Lucky Lucy

So this is in regards to the house cat of the clinic I work. She past away after living a very long and relatively healthy life I think. Our morning kennel guy wrote the ode to Lucy and asked if I could put a visual to it. Its kinda rough but I like the outcome for what it is. She really liked Green Mill Hamburger. 

Not much left to say

I will come back to Maui. I'm sure there are other amazing islands I need to fall in love with along with the amazing wildlife under water in their own reefs. But this place feels good. 

Yesterday I got back to Makena Bay. Swam all the way out to Turtle Town. Thought it was going to be a bust but given time. Out of the blue we were visited by another sea turtle. Swam along with us for a good half hour. Soon enough we were trailing behind it as it went to the South part of the bay. It brought us to this amazing reef. Nothing like Molokini or the open flat reefs we were so use to swimming over. This was that kind of reef where there are mountains and valley's!

Fish of all different shapes and colors. The clicking noise of fish eating away and the wash of the current pushing you through and along with the schools of fish through the reef. It was unreal and so enjoyable. 

I hate that MN is so far away from such sights. I would trade pine trees, snow, squirrels, deer and of course our state bird the mosquito for this every time I went out to play outside.

I head to the airport within the next hour. I'm all cleaned, packed up and as ready to go as I can be. Taking as many deep breaths as possible. The sea air is so clean and refreshing. No allergies, no stuffy or dry nose.  Clean soft rain, hot sun, cool breeze. Thick jungle and bright saturated colors. THIS IS PARADISE!

Delays, delays

I apologize for the lack of post but the last two days were pretty exciting. Well yesterday more then the last. My minimal yard work consisted of mowing the 2 acres, taking down 7 trees and dragging them over the cliff and doing some hedge clipping all around the resort walkways. Refilling the washed out gravel and collecting palm fronds from all over and bringing them to the farthest side of the grounds. 

But it was all worth the work out. I was able to leave to spend the night down in Kihei since Susan was able to line me up with a free tour of Molokini and whats known as Turtle Town. So down off Makena Bay they picked us up in an awesome 61' Sail boat and in a matter of 15 min.  had arrived to the Molokini Crater! Jumped off the boat from the diving ledge and right as the bubbles cleared away all I could see was a school of very curious black triggerfish. Below you could see the coral shelf rising all the way to the sides of the crater wall. Closer inspection showed even more!

Rainbow, and striped parrot fish, 3 different types of box fish, a peacock and spotted groupers (baby sized so about as big as my forearm) butterfly and angel fish! An ungodly amount of tang fish. More I didn't recognize. I was worried they were going to force us to use snorkel gear and flotations. But instead I was free to choose, so of course I kept my goggles and flippers which were far better then what they offered. I was able to free dive around in the deeper parts and one of the tour guides showed me under the shelf about 30 or so ft. There was a hiding place where schools of squirrel fish hide. So we get down there and from above its like that illusion in labyrinth when sara is trying to get past the entry way and the worm tells her to walk forward. It looks like the coral just reached to the sand. Till you look at a horizontal view and there is a cave! Filled with wide eyed striped fish! It was so cool!

For about an hour we were out there and then we started to head back to Makena Bay, which not a 1/2 out from shore is "Turtle Town". We parked in about 30 ft or so of water and swam out afew yards and there was a lane made naturally of coral and it was a cleaning station for turtles and other large sea creatures. They swim through and cleaning shrimp and fish jump on and clean the shells while they chill. Got an entire camera's worth of pictures of these two 400 something pound Pacific Green Sea Turtles hovering about the coral. 

The rest of the journey was spent on the boat after this. Getting food and drink complimentary and enjoying the views on and off the boat. We also were lucky enough to have some bottlenose dolphins ride along side the boat. I got some film of them. Mind the swarm of kids that were infront of me. I was filming without seeing through the viewfinder. >.>

Overall and awesome trip, but the real treat was after. Right off shore when we were getting off, there were two more sea turtles not 15 ft away from the beach. Eating the algae and whatever off the rocks. So after the tour I jumped right back in and for an hour or so got to swim maybe a little to close to these awesome gentle creatures! That is what this trip was all about, and since all beaches on this island are public I'm heading back there 2 or more times if I can to see them again!

Fish of the day!

So I need to wait til I get back to develop the underwater camera pics I have. But here is my most common findings in the reefs today. We went all over the West side of Maui. Lots of driving but also lots of fun swimming and some shopping at Whales Village or whatever its called.

