Here and There Blog

Honolulu is giving street artists an annual venue in the warehouse district. Every February a new set of artists are selected and given walls to paint to showcase their work. Workshops are held on technique and how to promote your art and it keeps unauthorized work showing up in other places. Since the walls are painted over each year, what you see here might not exist in March 2016. This keeps it fresh although some of these are incredibly detailed. It's a truly temporary exhibit. I know there's political messages in some of the art. Some I can figure out, some not so much so without knowing who the portraits represent.  This was part of a lager wall, full of people. Walking the streets of the warehouse district is full of surprises if you look. I wish there was a description from each artist about their mural. If you want to learn more go to:  http://powwowhawaii.com/

Visitors are enticed to the Honolulu Aquarium with colorful art at the entrance. Not sure what they represent, maybe the waves and patterns of the sea or maybe they're simply whimsical.      The sculpture of the girl is found in the park across the street. Titled "Joy" it's dedicated to children

In the final hotel of the stay. Not as nice but it's the work hotel so I accept it.  I miss the other view but this works!

Tucked away on Kuhio Drive behind the Honolulu Zoo is a small garden with a few paths and plants. Surprisingly, I was the only person in the park at 8:00 am. I say that because every other park in the area has a second use as a homeless camp and is full of tents, umbrellas, and shopping carts Those, along with their owners either sleeping or looking through trashcans for cans and bottles to turn in for cash. So this little pocket garden was a pleasant diversion away from the troubles of the world. Small with mostly ferns and trees, the garden was full of plants waiting to flower. With my allergies going in full gear I was somewhat happy that I was there pre-bloom.  A couple blooms showing off their stuff. Seems to me it's time for more pollen to occur!  I'm glad I took the sided trip to walk around the zoo. I was able to see a part of Honolulu that seems  to go unnoticed by locals and tourists alike.

Tried the panorama setting this morning as the sun was reflected in the clouds. It still doesn't do the view from the room justice. To get that right I'd need a professional camera with a wide angle lens.

I'm in the midst of a hotel promotion and need stays instead of nights so it was good-bye to one and on to the next. Good choice! For my still expensive but not as expensive as it could be rate, I've been upgraded to a full ocean view room with balcony! That Diamond Head view I didn't have yesterday? I've got it!  If the light wasn't in my eyes, I'd set this up for a panoramic. These photos don't do this justice. And the ocean is cooperating with the famous turquoise waters!  Zoom in and I can see the beach, the shops, and surfboard rentals galore!

Hawaii called and who am I to refuse the call? Courtesy of the job, I'm in Waikiki for a conference but that doesn't start until Monday. In early to enjoy the weekend and the way things go, this is hotel stay #1 of 3. Hyatt Place - way at the end of the main strip and close to the zoo and Diamond Head. I even have a balcony that wraps around the room so various views! The ocean is the best one!  Diamond Head except the famous part is blocked from view by the condo. And showing off my sunscreen slathering before going truly outside! yes, I rubbed it all in but this  is what it takes to have safe skin! The flight was good, I had a nice seat mate, and oddly, I seem to be relaxed! It's too far to walk to Maui Tacos right now so first up will be to get some eats.

I'm on Week 2 of the Blogging class. The preferred format is Wordpress (sorry Blogger!) and I reactivated an account that I've had for 5 years and totally ignored. I like the ability to customize the page a a click instead of need to use html coding. I'm doing a test here because I put the setting to private, then back to public, but now I'm having trouble linking to other sites. TEST: https://stfankaren.wordpress.com/ Test complete. Link worked. There's nothing to view there except a couple of Africa pictures.

This weekend brought the return of the Star Wars Celebration to Anaheim and The Force drew me in along with 1000's of fans. 1000's and 1000's of fans until you couldn't walk without running into a Wookiee, or a Leia, or, well anyone! At one point someone commented, "it's almost too much of everything to be fun." Truth in that statement for sure and I felt that way a bit myself until I reconnected with why I was there and it was fun. R2 units and all the variations of every droid found and not found in the Star Wars universe! The R2 Builders club is full of people who love these droids so much they build them from photographs, blueprints, movie screenings, anything they can get to replicate the actual prop used in the movie, you'll find it here. Even Pink Five was there. (google it and enjoy the fan film) The Landcrawler!  Jawas working on droids! If you wanted to wait in the line, R2 Builders had done a line up. That was one that would have been f...

The ice plant is long gone and any remnants of what was once green grass are far removed. Even the gopher hasn't been digging about. (I know it's still out there,waiting to taunt me!) The lizards play and spiders attack and with all that the succulent transplants are taking off. I'd post a shot of the new landscape but it's so sad looking that embarrassment has the best of me and I'll wait for these guys to grow in a bit more. I've taken to bucket watering now. Extra water collected while the shower is warming up. Water from rinsing out the coffee pot. The plant below was looking close to death and who knew all it needed was a caffeine buzz? Coffee water works! I make light of it but our drought is real. I don't understand why people still water their drive ways down or let water run unattended. Price hikes are the only way to reduce usage. I don't look forward to paying more but I think we must. I wonder how the yard will look come July? Wait and s...

I admit the 140 character of Twitter and the ease of Instagram have impacted my writing on this Blog. Yes, work takes up a lot of time and my work life when doing office work is boring but that's really me, not the lack of time. After all, I can easily binge watch television at any time!  What's the solution? Sign up for a one year blogging workshop to motivate me! After all, I just spent the money and now I want to work on the return! Watching the first course now and I'm glad that I don't want to make money off this Blog. It's a lot of work and I don't need a second job - one is plenty! So where to start? I'm going to a Star Wars convention on Friday so that seems like the first commitment. Instead of a lonely R2DR picture I'll write about the experience. Although maybe I'll moblog. We'll see, stay tuned!

When the week is filled only with work and nothing else is going on, there's not a lot to write about. I kept the exercise around my house so I could walk hills and challenge my legs. Had the usual out of town work guests and drove them around so free time was limited. It's a relief to have Saturday here to sleep in, eat, drink, and hang out with friends. Since I didn't take pictures this week, I made up for it with fun at the drive-thru rainbow car wash. Start to rinse of rainbow sudsy fun. I know, but you gotta find silliness in ordinary things!

Last flight from  Carlsbad. When I went to SLC last weekend it was the final days of UA Express. The airline is selling off the little turbo props and moving to larger aircraft. Our runway is too short and so sadly, the best flight service in the world is over. I feel bad not only for the loss of easy flying, cheap parking and no hassle but for all the ground crew losing their jobs. Add in the tax dollars that upgraded the airport that will now be somewhat empty it seems like a huge loss. Eventually some other airline will move in. For now it's goodbye.