2008

Is it just me, or does it seem like a year goes by really fast the older you get?

But when I actually stop and think about the journey, it seems like I went through an awful lot between point A to point B, and maybe the year hasn't really gone by that fast. Maybe I was just looking ahead too often to really "Carpe diem." I've always had that problem. I will work harder on the solution this year.

In 2008 I learned things are not always what they seem. It's easier to just let go of the past and hurt feelings than it is to struggle with the memories every day. You can not control a persons actions or emotions, and you have to just brush it off when they upset you. When you get the urge to do something like tell an old friend hello, you should do it because you might not get the chance to say goodbye. Sometimes resolutions are hard to keep because you have changed as a person, and those things are no longer important to you. It's ok, move on.

So in a whirlwind, my life experiences of the year have included:

-Moving from Shafter to Mililani, and then from Mililani to Pearl City. I love this house.

-Brian was promoted.

-Bella's 1st birthday party, in our tiny condo, with about 15 people crammed in. I found out I am really good at making Blue's Clues birthday cakes!

-Found a church that I love.

-Mom and Jaycee came on a spur of the moment visit (mom: "What would you think if I flew out tomorrow?" me: "I think that would be flippin sweet!").

-I swam with and kissed a dolphin, and I liked it.

-Countless trips to Dole Plantation.

-Peed in the woods for the first time while camping at Bellows.

-My first real Valentines Day "together" with Brian.

-First trip to the waterpark.

-Urban Outfitters obsession began.

-Two year anniversary at the Top of Waikiki.

-Got a job.

-Got boobs.

-Survived paranoia, and stopped fighting with my husband so much.

-Took in my sister for a couple months while my mom was finding herself.

-Signed up for school again...and then didn't...again.

-Said a sad farewell to an old frenemy.

-Turned 21, and enjoyed my first legal ladies nights.

-Finally got new furniture, and I love it!

-Found out we move to Japan in October 2009.

New movies I remember seeing in theaters: Cloverfield, 27 Dresses, The Incredible Hulk, Step Brothers, Pineapple Express, Twilight, Iron Man.

For my resolutions, see the previous post.

Sayonara 2008! You've been decent to me, but it's time to move on.

To Do: 2009

This year I am going to make superficial resolutions. But I think I deserve it. This year, along with my resolutions to finish the laundry, lose the final few ounces of baby fat and eat salad for every meal; no dessert, and to clean the random junk out of my nightstand so it can hold my Jack Kerouac novels and my favorite issues of Glamour magazine, I plan on indulging in my guilty pleasures and NOT feeling guilty about it.

I will force myself to buy myself at least two or three expensive items that will last me a while and make me feel like an adult, whether it be designer jeans, a new handbag, sunglasses, or shoes, or an overpriced makeup brush.

I will embrace my love for really bad reality tv and cheesy chick flicks.

I will shake it to Beyonce songs.

I will have a spa day with a full massage, and get pedicures regularly (or at least take really long bubble baths).

I will learn Japanese because I want to, not because I have to.

I will remember to use my Crest White Strips, tweeze my eyebrows, and color my roots. I will get my sexy back this year.

Of course this is all subject to change.

Walmart Conspiracy

How do I manage to spend so much money at Wal-Mart? Those "always low prices" ALWAYS make me buy more than I intended.

Where else can you buy a sports bra, Yo Gabba Gabba dvd, and milk all in the same place? And I almost bought a plant. I don't need a plant, but I saw it at the entrance advertised for only $7, and suddenly I wanted a plant. The only thing that stopped me from getting it was that I wouldn't be able to explain to my husband that I went to Wal-Mart for cupcake mix and came back with a potted plant.

So what did I end up with after passing up the shrubbery at the entrance? Seven items around $12 or less, and none of them cupcake mix.

The Discrimination of Guinness

For years now I have been planning on claiming a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for most elbow licks in 1 minute. I figured it would be a fairly simple gain since licking your elbow is supposed to be impossible (although I do know one person other than me who can do it as well). So I logged onto the website to find out how. I was imagining simple fame. I decided, even if I never go back to school and graduate with multiple degrees in law and medicine my family can still be proud of me. I might never cure cancer, but I could set a world record.

I went through all the trouble of filling out my information (wondered if the site was legit as there were many words misspelled, then realized Guinness is based in London and figured they must spell more words than "colour" different) and verified my email address to register with the site.

The next step was to a page asking "is it a record?" where I would decide that my proposed record was based on the fact that I "possess a unique talent or are the only person to be able to do something." Upon clicking that link, I was brought to this:

All our world records are based on a quantifiable element, such as speed, length, monetary value, etc. However, uniqueness is not something that can be quantified and for this reason having a unique talent is not in itself a record. However, if your talent is interesting or exciting and can be easily quantified in some way, we may consider it for recognition in a new world record category.

Similarly, the fact that you are the only person to do something, or to have done something, is not a record in itself. A record is, by definition, an achievement that can be exceeded or broken. However, if you are the only person who is able to do something it is impossible for someone else to challenge (i.e. break) your achievement.

