supermadchen

Yikes! Long Time, No Posting

2012-01-30T07:28:00.000-10:00

I haven't forgotten about my tiny space over here on the internet. Every now and then I even start writing a post. And then before I finish I get distracted and by the time I come back to it three weeks have passed. Suppose graduate school/student teaching/working/all the other things will do that to a person. I even still have pictures from New Zealand to share.

Now I am reduced to only two of those things: working and all the other things. However, all the other things has become a VERY long list due to neglect during the graduate school/student teaching phase. But I did manage to graduate, all while wearing clean clothes and without withering away due to forgetting to eat. Somehow.

Which means I am a real teacher now! I even have my very own class. Sort of. I started teaching at Waialua Elementary school up on the North Shore. The class was already in existence with a teacher and two EAs, but they were going up from 9 kids to 11 and needed another teacher. I was offered the job at my interview and took it. The first week I fit in here and there, while I saw what the class had already been doing. Then the other teacher took the kids who'll be going into kindergarten next year and they started using another classroom for their morning activities. I stayed in the original classroom with 5 kids who will still be in preschool next year. At lunch the two groups come together, and then we all stay in the same classroom for naptime. Not much else happens after lunch.

It has been odd, these last few weeks, to not have homework that needs to be submitted before I go to bed on Sunday. That first weekend after school started back up I kept feeling like I was forgetting something. Even so, the weekends still feel too short. Not because I dread going back to work on Monday, but because on Friday afternoon I have an idea of all stuff I'll be getting done and come Monday morning I realize how little of it actually go done.

This weekend was plenty busy. I was feeling sick on Saturday and went to the clinic to make sure it wasn't serious. The doc said while I was contagious, it was a virus so I'd just have to wait it out. Apparently there has been something going around among small people, and since I spend most of the day with them I probably have the same thing. She told me I can expect to get worse before I get better and that I should expect it to last about two weeks. Um, thanks for your help? Sunday I got up and did a 5k. I wasn't feeling too bad when I woke up so I decided it would be fine for me to go out. And the event was good. It was a fundraiser for epilepsy. They also had a 100k bike ride that Doug did, and by the time we got home I was exhausted. I woke up after a long nap feeling even worse than I had on Saturday so maybe the doc was right.

Well, kind of a quick update. Got more events coming up, so there should be more frequent posts. Next weekend I am doing a women's 5k, which is part of a longer women's series. There will also be a 10k in March and a half marathon in April. Doug and I are also planning a half marathon in March. And before you go thinking that I must have changed a whole lot since my last post, I haven't. Sure, these are all advertised as running events, but I am not running. Instead I am walking. It doesn't suck. It might take longer, but so far I have been doing pretty good of maintaining a 15 minute mile, and since I finish before some of the runners I'm probably doing alright.

New Zealand in Pictures - Days 10 & 11

2011-03-18T12:58:00.001-10:00

Day 10 - 12/28
Kaikoura
No driving today (well, not far anyway) but still lots of scenery.

Bacon according to the package. More like ham according to American standards. Still tasty.

Yes, one piece takes up the entire pan. Also important to note: the pan was very small. And it was the only pan I had. That plus 2 pots was all the cooking vessels.

Doug getting artsy with his water.

Looking out the back.

Above the town of Kaikoura.

Back down on the peninsula, looking for the seals.

Looks like we parked right on the water. Actually, the tide was up when we parked, so it did come up to the parking lot.

Hello Seal.

This sign recommends staying away from them. I followed its directions.

Hiking to the top for a better view.

A pretend hike at first, really just a sidewalk on a hill. Doug decided he wanted to go barefoot, as we had seen many Kiwis doing all around New Zealand.

Once we were up on the bluff, the view was incredible.

Cows!

A way down to the water. Since we had started hiking along the bluff, I noticed a path down at the water. Then I started seeing people. I wanted to go down there too.

Doug in need of climbing a small hill.

Doug catching back up to me. This is also when we noticed that some ugly weather was heading our way.

Umm, a goose? Guess who's out of place?

Bare feet don't do so well on rocks.

Pretty dirty.

Ooooh, look! A human colony! (this was covered in water at the start of our hike, and one seal was basking in the sun. Now that the tide has gone out, the humans have moved in.)

They look so...uninteresting. Get out of the way people, I want the seals to come back.

Right. Next time sunscreen goes on the feet too.

The wine I picked up at Framingham cellars. A Montupulciano. They are only one of two wineries that grow this grape in the Marlborough region. It had a taste unlike any others. It was really good.

And it went great with lamb sausage.

Day 11 - 12/29
Kaikoura to Hamner Springs

First, the sign out of the campground.

Back on the road, scenery again!

One lane bridge. For a two lane road. These turned out to be quite common.

Doug was sad again about not being on a motorcycle. And knowing that it can be hard to see around a campervan, even one as small as ours, he waved them around when the coast was clear.

Doug is looking for a certain type of tree....

He cannot see where it fell from....

