On The Road to Maui # 14




Tuesday oct 8 we are at Maui coffee rosters in Kahalui.............

Living of the grid is something I have always desired to do. We have slowly been moving towards this the last 3 years . Actually I quit watching TV about 12 years ago ,amazing my headaches went south to the Antarctic and may they never return. Down there some day some poor soul will uncover a time capsule full of my past annoying advertising buy it now this will change your life / make you happy headaches.






On a totally different note just went over to the Facebook village and low and behold the first picture I see is my Sister Niamh on a desert adventure in Dubai. Niamh was my hero , friend growing up back in Ireland. Niamh being the elder Lemon had to take the brunt of all our family issues. It is always hardest being the first lady :0)
I truly believe it was training for the woman she is today. Niamh has her on business....


Niamh Quinlan - Travel Counsellors
www.travelcounsellors.ie/niamh.quinlan

"The best way to describe Niamh is …...If the ship was going down she would be the last one off. When she sets her mind to a new venture she follows through, quit is not in her nature. Thanks for being there for me Niamh !!! Cynthia has many of your amazing qualities" :0)






Ok, Back to living of the grid, the best thing about being the writer is you direct the course of the Pen-Ship!!!


The other morning while sitting on the out-shed pot, (yes! its like little house on the Prairie) I had the sudden Revelation!! of where 'Sir William Gerald Golding' got the inspiration for his famous book “Lord Of The Flies”...... after a while they don’t bother you.


You become accustomed to nature around you, Geckos,Rats,huge but harmless spiders, our Hosts Dog Calab Michael and the Local mosquito population, oh and lets not forget the wild Roosters that cock and crow all night some one forgot to tell them about the sunrise Que. They are hilarious to listen to all night, well I guess its sunrise some where :0(


Then there are the 40 odd goats that mow the surrounding grass, yes they do smell like goats cheese which makes it bearable as I like good cheese.
The goats remind me of the movie “Men Who stare at Goats” staring George Clooney ( Hey, he is Irish No wonder I like his sense of Humor)
Anyway I practiced staring at every goat that turned my way but alas none of them fell over dead. In the end I just waved and they gave me that look as if to say
“ Whatever turns you on mate”
“Goats Cheese” I replied and its followed by Bonaparte s retreat!!!


All things considered I love sleeping outdoors, we are truly praying about making this a lifestyle . You will find me years from now living the Life with My Hot Girl-friday,actually we will not want to be found. Think about it...The First nut that shows up and declares
“ Doctor Quinlan I presume”
Will find Jimmy Hoffa`s resting place :0)


Cheers ,Aloha


Michael and Cynthia :0)

Much ado about nothing ...on the road to Maui # 13

Nothing great to report just saying Hello :0)

Waiting for my coffee to brew. At 6am the sea was close to a mill pond and as the sun began to rise the waves began to roll. Amazing how nature works. Last night we watched the Sun go down on Baldwin beach in Paia. Baldwin beach has some amazing white sand and my brain is stuck in neutral this am. No creativity flowing. Maybe its because we had a late night with somme good friends,no drinking to speak of a quarter glass of wine at most. Watched the new movie “admissions” would give it a B+ supposed to be a comedy with Tina Fey ( 30 Rock and Paul Rudd) we wanted a good laugh. This movie did not crack us up, just a few ripples. Actually “Dispicable me 2” trailer that played just before had us rolling, got to love those minions A+.

Ok, Its two hours later we are back in Paia for sat am breakfast...We are at Paia Bay Cafe....The coffee is not to good this am. Coffee can make or break Cynthia`s morning!


Now its One day later sunday sept 6 4:47pm sitting outside Tee-Pee writing to you, yes you on the mainland reading this ,,Yup..How`s it goin !!!

