And So It Begins

Aloha kids! Just a quick update to let you know I'll be scarce for awhile. We just got the word that we're moving to the other island during the first week of May and all the advertising, rental forms, ordering office furniture and supplies, packing and moving has to be done within the next three weeks. Then all hell will break loose as we start taking rental applications. I think Ron and I will be sleeping on the floor for awhile as we don't have a stick of furniture.

It's a little overwhelming to be handling this 25 million dollar project all of a sudden. We've been twiddling our thumbs since December and all of a sudden things are progressing in a short time frame. It's very exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Ron and I are just glad to be moving forward. I will check in on occasion (until my internet is canceled).

Aloha Nui and much love, Jen

P.S. ~ The photo is one I took last week during our Sunday walk down Waikiki to go to breakfast. Diamond Head in the background. The Hilton's lagoon beach (next door) is in the foreground.

Buoy Runs

Ron in the Boston Whaler off the stern of our boat this morning

Frank leaving his slip on Blue Hawaiian with Ron standing by in the Whaler

Frank and Bud realizing they'd lost their steering ~ it's always one of those F#@$%^!!!*# moments

Ron’s booked every day this week to assist fellow mariners do their buoy runs. The State now requires every boat to leave the marina and circle the buoys to prove they can, at least, leave their boat slips. 

I just took the pics (above) off the stern of my boat as our buddy Frank (who’s never left his slip in 7 years) was going to try his buoy run. He backed out of his slip and put it in forward only to find that he had lost his steering. Ron’s riding in the Boston Whaler and was able to maneuver the houseboat back into the slip. I just checked and all three guys are bent over the engine, scratching their heads. Aaaahhh boat life. 

There’s a reason for the new buoy run rule ~ which you’ll see in the pics below. There are many “floating vessels” that one can loosely describe as a boat but would not be capable of any seafaring. These are the boats that usually sink or wash up on shore after a storm and the rest of us have to pay for the clean-up. They’ve managed, somehow, to find loopholes in the inspection rules but no more. Everyone does a buoy run or they lose their boat slip. Since several boats crashed and burned while doing their runs, folks have asked Ron to assist in case the engine fails and they start heading for the rocks. For many of us, our boats are our homes and leaving the tranquil waters of a secure harbor can be a nail-biting situation. 

I think this one could cross the Pacific, don't you?

This one might be able to fly across the Pacific...dunno

Two story floating...something

Viruses and Telephone Warnings

April 1st has some folks worried about the conficker computer virus. I have 3 computers, 2 of which are PC’s. I’m unplugging them  from the internet today and tomorrow just to be careful. I think my Mac is okay, though. I make sure my computers have updated virus software because our business data and financial information is at stake so I hope that I’m not at risk. It may turn out that the worm won’t cause any problems for you but it may be setting you up by protecting itself and disabling your protection for a future attack where the hackers could use millions and millions of computers to attack the internet.

http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?themeid=conficker_worm

Every morning, the call comes in on my cell. I know it’s a computer generated call with the area code “866”. Before I answer any unknown caller, I get online and check out the area code. It’s good advice to follow. My niece works for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Anti-Fraud Call Centre.  She forwarded this information this morning and thought I should pass it on:

'Missed call' scam could put erotic chat charges on your phone bill

Ring, ring. (Silence.) Oops, you missed that call. Maybe you should call back and see if it was important.

Do not fall for this scam, especially if the number is in the 649 area, a U.S. group warns.

The warning is from MyWireless.org, a Washington-based advocacy group with ties to the U.S. telecommunications industry.

"Wireless companies have detected a pattern of calls that ring their customers' number once or twice and then disconnect," the group says in a statement.

"When the number appears on the customer's cellphone as a missed call, it appears to be a typical domestic three-digit phone number starting with the 649 area code."

Customers who return such calls may find themselves connected to an adult entertainment service, it says, "and end up being billed for expensive international call and chat line charges."

"MyWireless.org urges wireless consumers to always check an area code first before returning a call to an unknown caller. Be skeptical about area codes you don't recognize, especially: 649 (Turks and Caicos); 809 (Dominican Republic); 284 (British Virgin Islands); 876 (Jamaica); 758 (St. Lucia); or 664 (Montserrat)."

'If you return the call, you may be unwittingly putting money into the pockets of scam artists.'—U.S. Federal Trade Commission

Fastest Street Legal Car

This video was really cool ~ especially if you're into racing.

This is a 1972 Datsun ~  winning races against Corvettes and any other vehicle that it comes up against.   To me, it sounds like a pimped out Black and Decker drill.  LOL! This gives you a perspective on the power of electric versus gasoline, though. Much love to you and keep safe this weekend. Jen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=369h-SEBXd 

Stingrays, Weddings and Avian Flu

In central Thailand an enormous freshwater stingray was captured, tagged and released during a National Geographic expedition.

This is a big ass ray!!! 

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We just found out that our son and his fiance’ (Kris and Christine) have decided to fly out to Hawaii to get married. How cool is that? 

I barely blundered through my own wedding and, undoubtedly, owe apologies to the entire Catholic Church, the whole town of South River and a multitude of other people.  I wonder if the kids know who they’re trusting...

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Avian Flu News

The story below has some interesting and upsetting aspects to it. Apparently, an American company sent out the live Avian/Human Flu Virus to 18 regions in Europe. The fact that both the bird AND human strains were combined leaves people worried that, either it was intentional...OR if it was accidental, all the protocols that the CDC use to protect us are horribly ineffective.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html

Slideshow from March 7th, 2009

Last weekend, Ron and I took a drive up to the North Shore to visit Jerry and his family. They live right across from Leftovers Beach surfing spot. Here are a few pics from last weekend. 

Northeast Bat Die-Off

White fungus growing around the mouths of bats

Unprecedented Northeast Bat Die-off Spreading Rapidly
Insects Expected to Increase

Personal Note: I listened to Linda’s interview online about this and these bats had a ring of fungus around their mouths. Scientists are extremely worried about this die-off as it’s occurring worldwide. They don’t know if it’s the fungus that’s killing them off or whether the fungus is a secondary infection caused by some kind of immune suppressant.

http://www.earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=1529&category=Environment