Thank You, August, for a Solid Month

 I'm not one to look back except to get an idea of how I'm doing on the path I've plotted.  For me, an end-of-month review helps me identify what's going well and what needs attention.  There is this desire inside me to find balance in my life.  August happens to be one of those months where enough things went right. I'm so thankful I got to spend time with my mom, wife, and all three adult children in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  Thinking back to the night I met my wife over three decades ago at a place that now only exists in my memory, I recall seeing a future that resembled something like the last thirty-one days.  

Thank you, August, for providing excellent weather so we could enjoy the great outdoors.  I look forward to visiting you again in another year.  As much as I love your month, I won't be in a rush to see you.  The upcoming months have their own flavors to savor.  I'm going to take my time until we visit again.  Have a great day.

How I Discovered My Mojo

It's happened twice in the last three weeks.  Two different people in two different time zones told me they could feel my energy.   The first time this happened the gentleman offered proof by extending both arms and showing me his goose bumps.  "Your energy is going through me," the man said.  I thought to myself in Spock-like pondering reminiscent of my days watching Star Trek and one word popped into my head... Fascinating.  Since I'm not a science officer like the character Leonard Nimoy portrayed, I can't offer any logic to why this is happening in my travels.  What I can say is I discovered my mojo.  

We all have a certain something inside us that is unique to who we are.  Jesus did his best to teach his followers about this using clever stories that still inspire us a couple of centuries later.  His instructions are well documented for the curious to find for themselves when they are ready to ask.  The secret is right in front of our eyes.  It all comes down to prayer, fasting, and meditation.  Prayer allows a connection to the Divine.  Fasting frees our minds of all the clutter that clogs our creativity.  And Meditation opens the door to a whole new world.  This world is as close to us as our own brains.  Too bad most of us operate this marvelous device on cruise control without ever venturing into the unknown where the magic unfolds.  

I found my mojo by letting go.  I'm free of the prison cell where my old self lived in confinement along with all my prejudices, anger, bitterness, greed, self inflictions, and lost hopes.  I escaped and left my old self behind.  Maybe that's what Jesus means when he tells us we must die to our selves and become a new person.  One more thing happened when I found my mojo.  I became blind to my shadow.  Yes, I know it's there.  We all have our shadows.  I simply can't see mine.  It's invisible.  Shadows cast shade on our mojos.  They are anchors that slow us down in our pursuit of living our dreams.  It feels good to be free.  Have a great day.

The Creepy Tree has Fallen

 We no longer have the creepy tree in our backyard.  It has fallen.  It served as a great backdrop for our pictures until a powerful storm knocked it down.  Now this fallen tree is on my to do list along with picking up our lawn mower once it is repaired.  I'm sure our neighbors will appreciate their views once I restore our property to good health.

Today concludes our fiscal year at my day job.  It is a year I will never forget as we had our own creepy trees in our work forest to contend with.  I'm also doing my best to cleanse my soul of all things creepy, including nervous tension I'm feeling for loved ones and their family who are in great danger due to turmoil in the world.  I will be traveling for work again soon and I'm aware of creepy things lurking in my future.  I'm going to do my best to clear the creepy trees when they fall and keep my eyes focused on what's important.  May you do the same.  Have a great day.

It's All About the Lessons

 The next time you find yourself in a predicament and you can't figure out a solution, remember this.  Life is all about the lessons.  It's not supposed to be easy.  Those lessons are everything.  They are like gold.  When you look back at your life some day, you're going to remember what those challenges taught.  Some lessons may take a lifetime.  That's okay.  Do what you need to do to learn.  Be thankful life has something more to offer you than a mundane routine.  If you happen to be in a mundane routine, bust out.  Bust out now.  There's nothing to learn when you simply repeat your yesterdays.  Your soul is craving to learn something new.  Have a great day.

Get to the Best Version of Yourself 1% at a Time

 I get it.  You look in the mirror every day and you see the same version of yourself that you saw yesterday.  Nothing changes.  You feel you're stagnated.  You look around and you see others killing it and you don't know what's wrong.  I've been there.  Change isn't easy, especially when you try to do too many things at the same time.  I found a solution that works even for people like me who get stuck.  It's the 1% improvement method.

