Tea It Up

In honor of the tea parties that have been, and will be, going on.

Some pics from my friend Cal-- Freedom's Pal.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

SUCKurity

The T.S.A. chose to go through Chris' luggage in Kona and when we got home there were some things missing.

Chris e-mailed the T.S.A. and she received a call today from a representative.

They told my wife that she would need to contact the Kona airport to check if her items are in lost and found. If they are not there, she can then submit a claim and wait the appropriate number of weeks (8, I believe) to have a resolution to the matter.

I don't think so Scooter and the scientific community is united in that fact.

YOU chose the bag to search and YOU lost the items, therefore YOU contact the Kona airport and if it's not there then send the form to be completed!

The customer service page on their web site doesn't mention that the customer has to do the leg work.

I'm not going to blame government inefficiency, since you can find shitty customer service and lazy employees in the private sector too.

Butt Doctor

A longtime friend of mine sent me a link for a sweepstakes he said was for guys over 50.

Welcome to the CBS Cares Colonoscopy Sweepstakes!

This is an actual sweepstakes and, if you are the grand prize winner, we will fly you and a companion to New York where you will receive a free colonoscopy.

I might sign up, it would give me a chance to be like Katie Couric and make an ass of myself on TV.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Aloha oe

Other than marrying Chris, the best move I've ever made is leaving Iowa in the winter.

Our annual escape to the islands started early on January 31st as we flew to Dallas.

I overheard someone say they were heading to the Super Bowl and realized it was Andre Allen.

I had helped coach Andre's freshman football team at North High, my alma mater, in 1988.

Andre went on to earn All American honors, twice, for his play at U.N.I.

Hurl Beechum was the quarterback on that team and he went on to play basketball at Iowa State with Fred Hoiberg.

Andre said Beechum was still playing in Europe.

We stayed at The Sea Village, the same resort where we honeymooned in 1990, and spent most of the first two weeks soaking up the sun reading around the pool.

My mother arrived on Valentine's Day and we toured a large portion of the island, including Volcanoes National Park, over the next ten days.

Just like me, Hawaii's Big Island is still growing and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Our road tour included Hilo (Hated it!), and Rainbow Falls (pictured).

Mom also got the chance to go parasailing.

Political news I found interesting there included Dummycrats lining up to run for Governor in 2010.

Congressman Neil Abercrombie is believed to be a candidate.

Why would anyone leave Hawaii for Washington?

It's like what Jim Bouton/Ball Four said about playing baseball in the islands; "...if a guy's home team was Hawaii and he was called up to the big leagues he might well decide he didn't want to go."

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is rumored to be running too, but presiding over a budget deficit of $50 Million, he might want to work on being the next Don Ho.

Howzit?

I'm jet lagged back from the Big Island.

Boy are my arms, as well as the rest of me, tired and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I'm tanned, rested and ready.

Hopefully like Akaka Falls (pictured) the blogging juices will start flowing freely later today or tomorrow.