The Nolans ready for take off!

Now it is the Nolans' turn to visit our family in Hawaii! It is so funny that, no matter how we talk and talk and try to explain the wonderful sights awaiting her, Maddy just has no clue what is in store! I can't wait to hear the tales she has to tell when she returns to the Eldoplex!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Meet "the crazy haired leprechaun from central Arkansas"! (Her mother gave her that title so I am not worried about hurting anyone's feelings!)

I sent this picture to my sisters in Hawaii; here are their responses:

BARBARA: "And what mischief is she going to be up to today, I wonder?"

JANE: "Is that a darling munchkin or what? She does look like the next photo would have her getting caught with her hand in the cookie jar! Precious!"

Both sisters included Jenny in their reply and this is what she answered: "Or chewing on a banana peel... 'cause that's exactly what she did this morning. Before she brushed her hair with the hand broom and crawled around the house with a rubber ducky in her mouth... little duck body poking out. She is a mess!"

Yes, Hattie is fitting right into this family!!!

Amber checked in from Okinawa

I mentioned in my last entry that I was still concerned about our niece (to be honest, our GREAT niece) who lives with her husband, Jeremy, in Okinawa. All is well with them. She is getting into facebook and she sent me a friend invitation. I just had to copy her profile picture to share. I can't wait to show this to Lucy, who is a prolonged Cinderella stage!

Tsunami watch in Hawaii

I have talked to my dad and gotten e:mails from both of my sisters so I know my family in Hawaii is safe. I almost hate to turn on the news tonight. So many tragedies - in so many locations!


I have called my brother-in-law to check on his granddaughter and her husband, who are stationed in Okinawa. He knew no details but had been told they were safe.


I am sad to report that La Mariana Sailing Club, a restaurant that I posted two pictures of during my Hawaii travelogue entries, was destroyed by the tsunami today. I am not at all suggesting that the loss of a business compares to the loss of life we will be hearing and reading about but it does merit mention since I had just told you all about the place.

3/17/11 Just saw a news clip, forwarded by my sister, Jane, reporting that the restaurant at La Mariana Sailing Club was NOT damaged - just the marina itself! The video showed an interview with a tearful employee guiding the TV camera through the restaurant. I learned some interesting things about "artifacts" I had seen but not fully appreciated. Thank you, Jane, for sharing this good news!

Jenny and friends after LR Marathon

Jenny and three of her friends ran the Little Rock marathon as a relay team. They completed the race in three hours and twenty eight minutes! CONGRATULATIONS to what had to be the cutest quartet competing!

Stephen's birthday present

Stephen let it slip that he envisioned a split rail fence on the property he and Jill have bought out by a lake. That was enough! His father-in-law took the idea and ran with it! Here is Stephen's birthday present:

Once again, Tom has proved that he has infinite patience! I would have had a huge bonfire long before this structure was successfully erected!

Talented granddaughters

Hannah is too good an actress - and someone else is too good a make-up artist!

I neglected to update you as to Hannah's success at the drama competition I mentioned a few weeks back. Her group won everything there was to be won and will represent Arkansas in the national (world?) competition in Nebraska in June! Hannah, herself, was named an All State Actress!!!! Way to go, Banana!!!

Lucy drew a princess for Papa. Notice the crown!

Hattie's learning about the world!

Look at our precious baby girl! She crawled over to the window to investigate what is happening out in the world!

Papa is always willing to lend a hand!

Who wouldn't wonder about Chiffa?

Hate that I look so greasy but the baby sure is cute!

Jason's Deli

These adorable photos were inserted in my original post and then they disappeared, replaced by a small red X. I have reposted them and have left my earlier comments where they were. I hope you can make some sense out of this journal entry!

After Grandparents' Day, Jenny, Lucy, Hattie, Mike and Diana Paul, and Tom and I went to Jason's Deli for lunch. (Side note: I have always wanted Jenny and Eric to name a little boy Jason because this restaurant - this particular one, not just one of the chain - is where Eric "made his move", which resulted in a wedding and two beautiful little girls! Jenny was moving from an apartment near the river to the top floor of a house just across the alley from Jill and Stephen. We had been shopping in antique stores/flea markets for a few pieces of furniture and decided it was time for lunch. Eric was there with some friends, including an ex-girlfriend, and, as we were leaving, he approached Jenny and walked to the parking lot with us. I went ahead and got into Jenny's car - and waited, and waited, and waited! Jenny gave him her phone number during that conversation and the rest is history! Each had known who the other was from medical school events but he was a class ahead of her so they did not run into each other often.)

I wish these pictures were posted in reverse order but, sometimes, I have no control over things like that! Look at that happy baby anticipating her first lick of that cone! It did not disappoint.

Lucy was sitting next to me as she literally wiggled with happiness and said, "I am just so excited that it is Grandparents' Day!"

Grandparents' Day at Lucy's school

Papa realizes more and more why he retired! Now he can go to Grandparents' Day at everybody's school!

Lucy's job on this particular day was scientist.

She spotted both sets of grandparents.

It was wonderful to see her interacting with both teachers and classmates. Jenny visited many schools in Little Rock well before they moved to town. I believe that her "due diligence" paid off because Lucy is very happy at her new school and the people at her new school seem to be very happy with her!

State Championship bling!

My boys with the Wildcats' back-to-back state championship trophies! (Notice Jimmy's rings!)



Tanya's pendant, made to resemble the coaches' rings

Jimmy's rings - the most recent is on the left

Lanier Elizabeth Fussell - overall 5th grade science fair winner!

Lanie Beth was the top prize winner in the recent science fair at Pulaski Heights Elementary!
Her problem had something to do with a pendulum but I have no clue what! CONGRATULATIONS, Lanie B.!!!

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 10

These two pictures belong in my last entry but they were determined to download sideways unless I used Picassa and I had already written lots using the blogger "new post" feature. I wanted you to see both how handsome Tom looked in his lei from Jane and the whale skeleton at the Bishop Museum!

On Thursday morning, we packed, washed sheets, said our phone good byes with Jane and Barbara, and Tom and Daddy continued their backgammon marathon. I tried several times but never did get a good picture of them as they played out on the 'breakfast lanai". Every time they are together they play BG until well into the night. If we are travelling, the BG board goes with us! I think Tommy ended up winning this time but only because Daddy suggested we return to the apartment after we finished lunch and before we went to the airport. I think they were tied before then - and that is amazing because they play hundreds of games!

Our trip home was blessedly uneventful! Flights were on time; layovers were long enough but not too long; the shuttle dropped us at our car - and we stayed awake all the way back to Sunny Brook Lane!!!!

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 9

Wednesday, February 15, was a very busy day - and it was planned to be that way. New carpeting was scheduled to be installed in the hallway of the 19th floor and tenants either had to be away from their apartment from 9 until 5 or be prepared to stay inside all day.

After getting so excited as we whale watched from the lanai on Sunday, we decided to take a whale watching excursion on the Star of Honolulu Wednesday morning. BIG mistake for me! I got sooooo seasick! Tom had a great time - but I know it would have been even more fun for him if he had not had to worry about his green wife! Daddy was with us too, and I think he had an OK time, but it was kind of old hat for him and it was pretty rough. Keeping your footing was more of a challenge than he had bargained for! Naturally, I did not think to hand my camera over to Tom so we don't have any pictures of the whales, who cooperated beautifully, even if the ocean they live in did not!

After we were back on dry land, we drove to Hawaii Kai to meet Jane for lunch. Usually Friday is the day for Dad and Jane's lunch date but, since Tom, Jane, and I were all scheduled to fly out on Thursday, we grabbed the lunch excuse for a little more time together. (Because of the situation in Oregon, Jane did not get to make her trip.) Jane brought us beautiful leis and, of course, the sisters cried.

That afternoon we went to the Bishop Museum. It is a fascinating place but I was distracted and didn't get as much from it as usual. For one thing, I was texting back and forth with the cuties in Oregon as I attempted to offer comfort and they responded with touching gratefulness. Another problem was that I had burned my arm pretty impressively on Tuesday evening and I kept making it bleed by banging it on arm rests and other obstructions!

On Wednesday night, Barbara came over to say "good bye" for this trip. She is not nearly as emotional as Jane and I are but it was still a tough parting.

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 8, Chapter 3

On Tuesday evening, after dinner, Tommy, Daddy, Barbara, and I were enjoying each other's company at 1901. Barb decided to call Jane to discuss packing up the print that Jane was going to take with her to Oregon in two days. Barb doesn't even get a sentence out of her mouth when her expression becomes horrified, worried, and confused. She hangs up the phone, gets to her feet, and heads for the door, calling over her shoulder that something has gone horribly wrong and she needs to call Jane again from her apartment. The three of us sit dazed in our chairs as we wait for her return. Her report upon arrival leaves us all shaken and feeling completely helpless. Jane has heard from Jed and Kim that Kim has had an MRI on her spine and lesions have been discovered there, as well as spots in one breast and one lymph node. (I have not given Jed and Kim - and their precious baby girls - the attention they deserve in this blog because of his job. I had written and posted a narrative with photos in sections in June when we met him in New Orleans. He, very reluctantly, had to call and ask me to remove it. I am hoping that, since I have attached no last name for them, it is OK to mention them here.) The doctor anticipated the worst possible scenario.

I will go ahead and tell you immediately that Kim has had biopsies on the spots found in her breast and lymph node - BENIGN - and a later one on the spinal lesions - BENIGN!!!! We are so grateful and joyful! The question of what the lesions are, if they are not cancer, has not been anwered yet but we are hopeful that the diagnosis will be one much less frightening than the one we were expecting.

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 8, Chapter 2

After visiting the Pali, we decided to eat lunch at La Mariana Sailing Club. Again, I will resort to copying from another source. LMSC's website has this to say:

Like an island oasis lays nestled within in the middle of the sea waiting to be discovered, La Mariana Sailing Club quietly rests, nestled along side Keehi Lagoon awaiting your arrival. Built in 1957 by Annette and Johnny Campbell as an affordable sailing club and marina, La Mariana Sailing Club has evolved into a 110 slip marina that hosts the last remaining orginal tiki bar and restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii.

I will post pictures of my dates for lunch.

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 8

On Tuesday we drove to the Pali Lookout. At this spot there is an opening in the Koolau Mountain Range. As a result, winds come whistling through the gap at amazing speeds! There are stories, which I ALMOST believe, of people trying to commit suicide by jumping from the cliffs but being blown back to safety by the winds. The view from the Pali is beautiful. My pictures do not come close to doing it justice.



Below you will see what is dubbed "the most difficult golf course in the world".

This plaque identifies the location of the Battle of the Nu'uanu Pali. "It was here in 1795 that King Kamehameha and his warriors defeated the O'ahu armies by sending them over these steep, forested cliffs and claiming his victory and uniting the Hawaiian Islands." (I borrowed the last sentence from an historical website.)

This photo shows Kaneohe Bay and much of the Windward side of the island.

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 7 (Always wear a Wildcat shirt when you are out of town!)

On Monday, Daddy and Tommy decided to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is a fascinating place but I have been several times and didn't feel that I would get nearly $100 worth of enjoyment (or learning) from it. I stayed at the apartment and played with my iPad, knit a little, wrote postcards, read, and enjoyed the view. When Barbara came home from work, we went in search of a business that would prepare a framed print, that Barb was going to re-loan to Jed and Kim, for transport to Oregon with Jane when she flew to the mainland on Thursday. We pretty much struck out. One young man suggested Barbara buy the supplies to pack it herself at PWS (Pack, Wrap, and Ship). Turns out there is one of those at the Sears in Ala Moana, right across the street from the apartments. I took my iPad because I wanted to download something from iTunes that needed a wi-fi network to be successful. We decided to meet at the Apple Store and separated. My download took no time but, when I tried to call Barb to rearrange our reunion, her phone was not on. (It seems as if Tommy is more like my youngest sister than I am. She does not turn on her phone unless she needs to call someone!!! Mine is on and within reach except when I am asleep!) Turned out to be a good thing that we did not connect 'cause we might have taken a different route home.

I was wearing a Wildcat state champs shirt tht evening, as I did for most of my trip; I have three from 2010 and two from 2009! We were walking along chatting when I heard a, not very loud, voice say, "Wildcats?" Another said, "El Dorado?' - and pronounced it correctly!!!! I turned to see two men, strangers, on a bench. I asked, "Where are you from?" They answered, "El Dorado." Still amazed, my brilliant reply was, "Arkansas?" Turned out both men were clients of Goodwin Animal Hospital and knew Tom well! One of the guys works for Murphy and his wife has a popular burger joint, Lipseys; the other man had been married to Tom's accountant. I still have not recovered from the "small worldness" of this encounter!