If you can get 1% better at something daily, you can be a whole different person in 100 days.  There's even a bonus when you consider that you get the benefit of compounding interest on your most valuable asset – yourself.  That's 1% on top of the 1% from yesterday.  I'll let the mathematicians out there do the math for you to tell you exactly when you double your value.  Let's just say you will double in value before you hit the 100 day mark.  Do this for every part of yourself you want to improve.  If you stay with this method, you can double up on almost four areas of you life annually.  Go for it.  Carpe Diem!  Have a great day.

Limited to a Lightning Blog Message Today

 My galaxy surfing episode went a little longer than normal this morning.  That means I have to make up time somewhere in order to get to my day job on time.  It looks like today's message needs to be done at lightning blog speed.  Have a great day.  I'll spend more time with you tomorrow.  

First Fall Leaves Show Up

Mother Nature is in Motion.  This time she's offering a preview of the Fall colors about to show up in our neighborhood.   I know time is constant.  It didn't seem that way growing up.  Summer seemed to race by while the school year dragged on.  I get this feeling inside that the years are somehow accelerating even though my brain tells me otherwise.  Fall in the midwest is a really fun time to get intimate with Mother Nature.  She's ready to show her true colors and I'm ready to spend some time with her.  Wherever you may be, my hope is that you enjoy the season ahead.  Have a great day.

Why Mistakes and Surprises Can Help Your Brain

 If you're like me, you probably do your best to avoid mistakes.  Perhaps you also tend to avoid situations where surprises pop up.  Well, these two things are what your brain needs to learn and grow.  What learning is there if you simply do the same routine every day because it's safe and mistake proof?  There certainly aren't any surprises in the mundane.  Your brain is on cruise control.  Where is the excitement?

If you really want to help your brain to grow, give yourself new experiences.  Challenge yourself.  Consider those mistakes you're trying to avoid as necessary.  The greatest hitters in baseball are also the same ones with the most strikeouts.  Be a pioneer.  Go out and do something original.  Be courageous.  Have a great day.

Dear Future Self

 Dear Future Self,

It will be nice to meet you someday.  When you look back at me, remember one thing – I never had the advantage of 20/20 hindsight vision like you do.  I made all my decisions based on the information I had at my fingertips.  Many times I had almost nothing to go on but my intuition.  You are who you are because I stayed in the game even when the odds where against me.

I thought of you during many of my trials.  I wondered if you would appreciate the sacrifices.  One of the issues I'm struggling with right now on 8/23/21 is the void I'm feeling from those who already departed this planet.  My guess is that those losses will only increase over time.  By the time you read this letter at some future date you will face even greater losses.  This letter will serve to jog your memory about something I want you to long remember – gratitude.  Remember to always be thankful for every person in your life.  Laugh with them.  Comfort them when they are sick or dying.  Never miss an opportunity to let others know how much you appreciate them.  May you live long and prosper, future self.  Have a great day.

I Passed the Ultimate Trigger Test Yesterday

I didn't realize just how many triggers I encounter on a daily basis until I started my meditation journey.  The more I meditate the better I get at becoming familiar with how triggers can upset my emotional wellbeing.  Think of a trigger as hot water getting ready to boil.  If you can maintain your cool, you never see that water boil.  As soon as the trigger is pulled and the water boils, you have lost your ability to be in a calm state of mind.

I encountered a series of rapid-fire triggers yesterday.  The attacks were relentless.  I won't go into the details but these triggers were so bad that I suddenly noticed a knot forming in my stomach.  This never happens.  I could feel the toil of my body getting ready to boil while I added cool drops of water but my supply didn't seem to be enough to keep me from exploding.  I managed to get through my shift and headed home for relaxation when the traffic came to a halt.  A couple of semis collided not far from home and all the traffic was completely stopped.  This was the last trigger of my day and it was a doozy.  People around me were hitting their boiling point.  One driver sped by on the side of the interstate not caring about the danger he was putting us in.  I was at 211º and holding steady.  The traffic finally moved enough for me to reach an early exit and head home on the back roads.  Yes, this day was the ultimate trigger test and I'm happy to report I passed, even if it was just barely.  Each day presents it's own trigger test.  I'm slowly building on my track record in anticipation of even bigger tests ahead.  Have a great day.

I Found My Lost Marbles

 Do you know where your marbles go when you lose them?  I do.  I found them in a place most people in this part of the world rarely visit.  If they do visit, they don't stay long enough to find the marbles.  The inner world of the mind is like a blank screen when you close your eyes and empty yourself of everything going on in the outside world.  In my opinion, the mind movies you create are much better than the current offerings on TV.  Something as small as a tiny marble can be manipulated into a life-size object that flies, floats, or even turns into a comet that explores unknown galaxies.

