Almost Paradise

I learned something new the other day. For years I have seen these little insects flying around, and never knew what they were:

They’re quite distinctive-looking when they land on a wall, because their abdomens bob up and down rapidly and almost continuously. What the hell were they? And those little bobbing backsides look rather ominous; do they sting? Should I be worried?

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More morning urban wildlife of Honolulu:

1 chicken
1 black cat
2 fairy terns
3 kolea
6 cattle egrets
The usual mob of mynahs, sparrows, zebra doves, and spotted doves

The line in front of Mitsu-Ken at 7:00am was 7 people long, including one police officer. Eeek. I hope that garlic chicken is worth the wait, not to mention the hunt for parking on that block.

When I drive to work, I rarely notice the smells of the city. Bicycling in the open air on the sidewalk, though, I’m surrounded by ‘em. The sweet smell of mock orange blossoms; the not so sweet smell of rain-moistened dog droppings. The green smell of fresh-cut grass by the roadside and the cloying smell of half-burned gasoline.

More morning urban wildlife of Honolulu:

Kolea: 1
Chicken: 1
Brazilian cardinal: 1
Fairy terns: half a dozen
Sparrows: lots
Mynah birds: lots
Zebra doves: lots
Spotted doves: lots

And another thing: what’s that little brown finch, the one with the red beak? I see whole flocks of ‘em in the grass sometimes. Googling around, I think they might be orange-cheeked waxbills but I’m not sure.

Morning urban wildlife of Honolulu, as seen along 5 miles of sidewalk:

Rats: 1
Fairy terns: 1
Chickens: 2
Sparrows: some
Mynah birds: lots
Zebra doves: lots
Spotted doves: lots

Last week Judy and the kids were at the local 99 Ranch Market and they saw this. It’s a crane game, except that instead of stuffed animals or toys, the prizes are live lobsters.

It costs 50¢ per try. I wonder how often someone wins?

There weren’t any bags or containers obviously nearby. So what happens if you do manage to get a lobster? Do you have to carry it around with you as you shop, its rubber-banded claws feebly waving in distress? Should you bring your own bag in anticipation of winning a lobster?

Do all 99 Ranch Markets have these machines?

(The folks over at HawaiiThreads.com noticed this machine a while ago, but I’d forgotten about that thread until Judy showed me her photos.)

So many questions…

We took Kirby and Rusty out hiking today to Kamananui Valley, at the back of the Moanalua Valley suburb. It was their first exposure to anything wilder than a lawn or a park. They had a blast!

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Judy couldn’t resist. She was in Pets Plus last Wednesday and saw that they had box turtles. Not just any box turtles; ornate box turtles. Gorgeously patterned. And young, too! She called me from the store:

“Hi honey. Can I ask you something?”

Uh oh. I knew that plaintive tone of voice. She’d already decided what she wanted, but she was checking with me so I wouldn’t be all surprised when she got home. After fourteen years of marriage, I have learned when to argue and when to smile and say yes. This was one of those “yes” times.

So now we have another turtle. Her name is Daisy.

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Dovey is a spotted dove. She stayed with us for just two days, but managed to touch our hearts.

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Stayed at home today with a slight cold. By the afternoon, I was feeling a lot better so I went out into the yard and took some pictures.

Even in January, there are some nice flowers. I got the orchids from my parents’ yard when they sold their house and moved to a condo. I hope I can manage to keep them alive. Orchids are notoriously tough and forgiving, though, so I have a chance.

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