msfledermaus | I went swimming with happy Mr. Fugu today...

Today was so great...I went snorkeling for the first time in ages and ages. I was a little frightened at first--I mean, it was the farthest thing from Minnesotan lakes, it had waves and fish and rocks and stuff! I hadn't been near that kind of thing since I was a tiny wee Batling on the beaches by Pearl City. But after I got used to things it was incredible. I saw whole schools of little yellow guys and big black graceful fish and rainbow-colored fish and corals and sea urchins and--jeez, everything except anything scary like eels and sharks and such. I especially loved the puffer-fish that came around. There was one in particular that kept circling and staring at me as I stared back. It was just like the Creepy Girl soliloquy about the little fish from Catalina Caper:) I looooove snorkeling now:) I broke down and bought a new bathing suit and everything, black boy trunks and a bikini top. (Siiiiigh...more shopping indeed.)

And of course the sea turtles were back. I saw one swimming out to sea, and got boxed in on the beach between two very large turtles eating algae off the rocks. I also saw 6 of them sunning themselves off the terrace when the sun went down...

I reaaaaaally want to break off a big fat chunk of this island and bring it back home with me and set it in the middle of one of the lakes, coconut trees and lava rocks and all. It's going to be so hard to get back into the swing of things back home. At least I bought little presents for friends and relatives and more than a few things for me to stuff in my luggage. I think I can redecorate a touch when I get home to carry some of my Darkity Dark Dark version of Aloha Spirit with me through to spring:)

But for now I think I can chill out with my spooky South Seas book and help my friends figure out something cool to do before we get back on the plane home. Maybe one last swimming date with happy Mr. Fugu, and we can stare at each other some more....