Don't worry about what the world thinks about your meditation habits.  They may believe you lost your marbles.  Don't tell them you found them.  It may ruin your creativity if you give up this part of your life.  Have a great day.

Find the Right Known vs. Unknown Combination

 There are sunrises and sunsets.  High tides and low tides.  Periods of known and unknown.  When we have a choice, the unknown has advantages.  The unknown gives us the pitter-patter in our hearts.  It's the roller coaster ride we have never experienced.  The known keeps us grounded.  I'm doing my best to find the balance between the known and the unknown.  It's not easy.  All I can say today is I really enjoy the taste of the unknown and I want to experience more of it in my life.  How about you?  Do you have a good balance equation?  How much unknown can you tolerate without freezing from the fear that you may encounter?  Have a great day.

Back to the Basics on Budgeting

 Whew!  The family vacation had some surprises.  I'm learning that no matter how much you plan, unexpected challenges pop up that can hinder your long term goals.  In my case, I'm working on adjusting my sails to navigate rough waters.  The good news is I believe I can retire my mortgage debt by the end of this year.  It's back to the basics.  These last five months of this year can be an asset if I keep my eyes focused.  It's going to be an exciting finish.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Congratulations to My Teammates on New Opening

We're now open in Springfield, MO.  It's part of our Midwest expansion efforts at my day job.  I'm thankful I was asked to be a part of a superb opening team.  Not only are these folks teammates, they are Ohana, the Hawaiian word for family.  I'm also thankful our CEO took the time to visit our store in Coralville to thank our local team for keeping things going during the pandemic.  It's time for me to get back to my day job today.  The family vacation is over.  I would like to thank my team for carrying the load while I was away.  Have a great day. 

Tips for Travelers Heading to Hawaii

You may have heard a few horror stories from people attempting to gain entry into Hawaii for their family vacations only to be turned away upon arrival.  That happened to me.  Others have been told they must stay in a hotel room for ten days under a strict quarantine that comes with jail time and/or a $5,000 fine if caught violating the quarantine.  Those are your options if your paperwork isn't in order.  I'm sharing some tips so you can avoid going through the stress I went through.  It's no fun turning around and going back to the mainland when you're ready to hit the beach but your paperwork isn't acceptable.  Here you go:

1. Set up an account with Hawaii Safe Travels and read all the directions.  Don't skip anything.
2. Make sure to get your COVID-19 test at a site approved by the state of Hawaii.
3. Make sure you get your test within 72 hours prior to arrival in Hawaii.
4. Have the negative test results prior to departure.  (This is where I blew it.  If you don't have the results at entry, you're headed to quarantine or you're off the island).
5. Special note for travelers who are planning on using Walgreens for their free COVID-19 test:  You must have an account in order to set up an appointment.  (This is also where I blew it).  All appointments must be made online.
6. Get your pre-clearance wrist band on the mainland.  If you don't, you will face a very long line upon entry.  The airlines may try to tell you this is unnecessary.  Don't listen to them.
7. When it's time to depart, if you're returning in the AM or early afternoon, expect to stand in line at the airport for 3 to 4 hours.  Redeye flights are less crowded but the lines are still scary and you don't want to miss your flight home.
8. The terminal closes and there is no place to wait around if your next flight doesn't leave until the following day.  If your paperwork isn't in order, you cannot wait around until it clears.  I was waiting on my test results but was not allowed to stick around.  They are very strict about this.
9. If you choose the quarantine option, do not leave your room for a full ten days unless you want to see what a Hawaii jail looks like or you are willing to pay a large fine.
10. Don't forget to fill out your health questionnaire.

I hope these travel tips help.  Have a great day.  Aloha.

Home Sweet Home

 We're home.   The longest vacation I've ever taken is complete.  We visited my sister in Little Italy, Old Town, and Seaport Village in San Diego before flying to Hawaii.  Our Covid credentials were not in order which forced a return to the mainland.  We flew to Seattle on a red-eye and enjoyed an unplanned adventure in Seattle for 24 hours before returning to the islands. We stayed on Molokai through Saturday and then joined our adult children in Maui for a second week.  We tallied ten flights which ended last night when we touched down in Iowa.  

