Aloha to the USS Carl Vinson

 

The USS Carl Vinson arrived on Wednesday (at this link).   I signed up for the public tour and I share the photos with you!  

We climbed five stairs to the flight deck.

The flight deck offered almost every
type of plane - from propeller to jet!

Everything folds up! 

Great view of the Mighty Mo ... 

... and the USS Arizona.

  

The flag flies off the stern.

  

Here are the boat launches for the USS Arizona.
The Ford Island Bridge is in the background.

In the Air Force, it's nose art.
In the Navy, it is tail art.  

Ready for action!

Great view of the National Park Service's
boat launch to the USS Arizona Memorial ... 

... plus the USS Bowfin,
nicknamed the Pearl Harbor Avenger.

It must be an art to rack and stack
the planes on the flight deck!

We climbed another five stairs to the bridge.
It offers a panoramic view of the flight deck ... 

... plus Aloha Stadium in the distance!

Another tourist samples the power
of the captain's chair.

   

On the lower deck, we checked out the static displays.

  

The Navy is proud of its heritage. 

Lest we never forget.

The Tiger program allows sailors to invite family members to
sail home on the last leg, such as Pearl Harbor to San Diego.

I met a sailor escorting his father and grandfather.
I also spotted a sailor bringing aboard his 10 year old son!
What a family treat!

I drove over to Ford Island for this shot.  The USS Carl Vinson rendered honors to the USS Arizona when it pulled into port.

If you had a family member aboard any Navy ship, would you participate in a Tiger Cruise?  Five days at sea, sleeping in a bunk, and learning about carrier operations?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 19, 10 pm in Hawaii.   


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

It truly is a floating city!

Weekly winners and Aloha guests

We have winners at SOS Aloha!

Jane Austen meets Flat Stanley
- Cyn209 wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Roberta Rich and THE MIDWIFE OF VENICE
- Leslie is the winner!

GREAT ESCAPES by Linda Wisdom Lynda K Scott
- Linda M. is the winner!

Sherry Jones and FOUR SISTERS, ALL QUEENS
- Helen is the winner!

Grace Burrowes and LADY MAGGIE'S SECRET SCANDAL
- Wilovebooks is the winner!

Winners, please claim your book by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.    I am a winner with recent visitors to Hawaii!

- Kati from ROMANCING RAKES FOR THE LOVE OF ROMANCE (at this link).   Kati and hubby enjoy the beach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) where President Obama often escapes with his family.  

 

- Lacey Falcone, a fellow AF veteran and budding romance author (at this link).   Lacey and David enjoy Spam Jam.

- Mia Marlowe, historical author extraordinaire (at this link).  Mia is ready for Almack's with her fan from Oxford Street, er, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet!

If you came to visit me in Hawaii, what would you like to see? One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, May 19, 10 pm in Hawaii.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Jane Austen recently arrived on Oahu at ALOHA ON MY MIND at this link. 

Aloha to Cathy Maxwell and LYON'S BRIDE

Readers, we are not in Kansas anymore ...  


Glinda:  Have you read Cathy Maxwell's new book, LYON'S BRIDE?


Dorothy:  Yes!  A Scottish witch cast a curse on the Chattan family.

Glinda: Oh, my, what was the curse?

Dorothy: "When a Chattan male falls in love, strike his heart with fire from Above."

Glinda: How can the family defeat the curse?

Dorothy: The three siblings are trying to live without love. Yet the eldest, Lord Lyon, desires children. His solicitor suggests he use the match making services of the widowed Mrs. Martin. Unknown to Lord Lyon, Mrs. Martin is his childhood friend who he forsake because of the curse.

Glinda:  Should we send them the ruby slippers?

Dorothy: Lord Lyon just needs to remember There's no power like love.

Glinda:  (dabbling tears from her eyes), who is this storyteller?

Dorothy: From Cathy's website (at this link), "I was raised in Olathe, KS. I am a Kansan by nature–stubborn, loyal, independent. I now consider Virginia my home and think I have adapted well to the Southern way of life (although I’ll never be a good cook!)"

Cathy (left) and Kieran Kramer at the SOS Military Mixer

Glinda: Tell me more about Cathy!

Dorothy: She also wrote on her website, "I’ve spent six years in the Navy. I worked in the Pentagon and did a tour with Naval Intelligence. I’ve also managed a watch factory, been a news broadcaster, and done costumes for local theater. Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy."

Glinda: Cathy sounds intriguing!

Dorothy: She quotes Debby Macomber, “Attitude is the key . . . each one of us is as successful as we make up our minds to be.”

Glinda: I think there must be some of Cathy Maxwell in Lord Lyon to face this curse!

Dorothy: I know there is some of Cathy Maxwell in Mrs. Martin as she gives Lord Lyon the reason to face this curse.  In fact, Lyon could borrow a quote from my friend the Lion, "I would never have found my courage if it hadn't been for you."

Glinda: Where can we learn more about LYON'S BRIDE?

Dorothy: Cathy posted an excerpt on her website at this link. You can also buy it from

Amazon at this link.
BAAM at this link.
Barnes & Noble at this link.
Book Depository at this link (free world wide shipping)

Glinda: What's next in the series?

Dorothy: Referring back to Cathy's website, "The second book of the series is THE SCOTTISH WITCH. Look for it in November ’12. The third book of the trilogy, THE DEVIL’S HEART (I love that title) will be out in early 2013. I think these books are some of my best. I can’t wait for you to read them."

Lion: (roar) Kim posted her five star review of LYON'S BRIDE on Goodreads at this link.

Tinman:  (squeak) Kim is giving away a print copy of LYON'S BRIDE. Just leave a comment about your favorite quote for success.

Scarecrow: (rustle) This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Hawaii. Kim will post the winner on Sunday, April 29.

Toto: Ruff!

Aloha to H50 and NCIS:LA in crossover episode!

Tonight H5O's welcomes NCIS:LA to
Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH).    

Do these photos look familiar?  I posted 

similar pictures when the crew filmed these 

scenes on March 26 at this link.

Callen and Sam join Danno and Kono
in H5O's "ops center".

On Tuesday night, Danno and Chin visit LA.

I have no idea what is the plot ... but does it matter?  LL Cool J in my backyard is enough!   When you watch the episodes, look for the "tan houses with brown roofs" in the background.  That's my neighborhood!


Are you a fan of H50?  NCIS?  Crossover shows?  Guest stars?  Cliff hangers?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll publish the winner on Sunday, April 29.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

April's month long giveaway is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too!

CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.

RT Recap - Movie Party and Weekly Winners

Some readers departed Sunday with heavy suitcases .... 

... while other stayed for the Movie Party hosted
by Amanda McIntyre and Bobbi Smith. 

Time for a coze .... 

... with friends of all types!

We also have winners at SOS Aloha!


Molly Harper's NICE GIRLS DON'T BITE THEIR NEIGHBOR
- Sheree is the winner!

Carolyn Brown's ONE HOT COWBOY WEDDING
- CBails wins the Las Vegas gift pack!

RT Recaps Days 1 - 3:
Barbara, Tina(purple), and Flchen1 win a book choice from my convention stash.

Winners - please confirm your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.


We return to book reviews and author interviews this coming week!


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Bobbi Smith remembers Judi McCoy!

Aprils' month long giveaway is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too!

CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.