Rosie

This is Rosie - she is approximately 14 years by our calendar, which is 98 years by her calendar!

She has led a wonderful life with us on our farm. She's had 20 acres to run on, to play, sniff, dig, chase, sleep and everything else she's come to love doing.

Rosie's transitioning to her ethereal life today. Back to the Source.

You see, she's had cancer since December, and with herbal treatment she's stayed with us longer than we expected. The past couple of weeks have been harder; we know she is hurting.

That said, she has stayed 'cuz she loves her life so much and she has soaked up all the love we give back. The other day we recounted her life and she seemed to appreciate hearing how much joy she has given us, and how much love we have given her.

Now, she is tired and we honor her desire to move on. We have been expecting this day, and still my heart aches. 

Our dear friend Joy Turner is an animal communicator. She has been checking in with Rosie regularly to help us know when she is ready to transition. Ashara and I connect with our family and we feel them deeply. Sometimes our emotions skew what we hear. So, Joy helps us get clear communication.

I'd like to thank Dr. Jenifer Preston for facilitating Rosie's transition. She is our choice for homeopathic veterinary care, a friend to our furry family and supports us through these challenges.

So today we celebrate Rosie's long life and we say, "Rosie, thank you for loving us and being in our lives. Go run in the fields as you transition out of this life and into the next. See you when you are ready to return, you are welcome back."

We Love YOU!

Last Day

Feb 4, 2011

Tomorrow we fly home, so today we are going for a drive and a hike. Our destination is Pololu Valley Lookout.

My leg is feeling much better, and a hike will be a nice way to see more of the island.

We drive north and then east to the end of highway 270 where there are many cars along side of the road at the trail head. There is some parking, maybe enough for 10 vehicles. Looks like someone is backing out, so we give them plenty of room to leave and we have a nice place to park.

The trail is a bit steep, manageable though. The valley drops below the trail, it is a magnificent sight with the ocean at the bottom of the trail. We stop about 2/3rds of the way down to rest a bit and take some photos.

We continue on and reach the bottom where the sand is black and very fine. Lots of ironwood trees are between the beach and the valley. Waterfalls back up the slopes of the valley feed a wide stream that runs into the ocean.

I take out the 15mm fish-eye and enjoy the visual effects on the foreground and the horizon in the distance.

There is a couple taking pictures of themselves doing yoga at the beach. I offer to help and they quickly accept. We fire off half a dozen photos while they pose. They intend to use the photos on their yoga website. Nice!

Ashara and I hang around for a while enjoying the moments together. Eventually we hike back up and drive back to town for a refreshing icy beverage at...yes, Starbucks in the Parker Ranch Center, Waimea [Kamuela].

Somewhere during the last day or so I forgot that we went to Greenwell Coffee Farm. It was fun to see the plantation and the rows of coffee trees full of ripe cherries. We went on the brief tour which was educational and gave us more reason to appreciate everyone who is involved in the production of fine coffee.

We tasted several different roasts of their Kona; my favorite was the Espresso Roast which was good and very satisfying - a nice deep roast.

After the tour I stopped to make some photos of the grandmother coffee trees which were the first trees brought to the island from Latin America. The volcanic-rich soil definitely imparts flavor to the beans!

Other photos include a couple of island natives just hanging 'round.

As the day was ending another gorgeous sunset was about to play out. Since I did not photograph any sunsets up to this point, I am ready.

 Lovely Light!

I hope you are enjoying the escapades of Glenn and Ashara. It is fun writing about our adventures, even though is has been a couple of weeks since we were on the Big Island.

Next up: "Sir, I cannot serve you a beer..."

A Hot Tub Saga

Feb 2, 2011

I have been soaking in the one of the two hot tubs at the condo complex since injuring my thigh .

Really nice tubs; good jet action and clean water. Helped the thigh muscle a lot!

Later in the day Ashara and I go to the local Verizon store in Kailua-Kona because Verizon is our mobile service provider and we are interested in the soon-to-be-released iPhone. We chat with Kalani Kam, one of the sales reps at the store. He is very informed and helpful. No pressure whatsoever!

