Lunch out and Par-tay! -- Sat., Dec. 8

I got up at 9:30 a.m. to get ready for lunch at Ala Moana Mall with Christy, a friend and former co-worker. I took the scenic route into downtown Honolulu, driving around Diamond Head Crater and through the ritzy Kohala area.

Christy and I met at Assagio's Ristorante at 11:00 a.m. and had a leisurely, chatty lunch. What a nice way to spend mid-day Saturday. We talked about travel, kids, grandkids, and how our lives are shaping up. It was a very good lunch and good connection.

When I returned to Iain and Tess's, I helped Bob, Tess and Doug with more preparations for the big holiday party tonight. At 6:00 p.m. we were as ready as we were going to be so we changed into our party clothes and waited for the guests to start arriving at 7:00 p.m.

Appetizers were strategically placed around the living room and out on the deck. Guests picked up their drinks as they entered and headed into the living room to mingle.

The dinner buffet was unveiled an hour or so later. What a spread! Duck, salmon, beef tenderloin, ahi, shrimp, ceviche, fresh vegetables, rolls, meatballs, rice, ham, northern white beans with green beans, and the dips and sauces that went with those dishes. Food galore. No one went hungry.

We were able to spend quality time talking to Iain and Tess and our good friends Charlie and Jess.

Most of the crowd left about 10:00 p.m., but us diehards stayed up talking until 1:00 a.m., then called it a night. (Bob went to bed at 10:00 p.m. so he could get sleep until 2:30 a.m. before he had to get up for the Honolulu Marthon.)

A good day was had by all. Iain and Tess were worn out, though.

Travel Bug out.