The last few days have been tiring, boy I,m scarping he bottom of the barrel for words and thoughts. This is a good challenge to write with no inspiration. Now many writers say if your not inspired walk away. Well I,m tapping my keys away, sitting across the Table from me is our North American Indian Host and new found friend. Would love to say we are having a Pow, wow but no they are texting hahaha a lot healthier than smoke signals.,

Yes ,its just a slow lazy day for us on Maui, Cynthia is lying down. Tonight we have a camp fire and tomorrow who knows.
Its been over 4 weeks since I pushed the Starter button on The Old Beamer and we began our new journey, a lot of rubber , ocean and white sand has passed under our feet...well I,m going to quit while I,m a head and just leave you with some pictures of the last few days...Aloha from the slow life


Love Michael and Cynthia :0) xoxoox

Lord I need a blanket....Please :0(

On The Road to Maui # 12




Last weekend a good friend of mine flew to the Island of Oahu Hawaii for a church conference on Prophecy. It never occurred to him that it would be cold over there so he did not pack any warm clothing, I mean it is Hawaii after all the land of sunshine and tropical visions.


He arrived that night ,booked into his Hotel with two other friends . Next morning he goes to the church to start the weekend conference.
The temp outside was the usual high eighties so our friend from new york was glad to walk into an air conditioned auditorium.
All was going well until they increased the air conditioning. He began to shiver in his tee shirt shorts and sandals. Now he did have a the Jesus look, you know long hair,beard but alas no long robe. And there were no old testament look alike Prophets around willing to loan him a robe or Hood.
He asked the conference security if they could loan him a blanket, but they told him he should have dressed warmer, to be honest they were rather rude.


There is nothing more uncomfortable than being either to hot or cold, not enjoyable at all, like when the waiter sits you under the cold air blower at Shari s / Denny’s or even the Ritz carlton depending on the size of your wallet ?


So my friend became increasingly concerned with his present predicament. Then all of a sudden one of the sessions was over and they were calling people to come forward for prayer. As many went forward they would become overwhelmed by the holy spirt and fell on the ground. When theses people went down the conference ushers would cover then in Blankets!!!!


Yes! Bingo Our Hero saw his chance for warmth ,without hesitation he went forward for prayer raising his hands in praise and allowing the prayer team member to lay hands on him. Of course moments later he was on the floor with eyes closed praising God and anticipating the warm blanket. Because everyones cunning new-yorker was in no hurry to get up, the ushers covered him with his long sought after blanket!! ( yes, he did need prayer for warmth0


Then began the battle for the return of the blanket or more likely the flight of the New york Bumble Bee.

Some time later after a well earned nap Kramer!! ( Lets call him Kramer) gets up heads in the direction of his seat with his prize in a firm grip. One of the security team approaches and asks for the blanket, Kramer asks if he can use it a little longer as he is cold and receives the same cold reply that he should have dressed appropriate and no he cant keep the blanket.
He boldly tells rent a cop that he has flown to Oahu for the conference , paid for the conference and is keeping the blanket until it ends.
The security man gives up for now at least.


Lunch time comes ,Kramer like a a little kid takes his blankie to the lunch table where upon the Head of security a female with a cold Russian Tank lady personalty tries to get him to give up his Blanket. Kramer is with a group of people eating and refuse`s. Tank lady insists but is unsuccessful even after using threats of removal from the conference.
Kramer asks her “what would Jesus do”, she with draws for now


After Lunch another security nut tries to take it as Kramer is walking back in but he is holding on to it like a new York Jewish woman who has found a bargain at a sale.


Its hard to believe this actually happened at a Christian conference for sure it would happen in Cell block 13 but a church ?


Well through out the day the “Knights Templar” are unsuccessful on their crusade of retrieving the blanket , Kramer had to keep one eye on his blankie and the other on the conference proceedings.


Finally the conferance comes begins to wind down and its time for the prophetess to prophecy. Kramer is the last one in line and when he stands before the Female prophet he is informed he is too late as the conference ran late and they only had a half hour to Prophecy. He asks cant I just get one word the answer is no and a rent a cop takes the opportunity to take the Blanket!!!!!


