Tuesday, September 30, 2008

It's Already Over?

Tonight, Monday night, is our last night in Waikiki, Ouahu. We've had a great time, but we are ready to get back to normal life. We've spent almost every morning lazing around after our McDonald's run. Then around 10:00 am, we start deciding what to do during the day.

Friday, we visited the USS Missouri Battleship. This is the ship where the treaty ending WWII was signed. I took a picture of Troy standing where General McArther sat as he signed. Before we went to the museum, Troy humored me by taking me to lunch at Wally Ho's Garage and Grill. Troy said later that he had a little bit of indigestion. I said, "Really?!?! I can't imagine why after eating at Wally Ho's Garage and Grill!" You should have seen the look he gave me!

Troy worked part of the days on Saturday and Sunday. I shopped on Saturday and spent all day at the beach Sunday, where I got a bit of a nasty sunburn.

Sunday was our anniversary so we walked down the street to P.F. Changs to eat dinner and then window shopped on the way back.

Today, we drove up to the North Shore, known for it's huge pipeline surfing. Not many large waves today, so we drove along the shoreline back to Waikiki.

I think we've had a great vacation. I've always heard that a great vacation is the kind that you've enjoyed but that you are ready to go home when it's time to go home. That would be the best description of this vacation.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Wow, I'm in Hawaii, Part Three!

9/26/08

Troy and I spent a luxurious couple of hours on the beach yesterday. It was very relaxing! When I got too hot, I would go sit in the sand and let the waves cool me off. After the beach, Troy went to the room to take a nap and I went window shopping. We then went to a luau.

Major impressions of my experience at the Luau:

1. Kind of Hoaky but overall fun.
2. The fun was enhanced by the three drink tickets. :)
3. Poi is gross.
4. The moves Hula dancers make with their hips is impressive and illegal in 5 states!

Wow, I'm in Hawai'i, Part Two!

9/25/08

What can I way about the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor that hasn't already been said? Tears stung my eyes and a lump caught in my throat as I walked through the doorway of the white hallow tombstone which divides the USS Arizona graveyard into two separate sections. One of the things that moved me the most was the list of names of men who had actually survived the Pearl Harbor attack but had asked to be buried not with their family on the mainland, but here with their brothers. The loss of their comrades had haunted them their whole lives to the point that they wanted to be with them again.
Troy and I needed the rest yesterday morning so we didn't get to Pearl Harbor in time to visit the aviation museum or the USS Missouri. We are going back to do that on Friday. On the way back to the hotel, I spotted a roadside attraction called Wally Ho's Garage and Grill! Now I'm on a mission to eat at Wally Ho's on Friday! I bought a new swimsuit at Walmart and have plans to put it into action today. I love plus size Samoan women! These stores have much better large size clothing than Denver does!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Wow! I'm in Hawai'i

9/24/08

Sitting on the balcony of our 13th floor ocean front room, the view is amazing. I can look directly down on the busy beach side street, Kalakaui Avenue. The north side of the street is lined with shopping adventures calling my name and the south side, or beach side is a mixture of tropical images. Swaying palm trees and lush vegetation help back from the ocean by the sandy beach. The sand is the perfect contrast to the brightly colored umbrellas and beach towels dotting the shoreline. People of various shades of tan spend their time soaking of the sun, seeking shade, or playing on the shore line. The waves of the ocean rhythmically and continuously smooth the sand at the water's edge.
Near the beach the water is a teal green. Beyond the man-made rock breaker, the color changes to dark green and emerald, depending on the rock or sandy bottom. Further out, the water changes to a beautiful, breathtaking turquoise blue. A color that I'm sure is in abundance in Heaven. ON the horizon, the water is a dark azure blue. A stark contrast to the light blue sky. The sea is dotted with sailboats, yachts, and surfing students floating on the surfboards with giddy anticipation.
Troy and I woke this morning to an empty beach. It had just rained and we decided to take a 5:30 am walk. We played in the water cresting on the sand and then sat to watch the sun rise. Then it happened. We felt a sprinkle or two which quickly turned into a downpour, catching us off guard. By the time we made it back to our room, we were covered in sand, soaked, cold, and giggling. We showered and made a McDonald's run (conveniently next door). They serve a plate of pineapple with your morning combo! We lazed around in bed after breakfast, Troy playing his computer game white I watched morning TV and did the Sudoku puzzle from the newspaper.
Our plans for today are to go to Walmart and get some essentials and to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the USS Missouri is here. I found a coupon for Troy to do a free flight simulation at the aviation museum. He's pretty excited about that.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Six Quirky Things

