The Past Few Days in Photos

Blossoming orchid (?) tree down the street from Bryan's house

Visiting my friend Ashley at Breakwall--the new shaved ice place on Prison Street

A bee checking out the fresh mangoes

I was too stuffed from lunch to sample anything out, but I can't wait to go back and get a fresh smoothie or one of their sandwiches!

Crazy plants bordering the beach

The swell was crazy at Airport Beach on Thursday.  We saw quite a few tourists get wiped out on the waves.  And a few sneaky swells swept up on the beach and swiped people's towels, books and beach chairs!

And of course, no photo post is complete without a snap of my favorite stray kitty: Tuxedo!  (pictured here with his pal)

Read More

The Great Bike Liberation

Being reunited has never felt so good: I got my stolen bike back today!!

After my workout this afternoon, I walked to Foodland grocery store to pick up a few necessities and possibly some lunch before going into work.  I didn't see any snacks that I liked at the grocery store, so I left and turned towards my favorite fast food Mexican joint: Cilantro.  As I headed over, I saw my bike locked to the rack in front of Starbucks!

I immediately looked it over and texted Bryan (he was at work).  I checked a photo on my phone to nail down the details: same small frame, same water bottle holder, same rear rack that I had installed on purchase and most importantly: the yellow registration sticker from the DMV right where I put it.

Score.

Bryan called me back immediately and suggest that I call the police rather than wait and confront the person who currently had the bike.  Smart man.

As I was looking up the phone number for the police, a local gentleman who was sipping Starbucks coffee and watching me examine the bike came over.

"Is this your bike?"

I told him it was, and that I was calling the police to claim it.  The gentleman provided me with the nonemergency number for the police station and kept me company while we waited for a unit to be dispatched to my location.

As we were waiting, a few other older gentlemen--who were also hanging out at Starbucks (apparently it's a regular hangout for these guys)--threw in their two cents about the situation.  Apparently, it is super common for bike thieves to lock stolen bikes up in front of Foodland, then try to sell them.  One of the guys was telling me that he had seen a for sale sign on my bike two days ago.

During all this conversation, I had managed to call a coworker and swap shifts with her for a later start time since the police were still a ways out.

While I was on the phone trying to tell a manager about this swap, we saw a tall, lanky guy unlock my bike.  The gentleman that I was hanging out with bolted over to him.  

He told him that that was my bike, and not to go anywhere.

The guy handling my bike ended up being very nice and courteous and cooperative--we'll call him J.  J told me that he had bought the bike a week ago, and that he would never have stolen it because he's a Christian.  He told me that he had a bible in his backpack to prove it.

J told me that he had bought the bike from a guy who hangs out at Mala Wharf for $150, then spent an extra $40 on maintenance done at West Maui Cycles--the store I originally bought my bike from.  J said that the DMV registration sticker initially concerned him because he was worried that the bike was "hot."

As we swapped stories, J told me that he believed that I was the rightful owner of the bike; however, because he had spent so much money on the bike he wanted to wait for the police to verify my ownership of the bike before he handed it over.

I told him I understood, and I thanked him for cooperating with me.  The police arrived soon after and took down our information.

The officers asked if I had my bike registration on me.  I told them it was at home, and that I could get it quickly since my house is only 2 blocks away.

The older gentleman that had been keeping me company offered to drive me over there.  I told him that would be fine, and we hopped into his truck.  As we strapped on seat belts, we introduced ourselves and became officially acquainted.  I'll call him Junior.

Once we pulled up to the house, I ran inside and quickly found my registration paperwork and we drove back to Foodland to hand it over to the police.

They only had to look at it for 2 seconds before letting me sign for the bike.  Junior offered to drive me and the bicycle back home.  I asked him if he wouldn't mind driving me a block further to the bike store at the Wharf.  The bicycle seat had been ramped up since I had seen it last, and I needed someone with a wrench to adjust it for me.

Junior gladly lifted my bike into the bed of his truck and drove me over to the Wharf.  I thanked him profusely and pumped his hand up and down in an enthusiastic and celebratory handshake.  He said he never had a problem helping a damsel in distress.

I got my bike seat adjusted and left it there at the shop while I power walked over to ACE Hardware to get myself a new bike lock.