Well long story short when the conference coordinator finds out what happened to Kramer he was furious with security and when Kramer called me that night I was cracking up imagining the scene and asked his permission to write it for you all, it was just like a Seinfeld episode


Cheers ...Thanks for reading


Michael and Cynthia :0)

On The Road To Maui # 11





Today began the first step of Cynthia`s new business venture on Maui . “Guapa Smoothies” was officially registered in the state of Hawaii complete with License . This is Cynthia`s first venture into the Food Vendor world. Yes, she does have an online KHM travel franchise know as …..


CGC Travel Services | Online Travel Agency Booking Deals
res.travsearch.com/travel/.../vendor.rvlx?...Cynthia...Cagnoni%20Quinla...

but as anyone in the self-employed world knows its good to have a few extra pokers in the fire in case your Texas hold-em talent ends with an unplanned dip in the Mississippi after a bad night on the steam paddler with some angry confederates.


All in all I,m very proud of Cynthia for daring to live on the edge and follow the leading of the holy- spirit!!!!.


I was very impressed with the state employee`s here, Cynthia was treated like family. I have had many conversations with people from Hawaii over the phone before we traveled here and each time they went beyond the call of duty. In fact they made it personal ,if they could not help they would recommend some other agency or even family member or acquaintance who could not like the cold corporate generic answers I,m used to


''Matson Seattle Don Speaking”


“ Hi Don this is Michael, do you ship motorcycles to Maui”


“Sorry sir our Seattle office does not handle that, you might want to try someone else Thank you,is there anything else I can do for you today”


“Yes I have an Elephant I want to ship to the white house”
“Sorry sir we only ship donkeys”


Then I called Pasha Hawaii !


It was like I was calling my Mom :0)


“Aloha this is Cindy thank you for calling Pasha”
Same question and 5 minutes later we are still talking, she made it very personal as if it was her own company and would not let me hang up until she had answered all my questions. At no point did she try to get me to book,she just wanted to help.


I find this to be the general rule here rather than the exception. Of Course if you are an uptight rude person,well those personalities can never seem to figure out why bad things always happen to them. If they would just remove that hard broomstick from their derriere they would get champagne in first class and live long and prosper ...Hello !!!


Well guess what? we don’t have to leave the Tee-Pee. Our gracious host informed us last night upon their return that we can stay as long as we wish. We all lit a nice fire and cooked some chicken and talked until late. God has truly been looking out for us since we left Portland. We are not the types to milk something to the bone but when you live a life of faith in God your life is no longer in your hands.
This is a very hard pill for many to swallow and actually all you have to do is ask God for the faith to do it.

I`m not saying its a cake walk believing in someone you cant see, but I would not miss it for the world.
Our Heavenly Pop loves it when we jump of the cliff without a bungee cord, the world may think we are nuts and the undertaker down below encourages us Yelling Jump!!! , Jump!!!!, but he never gets to meet us as our true Dad scoops us right up into the next adventure he has planned for us.


OK! That's it for this morning...thanks again for reading I,m officially of the writing clock and making coffee....cheers


Michael and Cynthia :0)


‎

 

On The Road to Maui # 10 :0)

On The Road To Maui # 10

Wearing "Clarks air wave sandals" Not keene`s ;)




Well the last week of living in a Tee-Pee is coming to an end. It has been a good experience and has also been good research for a writing project I have been slowly working on about North American Indians. Of course here on Maui you would never expect to find a Tee-Pee, more like a grass hut with the Big Kahuna and his entourage.

Today is Monday September 30 its 2:45pm we are in a coffee store in Kihei charging up our laptops. Cynthia is researching online the local licenses she has to get for her Smoothie business. Thats her next project. We decided that her project comes before finding a permanent place to live. The goal is to be up and running with in two weeks. So after expenses we may end up having to eat her product Hahaha.
But then thats the challenge! she came here to be self-employed, I still don’t know what I,m going to do? As of yet...no, I will not be driving tour bus, glad I tried it last time out but I have no desire to go back to it, long days and no life.