Well, it finally happened. I was tagged to write six quirky things about myself. At first, I really thought I didn't have that many quirks. You know, kind of boring. I said this to my friend, Janet, who immediately laughed, and laughed, and added that as her "Quote of the Day" on her blog. Hmm.... quirky? Let's see....

There is the unnatural fear of birds and windmills. I'm not a bird fan. And NO it's not from watching a certain Hitchcock movie. I HATE the sound of wings flapping, especially if they are hitting something. I won't go near a bird. Troy and I tried to eat a sandwich at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. I couldn't even eat because the sea gulls and pigeons kept swooping around us. Not a fun experience! I actually screamed out loud as a pigeon flew under the table next to me. Now for the windmills...Not the old flower looking ones used for pumping water for cows on the old Little House on the Prairie farm. I have no fear of those nice, old, sweet things. The ones I very much dislike are the ones that look like they were made from Edward Scissorhands' left over parts! In California, there were hills of them. Some spinning, some still, some slowly rotating. Menacing creatures trying to capture the innocent wind! The wind should be free to move to and fro. It should not have to pass through the slashing blades of a sinister robot! Would that be one or two quirky things?

Anyway, there is also the love of post-it notes. When I find a new post-it note shape, it lures me like a new drug. Fun shapes and utility to boot! I love the ability to write a quick statement and stick it to something. It may the the most efficient thing I do all day!

If someone would invent a truly seamless sock, they would make millions on people like me. As a small child, I drove my mother crazy. She would put my socks and shoes on and I would cry until she took the shoes off and readjusted my socks. I hate the seams! There is always some spot that I feel the seam on my foot. I have been known to stop on a shopping trip in the middle of the mall and sit down to readjust my sock seam. I understand they are a necessary evil, however, I think I would just prefer to wear sandals.

I feel sorry for plants. In fact, we have a tree at the corner of our house that is terribly ugly and I don't want to cut it down because I feel sorry for it. It has a name. Ugly Tree. We introduce it to everyone who comes to our house and they agree that we aptly named it. I just can't bring myself to cut it down. It didn't plan to be ugly. It just happened.
Another example, we cut three low branches off the huge pine tree in our front yard. It's a beautiful, majestic tree. I went out every day for about a month, check to make sure the sap had sealed it's "boo-boo". I even tried to help by spreading the sap in the newly cut area. I almost cried. It's okay now. Every once in a while, I walk by the pine and pat it. I would hug it if I knew nobody was looking!

I am a huge fan of Petticoat Junction. You know..........

Come ride the little train that is rolling down the tracks to the junction. (Petticoat Junction) Forget about your cares, it is time to relax at the junction. (Petticoat Junction)
...........Everybody sing!.............
Lotsa curves, you bet. Even more when you get
to the junction, Petticoat Junction.
Reruns of Petticoat Junction came on every day after school on the only television station we received in my childhood. My middle name is Jo. I was sure that I was a long lost relative of Kate Bradley and her daughters, Billie Jo, Bobbi Jo, and Betty Jo. See the connection? Well, of course you do! I watched in anticipation as Steve, the crop duster who crashed near the Shady Rest Inn, recovered and eventually fell in love the youngest, most tomboyish daughter, Betty Jo. They moved into a little cottage between the Shady Rest and Hooterville. "Green Acres" was a spin-off! And then little Katie Jo was born! If I had ever had a daughter, you can bet that the name Katie Jo would have been a possibility! Okay, I'm mildly obsessed!

I think that may be six........Birds, Windmills, Post-Its, Sock Seams, Plants, and Petticoat Junction.........yep, my work is done! Wow, I'm a bit quirky!