Halloween '09

We had a GREAT Halloween this year! Gwen dressed up as an evil scientist- she had the evil MWA-HAHAHA down and everything! I got to go to school with her and help out with her class party. That was a lot of fun. She treated me to breakfast at school in the morning (foods really not that good, but she loves eating in the cafeteria). All the kids made a big deal about her costume. She was very proud of it. I thought there'd be tons of evil scientists, but no - she was the only one I saw that day. We got her some bouncy ball eye balls to pass out to her classmates, which was a huge hit.

For trick or treating we headed down town. It was pretty chaotic down there. The best loot she got was a miniature deck of cards from Fig Pickles. We happened to see her old pre-school teacher which Gwen was thrilled about. And we stopped and got some ice cream from Bruttles along the way, a stop I just may turn into a tradition. Then we went to the Kroc center for their Pirate Party. It was awesome. They gave Gwen a treasure map at the door and there was a red dash trail taped to the floor that went to different trick or treating stations- all of them pirate themed. They were really cute, one was a stranded pirate surrounded by shark fins, there was buried treasure in a cave, things like that.

The big high light of the evening was that there was candy taped all over the rock climbing wall! Gwen got to climb up it and knock it down as she went, well, we were lucky when all she did was knock it down. If she was close enough she'd untape it and wing it down at us complete with evil laugh; I'm honestly grateful I came out of it with no black eyes. She LOVES rock climbing. And in the cove pool they had blow up alligators, palm trees and parrots and probably 2-3 dozen pumpkins floating in the water! It was the funnest event! Then we got to come home and head to a neighbors house for chili and cornbread (with a little extra trick and treating thrown in for good measure). It was the best Halloween to date! Good memories.

Curiosity....

By Alastair Reid

Curiosity

may have killed the cat; more likely
the cat was just unlucky, or else curious
to see what death was like, having no cause
to go on licking paws, or fathering
litter on litter of kittens, predictably.

Nevertheless, to be curious
is dangerous enough. To distrust
what is always said, what seems
to ask odd questions, interfere in dreams,
leave home, smell rats, have hunches
do not endear cats to those doggy circles
where well-smelt baskets, suitable wives, good lunches
are the order of things, and where prevails
much wagging of incurious heads and tails.

Face it. Curiosity
will not cause us to die--
only lack of it will.
Never to want to see
the other side of the hill
or that improbable country
where living is an idyll
(although a probable hell)
would kill us all.

Only the curious have, if they live, a tale
worth telling at all.

Dogs say cats love too much, are irresponsible,
are changeable, marry too many wives,
desert their children, chill all dinner tables
with tales of their nine lives.
Well, they are lucky. Let them be
nine-lived and contradictory,
curious enough to change, prepared to pay
the cat price, which is to die
and die again and again,
each time with no less pain.
A cat minority of one
is all that can be counted on
to tell the truth. And what cats have to tell
on each return from hell
is this: that dying is what the living do,
that dying is what the loving do,
and that dead dogs are those who do not know
that dying is what, to live, each has to do.

...i'm going back to bed now, call me when it's over...

ugh. what a week. We got denied for the county program that reduces the medical bills. total bummer. honestly still reeling from the news. So, we just need to start negotiating with all the individual doctors offices, etc. Not looking forward to that- I was really hoping to just have it all resolved in a neat little package by now... but no. blech. and in what was supposed to be a simple home maintenance procedure (of replacing the wax ring under the toilet) we discovered our bathroom floor is rotting and in need of a remodel. Home ownership is so over rated. We are really missing the ability to call the landlord right about now. might as well just go buy another case of dr. pepper- looks like I'm gonna be needing it.

It seemed like a good idea at the time...

This ended up being my favorite picture from the whole vacation. The grace and beauty of the waterfall... the regal arch of Wade's flight through the air... the scream of panic as he fails to be able to correct his angle as he is hurtling towards the water... it turns out that swan dives are a lot harder than they look.

Well, the vacation is over. We are readjusting back to real life. It felt good to be back on the island... it felt like going home. And it really is the closest thing to a home town I have. I learned to drive there, I had my first kiss there, my first heartbreak, my first job... my first time living outside of my parents house, my first temple, I met my husband there, had my first baby... Hawaii is more a part of me than I really realized until I was away for a long time and then went back. All the sights and smells that bombarded my senses- the little things I found myself missing; the tang of fermenting fruit on the hiking trails, the pulse of the ocean, the scents of flowers and salt in the breeze, the lilt of pidgen being spoken, the food-oh, the food... the spam musubi, the plate lunches with two scoops of rice and mac salad, the shave ice, the fruit, the bubble teas, the mochi crunch, the crack seed... I felt like I was coming home. There were things that had changed. Like new wrinkles on a familiar face. Staying at the hotel and having to rent a car and go with tour groups to old familiar locations pained me. It was like having your mother come down with alzheimers... you remember her; she is in your bones... but she can't seem to quite remember you. I hated feeling like an outsider. I still got kama 'aina rates on most everything... but I hated feeling the doubt... I have appreciated my life as an army brat. I have gotten to see so many places and I feel like it has really contributed to the person I have become. But sometimes I feel the lack of not being able to claim a place %100. Perhaps it's because I am so disconnected here. On the plane ride back to Idaho it felt like I was going back to live on an alien planet. I realized Idaho has not imprinted anything on me in these 2 1/2 years I've been here. I am looking forward to finding my place in this world. and I am grateful to know Hawaii will always be a part of me.

another day in paradise...

...these birds honestly scare me (hence the maniacal look in my eyes)...


Hiking to Moana Falls... I was with my old friend from college, Kat Newman, and her husband and all the good pictures are on her camera


Stopped at Dog the Bounty Hunters Bail Bonds Shop... I couldn't resist this t-shirt- it's titled "Lead by Jesus"


Gwen stealing my flower while riding the Bus...


at the Waikiki Aquarium...


and yesterday we swam with dolphins, but have to wait until we get our underwater camera developed and today we head to the North Shore. Gosh, I miss this place!

Aloha Honolulu!!!!

WE ARE HERE!!! woo hoo!
On the plane over, Gwen asked me if we could jump in the ocean as soon as we got here. It ended up being really late by the time we got to our hotel, I offered to take her, but she just wanted bed by that point! But at breakfast this morning, when she got to the table with her plate full of pineapple and took her first bite she said "FINALLY!!!" That was some juicy pineapple! Gwen had a whole stream of it rolling down her chin. I commented to her that now she knows how pineapple is juice is made- she looked at me quizzically... "they just put a cup under the chin of someone chewing on pineapples" and she said "YUCK" and switched to guava juice.





and then lunch in China town!!! We went in through the fish market to show Gwen all the super fresh ingredients. She was fascinated by a pile of snails... one was even attempting an escape. We asked her if she was excited to eat here... and she hadn't caught the vision. So she ended up with a plate of spam eggs and rice while Wade and I enjoyed some super yummy Thai food. It was awesome. After lunch Gwen had to go to the bathroom, so we went upstairs to find the restroom and while waiting in line I notice that I can see the top of the girls head in the stall... wow, she must be over 6'... flush, the sound of someone hopping off a stool... OH, she was standing up on the toilet seat. awesome. Haven't seen that since Thailand!!! So, the toilet seat was crazy dirty, so Gwen learned today how to stand and squat on the toilet. I couldn't be a prouder mamma.

happy birthday wade-o!!!

Happy birthday, my love! I wish you were home to celebrate it, but we'll see you in a couple of days in Hawaii!!! Miss ya babe. Hope your day went well! ...(and this is posted from my phone... I'll fancy it up later when I have a real keyboard in front of me!) Love you!