Remind me not to go to SanFrancisco in the summer

After the cool-cold peninsula, the city was too hot for comfort. Walked up Nob Hill to catch some cool breezes and get away from the maddening crowds. Here at Grace Cathedral, the outside labyrinth is peaceful and civilized.

Vegi Tourist

Even if I don't eat vegetarian, at least I visit vegetables--at the Earthbound Farms in Carmel Valley. The valley was HOT, protected from the cold ocean breezes.

Monterey and Carmel June 2009

Ran away to Monterey & Carmel in June. After being a captive in an office for 4 months it was great to be outside. We biked around Monterey, into Pacific Grove and then my legs gave out. What looks like a smile on my face is actually a grimace...my quads were killing me! And the weather was cold!!!! I had heard the summers on the peninsula are cold but didn't realize how cold!
Loved it though.

Do you have a dog like this?

"today my mom stepped on my tail (it was an accident!) and i was so mad at her! i can't believe her! i was so mad i kept growling at her! then she went to work and when she came home i yelled at her cause she was gone so long. then she was so slow letting me go outside! happy and i ran around and yelled at more people. then my mom took so long letting me inside. i complained to her and then i got a greenie. later i jumped on my bed to watch tv. my dad came in and told me to get off but i don't care. i ignored him. for some reason, he thinks he can sleep in my space." Kimo

Beware Bad Sushi!!

More about our winter visit to Portland Oregon in January....wanted to post this to warn others and for me not to forget. Marineopolis Sushi Restaurant in the Pearl, (?on Davis) Nicole got hit with food poisoning soon after lunch. Mentioned to my cousin who lives across the river in Vancouver, WA and he and his family had the same bad experience last year! If you watch how the food is handled, it isn't up to par with good sushi restaurants. No gloves, everyone touching-and-or-making sushi. This should be restricted to only the sushi chef, who is trained in proper food handling hygiene.

Traveling in Winter (from Hawaii)

When you fly to the mainland, does your nose dry out, do your eyes get red, and hurt? You start coughing because your throat is dry? Even catch a cold every time you travel?

Traveling to the US Mainland from Hawaii, many of us need to make the adjustment to a climate with much less humidity. Our eyes and noses especially, suffer from drying air. Also the air in the plane cabin is very dry and re-circulated (no such thing as fresh air up there). Dry eyes and noses are perfect places for cold bacteria and viruses to enter your body. This is because the nasal passages dry out and can crack (slight nosebleeds?) and you rub your eyes because it feels itchy or gritty and your hands have touched so many surfaces; who knows what’s on there?

As a former business traveler, I had to arrive fresh and ready to work so I created this and also made myself as comfortable as possible for those 8 hours to Tokyo.

My cousin’s family hates traveling because they are so uncomfortable and always come home with a cold. They refuse to go on vacations that require air travel. Rather difficult to avoid air travel when you live in Hawaii. So, I made up a little kit for her.

The solution was given to me by a couple of Doctors:
Carry a small Prevention Kit with you on the plane.
Saline nasal spray, Bacitracin or Neosporin or any other clear antibiotic ointment, moisturizing eye drops (not allergy drops), lip balm, & optional soft foam ear plugs. All are available at any drugstore. If traveling as a family, each person should have their own for hygienic reasons.
How to use:
Use saline spray often throughout the flight. Keep your nose hydrated. Saline spray is not a decongestant and can be used as often as needed.
Same with eye drops; use often to keep your eyes hydrated. If your nose feels ticklish, use the eye drops, yes, the eye drops. You’ll feel a difference in your nose!
The lip balm also keeps you comfortable.
The ear plugs are use-as-needed. I love them because they shut out the plane’s engine noise and other cabin chatter. This allows me to read and listen to music in peace.

Upon arriving, leave this Kit on the nightstand in your room.
At night, before going to sleep, dab a bit of the antibiotic ointment into your nose. As it melts with your body heat, it will bathe your nasal passages and keep them moist. You will avoid the dry-nose irritation. Also keep a bottle of water near you, drink as needed. The heated room air is very dry.

Also, this kit is not just for the winter time. Air conditioned hotel rooms in the summer also cause dryness.

For additional comfort:
I have always traveled with a small cold vapor humidifier, on ski trips. It makes sleeping a lot easier and you don’t wake feeling like the Mojave desert.
The cold vapor is safe because it’s not heated so will not burn. Even the small travel size ones will run about 8 hours on a single fill.

Where to find a Humidifier in Hawaii? Not usually found in stores so plan ahead and check out QVC.com, Walmart.com, or websites catering to allergy suffers.

Happy traveling!

Dog Beauty Salon?

Have been thinking about taking my dog Kimo (poi) to be groomed. Always thought this was an indulgence of AKC show breeds. Well, much to my delight, and Kimo's enjoyment, Apple Puppy Dog Beauty Salon in Kaimuki was a great experience. Yuri and Sally are two young ladies with much experience in dog grooming.

It was my first experience too, and not knowing what to expect, I asked for them to show me what they do and how they groom. I left feeling comfortable and knowing Kimo would be in good hands.

He was washed, trimmed, nails clipped, glands expressed and tummy shaved--turning out a clean-cut, good looking dog. They do not rush or overbook and it was a quiet environment (except when Kimo found a friend to play with). So the 3 hours Kimo spent there was well-worth the very reasonable price.

Great location and parking lot! 1126 12th Ave. suite 201. 808-734-8282