Apple! You have fallen far from your tree!
(this apple was found along side the road. It looked to be a perfectly good apple. We left it there just in case it wasn't)

This was a hedgehog.

And we begin to learn why people were shoes.

So they don't step in tar that then gets gravel stuck to it.

He did say the tar was squishy.

Fish n Chips in news paper. Pretty yummy snack.

It really was an ice cream truck. It just has better advertising.

What do you do when you find a yarn store before you begin your hike? Hike with yarn.

Warding off the biting flies. I don't think Doug believed me when I first started complaining of the the biting flies. They are tiny after all. But they HURT. And after a while he noticed he was getting bit too. Only they didn't hurt him, they made him bleed. So one of us was yelping after every bite, the other bleeding. Oddly enough, they don't leave the scratchy bug bites like mosquitoes.

This is what it looks like when you want something from the front seat but don't want to open two doors to get it.

Lamb sausage from last night with casing removed and cooked into spaghetti sauce.

Plenty cold in Hamner Springs. Good thing we brought warm pajamas.

New Zealand in Pictures - Days 8 & 9

2011-03-15T17:40:00.000-10:00

Day 8 - 12/26
Today is the day that we sail from Wellington to Picton, or from North Island to South Island. Before we get started it is important to note that during the night Doug passed a kidney stone. So while we did spend the day in a fantastic museum, we didn't fully enjoy it because we were still tired from being up all night. Doug because he was sick and me because I was worried about him. He talks about it here.

On the motorway down to Wellington from Porirua.

The next pictures are from Te Papa Museum.

A giant squid.

Whale skeleton on the ceiling.

Another of Doug's favorite.

A stuffed Kiwi! We did see live ones in a couple of places on the trip, but they were always in dark cages because they are nocturnal. Dark pictures don't turn out very well, so you can see this one.

Doug showing the scale of this fossil.

Doug vs. Dinosaur

Angela vs. Dinosaur.

This picture is for his 4th graders.

A moa bird replica. These are bigger than an emu, but extinct.

One of my favorite souvenirs.

Doug feeling better about having passed his stone.

This was funny because our last night in Auckland we ate at Hell Pizza.

Trying to climb a wall.

Got our passes to get on the ferry.

Driving up the ramp.

In the cargo bay of the ferry. We were on floor two with our campervan. There was one other floor. Tons of cars/trucks/campervans fit into this ferry.

Wellington from the boat.

Getting windy. Might not be staying outside for long.

Managed to catch some sleep on the ferry. Most of the ride happened in the dark, we got to Picton around midnight.

Day 9 - 12/27
Picton to Kaikoura, through Marlborough County

First, this is where we woke up. When you arrive in a new town at midnight with no idea where to go, a long-term car park for NZ2 seems like a great deal. Especially when you don't see any signs that say no camping. Turns out we were not supposed to camp here though. I figure since we only slept here it might not have been so bad. It's not like we actually set up camp or anything.

Fancy pants bathroom in the park.

Famous NZ ketchup.

Doug feeling all the way better, getting ready to dig in for breakfast.

I had a date bar.

Vineyards.

Are we viewing and tasting the visitors?

Chocolate factory! In the middle of wine country!

I'll take a tray of those off your hands.

This was a fun place.

First I found yarn.

Then a nice Pinot Noir.

Now off to see a winery.

Decided on Framingham based on what the sales girl told us back at the chocolate factory.

They had a nice courtyard.

My first tasting in an actual vineyard.

They've earned lots of medals.

And they had neat displays.

Doug is trying to be strong and grab a barrel. (it was even empty)

Another produce stand. This one did not have someone watching it. Instead a camera was watching it.

Doug wants a cricket bat.

And now for some scenery as we head down to Kaikoura.

Had to stop for a coffee. Noticed that they sold milk by the pouch. I wonder how much leakage they experience.

Doug with his special coffee in a cup with a handle too small for all his fingers.

Playing pirate.

Skipping rocks before getting back on the road.

At first glance we thought it said Oahu.

SEALS!!

A tiny baby seal.

Camp site in Kaikoura. Pretty nice campground on the beach, we had a good view.

Testing out the water.

Turns out it was far too cold for a swim.

Relaxing before dinner.

Cooking some food.

One of the yarns I bought. This will be nice for knitting lace.

And some heavier yarn that as of yet has no destiny.

Writing in my journal before getting ready for bed.

New Zealand in Pictures - Days 6 & 7

2011-03-13T20:28:00.000-10:00

Day 6 - 12/24

Christmas Eve day in Napier.

Driving into Napier city from the campground. Everything looks so calm and peaceful.

Stopped in a shop that advertised a Possum display. For the most part it was really creepy. But this part was funny.

I love aquariums. And the nice lady at the campground told us that the aquarium in Napier was really nice.

Next up are the pictures we took inside.

That jaw could swallow Doug without chewing

Wait... Isn't Bruce a vegetarian?

Doug would pet a real shark if they'd let him.

