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 ;)

Ruby spiked my drinks. I refuse to ever have alcohol again in my life

I really don't feel like doing anything today. But I have a house to be cleaned, and a prescription to pick up (since I put in the order 2 weeks ago and still haven't gone over there).

I checked out a new church yesterday and loved it. Can't wait for next week.

We went to Dan and Letti's for a goodbye/cleaning out the fridge dinner. Ruby spiked my drinks. I refuse to ever have alcohol again in my life.

Other than that, pretty uneventful weekend.

note to self: the cheeseburger is not that great. Stick with the tuna melt...

I finally made it to the Dole Plantation. We were only there long enough to eat the pineapple sorbet and browse the gift shop though, so hopefully someday we will go again so I can ride the Pineapple Express and tour the maze.

Today was actually pretty boring. We did the pineapple thing, and then went to Jameson's for lunch (note to self: the cheeseburger is not that great. Stick with the tuna melt). After that we just went home so Brian could continue his Call of Duty 4 obsession, and I could...well...I had nothing to do.

Since I've been in housewife mode, everything is always done. It's a nice feeling to not have anything to worry about, but it would feel better if I had more to do. I think I might make beach trips a daily thing.

In other news, I'm down to a whopping 122lbs. Thank God. I've been holding off on fast food since coming back from CA (or at least as far as I can remember). Today I almost gave in and had Taco Bell while Brian was at the gym. But I decided to vacuum instead, and it held off my craving until he came home. I didn't feel like cooking tonight, so I'm eating breakfast for dinner. It feels a lot better than 2 Baja Beef Chalupas (although those taste better than Honey Nut Cheerios and a blueberry bagel).

I started jogging "around the block" (in quotes because my version of around the block differs from Brian's), and I feel really good about myself. I've decided there will always be areas that I can improve on, but life would be so much less interesting if I was perfect.

I feel a need to find something new for people to celebrate...

Every time I am in the mood to blog and I have a moment, it is quickly interrupted. I swear I've been at this like 3 times today at least. But Fluffy wanted to bark at strangers and wake Bella up from her nap. Luckily we had a busy day today, so she is still pretty tired and went back to sleep almost as fast as she woke up.

This has actually been a pretty busy week. I was worried about not getting anything done as far as cleaning/unpacking into this new abode. But I kicked my butt into gear and got the whole place clean (with the exception of Bella's room which is being used as temporary storage until the supposed garage sale). It's been spotless for close to a week now, which I think is a record by some standard.

Ruby graduated, so we attended her pinning ceremony and graduation this week. It reaffirmed my longing to go to school. I don't know if it's so much my thirst for knowledge as it is my desire to accomplish something. And yes I know I am married and I have a baby and I have been able to travel. I have accomplished everything I wanted to do despite all of the negative feedback I received in the beginning.

But now that the dust has settled and everyone is proud of me, I feel a need to find something new for people to celebrate. And I don't want it to be easy. I want it to be something that I actually have to work for, as I don't feel I ever got that chance. Most of the things I have wanted in my life have just been handed to me.

But enough of that.

Another accomplishment was celebrated today. Brian has been promoted to Staff Sergeant. He gave a nice speech thanking me for my part in supporting him (read: taking care of that "crying all the time baby" while he worked 12hr shifts), and said he was doing everything for me and Bella so we could have a good life. And life is good.

After the promotion ceremony we went to Bellow's. It was a windy/chilly beach day but I really loved being there. And the drive over and back was beautiful. Mountains all over, some with visible waterfalls. It made me appreciate Hawaii so much more.

Yesterday I got bored so I drove down to the beach with Bella. We put our feet in the water and just sat out for a bit. I'm so thankful that I can go to the beach in the middle of winter.

10 Things I Love About Hawaii

*Disclaimer: This list may be more or less than 10 things, but the title just seemed appropriate to me.

I have never been told not to do a job simply because of superstition. But I seem to get a lot of that here. It's all too common to look behind the gift wrap counter at Macy's and see scraps of paper and ribbon. One day I had nothing to do so I asked for the broom so I could sweep, but the lady who was in charge for the night told me not to because it was bad luck. So I didn't have to do anything for the rest of the night because we had hardly any customers and I couldn't clean.

Hawaiians say "ya" after everything. Almost like saying "understand?" Except we don't usually say "understand?" after everything we talk about. It kind of starts to rub off on you too. I swear, by the time I come home I will be heard saying "you da kine broda, ya" and I will be completely serious as opposed to the joking tone I often use when saying things like that.

They call trash rubbish, and have rubbish bins instead of trash cans. Plastic bags are packages. White people are haoles ("how-lees"). And kids are keiki's. Do not ask me how to pronounce any street name that isn't on a military base.

Everyone is family. Old ladies are your aunties. People close to your age are your cousins.

Take off your shoes before entering in any house. There is no question about it. Some people back home make you take off your shoes, but some don't. Here it is just common practice.

You have to know the surf forecast. They even have it on the news.

It is raining in your front yard, but not in your backyard.

There is always a rainbow, and you can usually get to the end of it. Sadly however, all of the leprechauns must have been issued Capital One No Hassle Cards as I never see any pots of gold.

I am at the beach in the middle of winter.