Big Isle Adrift

Hello freinds and family,

My first week (and a half or so) has ended here in Hilo, Hawai'i and what an experience it has been thus far. Sarah and I had a wonderful time vacationing while she was here, but unfortunately she couldn't stay any longer and had to jet back to AZ. Thanks to her, she made my first week so much easier by doing little things such as buying me pillows, towels, and decorations that made my apartment here a little more home like. With her generocity and support it gave me some real confidence in my first real week of work at the Bay Clinic. Thanks baby...I owe you so much.

So how was work you ask? I think overall, it went very very well. I'm starting to fit into a grove and feel like I have a good feel on the Director of MIS reigns . I'm excited because there are a lot of projects that I can undertake this year and it seems that the Executive staff is very supportive and committed to growth. I won't kid ya, there is a lot to do here. But I couldn't ask for a better supporting structure to aid me. Can't get into the details of all of it now, but just know that it's "so far...so good".

My weekend has come and gone...flew by before it even started. Still looking for a new place to live...have a few ideas and will be looking at some of them today. Got a chance to hike Mauna Kea which was amazing. I'll post some pics here in a few. Speaking of posting pics...finally purchased a digital camera. Yes it's true, the IT dude finally dives fully into the digital pool . I've always wanted one but the prices were always, well...pricey, and why buy one when I can borrow Lisa's everytime I take a trip anyway. My new prize is the Canon 6 Megapixel Powershot SD 630. It performed brillantly through my rough tests this past weekend. Went on the Kona side again yesterday but arrived late. Couldn't get any beach pics like I wanted but I did take a nice pic of the Costco while I was there...so that's something. Found a great sushi restaurant...if you have a chance I highly recommend you sampling some of the cusine at Kenichi Pacific. Get the Kona Special Roll! Still looking for anything resembling a volleyball or a softball league and having no success. Tried the Y and online and nada. Hoping the Parks and Rec Dept here can point me in the right direction. Wish me luck.

Oh before I forget, considering this new land that I'm living is always undergoing some sort of radical environment changes, I've decided to sign off by giving you a Geology and Meterology update to my environment, I call it J's "Holy Crap what's going down now!" update. Now mind you, i'm not a paranoid person and believe the worst may occur...a.ka. a Doomsday clock or something. It's just things are constantly going on here...and it's much different than the sleepy-nothing-ever-happens-but-heat environment in Phoenix. I'm hoping it will make me appreciate and give you an idea where I am now and where you are and all of that jazz. So here it is...enjoy.

Holy Crap what's going down now!

Earthquakes?: Nothing in Hilo...some baby one's down in in HVNP like always.
Tsunamis?: Hawai'i was under TSUNAMI WATCH on the 12th from the 8.2 earthquake off the coast of Japan. I heard it caused a 4" wave that hit the Islands here. Ya, nothing to really make any note of.
Volcanoes?: Ya, there are a bunch here. Only Kilauea is still brewing and churning and spitting out some lava in the park.
Hurricanes?: Not quite the season for it.
Floods?: It's been rainy but not like that.
Landslides?: Nuttin...
Rosie O'Donnell?: No sitings to report

Aloha for now...

J