I see that it is cold pretty much everywhere! Yes, the few exceptions are Florida and the beautiful tropical islands of Hawaii. I just happen to have property in Hawaii, but I have already gone this year. I think next year I will plan for a winter vacation. If we can't get there physically, we can take a quick mental trip and think warm thoughts! My Mother's home is only 200 feet from the breaking waves of Maui's beautiful shoreline. We can whale watch from her living room while watching television on the couch. Yes, it is nice to have a warm place like this to escape. I consider our family very lucky to be blessed with such luxuries. Being a photographer makes it even better to visit so often as it is a photographers paradise. Yesterday and the day before there was some type of storm. At my wife's surfing whole, (Jawz), they had 50 foot waves!!! Wish I could have seen that! My Mother in law called from there to tell us all about it. She said that the beaches were all blocked off by the coast guard and the police department. No one could get to the water. When my wife was there this September, there were two tsunami warnings. They sounded the alarms and had them evacuate to high ground. They did get to see the 18 to 20 foot waves. I can't imagine seeing a 50 foot wave! Dawn said the surfboards were snaping in half like twigs. They had to rescue 6 people in one afternoon at the one beach alone! My wife is quite the surfer but even she said those guys out there were nuts!! Greg, You have the right idea and next year I think I will take your advise and travel in December!! Stay warm! Here are some pictures that Dawn took during her stays there in Hawaii. Thank You for the Award Of Merit! 
This is the volcano behind my mother in law's house.
This is my mother in law's back yard just beyond the banana, mango, guava, and papaya trees! Maui No Ka Oi!
This is a view of Jawz from the hill. This was taken two days before the tsunami warning. Notice how calm the water is here. Hardly any waves. Two days later we had the 18 to 20 footers. Snorkeling on the left side of the beach over the coral reefs, the surfing is on the right beyond the reefs. The Green in the background as far as you can see is all sugar cane growing for harvest.
This house is out by Hana Hwy. and it is 2 achers surrounded by old revampt surfboards. People travel from all over the islands to come and see it. It has a website but I don't know the link. I will find out and post it so that you can all check it out. It is really quite cool to see especially in person.
Dawn took this while riding in the car as she hung her head out the window and pointed the camera up towards the heavens.
Pulled over and Dawn caught the last bit of the sunset above from the beach.
Can't keep Dawn out of the water!!! Surf boards, snorkeling, jet skiing, boogie boarding... She loves it all!
This is Turtle Cove,it is a major snorkeling spot with lots of sea turtles, all kinds of fish, eels, and octopus. Dawn has seen one tiger shark here too! The day of the 2nd tsunami warning, my wife Dawn didn't hear about it and the alarms did not sound. She was at this beach out in the ocean and the water got crazy. She had a very hard time getting back into shore as the undertow was trying to pull her out. She finally made it to the breakers and they were over her head! 6 to 8 foot waves on this calm shoreline. Dawn said that there was a very spookie feeling that came over her in the water when she tried to come in to the beach. When she broke free of the undertow she bolted up out of the water and didn't go back in. When they got back home they heard about the tsunami. She said that then it all made sense and that she was glad that she had gotten out of the ocean and away from the shoreline!!! It was when Samoa was hit too.
Hope you are all thinking happy thoughts now!
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