interesting developments

Today I decided that I had surfed enough, and really needed to seriously work on the tan. I actually made the decision last night. Good thing.

At 6:30, I looked out my wall of windows. There was much more activity from the lifeguards and waterfront staff than there had been all week. Hmmm. What was up? They were pulling buckets of water from close to the shore....looking in the bucket and discussing it between all 6 of them. They didn't dump the water out, they got a kitchen bucket and poured the sea water in there. Then I knew immediately what was up. I have been a lifeguard for 27 years. About 10 of those were ocean front. Jelly fish. And no sooner had I said it out loud on my balcony, another waterfront man emerged from the storeroom under the restaurant on the beach level with a warning sign & flag and a shovel to dig it's hole in the sand. The sign is funny. The crossing the street stick figure is floating in an inner tube and under the water line are little jelly fish! Good to know he gets to go to the beach instead of just being on street signs!

So now the plan to work on the tan at the pool turned out to be a good idea! I thought it would be prudent to get in line for my pool towels and to get a prime spot with a beach chair around the pool. This is a very interesting process. The pool area opens at 8am. So when I got there at 7:45 there were already 5 people in line. Most were enjoying a cup of coffee, person #4 coffee and the morning paper. Here's how it goes: you wait in line, the pool attendant hands a pad to fill out to the 1st person in line. He fills out his slip (Room #, # towels and signature) and he hands the pad & pen to the next person...and so on. I filled out my slip and passed it on. Not unlike taking the blue test booklets and passing back from college days! When the attendant opens the plastic chain each person takes their towels from a neat stack and they claim their chair/chairs. It is a very territorial process (apparently). Person #4 took 14 towels, and claimed the front row of the upper level for all 7 members of his traveling party. The row faces the ocean and is on the same level as the pool. Person #3 thought about taking one of those chairs, but person #4 said something that made person #3's head turn abruptly, and he re-thought his towel placement. I actually thought about shouting out, "You don't own those chairs," but I didn't know if he was the CEO of the resort and since it wasn't the chair I had pre-chosen, I kept my mouth closed! I chose a chair right in front of the pool, and in the row behind Person #4 and his 7 chairs. It was prime! It also faced the ocean, and since there was an aisle between the two rows, it wasn't any worse then front row man. Plus, I was one step from the pool! So, once your chair is chosen and you claim it with the striped towels you can leave for as long as you want. Pool chaise lounge decorum says once a chair is claimed, no one else can take it all day, until there is no towel on it! Who knew?! It's cool how people really do honor the towel!
After my conquest, I returned to my room to get my coupon for breakfast. By this time the sand was filling up with tourists and parents were setting up the umbrellas, while the kids took the inner tubes and ran to the water.....you remember, the water with the jelly fish! I counted over 100 people pass the jelly fish sign and take no notice. Glad I wasn't the lifeguard today. The one Adonis with the 18 pack abs was in the water more than I was today. Not that I was complaining have to watch him make the rescues! He was gorgeous! There were 95 jelly fish stings on Waikiki today - probably 35 at this one tower. Surfers were having to be towed in and I saw the lifeguards using gallon bottles of vinegar to quell the stings. The evening local news reported that they had removed over 350 jelly fish before 8am, but with the hot weather (90 degrees today) and higher tides, the jelly fish are around. I wonder how many stings there will be tonight while couples stroll along the water's edge, arm & arm, oblivious to what lurkes in the dark water?

Tomorrow's weather: carbon copy of today. I am going snorkeling tomorrow. Five people were stung by jelly fish at that particular location today. Hmmm. Great. I don't need that for a souvenir. I hate jelly fish.

My tan is perfect though! I have the perfect process for outdoor sunning: 1) Hawaiian Tropic all over front areas 2) lay on back for 15 minutes 3) dip in pool 4) lay on tummy, letting water evaporate 5) Hawaiian Tropic on back and legs 6) lay on tummy for 15 minutes 7) turn over to front and repeat. At every turn take a drink of water and viola! tan all over!!!

I did do some shopping tonight. Eight t-shirts for $18.00. Great deal. Andy got 2, Mike, Nathan, Carla, Cathy, Jenny, Brother-in-law Don (at sister's request). Then I got the $1 Haggen Dazs Chocolate cup at ABC Stores and made it back to my room! Tomorrow I have to get Christy, Ladennia, Tami, and Margaret a little something. Should be easy! I am on a roll now!

So Aloha for tonight. Snorkeling & jelly fish dodging tomorrow morning!