Ashara is interested in upgrading her Blackberry to the latest model. I am torn between keeping my old flip phone which is all I need [or so I believe] and wait for the iPhone due out later in the month. 

While Ashara is playing with the latest Blackberry, Kalani shows me a Droid phone by HTC. I am fairly impressed with the display, the features and functions. I decide to wait before purchasing when I hear a new 4G ready Droid phone is due to release later in the month.

Hey, 4G is faster, right?

Ashara and I leave after a while and go back to the condo to relax, eat dinner and settle in for the night.

Feb 3, 2011

Ashara and I go out for our morning walk around Waikoloa Village. I'm still moving a bit slow and decide to soak in the hot tub when we return to the condo.

I remember to take my iPod out of the front pocket of my swim shorts before getting into the tub. I soak for 15 minutes enjoying the sun and listening to music on the iPod.  After 15 minutes, I feel a vibration on my hip and thigh when the hot tub jets stop. 

Is my thigh muscle vibrating after the soak? Did my bum go to sleep and now the blood is circulating again?

WHAT, ALREADY?

Wait a minute! I forgot my flip phone is in the rear pocket of my shorts.

INCONCEIVABLE!

 

I reach in, pull out the mostly dead phone and watch as it spits water from every possible opening.

The little display is very blank and when I flip it open more water leaks out.

"He's dead, Jim."

OK, I guess this little watery adventure determined my next purchase.

Back to the Verizon store we go. Kalani makes two easy sales inside of 10 minutes. Ashara upgrades her Blackberry [she is thrilled] and I move into 21st century mobile technology with the HTC Droid phone.

I admit I like my new phone and access to email and the internet. Took me a while [and a drowned phone] to get me there.

More adventures tomorrow.

Contemplations and Meditations

Feb 1, 2011

Another rough night of restless sleep and I am beat! The pain in my thigh is just about intolerable. I was right when I said, "I'm gonna pay for this."

Ashara heads out for her morning walk and stop at Starbucks.

I take a couple of pills to relieve the pain, apply more balm and as comfortably as possible lay down to contemplate and meditate with the intention of relieving the pain.

My routine is to listen to meditation music combined with spoken word. My favorites are:

Abraham-Hicks Guided Meditations

John Assaraf Neural Reconditioning 

As I begin to drift off to sleep listening to the meditations, I quickly become aware that I am in alpha state. This is an optimum state to open up to whatever comes next.

Part of the Abraham-Hicks meditations speaks about 'releasing resistance' to whatever I'm resisting which keeps me from moving forward to attain my goals.

The meditation leads me to feel how comparing myself to Nick [and every other professional photographer] is a form of resistance in myself and my photography. I also see how this affects my art by blocking energetic creativity. 

I feel into the resistance and slowly allow that to release. By the time my meditation is complete my thigh feels much better and I am ready to go out for a walk.

By the end of the day I am walking much easier and my thigh is only mildly sore. 

Resistance is futile!

Glenn Goes For The Big One

Jan 31, 2011


Monday morning and ready to meet Nick Selway at Kaupulehu which is one of his favorite places to film waves.

My leg still hurts and I'm moving around the condo like The Mummy.
So be it…I'm a warrior, which means I act in spite of fear or pain.

Where the hell is that aspirin?

OK, grab my gear, kiss Ashara who is still sleeping and head out.

I make my way down the 3 flights of stairs slowly and manage to get in behind the wheel of the rental without too much agony.

I meet Nick right on time at 7AM and we start the 20 minute walk to the water. Oh yeah, Nick did say the beach park opens at 9AM and the gates across the road are closed until then.
 

While we walk and I'm doing my best to keep up with Nick, we have a chance to converse about life and photography.

Did I mention Nick is 24 years young?

He's living his dream and passion. I have such admiration [read: envy] for him which is now reflecting in my leg hurting even more.

Wait a sec, what's up with this?

Am I comparing my life with Nick's and again realizing I'm feeling diminished because I'm not fulfilling my purpose, and my passion?

