It's 12 o'clock here in Honolulu, Hawaii, and I'm overlooking the beach, out on the balcony, of a hotel room in Waikiki. 

Yes, I'm on vacation!  It's also Amy's birthday, so since she reallly has wanted to go to Hawaiii for a long time, we have come here.  Arrived today, and will be around for a week.

I've always been a water boy - lots of water sports - so it is great to get back to be immersed, surrounded, by water. 

Waikiki seems like the "busy" part of Hawaii - I can still see many people out walking near the beach, and we are a few blocks away from the shopping area.

But still, just being at the water, swimming at the beach for a couple of hours today, and simply having the beach across from my hotel room - therse are things to be grateful for.