November 2014 Journal Photos

FIRST LEGO League

November 1^st, Saturday, we had LEGO League in the afternoon, but didn't take any pictures.

I began working on the suggestion box I volunteered to make for the Diamond Head tennis courts.
Monday, November 3^rd.

Monday afternoon we ran through the presentation.

Then the drive team and developers went down to the LEGO room to work on missions. The yearbook
photo kids took some pictures.

On Wednesday the 5^th we worked on robot missions. Photo by Andrea.

Working on the missions. We did some simulated tournament play and worked on commenting code.

On Thursday morning Andrea went for a walk and took a photo of the new 3-storey house across the stream. Photo by Andrea.

On Thursday I worked some more on the suggestion box. Here some pieces are glued and hardening (expoxy).

Thursday afternoon we went to the beach. It was overcast so I got a photo of the War Memorial.

On Friday we took team pictures, worked on documents and the mascot, and practiced missions. Click the image to see the full
size version.

The shaka photo.

The goofy photo.

On Saturday morning the mango tree across the street was pruned.

In the afternoon the team practiced their presentation.

Then the team presented their skit to their parents.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Monthly Meeting

The club met for its usual second Sunday meeting on November 9^th at the Plant Place nursery in Waimanalo at 9:00 AM

Before the meeting Andrea and I looked at plants at the nursery.

Members arrived and discussed trees we brought for show and tell.

The meeting got underway with Felipe as Treasurer, Marion as President, and Andrea as Secretary.

Club business took about an hour and a half.

Sunday afternoon I worked on the suggestion box for the Diamond Head tennis courts. Here it is with the first coat
of varnish.

Fully assembled after two coats of varnish.

In the evening Stephany came over for a barbecued duck dinner.

We were drinking Manhattans.

After dark.

On Monday I received this photo from Ann Brazier who took it at my birthday party in August.

FLL Tournament at Kalani High School

Andrea and I met the team at Kalani High School for the tournament on Tuesday, November 11^th, Veteran's Day.

On Monday at NVMS we finished up props and had one last practice.

In the morning we did one last practice session outside the cafeteria.

The team waits for showtime in the pit area in the cafeteria.

The cafeteria in full swing with LEGO robotics.

I waited during the robot design evaluation. Photo by Andrea.

Waiting to go in for the core values evaluation.

Kalani Robotics student Courtney gets the kids ready for their green screen photo.

Looking at photo composite after green screen. Photo by Kalani Robotics.

The green screen photo. Scanned from print.

At the practice table. Photo by Andrea.

We posed for a group photo with our banner. Photo by Andrea.

The Kalani Robotics team members set up a robot display outside the gymnasium.

Science teacher Bryan Silver was master of ceremonies.

In the bleachers with our "go nuts" signs. Photo by Andrea.

Simina came to watch with her friend and kids.

Simina took this one with my cell phone.

Simina took this one too.

We scored 158 (twice) on the table, giving us third place on robot performance. Photo by Andrea.

The Kalani team got in on the green screen photos too.

At the beginning of the closing ceremonies. Photo by Kalani Robotics.

We won the Champion Award, the top prize.

The team after receiving the award posing for the official photo. Photo by Kalani Robotics.

We also won a place at the Hawaii State tournament on December 13, which is a separate honor. Photo by Kalani Robotics.

Afterward we all did the chicken dance. Photo by Kalani Robotics.

Last group photo. Photo taken by a parent with Andrea's camera.

The Kalani Robotics team poses. Photo by Kalani Robotics.

I scanned the inside of the thank you card from the team, signed by all nine students.

Island Tour

On Wednesday, November 12^th, Andrea took Lenore on a drive around the island.

Wednesday morning Andrea took a walk and got this great photo of Maunalua Bay. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea took Lenore on a drive around the island this morning. This is He'eia. Photo by Andrea.

Contemplating menu options at Haleiwa Joe's. Photo by Andrea.

Shark's Cove. Photo by Andrea.

We went to the beach in the afternoon. When we go there, we saw what appeared to be a TV commercial production
underway. Photo by Andrea.

I took a photo too when we first got there.

After a swim I walked by the video shoot on my way to doing my daily pull ups and bar dips.

I noticed that the memorial stone was still decorated from the Veteran's Day activities yesterday.

They were shooting a scene as I walked back to the beach. Click the image to see a cropped view of the door
which says American Savings Bank.

Suggestion Box Installation at the Diamond Head Tennis Center

On Thursday, November 13^th, Andrea and I took the suggestion box for installation at the Diamond Head Tennis Center. We were met there by John Veltri, President of the Friends of the Diamond Head Tennis Center.

Presenting the suggestion box to John Veltri, President of the Friends of the Diamond Head Tennis Courts. Photo
taken by Andrea with my cell phone.

Photo by Diamond Head Annie (Anne Brazier).

Adding the ceremonial first suggestion.

Tennis player Big Wave Dave chats with Andrea and John after the installation.

Andrea and I went to the Hale Kulani for lunch afterward.

We had a good view of Diamond Head.

Yum. Rolls with butter while we wait for the sandwiches. That's a kiawe tree behind me.

We went for our daily swim in the afternoon. The Hau Tree Lanai was getting its hau trees pruned.

Dinner at Cafe Sistina

On Sunday, November 16^th, Andrea, Lenore, and I went to Cafe Sistina for dinner.

Sunday afternoon I started working on a cigar humidor after pruning the coconut trees in the back. Photo by Andrea.

