One thing I've discovered here in Maui --- hurry is not in their vocabulary. That applies not only to their lifestyle, but the way they conduct business as well.

I've submitted more resumes, applications, and placed phone calls in the past two months than I have my whole working career.

The very first interview I had here was literally all day long. I had to fill out paperwork, of course. I then had to take all kinds of tests (vocabulary, spelling, math just to name a few) and then had to interview with literally everyone in the office. I was offered the position, but turned it down. At the time I didn't want to drive over to Lahaina, the pay was okay (for Maui) but not much in the way of benefits.

You would think going through all of that hassle, they would be paying "big bucks". Nope. That particular job (Admin Asst work) was paying $15 an hour.

It's amazing to me the money floating around here. The median price for a house is in the neighborhood of $750,000 dollars. One would think the wages would be comparable. Nope.

Anyway, I digress. I have spent over two weeks interviewing at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. They finally offered me the position. While the pay is better than what I was offered the first time, they have good benefits. At my age, I need benefits. Every interview was with a different set of managers. However, they asked the same questions as the previous interview. I even had an interview for a part-time job at Wal-mart. Wal-mart even asks the same questions. That was for an $8 an hour job. Someone is sure making a lot of money on these "scientific interview questions." Wish it were me :)

Should anyone want to come to Maui and experience the true Hawaiian culture, you should plan your stay at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. Check out their website at www.kbhmaui.com. The staff are warm and friendly, always smiling.

Since I'm from Texas, I know what a rodeo is. When I heard there was a rodeo in the upcountry every 4th of July, I knew I had to go check this out. A Hawaiian Rodeo. This out to be interesting.

When I tried to find information on the rodeo, there was none to be found. Nothing on the internet, nothing in the local rag -- oops, I mean newspaper. I heard on the rodeo there was going to be a parade in Makawao (upcountry) at 9:00 a.m. I also heard the rodeo started at 1:00 p.m.

In Texas, the rodeos go all day and even into the early evening hours. So I assumed this rodeo would probably last until at least 5:00 p.m.

By the time I finally found the place and actually got to the rodeo, it was about 3:00 p.m. I saw 4 or 5 "bull riders", all but one were high school kids. I was laughing to myself -- the announcer definitely had a "twang". Here I am at a rodeo, the announcer has a "twang" and he is trying to pronounce the rider's hawaiian name. It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. Then you see the spectators in board shorts, flip flops, shell necklaces, and tattooed everywhere. Truly a sight :)

So, after seeing the 4 or 5 bullriders, they announce the rodeo is over. Over? I just got here! Everyone hit the beer booths and the hawaiian country bands started up.

This was definitely an experience!

The "Big Beach" is a beautiful beach in South Maui. It is a very big beach and a very wide sand area. Almost all of the beaches on the island are separated by natural outlays of lava rock.

I had heard about big beach and I also heard about little beach. To get to little beach, you have to climb over the lava rock and down a small hill. Little beach live up to it's name. It is very small in comparison. However, it is a quaint beach with trees and shade. Oh, I forgot to mention --- little beach is a nude beach. That it is. I have seen it with my own eyes. The day I was there, there were mostly men on the beach, and yes, they were all nude. I did see one female that was topless. I couldn't decide if she wanted to be topless or if her top just wouldn't stay on because she was so HUGE. They were watermelons! I was reminded of the Seinfeld "frightened turtle" episode. That's all you could see, frightened turtles everywhere. Too funny :)

I was amazed to see several guys trying to surf in the nude. OUCH! Still haven't figured that out. To each his own.

No I can say I have been to Little Beach :)

When I brought Ginger home from the airport, I let her run around outside for a little while. I wanted her to get familiar with her new surroundings. After I gave her fresh food and water, I decided we would walk down to the beach. I live a block and a half from Sugar Beach. When we got to the beach, I don't think she realized it was water. As we walked closer to the water, I was facing the water and she was facing me. The water crept up on shore. When the water touched her back legs, she jumped and yelped like she had been biten in the ass. It was soooo funny. She is such a big chicken :)

Bringing a dog or cat to the Islands requires mountains of paperwork and vet visits just to get the pet prepared for the "quarantine" period. The quarantine period used to be 120 days in a cage in Honolulu. While that is still one option, they now allow the quarantine period on the mainland.

Once I found all of the requirements, I began the mountain of paperwork and vet visits to begin the quarantine period. I started the work in February. As of June 6, Ginger's quarantine period was complete and she was eligible for "direct airport release". So, I found a pet handling company and make arrangements for Ginger to be picked up at my sister's house, put on a plane to LAX. Once in LAX, she was picked up, had a "potty" break, fed and watered. She was then put on another plane to Honolulu. When she arrived in Honolulu, she was picked up and transferred to an inter-island flight. I would pick her up in Kahului here in Maui. I was supposed to pick her up at 11:30 a.m. When I got to the airport cargo receiving area, I asked where she was. The dude shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know. She probably ran away." I didn't want to hear that, funny or not. I asked him if he could go check and see where she is. "Aw, she probably on a later flight. Dunno. You give me you phone number and I call when she get here. Yeah?" That's how they speak here. Almost all of the sentences end with the question, "yeah?" Anyway, I got back in my car and immediately called the handling company. I told them what was going on and wanted to know where Ginger was. They called back and said they put a tracer on her, but I would probably "find her before they would." Grrrr..... I went to Starbucks, got a cup of coffee and calmed myself down. Once I was calm, I went back to the airport. As I was pulling into the cargo area, I received a call from the airlines saying Ginger had arrived. Just as I was listening to that vm, I looked to my left and there was a forklift honking at me. I thought he was wanting me to move out of his way. He began pointing down to the pallet. I looked down and there was a pet crate on the pallet. I got out of the car and he asked me if that belonged to me. As I looked at the side of the crate, it looked like a solid brown animal. At first I said "no." Then I looked in the front of the crate and it was my "Gingy-bear". I called out to Ginger and she whimpered back at me. I went to sign for her. When I got back to the crate, I opened her door and immediately put her in the car. I dis-assembled her crate and put it in my trunk. I hopped in the car and we had a wonderful reunion :)

I missed her so much!!! She is now my shadow. Literally, she is on my heels wherever I am. If I go to the bathroom, she's there with me. She's determined not to be left behind again.