She's Back

I'm sitting slightly sunned, wrapped in a green Thailand sarong, eating starfruit in my new apartment. I am happy to be back in Maui. I just visually devoured a stunning liquid orange sunset as I drove home from the harbor. Today I was an observer on the boat so I got to be lazy like the other passengers instead of rushing around working. I saw an octopus while snorkeling and watched it as it oozed over the coral, changing colors and textures as it went. I can relate, maybe that's my methphor for life right now. Tomorrow is my first real day back as first mate since my ONE MONTH vacation. I better prepare myself for the shock of actually working.

I had such a great month at home! I went all over, reuniting with so many people in so many nooks and crannies. I love the woolly NW. Mom and I bonded big time. We donned crazy costumes for PT's Kinetik festival; hairspray, sequins, boas, ductape. Then I took the train down to Oregon for a premier four days of hot glorious crunchy fall. After that more home time, family time in California and then...Mexico!

Mexico was (and is) magic. We had a week to run around Mazatlan and I thought it would be so touristy and lame after Sayulita. But I was wrong. It's a town full of culture, history and these amazingly friendly people. Everyone smiles! Even at gawking gringos. We went salsa dancing, blue marlin fishing, boogie boarding and market exploring. We lazed around by the pool. We made friends with all the staff at our hotel and went out to night clubs with them. We spoke Spanish a lot. It was great! I want to move to a corner of Mexico and get really fluent and eat frijoles y arroz y aguacate cada dia. I also want to move to Spain and study flamenco, we went and saw Maria Pages the famous flamenco dancer and she rocked us. I have to try it. So gorgeous and powerful.

Now it's back to the grindstone. One whale has been spotted but other than that we're still awash with anticipation for another big season when they all roll into town. Our "favorite" winter visitors. Sometimes I struggle with how fake and cheesey we can be at work. Anyone who's ever worked in the service industry knows what I'm talking about. I guess it's my perogative, I don't have to laugh at their jokes and pretend I don't mind being asked the same questions over and over again. But then I would seem rude and I'd feel bad. It's just part of the job and it's usually not that bad, as long as I've had enough food and sleep. I just have to remember they are real people and deserve real respect.

Moving on: Our apartment is so cute! We have thailand photos and art and color up everywhere. Lots of xmas lights and buddahs and a million fans to keep the place cool in killer hot S. Shore Kihei. I went to Paia on the N. Shore yesterday and I was only a little nostalgic. I'll still go there for African dance and modern and to visit friends upcountry. But Kihei is a good spot to be if you want to be social with co-workers and have people over for dinners and movies. We're having a Naked Lady party next week and if you don't know what that is I'm afraid I can't tell you.

Anyway, here I am! When are you coming out to see me? This is where I'll be for now, until I'm not. We have a spacious futon and a pool out front and unlimited access to as much snorkelling and whale watching as you can handle. I'll be waiting for your call.

xoxoaloha, kai