Things That Go Bump in the Night

At the end of the day, when I'm laying in bed, my brain won't stop thinking, all the what-if's jump into my thoughts -- what if I miss the bus because I over sleep tomorrow? What if my job decides they really don't want me, since I'm just a temp? What if I never meet anyone friendly enough to be friends on this stupid island? What if I fall and break something and can't get help because I live alone? What if I die and no one finds my body for weeks or months? What if I get myself into a situation I really can't handle?

When you're a young, cute, 20-something female who lives alone on an island and the nearest family member or dearest friend is 3,000 miles and an ocean away... these are very real, very terrifying things to think about in the middle of the night.

Why am I even here? Why do people let me do stupid things like hop on planes and go to places where no one else I know are? What am I even doing with my life? Who wants to know a vagabond with no bachelors degree and no clue where she's going to be in the next 5 years, let alone the next 8 months. Who could fall in love with someone who's long-term goal is to make it back to the mainland... and do what, exactly? Live where, exactly?

I have no idea what I'm doing.

One of my best girls called me brave. She said, basically, she originally thought I was crazy and I wasn't serious when I said I was moving to Hawaii. Because going away like I did? That's crazy. And it is, it totally is. But she gave me kudos for it and told me how proud she was. And it made me want to cry. Because I have never seen myself as brave or gutsy or highly adventurous. I see myself as a coward, a child who jumps into situations she doesn't know how to get herself out of. A girl who is afraid of commitment and doesn't want to become emotionally involved with anyone because she doesn't feel she's worth it -- whatever "it" really is. A small girl, playing at being an adult.

I realized something a few days ago in the shower (I do my best thinking there: doesn't everyone?). I'm no one here. I could be a movie star, a college student, a mother, a lesbian, a vet, a tourist, a cross dresser, a roller derby racer, a surfer, a drug addict, a fortune 500 CEO... the list is endless and no one knows the real me. Do I know the real me? I think this needs exploring...

Once I get proper insurance I'll be seeing a counselor. It's been on my list of things to do for myself  for years and I keep putting it off and putting it off... now is the perfect time.

These are only thoughts and they only come in the dark, when I least expect them. Or when my mind won't quiet because I'm not quite tired enough. But they're always with me, always lurking. I've often wondered what the point of self-doubt or self-depreciation is. It hurts us so strongly and causes is to second guess or instincts. As a wilderness survival technique I understand the validity. Is this berry going to taste nummy or make me die a slow and painful death? I get it. I just don't like it.

I just have to keep my cool and continue exploring. And find new friend to hang out with. In fact, there's a quidditch practice tomorrow from 3-6 I'm thinking of going to. Should be interesting to watch, if nothing else.

As Ron Weasley would say, "don't let the muggles get you down!"

Aloha from Oahu!
LC

Guys are Jerks

Guys are jerks.

I suppose some of this could be my fault. OK. Most of this can be my fault. You know, lack of communication and all that rot. You, dear reader, can let me know in the comments section below.

I have a profile on OK Cupid. Do I realize this is a dating website? Yes. Do I realize most of the guys on here are only after one thing and one thing only? Of course. I'm pretty good about filtering the creeps from the good-intention guys. However... I'm thinking I need to just get rid of my profile. Or add a photo which is actually just text reading "do not message me if you are only interested in sex or friends with benefits. I DO NOT WANT either of those at this time. I don't want to make out or fool around. I'm not that kind of girl. I'm new to the area and was hoping there were other people who are also new who are looking for other single people to do things with."

But that's kind of long. So why not just delete the whole profile?

Here's what happened.

I met a guy on there. We had been talking for a few weeks. He seemed nice -- He was in the navy, originally from a southern state, a total geek and proud of it (all pluses in my book!). We met. I had a feeling he was maybe thinking he might get to a few bases with me which is why, when he would suggest meeting up for movies at his place, I would make excuses. (Also, stranger danger much? Geeze.) We were talking on Sunday and I mentioned I was going to watch the sunset that night since I hadn't seen one in a while since starting my new job. He invited himself along and I told him I'd pick him up, even though he offered to pick me up (a girl needs her escape vehicle, after all).

We went to the beach and sat in what little shade there was (he's fair skinned and burns easily and does not like the feel of sunscreen. Whatever). We sat on the beach and talked from about 5PM to 6:20PM (sunset). It was great conversation. We could be friends, in another world. But Sailor Boy decided to tickle me.

I do not like people to touch me.

It's this thing I have and it's rather uncomfortable to talk about. It started sometime in high school for absolutely no reason which I can recall. And I've not really had that much human contact in the past almost two months... So, yeah.

I made a face and he continued. Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and we just sat there, listening to the ocean and watching the water. We started talking again for a while. He shifted again, this time with my back to his chest. Alright. Interesting. He kissed my neck twice. I went pretty rigid.

And that's as far as he went. I appreciate his respect for my wishes.

We sat that way for a while, still talking. His lips behaved themselves for the rest of the sunset. I drove him back to the park and ride where we met and that was the end of the date.

So. Monday went by. On Tuesday around lunch, I sent him a message asking if he wanted to go to an event in about 2 weeks. He said he wasn't sure and he'd have to check his schedule. Fair enough. It was two weeks away, after all. Wednesday passed. Thursday, too. Friday he wants me to come over for a movie. Translation: "come over so we can fool around."

I said no.

Which was harder than it should have been. He's nice, I'm lonely. But I'm not looking for anything physical like that right now, even if it's just a one-off and we never see each other again. That's not who I am and that's not how I want to live my life. So. After I explained this he ended the conversation with an "Aww I see". And I haven't heard from him since. Nor do I expect he'll be messaging me in the future. I don't fit into the mold he was looking for.

And that's fine.

What happens next is why I'm writing this blog post.

I've been trying to get together with this Chef guy. He works evenings/nights while I work days and wake up at an ungodly hour in the morning, thus, an early bedtime. We were suppose to meet up today in Waikiki and he was going to take me snorkeling and out to lunch. After the conversation I had with Sailor Boy I figured I should warn this guy, you know. Give him an easy out, just in case. So, of course, I over reacted and spat verbal diarrhea to his phone in this form:

"Just so we have an understanding... because looking back on our previous conversations this may or may not have been clear on my end... I'm ONLY looking for friends right now. No fooling around, no cuddling, no making out. I'm not at that level right now. But dating nothing couldn't happen in the future, after we've been friends for a bit, but I'm not looking for anything AT ALL choose to a relationship or friends with benefits.

"Sorry to blow up your phone... Just making sure it's been said."

 Looking back... Yeah, I don't know if that made perfect sense. But the response I received the next morning (since he was a work when I sent the message) was "Hey im not trying to make anyone uncomfortable lets just meet for late lunch around 1 or 2?" which I thought was very nice and responded with "Thanks. It totally had nothing to do with anything you said or did. There was a miscommunication last night that left me irritated. Thus the phone blowing up."

So I got on a bus and headed to Waikiki. I sent him a message when I got to downtown and was switching buses. No response. I called him when I got off the bus in Waikiki. No answer.

Eff you, stupid boy.

So I did the only thing I could think of.

I found a spot to sit under a palm tree and called my older sister. And told her everything. Because that's what you do when you know your sister is bored at work and she's being held captive by her job until she gets off in a few hours.

I spent about 90 minutes total talking with her. It was nice and we caught up on a bunch of things. Yay!

Do I blame him for not answering either text or phone call? No, not really. But if you're going to stand a girl up after she's taken an hour and a half out of her day to catch a bus and meet you in your hometown instead of halfway between your place and her place... It's only proper etiquette to send a text or something saying "yeah, sorry. You freaked me out and now I think you're a psycho who escaped from a mental hospital. Raincheck?"

I then did what anyone would do. I wondered.

I found the beach and walked up and down it, talking with Kimberly. I found a beach volleyball game and watched for a while. I made up my mind that I'd like get out and play with them soon. I don't know if I need to join a team or something or just show up and ask to join. But I'm going to wait until I get my contacts so I can have awesome sunglasses (these clip-on ones are no good when it comes to sports and getting whacked in the face with a ball). Maybe March/April? I found Hard Rock Cafe. Which I had missed in 2011 when I came for my visit the first time. I told my woes to my waitress (she just sat herself down at my table at first. She was all, "what's up? How's your day?" So why wouldn't I tell her I got stood up?). She gave me a 15% discount on my alcoholic beverage even though it was a happy hour drink already. So my $26 meal only cost me $19. I tipped her a $5 because that's the only bill I had. If I had a $10 she would have gotten that one instead. I'm still getting used to this carrying cash thing. It's weird. She convinced me to stay and watch the sunset on Waikiki, which I hadn't seen yet. And so I did. And here's some pictures...

(as seen from TheBus on my way to Waikiki)

(Waikiki Beach)

(Waikiki Beach)

(Waikiki Beach)

(beach volleyball! They segregate here -- guys to the left, girls on the right. The girls have a shorter net. I also noticed the courts were shorter, too. I'm assuming that has something to do with the sand and only having two players on the court. I can't wait to get out there! I could have watched these guys go at it all day. But my stomach started grumbling which leads me to the next picture...)

(Blue Hawaiian = bliss after a hot day outside!)

