Comin' at ya live from BYU Hawaii. What an absurd life. My brother is getting married, and I am staying at my sister's house along with a lot of my which on the dorms. She is a manager, along with her husband. It's finals out here, and all the kids are going back home to their various continents or islands. My brother had no time to plan for the wedding, since it was finals week. I'm spending the night drinking awful energy drinks, cooking, making decorations, etc.

Spent some hours at the (Mormon sponsored? or owned?) Polynesian Cultural Center, which felt like stepping into one of Owen's exotica records. I saved a brochure for him, because of this sentence, (and others): "In the shadow of the Fijan temple, mingle and dance with the natives." It would be more ironic if they weren't actually transfer students from the respective islands they were representing. White folks walking around with Maori tribal facials (temporary tattoo) and learning how to crack open coconuts.

Portland winter skin, graveyard shift, sunburned scalp. Carhartts at the beach. Hoodies are useless in this weather.

No coffee in this small Mormon town of Laie, on the northern tip of Oahu. I have searched high and low. I wouldn't buy anything from McDonald's, but they had a waterfall inside instead of a plastic playground. The gas station has a coffee maker, but they never use it and they cannot find the carafe. I found caffeine anyways, but it's not quite the same thing as the real deal.

My newphew can almost stand up on his own. A different brother is officially popping the question tomorrow, although it is only a formality at this point. They decided a Vegas-style wedding, minus the booze, plus the Elvis impersonator.

Walking around BYUH campus and digging on the weird, draconian rules ($50 fine for opening a door after ten or eleven at night! Fiercely gender segregated dorms, signs saying "No men allowed beyond this point" Cameras! Religion!).... It all makes me quite happy to have done away with religion. What a strange, unnecessary burden. Tomorrow I am going to the temple and wait outside. Since I am not Mormon, I don't get to witness the actual event itself, a union shrouded in secrecy and decorum. No matter. I am not here for religious nonsense. I am here for my brother and his soon-to-be-wife.

Anyways, it's late here for the people that sleep at night. I guess I am going to go walk along the beach or something. Clear skies, overnight low 71 degrees. Suck on that, Provo and Portland. both of you below 40.