Ach! Tsunami!

A giant turtle!

Little kids have this same face when you take them to see sharks...

There was a voice telling us this too. In case we couldn't read. And if you are wondering: a travelator is a flat escalator.

Doug is having words with the shark.

Hey Look!!! I have you on my body!!!

First, I couldn't pass up the bakery. Then with bread in hand, I couldn't keep myself out of the bag.

Doug had to try too, just to see what the hype was about.

Poor bread. It never had a chance.

Hahaha.

He looks like he'll fit right in.

Roadside vegetable stand.

The day's finds. Zucchini, asparagus, onions, bread, garlic, avocados, mushrooms, tomatoes, coffee, and wine. The only thing missing is lamb (but we already had some in the fridge).

Some Christmas decoration, for Christmas Eve.

MMM, dinner.

And a pretty sunset to end the day.

Day 7 - 12/25

Christmas Day! Drove from Napier to Porirua, because on day 8 we take the ferry to South Island.

Waking up Christmas Day. Chili night, but we managed to stay warm enough in our little camper. Excited to be on my honeymoon in New Zealand, even if it is a holiday!

Nice clear day.

Scenery begins...

Ghost town? No, everything is closed for Christmas.

Look at all the parking!

Back to the curvy roads.

Campground in Porirua. When we pulled in we stopped at the office to get a site. The guy who came down asked how long we'd be staying. We said we only needed one night. He told us to pick a place. It's Christmas. No charge.

Since everything was closed we decided to hang around camp and relax. I worked on a hat I was knitting for Doug. After the last couple of nights being real cool, I decided I should get it done so his head won't freeze off. He's trying it on to make sure it's long enough before I close off the top.

After some knitting and a nap we went for a walk. Found a pretty flower.

When sitting around the campground a baby duck came to investigate.

Mom came along too to make sure he didn't get in trouble (or eaten)

Christmas dinner with other campers. A couple from Holland and a couple from Belgium. It was a fun way to spend the evening.

Doug writing about the day, sporting his new hat (which to date is still unfinished. I'm supposed to sew a skull and crossbones onto the side. But the functional part of the hat is done, and that is what matters.)

Christmas Dessert. Chocolates made in Porirua. I didn't buy them there though, bought them back in Napier. But thought it was neat to be eating chocolates made in the place we were staying.

New Zealand in Pictures - Day 5

2011-01-26T20:23:00.000-10:00

More pictures! We started near Hamilton, spend the day in Rotorua, and ended in Napier. Lots of scenic shots this day.

Day 5 - 12/23

Morning coffee.

A very important start.

And now: New Zealand countryside.

Sheep!

The old bath house in Rotorua that now serves as a museum.

Doug is very excited.

Especially about his hard hat.

I'm not so sure about the hard hat. The sign said it was recommended for people over 5'4" Being just a sliver under the said 5'4" I took mine off and went through without.

And old boiler. It had a TV screen inside showing lava.

From the top of the museum

Leaving the museum

Good lunch, crappy service. We received by far the worst service at this restaurant, and our server was an American, from Texas. No tip for him, but he wasn't expecting one anyway, tipping isn't commonplace there.

Gardens in Rotorua.

And here comes more scenery:

See all those curves? They make Doug sad he's driving a campervan. They also make Angela feel slightly car sick.

The Doug sad face.

Apparently their stop signs are not octagons. I bet that makes math different (because the metric wouldn't...)

And it has a go instead of slow!

Holiday park site in Napier.

Cooking on the two burner stove, in the only two pots that came in the van.

Sink/drying rack/counter space/shower (the nozzle pulls out of the sink for an outdoor shower).

Some Christmas decoration. Hard to see in this picture, but I had stockings hung too. Little tiny ones, from the curtains.

New Zealand in Pictures - Days 3 & 4

2011-01-16T12:06:00.000-10:00

Some more pictures!

Day 3 - Auckland and Devonport

We started the day by searching out a market. We found this park along the way:

Doug is having way too much fun.

Kiwis apparently aren't afraid that their kids will die in city parks, and therefore have way better equipment than Americans.

The market was a bust, but we did find a grocery store. Got breakfast and some snacks.

YES! Bacon chips.

Breakfast was a cheese and bacon scroll. Yummy pastry filled with more yummy.

Auckland skyline from inside Auckland.

I know, lets get on a boat and go across the harbour! (But not that big one in the background)

Here we come Devonport.

Auckland in the background.

Not sure what this was. Many people waiting patiently in line, only to see many small people coming out crying.

Squee! Yarn store.

So many choices, and it's all New Zealand made.

I will only get 4...

Oy! Yarn shopping really takes it out of you.

Yummy pasta lunch.

Doug turning his post-lunch ice cream into a bugle.

Watching that giant snow globe thingy.

Good bye Devonport, hope to see you again someday.

No metal.

Creepy shark van.

Doug thought this was funny.

Went here for pizza. They had good TV commercials.

And good pizza.

