In the nine months I've owned a Kindle, I've delighted in reading more books than I have read over the past ten years. Previously, I spent my evenings sitting in front of the TV, watching my life slip away from me. Now, my imagination is fired, my mind leaps at new possibilities, anything is possible.
Am I saying to purchase a Kindle? No. What I am saying is - READ!
If you're not comfortable reading, get something fun and practice reading. It is worth it.
Thank Goodnes I'm an architectural photographer.
I watched this photographer arrive on the beach with a client family in tow. From what I overheard he sounded dismissive of their requests about how they wanted to be photographed.
That would be ME! I am definitely NOT a people person. Thank heavens I photograph empty buildings with no people anywhere to be seen! Of course, I have my bad days too, when even the buildings shake with terror upon my arrival.
(By the way, I undoubtedly mis-overheard and this photographer is probably the nicest guy in the world. I, however, definitely am not! Ask anybody)
About time! The ocean is slowly beginning to warm back up again. That, combined with the dynamic of a smaller group and clear water, brought out playfulness in the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers this morning. Again, about time!
Most of the visiting Humpback Whales have begun their long journey back to Alaska and FOOD. For months while in Hawaii they do not eat a single bite of food. Do you have any idea of how cranky I would become if I were to miss my lunch? Let alone breakfast, lunch and dinner? For several months? You would definitely want to keep as far from me as possible.
Everyone still wants to see whales, so the few humpbacks are mobbed with kayakers, paddlers, and whale-watch tour boats. I took my teeny tiny little kayak out this morning and soon found myself over a singing whale. Because I was sitting still out in the ocean, everyone assumed that I had found something, and I was crowded by wave after wave of kayaks and paddleboards. Then over my marine radio I heard a call to all boat captains that this group of kayaks had found a pod of whales. The congestion during a Pali closing pales in comparison.
I could no longer hear the singing of the whale over all the chatter, splashing and engines, so I headed home. When I encountered a mother and calf along the way, I made sure to NOT stop so that they would be left in peace. Bon Voyage to the whales. Have a great trip back and eat some extra krill for me.
My new friends, Livit and Kurt, wanted to go for a swim this morning. This was Kurt's first real ocean swim and I'm afraid I threw him into the deep end. He emerged alive, but dripping way too much blood.
They both expressed an understated interest in swimming with dolphins, so we headed out to spinner dolphin territory. As we swam out we were hit by high winds and choppy water, and Kurt looked a bit tense. Livit was at home in the water and once the dolphins swam by for a visit even Kurt began to relax. He was so focused on the dolphins that he forgot to think about anything else.
Due to a very low tide, they both struggled to get ashore and managed a few scrapes and cuts each. Hopefully, this encounter with dolphins will inspire Kurt to get into the ocean again. And to buy a new towel which is not spotted with blood.
I pass so many intriguing people on my morning walks. I wish I weren't so shy, I would love to have the courage to go up to a stranger and talk to them.
The works of famous "street photographers" have only recently inspired me to have the guts to photograph people I don't know. Now if only I could go that extra step of asking people if I could take their photo... Someday
When I got to the beach this morning, the dolphins were impatiently waiting right by the shore. "Come on, Don. Hurry up." They waited while I put my wetsuit on, they continued to wait while I got my camera out, they even waited while I waddled across the rocks wearing giant fins on my feet. Once I got in the water, they could wait no longer. "Let's go, Don. Swim, swim, swim. Keep up, keep up."
Whew, what a workout. After a half hour I finally fell behind and they were happy to swim at their own speed. Click HERE (or Below) for today's brief Video.
