Monday, October 6, 2025

Oregon Living 2025 – Blog #38 – Hawaii - Part 2

 


Sunday, September 28th., 2025…… Last day for Jim and Mary…. They have a redeye flight home later this evening. So, we decided to walk over to the next block to go to the Honolulu Zoo. As you can see on my schedule map above, our hotel is the last one in line on Waikiki and Kuhio Beach. The area has a huge green space and then farther east is Diamond Head. The zoo is right there. We looked up online and got the hours and were there when it opened at 10:00am. It is not the largest or best zoo we have been to, but it was very nice. Not crowded either. We made our way past the birds and then to the primates and reptiles and finally to the African Savanna area.  As I said, not he biggest, but the exhibits were pretty impressive. My favorites were the Sumatran tigers, the hippo, and the elephants.

 










We were back at the hotel in a few hours. We hung around the pool and had fries and drinks and rested until it was time to go clean up and go eat. This time we chose Oahu Mexican Grill. Not the best service and the food was just ok. Cat and I, for the most part, have shared meals while on this trip and that has worked out. I know I have gained a few pounds because of all of the beer and mai tais, and blue Hawaiians, etc…!  But she’s done well on the trip and feels good.  Back to the room and rest for the evening. Our flight our tomorrow is at 2:00pm so we will have time in the morning to eat breakfast and then pack. 

Monday, September 29th., 2025…… We met up with Jim and Mary at the breakfast buffet. They had to check out in a few minutes and stored their luggage in our room for the day. So we decided to go back down and change and go back to the beach and then the pool for the rest of the afternoon. They wanted to leave for the airport around 5:00 or 6:00 to make sure they had seats. As I said, Alaska and Hawaiian A/L are merged and they have a layover without assigned seats until check-in. We played cards in our room until it was time for them to call for their Uber.  I went down to make sure they got their ride ok and said goodbye. It was fun traveling and enjoying our time in Hawaii with them! Later, Cat and I went to Cheeseburgers In Paradise and had our last meal there. Cat chose the mango smoothie and said later it was her favorite drink on the trip!  Later, back in our room, Cat decided that since we shared a meal at CIP, she wanted yogurt or ice cream or something, so she walked downstairs to the Sunrise Smoothie Shack on the corner. She brought us back bowls. 



Mine had peanut butter mixed in. I don’t know what she ordered but later she paid for it! Yep – first sick day in Hawaii!  But she felt better soon and we went to bed and we both had a good night’s sleep.     

Tuesday, September 30th., 2025…… We were up early and showered and started packing. We stopped to go up to the rooftop for one last breakfast buffet before coming back down and finishing up our luggage. We would check two bags this time so we could distribute the load into my flight bag. I only needed to carry a backpack on the return trip. We caught the Uber and headed off to the airport. As I said, two checked bags and it was an easy time getting on the plane. I got us exit row seats on this one too so we both had plenty of legroom. And our seats even reclined! The flight was good and on landing we got a chance to talk a little with our flight attendant who was in the jump seat right in front of us for landing. She is 7 months pregnant and will have to take leave soon! Once we landed we got our bags and walked right out to the shuttle to our truck and then made the 1 ½ hr. drive home with no problems. We got home at 12:37am. But we were still three hours ahead on Hawaiian time! But still it was a long day and after visiting the pups for a while, we went straight to bed!  

Wednesday, October 1st., 2025…… Nothing on the agenda today - Thank God!  We slept in and then walked and fed the dogs. We had dropped our luggage on the bed in the guest room last night and so we both went in and started unpacking. Cat got laundry going and I stowed the bags. Once we finished up that task, we were done for the day!  We both sat around and rested and each of us caught up on our taped shows. Easy day!   

Thursday, October 2nd., 2025…… Today we had an appointment to take the girls in to the groomer. But, since it was Thursday, we walked and fed them and went off to the gym and then to breakfast first. We drove them to the groomers and then came home to rest. Penny came by to touch base and see how we were doing. We gave her new sandals and visited for a while until it was time to go get the girls. The groomer said that Rylee was as good as always - she loves going there and getting her spa day! But Jama wasn’t having any of it! She didn’t like being away from us so soon!  But, she settled down when we picked her up and we all enjoyed the rest of the afternoon hanging around the house.  

Friday, October 3rd., 2025…… Not much going on today. We slept in again and then took the dogs out.  Later, we would get a call from Cheryl today asking for some help. She has two friends who she has convinced to take square dance lessons. But the class has officially closed. She thought if we could get a square together, we could walk them through all the calls that were previously taught and they would be ok at the next class. We said they should all come here since we had enough room in our living room for a square. So, Jim and Beverly came over and we had Lynn and Frank and Cheryl and Mike for the teach. We taught them how to square up and I went over some of the calls that are basic to square dance. They were of course, overwhelmed at first, but it was all we could do and we think they will be ok at class on Sunday. Stay tuned for more on this…   

Saturday, October 4th., 2025…… Today we had a few things on the agenda. Cat has to go to a celebration of life for one of her ex coworkers. I have an in-home appointment for a wellness check. I agreed to it because I get a $100.00 gift card for the insurance company for doing this. But first up was a trip to Albany to pick up my new glasses. When we got back from our trip, I had called since I hadn't gotten any notification that they were ready. It had been 7 weeks!  Long story short – they had them in the drawer but no one called me! So, I headed over early today to get them and get back in time for the other appointment. When I got there, she apologized for the mix-up and I had my glasses. They had changed my distance vision and had put in progressive lenses as well this time. The close up vision was spot on!  The problem was with the distance. Looking outside the office, I could see better without the glasses!  So, they decided that I would need to be re-tested and we would set that up for next Monday. Oh well!  I made it home before Cat left and Adam showed up and we got started. Cat left and he only took another few minutes and noted that I was doing well and he was satisfied and gone shortly after that. Later, we dressed and went off to our Club dance. Our regular caller was on vacation and It was fun to dance to another caller. Ok, Cathye didn’t like it so much! But we stayed until the end and helped clean up and then came home for the evening.  

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