Day 4 - Van pickup and Sheepworld.

Stopping to pay for our toll.

Sharka, co-pilot.

Speedometer in Kilometers.

Yikes! Doug is on the wrong side of the car!

Hello Sheepworld.

Doug thought these were hilarious.

Piglets.

Alpaca

Miniature horse

Getting ready to feed some eels.

Hard to see, but one is there getting the food off my fork.

Feeding the Emus.

Pink Sheep! (this is actually a marketing ploy by Sheepworld, to attract tourists. They only use vegetable dyes that are harmless to the animal and environment, and they only do it around Christmas)

Doug feeling important.

Getting educated about New Zealand trees.

He found a sign.

A lamb

He came out to say hello

Even Doug liked him.

Pretty scenery from the car.

Auckland skyline as we head south.

Putting groceries away.

First camping

Making dinner in a very teeny tiny kitchen.

Sprinkle on some cheese

Doug going in for seconds. Dinner was spaghetti with beef sausages.

New Zealand in Pictures - Days 1 & 2

2011-01-15T21:31:00.000-10:00

Right. So, uploading these pictures was much easier than I expected. For one, blogger has made some changes to their uploader since I last used it. And second, I ran all the pictures through a batch conversion to make the files smaller so they would upload faster, and load faster for those of you viewing on the other side of my computer.

Day 1 - HNL airport and arriving in Auckland

Making sure all the electronics have fully charged batteries while still in HNL. Doug's phone was nearly dead, and with all his texting was barely going to get him out of the airport without dying. Not a big deal since we had planned before hand not to use the phones on the trip, but he still wanted some phone action before getting on the plane.

In flight food. Air New Zealand really takes care of its passengers. This was dinner. We were also served a breakfast. Note that the wine glass is really glass. And the dishes were high-quality, reusable dishes. Air New Zealand is doing its part to create less trash.

Oooh, dinner came with cake for dessert.

I had beef penne pasta. It looked good and tasted good.

Doug had something with eggs and chicken. It looked less good.

The first picture in Auckland! A giant Santa. All out of place in his giant red suit, considering it IS summer here.

New Zealand money is colorful here. And it comes in different sizes, with higher value bills being bigger than smaller value bills.

Doug is getting excited about hearing New Zealand accents for the next three weeks.

I'll just look up the deal on tipping while we have some coffee.

Hmm, what should we do today?

Look! We found Seattle Espresso while in Auckland!

New Zealand has a whole street for Vulcans...

I completely agree with the Chocolates For Breakfast sign. Sadly they were closed, so no chocolates for breakfast for me.

Doug with his second cup of New Zealand coffee. He is disappointed in it. As it turns out, there is no such thing as "brewed" coffee in New Zealand. What he has here is a "long black," which is similar to an Americano, only smaller.

But he is super excited about fish and chips.

I had beef stew with a mixture of mashed potatoes, carrots, and turnips.

Day 2 - Coast to Coast Walk and a fancy dinner

The start of the hike.

Proof that I was at the start too. Notice the damp roads behind us, and the overcast sky.

The Pacific Ocean is right over there.

A very cool tree in the middle of a very tiny city park. I'm not sure adult-sized people can walk on the path without stooping. I don't know, since we didn't come through the park on this path.

A neat looking building on our way.

These helpful little signs guided our walk.

Not all were yellow rectangular signs though, some were small and round.

A little duck pond.

The Auckland War Museum.

A fence around a tree. Is it a special tree?

Not really sure, never found a sign about it, but it did have this smaller, decorated fence inside.

Doug is confused. These mats were all over the field, but what can they be for? A nice guy eating lunch in the bleachers told us they're for cricket.

I completely agree.

A plaque of the first 50 All Blacks from Auckland Grammar School.

The main building of Auckland Grammar School. If you want to know about our tour through Auckland Grammar School, you can read about it on Doug's blog.

Teachers who taught at least 20 years at Auckland Grammar School.

The main hall, where 2,500 students sit every morning for announcements from the headmaster.

The headmaster's podium.

Just a classroom.

From the top of Mt. Eden.

Fog. It was an overcast day, all day.

Various places and their distances from the top of Mt. Eden, Auckland, New Zealand.

Doug showing his appropriate footwear.

Doug showing us what he thinks loose metal looks like.

Another park along the walkway.

Doug was excited about the bathroom in the park.

An electric BBQ. Not sure how it works, but these turned out to be quite common.

A pretty tree.

Look up ahead!

There's SHEEP!!!

Just roaming around in the park.

I wonder if I can pet one? (the answer is no. They run away)

Dog shaped trash cans for dog poop are way better than regular shaped trash cans.

Time for some lunch in the middle of our walk.

This is odd. Tap water in a bottle?

We found the end!

In the distance is the Tasman Sea. We went from the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea in 16km.

Now time for a fancy dinner. This is our honeymoon, and we earned it with today's walk.

They had an extensive wine list. After the wines there was a single page for beer, cocktail, and soda choices.

