Back from Lanai (La – nah – e )

We’re getting some 20+ foot waves in Waimea Beach so I’m going to head there soon.  Anyway, I just got back from Lanai last night.  Stayed at the Four Seasons Lodge.  Wow, I highly recommend running away to there if you just want to get away from the stress of life, work and the market.  It’s a bit pricey though- about 300/ night… just sell two stocks in AAPL and book one night!     Lanai is a small island, but it’s elevated so the temperature is quite cool- a very unique feature of the island… it’s almost as if you are in the Mainland.  If you are in to nature, then you’ll love it there… there’s great fishing, hunting (wild turkey and some strange looking deer, ha!), and great people who are total country.  The “city” there is smaller than my community.  It’s hilarious.  Everyone leaves their doors unlocked, even the keys to their cars are left inside the ignition.  Basically everyone knows everyone.  Sadly, I didn’t have any internet in my hotel room, so I couldn’t really finish up on my research on the utilities sector and foreign outsourcing sector.  Maybe it was better that way.  Anyway, the real reason I went there was for a funeral so I don’t really count it as a vacation.  My friend’s grandfather passed away two weeks ago, and he wanted to be buried there.   So, it was a little bitter and sweet, but enough to make you drink in what life has to offer you.  On another sad note, I just wanted to relay my condolences to them as well as the Yoshida family from Haleiwa (North Shore).   I had Russel over for lunch a few months ago, so I was shocked to hear the story.  He was one of the friendliest persons you could ever meet… it seemed like he did not have the ability to frown- always smiling.  He had a lot of great fishing stories, but sadly it had to end with this one.  It all kind of brought back memories of my friend I lost earlier this year, especially since my last visit to Lanai was with him and his brother for a fishing trip.  It was very awkward trying to enjoy that island, but feeling and knowing that something was different.  I don’t know how to explain it.   So, pardon me if I haven’t been myself lately… it’s been a tough year.   I don’t even know what day of the week it is sometimes.  Lol.  Anyway, I hate talking about sad stuff so I won’t mention of this anymore.  It’s just not me.

Continue to have a safe winter.  Love your enemies.  Hold your loved ones.  Crush the market.  -gio-