I used a Japanese pull saw to rip the bottom board. Photo by Andrea.

Cafe Sistina from the front entrance. The reproduction frescoes are very well done.

Adam, God, and me. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea and I had Tanquerey martinis and Lenore had an Italian pinot grigio. The food and service were excellent.

Sans Souci Beach

On Tuesday, November 18^th, Andrea and I went to the beach in the afternoon.

On the way there we saw this new BMW 2-seater.

One doesn't see koleas (golden plover) on the sand very often.

Closer than Ever at Manoa Valley Theater

On Thursday, November 20^th, Andrea and I went to see Closer than Ever at Manoa Valley Theater.

Waiting to go in.

Waiting for the show to start. Photo by Andrea.

The semi-cabaret setup.

New Shinto Screen

On Friday, November 21^st, Andrea and I went to City Mill and bought a Japanese style screen to replace the curtain in the front window.

Friday morning I finished assembling the humidor box. Need to sand, varnish, and install cedar lining.

The living room with the old curtain removed. Photo by Andrea.

The new Shinto screen. It makes the room much lighter. Photo by Andrea.

The window from the outside. Photo by Andrea.

Raised up four inches. Photo by Andrea.

FLL Team at Honolulu Fitness

On Saturday, November 22^nd, Andrea and I took the team to meet with Noah Riopelle, gym owner and personal trainer, at Honolulu Fitness branch in Aina Haina, with the help of Janet Itano and some of the team parents.

Noah talks to the kids inside the gym.

We all did some exercises together.

Burpees (also called squat thrusts). Photo by Andrea.

Afterward we went to Uncle Clay's for shave ice.

Uncle Clay meets Carter.

After two coats of varnish.

I beat my chess player later in the day. See the annotated listing below.

Rick vs. Intel Core i7 Inspiron
November 22, 2014

	White	Black
1.	d4	e6
2.	c4	Nc6           Not usual and somewhat confining.
3.	Nf3	d5
4.	Nc3	dxc4          Queen's gambit accepted.
5.	e4	Na5           Holding on to the gambit pawn.
6.	h3	c6            White's in no hurry while black cements the pawn.
7.	Be2	g6            Weakening black's dark squares.
8.	O-O	f6            White focuses on development.
9.	Bf4	Kf7           A pawn up, black eschews castling.
10.	Qc2	b5            Black is determined to hold the pawn.
11.	Rf1d1	Bb7
12.	a4	Nb3
13.	Ra3	Bxa3          White sacrifices the exchange.
14.	bxa3	a6
15.	d5	e6xd5
16.	exd5	cxd5
17.	axb5	Na5           Black's pawn structure disintegrates and his king is exposed.
18.	bxa6	Rxa6
19.	Nb5	g5
20.	Bc7	Qd7
21.	Nf3d4	Ne7           White has pressure for the exchange and pawn.
22.	Bg4	f5
23.	Nxf5	Qxb5          White sacrifices a knight! Black's bishop, knight, and queen are now out of play!
24.	Nxe7	Kxe7
25.	Re1+	Kf8           Black has no good moves now.
26.	Qf5+	Kg7
27.	Re7+	Kh6
28.	h4	Rg6
29.	hxg5+   Black resigns. If the rook takes the pawn, the dark squared bishop pins it with mate to follow.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Bylaws Meeting

On Sunday, November 23^rd, Andrea and I attended a club bylaws meeting at President Marion's house.

Marion's husband Mike Uyeno makes koa ukuleles. Here he's giving a coat of clear laquer.

We met under a canopy in the front yard.

Afterward we met Ed Dennis for lunch at La Mariana Sailing Club. Waiting for Ed to arrive. Photo by Andrea.

Ed had the ruben sandwich and Andrea had the soup and salad. I had a bacon avocado sandwich.

The water feature at LMSC has two large clam shells.

Ed liked the puffer fish lamps. Photo by Ed Dennis.

On Monday the 24^th Andrea went with me to Queens Medical Center for a routine sonogram screeening
for aortal aneurism and afterward we went to Kincaid's in Ward Warehouse for lunch. Fisherman's Warf Restaurant
has been comletely torn down across the street.

Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving day approached, Andrea and I made preparations.

On Wednesday the 26^th Andrea cleaned up in expectation of company coming on Thursday.

I went to the beach and saw the wedding photo procession at the Natatorium.

Thanksgiving Blessing

Mahalo wau no ka hope oka wa makani hele'ulu.
I am thankful for the end of the hurricane season.

Mahalo wau no ka ho'i i ku'u 'one hanau.
I am thankful to have returned to the sands of my birth.

Mahalo wau no ku'u ohana.
I am thankful for my family.

Mahalo wau no ka 'ola o ka lahui Hawaii.
I am thankful for the life of the Hawaiian culture.

Mahalo wau no ka'u mau hoa aloha.
I am thankful for my friends.

Mahalo wau no ku'u 'ola kino.
I am thankful for my health.

Mahalo wau no ka'u na kumu.
I am thankful for my teachers.

Mahalo nui loa wau ku'u wahine pili aloha.
I am very thankful for my beloved wife.

Andrea and I received our coaches' pins for 2014 in the mail from FIRST.

I had finished my latest box the day before and took a picture of it on Thanksgiving day the 27^th.
Internal dimensions are 14 inches long, five and a half inches wide, and five inches deep, lined in aromatic cedar.