Hmmmm. I'll check in with myself later. Right now, we have waves to film!

We arrive at the 'beach' which due to recent ocean swells is fairly devoid of sand except in the water. So we make our way down the rocks and into the ocean.

Nick has a waterproof case that is perfect for the water. It also has a price tag that is greater than most cameras on the market today. It is an investment for sure.
I have my soft-sided case with the Canon 5D and 24-70mm lens.

A couple of guys are boarding while we are filming so we add them to some of the compositions. Nick is in the water where the waves are breaking 2 to 4 ft. over his head.
 

GULP!

I'm in the 'crunch zone' where the waves are breaking in front of me and I'm getting the full brunt of the wave's energy without the advantage of smooth water.
Nick calls me to move past this point and join him. Meanwhile I'm doing everything I can to keep my injured leg from devolving further into something akin to jelly.

I start to move out and here comes the next set of waves that look like bone crushers.
Quick, decision time. Run or hide?

Really!
Try to move away from the monster or dive under?

I hear all the submarine skippers from all those movies in one swift moment: "Prepare to dive. Dive, dive, dive!"
Down I go under the wave and then pop up after a bit of swirling around underwater.

Did I have the presence of mind to fire the shutter?

All I can think about is the next wave and it is bearing down fast!

OK, repeat previous action, and dive again.

I think I'll go get my longer lens and try some shots from chest-deep water.

With the 70-200mm f/4L lens in place I go back into the water and compose to get Nick and the two guys with their boards in the waves.

Some decent shots here.

After an hour or so we call it good and leave the waves behind.
Walking back up to our cars is more challenging now that my leg is reminding me that it worked hard supporting the rest of my body while in the water.

I'm gonna pay for this big time!

Nick and I talk more at the cars while watching many humpback whales play / breach in the ocean. What a magnificent sight!
We part company and wish each other well.

Nick is a really good guy and a gifted photographer.

Thanks for the morning Nick!

Honey I Love You, But You Smell Like Tiger Balm

Jan 30, 2011


My adventures in the water yesterday was so much fun I'm going back today.

"What about the photos from yesterday, any keepers?"

Well, let's just say that the 15mm fish-eye has a 180 degree view, meaning it captures an angle of view that is really wide! So, there is a lot of vignetting in all the photos when the camera was in the waterproof case.

This I expected. What I didn't expect was how most of the photos looked as if I were shooting from inside of a front-load washing machine.

Yeah, that barrel look from inside the waterproof case.

 

Shooting at 1/2000 did produce a nice stop action effect!

That's OK, the case worked perfectly for what it was designed for: keep the water out, which it did flawlessly.

Next time I'll use a different lens, maybe the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L which will fit nicely in the extended barrel.

Meanwhile, I re-learned how to play in the water, this time with a camera strapped to me.

And, I didn't drown!
My wife, Ashara appreciates that.

Same here!

There was one minor injury however. Later in the day I noticed my right thigh was hurting, the pain fairly intense.
Must have pulled the muscles while filming in the water. Maybe I injured it when I bumped into one of the [unseen] rocks underwater.

No worries, just schmear on the pain relieving balm and all will be good.

Ever use any of that stuff? Works well for minor aches and pain. It took the edge off a bit, but this injury felt deep and it spread around to my butt as the day wore on. 

OUCH!

I couldn't sit or lay down comfortably. The pain kept me awake most of the night. I even moved to another bedroom just so I wouldn't disturb Ashara's sleep.
 

Man, this really hurts!

Now, if I can just crawl to beach…

Fish Tails and Fish-Eye Tales

Jan 29, 2011

Up before sunrise which is at 7AM this time of year and ready to head out to Hapuna Beach State Park where I will make some fab photos of perfectly curled waves.

My expectations aren't too big, now are they?

When was the last time I was in the ocean photographing the water?
NEVER!

How much experience do I have with the newly purchased DiCAPac WPS10 Waterproof Case?
NONE! Well, I did test the bag in the sink using paper towel before I put my Canon 5D and a lens in the bag at the condo…is that sufficient?

