Back to life, back to reality

Sunday, May 19

I had a great day.  I went to church and listened intently while playing word search. hehehe

I taught my 8 youth in Sunday School.  This was quite a bit different than last week when I had only 2 and one of which wasn't there yesterday.   We talked about repentance...I forget sometimes that these kids haven't had these lessons like 9 bazillion times and its all new to them.  We also had two non-member youths.  That was way cool.

I came home and read some of the book Shannon loaned me called "The Culture of Poverty" etc.  It's so informative!

I called home and asked if it was ok if I came up and of course so I headed out.

We played games and talked and watched Ninja master thingy.  Totally awesome show.  Ikaia said, Aunty Sharon, why do you always talk to the old people (grandma, grandpa and his Dad) instead of me.  You don't love me.  I said looky here son, that's not how you show love and it has nothing to do with love.

It was fun and we played Ninja fruit slicer party game and then ate and then played loaded questions.  We laughed and laughed and laughed because

I've been Naughty, but it's been NICE!

Ah, ok.  So, I haven't blogged once since being in Hawaii.  So the best way to remedy this is to do a VERY brief synopsis of each day.

Tuesday:  Fly in, no problems, not first class but oh well. I've never flown first class anyhow.  I arrive and let my cousin Jacob and Auntie Emily know and then believe I'm heading on the bus to pick up my Westfalia Van. Jacob says, oh, you don't have any luggage. I'm like, yes, I do and he says, you can't ride TheBus then because they don't allow luggage.  WHAT??????  So then I'm like freaking out.  My whole plan is up in smoke.  Ends up Uncle Larry comes and gets me and drives me to Kailua to pick up the van.  The van is way less attractive then I thought but hey, it's ok.  Worst thing is - the van's gas tank is EMPTY.  Like, lower than E.  Seriously?  Who runs a car/van rental business and doesn't put gas?

I make it to Hauula with great directions from the gas attendant.  As soon as I arrive, Uncle Larry calls and says he's been waiting for me to pass to show me how to get here.  I'm like, maybe you should've waited somewhere on the road I was driving on.  Somehow I got on the old road, lol.

Keahi and Abraham come and I get to meet her!  She's just as fab as my cousin, Abraham.  We go to bed late, very, very late.

WEDNESDAY:
I go to the back house and offer to take grandma to the Sr Center. I move the van from it's parking spot to the driveway and go inside.  By the time I come out, the van won't start.  Seriously?  What the heck.  So we roll it just a bit and Aunty Emily ends up doing all of the errands because I'm waiting for Uncle Larry.  Btw, I was blocking her in!  Annoying.

I head to town with Uncle Larry and Aunt Peggy and we pick up Naomi before heading to the swap meet.  Rule #1:  Don't go spending all your money at swap meet the first day on the Island.

Rule #2: Always go to swap meet!

We get home and its been a wonderfully fun day and I try and start the van and it won't start.  I call and they (Oahucampingvans.net people) say they will come out in the morning.

THURSDAY:
I didn't realize that meant noon!!!!! I was so angry and upset that I just wanted to switch vans and not even talk to him but I managed to say I get a day and a half credit as well as $60 in gas!

I'll start uploading pictures soon.  Gonna post this or I never will. I began typing this way back when I was still in HI!  Good intentions, huh...didn't work this time.  Try again latah.

I'm on a jet plane...or between them actually

I missed yesterday...but that's ok, since I basically stayed up all night talking to my dad before he dropped me off at the airport, I'd say I'[m[ still on the same day except technically I'm not. Hmmmm...

1.  I am officially on my first vacation in 2.5 years and dang, it feels good.  I'm not going to lie, I have been looking forward to this for a LONG time!

2.  I stayed up talking to my dad last night for a long time.

3.  I chatted with Kenji and David via their video games system and it was fun and funny, like always.

4.  I made the flight to Denver and the flight to HI is wide open so I should arrive today. :)

5.  My roommate paid her rent on time and in full, whoo whoo!  Now I don't have to worry so much about food/money.

Ah...Jacob called me last night and he's hooking me up with electricity from the house and they have wireless so I should be JUST fine for 10 days. :)

All that razzing I did to Rob and Shannon for renting the VW vanagon, shame on me! Here I am following their lead and doing teh same thing.

Aloha and Mahalo - Sharon

Vacationitis overload

Whew...got through today.

1.  Hosted greeters and it was fabulous

2.  Found a couple of dudes to teach Fin Lit!!!

3.  Made $45 in tips tonight

4. Ate a salad  for dinner

5. Watched some cool TED videos today

Concern: even though I was full after my salad, I ate my whole mini pizza.  Didn't  stop when I was full.

Vacay Prep...

The preparations are one by one being check off and its turning into 111% vacation-itis!  Everything I do or say or touch becomes sometime ABOUT my impending vacation.  I cannot wait!  I made Abe and Keahi's pic my desktop photo.

