put sunscreen on, at 5). Free sunscreen from the surf rental and I get a snack from Polynesia Cafe. Back in the water, I get yelled at by a local, get three big waves and its time to turn in the board. I walk toward Kilauea and get picked up by a compulsive hitch hiker picker upper.
Day 4: Saturday 9/18/10
Job hunting time. Jim says to ask around and I do. They say come back later. I bike to Anini Beach. What a beautiful ride. What a big hill. Twice. Jim tells me about a Corolla on a bulletin board. I call and leave a message. I also hear about a farmers market (from Jim) and buy green beans and potatoes, which turn out to be blue sweet potatoes! Corolla lady calls, meets me en-route to Anahola where I think I can get laundry detergent and meat.On the way I see a guy trying to get this dog, it wants to run in the road! I'm making matters worse so I bid the guy good luck and move on. Turns out the car is (c)rusty. Anahola is far she tells me (9 miles), I turn around. After dinner I cruise out to the lighthouse in Kilauea for a view. The journey made the trip, not the destination.
Day 3. Friday 9/17/10
What? 3:45! I'm awake? NOOOO! I get out of bed ater the roosters start the day. Last nite, Will said they don't bother him any more and he was up with me. Time to ride to Walmart to get a cell phone (thats 3 trips now) so I can expedite my efforts in job hunting and home searching. Just after I get back to Kapaa, I get a call about a place in Waimea (which is on the way back from Walmart). Its in a nice place, up a hill I hear. Oh man IS IT A HILL! On the way up I realize I forgot the phone # to a guy I was supposed to call at 12:45 (its noon at this point) or is it 1:45? Turns out the place is on the highway, with jalousy windows. If I moved here, I probably would wind up employed in the near future running this guy's rental properties. Its too early for this kind of decision. On my way back to Kapaa now. Going down the hill. . . . . WHEEEEE!!!!! I later call the landlord I just met and thank him. I officially decline the place but show my talents (in case he gets a better place available) by telling him about www.postlets.com. I get back to the hostel at 1:45 and its believe it or not actually when I needed to call. I call Jim and decide to come see his place. I learn about the bus and it leaves in 5 minutes. Fortunately the stop is right out front. Turns out Kilauea is the right speed, Jim surfs, is a masseuse, is building a catamaran to go to Fiji, and practices Jiu Jitsu. I move in tomorrow. I take the bus back, have dinner..macaroni and cheese with spam and canned vegetables. There's left overs and I'm movin out. Sharing time. To end the day, I decide to see how far that bike path goes. Saw a glimpse on the say to Kilauea. Its long.
Day 2. Thursday, 9/16/10
Go to Walmart when I wake up at 5am and get rained on. Walmarts aren't all 24 hours. It opens at 7! I get wetter. I buy a backpack, shoes, clothes, and spend 1/2 an hour trying to buy a leatherman they don't have. I walk back to the motel I stayed at (with shoes on!) and talk to the owner about a job and home. No job, too much money for a place that small. ($700 for one room!) I decide to buy a bike and walk back to Walmart. I got the nicer Schwinn since its my main transportation and there's mountains in these here parts. Time to ride to Kapaa! After a brisk 45 minute ride without any water (d'oh!), on adrenaline (haven't learned to bike slow yet), next to traffic (nicer people in these here parts), I'm in Kapaa. Its a beautiful ride there and I discover a bike path long the ocean that later I find goes almost to Anahola. I ride by my first hostel and it looks like a dump. I ride to my second hostel and nobody's home. I ride back to the first hostel and take a closer look. I see some kids playing in the grass between the beach and the hostel and ask them about the place. Turns out one of the guys, Will, works there. Jackpot! Turns out its cute in its dumpy, tropical, hostel like way. The people are cool and not cracked out as well. I now head to the library to check on permanent housing and a job. It turns out I'm hungry and the hostel is across the street from the best burgers on the island. this place has 5 solar panels, 3 as a canopy and 2 on the roof. $5 later I'm full (I ate the little burger). Back to the library (the one in Kapaa this time) for more job hunting. After my time is up (I get an hour at a time) I grab some Spam, Macaroni and Cheese and bread. There's my first Spam sandwich in my near future. Hawaiian Bread Ketchup and Spam, YUMMY! After dinner I ge some Sparks, determined to break my 4 hour time difference sleepiness. I hang out with some hostel people and drink some beer too. Lites out at 11:30 at the hostel. I made it.
New life on Kaua'i Day 1. Wednesday, 9/15/10
A walk from the airport in flipflops to the nearest place to stay under $100. Only two hours before dark, taekes 1h 45min. Nice clean place, near a library with internet. Without that library, I wouldn't have found this place.
added- I had one hour to use the internet, didn't log off, tried to call the motel at a payphone (they're everywhere!) and came back to the computer with 2 minutes left. Later I find out that there's only 1 hour max per session with an hour break before you can get back on.
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