I haven't forgotten you all :)

Hey everyone, I'm sorry I haven't been able to post the closing of our Hawaiian Trip. I guess I 'caught' a bug on the bus or the planes. As soon as I'm able to edit the pics I've got so many to post. Thanks for checking in :)

SPECIAL NOTE....

IN ORDER TO GET THE WHOLE STORY, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DAY'S POSTING AND READ UP.... I'm sorry about that :)

A Perfect Ending to an almost Perfect Storm

On our walk back to our hotel we thought Kalakaua looked nice all lit up. This was the first time since we arrived that we saw others out and about.

It did start to cloud up just as the day ended.

As the sun's final rays hit the waves, you can see how choppy the water really was.

Sunsets in Hawaii are never disappointing, even in some what stormy weather.

If anyone needs help with how long to cook their food, the restaurant offers this great hint.

One of the reasons we like the Shore Bird is because living in a high rise, we would have to take our grill and everything needed to the street level and that was a real chore. This way, whenever we went here, we didn't have to fool with all that stuff, but were able to let someone else clean it up :) As you can see, everyone stands around the charcoal grill and cooks their own food.

Included in the price of a meal is an all you can eat salad buffet. I like this almost as much as I like the grill items. There are a few of my very favorite local items on my plate.... lomi lomi salmon, pineapple coleslaw, Japanese pickled cucumbers.... yummmmmmy!!!!

While we waited for our reservations, we took a little stroll right outside our very favorite Oahu place to eat... the SHORE BIRD!!!

Looking at this picture, who would have known that the day started with thunder and lightening?

Taking some time by the pool

Even though the day started out all stormy and dull, the sun did come out for a little while and so Rick headed down by the pool. He came back with a bit of redness. Working nights makes him more susceptible to sun burn. So, he didn't stay out too long.
I, on the other hand, spent an hour doing laundry.

These are just a few of my favorite things :)

First time I can remember the Swap Meet being closed!

What a disappointment!!!!! Now we will have to pay more for all those things we "Just have to have" :)LOL

We decided to go ahead with our plan for today. Back to Ala Moana for breakfast.

A Somewhat Perfect Storm

Yesterday we woke up hearing and seeing something I had NEVER EVER experienced in all 20+ years that I lived on Oahu... THUNDER & LIGHTENING!!!!! We left Washington in search of the sun and as another Washingtonian said while being interviewed during the local news "it's like being home, only it's warmer" :)LOL. The news reported that almost all of life as we know it on Oahu was coming to a stop. At 5am ALL buses were being stopped, schools were CLOSING, and they were recommending everyone to stay at home, inside. But do we listen? NO!!! We had made arrangements to be picked up to go to the Aloha Swap Meet. It's a great place to buy tee shirts and other items you might want to take back with you. So, we called the office at the Swap Meet to ask if they would be open and the person who answered said "Oh, yes!" So we proceeded to call our pick up van to ask if they were operating. And the driver said "I'm downstairs". Off we went in search of tee shirts, hula skirts, and coffee cups for friends back in Bellingham. On our journey there we could see the evidences of a pretty bad storm... a roof torn back, downed trees and leaves every

where. The wind was still pretty strong. I don't think you can tell by the picture, but the palms were really "dancing".