UA 372.

We are onboard United 372 from Honolulu to San Francisco. We’ll have a layover of a couple of hours at SFO and then proceed home, arriving at O’Hare just before midnight. And if the weather forecast is correct, just before more snow arrives in The Windy City.

There’s a lot of ocean down there.

The flight is off to a great start, though the flight crew does not have the flight deck communications feed to the passenger cabin turned on today. I keep hoping to hear ATC and other flight communications but I’m content just listening to the sounds of the airplane. I have a noise cancelling headset for when I’m in the cockpit but I can still hear and enjoy the low rumble of aircraft engines. Prop, prop turbo, impromptu turbo, turbine, doesn’t matter, they all sound wonderful to me.

I’m already looking forward to our next planned vacation, which is scheduled for July. We’ll be going to Oshkosh, Wis. for the EAA Airventure gathering. It promises to be a great time.

This trip to Hawaii was just what the doctor ordered. I’m feeling great and I feel ready to glide through work stuff to get to play stuff. I’m hoping to get some flight hours in soon, let’s hope Mother Nature cooperates.

8 February 2020 by Ponderings and Musings 0

Relaxed.

It is our last evening on Oah’u and I am sufficiently relaxed. This vacation has been wonderful with a nice balance of activity and downtime. I’ve had time to parse and defrag lingering thoughts I brought along, make plans for the future, and spend some time assessing my state of the world in an introspective way.

I’m in a good place.

I would be happy with another week away but we have further adventures coming along in 2020 and I have those events to look forward to.

I always enjoy people watching on Disney properties, especially here at Aulani. It takes a big of a commitment to come here from the lower 48 and I always enjoy the diversity and blending of cultures one sees here. As I stated in a previous blog entry, I need to bottle up some of Hawai’i and bring it home with me. Maybe I’ll find some Hawaiian candles or something.

Tonight we enjoy a family dinner and then hit the hay early for an early flight tomorrow. I’m looking forward to the continued experience.

7 February 2020 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Light.

The key to beating the darkness is to bring in the light. Open the curtains. Let the light in.

7 February 2020 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Aloha.

I’ve spent the morning walking the beach front path that passes by all the resorts and such here in Ko Olina. It’s a bit humid today but the breezes are keeping things under control.

Driving in from our adventures yesterday I saw a road sign advising of road closures starting February 8. I was momentarily confused because this is not weather I associate with February. It’s nice to be having this confusion.

While I’ve been online during this trip I’ve been keeping my social media interactions down to a minimum. I have participated in some conversations but there’s so much yelling and screaming going on and I just don’t have time for it.

The pacing of this trip has been great. We’re doing things here and there and having a lovely time but we’re also relaxing and taking it easy. I’m finding my center again. I want to capture it, along with the natural scents of O’ahu, in a bottle and bring it home with me. I like reminders and reminders keep me focused.

6 February 2020 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Remembrance.

We visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial today. Since it was our second visit here, we decided to buy our own tickets and explore the exhibits on our own schedule. The bus tour the last time was nice but felt rushed.

I love learning about the history of our country, especially the events of the early and mid 20th century. As I learn about our various wars and other major events, I find myself tearing up a bit during narrated videos and other multimedia based exhibits. I ask myself if I’m doing enough to serve my country. I’m never satisfied with my answer. And then I start to think of ways I can contribute more.

Both the Pearl Harbor exhibit and the USS Arizona Memorial are quite moving. I highly recommend a visit if you’re on O’ahu.

It’s good to learn everything we can about our history.

5 February 2020 by Fun and Games Dept 0

See.

As I wait for the rest of the family to get ready for the day, I’m sitting on the balcony enjoying this view. I’ve scanned through Twitter and Facebook, confirming the world is still where we left it, and then I made sure the social media apps were off my phone and only accessible by my iPad, which will be left behind today.

As I listen and watch life pass by on this little slice of O’ahu I can’t help but think there are many wonderful things that allow us to experience this remotely, but there’s many more things about the Internet that are second best.

Never settle for second best.

4 February 2020 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Improvements.

Apple Maps is a classic example of what happens when you don’t have the software where it needs to be upon its initial release. Despite all of the improvements Apple has made over the years, Maps still has a poor reputation. Google Maps seems to be the default choice of users, even those using iPhones and the like.

Recent improvements to Apple Maps have been impressive. Signalized intersections are now marked with a stop light icon. Speed limit data was accurate through a construction zone.

Personally I like Apple Maps and I find the quality on par with Google’s counterpart. Yelp integration is nice, the only step I’d ask Apple to take is to not require opening the Yelp app for diving into details on a location.

2 February 2020 by Geek 0

About J.P.

Just a guy with a husband. We’ve been together 28 years and he still makes me see fireworks on a daily basis. Hiker. Storm Chaser. Private Pilot. Tech Guy. Hackerish.

Weird? Eccentric!

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