August 2020: Isolation Month 6

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Viewed: 3/20/2023	Page Views: 540
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
The month began with planting bananas, and ended with cows attacking them.

This was the month that the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was held despite all warnings, producing an extra 250,000 coronavirus cases and costing us taxpayers something like $16 million in medical costs, not to mention an additional 1000 deaths, thus proving that #Trumpsters are, indeed, the selfish fucking bastards we all knew they were. However, here in Maui the disease seems to remain pretty well controlled, thanks to our Democratic governor and mayor, and a cooperative populace that has always understood the value of living together without harm.

Going Bananas

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/2/2020	Page Views: 581
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
The poor plants can't survive on their own.

On our property we have five clusters of banana trees. They have not been cared for for some time, at least several years. And bananas are one of the few food plants on Earth that cannot prosper on its own; it needs at least some human intervention. For example, the baby banana trees (called "keikis" here in Hawaii) grow in the middle of a cluster; but they will suffocate there if the parents' dead leaves aren't removed. And they won't prosper (and produce bananas) until they are placed where they can get plenty of air and sunshine for themselves.

A Wasted Trip

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/7/2020	Page Views: 448
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Our car wasn't there, after all.

According to the Matson, website, today was to have been the day Keith and I were finally reunited with our car, which has been languishing in a garage in Long Beach, California, lo, these many months. And, as a side benefit, I had a lead on the mysterious (or, at least, hard-to-pin-down) County of Maui department that could give us a physical address, good for getting mail too big for a post office box, and for getting registered to vote.

Surf's Up at Hana Bay

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/9/2020	Page Views: 464
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Some new views of Hana Bay Beach from the wharf.

Today's highlight came after we went to pickup the mail. On the way home, I decided to take a peek at Hana Bay Beach. The bay itself is protected; but even it was pretty choppy; and the waves beyond were quite large. This was not a surprise; since we had a hurricane pass by just a week or so ago. But it did make for some nice pictures.

Reunited And It Feels So Good

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/10/2020	Page Views: 470
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Our car finally arrives from the mainland we left five months ago.

Finally, after only one failed attempt, we picked up our car from the shipper's today!

Homebodies

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/11/2020	Page Views: 434
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
In this time of self-isolation, it's wise to develop the skill to make the most of it.

Back in the '80s I lived for a period in Nebraska. One day I took my wife and kids for a ride in the country, and when I saw a sign advertising fresh eggs for sale, I pulled in. An elderly man, presumably eager for a sale, came up to meet us. I had never bought eggs from a farmer before and so we started talking: First, on how to keep eggs fresh for six months (they needn’t be refrigerated), and then about him. He was 98 years old, he told me, and had been born in the same house he’s lived in ever since.

It's A Dog's Life

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/12/2020	Page Views: 462
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
Dogs give us so much. It's nice to be able to give back.

Each morning at sunrise I am awakened by my dogs, specifically Ella, who is quite certain when breakfast time is, and is unlikely to allow me to sleep past it. Nevertheless, I cherish this and all other moments with Ella and Lilly. They give us so much affection and laughter, not to mention a sense of security. Yet when I look back at how we got them here to Maui, it almost seems like a miracle that they got here at all.

Taking Out the Garbage

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/13/2020	Page Views: 475
Topics: #Coronavirus #Garbage #Maui
Where does your garbage go? What if you live on an island?

Since most of my readers are urbanites, I thought some might find how we get rid of garbage on Maui.

Growing Pot

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/15/2020 Posted: 1/18/2022	Page Views: 602
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
As my mother always used to say, I have a Brown thumb.

Medical marijuana is legal in Hawaii, and I have more than enough conditions to qualify for it. There are a couple of dispensaries on Maui, but the law provides for residents who live away from the cities to grow their own.

Dashing East to West

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/17/2020	Page Views: 475
Topics: #Coronavirus #DoorDash #Maui
If one must work, it's better to work in paradise.

In Arizona I worked for a company called Doordash, which delivers food from restaurants and grocery stores to people who prefer not to, or can not, go out themselves. In Mesa it was just a way to make a few extra dollars to supplement my Social Security. But now, in this time of the coronavirus, it can also be an act of mercy.

Here Comes The Sun

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/22/2020	Page Views: 475
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
We create an additional solar panel array.

We've been slaves to an electric generator for far too long. Time to cut that cord! —Oops, that's not what I meant.

Invasion of the Banana Smashers

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/26/2020	Page Views: 469
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
In which we learn that plastic ties aren't the equal of a thousand-pound bovine.

As you may recall, my grandson, Zach, fenced off a section adjacent to his ZachShack for the baby babana trees we transplanted a couple weeks ago. Zach returned to Arizona for a month, asking us to keep an eye on his banana garden. Well, the cows that graze our property apparently had their eye on it, too.

Cooling Off at Koki

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/28/2020	Page Views: 452
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
When it gets hot, the hot get to the beach.

In these final days of August, it has gotten as warm as we've seen it at our end of Maui. It's not really hot by comparison to the plus-100 temperatures we'd gotten used to in Arizona; but it's humid and our cabin has no air conditioning. So, when it's hot and not actually raining (and, sometimes when it is!), we run out to Koki Beach where we can splash and keep cool until the afternoon sun sinks and things get a little more comfortable.

Mouse Problems

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: 8/29/2020	Page Views: 456
Topics: #Coronavirus #Maui
And it isn't what you think. Well, it is, but also something else.

oday, Keith and the dogs and I made another supply run into Kahului. The trip itself was uneventful, so much so that I didn't even bother taking any photos until, on the way home, the light was hitting Haleakala just right. What we didn't realize was that, while we were away, the mice would play…