VOG!

My husband has a goofy job that finally allowed for vacation back in November. (His first for the year.) You may remember my posts during that time. Well, we are now back in Hawaii for his 2012 vacation. Only one month apart! Yes, two trips - one month apart.

Not only that, but just as we were leaving I started getting sick again - same thing - upper respiratory, etc. I was well just before Christmas when my darling grandson arrived with a temp of around 104. After a visit to the emergency room, he bounced back and had a nice Christmas. I, on the other hand, was a bit worried I hadn't regained enough immunities to fight off another virus. (Of course I could have caught something else while shopping, etc.)

It seems to be so - as I hit the emergency room the second day I arrived on Maui. This is my third visit in one year - all three times I have been sick with a virus. I wonder what that means? Is the Universe trying to tell me something about Maui? (My husband answers that question with a resounding NO, as if you haven't yet surmised - he loves Maui.)

Anyway, the worst part is the VOG! Yep, I was just starting to feel better and we're socked in with VOG.  The water is clear, the weather is gorgeous, the Trade Winds are gentle. We have spied numerous sea turtles right off of our lanai. Perfect for having fun. Except we can barely see our hands in front of us. Okay, well maybe it's not that bad, but we can't see some of the neighboring islands that are usually clearly visible.

In Hawaii, the gas plumes of Kīlauea rise up from three locations: Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent, and from along the coastline where lava flows from the East Rift zone enter the ocean. The plumes create a blanket of vog that can envelop the island. Vog mostly affects the Kona coast on the west side of the Island of Hawaiʻi, where the prevailing trade winds blow the vog to the southwest and southern winds then blow it north up the Kohala coast.

Prolonged periods of southerly Kona winds, however, can cause vog to affect the eastern side of the Island on rare occasions, and affect islands across the entire state as well.^[3] By the time the vog reaches other islands, the sulfur dioxide has largely dissipated, leaving behind ash, smoke, sulfates, and ammonia.^{[4] (Wikipedia)}

I know if you are currently under a foot of snow it's hard to feel sorry for me, but believe me when I say VOG is not good for a respiratory system that has been under attack. I never thought I would be praying for a huge gusting wind - but I am.

I hope you are all having a good start to your new year. I know many people are dealing with this same respiratory infection that seems to go on for months, but I hope it isn't you!