I tried a Pinot Noir, from Marlborough region. Notice my sunburned face and neck. Apparently you can get a burn through the clouds.

I thought the little bee on the knife was neat.

MMMM. Roast lamb with garlic spinach and some kind of grain that was similar to barley.

Doug is excited about his duck. Or he is trying to scare me away from it. I'm not really sure.

A nice meal.

Finished with a wee cup of coffee.

Here ends day two. I still have 18 days of photos to compress and upload. Doug is typing up his journal from the trip over at Dirtbag Ramblings. I also kept a journal, but mine is much shorter. I think he's a better writer, so I'll let him share the words and I'll share the pics. (just know that he is also posting pics, though I'm not sure we'll post the same ones.)

South Island

2010-12-30T13:05:00.000-10:00

So far South Island has been great. We started down the east coast of the island, but only went as far as Kaikoura. A man who worked at the holiday park we were staying at suggested we skip Christchurch, since it was just another big town. Not a bad idea from the looks of it, according to the paper they've been having aftershocks from their last big earthquake.

While hiking in Kaikoura I managed to sunburn my feet and legs pretty bad, so heading to Hanmer Springs meant more walking/hiking. No trip to the hot springs pools for me. I still find a hot shower uncomfortable. We didn't manage to see any whales on our hike, but it sounds like they live much further from the coast than those we see in Hawaii.

Last night we saw our first glow worms. It was pretty cool. Across the street from the holiday park we are in there is a natural grotto. When we first arrived around 10pm it was still a little light out, so only a few worms had started glowing. We stayed for about half an hour and watched more of them start glowing. No pictures, though they were bright enough to see they weren't bright enough for the camera to pick up. I tried with video too, but it was just too dark for the camera.

Now we are in Hokitika, which is the hotspot for New Zealand jade (it has a real name, but I don't have the brochure with me). We're staying right on the beach, and after a quick walk through town we relaxed on the beach, Doug with his book and me with a glass of wine and travel brouchures planning out the next move. So far planning only for the next day has been great, we've seen things we probably wouldn't have otherwise by getting suggestions from locals. The only set things in our timeline for the remainder of the trip are the ferry crossing back to North Island (which can still be changed) and a plane ticket back to Honolulu.

Probably won't get another update til we're home, then pictures. Had to buy an extra 4GB card for the camera, and now we have over 1,000 pictures plus some videos.

Hello From Picton

2010-12-26T11:03:00.000-10:00

So, we've been out of the States for over a week now, and this is first we've been in an internet cafe. (And just so you know, it totally sucks. The keyboard is sticky and Doug's computer won't even load pages. Of course the guy has stepped away from the counter, so he's just staring at a screen that won't load, wasting his time. I can't even check my hotmail.)

We tried to find online contact yesterday, but no luck. I was able to connect a couple of times with my phone, but Skype wouldn't work so no Christmas calls home (sorry parents!).

The trip thus far is going great. We crossed to South Island last night, arriving a little after midnight. "Camping" was sleeping in the van in a carpark. At least it was cheap. After this quick blog post (and hopefully email checking) we'll be heading south towards Christchurch. No real plan in mind, just taking our time and enjoying each other. We've taken over 600 pictures so far, so we won't be posting any til we get home. It would be too much to search through them to post a key few, so you'll just have to wait.

Auckland was great, so was Rotorua and Napier. I've tried a couple of fantastic New Zealand wines so far. One from Marlborough region when we went to a fancy dinner in Auckland (I had the roast lamb. I only want to eat that forever), and then another from Hawkes Bay - picked it up when we were there.

Our last night on the North Island (and Christmas Day here) was spent with other travelers, sharing stories over dinner. The food here is a little expensive compared to the mainland, but so far the beef and dairy is MUCH better. There is something to say for grass-fed free-range cattle.

Only got 10 minutes left on my time (sticky keyboard + crap internet connection = 20 minutes to write this short post), so I'll catch you later. Next time we'll look for a real internet cafe, instead of using the computers in the lobby of a hostel.

Fall? Are You Sure?

2010-10-01T07:20:00.000-10:00

Today is the first of October. That means chiller days, sweater wearing. Thinking about digging out a scarf or some mittens soon. Digging out all the good soup and casserole and stew recipes. Making sure the cupboard has a good selection of tea...

Or, none of the above. Not having seasons makes somethings hard to remember. Like the fact that Halloween is coming up. Sure, we get the commercial reminders: suddenly there are TONS of bags of tiny candy bars. Some stores have put out fall decorations. Target has all their costumes out, and has for a few weeks now. But it doesn't feel like Halloween is around the corner. It just feels the same as always.

Warm, sunny days are nice, but I'm starting to miss my favorite seasons: fall and spring. Especially spring. I loved driving through pasture lands to see all the baby cows. Watching the trees come back to life after sleeping all winter. And waiting for the ground to send up tiny shoots of green. I suppose Hawaii gets a rainy season, but it just isn't the same.