Oh, yes and have I ever used the Canon 15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens that I rented from Borrow Lenses.com before now?
NO!

Reality check, which my darling wife reminds me often: its going to take some time to become familiar with _____ [fill in the blank].

Still, haven't you ever looked at photos in a magazine or on the web and said to yourself, "I can do that!"

Happens to me all the time.

That's why photography is so wonderful…it is a very humbling endeavor that takes a lifetime to master.

Philosophy aside, I head to the beach prepared to enjoy the moments in the warm blue-green waters of Hawaii.

I find a good spot to enter the water: an outcrop of volcanic rock exposed by ocean swells and a sand bar match up nicely. I step across the rock and look down to insure my footing is true when I see lots of tiny fish swimming in the exact place I am stepping. None too graceful I step over the fish, move to another piece of rock and just about lose my balance all the while keeping the camera and bag from hitting anything hard or sharp.

Meanwhile the fish are darting to and fro, staying clear as I make my way into the water. At least once while I move between rock and water I step into the sand where the fish are now freaking out and swimming in every direction. SORRY FISH!

Now the fun begins.

Have you ever attempted to do anything with two hands while maintaining your balance in an ever shifting body of water, like the ocean?

The waves are breaking in chest-deep water. While the waves are 4 ft to 5 ft high, they look REALLY BIG from this perspective. 

Breathe Glenn, just breathe…slowly!

OK, wait for the next set, line up the waterproof case and camera so I 'catch the curl' at just the right moment and be ready for the next set of waves to crash over me. 

Ready, set and click, click, click.

Come up for air and be ready for the next set of waves…
go…click, click, click.

"Man, this is hard work!"

Let's recall what to do when waves break: dive to the bottom, grab the sand and pop up on the back side.

But wait, the waterproof case is full of air and it it pops up before I do! Good thing it has a neck strap which keeps it close to me and tends to act like a life preserver.

After 30 minutes of this exercise I decide to dry out and eat some well-deserved breakfast on the beach.

It's barely 8AM and I feel like I had a full day already. People are arriving with boogie boards, fins, surf boards, you name it.

It's gonna be a good day for water sports and people watching!

I'll check photos on the laptop back at the condo later on.

Meanwhile, I'll soak up some sun while it's still coming up.

Fun In The Sun

Jan 28, 2011

Ashara and I wake up and agree that shopping is the plan for the day.

We go to the Waikoloa Village Starbucks for breakfast and then leave for Kailua-Kona. Our destination is Ali'i Drive for lots of local flavor and shopping.

One of our stops is to look at rings at the Titanium Ring Shop, a store advertised in Hana Hou, the in-flight magazine. We look for a while and talk with the store manager about several options. Ashara really likes the dark wood colors and I like the lapis. Since each ring is hand-made and made-to-order we combine our likes and decide on matching rings with 2 bands of black wood and a band of lapis in the middle. Our rings will be made and shipped home in 2-3 weeks. Can hardly wait to see the finished rings!

Next we stop for lunch at the Kona Inn Restaurant. Sitting outdoors with the ocean breeze is delightful. Ashara gets a chicken dish while I opt for BBQ pulled pork; both delicious.

We hit the street again, this time looking for the Lava Light Gallery which is co-owned by CJ Kale and Nick Selway. Nick is a long-time friend of my friend and photographer Mandy Swehla. Mandy suggested Ashara and I visit the gallery when we are on island because I am fascinated by wave photography, and I want to create some of my own.

We find the gallery on Ali'i Drive, walk in and we are greeted by Nick. I introduce Ashara and myself and say to Nick, "You know Mandy Swehla? She sent us to see you and CJ." Well, that opened up many minutes of conversation with both CJ and Nick. We got the grand tour of the gallery, then Nick and I got into tech talk about how the photos were taken: ISO settings, shutter speed vs. aperture priority, waterproof cases, etc. I mentioned that I came with my gear and planning to do lots of wave photography. Nick also pointed to an award that CJ just received for an outstanding photo he took of lava flowing into the ocean in the Puna District of the Big Island. CJ mentioned that the shelf of lava he just photographed dropped and exploded into the ocean!

