Sunday, May 20, 2018

The Price of Paradise


Aloha Everyone!

In April I started a blog post to discuss the huge decision I made to cut cable – I think the DVR is one of the greatest inventions ever – so I wasn’t sure I would survive. Ok, that’s a bit drastic, but I love my TV. With the help of my sister, I found that hulu will allow me to view my favorite programs the day after they air; I can handle that. Along with Netflix and CBS All Access, I can see the majority of my favorite programs. I am very sad to lose access to my Food Network and HGTV shows, though, plus local news and my beloved ellen are also casualties of my attempt to save money. But let’s jump forward to today's catastrophe.

My job is very busy. My life is also very busy as I took two weeks in May/June to travel to Michigan to visit family and celebrate my youngest daughter’s accomplishments. Near the end of my mainland vacation, I received calls from Hawaii with news about Kilauea’s eruption and the earthquakes.

Emergencies at the library tend to happen when I am somewhere else. In January, the false Korean Missile Launch Alert happened while I was in the car heading to a workshop. Luckily, phones allow me to address issues along with the amazing staff at the Hilo Public Library who handle problems beautifully.

So back to the current eruption. 23 fissures are open, some have merged together, and the flow has finally reached the ocean. Most people know about Vog which is volcanic ash and smog which blows across the islands causing eye and skin irritations, but now they are advertising a new concern, Laze. This is a hydrochloric acid mist containing volcanic glass particles that occurs when lava mixes with seawater. It is corrosive, toxic, and can be deadly according to the Hawaii News Now broadcast. We have the sulpher dioxide gas, volcanic dust, and vog to contend with here, and I do not plan to head toward the coast to experience laze!

I will compile my observations since this began and bring it to you in another blog post. For now, if you would like to read about my take on the missile crisis, you can find it here:

Or the interview with the Cadillac News, in Michigan, about the volcano, select this link:

For now, keep looking on the bright side! Mahalo-Michelle 😄

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