The best things about today:

1.  I made decent (great!) tips tonight and was able to tip out the cook and counter girl left standing when I got off.  The bar tender and the manager already had made good money.

2.  I got my first pedicure in like 6 mos.  Needless to say, my feet were disgusting but she did an amazing job and even when I tipped her, it was still pretty cheap considering the grossness of my feeties.

3.  Chance's new mom txt me to say that he is doing well and is "tolerating her" but he really likes Rich, her hubby.  I told her to gain some weight so he thinks he's sitting next to cuddling with me and she'll be fine ;)

4.  I cleaned my desk off. If you have ever known me in a working place - no wait, that would be a lie - if you have ever known me EVER in any capacity, you'd know that I have a difficult time with clutter.  I'm messy, what can I say?  We are hosting a chamber networking event tomorrow and I managed to clean off my desk.  WHOO WHOO.

5.  My bestie Jody M. Hall, met me at the nail salon and although she could only stay until 12:30, we were able to visit for 30 minutes!  What a babe.  Her toes were cute too, but not as cute as mine! hehehehe...

Negative/Issues:  Although I prayed for menstruation to occur before my trip to Hawaii, I didn't say I wanted the cramps too.  But, I will not be dealing with old Aunt Flo on vacation.  Give me another woot woot. :)

xoxo,

Sharon

Zumba WED

Good day!

1.  I finally paid the reservation deposit for the VW vanagon in HI.

2.  I had a blast at Zumba tonight.

3. Did I mention I ate alligator yesterday!?!  I loved it.  TY Sharon, Ron and Nate.  And then today for the most amazing caramel popcorn ever - Nate - thank you for straight teeth so your mom would make it and be willing to share it with me.

4.  Shannon and Mandy gave me the Roca for my family across the Pond and bedding for foster kiddos!  Bed to arrive this weekend.

5.  Matt D. told me that his brother and sis in law are going to be baptized! I cried with joy.  Oh, the blessings of the gospel moving throughout the families of the faithful.  :)

6.  I was getting grumpy about having to prepare my lesson for this Sunday when i realized I could do it on my phone!!!  Anywhere anytime!!!  I am so grateful for the righteous application of technology.

A concern:  My mouth still hurts.

April 22-24

Hello Blogger Following, lol..of 1. 

I have been thinking about the importance of journaling and so here is my pledge: to write at least 5 happy thoughts from each day and if necessary to get it off my chest, one struggle.

Today it was GORGEOUS!  I mowed the lawn and basically had a good day. I went to a homeless Love In Action meeting today and learned about tons of resources for our kiddos.

Let's see...a quick recap of the weekend (or you could just look at FB).  I have been working at Abby's since July 2011.  I'm tired of working there and just pure tired, but what good does that to?  I closed on Thursday, short shift on Friday then on Sat I went to Foundations training for Foster Care Certification and then to Abby's for 7 hours.  Abby seems to be taking over my life. Ugh...anyway.

Sunday church where I was called to be the youth Sunday School teacher - again.  :)  I am excited, there were 5 kids in there when I stuck my head in at the end of the hour.  I felt the need to save them from Brother Noreen, lol!

I skipped out of church just a little bit ealry (posterity, hopefully you still respect me), to go to Newberg and pick up Mark, Kerri's husband (Kerri and I work together) and then we drove to the Couv to pick up Mark's mom to then drive back down to PDX Hollywood Theater to watch Amadeus. It was spectacular!  And Edmond Stone, host of The Score on All Classical 89.9 was dressed up as Amadeus.  It was amazing to watch that movie on the big screen.  We had watched it as kids not knowing anything about it being moninated for 11 Grammy's and both lead actors bein nominated for Best Actor. I mean, geesh, how does that happen?  

Mark was a trooper and ran all over downtown PDX for us.  Trader Joe's for goodies and then after the movie, we headed to VooDoo Donuts.  Just for the record: Really long line for a normal tasting donut in the WORST part of PDX.  Meth users every where.  

This is how the convo went: 

"Is it always this busy?"

"Yes, except for between 3-5 AM."

"You are open 24 hrs?"

Head nod...

Is this a safe thing? 

"No.  There are stabbings almost every night and drug dealers on the corner and users will come in and steal the tip jars and it's just not safe"

And I'm like: And you still work here?  GET OUT before you get stabbed!  Those doughnuts are not THAT tasty.  We decided if it had been dark, we probably wouldn't have stopped by.

Then we dropped off Mark's mom who lives just up by Legacy Salmon Creek and then went to my families place.  I finally was able to drop off clothes for Alex that I've easily had for like 3 months.  Oh that's right, he's 3 months old now, Hope they FIT!

Got Abraham's (cousin who is getting married in like 9 days!) wedding announcement.  I also say dad's cool books...he has 3 that he's wanting to sell.  They are rare and very old.  So...I'm going to help him.

Then I came home.  It was overall, a GREAT weekend and Monday.  Just one week and I'll be in HI! :)

Bring it on...