New Zealand Sabbatical

Dianne and I arrived for a second winter of exploration and warmth sandwiched around my easy work schedule at a new clinic. We are in MILILIANI now and that puts us farther from the ocean but nearer many trails including a great 5 miler we did together yesterday. Last winter we were on the other…

We came back to Iowa to do our taxes and then I went back to Hawaii to finish my last month of doctoring and entertaining 4 of my six living brothers. We Ruggles are pretty low maintenance so weekdays they spent time exploring Pearl Harbor and nearby trails and beaches as I had clinic duties.…

Hawaii has birds that are new to us. The Red-crested Cardinals pictured below are smaller, bolder and (may I say) prettier than Northern Cardinals, though the Iowa variety can boast superior songs. On our walks these guys are not shy and will gladly stand firm 2 feet away from us before sauntering away. The males…

Adam has been doing psychiatric telemedicine around the Americas for several years. After his 2023 tour of South America, he returned to Iowa and other North American spots for 2024 and started 2025 with 2 months of home-basing in Hawaii on the west (Honolulu) side of our island while we are on the east coast…

Lest you think we are in utopia, these pictures show there are homeless folks in our area. The politically correct term per the internet is “unhoused” or “unsheltered”. Honolulu has more problems but our town of 40,000 is affected as well. At least the risk of hypothermia is low. One of my female patients is…

We’ve noticed some differences here: “Snowmen” are made of different material. We didn’t construct him (?her?) but did enjoy seeing him/her on a beachwalk near us. Firetrucks are equipped differently. This was parked on the street where I am working. Not a big need for surfboard rescue in Iowa, but in Hawaii……. You might have…

Danger lurks outside our rented condo as the picture below shows the warning about falling coconuts and their blocked off landing zone. Christmas is a bigger deal here than in New Zealand. I only had a bright yellow sweater to wear when I posed with my Kailua Clinic mates on “ugly Christmas sweater day”. What…

Hi friends and family. We chose to stay closer to home this winter with a 4 month stint at a Kaiser-Permanente Clinic in Kailua, Hawaii. We are just 30 minutes from Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Our first visitor was the gecko that appears in this picture. They are harmless creatures that do a…

The final Kiwi week was a frenzy of work, activities and parties before we headed home to the states. My final ride with the Malvern Hilllbillies bikers took us up through the Malvern Hills, quite appropriately. I felt especially strong that day and we all agreed it was a reward for following them in exploration…

Last week Dianne and I spent a day visiting the International Antarctic Center near Christchurch Airport. Presentations included getting up close to some Northern Husky dogs of the same breed as those who once played a large role in early explorations. Another area included a storm room with cold temperatures and blowing air simulating polar…