only backgroundI'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.
Archive for the ‘Kauai’ Category
Those who know me in real life as well as those who have been following my blog for a while, know that my husband and my sons have all worked in Hawaii. Specifically, they’ve traveled to the island of Kauai to help our friend build a unique, quality home in Anini Vista. I’ve posted pictures of the home here and there, though we have hundreds of the building process, and actually have some photos of the empty lot with nothing but block laid out on that rich red soil where a house would someday stand.
The home is now finished and is on the market. I’ve tried to find words to describe it but can’t. Magnificent isn’t quite enough. Spectacular doesn’t capture it. Breathtaking is an understatement. This is a house that you have to see to truly appreciate. It’s casual elegance and top quality craftsmanship. It’s a home like no other.
Don’t believe me? Well, just take a look. Visit Hanapai North Shore Kauai for a tour of the home that my husband and sons helped to build. The home has 50 arches, all built by my husband. My son, Jesse, built the bridge over the salt-water pool and moved the rocks to create the unique lagoon landscaping as well as the stone grill.
Take a photo tour of the house and grounds or watch a video walk-through. Then imagine that what you’re seeing is only a fraction of the true beauty of this place.
Okay, I know that most of us – maybe even all of us reading this now – can only dream of ever living in place like this. I know I feel privileged to be married to the guy who did all the masonry on it, and very fortunate to have been able to swim in that pool! Somewhere out there, though, is the right person for this house. Someone who has the means to buy this house and will truly appreciate the work that went into it is out there, I just know it. I don’t know if that person will read my blog or not but if he or she does, there will be no doubt this is the right home.
If you’re interested in purchasing this exquisite home, head on over to the Hanapai North Shore Kauai site and contact Linda Kelly about it. Make sure you tell her that Marisa sent you. And let me know by posting here, too. I’m anxious to find out who this home calls out to and who answers that call.
Even if you can’t afford it, you can still let me know what you think of it. We can all dream about it together while we wait to find out who is lucky enough to live in it.
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I hate when I don’t have time to blog. It’s one thing to not blog because there’s nothing to say, which isn’t often the case for me, but it’s another to have so many things going on that just sitting down to type it all out takes more free time than is available. Like now.
The good news is that things should get back to normal soon. The bad news is that until next week, my life will be whirling around me at record speed. The good news is that I may get to travel later this summer. The bad news is that right now, I must stay put.
Okay, enough with the mystery. My husband will be leaving on Tuesday for Hawaii. He’ll be there at least until June and possibly longer. If 2 months turns into 6 or more months, then there’s a good chance I’ll go over for a few weeks this summer. I’ve been there in March, April, May and June; I’ve never been there in July or August. Maybe this year I’ll get to experience the islands during the hot summer months.
I have a trip scheduled for Florida in September so whatever I do it will have to work around that. For now, life is just hectic. Trying to pack the husband’s clothes, get things in order and that kind of thing takes most of my time. I’ll get to catch my breath Tuesday afternoon and then it’s a week of appointments until the weekend. AND THEN… blogging as usual.
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I always hesitate to post these things. I always do, but still, I wonder if I’ll jinxed it somehow. I guess I figure that if I mention it to people who are so inclined, someone reading this may remember me when they say their prayers. The more people praying, the better, right?
Jesse called about a very large house being built on a prime piece of real estate, not far from the house he’s currently finishing. Either the builder or the owner has seen Jesse and Brian’s work and has asked Jesse for a bid. Jesse is going to look at the job but told me that it’s really big and he won’t be able to do it without his dad.
You do understand what that means, right? It means we go back to Hawaii. It means Hawaii long term, not a few weeks. So I could go in March, and then again when the kids get out of school. And maybe again for our anniversary. Or something like that.
Seriously, the thought of this is just so overwhelming. Every time an opportunity in Hawaii comes up, I get anxious. I know that there’s a possibility that it could fall through. I know things may not work out. But I can still pray that it does work out. And if you’re so inclined, please say a little prayer for this, too.
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Jesse called me today. It seems someone has made an offer on the house. Bob and Linda thought they’d be living it in it for a while but now it doesn’t look that way. The offer was good enough for them to change their plans. I don’t think I should give an exact amount but I will say there are seven zeros.
Jesse is still living in the same place. He’s gotten a number of offers to from other contractors so I’ll still have a place to visit when I get a yearning for sunshine, blue skies and paradise. It just won’t be the same, though, without our visits to Anini Vista and the beautiful house on the bluff.
I just realized that with prices the way they are there, I’ll probably never get to call Kauai my home. I’ll have to wait until the end, and hope my family carries out my instructions to have my ashes tossed into the ocean off the north shore. I write that wish in my blog every year or so in the hopes that someone pays attention and does as I’ve instructed.
But I sure wish I could just live there now. Or soon. I miss Kauai.
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I’ve been silently lamenting the fact that we missed our opportunity in 2001 to buy property on Kauai at a reasonable price. Since then, property values have skyrocketed and there’s just no way that a non-multimillionaire can afford even a small lot on that island today. That just makes my heart ache.
Of course, had we bought 6 years ago, it would have turned out to be very valuable investment property. At least that’s how most people would see it. To me, it would have simply meant that I had my spot reserved for when I’m ready to live in paradise.
Someday, I’ll be able to call Kauai home. That may be the day my ashes are poured into the ocean off of Hanalei Bay from a boat, but it will happen.
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Right now, I ought to be preparing to head back to Hawaii. Since Brian came home early, that trip has been postponed. (Not cancelled!!) Brian may or may not go back in the fall; Jesse will likely be there for quite a while. So I’ll have to plan my vacation to visit my son.
