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Heat

The boss returns to the office after lunch today sporting a nice big Slurpee from 7-11.  Quite the temptation since at the time,  I am standing in the hot sun¹ waiting while my portable tire pump is busy inflating a workmate's flat.  Interestingly, this is the second time this month that it's come in handy, the first time being out in service where we encouter a car group of sisters from Paradise Park with a nearly flat rear tire.

The heat today however, is nothing compared to the muggy, sticky, heavy heat in Kona this past Sunday.  I was over there to give a talk and although the sun wasn't out, found myself melted into a sorry little puddle by mid-afternoon.  Thankfully, the nice drive over the Saddle Road and the chance to see the friends at the hall more than made up for any temporary discomfort. 

Still, a Slurpee sounds good right about now.  Anyone want to join me at 7-11?

Headed west, the clouds begin to lift near Pohakuloa

Fog rolls in above parker Ranch

sheep in the late afternoon sun near the summit road

A few snapshots of the friends after the meeting.

1 Not literally IN, IN the sun.  Actually more like 93 million miles beneath it.  Mas o menos.

I'm still Around Folks

For those of you who think I might have fallen out of the truth due to me being a no-show at the circuit pioneer meeting and the assembly this past weekend, let me assure you that I have not. Truth is, I've already attended the pioneer meeting and circuit assembly held back in March, since the group has been re-assigned to the Spanish circuit and their assemblies. It entails a bit of traveling but things have been working out well so far. Next stop, Honolulu for our District!

Of course, I intended to at least come down to the stadium this past Saturday to watch the baptism¹ and say hello, but ended up getting a flat tire on the way. By the time I had put on the spare, driven to Firestone and had a new tire put on, it was already past 3 o'clock. Boo.

In more positive news, we now have a new couple in our group who have just moved to our congregation from Ecuador. Their names are Carlos and Arden, and I'm sure you'll be reading more about them here.² After two meetings, three days in service and a gathering with the group, I am happy to report that they are still smiling and haven't gone running off in the other direction with their hands above their heads screaming for dear life. I am thinking this means all is well. Bienvenidos!

1 Congratulations Keisha! We're proud of you.

2 I had a closer-up picture without the harsh flash, but Arden says they looked like horses in that one, so this one will have to do.

Tattoos and chickens

I 've been inviting Güicho to the Sunday meeting for ages, but not specifically this past week, so it's a bit of a nice surprise when he walks in at the start of my talk, followed closely by another fellow sporting a shaved head and tattoos.

Despite his tough appearance, the guy with the tattoos seems to be following along with the scriptures and even nods and laughs at all the right places. Güicho's friend as we find out later, is a very nice guy named Luis and we realize that we had actually met him a few times out in the territory before he suddenly disappeared, so now he is back on the radar. Also, the otherwise shy Cesar has been commenting weekly. (¡Olé!)

On Monday, we find Valentin in evening witnessing. He lets us share a text and accepts the magazines, despite us interrupting his dinner. He even wants to show us his animals and offers me some very unusual looking baby chicks. You can imagine how the thought of even more chickens roaming the neighborhood is still giving me nightmares so I politely smile without commiting to anything. (Very positivily NOT ¡Olé!)

On an unrelated (or possibly partially related) note, we are the host congregation for the English Circuit Assembly this weekend and our District Overseer and wife, Bill and Toni are visiting.

What a cute couple.

Toilet, shmoilet!

I really don't know how big Amazon.com thinks our rear-ends are, but judging from the box they used to ship a toilet seat I ordered, they must think we have buns the size of Texas... Australia, even!   I'll admit it's for an elongated bowl but still.  I seriously think they could have fit an entire toilet in the box, never mind the seat. 

See what I mean?

Of course, it was the ridiculous amount of packing material that took up all the space, which is a good thing I guess because who wants to receive a damaged toilet seat with a crack in it?  Especially if it's an anniversary present, which it is.  

  sexy, no?

I think nothing says romance more than an household item you relieve yourself on.  Happy anniversary!

You're welcome.

First, a complaint, then some Luau photos

It seems I'm now being forced to listen to some truly hideous music off someone's iPod. "Hideous" I suppose, is in the ear of the beholder since this artist obviously has a somewhat large following and has albums out and stuff, and I guess I don't.

However.

Imagine someone who has just run 3 marathons, smoked a whole carton of cigarettes, and who is now trying to record an album in a sexy voice while sprawled out on a hospital bed in ICU. Add some depressing piano clinking and clanking in the background and there you have it.

Did I mention the i-Pod was on repeat?

I am purposely trying very hard not to mention this particular singer by name lest I invoke the wrath of any who may be fans athough I think that's unlikely. I personally never even heard of him/her until the iPod incident when my ears started bleeding and I allowed morbid curiosity to make me look him/her up online.

I'm sure there's a point to all of this complaining somewhere, but I haven't figured out what it is yet. Perhaps it's best we go and look at some happy photos of the luau the group had for our Spanish CO and wife a few weeks ago . Needless to say, the music was better.

PHOTO SET HERE

And of course, a Latin-Style Luau manages to sneak in some merengue, courtesy of Jose and Iris: