[Fred Douglass]

Back from 15+ days (and four of eight islands) in Hawai'i!!! Gotta say driving "The Road to Hana" (on Maui) really requires a Cobra! Two helicopter rides (Big Island and Kauai) were worth the trip in themselves! Didn't compute the angle of the "winter" beach profile too well while body surfing-----one-point landing on the outermost of my chins.....ar-ar-ar-ar

Looked around for Excaliber's cobra in Honolulu/Oahu but dint find it.....(lucky for him!)..

Went climbing for 3/4 hour in rainforest/jungle----looking for an audible (but unseen) waterfall. Wifey loved it! Wait, lemme check my notes........ar-ar-ar-ar.

Nonetheless, I survived--even lived through the Crudes-Ship experience. I must say, re the latter-----Americans are REALLY dressing down and bulking up nowadays. I felt positively svelte next to some of these Hindenbergs. Rare is the waheine who outweighs me (I'm a slim and sexy 250# nowadays) but they were there in abundance. And..since when are dungaree "half-pants" and wife-beater shirts de rigeur for dinnah! Krikeys!

On the very last day (12/23) did my Christmas shoppin' in downtown Waikiki. Also acquired a good dose of Delhi-Belly----which didn't kick in to full "party-favor"* mode until I got home (thank Zeus!)!!!

Ar-ar.

Ronnie W., ever the gentleman, has typically offered to help me post some of my horrific evendentiary photos in my Gallery. Gawd he'p y'all, if I ever get around to that! Thanks and happy birthday, Ron!

*remember the old party-favors which shot stuff outta bofe ends? Ar-ar-ar-oooooooogle (yick!)