I'm thankful my mother was able to drive to San Diego and connect with us at the start of our family vacation.  She loves adventure.  Something in my heart tells me it won't be long before we take another beach vacation together. Have a great day.

We're Almost Home

 We're back at the airport again this morning.  We woke up in San Diego in time to see a beautiful sunrise.  Beach posters adorned the airport walls reminding me of our family vacation which comes to a conclusion tonight when we touch down in our home state.

Stay tuned for travel tips.  It's not easy to fly these days during a pandemic.  I'm happy to share the mistakes I made so your travel experience can be enhanced.  Have a great day.

Time to Say Goodbye

 Goodbye, Hawaii.  You have been very good to us.  We are at our gate, thanks to a kind gentleman who stepped in at the last minute when the airport was in a frenzy.  If you want to know his name, reach out to me.  Have a great day.  Aloha!

Can a Blessing be Deferred?

 Blessings are gifts from God.  They can be direct or indirect, as when they are passed through family and friends.  I believe the most important part of receiving a blessing is to acknowledge the sender.  My cup is overflowing with abundant blessings and I would like to express my gratitude to God, family and friends.

There was a time in my life when I saw my cup half empty.  I strived to fill the cup to the brim.  No matter how hard I tried there was always an emptiness inside my heart.  I suspected there was a hole in my bucket but I couldn't find it. Letting go was my only option.  When I did, something happened.  Outsiders may think what happened was only my perception.  Maybe they are right.  There is no longer half empty or half full.  There is abundance.  I won't bore you with my list.  

What I would like to do today is ask a favor from the family member who made a generous offer to treat my wife and me to an awesome meal on Maui.  Even though there are six of us on this vacation and we are nearing the end of our vacation, we are finding our refrigerator full and our supply of prepaid restaurant cards overloaded.  Is it possible to take a deferral on this blessing of a meal?  Thank you for your generosity.  Have a great day.  Aloha!

Unclogged Moment in Time

 Today's post is somewhat selfish.  I'm writing this partly so my future self can return here should I find myself clogging up.  I'm outside on my patio overlooking the beach in Ka'anapali, Maui's sweet spot for rest and relaxation.  There are some clouds in the distant horizon.  The breeze is light bringing with it the fragrances of native plants blooming behind me.  The morning sun lights up the red soil on the island of Lanai in the west.  Parasailers dot the landscape in red, white, and blue parasails tethered by boats.  I write this from an untethered point of view.  My mind is free of any worries.  It's a great place to be.

It's really easy to get unclogged in places like Hawaii when you're surrounded by loved ones.  The challenge is maintaining this state of mind when you're away from nature.  Perhaps I can pretend I'm here the next time I find myself in front of a negative person or I'm in an uncomfortable situation.  My hope is that when I return to civilization I remember moments like this moment.  I'm grateful for being unclogged and unburdened.  I highly recommend you seek moments like these.  Have a great day.  Aloha!

It's Magical

 

I don't know a better way to explain my time on the islands.  It's magical.  A couple of days ago I was on a walking meditation.  Part 1 was devoted to a guided meditation I practice daily upon waking called the blessing of the energy centers.  Usually I follow up with some prayers and move on.  In vacation mode there aren't any time constraints so I'm adding a second hour of meditation while walking along the beach at sunrise.  This is where I got my out of this world experience.

The voice asked me to open my heart.  I looked down and the first thing I noticed in the sand was a heart-shaped coral.  I picked it up and felt my heart flutter.  A couple of feet away there was another one.  Then, another.  I added these three treasures to a rectangular coral i picked up at the beginning of the meditation and continued with the walking meditation.

The conclusion of my two hours of what I call "Galaxy surfing" was at our resort in Kaanapali.  My only assignment for the day was to find three lounge chairs and place towels on them for my family.  I waited for the employees to open up and got my three towels.  It was slim picking as the chairs have been reduced for more spacing due to the pandemic.  I found the last three chairs beneath a large shade tree.  While placing the towels, another gentleman walked up.  His body language told me he was not happy.  It turns out he had eyes on the same chairs and rushed to get towels to mark his territory.  I offered him the chairs but he insisted I keep them.  We talked for about ten minutes.  That's when the magic was revealed.  The man's wife works at Headspace, a company that offers apps for meditations.  He lives in Escondido, not far from where we raised our children.  The coincidences were stunning.

