12.23.09 /12.24.09 Ahh crap it's time to go home

I woke up feeling like the vacation had just started; definitely not the feeling of it was ending. We all had smoothies on the porch for breakfast, I loved out ocean view! Packed up the condo and said asta pasta it’s beach time! Mom had a fun experience of a bird getting stuck in the room as we were leaving, oh Mom and birds. We were homeless in the cabana but decided we should soak some rays there and chitchat with our new buddies from Canada. Joel got the surf check call and plans were shifted. Joel and Ash headed to Kannapali Point and we were quick to follow. It was lunch at the Hula Grill! We started and ended our trip with one my favorite places to go. Again with the whales! We sat in the barefoot bar, ate in the sun and watched the whales play - it was pretty unreal. After lunch it was goodbye to the brother and ash and off to the rest of the day. We headed to Paia.. odd little town. It was quaint and a different scene that we were used to. We walked around the town a little and found the Jesus ice cream so of course I had to get some. Paia’s surf break was all over the place, looked a lot like home. It was definitely a local hang out. It was disturbing seeing a 12-year-old boy drinking and taking hits on the beach with hit buddies. But it’s a town worth checking out if your looking for a rural touch. Time was crunching and the sun was setting so we headed towards the airport. We got to some shopping center that Mom wanted to check out. We did that for a few (maybe a few too long for Dad and I) but we had beach time everyday, so it was Mom’s time to get what she liked best. We had Maui Taco’s for dinner, something I kept seeing on the island and wanted to try. They were okay but nothing to rave about. It might have been the fact I wasn’t super hungry but Dad really liked ‘em, so maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. With a quick stop to stock up on travel snacks we were on our way. The line to check in was nutto. Yes it’s the holidays so we should expect that but it was all due to this basketball team. The entire team had to print their tickets and pay with cash, a team of high school boys - bugger! After that experience we were off through customs. On the plane and getting settled for our first section of the way home. Then it happened. This guy on the plane was all stressed out that some one was in his seat and he was cursing at the flight attendant. He was super angy and was the little man syndrome sorta bra with tattoos down his arms, totally ripped on roids. The flight attendant was having nothing of it and within minutes he and his wife and baby were off the plane. They kicked him off, it was a weird thing to watch unfold. That poor wife of his. It’s Christmas Eve Eve, come on dude! The first leg of our trip was from Maui to L.A, I selpt most the way but caught a bit of our movie “Four Christmas’s”. Now we are sitting in LAX in wait for the next leg. Using air miles have forced us into a less than impressive trip home. We sit here for a 3 hour lay over and then to San Fran, change planes and off to PDX. We started our departure 10:30 p.m. the 23^rd - Hawaii time and sounds like we will be ending it 12:00 p.m. the 24^th - Oh wow, Merry Christmas Eve! The sun is just now rising and it’s beautiful. It’s a deep golden yellow to a vibrant purple painted across the entire sky. The plane ride to San Fran was a short one but I always find humor in plane rides. Then from San Fran it was a dash to get to our gate to go to PDX. We landed and got our bags and were on our way. But we had to grocery shop first and get some food. Then it was home, shower, change and off to church. Then from the Christmas Eve service it was back home for chowder and family time with my aunt and uncle and cousin. Phew what a day.