JANUARY
January was also a big month at work as homeless providers were able to conduct the Point-In-Time (PIT) Count again since COVID. This count is mandated through HUD and gives us a snapshot of the number of homeless on our island on a specific date. It is serious work, of course, but we always make sure to have fun during outreach efforts. This year, I snapped the shot below and thought it looked so good that it needed to be an album cover.
FEBRUARY
MARCH
All three of us swam at a black sand beach and visited the southernmost tip of the United States – which means a lot to those who have lived in Fairbanks which gets northernmost bragging rights often. (Northernmost Girl Scouts, for instance.)
We hoped for lava – but as we are aware of with the Aurora, you’ve got to be at the right place at the right time. As we drove closer, the sky began to turn red…. We were far, far from the any place that would provide light pollution that we’d be able to see on the horizon. Plus, red light pollution? My guess: the lava was flowing. We were the only ones on the trail and finally, in a break in the trees, we could see. Though none of us had seen lava before, the glow was unmistakable. After that trail, we drove to another vantage point and were further impressed. This spot was much more occupied but when there were moments of silence, no one speaking, no rocks moving under our feet, I could hear the lava popping below.
Back on Kaua’i, on their last day, I attended my first luau with Melissa, Autumn, Betsey and Noah.
APRIL
For Derrik’s birthday, we did the tubing tour through sugarcane canals.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
An obsession that began at the age of 15 became a lifelong love for the 2003 teen dramedy, The O.C. Betsey grew up in Orange County and amused me by showing me around – although I was the driver as she doesn’t do freeways and all Southern California consists of is freeways. That’s teamwork, baby. We went to the filming location of the diner which is actually in Redondo Beach. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get pancakes like the Core Four used to but I did get to reenact several dramatic scenes from the first season.
One thing I love about JT National Park is how tactile it is. Often the oils on our skin, our hands, will damage and destroy the protected natural habitat within a park. JTNP is one of the few national parks I’ve been to that tell visitors to touch the rocks, climb the rocks, explore with your hands. “Come for the trees, stay for the rocks.”
Also, there are no bad sunsets in the desert.
AUGUST
As mentioned, Betsey’s birthday is late July. Mine is late August. For a joint celebration, we invited friends to paddle up the river and hike to the falls with us, followed by food and beer.
For my birthday, among many other gifts, I received a skateboard which I had wanted for sometime. I started learning immediately and look forward to increasing my ability in 2023.
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Halloween saw an idea to fruition. My dear cat Matilda only has one eye, making her the perfect pirate. I had to be what every pirate needs, a parrot!
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Christmas Day, we left for Fairbanks, Alaska. Thankfully, none of the weather issues plagued our flight as it had with thousands recently. We arrived and friends brought gear inside the airport for us. Even just the air hitting us from the sliding doors was brutal. We suited up and made it to the warm cars right outside.
Betsey and Belief joined me for cross-country skiing, a new activity for them both. They both excelled. Noah, Melissa and Autumn walked alongside us. There was also snow angels, sledding and snowballs. Not to mention the DeLorean.
We went to Santa’s House – got there before it opened, which is my advice. For a few minutes, we had the big guy all to ourselves and he told us how a reindeer had lost an antler Christmas night due to turbulence so when we saw him in the yard to not be alarmed. Once we visited the reindeer yard, we found out it was Blitzen who was down an antler.
I had my favorite smoked salmon crepe from The Crepery, my favorite dill pickle pizza from Hungry Robot, my favorite breakfast burrito and Irish crème latte from Sunrise Coffee. I tried two new places: Salty’s on 2nd and Lat 65 Brewing.
Thank you Fairbanks and friends for opening up to me again and accepting my new family with open arms.
2023
I will continue: saving for a house, valuing and investing in my relationship with Betsey, cleaning up trash in the ocean and beyond.
What are your plans for 2023? Do you make resolutions? Do you think New Year declarations are just another promise to be broken?