My first ride on my liberated bike was joyful, sweet and short--the bike store is only 2 blocks from my house.  I lashed the bicycle to a tree in front of my yard, running the cable lock through both tires and the frame.  No one is stealing squat off my bike!!

Not sure if the original thief will be apprehended.  As I was leaving Foodland with Junior, the cops and J were talking about where they were going to find the guy who stole my bike from my house.  Good luck!  I'm just so stoked to have my bike back.  I had kind of given up hope of ever finding it again.  I had started looking up on Craigslist for a new bike.  In fact, I had just sent an email this morning to someone who selling a sweet cruiser off of Craigslist.

I came home from work this evening with a response from the bike seller.  I triumphantly wrote him back telling him that I didn't need a new bike since I had unbelievably recovered my own!

Now I'm off to grab celebratory drinks and dinner with Bryan!!

Yay to having wheels again!!

Read More

Things I Bought that I Love: Jolyn Swimwear

After reading a glowing review of Jolyn Swimwear for more active water pursuits, I knew I had to try one for myself.  I bought the Vented Top (pictured below) and the Brazilian Brief.

I've been so, so, so happy using Jolyn during all my swimming workouts whether it's in the pool or in the ocean.  The crosstie back offers a great adjustable fit.  I do double-knot my top though, because a simple bow usually comes undone during my workout.

The bottoms and tops go for $25 each.  That's a steal for swimwear!

The bottoms, no matter what style you get, have less coverage than normal sporty swimsuits, so they have a similar look to surf and fashion brands so you don't look too "covered up" if you decide to lay out on the beach in these.  Just know that the bikini bottoms have a drawstring in the waistband to create a snugger fit if need be.

I've owned my Jolyn set for a month now, and I use them every time I hit the water for a high powered swim.

I love mine so much, I'm adding the Triangle Top to my swimwear collection.  Huzzah!

Read More

A Spot of Bad Weather

Late Sunday night, the winds began to blow.  It began during my last turn of tables at work.  Gusts of wind would barrel down the deck and threaten the teetering stack of plates in my hands as I walked to the kitchen.  The wind blew out the candles on the tabletops as well as the Tiki torches lining the rail.  When I was done working, I walked home with my hand shielding my eyes from the dust and grit blowing around.

The wind blew all through the night and into the morning, and continued all day yesterday.  The mango tree above Bryan's house rained mangoes down onto their roof all night.  

But when we woke up in the morning, there were still plenty left up there.  Bryan and his housemates are quickly losing their enthusiasm for mangoes.

I don't blame them.  

The wind has died down today, but the sun has been blotted out by darkening clouds that hover over the West Maui mountains.  A sheet of drizzle blew over us, but it's possible that we'll get more rain later on.  I'm expecting a short and slow night at work this evening.  Granted, should the heavens open up and pour rain down on the restaurant, it could make things kind of exciting.  

On gloomy days like this, all I want to do is curl up with a book.  Luckily, I have a new stack of things to read (to add to the stack of unread books I already own).  I went to the used bookstore today and picked up a few things, one of which is a volume of Annie Dillard books.  Score!!

And since we're on the subject of rainy days, I had to share this clip from The Office.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Read More

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to a very "wild and crazy guy."

You are most certainly one of a kind.

Read More

Choice

Choice, the health bar in Lahaina has been around for a year now, but I have only started recently stopping in and noshing on their healthy eats.  

I'm so delighted that I have finally made it in.  The food is wholesome, healthy and delicious.

My favorite thing to pick up for lunch is the Buddha Bowl.  It's a layer of their healthy grain (today is coconut quinoa), followed by a soup (I chose their garlic sweet potato) and topped off with kale salad.

Delicious!!

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Read More

Moving Pictures from 13 Crossings

On the day we did our 13 Crossings hike, I took a few videos as well.  I have finally uploaded them onto youtube and here they are for your viewing pleasure.

This is when we first reached the waterfall at the end of the hike.  As you can see here, it's just a small guy:

The second video was taken from a landing halfway up the waterfall.  Above this point, there is another pool and another waterfall, but it is only accessible to the brave: you have to climb up the waterfall.

This last video was taken as we were walking back through the bamboo grove.  I was enjoying the wind chime effect of the breeze blowing through the bamboo.  You can faintly hear the bamboo knock against each other, and you can even hear Bryan say, "It sounds like your stomach."  Gee, thanks.

Read More