January 2017 Journal Photos

New Year's Day

Sunday, January 1^st. My New Year's resolution is to cut down on the number of photographs I publish each month. I had over 150 photos in December alone. If I can average three a day or fewer that would cut it down to under a hundred.

Happy New Year!

Team Magma Parent and Mentor Meeting

We got up early on Monday, a federal holiday of New Year's Day Observed, and turned on TV (KITV) to watch the Rose Parade. We saw the Torrance float but somehow missed the Hawaii float. It was one of the best Rose Parades ever. At noon I turned on ESPN to watch the Rose Bowl (Tournament of Roses) to watch USC play Penn State. USC led in the first quarter and then fell two touchdowns behind. We couldn't bear to watch so turned it off. Later we learned that USC won 52 to 49 in the highest scoring Rose Bowl game ever.

The meeting to get ready for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) season was held Monday evening at 6:30 PM, January 2^nd, at Kalani High School in the robotics lab.

Parents and mentors between the parent mentor meeting and the travel meeting.

On Wednesday I went to the beach by myself while Andrea took Mom to a doctor's appointment. The view from my towel.

On Friday I went to the beach. If you look closely you can see five uniformed police officers watching the beach. Nothing further
happened. They left after about ten minutes. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

FRC Kickoff

FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology. The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) kickoff was held as usual at McKinley High School on Saturday, January 7^th. McDonald's Hawaii provided coffee and egg McMuffins.

Preparing to enter the McKinley auditorium at 5:00 AM.

Inside the auditorium, just before the kickoff video start at 5:30 AM.

The encrypted manual password. &Full$team^Ahead!

Getting ready to pass out the kits.

Later that morning we met at the Kalani lab and simulated the game as part of the design process.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Monthly Meeting

Andrea and I attended the monthly club meeting on Sunday, January 8^th.

Photo op for the incoming board, Andrea (Secretary), me, John (VP), and Scott (Treasurer).

John showed some shohin bonsai.

Keith gave a demo on repotting banyan shohin.

Kaiser Hospital in Moanalua

Lenore fell again Saturday morning and wasn't able to get up so paramedics took her to the hospital. Andrea stayed with her each day.

Lenore on Monday, January 9^th. Photo by Andrea.

FRC Build Season Week One

The team met every evening at 5:00 PM at the Kalani High School Robotics Lab.

Monday, January 9^th. We discussed the game in the "cave."

Design ideas were discussed by the whole team.

Andrea came by on the way home from the hospital visiting Mom and took this photo.

Tuesday. I'm excited!

Wayland Kwok instructs students on cutting wood for the loading station mockup.

Formal group photo with our build season shirts from Friends of Hawaii Robotics. Photo by Wayland.

Take two. Photo by Wayland.

Wednesday. Wayland with team building the loading station mockup.

Justin leading the design team on winch specifications.

The loading station takes shape.

Dinner at Roy's

Andrea and I went to dinner at Roy's in Hawaii Kai on Thursday, January 12^th.

I went to the beach while Andrea spent the day with Mom at Kaiser Moanalua. This is the big banyan tourists like to gawk at.

John Arafiles emailed out his photos of the December bonsai show. This is his group photo.

We drove to Roy's and got a nice table outside. Hazy vog obscured the sunset.

Yummy desserts.

Hawaiian music with slack key guitar.

Martin Luther King Day

Andrea's letter to the editor appeared in the Star-Advertiser on Monday, January 16^th.

I think it's an excellent letter.

Lunch at Wailana

I met with Ron Van Clief for lunch at Wailana on Tuesday, January 17^th.

I parked at Ala Moana shopping center and walked across the Ala Wai on Ala Moana Blvd.

Wailana coffee shop is right across from Fort DeRussy.

After lunch Ron asked the man at the next table to take a picture. Maraika, me, Hili, Linda, and Ron.

I went across the street to take a photo of Wailana with Ron and family in front.

Zoomed in shot.

After lunch I met Andrea at Sans Souci Beach. Beautiful mermaid.

FRC Build Season Week Two

Week two build activity continued.

Tuesday, January 17^th. Maryknoll school team members in maroon shirts came by for some assistance. This is their rookie year.

John and Wayland with the winch prototype. It needs an improved gear ratio.

On Wednesday, January 18^th FIRST requested I download my certificate of appreciation for this year. In the past, they
have mailed printed certificates with a FIRST pin.

Date Night in Waikiki

Andrea and I went to the beach in the late afternoon and then to the Moana Hotel for cocktails under the banyan tree on Wednesday, January 18^th.

