Aloha, Howaiiya?

Matson shipping company has a wonderful app to download which tracks the progress of your vehicle's crossing.

It gives you a false sense of security, creating the illusion of connection to your precious cargo.  It doesn't update daily, which is justifiable, since the boat is bobbing around in the Pacific far from any landmarks to give you perspective.  But as the ship nears Hawaii, the date of arrival expands a day, perhaps due to rough weather.  We count down to arrival, and finally the day comes!  We look at the app, and it says this:
"Your vehicle cannot be located.  Please contact the office."

And THAT is how our car began it's adventure in Hawaii!
Terry called, and they reassured us it was waiting for us at the dock, so we assumed the app had developed a sick sense of humor, and went to pick up the DeLorean.
What a relief.
We were in the islands from September 14th to November 17th, about two months.  We left the car with Matson on September 11th, so it took just under a month for the voyage.  Meanwhile, Terry and I flew to Hawaii to wait for it in paradise.  No better place to spend the time! 

My Big Plan was to use the time on the islands to write my book.  The comprehensive retelling of our time travel adventures.
That was the plan.
But if we've learned anything from this mission, plans often go askew, especially if you are in the act of adventuring.
I should have known better.

Upon arrival, we were immediately embraced by old friends from my days at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  The loan of a truck gave us mobility and we wasted no time exploring the volcanoes and snorkeling with turtles.  We filled ourselves with pineapples, bought oversized flower bundles at the farmers market to give to all who showed us hospitality.  Waterfalls, fundraising, more sea turtles.
We got a vip tour of the Volcano Observatory, built a towering blue glass sculpture at our friends (Jeri and Jim) house, dressed up and partied on Maui at one of the world's most famous Halloween street festivals in Lahaina.  And much more.
But the book writing just couldn't catch up to the break neck pace of our explorations.
I had envisioned lazy days on a hammock with nothing to do but write.
The thought occurred to me the other day that fundraising has similarities to addiction.
It's a rush, and I look for opportunities to do more.  It's fun, most of the time, and we've become really good at it!
We were invited to join an evening concert at the Hilo Town Tavern, which was a great success.
We displayed the car on my old campus at UHH on day and the students chipped in with donations.

Everywhere we drove in the DeLorean, vacationers and islanders alike took notice and contributed in some way.  Regal Cinemas in Honolulu played the movie as we set up in their lobby.  A small turn out, but we made some new friends!
By November 17th, when we put the car back on a boat to come home, we had raised over $4000.00 for Team Fox!  A great amount for Hawaii, and a satisfying way to finish our 50th state!
Perhaps our collection of experiences, mishaps and stories will make it into a cohesive volumn some day. 
But for now, life is moving fast and we've got more adventures to gather!
ps: Check out our Facebook page for bunches of photos from our Hawaii time travels and more.
https://www.facebook.com/ToTheFuture.org

We Play for Team Fox!

We finished a gig at a medical convention in Chicago, and had a few days to spare before rendering our services again to the same company in Indianapolis.  So, we decided to spend a few days enjoying the Windy City.  Terry is from Chicago, so we stayed with some theatre friends who, incidentally, had two hound dogs -bassett hounds to be exact.  This satisfied both our essential needs for shelter AND doggie play time.  (We do miss our beagle when we're away from home.  Even if she acts indifferent to us.)
Between the time we exited one convention center and entered the other, we:
Serviced the car at DeLorean Motor Company Midwest.
Saw a play at the Goodman Theatre with friends.
Ate deep dish pizza from Chicago's own Giordano's.
Shopped at American Science and Surplus (a favorite junk treasure-hunt.)
Enjoyed a ball game at Wrigley Field.  Cubbies 4, Padres 5.  (Boo.)
Rode the 'L' around town.
Devoured some epic cinnamon buns at Ann Sather Restaurant. 

Then, a friend shared something with us on 'the Facebook.'

'Back to the Future' playing at the Music Box Theatre!

'Hmmm,' we thought.  'Might be an opportunity to do a little fund raising!'
We sent an email to the marketing director of this historic movie palace, but decided to drive by and just see what the parking situation was like.  We could see the marquee ahead, and it was a thrill to see the words 'Back to the Future' up in lights.  At least a hundred light bulbs lined the theatre face and overhang.  Opened in 1929, the Music Box Theatre retains its original architecture and design. With a dark blue interior ceiling, “twinkling stars” and moving cloud formations, it is a more charming, intimate version of the large movie palaces downtown.
We found a parking space nearby, and Terry walked in and met Collin, who swiftly brought out water and offered to set up a table for us, and make signs, etc. etc!  We explained that we really didn't need anything except a place to park, and he directed us to the 'Tow Away Zone'.  "That's our space, right in front of the theatre.  You can park there and you won't be towed away."
Perfect!
The instant hospitality was such a shock, but he explained that our email had been received, and we had been expected.  Back to the Future Part 1 played at 2:00, followed by Part 2 at 4:30.
Several parents brought their children to see the films on the big screen for the first time, and there were a few fans that came dressed for the occasion.  A young man named Michael came dressed as future Doc Brown, complete with wig, yellow long coat and clear tie.

Others had logo t-shirts, and one kid had a color-changing hat from the 'future.'
It was chilly, so at times we sat inside at the adjoining 'Theatre Lounge' while our host, Alex, offered us drinks and spun old records on the used turn table he just bought from a pawn shop.   The big windows gave us a great view of the car and all the sidewalk traffic.  Terry and I would step out to help take photos of people with their smart phones.  We could easily see when someone made a donation and could hop out the door to reward them with thanks and a special card.   Most of the traffic was pedestrians, shocked to see a DeLorean as part of the scenery along their route.  Many wore Cubs hats and jerseys, as there was another game today at Wrigley Field, just a few blocks away.  There were a few bicyclists who stopped to take a longer look.  And there were a handful of cars that put on their hazard lights and boldly stopped in traffic, exited their vehicles and took some photos before returning to their commute!
At one point, an enormous 'ROAR!' rose up from the caldera of the ball park and echoed through the streets, bouncing off the buildings.  We figured it was a home run, or maybe a double.  Or maybe even a triple!
It was an entertaining show of foot traffic, and we enjoyed each encounter, listening how some people had family members with Parkinson's, or hearing about how the films had an impact on their lives.  Some kids knew what the car was, and some didn't, but they all wanted to put their hands on it, which is just fine with us.  The DeLorean enjoys the tiny fingerprints.  One young man even asked to have a photo with us, because he had read about our travels all over the U.S. and abroad.   It's fun to be secretly famous to a fan base of 2 or 3 people!

After the two showings were over, we thanked the nice staff at the Music Box Theatre, hopped into our time machine and drove away.
The Cubbies won today. 
AND we had a spontaneous, enjoyable afternoon resulting in $251.00 raised for the MJFF.  As Harry Caray would say... 'Holy Cow!'