Post December 21st

Well lookie here... the world didn't end after all.
I am pleased to say I have gotten to see the days post-"Apocalypse" and am celebrating by baking copious amounts of pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and cookies.  With my holiday shopping done, I am excited to say I can sit back and relax for my day off before the holiday madness really hits.
Around this time last year, I was still in the infancy of adjusting to living on this island.  I still knew very few people and unfortunately sat on the phone with friends as they helped me cope with being away from all those I love, especially during the holidays.  This year is a little bit different, thank goodness.  While I am still without my California sunshines, I am happy to report I have found a  motley crew of friends out here with which to share the holiday cheer.  I hope the holidays find you in a similar situation- surrounded by friends and great food.
This next week hopefully will bring many laughs, many whales and many cookies- in that order.
I would be lying if I said I didn't think something bizarre was going to happen on December 21st (Human drama, not planetary alignments).  People never cease to amaze me and I was thinking of many coming out of the hills on the morning of December 22nd seeing a "new light" and living a new life.  I am sorry to say I was less than entertained by this whole event, but that is probably for the best- people are crazy.  I am glad that the world did not end, obviously, and am looking forward to good times to come.
I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with an old Professor from the University of Iowa.  An incredibly brilliant gentleman, in his mid-80s I would say, with bright blue Oakley bifocals and a very light stutter in his speech.  After hearing about my undergraduate career at UCSC and my "plans" for the future, he told me something that I will always remember-
Keep your eye on the bigger picture, however keep your focus on one of the lower corners of the bigger picture- somewhere where you can focus your energy and time and love.  If you focus too broadly, you often become overwhelmed and burnt out.  Have fun, he said, and remember to focus on something that keeps your heart happy because if you don't, you'll end up like a lot of the old saps that come out to Hawaii who realize they have missed out on the point of living.  His name was Hugh, Hugh Morris.
He was taking his 60 year old daughter parasailing the next day in Kona, what a cool old guy.

We're seeing whales.  They're sure taking their sweet time returning to the islands, but they are coming back.
Some fun facts about humpbacks:

• They're the fifth largest whale in the world.
• Humpbacks range in size from 40-55 feet and have about a ton (2,000lbs) of weight for every foot of length... a 45 foot whale would weigh around 90,000lbs.
• The ladies are the larger of the two genders and give birth to 10-14 foot babies while they're here in Hawaii (weighing in at around 1,500lbs).  
• The males sing to one another after they lose the chance to mate with a female- a song of defeat...
• Humpbacks breach (jump all the way out of the water) for several reasons, I believe the most important is because it's fun.  I would love it if I was a whale.  
• All humpbacks' eyes are brown.
• They can hold their breath for 45 minutes.
• Humpbacks love to hear little kids' voices- especially the mothers.  They come over to the boat when we have kids on board to check on them.  Motherly instinct bridges between species, absolutely.
• A humpback's favorite drink is a mai tai.
• They're amazing and you should come see them and me.

Happy Holidays.  Please travel safely, along with being crazy, people are also awful drivers.  

Enjoy the snow, for those of you able to ride through the holidays and happiest of new years to you all.

Sending my love from this little lava stone in the Pacific to you, today and every day,

M.

Seasmoke at Sunset 12/22/12

Mom and Baby, I wish I could say this was my photograph....

~There is always, always, always something to be thankful for~