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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

FINALLY

SOMEONE WHO LISTENS

Judy and I had our Monday night dinner date. Went back to AROMA D'ITALIA RISTORANTE. She had the cheese ravioli and I had my usual spaghetti and meatballs. We shared an antipasto salad. As usual, the meal was excellent. As is par, we explained about Judy's allergy and got a surprise from our server, Robin. She was the first server that actually had a brain running on all cylinders. As she started to explain what the specials were for the evening, she paused and said, "I guess I can skip all the ones that are seafood then." Normally we explain the situation and then listen to the server rattle off the specials, including all the seafood ones, and Judy and I just look at each other. Didn't anything we just said make an impression between their ears? Robin was great and I gave her a $20 tip (on a $50 tab) at the end of the meal. She was also our server the last time we ate there.

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We had Kona winds throughout most of the day, gusting above 50 mph at times. Passing rain showers made the streets a bit slick. The winds didn't help the firefighting efforts up on Haleakala. These Kona winds were blowing the fire in the opposite direction from the previous week. The rain showers did little to retard the fire. On my way home, I could see how much larger it has become. I would guess it has charred over 3,000 acres by now. No structures are threatened and since fire burns uphill faster and easier than it does downhill, there just isn't that much to endanger. Very little construction above the 7,000 foot level. In fact, above 8,000 feet, there is very little fuel to feed the fire. No trees, scarce brush. Before the winds, the news reports said that the fire was 70% contained but not under control.

This is the latest news, from our local rag, The Maui News.

Here are the images they posted:


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You may have noticed that I have added some new blogs to the sidebar. All are unique but one I would like you to take special note of is Nains Bay. Located a distance outside of Goose Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada. Brian Willams is a native of Australia, Brisbane via Sydney, and writes about life in the far north, with beautiful pictures of the stark grandeur of his part of the world.



THE PICTURE GALLERY

THE BIG ISLAND

Kailua-Kona














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"Let's all be careful out there!"