Malia sent this picture of Trystan and his decorated Christmas cookie.
I attended the KISCA Hui Zoom meeting on Monday afternoon, December 4.
December 5: Putting the glass into the cabinet doors.
Working on the cabinets over the dishwasher space.
Here is the second page of the Midweek article.
On Wednesday the electrician installed the under-cabinet lights, the plumber routed the icemaker water line, and the
cabinet doors and handles were installed.
My Duolingo year-end summary of learning Hawaiian.
Thursday morning Andrea took this photo of realy red hibiscus flowers on our morning walk before breakfast.
It was a remarkable sunrise. Photo by Andrea.
Thursday the 7th I made a sketch of the big wheel for the opera scene for my book illustration by Paul Forney.
The kitchen counter people came and worked all day.
Andrea went with me when I got some precancerous lesions frozen at the dermatologist's office and then we got some panini for lunch at Kahala Mall.
Looking at the work so far. Photo by Andrea.
The new sink. Photo by Andrea.
At five to nine there were 50 people waiting to get in.
After opening.
After opening.
Club member Chris Ra did the first demonstration on his floating rock. Photo by Andrea.
Our intrepid cashier team led by Arthur did a wonderful job all day. Photo by Andrea.
Visitors enjpyed the bonsai display. Photo by Andrea.
Keith Schultz sold pots, tools, etc. Photo by Andrea.
Chris and his helper Justin applied muck and moss to the rock after tying the tree onto it. Photo by Andrea.
During Chris Ra's demonstration on a floating rock style. Andrea took a lot of good photos. Next year we'll put out fewer chairs.
My slant style (shakan) Chinese banyan (ficus microcarpa) with mondo grass accent.
Keith doing his dmonstration on an assembled rock planting.
Jim Meyer assisted Keith Schultz.
Keith is tying on the last of the three junipers to the rock assembly. Photo by Andrea.
It was an honor to be asked once again to MC the demonstrations. Steve, on the right, helped Keith too. Photo by Andrea.
Close-up of the photo above.
I auctioned off the rock planting bonsai (seki-joju) when it was done and club past president John Arafiles got it for $120. Photo by Andrea.
Jenny welcomed us after Lisa spoke.
A nice view of a rainy valley through the rain chains.
Andrea with Phyllis and Loki.
Try again. Loki had looked away quickly when she saw my phone camera.
Ended up with a posed photo with Emily.
Cabrissa Cabrera of FutureSwell (her company) gave the talk.
Our friend Po'ai played the ukulele in the foursome.
A beautiful hula dancer as well.
On Thursday I attended the Zoom writers' workshop by Shari Foos with Annie Korzen.
Friday Andrea found a nice Christmas tree at the Habilitat lot.
We were still living out of our living room as the kitchen remodel nears completion. Punch list is shrinking.
My rating at ChessPuzzle.net is 2356.
Andrea assembled her new drainboard dishrack on Friday morning, December 16.
There!
We had a pinot gris and a sauvignon blanc with our various family-style dishes.
The place was jumping on a Saturday night with lots of theater crowd too.
The security team inspected bags at the front door. We sat on the right hand side on the aisle.
Andrea and Joleen waiting for the show to start before I turned off my phone.
Andrea takes a group selfie.
Joleen takes a group selfie.
Sunday afternoon I atteneded the monthly Zoom philosophy meetup. Topic was "what do we owe our parents?" I said what parents give their
kids is a gift and so is what kids give their parents. It's not an ethical issue, but mere preference.
On Tuesday the 19th I installed the pegboard. Perspective corrected image, click it for the full resolution version.
The kitchen is complete on Tuesday the 19th. Photo by Andrea.
The pegboard with hooks and pots. Photo by Andrea.
The kitchen early Wednesday morning. Photo by Andrea.
On Wednesday morning the stream began running quite fast and muddy.
Downstream view.
Thursday morning I found out I had won two awards for my science fiction books: honorable mentions in the science fiction category.
Kilohana, Chris, and Doug. Photo by Andrea.
Nuclear physicist Bill Meyers talks to Joyce while artist Caroline Yacoe enjoys her plate of food. Photo by Andrea.
Alice, Diane, and Matt enjoying the festivities. Photo by Andrea.
With Slava, who was the photographer at Becky's wedding. Photo by Andrea.
Andrea with Slava. I took this one with Andrea's phone. Photo by Andrea.
Everyone enjoyed the music, food, and conversation. Photo by Andrea.
There was a lot of good food, and we went through nine bottles of champagne or prosecco. Photo by Andrea.