When we went to Hawaii in March, our travel agent bundled our car and flight together. The rate was okay but it cost extra to add my husband and Jesse. That bothered me. And since Jesse is 25, it cost even more to add him. Plus, the car we got wasn’t all that nice. Certainly not the car I would have preferred. But adding the extra drivers took up the extra money I had to spend on the rental car.
Oh, but things have certainly changed for my next trip! When I head back to Kauai in September, I’m booking a Jeep Wrangler through Hawaii Jeep Rental Service. I’m so excited to have this website that I can barely even write about it. Seriously. Do you have any idea how much better it will be to drive a Wrangler in Kauai rather than a Cobalt or Malibu? Yeah, like night and day.
Hawaii Jeeps is actually a service that works with three major Rental Companies: Thrifty, Budget and Dollar. So why would you go through Hawaii Jeeps? Well, how about the fact that with Hawaii Jeeps, you don’t pay extra for an additional driver? Or how about not having to pay extra for that additional driver between the ages of 21-25?
Perhaps best of all, the rates are very reasonable. There’s only a slight difference in price between the Wrangler and Cherokee; I just prefer the Wrangler. If I were taking a few kids, the Cherokee would be a better choice.
For those who have been following my Hawaii posts, you know that with all my trips to Kauai, I’ve always wanted to hop over to Molokai for a day or two but so far, haven’t been able to do that. There’s really no reason not to do that this time, though. Hawaii Jeeps also serves Molokai! Yes, I can get a jeep for Molokai for two days! It turns out that Dollar, one of the Hawaii Jeep partners, is the only rental company offering Jeeps on Molokai.
You have no idea how I wish I’d known about this site in March. I’m disappointed in myself for not finding it until now. But I have found it and I just can’t wait to book my Wrangler. This is one of those “must have” sites for Hawaiian vacations.
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Jesse called last night. The cable at the house is in Nick’s name and Jesse wants it transferred to his. Instead, we just went to the oceanic.com site and set up an account to pay the bill online. That way, if Jesse decides he doesn’t want to stay on Kauai, we can cancel the account online, too. We’ll just have to return the equipment first.
I have a feeling Jesse may be ready to come back anyway. I don’t think he’d admit it but I have a feeling he misses his dad and his brother. No matter you rage or how well you can fend for yourself, it sure is nice to have family around.
Of course, I’m a good mother so I’ve offered to come to Kauai and take care of Jesse whenever he wants. He always laughs and says, “Okay, mom” like I’m joking or something. I’m not. I’ll gladly travel across the world to take care of my boy. 
Maybe I should just book a flight a surprise him.
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Cass over at Digicass.com loves candles and posted a picture of her candles today. Then she challenged everyone to post a picture of something they love.
Well, I love my family but I don’t think I have a picture with everyone in it. My family is big and spread out and stuff. So I had to think a little bit about this. I love my dog, my Stratton Compacts, my dandelion collection, my computers. Hmmm…. what to choose?
Then it hit me! What have I been aching for over these past 2 weeks? Where is it that I want to be right now? Yep, that’s right. Hawaii. Or, more specifically, my beloved island of Kauai. That’s what I love. So here is a picture taken the day before we left my heart’s home.
Isn’t it just gorgeous?
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Now that I’m back home and settling in, I’m realizing that there are some things that I just miss way too much. Like this morning, all I wanted was a Smoothie from Banana Joe’s.
Banana Joe’s is a small fruit stand that also offers the best all-fruit smoothies and frosties ever. No sugar, milk or juice added. Both concoctions are made with just fruit. The Smoothies are the consistency of milkshakes; frosties are like soft serve ice cream.
Banana Joe also sells my favorite Kona coffee. I bought several pounds of it and had it shipped just before we left the island. I hope it gets here soon! I brought one bag with me in my suitcase but it won’t be long before it’s gone. I sure do like drinking Kona coffe.
Oh, and I got to talking to the lady who opens up in the morning. She’s lived in Hawaii all her life but her mom is originally from West Virginia. Small world, isn’t it?
Just in case you’re traveling on Kauai’s north shore and want to stop by Banana Joe’s, this is what you’re looking for. It’s just past the turnoff for the Kilauea lighthouse, on the left if you’re coming from Kapaa. Tell them Marisa sent you!
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One should ideally browse through different vacation packages before finally deciding upon one. It does not make a difference if the vacation is a cruise one or comprises of a number of flights to a distant exotic destination. What matters are small details like getting discount airline flights and other deals like cheap car rental etc. With cheap flights, one can spare more for other expenses of the vacation. In fact, with enough savings, one can even stay at las vegas resorts.
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Did I mention how relaxed Brian looked in Hawaii? Well, he did. He went to work each morning in a really great mood and came home just for lunch still happy. And when the guys were done with work and came back to the house for supper, everyone sat around and laughed and talked.
So very unlike home.
I think the biggest difference for Brian is not having to worry about so many things on the job. He still has responsibility but it’s limited to the actual work being done. Back home, Brian had to worry about every little detail. Like the time someone complained about the noise of the mortar mixture which prompted a safety official to show up and inspect every detail of the job. Most of the infractions were small but Brian was not happy about having to purchase a fuel transfer tank for the gasoline and one for the kerosene that they used on the job.
In Hawaii, those kinds of things are not Brian’s responsibility. Bob takes care of that kind of stuff. All Brian has to do is make sure the stone and concrete work is done properly. That’s a big job but it’s what Brian loves.
And to look at his face, you can see that he’s doing what he loves.
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