(Da Kine Burger. You can't see it but there's sausage on the burger. And those fries have some sort of seaweed coating stuff on them. Delicious! I would go back just for those fries. And the burger. And the drink. So.. yeah, I'll be back.)

(first beach I plopped on after HRC. The waves got too frisky so I decided to park it somewhere else.)

(still the first spot, I think)

(lovely. Still the first spot)

(from where I was sitting this looked like a freaking Pirate ship! It was awesome.)

(My final resting spot.)

By this time, my phone battery was getting scary-low. And I still had to find the right bus routes home. So I left right before sunset and found a bench to sit on. And sit I did! For what felt like an hour but I'm sure was only... well... An hour. But when your phone is dying and you don't have a book to read... It's a really long time, OK. TheBus finally came and I got on. I got off too soon. But I was still able to find my next route. The good ol' 52! I saw it and started dancing. I fist pumped the air. I had been looking at my bus app and it was saying the stop I was at didn't have a 52 anywhere near it. LIAR! So I parked it on the bus and didn't get off until my park and ride. I got in my car and came home. 

And now I'm laying in bed, thinking I want to go north tomorrow to Haleiwa. That's where I did my shark diving the last time I was here. This time, I think I'll just stay on the shore and read my damn book. I'll still be taking the 52. ;-)

Aloha from Oahu!

LC

Up Past Bedtime

I'm sitting here, waiting for the lasagna I put in the oven to be done. I'm also waiting for the laundry to finish in the washer so I can rotate it to the dryer. And it's about 40 minutes past my bedtime. Which means Tuesday morning is going to be rough.

Meh. I'll get over it, I'm sure. I'll just get to bed sooner on Tuesday night, I suppose.

But the lasagna I put in the oven isn't just any old lasagna. No... It's got no noodles. How is that possible? Eggplant. I love me a good eggplant parmesan but it's so fatting with all the breading and the frying. And I love the meaty texture of the eggplant. I find them to be delicious and, reflecting on my childhood, I'm sad we didn't eat them ever.

So I found a recipe on Pinterest and tweaked it to my own creation.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggplants
• 1 can spaghetti or marinara sauce 
• cottage or ricotta cheese (whichever you prefer; I was raised on cottage cheese)
• two parts grated mozzarella cheese, one part grated parmesan cheese
• spinach (I forgot this little step... I even had the greens sitting on the counter but not near enough to the assembly line. I'm going to use it next time!)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400F.
2. Slice your eggplant the long way with a mandolin (click the link if you have no clue what this is. This isn't the one I have but it's very similar). This is the easiest way to get even, relatively thin slices.
3. Spray your pan with PAM or other cooking spray.
4. Smooth a spoonful or so of sauce along the bottom so the eggplant won't stick too horribly.
5. Start your layering! Eggplant, spinach, eggplant, sauce, eggplant, cottage cheese, eggplant, sauce, top it off with your mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
6. Cover with foil; bake for 50 minutes. Remove foil and let the cheese get nice and golden brown.
7. Remove from oven. Enjoy!

I'm actually just going to stuff it in the fridge when I'm done with it and plate it up in the morning for my lunch later. I'll let you know then how glorious it turned out, and of course I'll have pictures when it comes out of the oven. Next time, I'll do a picture tutorial. I was also able to cook my spaghetti squash while I was prepping my lasagna. That'll be for another super yummy dinner though, so stay tuned!

Aloha from Oahu,

LC

How Does She DO It?

For those who don't know, I was at my highest weight in May of 2014. Two hundred twenty-seven pounds. I finally snapped. I don't know if it was the weight or the fact that I felt like crap or that I just couldn't be bothered to go buy new pants for work. I was through. I signed up for a Beachbody Workout program (the 21 Day Fix) and it literally changed my life. I stepped on the scale a few days ago and... well... I'll show you:

I had to get on and off, on and off, on and off... move the scale further from the wall. On and off, on and off... 

Holy. Balls. 

I'm down forty-two pounds. I've got about thirty more before I reach one-fifty-five. That's my goal for the next few months -- get back on track with my eating habits and get a workout in daily. It may not be a 21 Day Fix workout but it could be something like running for 15 to 30 minutes daily. Just something to get me back on the exercise horse! Plus, in August/September/October of this year, I'm hoping to do a half marathon or a full marathon. Whichever comes first, I suppose. In the meantime, I'd like to work up to those by doing 5 and 10Ks in the next few months.

Let me start with saying that doing this isn't easy. Losing weight isn't easy. Changing your mind isn't easy. Breaking established patterns you've spent years honing to the lifestyle you have daily is something near impossible. And yet...

It is possible.

I'm proof.

So. Here's what I do, food-wise. You can control it the easiest. And if you're feeding yourself proper, you'll have more energy to get up and exercise, anyway.

1. Balance my checkbook.
1. This might seem silly but I can't go grocery shopping and plan food for the week if I don't know how much I have in the bank. 
2. Make a list of things I actually enjoy eating and am in the mood for.
1. Again -- seems like a "duh" thing. Who doesn't know what they like eating? But seriously. When I first started I was all, "Yeah! I'm going to eat salad every day for lunch and it'll be great because I can have a Caesar salad or a chicken salad or a taco salad..." The only downside? I cannot stand lettuce. I hate it. I don't know why God made if in the first place. It should have died out with the dinosaurs. I don't know why people enjoy salads so much. I can't eat them unless it's drowning in dressing. Which isn't really the point, is it?
2. So! Pick vegetables you're actually going to eat. Me? I like a good Normandy blend -- broccoli, carrots, cauliflower -- how can you go wrong? I'm also good with cabbage, Brussels sprouts, green beans, squash (any kind, really), zucchini... I'm not too much of a fan of fresh carrots (I'd prefer them to be cooked) and I cannot abide corn (it comes out whole so what's the point). But I know these things about me. Do you?
3. Find recipes.
1. Pinterest is my favorite for figuring out how to make my pizza/lasagna/nachos healthy. In fact, you'll be seeing some of those this week when I get back to my food prepping.
4. Scan the paper for anything on sale.
1. Coupon Clipping. It's pretty nifty and I'm not very good at it... But at least it gives me a bit of direction in which to figure out what stores carry what items. I've been having the hardest time finding a store with a bulk section, like Winco or Haggens.
5. Make a list.
1. You know what you're eating, you know where you should go and what's on sale. So. Write down what you're needing that you don't already have in your pantry.
6. Go Shopping!
1. I hate shopping. But it has to be done and no one else is going to do it for you for free... So, it has to be done.
2. Bring your list. Bring a pen. And for God's sake, feed and water yourself before you go. There'll be all those tasty donuts and ice creams all screaming for you to buy them. Fortify yourself before they can have their wicked way with you. Bring some water with you, too. You'd be surprised how you're actually dehydrated instead of being hungry.
7. Bring it home and prep.
1. If I don't prep it that same day, it's going to sit in the fridge and likely go bad.
2. Portion out the veggies into single servings. Put them in the freezer.
3. If you've got the time and energy, make a meal or two. After it's done baking/cooking, put it in the fridge to cool. You can portion it out the next day.

Yeah. That's about it. It takes time and dedication. And it's not easy. But it's really, really worth it. And you'll never have to worry about what's for dinner. Because you just have to pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw the night before. Easy-peasy. 

I hope this has been a bit of help. Even a small smakeral of help is good enough for me. Even if it just inspires someone to create their own plan. That still counts.

Well... I'm off to do number 6! Have a good rest of your Sunday and I'll see ya when I see ya,

Aloha from Oahu,
LC

10 Reasons I Love My Husband

If I told you that this week marks the 10 year anniversary of our first date would you believe me? Well it's true! 10 years together. A decade. Sorry Lisa, this one's not really for you, this is a post just for me. I wanted to do a special post for this special day, and I've been stewing over it for a while now, so here goes, 10 reasons that I love my husband (in no particular order):

1. His love of music. This has been a wonderful blessing in our home! I can feel the spirit as we sing hymns together as a family and I know without his love for music our children would miss out on this wonderful opportunity.

2. He can handle my crazy. He hasn't always been able to, but as we've grown together I've become comfortable letting him see my crazy because I know he'll still loves me and that he will try his hardest to help me through it.

3. He made me a mother. I know there are days when it is hard and I complain, but I really couldn't give it up for anything. And it is all a gift from him. Not only did he make me a mother, every day since he has supported me in that role.

4. He loves me even when I don't. He believes in me and is always encouraging me. I am a harsh critic and he helps reel me in.

5. My hand fits perfectly in his hand. Though, in the earlier years there was a lot more hand holding than in recent ones, our hands still fit, and I feel special when he holds my hand.

6. He loves my body just the way it is. I have never even come close to liking my body, but Brett loves it and has NEVER given me any doubt or suspicion otherwise. He loves every stretch mark, love handle, and all my extra fluff. I don't understand it, but with the years it has become easier to accept.

7. He works hard for our family. He will tell you he is lucky to be doing something he loves, but it is still hard work and he is completely dedicated to us.

8. He is a worthy priesthood holder. When he was baptized and then brought the priesthood into our home it was a wonderful blessing. I feel I might take this one for granted sometimes, but I will always be able to look back and remember the difference. And what a blessing to have such a wonderful example for my son!

9. He helps me to be a better person. We are always striving to help each other be our best, and he does an exceptional job. This decade has been an incredible growing experience and I have enjoyed growing with him.

10. He is my match, my other half, my eternal companion. I know it's cliché, but he completes me. I would not be a whole person without him and our family would never be whole either.

There are so many other things to say, but I'm not a words person, I'm a feelings person. So I hope this post comes out right. Sorry for the mushy-gushy. Next week will be back to normal programming ;-)

Cheers!
Jessica

Week Five - A Photo Tutorial

Well Lisa, I know you don't have a use for baby wipes, but this is how we make our own. Also you should know this recipe is highly customizable, so feel free to improvise where you deem necessary:

1 3/4 C water
2 TBS coconut oil
1 TBS baby soap

Heat water in Pyrex measuring cup in microwave, about 2 minutes does it for us. While that's in the microwave you have to do the hardest part, which really isn't that bad. You need to cut the paper towels in half. I recommend a sharp, non-serrated  knife, though I've heard people using electric knifes with success a regular one works for us.
Once this is cut just put half the roll in the container of your choice and save the other half for next time. We really love the container we found, it was part of a set of 4 that we found at Wal-Mart. It fits a half roll perfectly, like this is what it was intended for.
When the water is hot just add the oil and soap and when is all melted give it a good mixing.

Then pour your solution over the paper towels in the container, put the lid on and wait.

After about 10 minutes the cardboard roll is wet enough to just pull out.

Easy Peasy!

I should also mention I love this solution for cleaning and conditioning our dining room table and chairs as well as our leather couch. The coconut oil is so conditioning and so mild it really is all purpose.

I've thought about other possible solutions, like bleach wipes, or a vinegar solution for just cleaning.
Anyway, maybe you'll find something useful from this post, and maybe you won't ;-)

Cheers!
Jessica 

Dinner For One, Please!

As most of you know, I'm single. 

Yup, that's me -- Single white female. No babies, not pets, no significant other. I'm free as a bird! Well... Sort of. I still have to feed myself. And when you grow up in a family of 6, always cooking with leftovers in mind. Yeah. Sometimes you forget what portions really are suppose to look like.

So I'm doing an experiment. It's called food prepping. It's suppose to make dinner faster and already portioned out and is suppose to be fantastic for those who have busy schedules. And what's even better -- you can prep for one person or a whole army! Great, isn't it? Also, it works right into my 21 Day Fix program. As I've already pointed out... Single Lady, here, so this is prepping for one person. I'm sure Jess is going to have something sometime about prepping for your family. She's got all the nommy chicken recipes anyway. ;-)

This last week I had chicken and a Normandy vegetable medley. I marinated the chicken two ways: stone-ground mustard with honey and red wine vinegar, and lemon, pepper, and garlic. The mustard is by far my favorite one. I usually do it with real maple syrup and dijon mustard but I didn't have either of those and they're expensive. So, yeah. I'm cheap -- sue me. The vegetables, if you're not familiar with a Normandy medley, were frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. Easy-peasy, no? They weren't dressed with anything. 

Here's how I prepped... 

(Mustard Chicken; Normandy Medley. Next time, I'll take the leftover marinade and spoon it over the top of both the chicken breast and the vegetables. It'll make an amazing sauce!)

(Wrap it up, yo! I used the bread pan just to make it easier to fold into itself.)

(Freeze! The top is the Mustard Chicken, the bottom is the Lemon Pepper Chicken.)

(Defrost in the fridge overnight; preheat the oven to 350F [if it's still a bit frozen when you're going to bake it, stick it in while the oven is preheating; it won't hurt!]; bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.)

(Remove from oven. When opening, be careful of the steam!)

(Serve it up on a pretty plate and stuff your face. I ended up putting a bit of red wine vinegar on the top of my veg, just to add a little flavoring. I love how the chicken cooks nice and moist but the vegetables are a perfect al dente. Om NOM NOM NOM!)

And since this post is coming to you from Oahu... Here's a picture from this morning. The mornings are getting lighter earlier and earlier, I swear! Which, I guess is a good thing since we're moving toward spring and all...

Aloha from Oahu!

LC

Tuesday February 3rd

Not much happened today. I woke up to the sound of rain pitter pattering on the roof. It was nice to just listen to it while I lay there, trying to wake up. I ended up wearing a sweater to work because my Washington brain was thinking at 4:30AM, "hey, there's rain. I should wear something that is going to keep me warm today." Yeah. Stupid. I know. We've covered this already at work, I'll assure you. I was hot all day at the office and while being outside it was super muggy! Not to mention windy... I thought my hair would never lay flat again! On that happy note... Here's a some pictures.

Me, being silly, at Aloha Tower. 

That's where I usually sit to eat lunch. The waves kept crashing up and over the side. It's a good thing I didn't settle myself to eat food there!

