7/05/2013

Independence Day, Columbus, Ohio, 4th of July

Columbus has the "Red, White and Boom" festival which actually begins on July 3.

With some new found friends, I went downtown (against my fears and better judgement) to watch the parade and later that night, the fireworks.

Waiting patiently for the parade to begin, attendees lined the sidewalks along with side men selling noise makers and favors.
















Some watched from a window above at the downtown YMCA.















Eventually, it all began


















































Floats were pretty scarce and saw several cleaned up 18 wheelers
from different firms such as Pepsi, Walmart and a few others.
Unions and politicians even paraded, some with their supporters
marching.

Even Jesus (pretty sure that wasn't really Him) was there.















After the parade, we went down to the river to await the fireworks
display at 10:00 PM.  The walkways were a parade within them-
selves.















At 10:00, the fireworks began along with a light rain.







































On the real 4th of July, I rode around in the rain, electing to stay
away from the crowds.  Call me "hyper-vigilant"  if you like but
given events in Boston some weeks back, I wanted to not be a
target for terrorism so I chose more serene places for contemplation.


6/11/2013

Maui 2013

Day 13, Aloha, Maui













































Day 12, June 22, 2013 Maui east side and Hana

Lush vegetation



































Trail Ride O'heo Gulch, Haleakela National Park, Hana, Maui 
















Seven Pools, Haleakela National Park, Hana, Maui















Olu and Kaili















 Oheo Gulch, Haleakela, Hana, Maui




































Day 11, June 21, 2013, Olawalu, Maui, HI








































Day 10, June 20, 2013 10:30 AM HST Ho o kipa, Maui, HI














 
 10:47 AM  Ho o kipa, northshore, Maui















2:18 PM  Ho o kipa, northshore, Maui, HI















 Day 9, June 19, 2013 2:59 PM HST, Kite Beach, Kahului, HI















3:17 PM HST, Kite Beach, Kahului, HI















Day 8, June 18, 2013 7:30 AM HST, Kihei, HI



































6:00 PM  South Kihei



































6:55 PM HST Mokapu Beach, Kihei, HI



































Day 7, June 17, 2013 7:06 PM HST, Ulua Beach, Kihei, HI















Ulua Beach/Wailea















Day 6, June 16, 2013 4:40 PM HST, Kalepolepo Beach, Kihei, HI
Wind and Sand

















































Day 5, June 15, 2013 5:34 PM HST, Ahihi-Kinau Reserve La Perouse Bay,















Day 4, June 14, 2013 1:22 PM HST, Kamaole Beach, Kihei, HI















Day 3, June 13, 2013 7:07 PM HST, Kamaole Beach, Kihei, HI















Day 2, June 12, 2013 7:39 PM HST Maui Film Festival, Wailea, HI



































Day 1..June 11, 2013,  6:06 AM HST Kamole Beach Park, Kihei, HI













Some miscellaneous photos
























































































































6/01/2013

I need to be out of here!

Not that Iowa (it was my 50th state) or Nebraska is all that bad, weather wise, it's been a really weird 30 days since I've arrived.  It seems as if there's an electrical storm every other day.
















As I mentioned before, I flew in on the night of May 1 and was presented with a 3-4 inch snow storm that left even the most seasoned midwesterner baffled.  Driving to work the next morning, I encountered several vehicles off in the ditch or neutral ground mired in snow and mud and passed through small towns and saw people shoveling snow.  Aside from a VERY brief warm spell, it has been unseasonably cool and wet, to the dismay of farmers here.
















This weekend is no exception.  I put on a pair of shorts and t-shirt to head into downtown Omaha, only to turn around within seconds of leaving the hotel.  It was 57° at 11:00 AM with a brisk wind blowing.  It's been part of the spring systems that have caused deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma and Missouri.

Anyway, if I can manage another week, I'll be catching a flight out of here for my mother's family reunion next weekend then grabbing a flight the following Monday for a 2 week vacation on Maui.  While I need the vacation, I think Darlene has been looking forward to it with greater anticipation than I.
 

















 It will be good to see my old friend, Mr. Green Sea Turtle again offshore from Ulua Beach near Kihei.