Back to the College Routine

2010-08-31T10:42:00.000-10:00

Last week was the start of the Fall 2010 semester at the University of Hawaii. It was also my first week back as a full-time student. Only this time I'm not in the classroom. Well, the college classroom. For the most part, my entire program is online.

I say for the most part because we do meet face-to-face sometimes. Our first meeting was over the summer, for a class on technology. The second meeting happened this last weekend. For two of my classes, it marked the start of the course - we reviewed the syllabus, did some "get to know each other" exercises, and in one class even did one of the four projects for the semester. For my third class I've already turned in the first homework.

And that's it. Only 3 classes this semester, 9 credit hours. At the graduate level that is considered full-time. Other than another face-to-face meeting in October, the rest of the semester is up to me.

Expanding My Computer Knowledge

2010-08-12T17:29:00.000-10:00

Since installing Ubuntu on Doug's laptop, that is all we have been running on it. Windows still sits in the background, taking up a large part of the hard drive. Just in case though, I don't want to delete it entirely yet. Little has been saved to the computer as of yet, so I don't know if I can share files between the operating systems, though I am sure there is a way. Afterall, the first computer I saw Ubuntu running on was a Mac laptop. The guy had the Mac OS running at the same time as Ubuntu, and could switch between the two without restarting.

The latest homemade change was to the hardware of his laptop. After spending hours getting Vista reloaded I learned that the "/?" key was no longer working. Doug said that it had been giving him some trouble in the past, but that it always worked eventually. After an entire weekend without that key functioning, I looked around online for a replacement part. I found several do-it-yourself ways to take apart a keyboard to get tiny pieces to fix it, but that seemed way beyond my ability. Then I found that Amazon.com had a keyboard for the computer for $15. A whole lot cheaper than the Dell website.

Sure, the warranty can be voided by not using the proper parts, but it isn't under warranty anymore anyway. And the fix was easy. One panel to snap off, and two tiny screws to remove. Now the computer has fully functioning buttons again. Still not sure how much I will actually use it for school, but it has been getting lots of use since I got it running better.

Giving Free a Try

2010-07-20T18:30:00.000-10:00

This past weekend I had to take a class that would teach me about using the computer for my upcoming online program in which I will become a certified special education teacher. Some parts of the class really felt like a waste of my time. Not because the instructor was wasting my time, but because I had already had to learn to use some of the programs by taking online classes for the last two semesters. There was plenty of helpful stuff too, but perhaps the most helpful to me was the extra attention I got for learning Ubuntu, a linux based operating system.

You see, Doug's laptop runs Windows Vista. When we moved into our apartment 4 months ago, it was giving him so many troubles he quit using it and was using my desktop for all his computer needs. But when my class said that a laptop was "highly recommended" in one place, and "required" in another, I figured it was time to give laptops a go again.

At first I emailed my Dad, the computer guy I trust most, about finding a good deal on a new laptop for school. He suggested that in addition to looking at new computers, I also look at fixing Doug's up to meet specifications and reinstalling Windows. Since I couldn't fix Vista without buying a new edition of software, I just reinstalled it, but took the time to upgrade hardware. Seemed fixed, until the second day of class, when it crashed, like it always does.

Enter Ubuntu. The guy who teaches the class I took was all about running open source software. Somethings I was already running on my own and had been for years, like OpenOffice. I had always been interested in Linux, but was worried I couldn't do it myself. Turns out I was wrong. The tech professor gave me a thumb drive with a copy of the installation software, and a print-out from his blog to get me started. Saturday evening after class I spent a couple hours getting it up and running, downloading several free features to go along with it.

Back in class on Sunday I had only one problem: I couldn't get DVDs to work. Tech professor to the rescue - he pointed me to a website that could get me through my problem, and then left me to follow directions. It was actually really easy. And now I am running Ubuntu on Doug's laptop, and it hasn't crashed since installation. Not only has it worked as I want it to for the last few days, but it also boots up faster, connects to the internet faster, runs faster in general, and shuts down in seconds, as opposed to several minutes all those things took in Vista (if the machine didn't crash first). Plus, it takes up MUCH less space on the computer. And just in case I find I need Windows for something, it is still on the hard drive, I just have to tell the computer to boot Windows instead of Ubuntu.

I like free.

New Plants

2010-07-09T22:23:00.000-10:00

I've started growing a couple of different things. The first is broccoli. I really like broccoli, and have been eating it in bunches. Good thing Doug likes it too.

I'm not really sure what is growing in this pot:

First I tried planting some herb seeds. The package I had was mixed, but I pulled out a few seeds that all looked the same, hoping for basil. After a few weeks when nothing happened, I decided to try bell pepper seeds instead. I figured that maybe the reason the last seeds didn't sprout was because my watering skills were junk. So I was better about watering. Instead of getting sprouts though, I ended up with moss.