Aloha from Oahu,

LC

One-Month Anniversary

Yesterday was my one-month Anniversary. I've been on this island for one month. I've been away from my family and friends for an entire month. It seems so surreal! And time has passed pretty quickly... I barely even noticed until I was looking at the calendar. I've been job searching, figuring out the bus system, stressing and obsessing over bills, grocery shopping, reading and watching Netflex (a ridiculous amount, I must say!), and going to the beach for lounging and sunsets (though not as often as you'd think).

I haven't broke down sobbing yet. I guess I'm still adjusting?

I have a job. For the moment. I'm a temp-to-hire. But if they don't offer me a position within the company they're crazy. I don't like the feeling, knowing they could fire me for any reason between now and my two month term. And also, is that two months business days or calendar days? I guess I'll find out by March 28th, at the earliest, or April 23rd, at the latest. Please, please, please let it be March. It's a great job with a great company in a great location with great coworkers. How could I ask for anything better?

Ok... I could ask for a better commute. But that's not really likely to happen. I wake up at 4:30AM; leave the house at no later than 5:30AM; catch my bus by 6:00AM and ride it until I get off in Downtown Honolulu at about 6:45AM; I start work at 8AM (when I get offered a full-time position, I'll use the time between getting off the bus and starting work to workout at the gym or to go running. I can't wait! Also! I can wake up later because I'll be showering at the gym -- Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!) and finish at 4:30PM, with a 15 minute break, a 30 minute lunch, and a 10 minute break in between; I race to catch my bus so I can sit in traffic for about an hour and arrive back at the park and ride at around 6:00PM; I drive home and get settled by 6:30PM. By this time, I'm ripping my bra off and my eyeballs are burning.

I haven't really done any tourist-y things. I've gone to the beach and that's about it. I haven't had money, of course, so that's a really big contributor to not really doing/seeing things. So. Over the next year, I'm going to make sure I do the things a tourist would do so I can be Tour Guide Barbie to my friends and family when they come to visit me.

• Buy my guests leis and have them given to them when they get off of the plane.
• This is totally corny and leis are cheaper outside of the airport. But coming from someone who's actually paid for one for herself, it's a lot better when someone you know is buying it for you. It's a lot sweeter and really heartwarming.
• Luau
• "If you're hungry for a hunk of fat and juicy meat, eat my buddy Pumba here because he is a treat..." Yes, that's what always goes through my head when I hear the Luau is happening! I haven't been to one here but I'm desperate to go... but not by myself! It's an all-you-can-eat buffet plus a show that lasts for about two hours. I don't want to do that by myself. Why would you ask someone to do that by themselves? That's cruel and unusual punishment.
• Beaches and Sunsets
• I told myself Sunday is Beach Day. I'm thinking I might have to revise that to Friday night is sunset night and Saturday is Beach Day. This way, I can go to some kind of church on Sunday. And believe me... There's lots of different churches here. 
• Surfing and Snorkeling
• I'm not sure how I feel about surfing. I tried it once in Long Beach, WA but it's really not the same. First off, you don't have to use a body suit, you can just go in your swim suit. Second of all, the water is warm and delightful, even if it is still "winter" here. There's no real third point. I just have to get out there and try it. Snorkeling is a lot easier to figure out, since I've already got fins and a mask. And there's turtles out there at one of my favorite spots. Yes, sea turtles!! It's rather exciting and I hope I'll finally get a picture one of these days.
• Pearl Harbor Memorial
• I've not been here yet but I'm told it is an absolute must see. So. I'll just have to make time sometime.
• Waikiki Beach
• Been there, done that. Although I'd like to go back now and just spend the day exploring and finish my night at the beach with a sunset.
• Diamond Head Hiking
• Just did this! It was a blast and makes me want to go find another hike somewhere else on the island. I can't wait to do this again with people I know! I'll likely go again, by myself, in the meantime. I'd like to do like some of the locals I saw while walking up -- I'd like to run that mountain.
• North Shore
• This really goes along with the surfing/snorkeling thing. But I'd like to actually go window shopping and eat food in the places. I'll definitely get a snow cone while I'm here!
• Turtles and Whales
• The turtles are out and about but the whales will only be here until about March. So I'd like to see them before they leave! I think I'll need to take a boat out to them, though, to get the best photographs I can. Which is going to be a challenge because the water is super choppy this time of year. And I get motion sick way easy... Where's the dramamine again?
• Polynesian Cultural Center
• A definite must! I've not been but I want! I'm told it's the number one thing you're going to want to do while you're on Oahu. And I'll let you know what I think when I'm done, of course. ;-)
• Friday Fireworks
• One of the hotels in Downtown does fireworks every single Friday night. I'd like to go see them sometime.