I found a needle fish around where I free dove (30ft or so) 

In the shallows when I was going out for another peak around (without my camera >.<) I found a spotted and stripped adult box fish hanging in the shallows!

Lots and lots of Picasso trigger fish. Very common I guess. Exotic and territorial. They have a little trigger fin on their dorsal that shoots up in aggression. I don't recall if its actually shop or just false danger warning.

Also a school of unicorn fish!

 

Yesterday was a bust

So there was this tropical storm that was shaking up the news here. Turned into nothing more then just some "weather". Hopefully this wont hinder any further swimming experiences. I'm planning to do alot today. It is only 8:45 here in the morning while I'm posting this. No matter what the blogger says. But yesterday it was cool to see the ocean spray just keep going up and turn into the next cloud. I feel like I just witnessed the live action of something on the magic school bus. That sounds silly but yeah.

So last night though it got creepy, creepy enough that I shut the patio door to my room finally. Basically as you can in the pic, that a cloud had settled upon the property. It was crazy! I couldn't see more then 10 ft in front of me and thats with the flash from the camera!

Perfect zombie weather (also a fair reason to shut the door right?)

Then this morning there was lightning which is rare here and some really awesome archs of light and rain. I tried to photograph it but it doesn't do it justice. 

More to come!

Just for posting sake.

Today was a fun filled day. I drove down to Kihei for the first of many more times I think. Due to the fact my expeditionary native islander friend was unfortunately on the other side of the island upon my arrival. Though I made due exploring the little tourist shops in the area until his arrival. 

I must say the whole internal compass has been tossed out the window. It seems North is South and West is East. What felt like West was actually South! There really wasn't to much snorkeling to be had but I was taken to a very nice beach in the midst of the Condo Kingdom. 

The sand was different from the North coast beaches (less shells and such washing up) The water even in the late afternoon/early evening was clear and blue. This is something I'm having more and more trouble leaving. I got out far enough where when the current was coming in it would be atleast 10-15 ft.  Its so much fun just floating on the surface riding the waves. Catching a current and riding it underwater makes it feel like you're swimming 3 times faster. 

I did have a quarrel with a crab. I was about to grab this large piece of dead coral sticking out and BAM! A puff of sand and this crab the size of my hand is on the defense.  Well flipping him off (outside of pinching zone) seemed to do the trick! He shuffled back under the sand and I got my piece of coral! 

I was a little cautious though from then on. Oh the water was so blue. I actually bought some underwater cameras but didn't think to crack them open just yet. Also from Polo Beach (thats where we were) you could see Molokini! I would love it if I was strong enough and it was safe enough to just swim out there.  In the pic I posted where actually two fine ladies were exchanging vows. There were actually two weddings going on during our time at the beach today!

Also at night I've been watching Bewitched. The show I grew up on, and do believe one of the best shows to have been made. So of course doodles have occured of some of Sam's eccentric family and witchy friends. This one specifically. I thing old ladies are some of the most exciting to draw. I dont know why? The more eccentric the better? But I guess anyone or anything can be made that way.  Enjoy!

It says backwards "Way by broom is so 18th Century"

Impractical yes. Awesome? YES (for me anyway)

For the custom dream home, I think I'll have this for the bathroom. Master or shared I don't know. But an awesome treat I think. 

Self Promotion is?

So this was made for portfolio day but I was told to push it further and send it as a real mailer. So this is the rough I got going. Now if I make it a straight forward mailer the postage and such as to be figure out. If it was another kinda promo sheet how does it feel? Second issue is getting a website designed so I can put that on business cards and any other form of identity. 

I think TRTL needs to be a real studio soon.

Progress is for the sake of progress

I've enjoyed working on this little bird project and I think I've made the set. Not sure if I'll add drop or refine but right now I'm satisfied with the grouping. 

Had super spicy noodles tonight for dinner. Everything but the noodle came fresh from the garden out front.

Tried to teach one of the other guest how to swim. I didn't know how challenging that can be. But we did find out snorkel mask can slow down the process.

OOoOO I just got a new idea for a sketch. I am excited. I've spent the day milling about on illustrator making these little suckers while listening/watching Bewitched. One of my favorite shows. Hulu was and is a wonderful idea. 

Birthday boredom

Well I'm not bored really. But my birthday was nice and calm like any of the other days. Sat in the sun, swam and made my little bird a friend. Enjoy!