Do I have a calling to Maui or am I in love with it, not really, all I know is its the next step in our lives and now we are here.
Now don’t get me wrong I do like the consistent sunshine and warm sandy beaches who wouldn’t,....Ok, disgruntled navel gazing Norm in Boise Idaho, you could give him a million Bucks and he would still have an excuse not to fire his 30 odd six , guess thats why norm is a vegetarian :0(

What do I love, I love Jesus, CYNTHIA, DID I SAY CYNTHIA and yes people. Since I landed here I have prayed with an average of 3 people a day. I`m one of those guys no mater where I land in the world I naturally connect with the local population and the beauty of it is God gives me the key to each individuals heart, rather simple when you think about it. Does not cost me a bundle in expensive Class`s on how to talk to your neighbor or win the poor unsuspecting humanoid into some weird religion or step-ford clone war!!. I just simply tell my buddy the holy spirit I,m available and he does the rest if I,m willing to listen with me good old Irish heart and ears :0)

Well still have not figured out where we are going to sleep tonight as The Tee-Pee owner returns at 4pm, all I know is where ever it is it will be warm and Gods best for us. He has never let me /us down yet and I know he never will.


It does me good to write out all my thoughts, its the one place that is consistent on this new adventure. Cynthia told me that when she was away in Spain it was very important to do something familiar every day ,this is mine, of course the Irish try drinking and get lost in the world of shang-ra-la for a brief period Brouhaha....

Hey! I never regretted my drinking days I felt like the Irish Superman , but alas the next morning I had that other feeling of empty pockets along with the dull sound of the punch clock as I checked in to make more beer vouchers, at least I didn’t work for the brewery that would be like adding insult to self inflicted injury :0(


Ok ,Thanks for reading...catch you all later....Cheers !!!!!


Michael and Cynthia :0) oxoxox


PS !Our North American Indian Host " just Texted a smoke signal wont be back till tomorrow...One more night with the Beautiful Squaw for me :0)

Road to Maui # 9 :0)

The Road To Maui # 9


This early morning I lay on my Cot looking up at the top of the Tee-pee opening to the world outside as the first shafts of light pierce the darkness of our historic native American abode.

As its fingers slowly crept in illuminating the off white canvas walls ,poles and Cynthia`s sleeping form on the cot alongside me I imagined two tall dark skinned Indians crawling through the small half round entrance after an early morning hunt dragging their joyless demised quarry. One of them proceeds to hang the kill on a rope hanging from the top of the tee-pee the other turns , see`s us lying on our cots u and gasps


“ Who`s sleeping in my bed ?”


“ Mick from Cork and the Squaws off limits”


“ How!!! Mick from Cork and Squaw off Limits”


“ Not to bad and yourself 'Two Eyes Wandering'”


“ Thats not my name”


“ It is now pal and tell Elmer Fudd the squaw likes her meat medium rare and go easy on the sauce”




Meanwhile back in the real world!


Amazing the thoughts that go through your mind as you lay in your cot staring into your surroundings.


As a child I made up stories to entertain myself. I lived between two worlds, to be honest I preferred the world of make believe,it felt safe where no one could harm or yell at me. Not saying I came from a horrible home or I had screwed up parents, they loved and provided for us the best way they knew how with their understanding of love and reality.
There were six kids in our family back in Ireland and at one point the family car was a mini cooper.
Not like that nice bigger one you see today, it was a lot smaller back then. That fine British car was once voted the sexiest car in the world. Well in My Mom and Dads case it must be true for they sure wore out those shocks,between the fun of conception,birth and transportation they should be awarded the Medal for sexiest couple in the British isles. Ps, My Dad was bald also.. hmmmm!


