October 2023 Journal Photos

Laundry Appliances Scouting

On Sunday, October 1, Andrea and I walked to Laurel's house to take a look at her outdoor washer setup. We're thinking of moving ours outside when we remodel the kitchen.


Laurel has a nice covered outdoor laundry setup. Water heater and washer, no dryer.


An aluminum awning with no rain gutter.


Walking home, we stopped at Adele's house to see her setup. I like the bar for hanging clothes hangers.


A water heater closet outdoors, too.

Kitchen Remodel Scouting

Andrea and I drove to three remodel places, Golden Cabinets, Ferguson, and Pacific Source, on Monday morning, October 2.


The assistant at Golden Cabinets was very friendly and helpful.


Stone, etc., countertop material was downstairs.


Andrea liked the Thermador refrigerator ($5k) at Ferguson.


Pacific Source was also helpful. They had a Jackson Pollock style painting, barely visible in the back right.


Everything you wanted to know about feral chickens in Hawaii.

We went out again the next day to ProSource near the stadium, just off H1 at the stadium exit.


We sat down with Erica and her assistant to discuss kitchen needs.


Looking at ceramic floor tiles.


This is the natural wood cabinet door we decided on.

Coffee with a Cop

Andrea and I attended the periodic event at Kahala Mall on Wednesday, October 4.


The morning was clear and cloudless. Andrea took this on our morning walk before breakfast.


Andrea photographed the newly planted lime tree in my painted pot upon returning from our walk.


She also photographed this ma'o hau hele in my painted pot.


We arrived at ten after nine.


We sat and talked with Officer Farley for a while. I had a free coffee and Andrea got a tea from Starbucks.


Selfie with mirrors in the underground hallway to the restrooms.


On Andrea's return from shopping at Long's.

Dinner at Arden Restaurant

Also on Wednesday, Andrea and I went to dinner at the new Arden restaurant in the Lotus Hotel across from Kapiolani Park.


Ready to eat. Photo by Andrea.


Perusing the menu.


The view of the park.


Andrea. Click the image for the full resolution version.


We shared a romaine lettuce salad. Fresh and crispy; delicious. I had the Wise Guy drink, Andrea had the Lotus. I liked them both.


After dinner Keoki coffees. I sent a photo to Threads (a more mainstream version of Twitter, without all the right wing jerks).

Rainbow Bonsai Club

I attended the October monthly RBC meeting on Sunday the 8th while Andrea stayed home with a cold.


Deocrated for Halloween, I point to some scary stickers on the front window before our morning walk on Friday.


Members discuss bonsai as things were wrapping up.

Vaccinations

Andrea and I got our covid and flu shots today (or "got jabbed" as the anti-vaxxers say) on Monday, October 9:

Vaccine type: COVID. Vaccine administered: COMIRNATY 2023-24(12Y UP) SYRG, Administration date: 10/09/2023 Manufacturer: PFIZER US PHARM Lot #:HG4633 Expiration date: 12/2023, Route: IM, Volume (ml): 0.3ml


We had appointments at CVS Longs in Kahala Mall.

09 Oct. 23: Repotted a ma'o hau hele (a hibiscus and the state flower) for sale at the December show. Also potted several small trees for growth. Working on my novel Brent and Edward Back on Earth, the third book of the series, after lunch. Fifty-five thousand words so far. It will be my second full-length novel.

Tours at Manoa Heritage Center

I gave a tour at MHC on Tuesday, October 9, at 1:30 PM to a dozen people, mostly local, one tourist from Illinois. I gave another tour on Wednesday. I put air in my tires before leaving for the tour. They were all in the mid to high 20s and I put them all back to 32 psi.


There was a birthday party for Sky when I got there. I gave her the maiapilo I had brought.


The tour at the front of the house.


Five of the eight people on the 2:30 tour on Wednesday.


Plumeria flowers by Andrea on our Friday the thirtenth morning walk.

Bonsai Ilima

On Saturday, October 14, I photographed some steps in ilima training for bonsai.


An ilima seedling ready for initial training. Click the image for the full resolution version.


Four 1 mm wires were applied and the trunk was shaped. Click the image for the full resolution version.


A bonsai ilima after growing wild for a year. Click the image for the full resolution version.

Appliance Shopping

On Monday morning, October 16, Andrea and I went to Pacific Home and Appliance in Aiea to look at kitchen appliances. Ovens, cooktops, and refrigerators.


We looked at refrigerators.


And more refrigerators.


And more refrigerators.


The bonsai a'ali'i after its second round of training. Click the image for the full resolution version.

Pot Painting

On Tuesday, October 17, I began to paint another cement pot.


This is the before picture. The worktable has been repainted.


Wednesday morning. Painted the interior and exterior and added a pot to paint.


Wednesday afternoon. More paint applied with a brush.


Thursday morning. More paint applied with a brush.