I met my wife and shared the story about what happened.  I showed her my coral without speaking.  "This one looks like Molokai," she said, pointing to the rectangular coral I was holding during my walking meditation.  All I could think to myself was, it's magical.  Have a great day.  Aloha.

The Marilyn Burger

 

Our memories sometimes lie to us.  They tell stories loaded with inaccuracies.  I'm no brain expert so what I'm sharing is only from my point of view and it's not intended to be scientific.  What it is meant to portray is what can be possible when you let go of those painful memories from your past that may be preventing you from becoming a better version of yourself.

Last night we visited Cool Cat Cafe located on Front street in Lahaina on the island of Maui.  It was our first visit.  We found gift cards for the restaurant while shopping and decided to check the place out.  It's like going back in time to a fifties style diner.  I found the Marilyn burger on the menu to be intriguing because green chiles were one of the toppings.  My mom was sharing earlier that my dad loved to top off his "world famous" burgers with green chiles.  This was a memory I had long forgotten.  I had to have the Marilyn burger.  Much to my surprise, mom also ordered the Marilyn burger.  Why it surprised me is private.  All I want to share here is that when you allow your heart to forgive all the memories that cause pain, wounds heal.

I'm not a perfect husband.  I'm certainly not a perfect parent.  All I can say is that I'm doing my best.  I'm living in gratitude.  I'm thankful for each day.  The next time we eat burgers together, I'm hopeful you may try the "Marilyn."  Mom recalls it's a great burger.  Have a great day.  Aloha.

Congratulations to My Tennis Teammates

 

These guys are my tennis brothers.  They made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Midwest regional tournament in the 18+ age group of the 4.0 division in St. Louis over the weekend.

Team captain, Jim Sichterman, guided this team to an amazing season.  This is something he does naturally, guiding teams to state championships like an NFL coach who makes it to the Super bowl year after year.  I'm really proud of these guys.  I've been witb them on Wednesday nights and during team matches as my schedule allows.  Way to go men.  Not only are you great champions, but you are the best friends anyone could ask for.  Have a great day.

Family Together in 808 Area Code

 My 808 dreams are now a reality today on 8/08.  It's a challenging feat especially with this pandemic.  Hawaii is like Fort Knox.  If you make through the airline screening process, the next layer of security is the rental car facicility with a gate keeper who screens you one more time before giving you access.  You're not done.   Next is the screening at the hotel.  If you don't show the right documents, you're off the island or forced into a ten day quarantine.  My family passed the test.  Three generations of us our together in Maui.  Nothing beats family.  In Hawaii they call it Ohana.  It's time to go to church and thank God for all the blessings.  Have a great day.  Aloha!

5 Stars for Vicki

 It could have been a trip from Hell.  It wasn't.  Maybe you've heard the horror stories of visitors to Hawaii being turned away or forced into a ten day quarantine upon arrival because the COVID-19 paperwork was not proper.  Well, I'm one of those passengers.  We arrived sleep deprived and more than ready to spend the beginning of our 2 week adventure to Molokai at an Airbnb hosted by Vicki.

We went up the chain of command searching for some empathy and a bit of Aloha at the entry port.  That didn't happen at the airport even though our host, Vicki, was willing to keep track of us for the quarantine period in Molokai.  The problem we encountered was our late arrival in Maui meant no connecting flight until 6am the next morning.  The airport shuts down and everone is kicked out with the exception of passengers without covid-19 approved credentials.  They become prisoners and are watched over at a nearby hotel.  Leaving the room means a 5,000 dollar fine.  Yikes!

All I can say is that the price we paid to jump througn hoops was worth every penny.  Why?  Vicki has a lot to do with it.  Not only did she connect us with a friend who gave us a great deal on his 4x4, she ordered me a snorkel set that arrived by mail at the beginning of our trip.  She adjusted our rate when she heard about our challenges getting to Hawaii.

I will leave contact information for Vicki's place in  future post.  It's time for a sunrise snorkel and a morning hike before we head to Maui later today.  Have a great day.  Aloha!

The Locals Have a Valid Concern About COVID-19

 I gained some valuable insight about how the locals in Molokai feel about COVID-19.  Anytime there is a crisis, the residents must travel to Honolulu for care.  This includes giving birth.  There simply aren't enough beds to go around should there be a major outbreak.

