No Fashion Awards Here...

...but at last I finally made it down from the mountain where our house is located and walked along the sunny, Pacific Ocean today.

You may notice that I am attired in a one-of-a-kind bathing suit acquired from no other than one of Kansas City's famous Target stores!

I was actually dressed to do some "rock surfing", whereby I intended to climb down the cliffs behind me and hold onto the rocks while the ocean waves crashed over me.

I had learned this variant of surfing several years ago when we first vacationed on this rugged island. Today, I thought it would be an exciting way for a transplanted Midwesterner to get re-acquainted with the turbulent Pacific.

However, my children told me several "tropical legends" about "older" folks doing similar antics and getting swept out to sea. Most of these stories ended with my children informing me (with rolling-eye movements) that various clothing items from these "older" folks would turn up days later with sharks' teeth-marks in the clothes (sans bodies).

Moreover, my youngest son, Dave, flatly stated he was not about to have to dive in after me should I be "swept away", in order to save me. My, how things have changed for this "older" father!

Well, that was the end of my one and only ocean-adventure thus far.

Nonetheless, I was humbly content to experience the vibrant ocean spray that exploded all around us, even from the top of the high, rocky cliffs!

Our Resident Toad

This toad has been living in our front yard and emerges occasionally to get some sun. Unlike the smaller, Coqui frogs, which make a loud, distinctive noise throughout the night, toads like this one seem to be less invasive and intrusive. But for all I know, it may be poisonous, as some toads here are known to be!

Liz's Office View

Seems like everyone in our family is moving!

Our daughter, Liz, asked me today to help her move her office supplies to her new room at Hilo Union Elementary School, where I took this picture.

Her new office overlooks Hilo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. What a view! In fact, if one were to follow this view to the east far enough, as in over 4,000 miles, you would eventually reach Kansas City.

Basically, that will be the commute I will start making next week, when I leave this island and return to Kansas City to assist in the transition of the new DeLaSalle Executive Director, Mark Williamson. Beginning June 14, I will be the new Director of Sustainability for DeLaSalle. All I need now is an office view like this one!

NO, I'm not being booked for being AWOL from DeLaSalle...

....I'm in line at the Hawai'i DMV trying to get our car license transferred to Hawai'i, which I did! Another major milestone completed! Yaayy!

Cool Church!

The Catholic church closest to where we live is St. Theresa Church in Mountain View. It is about three miles from our house. Most likely, it will be our Hawaii parish church.

While very small, it is painted with a number of unusual murals on every wall and even on the ceilings! The murals are very vivid and somewhat bizarre, but that adds to the charm and unique ambiance of what seems to me to be a very special place. I like this church a lot!

Our Backyard

I guess I will need to pick up a weed-whip soon to cut our weeds and grass in the backyard.

I really can't use a lawn mower due to the lava-contoured ground.

And then there is that male chameleon prowling around back there, on the look-out for a special someone. I've got to watch out for him, too!

LOTS of Empty Boxes

I know it is unsightly, but one of the more satisfying affects of moving is lots of empty boxes.

Thankfully, the boxes are all out of the shipping container (which is still here) and awaiting a trip to the local landfill, courtesy of our son, David, who has a pickup truck.