Most Recent

Recently, I've gone somewhere, done something, or seen something amazing I've shared in these pages. Here, you'll find my most recent posts, covering a wide range of topics that pique my interest. Whether you're passionate about travel, captivated by photography, enchanted by music, or intrigued by computer programming, there's likely to be something here for everyone!

Dive in and explore the latest insights, stories, and adventures that I have to share. Enjoy your stay!

Olowalu Landing

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: August 7, 2024 Posted: September 27, 2024		Page Views: 90
Hashtags: #Autobiography #Maui #Oluwalu Landing #Makawao #Hawaii
My last day on Maui...for now!

Today is my last day on Maui (this trip). I woke at a reasonable hour (9-ish) after yesterday's adventures. Late this afternoon I will be meeting Rob in Makawao to receive the box of pictures I left behind in 2022, and tonight my flight leaves about 8:30 PM. I packed my stuff and still had time to spare. What to do? After all, I'm in Hawaii, and don't want to squander a moment here.

Haleakala

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: August 6, 2024 Posted: September 26, 2024		Page Views: 113
Hashtags: #Autobiography #Maui #Haleakala
Making it to the top! (almost).

So I'm on Maui and I can do anything I want. I hadn't been to the top of Haleakalā in years—for some reason I never went when living here during the pandemic—but today is the day! There's nothing between me and the summit but 10,000 feet!

Kanahā Beach Park

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: August 5, 2024 Posted: September 25, 2024		Page Views: 137
Hashtags: #Autobiography #Maui #Maui #Hawaii #Hawaii #Maui #Hawaii #Kanaha Beach Park #Hawaii #Kanaha Beach Park #Kanaha Beach Park #Kanaha Beach Park
I'm in Maui. So...BEACH!

I called Rob and found he wasn't going to be driving to this side of the island until Thursday (my last day). So I decided to spend the day at one of the beach parks I didn't visit that often, Kanahā. This beach is near Kahului, and, being on the curve of coast as it is, you also get spectacular views of the North shores.

To Oluwalu, Maui

By: Paul S. Cilwa	Occurred: August 4, 2024 Posted: September 25, 2024		Page Views: 120
Hashtags: #Autobiography #Oluwalu #Oluwalu #Oluwalu #Maui #Maui #Maui #Maui #Hawaii #Hawaii #Hawaii #Hawaii
Two visits to Hawaii in two months?!

Even though I spent three weeks in Kauai with my daughter Jenny and the grandkids just last month, when Rob—the guy who bought Jenny's property—texted me that he had found a box of my photos I would probably want, I couldn't resist. Of course, it would have been far cheaper for me to send him money to take the box to the airport than for me to come and get it. But with my upcoming hip replacement surgery, I thought, Who knows when I'll even be able to visit Hawaii again, if ever? So I hopped on a plane—correction, was wheeled onto a plane—and the next thing I knew, I was flying once more to Kahului Airport and my favorite island.

Global Warning

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: June 30, 2024		Page Views: 237
Hashtags: #Gish Gallop #Oil Crisis #Acid Rain #Climate Change #Global Warming
The Gish Gallop can also apply to memes.

Hopefully a lot of us have figured out that a meme doesn't necessarily equal truth. After all, they're usually anonymous, and never include any kind of citation. Sadly, there are so many people these days who either can't tell a truth from a lie, or celebrate the lies. (I'm talking to you, supporters of the orange shitstain who recently won a debate, according to the media, by not uttering a single true statement.) But a high school friend posted the above meme on Facebook today, minus the disclaimer. And I feel motivated to answer each one of these lies.

Text Slaves

By: Paul S Cilwa	Posted: June 29, 2024		Page Views: 232
Hashtags: #Slavery #Human Trafficking #Scams
If you've ever gotten a text message seemingly to someone else, you've been contacted by a slave.

Alex, where are you? I've got the tickets. If your name isn't Alex, and you've gotten this text message on your phone, isn't your first impulse to let the person know they've got the wrong number? After, all, it sounds important. But if you do, you are not talking to anyone in any kind of line other than that of a phone bank. And that person is an enslaved victim of human trafficking, probably in the far east.

Just Say No To Oak Street Health

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: June 26, 2024		Page Views: 372
Hashtags: #Autobiography
If I were bleeding from the eyes and Oak Street Health was the only doctor left in the world, I would stay home and get better care.

I need a hip replacement, and I've waited for months to be scheduled for one. Last week I learned it would be tomorrow! —as long as I could get my pre-operative pass from my primary care physical. You'd think this would be the easy part. But it turns out my PCP, who works for Oak Street Health, just somehow wasn't capable of getting this done. And so my hard-to-get surgery date has been canceled.

Car Camping at 73

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: June 12, 2024		Page Views: 471
Hashtags: #Grand Canyon #Photography
It's been too long since I've seen the spires.

I'm 73, as I keep having to remind myself, and I'm scheduled to have a hip replacement in a couple weeks. So who knows when I'll have another change to visit Grand Canyon? And so, here I am, planning to take photos at midday, sunset, and night. And, by the way, all the following photos were taken by me, with my Samsung Galaxy 23 cell phone. I italicize that because I am still so amazed at the unexpected direction photography has taken in my lifetime.

Programming with Pride

By: Paul S Cilwa	Posted: June 1, 2024		Page Views: 556
Hashtags: #Autobiography #Gay Pride #LGBTQ+
To know where we're going, it's good to know where we've been.

As a computer programmer and budding digital artist, I have always tracked the images of Gay Pride and done a little to riff on them. So for today's post, I'd like to share the history of these images and my contributions.

Waimea Cayon and Home

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: May 31, 2024		Page Views: 345
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai #Waimea Cayon
Today we left Kaua'i, but not before I got in a little more sightseeing.

And so, today is the day (or, rather, evening) all of us but grandson Zach are returning to Arizona. (Zach will be returning tomorrow.) Since Zach needed to spend another night, we kept the resort room so we had a place to hang out until it was time to go to the airport.