Statrix Redux

As much as I like being over in Hilo, it was nice to return, even if only to ride my bike this morning. It had been three days since I’d last gotten a ride and I noticed. I’m looking forward to riding the rest of the week, culminating in my mini-camping trip this weekend.
I also received my Canon Powershot A590IS while I was away, it must have come on Saturday. It’s a pretty standard P&S camera which by all reviews does a great job at its price point – under $130 right now.
Here’s the view from the roof today…

My sister and I got along famously and had a lovely time. We may even be able to get together in 2010 in San Antonio, Texas.
That’s it for now, I’ve got work to do, toys to try out, folks to see, and worlds to conquer.
Aloha!

Coming in to Hilo was nice, it was dry – at least compared to the weather I left in Honolulu. I’m always amused when I come to Hilo to dry out, if for no other reason than it usually is much wetter here than at home.
My folks are fine, but it was a busy day for them getting ready for the big to-do in the evening. Folks came from all Hilo last night to celebrate my sister Leslie’s birthday, but also just to eat, drink, play music, eat some more, eat a bit more, then eat, then snack, then eat dinner. 🙂
All in all it was a lovely time.
Here’s Leslie…

In a little bit I’ll be taking my folks’ Christmas pictures. Hopefully it’ll turn out all right. I’ll update it this once that’s done. I have to go look for elf hats right now. 🙂
Aloha!

Well I made it to the airport (HNL – Honolulu International Airport) and you can park a moped here, apparently for free. It was one of the worst decisions I’ve made all day?
Why?
The rain. It didn’t seem like rain in Makiki. Sure the sky was a bit dark to the west, but hey, how bad could it be. Pretty darn bad it seems.

As I drove out Nimitz, using the bike lane as I am allowed to do to pass all traffic at the dawning of the Friday afternoon rush hour, it started to drizzle where I was, then rain. In a mile or so I discovered that it must have been raining pretty hard earlier because the highway was flooded, at least in the lane I was in. Seriously. I must have been driving through 6 inches of water and the trucks passing me were soaking me but good.
In any case I pressed on and here I am at the airport as seen by the camera on my Eee PC.

Anyway, I’m gonna go get some coffee. 🙂 More later.
Aloha!

It’s been one of those days so far, not a bad day, just a day where my mind is million miles away. Okay, not a million miles, just 216.
I’m off to Hilo this weekend to visit family and get images for my folks’ Xmas cards again this year.

But while I’m planning to charge the batteries for the camera tonight (they are generally good to go, I’m just going to top them off to be sure), make sure my flashes are packed, etc., etc., I’ve been thinking about bicycles.
As you may have read I’ve ordered a Bike Friday New World Tourist for my trip to Mexico DF. There’s been some discussion of problems with some BFs on the YAK mailing list. There are some very vocal complaints about the bikes themselves as well as the management style of BF.
The whole thing was sort of scary as I haven’t gotten my bike yet and had really not heard much bad about BF at all, so it was sort of a surprise. Valid points were made all around. I’m not going to cancel my order, but I’m glad I’m a little more aware of what’s going on.
What impressed me today was this from Hanz Scholz, the president and co-founder…

As I write this, I have shut down most the company to give each of
the employees a chance to read the whole thread. We will meet this
afternoon to see how we can use the information contributed by all of
you to make the company a better place with which to do business.

I suspect he will do exactly that and I’ll bet good things come from it. I feel better about the whole thing anyway. I’m not getting the most expensive bike they can put together, far from it, but it’s still a chunk of change.
I’m looking forward to delivery – still a couple of weeks away I’m afraid.
Aloha!

Before I get into the details of my life, I want to wish a hearty congratulations to my friend, Cookie, for landing a much better job! Have at it! She’s the one reader of this blog, so I’d be remiss in leaving her out of it. 🙂
As for my stuff…same job, but that’s okay because I like it. 🙂
In other news it seems my Asus Eee PC 1000H is on its way from the UPS facility in Sparks, NV. I’ve never been there but I do have a coworker from Reno. In addition, my camera is on the way via USPS from Irving, Texas. The associated battery charger, one of those special deals Amazon likes, buy two items at a discount is also on its way via USPS from Phoenix, AZ.
The computer will arrive first no doubt as it was sent 2nd Day Air (which in Hawaii is kind of meaningless), the camera and charger are coming with normal shipping. In any case, by the time I go camping next weekend I should have lots of little toys to document the event!
Aloha!

In getting ready for my trip to Mexico I’ve had to do a bit of adjusting my budget. Originally I’d planned to spend about $2500 a day for the 17 days I’ll be there, but realized that’s probably unrealistic. While I do make more than that a year (depending on how you count things), I’d still have to come back and live for another 348 days on…hmmm…something.
And I’ve been spending money (within my means though, now that I’ve cut up my cards) and gotten Bike Friday, the Asus Eee PC 1000H, and now a cheap Canon A590IS P&S camera.
I’d thought about taking my really nice cameras but…you know…they are big, weigh a bunch, require special batteries with chargers, and – importantly – make you instantly stand out as a tourist. My A590IS may mark me as a tourist, but at $129, a tourist with no money. Perfect.

