A Day of Celebration, Reflection and Pause

Today, the United States of America inaugurates it's 44th President.

In a time of turmoil for our country, this day gives us a moment of peace, hope, expectation and inspiration.

Today, we look forward with hope that our country will finally get back to the business of flourishing and being a leader in the world.

Not a leader through force or coercion, but a leader by example.

By being the country that we already think that we are.

Americans somehow believe the hype of American-ism. We believe that we are the best, the brightest, the most informed and enlightened. We believe this to the extent that we offend our neighbors on this planet. And they are offended. Rightfully so in many cases.

However, at this moment in time, we have the opportunity to become who we think we are. Imagine that.



And today, as I watch this historic occasion on television, I am struck by how many histories are made.

Today, our children see the first non-white president inaugurated.

A man that has both african-american and white blood in his veins. A man that represents not only those African Americans that would claim him as solely their own, but the rest of us as well. Truly a melting pot representation of who we really are as Americans.

Today, the United States, in a low point for so many reasons, looks to a new leader with hope and expectation. And we do have hope.

Today, we look to this man to will lead us through these hard times, and hope that is able to shoulder the burden of our need of him.

He is the president of us all, and we all need to be mindful of that as we support him to success-
regardless of our political or religious affiliation,
regardless of our race,
and regard-full of the common goals we share as a united country.

For his success is our own.

We'll disagree and dispute, and come out ahead through the melding of ideas. But in the end, we need to stick together and support OUR president.

Today, we hold our breath and look forward with hopeful eyes to a future that we all need so very much.

Today, we inaugurate our 44th President. All our hopes now rest squarely on his shoulders.

Godspeed, Mr. President.

God Bless America...God bless us all.

Stop and Smell the Roses?

I don't have a ton to add to this. It's something to think about as we go about our busy lives though.

A Violinist in the Metro (incognito)!



Who is he?

A man sat at a metro station in Washington , D.C. and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Anyone Got a Boat?

A photo of my niece and her husband's place out in Snohomish. The property is along the Pilchuck, and this was from Friday afternoon I believe. Generally, the river is way down there past the fence and through the trees. You can hear it more than see it from their place (until you walk down).


This is a peek at a bit of the aftermath, once the river went back to where it belonged.



I believe that this is the third time (second since November 2008) in the last two years that they've had flooding at there place.

This is certainly up there as far as damage goes - wiped out the back yard and the fence this time - four feet (plus) of water in the house....

They are all OK, though. Which is GREAT news. Just tired and frustrated that it's happened again...

Argh!

Funny Kitteh!

hahahaha

Talk About a Rude Awakening...

Monday morning, we woke up to the sound of the pounding surf on the beach below our windows. As the sun rose, the sky lit up and we saw that it would be a sunny day - 83 degrees by the time we made it to the airport.

At around midnight, we drove through the cold and rainy Seattle streets to the snow covered home in the woods. We walked through the snow (in flip-flops) to get into the house with our stuff.

Yesterday, I shoveled snow off the driveway. The car was slipping a bit still trying to get back into the garage, and although I'd waited most of the day for some melting to occur, the ice underneath was stubborn and it needed to be moved off to the side.

Windstorm last night made the power go out for an hour or so. We have a generator and a gentron, so not a big deal - just inconvenient. Heard something BIG go down outside though. Haven't seen it yet this morning, 'cause it's not light yet.

From 80 degrees and sunny, sandy beaches to 40 degrees (50 this morning) and rainy, sandy roads with snow.

I'll take the beach, please.

Y'all Are NOT Commenting

I'm wondering if anyone is even reading this.

I think so, 'cause I get complaints when I don't post often enough, but honestly, I need some feedback. It'd make me happy.

So

DO
IT!

Just sayin'

Magic (Goofy don't care)

Sunday in Ka'anapali

Today is our last full day of sunshine and warm temperatures here in Maui.

Needless to say, we are a bit bummed.

So, we decided to head out to our new favorite West Side beach for the day...Kapalua.

It's decidedly one of the most beautiful beaches here in Maui. A lovely cove with reef fingers on both sides jutting into the multi-colored blue ocean. It's small, but even filled with people, it's quiet and peaceful - unless you find the laughter of children playing in the surf annoying...

Today, we got up and out to the beach pretty early (at least for Goofy and me). We were out beach contracting by 9:30am. Amazing, I know.

The video is a short view of the beach before it got really crowded (I said we were there early...there's the proof), and then some of the reef fish to be seen. I saw most of these within 10-15 yards of the beach.

Parrots, Humuhumnukunukoapua'a, triggerfish, a coronet, puffers, lots and lots of fish. All I had to do was lay quietly in the ocean, breathing quietly and chillin'.

Pretty cool, huh?

I hear that Seattle is getting snow again tonight. Three inches so far...oh YAY! Maybe our flight home will be cancelled. How sad is that? We'd be forced to stay another day or two...

(NOTE: The video wouldn't load with this freakin' slow internet at the condo, so I'll post it when we are back in Seattle).

Until then...

ALOHA!

M&G

Just Because It's True

This picture was on "I Can Has Cheezburger?" (the link is here on the blog).

Sometimes, they are just so true, they deserve to be posted all over the internet....bwahahahaha! If you've ever been owned by a cat, you know how true this is...

Happy Sunday! Aloha

M&G

The View from the Room

We have a lovely condo here in Ka'anapali. Staying in a new place where all the condos are ocean front. And the big picture window in the living room is the perfect place to sit and watch the waves and the tourists and the boats and the whales this time of year.

The condo is awesome, the internet access - not so much. We probably won't be posting as often as usual because of that.

New Year's Eve here in Hawaii is a big deal. Fireworks are everywhere. They sell them at Costco, and Longs and the grocery store. You have to get a permit to light them off though, and the police ride up and down the beaches on 4 wheelers looking for violators. It's funny to watch. They come storming up to where they've seen something lighting up the beach, and break out the search light looking for people that run just outside the reach of their beams.

Haha...Good times.

Have a great day!

M&G

Happy New Year!

YAY! 2009 has arrived. Can you believe it?

We've been crazy-busy here. Just doing nothing, really, but working really hard at it!

The first day or so was a little cloudy and rainy - which is good for the islands, but not so fun for us. We made due, though, by shopping.

HA! That'll show 'em. LOL.

Today the sun is shining and the whales are mellow. Just chugging through at the surface so we can spot them easily in the the calmer seas. Nothing to complain about at all.

It's about 70 degrees at 8am and we are thinking of which beach we will go hang out at today...I know! You are saying to yourself...

Beaches!

Haha.

Well, on that note, I'll post this and head out to the beach...

Happy New Year, Y'all!

Magic & Goofy