Nick offered to shoot with him on Monday at one of his favorite places which was close by to Waikoloa Village. I practically jumped out of my skin at his offer, and of course agreed to meet him at 7AM.

Shortly after we left the gallery for more sight-seeing and shopping.

We eventually made our way back to the condo and watched another spectacular sunset over the Pacific.

Stay tuned for the next installment!

Aloha and Welcome Aboard Hawaiian Airlines

Jan 27, 2011

By far this is the best flight my wife and I have ever been on - we're flying Hawaiian Airlines First Class, Seattle to Kona thanks to the air miles we earned during the past couple of years.

Champagne and guava juice as soon as we are seated, snacks soon follow, and then a brunch that could easily satisfy two of me!

Oh, and a digi-player that is chock full of movies, music vids, books, news, and flight info. I check out a movie for a couple of hours and then start the book I brought for the flight.

More champagne is offered throughout the flight; I want to arrive coherent so I opt for water instead.

We arrive in Honolulu, Oahu, change aircraft and continue on to Kona on The Big Island.

I get my camera out and fire off a dozen photos of the islands as we fly over them.

We land in Kona, exit the jet and we look at each other and say, "feels like home." The aloha is strong.
Yes, Hawaii has a way of feeling like home especially to those who have been here before. We realize this is our 7th visit to Hawaii since 1992, and our 4th visit to The Big Island. We love it here.

Pick up the rental car, drive north to Waikoloa Village and on to the condo we found through Abbey Vacation Rentals. This is our 2nd stay at the Vista, Unit E305. Home away from home!

First evening we walk around the area to re-quaint ourselves and enjoy the first of many wonderful sunsets.

The nights are bring about a star-filled sky and 'lull me to sleep' sounds of palm fronds moving on a gentle breeze.

Heaven!

The Hawaiian Adventure Begins

Jan 26, 2011

Vacation starts today!

Everything is just about ready for our departure to Hawaii tomorrow morning.

clothes : check
camera and gear : check
do web check-in for Ashara and me : check and check

Only thing left to do is wait for two deliveries:
1. lens filters from www.adorama.com
2. 15 mm f2.8 fisheye lens from www.borrowlenses.com

Check the two carrier's websites and both are out for delivery…perfect!

11AM : the lens filters arrive
11AM - 1PM : time moves slowly when you are waiting for a delivery
1PM : wash my car in front of the house while waiting for delivery
1:30PM : car is now very clean and back in the garage
1:45PM : check carrier website again and notice a delivery exception at 1PM…what the hell?

I look up the definition of 'delivery exception' on carrier's website and it states: no one at home to sign for package.

My language is laced with colorful metaphors.

Get on the phone to the carrier; ask about the delivery and the supposed exception since I was in front of my house washing my car and there were no delivery trucks to be seen.

Sweet as can be the customer service rep says "I don't understand why the driver posted that exception. Is it OK for the driver to stop by tomorrow?"

In my best Billy Crystal impersonation I say "I'm on vacationnnnn!!!, and I will be flying out tomorrow morning. So, the answer is NO!"

Customer Service rep puts me on hold for a moment and comes back with the carrier's local dispatcher. The dispatcher talked with the driver and the driver said he will not be coming back today.

More colorful metaphors pop in my head like bacon frying in a hot skillet.

"OK, let's work through this." I say. "Either the driver makes the delivery today or your company can forward the package to Hawaii at your cost."

Dispatcher asks if she can give the driver my phone number and we can connect later today in town. Sounds reasonable, "Yes, thank you."

Driver calls me and we make arrangements to meet at 5:30PM. I drive into town and meet the driver at a store where he had some packages to pick-up.

He's a happy guy 'cuz I help him meet his daily goals of delivering all packages. Nice!
I'm a happy guy 'cuz I have the lens in hand and now I can really start my vacation!

Go home to get my beloved, the luggage and the camera gear, then drive up to the hotel by the airport so we can make the morning flight.

The adventure continues...