Before trying anything else, I decided to see if stirring up the dirt would help. It seemed rather compacted, so I figured it wouldn't hurt. And now, a few days later, without planting anymore seeds, these two little guys popped up. Guess I'll keep watering them and see what they become. Hopefully I can tell soon, don't want to waste the pot on weeds.

Phone Blogging

2010-05-31T17:05:00.001-10:00

Just a short post, made from my phone. Thought it was worth a try. So far I haven't figured out how to add photos, but it would be neat too.

Currently in California, in Seattle next week. Then back to Hawaii to work more on my masters. Keeping busy, just like always.

A Few Wedding Pics

2010-03-24T07:42:00.003-10:00

Our photographer, Dorothy Dean, posted a few preview photos of our wedding to Facebook. Since some of my family and friends read my blog, but are not on Facebook, I thought I would repost them here so you all could see them too.

The wedding itself was fantastic. Doug and I have said several times that we cannot think of anything we would have changed about the day. We had a little rain in the morning, but it stopped completely once it was time for Dad to walk me down to the beach, and only got sunny from there. The entertainment was more than we expected, and better too.

More photos to come, probably in a few weeks once the photographer has had time to go through them all. She took over 400. Plus, there are photos other people took, and they said they would share too.

Pictures of the New Place

2010-03-09T09:34:00.002-10:00

I have managed to get my computer set up, which means a few photos. These were taken before much was moved in. At this point we only had a few boxes in the place.

Bathroom

Bedroom, with A/C unit and black out curtains

Living room. The open door goes to the storage section.

Kitchen. Think it looks tiny? It is tiny!

Second bedroom. To be used as an office/craft room/gear room (for all the outdoor gear). Right now it is being used to store all the boxes we moved in. They are slowly being unpacked, but we will need to get more furniture before that can be accomplished, unless we want to stack everything on the floor.

Moved, Sort Of

2010-03-08T15:09:00.002-10:00

This weekend Doug and I moved into our own place. The move happened quickly: we signed the lease on Friday, and by Sunday all of our things were packed and moved. And we just started looking a week ago.

However, that does mean that as of yet, very little is unpacked. We did get to sleep in our bed last night, with clean sheets, and we did find clean clothes to put on this morning to go to work in. I even managed to find the peanut butter for a sandwich.

What we found is nice, and not too small if you take Hawaii standards into consideration. On the mainland this place would be called small, if not tiny, but we are just starting out, and this will be our first place. Better than the bedroom we were renting in someone else's house. It has two bedrooms, a living room, bathroom and a kitchenette. One of the rooms will be used as an office/craft/gear room. Some space in the living room will be used for the kitchen. Most of all, it will be nice to have a bedroom, not an all-in-one room.

I know you're probably wondering why I'm bothering to write a blog at this point, but I'm pretty excited about having our own place and wanted to write about it. I'd post pictures, but they are in my phone, and flickr won't open. I would be unpacking/setting up my own computer, but I am still at school waiting for Doug, so it'll have to wait another hour or so. Somethings will have to stay packed until we find furniture, but that will just spread out the "Christmas" feeling I get when I unpack.

Pictures to come when I get my own computer set up.

SomethingStore Delivers

2010-01-21T16:58:00.003-10:00

Really, I should have posted this nearly a week ago. My item from The Something Store arrived last Friday, but finding the camera and the time to snap a couple of pictures didn't happen til today. I was surprised that it came so quickly. The item shipped from New York, so I thought it would be weeks of waiting. But it was less than a week. So here it is, the 'something' from The Something Store:

Its a leather travel wallet, made by Samsonite.

There are three snap-able compartments, and it is really nicely made. Sadly though, I have no use for such a thing. I don't even use a wallet as it is, just a card holder to hold the necessities since my old version of wallet was starting to rip holes in my pants.

But: I'm having a birthday party in a couple of weeks, and I think this will be one of the prizes for a game. So long as a girl wins the prize... Doug doesn't think any of the boys coming to my party would be excited about this.

Now that I have done this, I think I might do it again sometime. Even though I got something that will be gifted, it was fun to buy something, and then wait before I knew what it was. Plus, the price was right for that kind of fun.

Time for Change

2010-01-13T07:44:00.002-10:00

I was never really happy with the dots background, but of the choices offered when I started my blog, I found it to be the best. I started noticing that a friend's blog always had changing backgrounds, and then today noticed the link. Not sure I'll stick to this background, but for now I like it better than the dots.

I should have known that it was possible to change my background from those offered by google. I follow lots of blogs on blogspot. Perhaps I just didn't care enough any other time I logged in.

SomethingStore

2010-01-12T12:47:00.002-10:00

Through some random searching in the internets, I found a store called The Something Store. It took about 3 seconds for curiosity to get the better of me, but I still did the "responsible thing" and read through all their pages and customer reviews (well, not all the reviews, just enough to decide it was okay to give in). And now: my order from The Something Store has been placed. If it is something kind of silly, it'll make a great gag gift for that someone special. Or maybe it'll be something really cool. Either way, I'll let you know when it arrives.