So. Yeah. That's my list of tourist-y things I'll be trying to get through while I'm here. If you've got anything I should add, leave me a comment! I'd love to find things. :-)

Aloha from Oahu,

LC

Week Four

I know, I know, this one is late too, I promise I'm working on it...
I finished my crochet project, and I'm pretty pleased with myself.

I made a stuffed animal hammock for the kids room. It took me longer than I thought it would, but I did have to fight with Little Man the whole time about who knows how to crochet and who doesn't. Maybe 1.5 hours total, but now a days when I crochet it's a stitch here and three there. I was also trying to use up scrap yarn so I had to take time to switch colors.

This is the pattern I followed mostly. (I have a hard time sticking strictly to patterns, I almost always end up tweaking them.) I started with 150 chains and I tweaked the turn a little because I wanted a more shallow triangle. Also, once finished I wove in a chain of 125 in the first row to cinch it a bit so the toys don't fall out.
Super cute and super useful! And Little Miss likes it too, but she thinks that I hung it too high on the wall. ;-) Well, what do you think?
Cheers!
Jessica

The way I see it... Super Bowl 49 and Real Life

Wow, what a game! New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks both gave such a great game. I don't know football well enough to comment on much other than that, but the last minute of that game made me think how it relates to real life. Oh the difference a play makes! I don't know who's decision it was to throw that ball instead of run it, but it got me thinking about the choices we make in life. Some choices don't matter much, blue shirt or green, soup or salad, paper or plastic. But some decisions can change our lives just as that play changed the game. The friends we choose, or decision to go to school or not, decisions about drugs, alcohol, cigarettes ask can change the outcome in our game of life.
Some people will try to tell you they are victims of their circumstances, but for the most part I believe our circumstances are the products of our choices. No matter what we are faced with, we always have the power to choose. Even if it is just choosing to respond positively in the face of a negative situation.
We have the power to choose, and we need to choose wisely because some choices can determine a lot more than they seem to.

Cheers,
Jessica

Catching Up

It's been a little while since I've updated all y'all on what's going on... Here's what I did last week:

• Sunday:
• Found a beach. It splattered rain for a bit. I brought my DSLR camera but realized I brought the wrong memory card so I was only able to capture a few pictures. I played peek-a-boo with a sea turtle (I could see him every few minutes coming up for air). I was entertained by the beach crabs (they're small and dig holes in the sand. If I hadn't been paying attention and sitting in the same spot for a few hours, I'd never have noticed them). I was also reminded how much I miss fishing. I've got to learn what kind of fish are around here and what kind of equipment and licensing I need in order to get back at it!
• Went for a driver further north on North Shore. Found a farmers market on the side of the road. Bought some "apple bananas" and cherry tomatoes. They apple bananas were about half the size of regular store bought bananas. I couldn't really taste the "apple" in them but they were the perfect size for my shakes in the morning. And the cherry tomatoes? Not so small. They were pretty decently sized. Two of them equalled about one regular sized Roma.
• Found a different beach. And I found my bigger waves and a rainbow.
• Watched the sunset from an Historic Site, which was recommended to me. (See below pictures for further details.)
• Monday:
• Went to Ala Moana area in Honolulu to fill out paperwork so I can be a temp and start work on Wednesday.
• Went to the beach and watched the sun set instead of hitting traffic.
• Still hit traffic on my way home but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
• Found the Park and Ride.
• Tuesday:
• Went shopping for work pants. I ended up buying some slacks at K-Mart at the Waikele Premium Outlets. 
• Ended up buying two new bras at Ross along with some new shoes for work, as well (I only had just one pair).
• Made sure I had change so I could ride the bus
• Wednesday:
• Woke up at 4:15AM. Showered, dressed, raced out the door.
• Caught the bus at 6:00AM. My heart was pounding the entire time. Listened the my books on tape.
• Got off on the wrong stop but still close to where I was suppose to be.
• Showed up at the Topa building by 7:00AM -- waited until 7:40 to head upstairs.
• Worked my first day of work since Christmas Eve.
• Got off at 4:30PM. Walked with my new boss to the bus stop. He dropped me off as my bus was pulling up to the curb. I wasn't aggressive enough and the bus left without me (I'm pretty sure my boss didn't see that, though). I caught the next one 30 minutes later at about 5:20PM. Again with the books on tape.
• Returned to the park and ride -- drove home; worked out; ate dinner; went to bed.
• Thursday:
• Repeat of Wednesday except I didn't miss my bus going home. And whoever was sat next to me on the bus had been drinking. The alcohol was wafting in my direction for my entire ride.
• Friday:
• Repeat of Thursday except I didn't get my workout in. Another alcoholic was sitting by me. This one decided he would take off his flip flops and rub on his absolutely horrible dry feet. I was miserable for my ride home. All one and half hours of it.
• Saturday:
• Got to talk with my sister Jessica and my Mom.
• Hung around the house and caught up on my reading. Actual reading, not listening to books on tape.
• Sunday:
• Went grocery shopping
• Food prepped for the week while listening to the Super Bowl in bits and pieces (the joys of not having cable and still not really knowing anyone well enough to have been invited to a Super Bowl party).
• Updated in the blog.