We are having ramps installed at the front door and down into the living room for when Lenore returns from special care in Kuliouou.

Two little girls went up on the stage for hula with the lovely dancer.

We had the Moana mai tais and shared ahi poke nachos.

Finger licking good.

Halau members from the audience also helped out with hula.

Car Service at Lex Brodie's

Andrea and I took the Toyota in for service to Lex Brodie's in Kakaako on Friday, January 20^th. We dropped off the car and then walked to Big City Diner for breakfast. The Trump supporters were there watching the inauguaration on TV. Sam Slom was there and I greeted him as he left after the meeting broke up.

Andrea talked on the phone, not paying attention to the camera.

We saw this new mermaid art on the walk back to Lex Brodie's. The car was done at 10:00 AM after a short wait in their lounge.

Bill and I stopped by Team Magnum's shop Friday night.

Bill watches work on the winch prototype.

Women's March on Washington

I dropped Andrea off near the capitol in Honolulu for the women's march on Saturday, January 21^st. There was a water main break so the eastbound H1 was closed at Waialae so on the return I got off at University and took Dole to Waialae avoiding the freeway backup, but had to wait in line at Malia Street to get back onto Kalanianaole.

Heading out the door at 07:30.

In the Capitol. Photo by Andrea via Facebook.

At 9:50 AM. Photo by Andrea via Facebook.

At 10:45 AM. Rally after the march. Photo by Andrea via Facebook.

Photo by Hawaii News Now via Facebook.

Visiting Lenore

Andrea and I visited Lenore at the care home in Kuliouou on Sunday, January 22^nd. Andrea visited every day but I came along this day. Bill had gone to see her an hour earlier and was there when we arrived.

Lenore and Bill were working on the crossword puzzle together when we arrived.

I took a turn on the puzzle. Photo by Andrea.

Metaphotography

Ricky continued working on the home improvements on Monday, January 23^rd. Bill took some photos of our water lillies and guppies.

Bill photographs the flower while Ricky works on the ramp.

Nice water lillies and guppies.

FRC Build Season Week Three

Week three started on Monday, January 23^rd.

Status meeting before work starts.

Bill helped Sarah plan video work.

Wayland showed students how to install pop rivets.

House Improvements for Lenore

House improvements were taking shape on Tuesday, January 24^th.

The shelf room divider is gone, with a new narrower shelf to take its place. Photo by Andrea via google.

The ramp down into the living room with its handrail. Photo by Andrea via google.

Handrails in the hallway. Photo by Andrea via google.

Grab bars in the shower. Photo by Andrea via google.

Lenore's Birthday Dinner at Roy's

We took Lenore to dinner for her 92^nd birthday and met Lynn at Roy's in Hawaii Kai on Tuesday, January 24^th.

I built the new shelves earlier in the day. Photo by Andrea via Facebook.

Getting ready to order.

A passerby offered to take our photo.

The sun sets near Diamond Head.

Sans Souci Beach

Andrea and I went to Sans Souci Beach together for the first time in over a week on Thursday, January 26^th.

The luau crew gets ready for the four times weekly evening event at the Aquarium.

Beautiful Andrea walks to the shower after her swim.

Home Improvements

Andrea finished up varnishing the floor and shelves on Friday, January 27^th.

Books, sculpture, and shells are put back on the new shelves.

The faux leather floor on the ramp.

Andrea took Bill for a walk in Waikiki while I went for a swim. This is Queen's Surf Beach.

Chinese New Year Celebration

The lunar new year of the rooster began with the new moon on Saturday, January 28^th.

I played chess against my computer applet, as usual. Computer is black and is a pawn up, but I have some initiative. Screen shot.

Andrea finished arranging shells, etc. on the new shelf. It looks great. Photo by Andrea.

Furniture is arranged in the living room while I sip some iced tea in the upper room. Photo by Andrea.

Esther arrived for the dinner party at five. We had Chinese pork pupu from Aina Haina Chop Suey.

Faye and Paul arrived a while later.

Year of the cock? Decorative head piece from Faye.

Floyd came along and we all had barbecued duck, steamed fish, and several other dishes.

A Streetcar Named Desire at Hawaii Opera Theater

Andrea and I took Bill to see A Streetcar Named Desire at the Blaisdel Concert Hall for his birthday on Sunday, January 29^th. Afterward we had dinner nearby at Cafe Sistina on King Street.

Bill in the morning of his birthday (69).

Andrea in her muu muu during the first intermission. Apparently, Stanley Kowalski's only redeeming value was that he liked to have
sex with Stella. And his cronies liked him, apparently.