A date, a few rescues, a storm, a South Shore swell, and a ride.

@postaday 156; #postaday2011.

New header photo, new blog theme. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really find a theme within the @WordPress arsenal that would accommodate the full sun salutation, the South Shore sunset, the atmospheric drama, the ocean, and my iPhone with its camera lens open. I’m probably going to fiddle with it a little more. I also am having some difficulties loading my link to Facebook, which seems to be bouncing this update and my photos. There are always work arounds, but, I want things to work the way they should.

Yesterday was like a day-long date with John. Charlotte went on a play date and sleep over, Sophie is at UH-Manoa for HISTAR camp. So what did we do? Heh. Well, we shopped, had lunch out, and then went on a photo safari, taking loads of photos of the dramatic weather. It was a lot of fun. The sky kept changing, so dynamic! In the early evening I had seen tweets about stormy conditions all over Oahu. We live in South East Oahu, and we seemed to be last in the thunder and lightning express. What an amazing storm. We were lucky and didn’t lose any power. The lightning and thunder are generally rare events in Hawaii, but this winter, and here we are in June, has seen several similar weather events. We enjoy it, as long as no one loses their homes, boulders or mudslides don’t crash into people’s homes, people don’t get swept away, sewage systems don’t back up. All this does happen. We do have our share of weather-related tragedies in Hawaii. Among others.

Last night we talked with Sophie on the phone, and we decided to bring her a book of her choice (Harry Potter 7), and a couple of other things that would ease her stay at UH. How nice it was to visit with her, give her a hug and see that she was getting a handle on being on her own. Wow. What a lesson for an 11 year old.

Also last night Charlotte was on a play-date-turned-sleepover at her friend Ari’s. When I woke up this morning at 6:20, I had seen that she had sent me a text:

June 5, 2011 4:40 a.m.
Did not get any sleep. I wanna come home and try to sleep. 😦

Ask me if my heart didn’t sink. I responded, but it was nearly two hours later.

June 5, 2011 6:20 a.m.
20 mins? Pack up, say good-bye, or leave a note; be outside. I’m getting ready.

I guess you could say we did some rescuing of our girls this morning. I can’t disagree, but I won’t apologize. In these instances, when it’s possible our actions result in not only helping our daughters be more comfortable, but in making things easier for their hosts, too, then I’m there. I brought Charlotte home, had her take a refreshing shower, and then we went to see Sophie. When we got back home, Charlotte crashed, John prepped my bicycle and I went for a little 25-mile ride. Yes, so many thoughts, but it was exhilarating to be in the Oahu sunshine, riding my regular short route, with a few extra mini hills thrown in at the end for good measure. Today’s late start at 9:40 a.m. could not be helped.

The waves at Diamond Head were fabulous. The kona winds were buffeting against the cliffs, resulting in big, glassy faces from Lighthouse to Browns. There was a pretty good crowd out, but when some of the bigger waves swept through, not that many surfers were going for it. Actually, what I liked about surfing Diamond Head, something I used to do every day many years ago, is that it is so spread out, with lots of room for lots of surfers, and rarely do the surfers who are SOMEBODYs paddle out. Once I start surfing again (how long have I been saying that?) I’ll probably stick to Seconds at Portlock. Close to home and kind of a pain in the ass to get out to. I hope to get out on my SUP, too, soon.

Today’s bicycle ride was generally relaxed. The scariest part was when I hit a ridge of soft stones in the asphalt on Poipu Drive when I was almost done. And when I got to the end of Nawiliwili to turn left onto Kalanianaole Highway, I had to back off trying to cross until this silver car went flying past me. Orifice.

My stats, courtesy Garmin Connect: