Mexico

Mexico is a land of contradictions. The beauty and the beast together in one tasty but fattening lobster roll. The Rosarito Beach Hotel has a long history, and it's been perfect for us. We saw the Titanic movie studio at Foxplorations, where nothing is quite what it seems. Same goes for the lobster dinner we went to in Puerto Nuevo. This was the site of our first date 21 years ago, but everything has changed and grown almost beyond recognition. I love the whole enchilada down here. Perfect gorgeous waves, tasty food.

Jay, being 13, indulged in fireworks and ATV riding on the beach.

We love lounging in our big hotel rooms and watching Mexican TV.

Sierra loves the big freedom of the beach. She has smiled a lot down here.

Prospero ano nuevo

Palm Desert

Visiting family in Palm Desert = How important and right it feels to connect my children to their relatives and ancestors. I love those Joshua Tree Smarts. Aunt Meg is an inspiration, coping with her broken body, smiling and keeping up our spirits. My kids don't remember how vital and healthy she was before her back was broken stopping a rolling car from entering a group of children at her school.

Photos from Mammoth

Our new iPhoto photo album has been published at:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum52.html

Kids' White Christmas

Ah, kids at Christmas in the snowy mountains.



Fun with snow and cookies.



What a gift to be able to give my children these experiences.

Jim

Skiing in Mammoth

I love Mammoth. I stare at the frozen trees as they pass in front of the mountains where I've backpacked in sunnier seasons as I ride chair 14 to the sky. Renewal. Recreation. Settling back into my real self.

Jim

skiing in Mammoth

having a blast!

Ski Sierra, ski!

Sierra had her first ski day yesterday, the first day of winter. She is a natural at age 3. Thanks to Devon Cole for the great gear!

Christmas picture 2005

Peace...really!

Peace, yeah, that's still the thing. The Holy Grail that we just can't seem to get closer to. Sierra, who's about to turn four, has recently become a fan of the bonky head guys, those monks in Monty Python's Holy Grail who chant and then hit themselves in the head with a sturdy piece of wood. I can't help thinking that we humans are a bit like that. We say our lines over and over, pausing only to hit ourselves in the head.

Sierra is a joy to spend time with. XTC sang Every minute spent with her's a bulging wallet. In fact all of the lyrics to "The She Appeared" sum up my feelings for Sierra. What happiness to pick her up at pre-school and have her run into my arms with a smile as big as the sun.

Jack's voice is so low, folks who call our house wonder who that man is answering the phone. It's strange living with a tall basso profundo who used to be this size of a loaf of bread and ask to play Thomas the Tank Engine. Stranger still is looking at Jay, a long haired seventh grader who looks and acts like I did back when the first Star Wars movie came out. I feel like Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Past when I bump into my former self when we crash into each other on the way to Tutu's cookie tin.

Most of the members of our house are in good stead, but Gramma Betty is fading fast. She will turn 90 at the end of December, and her decline is hard on us all.

I'm always telling folks how busy we are, but 2005 makes past years seem like a lazy afternoon with a good book. Things are reaching their crescendo now as we have one last crazy week before flying off to California for the holidays. Away from all these house projects, school events, and lists of things to do.

All my resolutions will be about making our world more peaceful. I hope you are on that path, too.

Jim

Here's a brief rundown on where the family is at as 2006 approaches:

JACK
~ enjoyed roles in Godspell, The Importance of Being Earnest, and the Laramie Project
~ traveled to Rapa Nui and Tahiti with school group
~ A junior is looking at colleges
~ got certified in SCUBA; in process of getting driver’s license



JAY
~ learned to SCUBA dive with dad at many island dive sites
~ played water polo and swim team for Punahou
~ seventh grader
~ climbed mountains, sailed boats, and starred in a play at Camp Treetops in New York



SIERRA
~ moved up to the age 3 group at Kuapa Preschool
~ sings and plays piano
~ still likes sign language
~ swims like a fish



JIM
~ jobs included teaching at Punahou, leading Hawaii Writing Project, and teaching guitar at Camp Treetops
~ teaching sixth grade at Punahou and playing in bands
~ released solo album called “Mist” and played gigs in several cities (www.jimsmart.net)




SHARI
~ working as a substitute between massive home improvement projects
~ enjoyed teaching marine biology at Punahou summer school and crafts at Camp Treetops
~ inducted to the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame

fall in Hawaii

Here's 48 photos from our everyday lives this Fall:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum47.html

Enjoy!

Jim

SCUBA diving with Gramma

Today we did a fun SCUBA on the Makaha coast. The first dive was a wreck of one of those D Day landing crafts. It is about 100 feet long, with the door on the bow that drops to let out the troops into the battle. They say it could sail with 5 tanks aboard, which gives you some idea of the size. It was in about 80 feet of water.

Then we went to a spot called Makaha Caverns, with lots of caves, passages, and swim throughs. The highlight was seeing a white tip shark, about 5 or 6 feet, lurking in a cave. There were lots of turtles and fish to entertain the masses.

Gramma did great! What a year she is having. Climbing Mt. Whitney, skiing, riding her motorcycle, camping and canoeing. Thanks for showing us what retirement should mean.

Jim

Jay's waterpolo Game

In October of 2005 Punahou played Iolani in intermediate waterpolo. This short film captures only a fraction of the drama, the pathos, and the intensity of Jay and his teammates. Water splashed. Heads cracked. Whistles blew, and angels sang.

Oh, and Jay scored two goals.

See the movie:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/iMovieTheater46.html

Gramma Jackie on Mt. Whitney

Gramma Jackie Climbs Mt. Whitney

My mom turned 65 last month, and to celebrate, she climbed Mt. Whitney. I feel proud and inspired.

She camped for six days with my step dad Jim, and they carefully timed it so that their ascent would be on Mom's birthday. Perfect weather for a view of hundreds of miles. I got goose bumps when she called me with her cel phone from the top.

A birthday present to herself. Impressive.

Jim

Rapa Nui and Tahiti

Jack's photos from Rapa Nui and Tahiti:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum42.html

Also, if you've missed other photos from camp and other summer things, they are listed at the top of Jack's photo album.

aloha,

Jim

Last week of camp photos

Hi folks,

The last week of camp was splendiforous:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum41.html

Jack and I are back in Honolulu, preparing for school. Jay, Shari, and Sierra will be home Wednesday, and school starts Thursday.

aloha,

Jim

Songs at camp

We sing a lot of songs camp, which is good for the young whippersnappers. Input for those incredible computers in their craniums. Songs come and go here, and there's often a very popular few. Last summer it was Galileo by the Indigo Girls. This summer it's Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day, and Stairway to Heaven (more on that later).

Today is the farm fest, and I've chosen "Animal Farm" by the Kinks as the theme. I've helped kids make a giant, decorated song sheet with the words and chords on it. After the animal parade, we'll gather in the barn to share poetry and sing this song. And maybe someday, many years from now, magic will happen. The kid will be older, and far away, and someone with good taste will be playing an album called The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, and Animal Farm will come on, and the Farm Festival at Camp Treetops will be recalled in its full glory.

Another popular song this summer is Wish You Were Here. Everyone wants to learn the riff on guitar, and sing the words at council. I always get a bit of a lump in my throat at these lines:

"How I wish, how I wish you were here
we're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl year after year"

Those words always make me think of my old friend John Eaton. He and I were in high school and college together, and several bands. And it's not like he's dead and gone. Heck, he's right there, at the bottom of the state I'm in, in NYC. I could probably find him in a web cam image, like finding Waldo in those picture books that were popular a few years back. John and I don't see each other much, but we have some powerful things in common, and Pink Floyd is one of them.

The song that the most kids are crazy about is Stairway to Heaven. For most of us, it's an overplayed joke. But to these kids, it's fresh and new. It doesn't have all the baggage that it does for most folks, associations with druggies and Wayne's World guitar types. It's just a long song with interesting lyrics, and a likeable melody. So the guitar kids at camp, and there are many of them, are all learning the parts of the song from each other and from me. I taught the intro to Jay on the ukulele, which has to be heard to be believed. And we sing it at camp, along with the Bob Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary songs. And when you peel away its history and give it a chance, it's a pretty fine outdoors mystery tune.

But its Kinks songs that I most enjoy slipping in on them. Education, enrichment, under the radar.

Jim

sailing

Jay is out sailing right now on Lake Champlain. I was unable to go along, though I am an experienced sailor who would have helped out. I am disappointed that I was unable to be with Jay on this big day. It would have been great to be there, but the trip leader didn't want me along. Oh well.

Camp is colder. Winter seems to have snuck in this week. Still, we had yet another great day off to explore the Adirondacks. Sierra hiked her first peak, called Owl's Head. Then we skinny dipped at a waterfall called Cliffords. She kept looking for Clifford the Big Red Dog. We told her it wasn't that kind of Cliffords. Lunch was soft serve rasberry ice cream at Donelly's on the sunny grass. We spent the afternoon at a beach on a big lake. There's a nice 15 minute hike to get there, and the beach was full of clams, which Sierra enjoyed collecting.

Tomorrow is the big end of camp slide show, which is emotional and fun. After that, it's back to Honolulu.

Jim

end games

Camp is winding down. Jay is going on a big sailing trip on Thursday on Lake Champlain. If you look on a map, you will see that it is very large. Not as big as a Great Lake, but close. It makes the border between NY and Vermont. I hope he has good adventures out there. Wish I could go with him.

I fly back to Honolulu on Saturday, get Jack from the south Pacific on Sunday, and then go to work at Punahou on Monday. It's going to be quite a change from life at camp. Sierra is so happy here. She plays out doors all day every day. She has become quite an eloquent talker. Last night the whole camp went out on the lake in any and every boat. It was still and quiet, and I played my guitar on a small row boat called a peanut shell. Jay played his ukulele on the top of the high dive out on a float, and Shari paddled a long canoe with two Korean girls and Sierra in it.

Jay was in the camp play last weekend. When we took Sierra to it and told her Jay was in it, she said, "You mean like Jack? Jay is in a play?" It was called Squids Will Be Squids, and Jay did a slapstick routine which involved a lot of falling down and crashing into things while wearing big cool sunglasses.

Guitar boys rock

ukulele, mandolin, guitar.....where's Aiden with his violin?

Our 3rd week of camp

Great weather!!!

We visited a great Adirondack waterfall with Dave and Bob Tam called Split Rocks. You can see that, and some events at camp, at this week's photo album:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum40.html

aloha!

Jim

guitar sky

Playing guitar with Bob while Sierra does a sunset dance on her rock.

I love my wife

This photo was taken by Sierra, age 3

What is a 46er?

The 46 highest peaks in New York, all the ones supposedly over 4,000 feet high, were put onto a list by an old timer a long time ago. So now a common goal up here is to climb to the top of all 46. If you do that, you are a 46er. Also, when you see a mountain, it's either a 46er or it isn't, meaning it's on the list or not. Strange traditions have grown, like drinking a beer on top of all 46, or doing them all in a week, or doing them in winter. Coming from California, where the peaks are 14,000 feet high, it's a bit hard to get excited about these little tree-covered gems.

When I climbed Allen on Tuesday, it was my fourth 46er. I'm 40, so at this rate I'll have climbed them all by the time I turn 460.

The campers are really into it, and Allen Mt. is a hard, out of the way peak that they were glad to check off their list.

Jim

fun day off

Yesterday's hike up Mt. Allen was a killer. 18 miles at a fast pace, some of it more of a watercliff scramble than a walk. The kids go so fast here! I was able to keep up, but just barely. Nice scenery.

Today is our day off, and we went to a great swimming spot called Split Rocks. Look here for photos later. It is a series of pools and waterfalls to explore and swim in Sierra loved it. We were accompanied by Dave and Bob Tam. We all went for a late lunch at the Cliffhanger after that.

After that Shari climbed her first forty sixer, Cascade. It's the closest to camp, and one of the best. Lots of rocks on top allow for great views, and you can see all of camp laid out below you, as well as the highest mountains in New York.

Now it's off to Lake Placid for an evening of relaxing fun, and maybe another swim. It's hot and beautiful here.

Aloha,

Jim

Today

Today I'm off to hike one of the forty sixers called Allen. It's a rather remote one with a long hike and no view. I'll be going up with 9 campers and 2 other counselors. Should be good exercise. It's 18 miles. Long for a day hike, but I did Mt. Whitney, which is 22 miles in brutal altitude.

Last night I was part of the band for the square dance. In addition to Bill calling out the tunes, we had Dave Tam on piano, Anika on fiddle, and me on bass. I borrowed a nice bass and bass amp, and we sounded great! Yee haw!

Been writing lots of songs between camp duties.

Tomorrow is our day off. We are hoping for good weather.

aloha,

Jim

Jack in Rapa Nui

We miss Jack a lot. He is not here with us at Camp Treetops. He is on a school trip,
as described below. Check out the photos!

Hi folks -
Hope your summer is going well. Just thought you might like to see
some pictures from the Luke Center / Wo Center trip to Rapa Nui and
Tahiti. 15 students (14 Punahou & 1 Kamehameha) are there right now
and will return later in August. Carri Morgan is the trip chaperone
and the group is also fortunate to be joined by Gail Peiterson, Malia
Ane, and Punahou alums John Leong and Julianna Rapu Leong. They will
be doing several service projects while on this trip and learning about
the culture and history of Rapa Nui.

We invite you to visit www.punahou.edu/lukecenter/rapanui05 to see
photos and read updates about the trip. We hope to update this site
regularly as communication comes in from Carri.

Enjoy.

Camp Treetops Week 5 / Vermont day trip

Here's our latest set of 48 photos:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum38.html

It's beautiful here. The weather is everything we had hoped for last year, but rarely got. Warm, blue sky days, starry nights. I'm working in senior camp this year, which is closer to the lake, which is definitely the place to be. The sunsets over the lake are mind blowing night after night.

Our day trip to Vermont was special because of the long bike ride we took along the shores of Lake Champlain. The weather was gorgeous as we pedalled through wetlands, fancy neighborhoods, beaches, and "the causeway", which is a bike path that goes for miles with wide open water on either side. We ended with a swim at a beach where lots of pleasure boats had moored for the day. We also visited the Teddy Bear Factory and had a great evening in Burlington at the Vermont Brew Pub with a walk through the Church Street shopping district that ended in the inevitable trip to Ben and Jerry's.

Hope all is well with you,

Jim

Wednesday blues

My step-mother died yesterday, so things are a little blue. After a blazingly sunny week, the rains have returned for our day off. Not too bad, though. It'll probably clear up tomorrow.

The Adirondack skies put on a dazzling show last night. A warm, sunny afternoon turned to distant thunder, then lightning getting closer and closer, and finally the sound of approaching torrential rain. This is a "shhh" sound that stirs up primal instincts to get inside.

At first the raindrops were huge splatters on the wooden boards of the lake hill. Within 30 seconds the wind howled from a new direction; doors slammed, tent flaps pounded, and sideways rain got into every protected area. A minute later the rain turned to hail. The biggest stones were the size of my watch face.

After less than 5 minutes the worst of the storminess receded, leaving massive puddles and floody river tracks. After that, the sunset was the most spectacular yet. Somehow the hail and lightning stirred up the high atmosphere into glorious oranges and pinks. We went to bed in awe of nature.

RIP, Charleen Smart.

aloha,

Jim

photo link: 48 photos from our first week at camp

dadsierra
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Hi friends,

Here's 48 of our latest photos from Camp Treetops:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum37.html

It's been a very happy week at Treetops, with lots of good weather and no real problems. The days are full and rich. Jay is often sailing on the lake, or making something in the woodshop. The other kids like him, and he seems very at ease. Last night he played a piano piece by himself in the talent show. I think he's very proud of that.

Sierra is into rasberry picking. Yesterday I offered that as an activity, and we roamed the property looking for the good bushes. She is eating well and seems very comfortable with the routines here.

I can't say that any of us miss television, money, cars, or news. There's plenty going on for us right here at camp.

On our day off we hung out with Bob Tam and did a hike and cruised around Lake Placid. A fun mellow day.

love,

Jim

icecream

icecream
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

sail

sail
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

smartbench

smartbench
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

tiedye

tiedye
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

bobsierrajim

bobsierrajim
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

camper

camper
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

snow in July?

snow in July?
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

After backpacking

After backpacking
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Sherwin's Folly gig

Sherwin's Folly gig
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

backpacking

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of backpacking with some guys near Minaret Lake. Hot clear weather contrasted with the frozen but melting lakes and the massive snow fields. Jon and Jay are friends from Santa Barbara, and my step dad Jim added to the fun.

More photos:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum36.html

Sierra Sunset, by Round Lake

Sierra Sunset, by Round Lake
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Sierra's rock

Sierra's rock
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Jay hangs out

Jay hangs out
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

water kids

water kids
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Arrival at Camp Treetops

Greetings from Camp Treetops!

The Smarts are all here, except for Jack, slumming it in Hawaii, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui.

We have been here for 3 days and have experienced 6 weathers.

Some of the more gorgeous moments are captured on film. Sierra is becoming quite a good photographer. It's interesting to see the world from her height.

Jay is having a great camp. He is still into sailing and woodshop, but his new focus is hiking the forty sixers. He has climbed 8 peaks so far which are over 4000 feet. His hair is long and he is looking healthy and happy. He is well liked by the campers and counselors. Good camp fun.

Sierra is again very popular and comfortable at camp. Shari and I take turns watching her as we do other activities. Shari took some kids way across the lake for a big swim yesterday, and I had a cool circle of musicians jamming in the evening. That was before the enormous lightning storm hit.

To send us mail or see more photos of the camp, try the website:
http://nct.org/camp/index.htm

More later. Love and hugs from the Adirondacks.

Love,

Jim

misty

misty
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

sierramisty

sierramisty
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Our backyard

scubajackdad

scubajackdad
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Jim and Jack on the West side.
Dive 1: The wreck of the Mahi
Dive 2: Makaha Caverns

Harry Potter Anticipation

molokai june 2005 - 061
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

A L O H A

Hi friends,

Here's the new Family Smart Blog. Check in here from time to time to read about our adventures and whereabouts. Here's a run down of our current status:

Jay has gone to Camp Treetops in the Adirondack mountains. He will be there for 7 weeks. Shari, Sierra, and I will join him for the last month of camp. Hopefully this blog will be updated regularly from there. Meanwhile, Jack will be going to Rapa Nui and Tahiti with a group from school. That's in a week or two. Until then we'll be hanging out on Oahu, surfing, working, and taking classes.

Jim

18th anniversary

18 anniversary - 8
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

18th anniversary

18 anniversary - 9
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

Sierra

Last Roll - 35
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

maui june 05

maui june 05 - 24
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

MOLOKAI 05

MOLOKAI 05 - 01
Originally uploaded by jimsmart.

welcome