Technically 2011 was christened the year of the turtle but I think I’ll call 2012 the year of the honu to change it up a little.

Last year conservationist designated 2011 the year of the turtle to create awareness and shed light on issues so here are some picture of some of the signs that we read about the honu and the group on Oahu that takes care of them. That way I can say that I did my part.

There are two beaches that I know of that you can pretty much be guaranteed to see turtles in the waters. One of them I’ll share because I know that it’s on the tourist map due to the amount of people that are there every day. It’s on the way from Haleiwa to Shark’s Cove. I’m not sure what that beach is called, but on the right-hand side you will notice a pretty long line of cars parked on the side of the road and some tour buses.

This beach has a reef on the outer edge that encloses a coral area by the shore line with lots of limu (seaweed) on it. So basically the turtles can eat in peace and the sharks can’t get into the area to make a meal of them. This beach is also the best if you would like to see them on the shore because they come out pretty regularly and there are always volunteers at the ready to section off the turtles from disturbance. You’ll notice a red string in some of the pics I took here because that was as close as you could get to them.

There are two turtles here. The one in the back is a regular at the beach, he came up 360 days of the year in 2011. His back-fin was bitten half-off by a shark so you can tell when he comes up on shore. They are pretty cute and don’t move all that fast out of the water. The one closest to the rocks in the above pics actually was the second to get onto shore but he climbed over the other one to get to that spot. I wish I was there for that I’m sure it was a sight to see.

We walked on the black rocks to take some pics of the waves and then when we returned another turtle was making his way onto the shore. They sure move slowly but they definitely get pretty far considering.

As the third one was making his way onto shore the second honu turned around. You’ll see the shell of the first honu but no head because the second turtles fin is covering it.

Don’t ask me why but while I like seeing the honu on the shore I like seeing them in the water more so because they are active. I think it’s a zen thing for me too, with the water lapping and them eating. It’s all very nice.

.

I probably have way to many photos of the honu but I still get giddy when I see them pop their heads out of the water. So I’ll share one more of the photos for you here, it’s one of my favorites.

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, everyone. I hope 2012 brings you much peace and love.

Sometimes when I walk through a dvd section of a store I like to browse the horror section because

1. I like to know what is out in horror.
2. Sometimes I find a movie that I want to watch.
3. Sometimes I find a movie I can’t believe was actually made.

Number three is what I happened upon today. The movie is called, “Rubber.”

I can’t say what exactly made me pick up this movie except that I thought the one word title was intriguing. As I read the synopsis quietly in my head I realized I had to share it with Squire but I knew that reading it out loud was too implausible for me to do. So I just handed him another copy of it (there were about four copies) and watched his reaction.

This is the synopsis:

Robert is an inanimate car tire that has been abandoned in the desert and suddenly and inexplicably comes to life. As Robert roams the bleak landscape, he discovers that he possesses telepathic powers that give him the ability to destroy anything he wishes without having to move. At first content to wreak havoc on small desert creatures and various lost items, his attention soon turns to humans.

I’m going to try to get him to do an audio on it for my post but for now here is the trailer.

I just might have to watch it now.

Squire and I have been making Monday our “Enjoy Hawaii” day. We’ve been driving around the island and checking out the beaches and basically just enjoying nature and getting to hang out together.

These are some of my favorite dusk shots of Squire in Haleiwa. Haleiwa will always have a special place in my memories. In my hanabata days, my parents paddled canoe for Manu o Ke Kai and they regularly practiced here. We had a lot of beach time because of that and a great many sunsets to enjoy. I’m very thankful that I can still make time for them one day of the week.

The last picture I especially like because even though I’m not in it, I definitely felt the same way.

It’s been a hard October for Thailand this year. They have been deluged with flooding of epic proportions and I have to say news on this is not at the forefront.

Here’s an article I found on .cnn in case you’re interested and have not heard too much on it.

Also, my dad sent me some pictures last week of the flooding on the main roads nearby.

Of course, I have to add, that since these pictures were taken he’s had to evacuate the village he lives in due to the flooding finally hitting it. He told us that he tried to walk back to his house and the water was up to his neck and his cars are all underwater.

The flooding has affected a lot of things. He is thankfully safe, staying at a friends place outside of the flood zone, although they don’t have electricity or internet. Also the optimistic outlook is that this is going to be ongoing for the next 4-6 weeks.

I hope everyone stays safe but admittedly am going to keep emailing my dad (supposedly there are a few places they can go to use internet) to come back to Hawaii for an extended vacation.

Squire and I have had the pleasure these last couple days and through this week to study a different type of improv that is strongly narrative focused.

There are two things that I really like about this process that I feel should be addressed right off the bat.

1) It has a literary focus, in language and in structure, with narration playing a large part in how the show is created and developed.

2) It focuses less on following up on your own initiations but handing off those impulses to other players because entrances and the characters within it are called to life versus self-initiated. For instance if I feel like a scene needs another players or a new scene should start, I can’t just take it upon myself to make that happen by starting the new scene or entering as a new character. I must announce that a scene or character is about to appear and those around me, support the initiation by creating the environment or becoming the characters that I narrate.

Fun and using many parts of my brain at once makes for steam coming out of my ears.

Laughtrack Theater had to close its doors at the end of July 2011 at the Bethel location for a bit. Turns out the space next door to them are looking to expand and the timing of the end of the lease wasn’t in Laughtrack’s best interest.
Although it’s sad, it’s also not forever. They are on the look out for an ideal space for improv classes and improv shows so expect to see them in the near future somewhere close by. Keep your eyes open and be ready for a good laugh coming your way.