Honolulu 1978. “Concrete Necklace” that seems to continually grow, but will never obliviate – majestic Diamond Head.
March 1990
Aloha We hovered over this in an helicopter in 1986 and it’s still going! We are not going this year – but that’s about the only thing that has not changed. Some changes breaking the heart. Sigred and I are “up Kula” – very like our old home – chilly. No newspapers – no TV – so just hope the rest of the world is ok. Aloha, Katherine
Lava rom Kilauea Volcano meets the sea at Kupaahu, not far from Kalapana Black Sand Beach, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kihel, Island of Maui
January 1967. Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head – Waikiki Beach is the hub of Hawaii’s vacationland and Diamond Head is her most famous landmark.
This beautiful waterfall took its name from many rainbows seen when the sun catches the mist below the falls. It is located in the Wailuku River State Park Hilo.
1990 Blow holes in Hawaii can be found on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai. Huge ocean swells crash against the shoreline and surge into a lava bubble with a hole in its roof, crating huge geysers. They can be very dangerous. Photo: Carl ShaneffÂ
I was going to meet a friend in the parking ramp. She was giving me a ride to a Friday night event. She was late. I was standing inside by the elevators and I watched a guy drive by in a white van and park in a space that was not a parking space. It was just off to the side by some pillars. People have parked there before and blocked my space and I had trouble getting my car out or could not get it out. He got out of his car and walked towards the elevators. When he tried the door, he found it locked but he had a fob and was able to gain entry.Â
When he came in I said, “Just so you know, that is not a parking space. It could block my way.”
He seemed confused and said it was guest parking.
“No, it is not a space. If you have guest parking, you should have a space number to park in. All the spaces have numbers.”
He fumbled around and then called somebody on his phone and that person was clueless as well. Then he went back outside. When he came back in he said,
“I’m not blocking anybody. I’m not blocking you. You are just a complainer. You just love to complain. I bet all you do is complain. You f**king b**ch. What a f**king b**ch. Complain complain. B**ch You f**king b**ch”
At first I tried to explain to him what I was talking about but he was having none of it.
“F**king b**ch you are a f**king b**ch all you do is complain, complain”
“Yep, I just complain. Complain.”
Then he really started to get riled up. He was carrying a very old mangey tiny dog that looked like it was on its last legs. This big guy with a big mouth and a tiny sad dog. I refrained from commenting on that. Thought better of it.
He got right up in my face, “f**king b**ch, you are a f**king b**ch, what a f**king b**ch” and on and on.
I finally looked him right in the eyes and said, “Are you going to hit me?”
I thought he was going to hit me, he was so riled up. Practically foaming at the mouth.
There was a split second flicker in his eyes, an almost undiscernible pause. He stepped back.
“I’m not going to hit you. You stupid f**king b**ch. What a stupid f**king b**ch.”
“Yeah, and you are nasty”
“I’m nasty? You are a nasty f**king b**ch. What a f**king stupid b**ch …” this went on for a while longer and I just looked away and ignored him without making further contact of any kind.
Eventually he went back outside and called his friend on his phone and I could hear him telling the person what a f**king b**ch I was.
I gave up on meeting my friend and went back to my apartment. I was shaken. I just wanted to get someplace safe. Away from the crazies.
I thought maybe I should have tried to film him or take his picture or take a picture of his van. But after seeing how the ICE agents react to that behavior it was probably not a good idea. Who knows how he would have reacted to that.
An hour a later a friend checked and his van was gone. After all of that, he moved his van.
It was strange that he didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. I thought he would just get on the elevator and go see his friend. But he didn’t. He just stayed in the parking ramp. Why? What was he really doing?
I’ve come across some crazies in my time. I go into survival mode. I try to calm them down. But the vitriol hate this guy was spewing was something new to me. He was truly a hater.
Magnificent Mt. Gould and the Garden Wall are the backdrop for Lake Josephine. Less than one mile hike, or a short boat ride, take the visitor to the beautiful lake, one of 250 in Glacier National Park. The unique flower, Beargrass, is a member of the Lily family, and can be found in nearly all areas of the park.
