Today we have some strong breezes here in Lihue as the rain is blowing in generally a mauka direction.  As usual, it comes from the sea and passes over us on the way to Mt. Waialeale or Mt. Kawaikini at 5,243 feet in the air.   The sea is to my left.  We have an ocean peek—not view.  There is a valley below me with some new homes in it.   I’m keeping track from my balcony with my morning cup of coffee as I study the panorama of the Ha’upu mountains before me.  Someone has to.  I don’t see anyone else out there.

Ooops—rain’s gone now. A rooster has come out to tell us so, with his resounding exclamation.  Maybe he is calling his family with an, “All Clear!  Come out now.”  The crowing is lasting longer than the rain!

The clouds are bouncing along the tops of the mountains —and I think, wait… one is stuck on the highest peak of the Ha’upu mountain range.  The clouds around and above it are moving at a pretty fast clip.  Can clouds get stuck on mountains?

Why aren’t I out job-hunting?  I could sub teach with my CA clear teaching credential—but am I ready for that?

Oh—wait!! The cloud is moving!  It is unstuck from the mountain!  Whooo Hoo. Yea Cloud!  How pretty.  I’m glad I didn’t miss that.

What if I did something entirely different for a job?  “Hello, welcome to Walmart.”  That sounds like a nice way to…

Ahhhh  Just a minute…more raindrops.  How can the temperature be so perfect and I’m outdoors, not getting wet but just loving this weather!! Now the clouds have broken apart and sun is shinning through places in the rain.

How funny.  A mynah bird just got caught on a gust of wind and swooped up before he (or she?) dove down to the shelter of the tree growing in front of me.

Oh yes.  I’m thinking about a job.  Money is nice, but we are learning to survive on less.  We have TV, but not digital-HD.  We have a local phone, but we can’t call long distance on it, however people can call us from the mainland.   I thought I would have mixed feelings about being over here or be longing for the familiar mainland places.  Nope, not yet.  The kids are in Texas and Wyoming while our financially underwater homes are rented out in California.  Yes, I think I’m fine here for now.

Sure, I’ll get back on the train soon, join the work force, be a responsible citizen—but perhaps I’ll watch the clouds a little longer.   Now there may be one wispy sort of cloud  stuck in that little valley up there…better keep my eye on this.