My retirement job


This is what I want to do when I retire to Hawaii…

I want to be the guy that grooms the beach! Great working hours- 0200-0700, no pressure, no bosses!

Just ride around on my little tractor and groom the beach on Wakiki…

Be done by 0700 and on the golf course by 0800; yeah, yeah, that’ll work 🙂

Hmmm, now I just have to marry someone rich enough to actually afford to LIVE in Hawaii…

Since we are six days into this trip, I was asked how my body clock was holding up. I think it’s on permanent snooze at this point; I don’t know which end is up! Of course the Friday night fireworks (real fireworks on the beach at Wakiki) outside the window last night just after I got to sleep didn’t help. Talk about a RUDE awakening!

It’s now 1900 and I’m craving breakfast, this morning I was wanting a steak… Since we are having our one good meal of the trip night, I guess I’ll get a steak tonight and hope I want eggs in the morning.

A little bit of history- Anybody want to take a guess at what this is???
It is being refurbished to be part of a museum-
It’s the original WWII control tower at Ford Island, Hawaii. It is going to be refurbished as part of the new museum at Ford Island. They promised NOT to patch the bullet holes.
Seriously folks, if you get out this way, take time to see Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona, The new Olkahoma Memorial and the USS Missouri and WWII museum at Ford Island. This is an eye opening set of places and history that is very important in our country. Sadly, soon we will not have any WWII Veterans left who were actually there.

Random Airport Observations…

Well, the Christmas travel is over, and I survived the trip…

However, I did get to spend a ‘little’ extra time sitting at the airport waiting for an airplane to show up (Like 7 hours)…

Soooo, random observations:

Why oh why do people think it is so cool to bring their dogs, especially the small yappy ones, in their cars? When the owners get out to help the family member leaving, there goes the little mutt, out in traffic, damn near causes a wreck because the idjit owner tries to chase it…

Then there was the lady with the cat hidden in her purse- A guy brings a large Black Lab in to put it in the crate; dog smells cat, pulls away from owner, barges through the line to the handbag with the cat and barks. Cat proceeds to come straight up out of the bag, run across numerous people, closely pursued by dog, pandemonium ensues! The cat finally landed on top of the reservations counter, the Lab was up on the counter with his front legs, and both owners were yelling at each other (and I couldn’t get to my damn camera)!

There was also a sleazy boyfriend, dropped off the girlfriend; kisses hugs, promise of undying love, she hadn’t even cleared the doors, and he was on his cell phone, “Hi honey, I just dropped my cousin off, can I come pick you up now?” This was at 0600.

There was the obligatory Bleach Blonde Bimbo (BBB), she of the pneumatic chest and pneumatic hair and other body parts… There were about 10-12 people in line, she walks to the front of the line and tells the lady, “I just HAVE to make the 0800 flight (it was about 0745); so you need to help me first.”

Of course the rest of the line went off, along with the CSR, who politely told her she had to get in line and wait her turn. Of course, BBB immediately threw a hissy fit, screaming at the CSR and calling everyone in line the B-word according to sex…

When the deputy showed up, the BBB claimed she was wronged, the CSR cussed her out and wouldn’t help her, etc. Numerous people still in line were calling BS, and told the deputy what really happened.

The Thousands Standing Around (TSA) were being their usual obnoxious selves, SSSS’ing an 86 year old lady for extra security checks, because she only had a expired passport for ID, since she no longer drives. Obvious security concern…

Another one was telling a Soldier in uniform that he had to take off boots, belt, BDU top, etc. to get through the machine, and that his pack would have to be searched, because they ‘thought’ there might be some liquids in it. Another obvious security concern…

Finally got through the gauntlet, TSA was still tearing the Soldier’s pack apart, and trying to tell him that it was too big and he would have to go check it. I saw him later, so he did finally get through, but I’m pretty sure he missed his flight.

Sooo… get to the gate, and no airplane, and one not expected for one, then two, then four hours. WX hold and crewing issues because of DIA and ORD tied the system in knots.

A nice little old lady was sitting near me, and her phone would ring about every 15-20 minutes. Turns out her son was calling to see if she had left, and wanting to know if she wanted him to come back and sit with her. She got pretty annoyed at one point, and told him she was ONLY 90 and could take care of herself!

Bravo to her! I hope I’m that feisty, hell I just hope I MAKE 90…

Anyway, we FINALLY got a bird and off we went. Many more stories, but since this a ‘family’ type blog, I will refrain from commenting…

On the Road again, part 238

Sunrise descending into Sydney- 90nm NE of Sydney descending through FL 280 yesterday.

Well, it’s 0400 here in Perth and I’m wide awake, it’s 9 degrees Centigrade… Must. Do. The. Math… errr… 48??? Yeah, close enough…

Lemme see- Thirteen hours difference, so… Ah, dinner time for the body, but breakfast isn’t for another three hours. Whats’s in the mini-bar? Hmm, peanuts, candy bar, little can of Pringles potato(e) chips… Now, where is the price list???

ELEVEN %^&* DOLLARS???? I don’t think so!!! /Grumble/

Okay, instant coffee, I can live with that (not a lot of choice). This is going to be an interesting three weeks…

No US TV, just replays of Cricket (which I STILL don’t have a clue about), Aussie rules football, rugby, soccer and that’s about it.

Brrr… went out and walked around, it’s chilly out. There is absolutely no one out, just a couple of police cars crusing around. Looks like two Aussie versions of street malls within walking distance, not much else, just the business district, but I did find a coffee house (opens at 0700) that apparently serves real brewed coffee, or so the sign says…

More later, hopefully a little more coherently thought out… sigh…