I took a break from hosting and sat between Kilohana and Chris to eat from my plate. Photo by Andrea.
Slava and Simina sat on the couch in the front room. Photo by Andrea.
Everyone toasted to the evening. Photo by Andrea.
Soon Ikaika emerged into a clearing on a rise overlooking the sea, with a gentle path down to the beach. He popped two of his doors open and the three friends emerged. Puakea and Edward began removing the surfboards from Ikaika's rooftop rack and Brent stood by holding the beach bag. They moved toward the trail down to the beach and stood looking at the sea with its lines of gentle swells moving in. The wind was calm, and the water was glassy. Each swell came toward shore, peaking into a meter high tube that broke in the center directly in front of them, with a break moving to both right and left.
The theater, looking mauka, during intermission.
Andrea during intermission.
Christmas morning, Andrea had left her shirts to dry overnight on the hanger bar in her new laundry space.
My milo forest needs pruning. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
After pruning and defoliating. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
After wiring with 1 mm wire guys and stays to hold trees in position. I also added potting soil to cover exposed roots and watered it in well
Click the image to see the full resolution version.
I got an email from Amazon that my review had been rejected because it didn't meet community standards. I reviewed the standards, and have no idea why they rejected it. I rewrote and resubmitted. I gave five stars. I changed "dictum" to "policy." I hope that was it. Rejected again.
A Fun ReadAnd what do you know, my review on Amazon seems to have stuck this time.A chuckle on every page. Lots of insights about show biz and living life. Well organized with philosophical musings on a wide variety of subjects like parenting, aging, working, and so on. Made me laugh out loud in places. Annie follows her dictum to keep her prose simple and straightforward. Recommended.
Heading down to the canoe garden.
I heard some cars and looked out my window on Wednesday afternoon. Five cop cars at the corner house. Have not yet heard what happened.
The cooking area where I will put up a new pegboard. This is the before shot.
In Wagner’s novella, a man buys a robotic servant with remarkable capabilities.Edward Collier is a software consultant living a comfortable life in a futuristic society. Technology has improved greatly. There are flying cars, electricity largely comes from solar power, and humanoid servants are available for purchase. In this society, crime is rare, and poverty has been virtually eradicated (“The social safety net had been extended to the point that everyone received a stipend sufficient to live on; nobody had to work unless they wanted to”). Edward is extremely curious about the robot servants. He orders a male and waits the two weeks for delivery. Once “Brent” arrives, Edward sets about programming him. Brent will need to cook, but Edward also wants him to play chess and tennis. The robot is performing well, and all seems promising. A burglar breaks into Edward’s home, and Brent capably defends life and property, shooting and killing the armed thief. The burglar’s family files a wrongful death lawsuit, but the judge dismisses it. During the hearing, however, Brent says something curious: He wants his freedom. He has gained so much knowledge that he now wants to become a philosopher, writer, and lecturer—a development that intrigues and pleases Edward. Together, he and Brent decide to explore the idea of whether he’s onscious or if consciousness is even possible for robots. Wagner’s novella, set in a utopia where most social problems have disappeared, gamely explores the concepts of sentience, AI, and free will. Edward delves deeply into technology, but the story is really about Brent, who’s concerned with epistemology, or the theory of knowledge. His rather quick journey into philosophy is described well, with an eye toward ethics and morals. Brent’s ponderings about whether he can be conscious are interestingly portrayed throughout the story.
A thought-provoking novella that carefully explores the role and reach of technology.
I put in some 1/16 inch aluminum window screens to cover the seven holes and covered them with fine black cinders. Click the image to
see the full resolution version.
I watered in the new soil. The completed forest viewed from the front. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
Photo by Andrea. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
Photo by Andrea. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
I cut out the pegboards with a circular saw and painted them light gray on both sides.
I started with yellow with flat black and red with flat black.
Next were brown with flat white, green with flat white, and International Andrea Green Blue. I finished with flat black and flat white.
Putting it up by the cooktop. Photo by Andrea.
I also got a small one by the coffee corner. Photo by Andrea.
Andrea after putting up some pans and things.
That gave her more space on the first and main pegboard.
Ta da!
On Saturday the 30th Andrea started setting tile to the right of the dryer. Before shot.
Another before shot.
Finished the next day on New Year's Eve.
Andrea was talking to Laurel when she waved at the camera.
Carl tends the fire while Zack, Bronson, and Sabrina watch.
The pig comes off the fire with victory poses.
Removing the skin and meat.
Enjoying the food indoors. Andrea and I ate at the tables outdoors under a canopy. It didn't rain.
Bob poses with the lavish spread.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com