2/19/2010 -- Maui, HI

I mentioned a few days ago about my lovely attire when I bike ride. My visor and bike helmet combo. I had a photo snapped of me in my digs back in January and I got it yesterday. I knew the photographer and I am taking it in good faith I won't find my mug on some worst dressed list.

If someone ever stops me on the street with camera in tow and says they work for Oprah Winfrey I am running for cover. Mind you, I love Oprah and I would love to meet her, but I am certain if I get stopped it is because I have been spotted as a potential guest for their makeover edition. I have seen enough of those shows to know what happens. If you have longish hair they chop it off and if you have short hair they give you extensions. I have longish hair and I look really bad with short locks.

2/18/2010 -- Maui, HI

What are you saying George?

"No, wand today?"

That doesn't make sense. Let me get closer.

"No wound today."

Confused bird. Check you later George. I need to go kiting at Kanaha.

After arriving at Kite Beach I realized he meant no wind today.

2/17/2010 -- Maui, HI

In a effort to minimize the amount of plastic surgery I need (cheap that way), I always wear a visor with my bike helmet... when bike riding of course. I am not alone either. A neighboring woman does the same thing and I always call her my twin. Yesterday, we drove past her on our way to Kitebeach and John slowed down. "Take a photo of your twin," he said. I declined. I know darn well if I was biking and someone rolled down their window with a camera pointed at me, I would freak out thinking my image was bound for some lovely website such as The People of Walmart.

Today, I didn't see her on our way to ride some wonderful, northerly wind. Before hitting the water, someone's kite hit the parking lot.

I did overhear a funny conversation.

Rider 1: "You riding today?"

Rider 2: "No, it is cold and miserable out there."

78 degrees instead of the usual 80 is pretty rough.

2/16/2010 -- Maui, HI

I have developed an addiction. An addiction to Paul Theroux's books. At least, I think I have, as I have only one under my belt. "The Happy Isles of Oceania". A few weeks ago, I spied it peeking through the depths of a junk filled box with .50 cents scrawled across the outside in black ink. Slowly, I eased it out and tested the air. It looked really rough and it wouldn't have surprised me if it had come in contact with cat urine in its lifetime. With my nose in red alert, I sniffed. My gag reflex didn't trigger. I purchased it, brought it home and I fell in love with his writing style. The last few evenings, I have tried to only read a few pages at a time. I simply don't want it to end, at least not until I have another one of his books in my paws.

After googling him, I realized he had written lots of books.

Lots of books should mean success at Friends of the Library where books go for a whopping $.10

It is normally fairly vacant when I visit it. Today, the tiny building had a decent number of people in it and I had an ahh moment (Oprah style) about my fellow book lovers. If they are perusing a section in which you are interested such as travel or biography they stand in front of it with braced legs, a wide stance and a set look on their face. You aren't given easy access to the section until they move onward. No opportunity to grab a book they might love. It wasn't quite like Black Thursday, but I got the sense if I reached around someone to nab a book off the shelf, I might feel an "accidental" jab.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any of his work in there. I was game for anything too.

I did spy a chicken ....

or three at times.

Driving back to Kihei, I was chomping at the bit. I only had about 15-pages left in my current book and it would probably take days to get one through the mail. It then hit me we were heading past Border's Express. Do I dare go into a real live bookstore? I have been content with yard sale finds for so many years. Plus, I had plenty of unread books. The idea of picking up a new author didn't appeal to me. I then realized I had an addiction. I didn't want to read someone else work.I must continue with Paul's.

We stopped, I found one of his books on the shelf, I purchased it. Viola! A receipt and everything.

A weight has been lifted. The drive to find another book ASAP has been relieved. Until next time.