Today we did the whole Pearl Harbor tour in the morning. We saw the USS Arizona Memorial along with a video. You can also see the USS Missouri next to it. Super neat. Two survivors were also there that morning, signing and taking their pictures with people. The guy on the left was really spunky.
Tonight we are in Waikiki to continue the whole tourist thing. I definitly like Kailua better. Tourists are entertaining to watch but an overall pain in the ass. The beach is packed! Yuck!
Most of the pictures are on my camera but here are a couple of Pearl Harbor and the sunset in Waikiki.

This is sadly made for the white folk like me. I didn’t buy it. I just couldn’t.

Today, we went up to the North Shore to check out the surfers. That is usually where the professional surfers are but today was a big bummer as there were NO waves. Messed up I tell you. Consolation prize was getting to see 3 sea turtles about 10 feet away in the surf.

I’m staying with friends on the Marine Corp Base in Kailua. If you walk out into the front yard, you see the ocean. Love it!!! We ended up going to the Kailua Beach off the base this afternoon. The water is so green, it is beautiful. It puts San Diego to shame. Karen said it is usually really calm water but because it was really windy today, it was extremely choppy. We are heading to Pearl Harbor and Waikiki tomorrow, but when we get back to Kailua, I’m hoping the water will be back to its calm self.

The pictures are of Chinamen’s Hat, The Mountains from the show Lost, Kailua Beach, and Free Range Chickens where we ate lunch.

A 6 hour flight, delayed an hour and I’m finally here. Tomorrow we head to the North Shore. Pictures to come, currently too exausted.

I think it’s funny that every time Isaac goes into the kitchen, the dog follows him.  She’s knows…

Just boarded a plane to Detroit, then we’re on to San Diego!

This morning, Isaac and I left DC early to get to his Uncle Steve’s for lunch. All but one of Isaac’s cousins were there as well as a few aunts and uncles. It was pretty fun, everyone was very nice and inviting. Steve and Corbin have a beautiful home with a lot of property that reminded me of my parent’s land in MN. He also gave us a tour of the camp that Martha grew up on. Amazing! It makes me wish I could have gone there.
Now to finish sorting art before bed.

Isaac and I decided earlier this week to take a day trip overnight vacation to DC. He hadn’t been since he was ~12 so it was pretty fun. We hit up the National Gallery and saw Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Johns, Calder, and a ton of other artists I studied in college. Next, Isaac got his airplane fix at the Air & Space Museum. It was fun to watch his eyes light up.
We searched for the portrait of Colbert but were told it was put in storage. Sadness. We did, however, see Kermit and the Ruby Slippers at the American History Museum.
It was really windy and chilly today so we skipped walking the monuments & memorials. We did walk around the White House and found a nice local pub for dinner. Overall, it was a great day.

This morning I spent a few hours going through Isaac’s Grandmother’s art. She was an amazing printmaker & painter who has tons apon tons of work. For our wedding present, we are to pick our a couple pieces. We already have 3 works of hers on our walls that Isaac & his Mother picked out before Ruth died. It took me a while but I found a few that I love. I also have the task of helping Martha (Isaac’s mom) long distance going through the work and picking out Japanese inspired works for shows as well as for colleges and universities to have in their collections.
I think I still have a few more hours of work left sifting through.
The pictures are of some of her work. The colorful Surrealism ones are what I picked for our wedding present. ‘Strange Landscape with Chair’ & ‘Strange Landscape with Electrical Plugs’. Fits us perfectly!
The others are oil painings (trees) and an etching.

This afternoon, Isaac and I took a trip to the Confederate Museum in downtown Richmond. We decided to get a tour of the White House, which was the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the war. The history is amazing. So many of the pieces were originals from the 1800’s, my favorite being the Colt Revolver Rifle they have hanging in the museum. The house was beautiful as well. It was in great shape, surrounded by the city hospital. Quite an odd pairing of buildings.
The pictures are of the Virginia Conf.Flag, the White House and General Lee’s tent (everything is the original).