I respect what the state of Hawaii is doing to keep its residents in shape.  I'm also thankful they allowed me in to visit.  I will post more about how to deal with taking care of the paperwork so you can know what to expect when Hawaii is your vacation destination.  Have a great day

The Island Speaks

The ocean waves crashing below me intensified the feeling in my heart and soul at the moment I shot this sunset photo last night on the island of Molokai.  Just as words sometimes have more than one meaning, so does the name Molokai.  When you pronounce it as it rhymes with pie, Molokai is all about the winds that blow fiercely to protect the inhabitants.  When it sounds like Hawaii, it's all about the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks.  Maybe this photo will serve as my reminder that the island wants me to hear it's voice and remember my time here.

I'm thankful to be on this beautiful island.  I feel like my soul is being restored.  It will be hard to say goodbye.  Have a great day.  Aloha.

Salute to My Mother

 

Moms are a blessing.  Today I'm saluting my mother.  She really knows how to live.  One of her best qualities is endurance.  Many in her age group no longer travel because their bodies can't handle the stress.  Speaking of stress, I put her through one of the greatest travel ordeals a person can tolerate and she never complained.  

The picture you see was shot when our commuter plane landed in Molokai.  Prior to that photo, mom traveled from Phoenix to San Diego on her own, connected with us for our flights to Maui, flew to Seattle on a red-eye when we weren't allowed in, and flew back to Maui again once our COVID-19 tests came back negative.  That's over 8,000 miles of travel and countless steps walking before she accepted a wheelchair at the airport.  Way to go, mom.  You get top honors for mom of the year.  You are my hero.  Have a great day.

Aloha from Molokai

Breathtaking.  That's what Molokai is.  It's Hawaii before it's raw beauty was tarnished by brushstrokes from manmade bricks.  It's what the first pacific islanders discovered when they first visited.  It's where my soul is finding peace and serenity.  

The naysayers may be highly critical of my ways.  Who in their right mind would invite their mother to such a primitive place in these times of great danger?  My answer is that I am the one, the same one who took my family to a cabin near the Canadian border that had no electricity or indoor bathroom.  "What about the bears?"  That's what those who live in fear ask.  Not me. Without risks are are no rewards.  I don't listen to naysayers.  Their voices stifle the sounds of palm branches bristling in the wind.  They crowd out the pallette of colors I'm inhaling at sunrise as I send you this message.  Aloha.  Have a great day.

Door to Paradise is Unlocked

 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  For me, this picture I shot this morning is priceless.  Those three wristbands are the keys to paradise.  It was heartbreaking to be standing next to that door Saturday night and be told I could not enter unless I accepted a 10 day quarantine.  It's like visiting Disneyland and all you can do is watch out the window while all those kite surfers float about in the magical waves enjoying the freedom that comes only when you navigate the challenging process necessary to obtain the prized pre-clearance wrist band.

Next to my wedding ring, this wristband I'm wearing today is my most cherished possession.  I'm with my wife and my mother.  On Saturday our three adult children join us.  We are creating memories that will be with us for eternity.  It's really magical.  Aloha!  Have a great day.

Aloha!

 This story is from last night.  We're on a plane headed to Maui.  The morning flight was deferred due to no available test results in time for takeoff.  I must say if there are any people out there better suited for a situation like ours, I would love to meet them because, after today's ordeal, I would like to nominate my wife and mom for sainthhood.  Yep.  They handled themselves with grace and poise.  We didn't know until tje final moment that we would be given permission to board.

It appears the labs who handle COVID-19 tests are overwhelmed.  Here was our test...get a COVID-19 drive up test by a Hawaii approved facility no sooner than 72 hours prior to departure.  Then, make sure to dot the i's and cross the t's on all the online forms where the test results post prior to takeoff.  Failure to comply means you may be on the next plane home before your vacation even begins.

If you read this far, you're probably assuming we got our pre-approval.  The answer is no.  They let us on the plane after hearing my story.  Yes,  the violins were going and the lady at the counter decided to let us take a chance.  I was able to make contact with the lab and ask for assistance. If the results post during our flight we're staying in Hawaii.  If not, it may be a touch and go situation. Stay tuned.  Aloha.  Have a great day.

Sleepless in Seattle

 We're in Seattle for 24 hours.  It's not what we planned.   It did turn out to be an unusual solution to our dilemma we faced last night upon arrival in Maui.  The test results did not arrive in time and we were faced with a mandatory 10 day quarantine in a hotel or go back to the mainland and take a mulligan.  

Maui is waiting for us.  More later.  It's time to get some sleep in Seattle.  Have a great day.