April, 2020: Isolation Second Month

We spent most of the month of April, Maui's first full shutdown month, exploring our property and getting used to long-term camping, as well as saying goodbye to Jenny and the kids, who found a way to return to Arizona. Also, I got sick. At the time I thought it was simple food poisoning and it may well have been, at least, partially. But months later it would come back to haunt me.

The Kitchen Sink

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/28/2020		Page Views: 482
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Cows trample but we rescue an essential item.

Despite the indications that today would be another rainy day, we went upstairs to check on things, and found the cows had been at it again, having knocked over several of Jenny's solar yard lights as well as Zach's kitchen sink.

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Cows!

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/1/2020		Page Views: 711
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Lilly is partly Australian Cattle Dog, and she knows what to do with cows.

This morning we awoke to cows on our lawn. That's happened before, but this time, Lilly noticed them. She's an Australian Cattle Dog mix, and apparently herding cattle is in her genes.

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Metalworking

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/2/2020		Page Views: 717
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
I learn a new skill.

This morning was a beautiful, bright, clear day. Zach rode down to the shed in the quad to request my assistance "upstairs", cleaning metal.

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The Kitchen Sink

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/28/2020		Page Views: 701
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Cows trample but we rescue an essential item.

Despite the indications that today would be another rainy day, we went upstairs to check on things, and found the cows had been at it again, having knocked over several of Jenny's solar yard lights as well as Zach's kitchen sink.

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Drawing Water

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/4/2020		Page Views: 676
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
My grandson learns about the water tank.

This morning, it looked like it was going to rain again. We had to make the short drive into Hana for ice, but other than that, intended to hang out at the property.

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Smallpox, Coronavirus, and Living in Isolation

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/4/2020		Page Views: 717
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
A number of people, throughout history, have found a way to avoid sickness.

When I woke it wasn't raining, but looked like it would, soon. I went to the bathroom (outside) while I could. Sure enough, the clouds started rolling down from Haleakala and, while there have a been a few breaks, for the most part today is a downpour and Keith and I are stuck inside.

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Bathing In Maui

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Posted: 4/6/2020		Page Views: 714
Topics: #Travel #Health #Coronavius #Maui
Our shower runs cold but beautiful.

Eventually, perhaps even in a week or two, we expect to have a real shower with hot water. But, in the meantime, we have to take about a 1000-foot walk and the shower is cold…and beautiful!

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A Yard Full of Cows, a Sky Full of Stars

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Posted: 4/7/2020		Page Views: 703
Topics: #Travel #Health #Coronavius #Maui
No matter the time of day or night, there's always something to see here.

Today we designated for a supply run into Kahului.

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Growing Older in the Time of Coronavirus

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Posted: 4/8/2020		Page Views: 680
Topics: #Travel #Health #Coronavius #Maui
Today I turned 69 years old.

I know a number of people who love having birthday parties so everyone will tell them how wonderful they are. I'm the opposite. I love having birthday parties so I can see in person how wonderful my friends and family are. But there'll be none of that this year, because this month there will be no parties, thanks to the coronavirus. And so, I turn 69 today without a party.

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Road Block

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Posted: 4/10/2020		Page Views: 697
Topics: #Travel #Health #Coronavius #Maui
You get tested…and you get tested…Everybody gets tested!

However, once in Hana, we found the Post Office was closed completely. And then we spotted a road block, with cars extending out of sight down the road. I had to drive half a mile in the wrong direction, just to get in line. And I was pissed. There was no way I was going to be able to make my appointment on the other side of the island.

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4-Wheelin'

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Posted: 4/11/2020		Page Views: 694
Topics: #Travel #Health #Coronavius #Maui
In the last third of my life, I have taken up off-roading.

One of the toys we have on the property is a 4-wheel all-terrain vehicle, also known as a "quad". Although any good 4-wheel-drive vehicle can get up and down the road to our cabin, the quad is really essential for more off-track destinations. It's also a good workhorse for carting things around the the property, like 5-gallon jugs of water, gasoline, or building materials. So, it makes sense that I learn to drive one.

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Easter In Quarantine

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/12/2020		Page Views: 711
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui #Easter
The grandtoddlers go hunting for eggs.

Our family tradition has always been to go to some park or garden to hunt for Easter eggs. The property would have qualified, but it was raining heavily here; so, after breakfast, Keith and I made the 1.5 hour drive into Pa'ia where Jenny's B&B has a generous yard, so the kiddos wouldn't miss out on Easter despite it being in the Time of Cornavirus.