The seating arrangement in that mini was as follows. My Three older sisters Niamh,Siobhan,Dara on the rear seat with myself and my brother Niall sitting on their laps. Up front passenger seat was Mom with my sister Deidre on her lap and my Dad in the driving seat. I think that car was where I learned the “F” word ? ,funny I always thought it came from the French. I guess you could call it the first Irish short bus developed for the Quinlan special needs program. American drug company’s could have used it as a test lab for Prozac,who needs rats when you have your own home grown Irish sardine can :0)


Maui is bringing out the best in me , my thoughts are bursting forth like Oil from a fresh tapped well in Texas....I have no idea what happens next on this island I,m just following the beautiful Argentinian Piped Piper Cynthia as she embarks on this great new adventure in her life and I follow behind supporting her and picking up theHundred Dollar bills she drops :0)


Thanks for reading my random thoughts this fine morning and where ever this finds you may you be blessed in all you do...cheers until later!!!!!

Now I will put on My 'Clarks Air Wave' sandals and go out and say HOW to the neighbours !!!!!


Michael and Cynthia :0)

On The Road To Maui # 8




Good morning its september 23 my son Jaq`s Birthday. On This day 1988 he came screaming into the world full throttle no holes barred. Jaq now lives and goes to Collage in Portland Oregon. He served 3 years in the Army 1st Armour-ed division Fort Bliss and South Korea and he is also a great Comedian although he wont let me know where he does his stand-up act for obvious reasons LOL... I'm very proud to be his father and wish him well in his next 200 years...All my love to you on this Day Jaq :0)


Meanwhile back on the island; we have moved from the beach to an Indian Tee-Pee for the next week or so. Will not give the location as I wish to protect the owners privacy. All I will tell you is they are a true north American Indian and its a honor to stay here.


We are surrounded by beautiful quiet scenery and about 46 goats and sheep, with a great view of the Ocean and the west Maui mountains behind us. Last night we slept outside in a Cabana as the Tee-pee was too hot. This morning I,m sitting in front of my Wig-Wam as we called then in Ireland ( Wig -Wam ...Tee-Pee????? No Idea just got to love the Irish creativity!!!!)


Honestly, I would personally love to build my own tee-pee in the neighborhood but Cynthia wants a kitchen, sink and shower with windows and not just in the shower. I mean come on you think I'm Irish or something? Hey! I'm just writing this as it comes out and with no coffee I might add. Sort of like writing in serous head pain . The coffee jar is empty and Cynthia is still asleep, no she is not the coffee gaffer I just figure I will learn how to write under extreme stress and mental, psychotic discomfort so don’t send me any nasty smoke signals! I know where y`all live!!! Besides if the Chinese ever came knocking and took away our coffee I would be well prepared :-)


On another note... Our Car arrives on Thursday morning and My bike can be picked up later that same day... Khayyam!!!! My Kingdom mount will soon taste salt air and its all aluminum and stainless steel!!! I wont say its been easy with the two of us using the Virago, my friend Andy loaned us but Cynthia loves riding on the back and now has a desire to get a scooter...hmmm! You get very creative when your only transportation is a two wheeled one. One up is ok as you can use extra saddle bags and strap the fatted calf to the tank, but two is a differnet matter. Although, when you look at India or Vietnam, they take everything but the kitchen sink on their scooters; and pick up the road kill fatted calf on the way. Ok, Its great having only two on the bike hahaha. No It really has been a blessing and We are extremely thankful.


Two nights ago we were invited to my friend, Israel Aunts house In Kula for a going away celebration. Israels cousin Ciara is going to Join YWAM ( Youth With A Mission ) for a period of time. It was Cynthia`s first time meeting Israels extended family. There were about 30 + Hawaiians and they waited until we arrived before they ate. It was like we were always family. I love the Hawaiian aloha spirit. We had a great time. This island is all about people not Money. Honestly as much as it was Ciara's going away party it was just like a welcome to the Island party for US:-)...it was an incredible night, the only thing missing was a pig and it would have been a Luau!!!!!!


Ok Gone over my limit here!!...so love you all and thanks for reading and for your prayers and support!!!!


Aloha Michael and Cynthia :0)