Ice Sculptures in Hawaii?

Over the weekend, the local shopping mall put on an ice sculpture event. What a brilliant idea. Now, I'm as much a fan of sculptured ice as anyone (I like mouthwash too, but once it's gone, it's gone, leaving only minty breath behind). The reason for my implied sarcasm: the local shopping mall is located in Hawaii under a mild climate of 83 degrees. Why wouldn't we make ice sculptures? The conditions are perfect! At any rate, someone must have had a good time with the chainsaw and chisel, because by the time I got there, there were three half-melted blocks of ice.

At first I thought this one was a palm tree (what can I say, the tropical climate being on my mind), but was informed that it was some sort of Christmas stocking.

This one actually does look like a Christmas stocking - with a reindeer sitting inside of it.

I failed to capture the other sculpture (it was a species of bird, I believe) and the lake of water on the floor that came dangerously close to some electrical wires, but why waste your time on what I didn't see? I did photograph the real live Christmas palm tree:

If that doesn't say Christmas spirit, I don't know what does.



The Gentleness of Wisdom

Sometimes life seems less than a paradise. But then again, it's still life. Today the fruit flies were buzzing about and being annoying in the stale heat of an afternoon without trade winds, and I forgot that all last week we enjoyed cool rainy weather. There were only chores to do and nowhere to go. So I've been a bit pessimistic lately. And I need to stop it.

"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." ~ James 3:13-18.

I've been learning today that I have stored bitter jealousy and selfish ambition my heart. What is this gentleness of wisdom that I am missing? And why wasn't I born with it... 

I have to remind myself of the story of Lucy Goodale Thurston, missionary wife to Hawaii. She left all she knew to start a new life on the other side of the world. Things were a lot harder for her than they are for me. And yet she had the courage of a lion and the gentleness of wisdom. You can read more of her story here.

Before the day was done, I went for a walk just because I couldn't stand being under a ceiling any longer. The sun beamed the last of its rays in a golden light on all the brightness of the perpetual summer around me. So maybe life is a paradise after all; it's just not what we think it will be...

10 Things I Don't Like About Hawaii

Before you read on, please know I really do like Hawaii - I even wrote another blog post on the things I do like. Everywhere in the world has goods and bads, and these bads aren't all that terrible.

1) Centipedes, Cockroaches, and Cane spiders...

Bugs are bugs, but bugs in Hawaii are more like the monsters that live under your bed - very real and big and scary. Centipedes can be about 10 inches long, purple, with more than enough legs. Cockroaches are slimy and gross, and they can fly! Cane spiders look almost like tarantulas and are very very fast...

2) Christmas...

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas as much as anyone, but Christmas in Hawaii can be a bit... warm. Read more about how to survive a Hawaiian Christmas here.



3) Snorkelers...

Nothing beats swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Pacific... until an oblivious snorkeler blows water out his spout at you. Lovely.

photo courtesy Jonf728 on Flickr

4) Coconuts...

I never could get to like the taste of this nut - I mean fruit - I mean seed? And it's everywhere because tourists love it. Even Starbucks puts coconut in their Frappuccinos.

photo courtesy Robert Wetzlmayr on Wikimedia Commons

5) Seaweed...

I like seaweed if its in the ocean where it's supposed to be, just not on my plate. Sushi? No thanks. One time, I was offered some popcorn that had some dried green flakes on top. Ignorantly I thought it must have been Italian herbs or something. Wrong, it was seaweed. Unpleasant experience.

photo courtesy Grant Hutchins on Wikimedia Commons

6) Mold...

Mold and mildew are a common sight in Hawaii. Everything is just so moist and humid, and mold loves this. I have many books, and over the years I've had to clean and reclean them to get the mold off. Call me paranoid. One year, the mold was so bad in the house I was living in at the time, I got mold nightmares.

photo courtesy Ciar on Wikimedia Commons

7) Music...

Music is a way of life for me, but Hawaiian music simply tastes a bit wrong to me. Every song sounds the same! I do not lie.

8) 3 a.m. Telemarketer calls...

Being in the middle of the Pacific means being 5 or 6 hours behind East Coast time. Sometimes people tend to forget that you are sleeping most of their morning and call to chat about whatnot. Most times we laugh afterwards... unless that person is a telemarketer.

photo courtesy Can Atacan

9) Sunshine...

There can be too much of a good thing, and honestly I really dislike the sun sometimes. There are days when a frigid wind or snowy afternoon would be much more suited to the mood. But Hawaii is pretty close the  Equator...

10) Commercials...

When you live on a small island, it is torture to watch tv commercials for places that you can't go to: Dairy Queen, Sonic, Kohl's, Target, Narnia...

Are these things you could live with in Hawaii? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

Leapin' Lizards!

Hawaii is known for its tropical climate - the moist days beneath an equatorial sun - but with that climate comes an elaborate display of creatures. The other day I was surprised by a common green lizard in my bathroom. More afraid than anything, the poor little guy tried escaping behind the mirror, but one of the resident knights caught him and let him outside before he could conjure anymore surprises...

I love his sprawling fingers and blue eyeshadow...