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Construction In The Rain

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Posted: 4/13/2020		Page Views: 703
Topics: #Travel #Health #Coronavius #Maui
The guys who are doing work on the property, had to do it in the rain.

Today we stayed on property except to check mail and get ice. But there was plenty going on here, as the construction guys were working furiously to beat two days' of predicted rain.

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After The Rain

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/14/2020		Page Views: 711
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
A green mess.

Yesterday's rain not only continued but accelerated and lasted through the night, revealing new leaks in our cabin roof (mostly around the skylights). But in the morning it was clear and Ella was happily enjoying both the sun and the damp grass.

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Emergency Room

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Posted: 4/16/2020		Page Views: 702
Topics: #Travel #Health #Coronavius #Maui
What happened when I went to the emergency room NOT with coronavirus.

Keith and I just had food poisoning.

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Sheltering In Place

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/17/2020		Page Views: 730
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Beautiful pictures from the property where we're quarantined.

So the phrase being used is "sheltering in place". It refers to huddling down whereever one happens to find oneself when a crisis situation occurs (such as coronavirus). I am so grateful every day that Keith and I managed to move here, which we were planning to do anyway, before the Shutdown happened.

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Meet Hana Health

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/18/2020		Page Views: 735
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Needing a leg to stand on.

Today dawned beautifully (after a lot of rain yesterday and last night) but brought with it a new problem: The IV site from my emergency room visit had become infected (even though it had been cleaned and bandaged by the ER nurse). Worse, my bad leg—the scarred one that suffered from flesh-eating bacteria— felt as if it was infected. It was bright red, and my foot was horribly swollen. So, another medical visit seemed prudent. But I wasn't willing to drive 2 hours to Kahului to return to Maui Memorial (especially after the awful experience I'd had there, with the infected IV site just adding injury to insult. So I decided to try the local Hana Health place even though it seemed very small.

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A Trip To The Mall

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/20/2020		Page Views: 714
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Eerily deserted.

Today we had to make a supply run to "the other side" (Kahului). I hate going to often because it's a long drive; and I don't like the exposure. But I've also never camped for such an extended period, and the supplies we need include, not just food (we still don't have a reliable means of keeping food cold), but extension cords, hooks, paper plates, and other random stuff.

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Redecorating

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/21/2020		Page Views: 701
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
The shed has gotten too disorganized.

An odd thing has happened. I've started waking up early, like around sunrise, more often than not. And I'm not tired; I feel rested and ready for the day. And I decided: this would be the day I reorganized our living quarters.

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Building the Solar Array

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/22/2020		Page Views: 695
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
We may be off the grid but not in the 1800s.

Today the workmen started on the wooden framework that is to hold the array of solar panels we intend will eventually provide all our electrical power, rather than the generators we are now using (and which are very expensive in terms of the gasoline they use to run.)

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Wildlife

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/23/2020		Page Views: 709
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
In addition to cows and horses, we share our land with wild pigs, centipedes and even pheasants.

Today marks one of the few that Keith and I have the property to ourselves. The workmen had another job to run to; and Jenny and my grandkids (including grown-up Zach) were not coming out today. But when the humans are away, the animals will play.

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We Get A Porch!

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/24/2020		Page Views: 722
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
The latest addition to our Maui home. Also, cows!

There's a tarped structure on the upper level that I've had my eye on for awhile. It would be perfect for a porch for our shed. I mentioned it to Jenny, who was on property today trying to get things tidied up a little. And the next thing I knew, she was delivering the tent-like thing via quad!

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The Solar Shed

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/25/2020		Page Views: 713
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Assembling the shed for the batteries.

Working on a project like getting this property ready to live on is a big deal, and there are a lot of elements that are like dominos: One must fall before the next step can be started. For example, the guy who connects the solar panels to the batteries and electronics can't do that, until the Solar Shed has been completed.

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Jenny's Flight Home

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/26/2020		Page Views: 922
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Who cares how dangerous it is. Let the kids fly!

So, today is the day Jenny and the kids left on a private jet for Arizona. And I was needed to help out with logistics. Specifically: Zach's truck needed to be returned to the property. So I volunteered to spend a last night at Jenny's B&B (while Keith remained on property with the dogs), from which I would help take them to where their jet was to take off, then drive Zach's truck home.

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Finally! The Solar Shed is Completed

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 4/29/2020		Page Views: 682
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
The Solar Shed is finally completed. Also, we try a new shower.

After several days in which nothing could really be done because of rain, today we were promised a day of sunshine and the return of the workers to finish the Solar Shed.

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