Cyclone

Kia orana (hello) today's blog post will be brief. Apparently we are sitting here in Aitutaki on the edge of a cyclone; I know exciting but no cause for concern according to the staff this weather is typical this time of year and the cyclone is passing over Aitutak. It has been cloudy and rainy since yesterday. We walked the beach right after breakfast and got soaking wet and drenched by the incoming tide. I spotted two blue starfish (etu moano) and have seen lots of beautiful shells but they've all been inhabited by hermit crabs so they must not be disturbed or evicted. After our walk we went back to our cottage where we enjoyed reading and relaxing. John went to the office to check emails and IM with Gretchen and I stayed back in the room reading. I'm really enjoying the memoir I bought in Santa Barbara, The Kids Are All Right and the time to read for pleasure. Now we're getting ready to go into town to buy a bottle of wine and find something for a late lunch/snack since we've only had gingersnaps since breakfast and it's now about 3:00. Speaking of "ginger" there are two cats in residence, Ginger and Ono. Ginger has taken a liking to us and shows up at our villa right around dinner time each night and even spent last night asleep on the daybed on the porch. If the rain lets up we are planning to go to Island Night (traditional dancing and fire show) if not we will just chill out with the other guests and staff at the hotel because everyone is super friendly except this one guy who is traveling with his elderly mother. I can't really say that he's not friendly, he just seems standoffish and a bit odd but this morning when I thought more about the duo I came to suspect that this is a case of mother taking care of son rather than son taking care of mother.