And we do have to remember, it’s the photographer not the camera. [Translate: I can make bad images with whatever I take, so why be expensive?]
I will also probably take an old film camera as well – and when I say old I mean something from Japan in the 70’s – excellent cameras, not expensive at all (at least not anymore).
So…bike, light computer, cheap camera. If I can remember to stock clean underwear I’m good to go!
Aloha!

Just for a moment, let’s pretend I didn’t just order yet another computer. Take a deep breath and…
If you’ll recall, back in February of this year I ordered an Asus Eee PC 4G. I liked it, took it on a trip to Alaska, then didn’t use it very much. Partially that was because I have other laptops, but mostly because ultimately it was just too small for my fingers.
I’d been considering getting something a wee bit larger, but along the same lines for my trip to Mexico. I love my Macbook, but frankly I can’t do without it and the thought of having it stolen on a trip is unsettling at best. I have a big Toshiba, but unfortunately it is new enough that Ubuntu can’t find the internal wifi card and my external wifi card doesn’t seem to work anymore. Besides the Toshiba is big and I’d prefer not having to tote it along.
The first one I noticed recently is the newly released Dell Inspiron Mini 9. It’s an Atom powered 8.9″ screened, UMPC. With all the upgrades (1GB RAM, 16GB disk, Bluetooth, and 1.3 MP camera) it would have run about $479 with the $55 discount Dell is currently offering. Okay, but nothing special.

I’d also heard about the Acer Aspire One.

It’s nice, but…
Then there’s the MSI Wind.

It even comes in a “Love Edition.” Thanks but…
Then there’s the Asus 1000H. It’s seem to have more or less everything…
10″ Screen
92% Keyboard (better than some of the above)
80 GB Hard Drive
6 Cell Battery (5-7 hours)
…and more…
The thing is, it was right up there in price at $549.99 this morning. I was just about ready to pull the trigger though. I stuck it in my Amazon shopping cart and decided to think some more. Amazon was still loaded on my browser when I noticed an alert. The price had dropped $100 to $449.99 and there were 3 in stock.
I pulled the trigger.

Almost immediately after I got a confirmed order I noticed that Amazon was sold out, though some folks selling through Amazon had them at $449.99. Then at $505.00. The price seems pretty volatile today.
In any case, I may be crazy, I certainly can’t afford it, but I’m looking forward to getting my new Asus Eee PC 1000H in time for my trip. Sigh!

Aloha!

…but I can’t remember what. No, that’s not really my trouble. I do remember the weekend and there’s not even anything I need to be embarrassed about. But it was a busy one and now one event is sort of blending in to another.
On Thursday the Wahine won, on Friday I got my camping permit, on Saturday I did something or other and on Sunday I recreated and dined.
Speaking of the dining, I ate with a friend at one of Honolulu’s worst kept secrets, the Little Village Noodle Shop in Chinatown. The Chans, who own the place, used to run another restaurant I liked near the University and until I read their website I hadn’t realized they’d started up Little Village. The name always struck me because I own an album, “Little Village“, featuring Nick Lowe, Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, and Jim Keltner. It was a good album, it is a good restaurant. Try their Honey Walnut Shrimp – the restaurant, not the song. I don’t actually know if there is a song named “Honey Walnut Shrimp.”
Those facts have nothing to do with each other as far as I know.
Aloha!

I went ahead and did it. No silly, not that…I got a camping permit. Today I remembered to call the Hawaii DLNR office and found out that getting a permit was fun and easy. It turns out I pass the office rather regularly on my morning rides, though of course they aren’t open when I pass by.

Kalanimoku Building Room #310
1151 Punchbowl St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Permits
Camping: (808) 587-0300

I dropped by after work (before 3 pm please) and picked up a permit for Friday and Saturday night the weekend after I get back from the weekend, but before I head off to Mexico. It looks like a busy Fall for me!
I’ll try to remember to bring my camera. 🙂
Aloha!

Tonight I won’t be biking. Instead I’ll be sitting on my butt (at least some of the time) and watching this year’s edition of the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball team. I believe that at the moment they are ranked 11th in the nation, though it’s so early in the season the ranking isn’t all that important (at least to me).
Here’s an action shot from the UH Athletics site…

I always enjoy watching them play, perhaps not as much as my beloved Rainbow Baseball team, but it’s all good! Speaking of “my” Rainbow team, I just learned (though it’s old news) that we finished 10th overall in the NCAA in team fielding! Way to go ‘Bows!