Shocking Reality

Sometimes I like to believe that I am the world's biggest optimist, and I can feel myself glowing with positivity regardless of the of the situation at hand, but that's not always the case. As much as I love to see the good in things, it is easy to fall for the illusion of beauty and perfection in things, and then be terribly disappointed and disillusioned later. They do say, "Ignorance is Bliss." On the other side of that spectrum is pessimism, which I do find my self adopting every now and then. Pessimism is like suicide, it twists up your psyche in such a way that you feel like a hopeless seabird, dripping in crude oil. As in all things, balance is important, and so I aspire to be a realist, taking things in rationally and as objectively as possible. While this can only happen with some serious suppression of emotions and self-control, I think it is a good skill to possess. If everyone was blissfully ignorant to all the challenges that we face, we would probably wouldn't have developed plumbing and all the other wonderful tools that let us lead hygienic lives.

I wish to warn everyone that this post might turn into a rant about Hawaii's issues. If you think you may be offended, turn back now! As a reminder, I love to look at the positives, and can go on and on about the natural beauty and the aloha and whatnot, but sometimes issues need to be addressed. This one is about filth. Particularly, the kind that I encounter every single day while making my way to work.

I'm also in the process of de-molding my house, because of building issues that my neighborhood is experiencing. Long story short, architects should consider the dangers of having bathrooms attached to master bedrooms and closets without doors and proper ventilation. Humidity causes mold to grow in an on everything, and those of us (like myself) who are allergic to mold, will suffer, both physically and from ruined clothing, carpet, etc. Dealing with this situation has just caused frustration with the lack of care and attention that goes into things around here. I understand and fully sympathize with the fact that stuff is expensive here, and not everyone can afford the highest quality materials and maintenance of things, but seriously, we need to be more progressive in dealing with problems, and fixing them so that they don't recur.

A classic example of this is the potholes on our roads. Why can't we just invest in higher quality asphalt or whatever materials to extend the shelf life of the "patch" and lessen the stresses associated with driving on shitty roads? I'm sure people would have more energy to focus on other, more positive things if they didn't have to groan at every pothole they drive through.

Yesterday while walking to work, I spotted so many things that made my stomach turn in revulsion.

This is an air conditioner unit in the back of the building where I work. Specifically it channels "clean" air into the kitchen of Chang Mai, a Thai restaurant. The neighboring businesses are also restaurants. My question is, "Just how healthy is it for a restaurant to be breathing in nasty pigeon feces (because there's tons of it dripping in the grills of that AC unit)?" 

Walking to work, there's just a pile of trash on the sidewalk, including things like socks, used condoms, food wrappers, and other junk. This has probably been blowing around the sidewalk, which I will walk on, and then my shoes will walk into the cafe where I  have to work. It's disgusting. It makes me want to be a hermit and live in a mossy cave out at the edge of the world.

Come ON now. Ribs? All I can think about is flies, maggots, parasites, E. Coli, and other nasties. How uncivilized are we? And why do people assume that there will always be somebody else to pick up their waste and filth? Have we succumb to living like animals? There are a hundred better places for a rib (which technically is compostable) than on a concrete sidewalk in the hot sun. A nasty pigeon might eat that nasty rib and get E. Coli or whatever other horrendous parasite I can't image right now, and then shit that onto the AC unit of the next-door cafe, and then end up in somebody's curry. 

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! 

This image is graphic, but doesn't capture near the horror that my friend and I experienced when we found this specimen. We were hiking up Wa'ahilu Ridge on the top of St. Louis heights, to escape the nastiness of Honolulu proper, and what do we find, strung over an innocent, seemingly delicious strawberry guava tree? Yep, you guessed it:

A boar's penis and testicles, bristled and teeming with maggots and other wiggly things, the adipose tissue still attached. Who does this. Like this is a serious insult to anybody taking a nice afternoon hike.

What did I do to deserve this sight? 

So yes, this post is something of a rant. Honolulu, you are disgusting. It's bad enough that there are colonies of homeless lined up along our parks and streets (and not just kind people in unfortunate situations, but crazy, cracked-up meth addicts with oozing, pus-filled sores and maniacal expressions), but this kind of behavior is just low.  There are so many people trying to make a difference, trying to establish beauty and health in our society. Murals, collaborative art projects, gardens etc. But this all counteracts our ability to remain positive. Honestly, I'm enraged and filled with such loathing that I am afraid that I'm going to lash out soon. I can't even deal with this kind of filth. Enough said. 

Goodbye Honolulu.