We stopped at Safeway in Kaneohe on the way home and picked up a few things, including some chicken thighs.

They went on the grill, along with a couple of potatoes cut up into fries.

Meda served up sliced tomatoes and avocado, along with some fancy olives.

Wine served at the table. And the cat (Ms. Harry) was just an added bonus!

Just our first meal of the new year.

No, we didn’t consume a post-midnight feast.

Instead, we got up early, as we usually do, did our 3-mile walk to watch the sunrise from the beach, and then came back and made breakfast.

The egg yolks are the teaser.

Just click to see the rest of the process. Nothing fancy. Just the basics. A ham and (hot) cheese omelette, english muffin, coffee, and a lurking cat looking for a lick of margarine.

Enjoy. We did.

Yesterday evening, after a successful media symposium wrapped up at UH Hilo (bravo to Tiffany Edwards Hunt for pulling this all together), we joined others for libations back at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. It was their Saturday Hawaiian Seafood Buffet, and the restaurant was well on its way to being packed. Some Japanese tour groups, but a whole lot of local families there to chow down.

I have to admit, though, that Meda’s problems with crab and some shellfish, and the $37.50 buffet price tag, sent us in search of another option. Luckily, it was only a couple of minutes away. Six of us ended up back at Sombat’s Thai restaurant, just next door to Ken’s House of Pancakes. It’s kind of a hole in the wall, but the food was very good, we stuffed ourselves, and the tab for six people (including tax) was just $82.

I failed to take a picture of the food as it was served, but I made up for it this morning with a shot of my fluffy ham and cheese omelet at Ken’s. It was almost 7:30 a.m., after our morning walk along the bay, and the Ken’s was already very bustling, although not quite totally full yet. Getting close, though. Ken’s is obviously popular with Hilo folks, who seemed to be about 95% of the early eaters.

After a meal like that, it’s going to take a while to get started again. Meda grabbed a flier yesterday for the Big Island Coin Club’s 4th Annual Antique and Coin Show, just a few blocks away. So now it’s time for a shower, then a visit to the coin club’s show, and then a flight back to Honolulu.

I’ll dig into a few of the issues that came up at yesterday’s media symposium after I have a chance to look over my notes.