D had a great weekend in Arizona. She got to spend time with friends, watch Santa parachute into a shopping center parking lot, and check out some new housing developments. After seeing the incredibly beautiful houses that can be had for a fraction of what our condo costs in San Diego, she's ready to buy a house in Arizona. She will then pick up that house, put it on a flat-bed truck, and drive it to San Diego where the weather, beaches, culture, and friends all make life beautiful.
I spent the weekend playing nurse to Willow. She was showing some more signs of pain on Thursday, even worse than before, so we went back to the vet. We got a wide assortment of medications....steroids, antacids so the steroids don't cause digestive problems, painkillers, etc. Every twelve hours I had to make her drink a slurry of blue liquid, wait an hour, feed her, and then give her three pills. The vet also suggested we keep her locked in a kennel for two to three weeks, which is laughable for anyone that knows Willow (and us). We know it's in her best interest, so we're trying to compromise. We're keeping her from jumping up or down from the furniture using stairs and strategically-placed pillows, we're locking her in our bedroom when we leave, and we're refraining from doing anything that would cause her to run, jump, or make sudden movements. She spent a couple of days walking really gingerly, but she seems to be feeling a bit better today. She's more mobile, and hasn't been looking pained.
We're working on plans for our Hawaii trip next week. We've got the hotel and flights worked out, so we had dinner tonight with a travel book, trying to plan out our days. The highlights will include manta rays, waterfalls, volcanoes, and hopefully some turtles. Though we have each day generally sketched out, we won't book anything until tomorrow afternoon. So if anyone has some suggestions about can't-miss sights on the Big Island, please post them in the comments ASAP. We'd love to hear from people that have actually been and have firsthand experience with what we're reading about.
We spent this evening doing some shopping for Christmas, and managed to get a good portion of presents squared away. However, we still have far too much to do before we leave on Sunday, so we may be relying on the good old fallback of gift cards for some people. In those cases, we'll at least make sure the stores are well chosen, and hope no one is offended by the impersonal gift.
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hi D and J.
ReplyDeletePlease make sure you visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. It's a great show for tourists.
Have a safe trip and wonderful Holiday Season.
If you have time, be sure to go kayaking on Kealakekua Bay. It's peaceful, relatively inexpensive, and the best way to get to the Captain Cook monument. You might even see some dolphins along the way.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of culture in AZ! And you would have friends out here -us! Just kidding, I know you guys love San Diego, but we would love to have you here.
ReplyDeleteThe flatbead truck idea is good though!
D and J, The Big Island is fabulous. Don't miss Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There's so much to see, allow at least a full day. I know of a great beach on the north-west side of the Island -but I would have to speak with you to give you directions. It's a drive-park-hike type beach. Turtles are all over on the Big Island - you'll see many. My thoughts are continually with you both. You've been through a lot and I know your trip to Hawaii will be a healing experience! Be well ...Diane Jennings
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming when you say the Big Island you mean either Kona or Hilo. If that's the case I definitely agree with Dianne - you have to see the flowing lava of the volcanoes going into the ocean. It's spectacular at night. Quite a walk though, so be sure to take comfortable shoes, a light jacket, a bottled water,and flashlights. Start out early - we got started a little too late in the day and lost our light. We couldn't get all the way in, but it was still beautiful from a distance. What can I say - you know some of us Wrights' always lagging.
ReplyDeleteIf you love to drive and want to see the island in a day, it's doable. But start early so you can stop on the way and sightsee. There is a black sand beach along the way - I just can't remember what side of the island. There is a green sand beach also, but like the volacano trek, it'll take you a while to get to it (we never made it all the way in.) You'll have to park your car and walk a distance. Some people we met along the way said it was worth it while others thought it wasn't. I guess we'll never know.
We also walked through an area on the Hilo side of the island. If I'm not mistaken it was a rain forest and had some beautiful waterfalls. But we could only see them from a distance. The foliage was beautiful and we felt like we were in paradise.
There was a great little pizza joint we ate at along the highway heading towards the Kona side. I'd have to see a map to give you a general idea where it was. But it was very good and in a small town we were driving through. In that same town there was a bakery and we bought some really good bread.
Don't get too caught up with the touristy areas for shopping, they can get expensive. There's a Walmart and other shopping centers on the Kona side where we stayed and they have the same stuff for a lot less.
Hope you have a wonderful time. It's Hawaii - how can you not? Well I guess then - just relax and rest - you both so deserve that and more!
Luv ya and if we don't see you for a while, Merry Christmas and hope the New Year brings you good things.
Love,
Cathie, Bill & the rugrats