I've been pretty busy!! Those commutes are no joke. I'm definitely thinking I'll be moving closer to downtown Honolulu. Not only will it save me money in gas but it'll also give me time back so hopefully I don't have to wake up so cursed-early in the morning. I can't wait until I can become a full-time associate -- I'll be able to afford a gym membership so I can workout from 6:45AM to 7:30AM, shower, and get to work on time!

I'm not anticipating anything exciting is going to happen this upcoming week or the week after. I should be getting my first paycheck in the mail on Thursday the 5th. So, that'll be exciting, at least. But otherwise I'm stuck just waking up early, catching the bus, working, catching the bus, working out, eating dinner, reading for 15 minutes, and going to bed early. Repeat. 

I hope I haven't forgotten everything I learned last week... Mondays are always crazy, no matter where you work! Here's hoping I'll survive this one!

In other news: I can walk to Aloha Tower for my lunch breaks. This may not seem like a big deal but it is to me. You'll see in the below picture how cool it is. 

Friday January 30th, Lunch Time

Yes, the water really is that blue. Yes, there were no clouds in the sky. Yes, that is my thigh in the bottom of the picture. I was worried the wind would knock me into the water so I straddled the bench and ate my lunch sideways. The water is so clear, I could see the tropical fish right below me, fluttering in and out of the rocks. It was great mealtime entertainment! I know they do things like this in oceans like the Puget Sound but I've not been able to see them because the water just isn't very clear, even on a bright sunny day, in the PNW. I told my trainer where I ate lunch and the first thing she said was, "I'm glad you didn't fall in! That would have been a horrible end to the week!" It's great that we think so similarly. ;-) She also showed me a spot, just a block away from Aloha Tower, where I could take a towel and park myself in the grass to eat lunch. Ah, solitude and sunshine!

Tuesday January 27th, Ala Moana Beach

Tuesday January 27th, Ala Moana Beach

Tuesday January 27th, Ala Moana Beach

Ala Moana Beach is a great place to people watch. There were a lot of runners, all very fit, running through here. I'm not sure I'll be going back though. I got home and discovered several bug bites up and down my thighs and calves. So far, I've been lucky to not be bitten by anything so I'm sure it was this beach, since I sat here from about 4PM to 6:30PM. There weren't a lot of people here, which was nice. And the water was very, very calm. It was really windy though and as the sun was setting I was wishing I had brought a jacket. I'm definitely wanting to purchase some type of beach chair... I'm also thinking I should leave a "spare" swimsuit in the car, just in case. I was lounging in a tank top and capris. Not exactly ideal tanning clothing. But, hey, I got to read a book on the beach in January. What can you say to that?

Sunday January 25th, Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau

It's a native temple where sacrifices happened. It's pretty huge. All that's left now, though, are just the rocks which form the outlined areas. I wore flip flops (my mistake) so when I went to go on the little hike around the area, I was not very sure-footed. I definately would want to wear tennis shoes next time -- there's some tricky spots and muddy spots which flops are not built to handle.

Sunday January 25th, Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau.

Sunday January 25th, Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau.

Sunday January 25th, Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau.

Sunday January 25th, Sunset Beach.

Sunday January 25th, Sunset Beach.

Sunday January 25th, Near Kawela Bay.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!!

Aloha from Oahu,

LC

Week Three

I know, I know. It's late, but here are the happenings of our third week:
I have discovered magic. My kids usually play well enough that I feel comfortable using this magic on them. I have discovered the magic of the baby gate. We wake up and everyone gets some breakfast, then new diapers (yes, diapers. Little Miss seems to keep going back and forth on whether she likes diapers or panties), and daytime clothes. Then comes the magic. I put both Little Miss and Little Man in their room, pull out a few toys, then put a baby gate in the doorway, and take a shower. Now, what you have to understand is that for me this really is magic. Before this discovery I was lucky to get in 2-3 showers a week, in the middle of the night, or on rare occasion if the kids both napped at the same time. So it really is magic.
I didn't quite finish up my crochet project, but for sure by next week.
Also, I've been working on a meal planning system for a few weeks now that I'm getting excited to share with you. So stay tuned!
Cheers!
Jessica