Examples of proposals we do not accept:
Elbow licking
Staring at the sun
Double jointed fingers

Wouldn't that be the case? So now I will never cure cancer, and I will never set a world record recognized by Guinness for most elbow licks. I'm a big fat failure.

The Blue-Poop Monster

I think for a moment to just toss the linen and purchase a whole new set. But no- It's brand new. My mom was the type to throw out everything that was "destroyed" because she was too pessimistic to believe cleaning actually worked. Or perhaps with four kids and a full time job, she was just too overwhelmed to believe in solutions. In any case, I refuse to let go of a perfectly good sheet set before exhausting all my options. I will go broke finding a stain-removal product that actually works. I will spray until my trigger finger goes numb. I will wash and rewash, and rewash again in the hopes that this will be the cycle to erase the blue oil pastel from my brand new white damask comforter.

And then I spot the feces.

It seems the suspect climbed out of her playpen and knocked everything off the dresser on her way to the laundry basket which she apparently crawled over to reach the oil pastels. At this point, I assume, she ate the tips of every color (leaving bite marks as evidence) before pooping in the corner. It is unclear if she then carried some of the droppings with her and placed them by the dresser, or if she just took another dump near it. The trail ends in the bathroom where the lid of my toilet is now a work of blue pastel art.

I go to work, first cleaning up the poop before Fluffy makes a snack out of it. Next I soak the bedding in Spray n Wash and say a few prayers for it before starting the washing machine. When it's cycle ends I will know that God was listening; my sheets are fine. Lysol worked well enough to clean the majority of the pastel off the toilet, but months later there is still one stubborn blue streak serving as a reminder of this event.

It is obvious I need to find a new place for nap time. An empty room, or better yet Fluffy's kennel. Some place my little darling can't climb out of or do any damage to. "Monkey-Bear" has definitely been a fitting nickname thus far.

not working ever again would be great too

Things should be getting back to normal fairly soon. Brian has a flight in on the 21st. Jaycee has a flight out on the 27th (I think...could be the 28th or 29th). I'm back at work as of today (blah). I've had a nice couple weeks off, but not working ever again would be great too.

Crotchie is here now. We've been to hooters, the movies (Pineapple Express), the beach, the base, and all over Hawaii in search of the Army Wives season 1 box set (if you are looking, apparently the NEX is the only place that carries it).



I netflixed the first season, but we only got the first disk in which was only about 4 episodes and it ended in a bit of a cliffhanger. I will spare most of the details, but basically that night we ran all over trying to find it on dvd and got nothing. We downloaded the next episode on itunes to get our fix, and then couldn't get the rest on dvd until the next night. And after we finished all of those we downloaded all the episodes available on itunes and we are attempting to get caught up before the new episode on Sunday.

I thought my life was more exciting this week, but I really have nothing else to say =)

premio survey

2008 Premio Award Rules:
1. When received, you may post the premio to your blog.
2. Link to the blogger you received it from.
3. Give it to 7 blogs
4. Link to those 7 blogs
5. Leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.


So Audrey (quite possibly the only person interested in my blog...) has tagged me. Here goes, for her and anyone else who reads:


A. attached or single?
Attached.

B. best friend?
Fluffy.

C. cake or pie?
Pie.

D. day of choice?
Tuesday, because if I don't have work it is probably the slowest day at the beach which means better chance of finding parking.

E. essential item?
Chapstick.

F. favorite color?
Green.

G. gummy bears or worms?
Worms.

H. hometown?
Sacramento/Antelope, CA

I. favorite indulgence?
Spa days.

J. january or july?
January.

K. kids?
Isabella Krystel.

L. life isn't complete without?
Laughter.

M. marriage date?
March 18, 2006

N. number of brothers & sisters?
Three sisters and a brother (but I've never met him).

O. oranges or apples?
Oranges (Audrey, they make orange peelers...much less hassle)

P. phobias?
Flies. I hate flies. And the usual, heights, small spaces, dying (just afraid of how and when, not about what happens after).

Q. quotes?
"Things may get harder before they get better, but we are stronger than we know"
-Arnold Schwarzenegger

R. reasons to smile?
Bella's smile makes me smile.

S. season of choice?
Winter. After two years in Hawaii, I am so over summer.

T. tag five peeps!
I don't know that many bloggers...

U. unknown fact about me?
I'm an open book.

V. vegetable?
Green beens.

W. worst habits?
Popping pimples that don't belong to me.

X. x-ray or ultrasound?
Ultrasound.

Y. your favorite food?
Baja Beef Chalupa from Taco Bell tops the list.

Z. zodiac sign?
Leo.

I tag:
I know I'm breaking rules here, but no tagging for me. How about, if you read this and you have a blog, send me your link in my comments and tag yourself.

I swear I am not a nerd, I just need something to pass the time

Today we went to the water park. Jeramiah's kids turned 1 and 3 in December and February, but I guess he was gone for their birthdays so they had a party for the 2 of them today. They payed for everyone to get in, and the park provided food (traditional Hawaiian pulled pork, fried chicken, rice and noodles). The sun was out, but by the time we decided to get in the water it went away.