Thursday afternoon. Pot paintings completed. Two coats (or more) can be done a day with acrylic (water based) Rustoleum paint.


Becky got the Halloween chocolates we sent. Photo by Eric.


Friday morning, October 20, I photographed my small plant growing bench attached to the rock wall in the backyard.

Kitchen Remodeling Shopping

On Saturday morning, October 21, Andrea and I went to Honolulu Builders, C&C Cabinets, Home Depot, and Best Buy looking for kitchen remodeling cabinets, countertops, floor tiles, and appliances. Progress is being made.


At C&C Cabinets with Margaret.


We found our countertop to go with the gray painted cabinet doors.


At Home Depot.


After we got back, the city came by to prune our bauhinia for us. I moved the car that was parked there.


This is the after shot.


While Andrea went to the store I finished my painting on an oak board.

Morning Walks

Andrea and I have a routine of taking a walk in the mornings before breakfast.


Tuesday, October 24: Trying out the Louis Vuitton shoulder bag daughter-in-law Susan Somers (Tim's wife) sent me. Photo by Andrea.


Stylin'. Photo by Andrea.


Wednesday October 25: We met the civil walking patrol at the Hind Drive bridge at 7:00 AM. Photo by passerby via Adele.


My broader view of the upper valley.


Just before setting out on the walk down the eastern side of the lower valley.


We split off from the group and walked over the bridge on Kalanianaole Highway. Photo by Andrea.


Andrea and I went to the Aina Haina shopping center and had breakfast at Jack's.


They have an extensive menu. Photo by Andrea.


We walked back home via West Hind Drive. Photo by Andrea.


At 1:30 Thursday morning we were awakened by honking (car alarm), door pounding (no answer) and truck towing at the corner house at Alahe'e.
I walked over to talk to the person doing the towing hookup and took a picture. The towing company speializes in reposessions.

Thursday October 26: my fifth book, Brent and Edward Back on Earth is now 58 thousand words.

Dinner at Arden with Leon and Judy

We met Leon and Judy at the lobby of the Lotus Hotel on Thursday evening at 5:00 PM for dinner at the Arden Restaurant upstairs.


We brought lei for them and then waited a few minutes for the restaurant to open at five o'clock.


We had the place to ourselves at first. Photo by Andrea.


Our waitress took our picture with my personal device.


Judy got pictures of all the dishes. Everything was served family style.


The waitress also took our picture with Judy's personal device.


The requisite dessert photo by Andrea.

Kitchen Remodel

Andrea has been gradually cleaning out the kitchen and getting rid of unused items in preparation for the beginning of the remodeling. She has ordered light fixtures and a countertop induction cooking plate for when we have to set up a temporary kitchen.


On Sunday the 28th, Andrea found this crystal liqueur set. I photographed it prior to selling on eBay.


Another view crystal liqueur set.

Bonsai Kou

Sunday morning, the 29th, I did some work on a twin kou (two separate trees).


Before.


After pruning and planting in a round bonsai pot.

Hawaii Bonsai Association Membership Meeting

Sunday afternoon, the 29th, Andrea and I attended the HBA meeting.


We stopped off on the way at the donations container to give these items.


At the meeting.

Andrea will be going to her halau for a Halloween party and she asked me for this spooky story from my autobiography:

There was a legend that the Bellows transmitter site had been built on an old Hawaiian graveyard and that the place was haunted. There was a superstition, if things were going well, that one should never remark to that effect. Sgt. Van Meter believed this superstition, and knowing that, one night at the start of midnight shift, after the swing shift had left, I said in a very loud voice, “It looks like it’s going to be a quiet night tonight.” Van Meter was upset with me, and I just laughed. We went into the office to sit down. I had just gotten my feet up with a Time magazine when we heard a loud “bang” out in the transmitter wing. One of the HF transmitters was down with a catastrophic failure. Van Meter and I were up all night troubleshooting it, and it still was down when the day shift came to work. I learned a lesson from that, and now I think twice before making fun of the beliefs of another.

Sunset Seminar on Dolphins at the Kahala Hotel

Monday evening at 6:00 PM with pupu plates.


Andrea phnotographed the setting moon on our morning walk.


Andrea went to her hula halau in the afternoon.


The seminar was indoors this time, in the Maile foyer.


Dolphins at the Kahala were used to verify drone photogrammetry techniques for dolphins in the wild. Captive dolphins live longer, too.

Halloween

Halloween fell on Tuesday this year.


My understated Jack-O-Lantern this year, or is it a self-portrait? Relax, Jack, it's going to be fun.


Trick-or-treating in Virginia: granddaughter Lenora.


Trick-or-treating in Virginia: grandson Grayson.


Spooky resident of the house.


Spooky ghosts. We had a nice turnout of trick-or-treaters this year. Only three treat bags left.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com


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Last updated November 1, 2023 by Dr. Richard Jeffery Wagner. Text and images copyright © 2023, unless otherwise attributed, all rights reserved.