Stuff I have done, stuff I am doing

So there is an update of the little birdy. I took Katy's advice the best I could without having someone watching me pick out the colors. It's a headache and it deters me from doing some work sometimes. None the less I think I have some other ideas working off it now which I shall try to get together. Along with that is an ink drawing I did with a digital coloring. Simple but the line quality is fun. I was listening to music while making the gesture lines and found that scene within the scribbles and fleshed it out. I shall try that again and see if I get anything for a series. What have you been up to?

Of course! What hasn't he done?

So James Jean does Ketubahs. I give up at life. 

I guess a new book with his solo show from last year is coming out in Sept. I am excited!

Crazy Nightmares

Involved a voluntary hunt for giant Golden orb weaving spiders, cameos from my friend Anna and Dr. Temperance Brennan. Going down into some underground tunnels and being chased by a man that was faking dead. 

The scary point was coming up to this space in the wall of the tunnel about a ft. wide. This tall mexican man that was reportedly found dead (hence Bones was with me). There he was, this figure with a fully fleshed out body but the head was just a skull. I turn my flashlight for a moment on Bones so she could get something out of her pocket or whatever and when I look back, the skull was gone and the mans head seemed to be completely refleshed. Mentioning how weird that his my flashlight begins to dim, I see the man open one of his eyes. 

"He's still alive!" I yell!

But as I do my flash light goes out and the only light comes from the flashlight set down on the ground while bones was handling something else. I hit the flash light and as it flickers back on, the man is facing us straight on. 

I dont have a gun but Bones does (this is proven to be a bad idea on the show but whatever) I'm yelling at her to shoot him. She's trying to rationalize the fact that dead people dont come back to life and that he's just petrified. I'm yelling and yelling at her to prove it and shoot him for me. Just as she's about too the man steps forward without winking an eye or change of expression. 

We start to run back down the tunnel to this stairway up into what looks like an office. I get half way up the stairs and look back and see this man about 10 ft away from Bones as she runs up. I pull her up fast and try to throwing myself back onto this dead not dead guy chasing us. I just get his left shoulder and it felt like i was hitting a moving brick wall. He gets up the stair well and closes the door and all I hear is a scream. 

I wake up not realizing where I am anymore, my legs aching and my knees itching. This dream replayed 3 times last night. 

Seriously what I think about

So while I peed in the ocean for the first time, I thought about this and why they tell surfers not to pee where they surf. 

I am stumped

Another day lazying about. Not that this is anything I'm sad about. But the sun may be burning my creative brain cells. I've been fussing with this silly little design of a bird and I can't seem to bring more from it. Dead end? I think not. Just stumped. 

Fact:

Geckos and/or Green Anoles chirp to each other around dusk. That is my observation of the day.

On ward and outward

So I took myself and all six personalities on my first solo venture out from the resort. Found myself past Paia and hitting Baldwin and "Baby Beach". Both technically the same area but baby beach is like a natural made swimming pool from a natural wall of rock that blocks the waves from breaking the shore.

Warmed up in the kiddie area and then dove out into the open ocean. I've had my first sip of sea water since I was a little kid, and there is nothing to compare to! I don't to be so far away from this again honestly. There wasn't to much even as far out as I was. I of course followed the first rule of open ocean swimming sorta, since I was solo I stuck near some surfers and would body surf back in to shore to rest. 

The fish! THE FISH! THE FISH! The patterns and colors I assume were just a sample of what i will see when I get out onto an actual snorkel expedition. But it was so cool! The sand is white and soft until you get to the dry upper parts of the beach where the wind picks it up and shoots what feels like little bullets along any open skin >.

I picked up some select shells, alot just broken dead muscle shells since it carries that mother of pearl look on the interior. The danger of well, everything is how sharp. Coming in from one of the final outings from see I swam inbetween some big old rocks and placed my hand down to propel forward. While doing so I ran the side of my thumb along a razor sharp edge and like when you're shaving in the shower it cut through like I was butter. Gross! It also stung like no other. Lesson learned I guess.

I got a good dose of sun, maybe a little more then preferred. I can feel a ticklish tingle along my shoulders and back. So the later afternoon was spent refuging in my room watching Farscape season 4 on the comp. 

Tomorrow might be more beach time but I do need to make a trip into town for more food and to shop around and see what else Paia holds before I go anywhere else.  More to come!