The water was cold, and Bella didn't enjoy it too much. But I took her down a little water slide and jumped around in the water with her and she started to enjoy it a bit more. Then we took her in the lazy river. She liked it until she got splashed by the waterfall.

I finally got my Urban Outfitters order in the mail. I love the clothes and I can't wait to have something to do so I can wear them. They aren't anything fancy, but I don't want to just lounge around the house in them. I got a comfy dress, some white linen shorts, and this really nice purple top.

Jane Austen Book Club also came in the mail from netflix. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece at all, so I wasn't surprised it wasn't that great a movie. But it was cute, and it was inspiring. It really made me want to start reading Jane Austen books, because honestly the closest I have gotten to a story by one of the best-loved writers in British literature was an episode of Wishbone in which they re-enacted Pride and Prejudice. After watching the movie, I decided her novels may have more to relay to me now. Especially since I might be majoring in English when I start school.

And did I mention I am starting school? I forget if my last post mentioned it, but I applied to Chaminade University. I will be taking classes on the military base here so I don't have to drive downtown. Right now I am just waiting for my transcript to come from Sierra so I can start registering for classes. I want to go for the Bachelor's in English, but at this point I think I might just do an AA in Liberal Arts to get my general ed out of the way, and then later I might have a better idea of what I want to do with my life and I can continue for my Bachelor degree.

I am completely exhausted from the water park adventure, and my eyes are tired from the hours I have wasted at the computer leveling up my WOW characters (I swear I am not a nerd, I just need something to pass the time), so I think I am due for a nap. Just getting in my random update.

I was going to do a Yo Gabba Gabba theme, but I thought a DJ Lance cake would be a little scary

It seems so much has happened since my last post, yet I can't think of everything. I know Brian came home, and at some point during that week Ruby, Nina, Bella, and I had a beach day. It was the first time I could let Bella crawl around in the sand without worrying about her eating it. She had fun exfoliating my feet with it instead. Bringing her to the beach is definitely a lot more enjoyable now.


Her 1st birthday is on the 19th. The Saturday after her birthday we are having the Blue's Clues party. I was going to do a Yo Gabba Gabba theme, but I thought a DJ Lance cake would be a little scary.

Yesterday was my first official celebrated Valentine's Day. Last year Brian had to work, the year before that he was in Afghanistan. So this year we dressed up and I made a big dinner; Baked chicken parmesean served over capellini, a side salad, and we had wings and celery sticks for an appetizer. I made strawberry shortcake and chocolate covered strawberries for desert, and we drank a whole bottle of wine (I know I said I would never drink again in my life, but the wine was so good). I was so out of it last night, but I felt fine this morning. Didn't want to puke my guts out or anything.

I got Brian a heart-shaped basket and filled it with valentine m&ms, cookies from the Cookie Corner, Smarties, and a stuffed animal. And he got cards from both me and Bella.

Today we are heading to Bellows for a weekend camping trip. I am excited as I've been wanting to go since my birthday. But I have so much to do to prepare. We have all kinds of food to remember to take, I want to get all the laundry done so I won't have too much to wash when we come home, and Brian's mom flies in the day we come back from camping so I want to get everything clean now in case I don't have time before then.

If he were here I would cook, but it's hard enough cooking for two. How in the world do I cook for one?

If there is one thing I miss most of all it's making new memories with old friends. I have had so much fun this weekend, however I can't help but think of what it would be like if I had a big group of close friends around me to spend time with.

Of course I have Ruby, and now Nina. And they are both wonderful. But you know what it's like when you have that big group of friends to go out with. Anyway, this isn't to be a brooding blog so I won't go much further. We do have fun with the friends we do have. All I am saying is a bit of variety would be nice.

My mom surprised me on Friday by asking if she could fly out on Saturday. She was going to wait until March, but the tickets were more expensive then. So she and Jaycee flew out Saturday afternoon before Brian had to fly to Florida.

We went to the Dole Plantation on Sunday, following Ruby and Gabe's Superbowl party. We took a ride on the Pineapple Express and had pineapple ice cream. Monday we went to Sea Life Park and played with dolphins. We actually got to go in the water with them, give them kisses, dance with them, and signal them to perform tricks for us. It was an amazing experience. I think I want to go back for my birthday and do the one where you swim with them.

They left this morning, and although it was nice having them here and wonderful spending time with them, it was also not what I am used to. I am used to having a somewhat more peaceful and relaxed household and my quiet home was interrupted with their hectic lifestyle. My mom was determined to keep her schedule, so she woke up at 4 every morning. And it was just too loud. But I did enjoy the company.

Brian won't be home until Saturday. I miss him, and can't wait to have him back. This is my first time alone. I'm appreciative of this opportunity because I never have been alone. But at the same time it is just lonely. And I don't know what to eat. If he were here I would cook, but it's hard enough cooking for two. How in the world do I cook for one?

It is Super Tuesday. I have never voted, and obviously can't vote in the primary since I'm not registered. But I have been contemplating registering to vote this year. I never thought about it, but I am tired of falling among the uninformed Americans. So I did some research, and decided if I am to vote, I will vote for Huckabee. I agree with his stance on most of the issues, plus it would be awesome to rep for him with an i heart huckabee bumper sticker or something ;)