Some of the cast members at the Polynesian Cultural Center go to luau venues where a vendor takes pictures and sells them to the PCC guests. A couple other cast members walk around the area and pose with people so they can take their own pictures (often a selfie) with that cast member. The fellow in the picture was out and about last Monday when we were taking tickets at the Island Buffet. He’s pretty impressive!
The bedbugs seem to be still under control. I haven’t done more to the vacuum, yet (either tomorrow or Saturday) as we spent almost all of our Preparation Day doing shopping and errands.
One important task was to go to the VA in Honolulu by the Tripler Hospital to get a new ID badge. This one supposedly has the coding on it so that I can get through security much easier. Because if have to have some tests done it has become necessary to transfer my records and medical care from the Salt Lake VA system to the Hawaii Honolulu system. I’ve my first appointment on September 8th. However, I needed to get my picture taken for the new badge before September 8th … at least a week before. The guy on the phone told me that parking would be problematic after about 9 am.
That was a definite understatement. We got there about 9:20 am and there wasn’t a parking spot to be had within a mile of the VA Outpatient Center. Because there were so many cars looking for parking spaces, I was sure that when I got inside I’d be waiting and waiting to have the picture taken, so rather than have Nina just drive around wherever while I went inside, we decided we needed to wait it out to find a spot. So, we circled through the small lot by the building, then through a larger lot, then through a multi-story parking garage. First pass, second pass, third pass … no such luck. I followed a woman who came out of a door in the parking garage, hoping she was going to her car. Nope. She was talking on her cell phone, walked down a ways, turned around, and walked back. I couldn’t backup as there were cars behind me. If she ever got into a car, someone else scored the parking spot. A while later, I did the same thing in the larger parking lot. He got into a car at the farthest possible parking spot from the building and I was finally able, after more than an hour, park the car.
We walked (and walked) up the hill to the facility, were directed to the 2nd floor and Reception Area 5, were immediately directed around the corner to door 5, where I went in, signed in, and was immediately called into the office for the picture. Five minutes later we were done. We should have let Nina drive around while I went inside and saved an hour. Definitely a lesson learned. My appointment on September 8th is at 8 am. I’ll get there early!
After that we went to an interesting Japanese store in Honolulu, Don Quijote. That was a very fun stop!! That was followed by stops for a hair cut, Walmart, and Costco. We’re now supplied for a couple more weeks. A successful day, even including the merry-go-round at the VA.
Life is grand!