Two tickets to Tokyo

Finally going on vacation, after two years of not leaving the island.  Replacing original stove, dryer and refrigerator kinda kept us home bound.
After much procrastination,  bought tickets on JAL.  Next stop TOKYO!  Four years between visits!  Meeting up with friends, looking forward to sightseeing,  eating and shopping.

Ever been in a political campaign?

I've purposely avoided writing about the past four political campaigns I've worked on.  The first one was purely for the fun of it.  Then I got excited about actually working in a legislative office, during the 4 month session of the Hawaii State House of Representatives.  The second campaign came too quickly; Reps have to run for re-election every 2 years.  Jump ahead to 2016.  The years in between flew by as I avoided mentioning anything about campaigning.

This is the 5th and hopefully last run for re-election for me!  The political machinations are not pretty, perhaps that's the reason for my not writing. 

Another milestone, benchmark or reality check

Began Medicare filing online this morning. A rite  of passage?

Pool going, going gone

It was my wish to have a pool of my own, ever since I can remember.   So when we built our house,  I finally achieved my goal.  
We all loved it, had many fun times with friends and family.   Mom and Dad enjoyed playing in it too. 
Ahhhh, life changes.  
The former pool is becoming a yard/garden again.    Being filled as I write this week.   No photos please.   Maybe later.   Bittersweet.

Life as a temp... more

My task this morning.   Scanning documents.  
This afternoon I entered data into a spreadsheet.  Such is life.  Nice and quiet for Monday.   Not much thinking involved.

Life as a Temp

After the legislative session ended in May, I was fortunate  to be asked to return to fill in for 89 days at HHFDC again.  It's been nice to see the same faces and take up where we left off last fall.  This time I was prepared to be working  alone.  Also  some changes  to the front desk  made my job easier and, I must say, I also feel safer with the entry door phone set up.

Then last week the permanent worker, for whom I  was the fill-in, returned.   The entire formerly quiet office was in an upheaval within 24 hours.   Not good energy.  Gleefully expecting  to be terminated with thoughts  of turning  off my alarm clock  and spending  lazy days  with my grandoggers,  I was given a new post in another area.  Nice desk,  among humans and right next to  the exit  door!  Oh well, 6 weeks  more....

The Lake House

This is was our base from which  we explored Oregon wine country last year.  After a fun and delicious Thanksgiving in Portland we drove just an hour or so to Newberg.  Chris found us this great house an a small  lake.