Jackson Glacier. Visible from “Going to the Sun Highway” – the glacier was once part of the ice area of famous Blackfoot Glacier. It lies between Blackfoot Mountain and Mt. Jackson (10,023 ft). Sixty such glaciers still exist in the park
Built more than a century ago, Glacier Park Lodge is located on the east side, just inside the boundary of the park. Sixty immense timbers which were probably 500 to 800 years old when cut, were used in the construction of this imposing lodge. the huge 40-foot long timbers supporting the lobby are Douglas Fir, while those used to support the verandas are cedar. At the time these enormous timbers were set in place with their original bark still intact, the Indians dubbed Glacier Park Lodge, ‘Oom-Coo-La-Mush-Taw” The big Tree Lodge. Artwprl bu Barbara Mitchell
Lewis and Clark Trails in Montana. In 1805-06, Lewis and Clark’s ‘Corp of Discovery’ went through present day Montana with the primary objective of finding a waterway from the East to the Pacific, and along the way documenting flora and fauna, and meeting area inhabitants.
That time of year again. I spent Christmas Day watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Seems to be my new holiday ritual. I always see new things in it. This year I paid particular attention to the landscape since I have just been to New Zealand. I did recognize some of it. That was fun. Of course it always ends well which is another plus.
This year was pretty eventful. I went to Mexico in January. Enjoyed the good food in Oaxaca. I was surprised by how hot it was, though. Oaxaca is at 5000 feet and I would have thought it would have been cooler in January but not so. Did some traveling around the countryside and saw some ruins and some textiles and some art. All good.
I was called for Jury duty. One boring day of sitting around and then nothing more. Big disappointment. I was hoping for a juicy trial.
May took me to Miami and Key West. Another hot one. Nice to see the ocean and old friends.
In August I went to see Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This was where Frank Lloyd Write lived and worked. He was quite the eccentric. It is a beautiful setting.
At the end of August my book came out but I had to postpone my launch until December. The launch went really well and I am pleased with the book. You should read it!
In October I went to Fiji and New Zealand. Wonderful trip. I had to go to Fiji because my father always said it was his most favorite place to visit. I would concur, it was pretty great. And New Zealand was beautiful plus I got the bonus of seeing a couple of old friends.
November was my son’s wedding. It was a lot of fun and I am happy for him.
I have three book ideas I am working on. Actually I think I have narrowed it down to two. It is kind of slow going but as the days get lighter so do I. The brain is churning away.
Looking forward to Florida, Spain, and Belgium in the new year. And who knows what else. Anything can happen!
Rocky Mountain National Park. Sky Pond and Taylor Glacier. Colorado hikers on the Loch Vale Trail are awarded close up view of Taylor Glacier reflected in the frigid waters of Sky Pond. Photographer – Ron Mauer
Bear Lake, Long’s Peak in background. An easy drive and a vacation wonderland to remember.
Bear Lake in Early Fall, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
The golden Fall color of mountain aspen highlights the ever changing beauty of Bear Lake, nestled beneath 14,255 foot high Long’s Peak.
View of the Gore Range, Vail, Colorado
Mt. Ypsilon (13,307 ft.) and Mummy Range as seen from the High Drive in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Ypsilon from Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Pillars of Hercules – illuminated at night in South Cheyenne Canyon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The roadway to Seven Falls passes between these gigantic rocks, and they as well as the entire canyon and the falls themselves, are lighted at night during the summer season.
The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
Broadmoor Hotel mirrored in the lake, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Internationally famed resort hotel with every recreational activity imaginable.
View from Trail Ridge road, a few miles below Timberline, looking toward the ever snowy Mt Ypsilon, with Y-snow formation. (Estes Park, Colo. Vicinity)Photo by Ted and Lois Matthews
We flew from Christchurch to Auckland to San Francisco on Air New Zealand. It was a comfortable flight but miserable. Very long and I can’t sleep on airplanes. I got this amazing shot out the window. My friend told me the glass was tinted to that kind of burst my bubble.
I spent a few days in San Francisco mainly going to art museums and hanging out with friends.
We took the ferry to Angel Island. We were hoping to go the Immigration Station museum but they had just changed their hours so we got there too late. Next time. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed it anyway.
