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!

Fire!

Nothing like leaving home to go on vacation and then learn that your city is on fire. I don't know if we are lucky or not to be 2,000 miles away from our home this week. We've been in constant contact with our house sitters on whether or not they will need to evacuate. Over 25 homes have burned in Reno over the last two days.

A strange fire. It has moved all over the place, picking out homes in very odd places, not just the ones close to where it started. High winds have made it difficult for fire fighters to get it under control. My heart goes out to all of those that were somehow the recipients of this fickle monster.

It's funny, but when you try to tell someone what they need to save - it really isn't much. I mean, we have a whole house full of stuff, but nothing of real value. The valuable stuff is already out of the house, I guess. When you get right down to it, the only thing that really matters are the living. So now that Lucy is safe, we can enjoy our view:

Time Well Spent

I woke up this morning feeling sick. My husband managed to pass along some kind of virus that seemed to only slow him down, but walloped me - as usual. My children always had that ability - a little runny nose and maybe a small cough for them, would grow horns for me. Since we are off to Hawaii tomorrow, I really needed to find a way to get better fast. Our flight is early and our house sitters would be coming by to get acclimated to the house and Lucy's schedule. (Yes, Lucy has babysitters - don't all Labs?)

So I found myself with time on my hands and needing something that would lift my spirits.

I found just the thing on Coast to Coast. For some of you that might be Coast to Coast listeners, the segment on Transformation and Life Purpose was one of the best segments I've listened to so far. I'm a member, so I can download any show and listen to it in my own time. Coast to Coast has plenty of negative and even some scary stories and guests on occasion, but the one on November 14th was truly delightful.

Jack Canfield, of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, has co-written a new book with William Gladstone that has just been released. The Golden Motorcycle Gang has gone on my Christmas gift list. Jack Canfield is an incredibly good speaker. He is very down to earth and easy to understand. His message is one of hope and joy, and I found myself feeling so much better after listening to them talk about what they believe is the true meaning of 2012 and what is currently going on with current events. They talked about how to use specific skills to manifest those things that we want to see in our lives, especially our life purpose. We are here right now for a reason, and we chose this time for a reason. Every single person on this planet is important to what is happening - and I believe we are birthing a new evolution of mankind. I think that is what the Mayans are saying - it is the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. And we are driving it home.

People actually called the show and were crying, they were so touched by the dialog.

Just from listening to these guys speak for a couple of hours I feel that I am doing what I came here to do. I think I came here to write this blog, for one thing -  maybe to be someone that points people in directions they may not have considered, giving them the ability to make up their own minds. Maybe to do the research that they may not have time to do. To possibly write a book, maybe on shared-resources living. To be of service - in whatever small way that I can.

So what do you think? Am I on the right track?

Have you found your life purpose? (Hint - it is whatever brings you the most joy.)

ADDENDUM:  My brother called during the writing of this post to say that the business he decided to start, after quitting a good-paying job in this job market, is taking off like wild fire. He said for the first time in many, many, years he is having FUN!

Staycation

We're on a staycation this week. Instead of traveling someplace, we have opted to stay home. Luckily we live where many people travel to vacation anyway, so why not just stay home and do what the tourists do? From the picture you can see my husband is not doing anything too rambunctious and my daughter and grandson are happy to soak up the sun after a very cool Pacific Northwest winter. (This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago - but you get the picture...)

Staycations have many advantages:

• No X-rays or pat downs by creepy TSA agents.
• You can bank the money you save.
• You know where the best hamburger for the price is located.
• You are comfortable in bed - no need to haul your pillow everywhere you go.
• You've already located the best beach.
• Going out for a really nice dinner is okay when that is all you're spending for the week.
• You have all the right clothes in your closet. Nothing is forgotten.

Now, I realize it doesn't take the place of an exciting two weeks somewhere wonderful, but the way things are going in the world right now, home feels pretty good to me.

• Oh, and you can take your dog!

What about you? What are your vacation plans?