Just sit right back and you'll read a tale, a tale of a real cool trip.  That started from a snowy place aboard two separate ships.  The diva and her closest friends are sure to make you smile, or jealous, or pissed, you decide!
MAIN 2005 INDEX

This year's trip started early - at about 5:45 AM (funny, i don't remember there even BEING a 5:45 AM) we woke to the constant hum of the furnace fan. Running. Running, but NOT blowing any heat! It was about 2 degrees above zero outside, 57 degrees inside. We usually keep the heat on 67, so we could really tell the difference! So, i get up, go downstairs (where it's even colder) and try to make the furnace work. This had happened before, and it wasn't that hard to fix - it's just a pain in the ass when you're sleep-walking. I changed the part and it still didn't work. It's now 6:45 AM, we still have no heat, we're leaving for the airport in three hours, and we need to find a furnace repair person. Riiight! We cranked up the fireplace and started surfing for phone numbers. Donna call a couple, left messages - I went back to bed.

Meanwhile ... at Metro Airport ... 
Deb & Sheron were fighting the hordes of people trying to escape the ugly winter weather like we were. The line at security was super long, but they made it to the plane on-time anyway. Off they went to LA.

Donna and I had no problem at the airport - the first class line usually moves pretty quickly! Our plane took off at noon-thirty and the nice lady brought me a couple of really strong Bloody-Mary's during the flight. We landed without issue, made it to the connector and took off again, this time heading to Honolulu. The 'waiter' didn't let my drink sit empty for very long, thereby making the flight feel shorter than 4-1/2 hours. Next stop, Honolulu.

Meanwhile ... at LAX ...
The flight was supposed to leave at 15:30 LA time. That would have happened, IF the mechanic would have known how to use the gas pump. Apparently some rookie was in charge, and he hadn't passed math class yet. How much fuel does it take a 757-300 OW to travel apx. 2500 miles at 550 mph at 34,000 feet? All of it!! Fill 'er up jackass - let's just get moving!! 

Meanwhile ... at HNL Airport ... Donna and I carried on the important 'gear' and checked one bag for both of us. Too bad it was only checked to HNL and we're going to OGG. Here's the good part: when we booked the flight, we had to take an Inter-Island flight from Honolulu to Kahaluli. We were supposed to get off our plane, find the bag AND make it to the other terminal via the Wiki-Wiki. Never mind that we only had 50 minutes between planes. Never mind that Deb & Sheron were supposed to get on the plane we just got off of, that now actually flys to Maui. We asked if our luggage could just stay on the plane, we took off for the Wiki-Wiki and didn't look back. Too bad Sheron & Deb were not going to be on the plane with our bag! By now, it's 19:30 Hawaii time. 

We got to Maui and waited. Checked the phone, found out we had a few more hours to wait, so we got the car (Mustang convertible, red) and waited some more. The girls finally got here and we were off to the condo... tired, hungry and just a bit cranky. Here's a tip for the weary traveler - NOTHING in Maui is open after 23:00. After being up just shy of 24 hours, bed was good, i'm talking real good!

Saturday Jan 29, 2005
After a few hours shut-eye, we were up and out to the pool deck. Buffet breakfast  for all of us, every day, for $85. Who can pass up that kind of a deal? Then, life got tough. Which chair to pick, what way to point it, when to turn, what to order from the pool girl. All I could say is: Wow, this really sucks! After the pool, a Cheeseburger in Paradise for late lunch & a DVD while watching the sunset from the balcony. the Forgotten is totally cool!

Sunday Jan 30, 2005
Buffet, pool, the tough life continues. Today we got a gazebo - it does get rather hot in the sun all day, and we don't want our tender skin to be burnt. After several hours (and a few cold ones) we decided to hit the showers. Hard Rock was callin' my name, and I was obligated to answer. I was also obligated to break my single-cafe, single-purchase record. Ouch! Some shopping elsewhere (yes, Lahaina DOES have other places, besides the Hard Rock) then back for 'Brother Bear'.

Monday Jan 31, 2005
After a quick b-fest, we were off to our whale watch. What a great time! we saw a mom and calf - the calf was only a day or two old!! He was a really light gray color, and super small. We saw lots of whales - very close to the boat. Best whale watch we ever went on!! Cheap too! Lunched at the Hard Rock, traded some pins, back to the condo for an afternoon swim and some oreo's.

Tuesday Feb 01, 2005
It's cloudy today. Storms are on the way. Saw a couple of baby whales practicing tail  slaps - how cool is that!?! Hung out at the pool when the sun came out - until a stupid,  whiny, brat and his good-for-nothing mother showed up. I had to leave ... but now that I think about it, jail time in hawaii couldn't be all bad. Went to town for dinner at Bubba Gump's and (more) shopping. (I think we should have brought an extra suitcase! UPS, here we come!)

Wednesday Feb 02, 2005
The clouds are dark but they are on the way out. (at least that's what the weatherman says, and we know how reliable they are!) If the rain blows by, we might take a drive to the crater.   Right now, the girls are out (you guessed it) shopping.  I stayed here to update the web.  Sheron got her 35mm pictures put on a CD, so the Whale watch page (this one) has more pics - and one or two of the baby!