Even though I have no idea what is coming, this little bit of retail therapy has slightly brightened my day.

Engagement Photos

2009-12-21T23:36:00.006-10:00

Here are a few of the pictures we took for our engagement photos. These aren't all of them, they aren't even all the ones I like. Just the first 15 I uploaded, not in any particular order.

Toys For Tots 2009

2009-12-14T16:07:00.008-10:00

Doug and I did the Toys For Tots ride again this year. Here are some of the pics we got:
The bike getting dressed up for the ride:
Twisting up some garland...
We made Mark decorate his bike too
Application of garland
Yes, Mark is confused. I don't think he has had much experience with garland yet...
All ready to go
Sharka (co-pilot) gets red antlers
A sea of bikes, just like last year
It goes on...
and on...
In every direction
Wearing my antlers when we wait for the bikes to get rolling
Toys tied to the back of the bike
It's just a kid! On a kid sized chopper!
This is the only time of year that it is acceptable for tough biker dudes to have cute stuffed animals attached to their bikes
Or a Santa
Side cars rock.
A friend from Doug's school with her husband
Antlers on helmet, and I'm ready to go
Doug and Mark, looking tough
Bikes as far as you can see ahead
Saw this guy waiting to cross the street - the first time I have ever seen a pizza delivery guy on a skateboard
And bikes as far as you can see behind you
The same model as Doug's bike, only in blue.
We had a fun ride this year. Somehow I managed to forget about sunscreen, but only got a little pink. Maybe I am finally getting used to the Hawaiian sun.

Next picture post: Engagement photos! We went and did them yesterday with Dorothy. I didn't think it would be very fun, but it turned out to be. She said they would be ready in a week, so we should be getting a disc next Monday at knitting group. I'm so excited to see how they turned out.

Where Does the Time Go?

2009-10-16T14:50:00.004-10:00

I look at the last time I posted and I wonder where all the time in between went. I'm staying plenty busy, which would seem to give me more to write about. Perhaps I forget my friendly internet soapbox, where I can stand proudly and show off all I have done. Or maybe I am always in such a hurry to get started on a new project that I forget to post pictures of the last project that was finished (and gifted as the last few have been). Silly really, I live 2,500 miles from my nearest relatives, and I bet they think I am horrible about calling. Mostly because I am horrible about calling. I always think I'll do it this weekend when the time difference won't matter, and then I find myself at 7:30 local time Sunday evening without a phone call made.

Even though I've managed to sit in front of the computer long enough to get something written, pictures will have to wait. I'm at school, which means no camera. And it is likely that there aren't photos in it anyway of the projects I have been working on. But I will fill you all in a little bit.

The wedding dress is one step further in production: I finally bought the fabric that it will be made out of. Turns out Doug was HUGE help in the fabric store. I was worried he would be slightly annoyed at spending part of our time on the mainland at JoAnn's, but he didn't seem to mind it all that much. I had inspiration walking past some lace on a bolt while looking for white linen. I imagined building the dress with a lace overlay to give the dress some texture, and also more of a wedding feel for those who have a hard time with the idea of a wedding dress built out of natural fibers. I stayed on my search for the right white fabric, but kept the lace at the back of my mind. After finding the right white (which turned out to be high quality cotton muslin) I went back to the lace isle and showed Doug what I had in mind by laying the lace over the white. He agreed: it did look nice. But he didn't think it looked quite right. Thus began our search through the lace isle, pulling out every white lace to lay over the bolt of white. I wasn't looking all that seriously, thinking I would buy the one I had found first, but Doug kept looking until he found the perfect lace to use as an overlay. And he was right, the one he eventually picked was the best one.

*Side note: Doug doesn't like the way the real story sounds. He thinks it makes him sound like a sissy. So, in his version, he beat up 3 ninjas that were out to get little old ladies shopping for quilt fabric, saved an infant from the back of the store where a 4th ninja had started a fire for distraction, and the right lace appeared when he randomly grabbed a bolt of fabric to tie up the 4 ninjas, thus saving the day. The end*

So now I have the muslin and the lace. Both are in the bag I brought them home in, needing to be washed before I do anything else. We've only been back just over a week though, and I still need to buy thread and a zipper. Then experimentation will begin. So far I have a pattern for the skirt part of the dress, but I am struggling with the bust part. I know what I want, but the patterns I have are for something else. Time to put my skills to the test and make a pattern. All new territory for me. Should be fun.

I've also been going strong on the knitting. Working on hats that I can't go into much detail on yet, a pair of socks that are over half way done, and my favorite project right now is a cabled sweater that I am making with my friend Red's homespun. Hopefully I have enough yarn for that, but just in case I have already been thinking about putting on a collar instead of a hood, and possibly making short sleeves. I'll just have to wait and see how much yarn remains when I finish the body. And in the event that I have leftovers when the pattern is complete: pockets!

Think this will be a good place to stop. Don't want to make the post too long. And I'll have to dig around for the camera so I can put up some new pics.

Works in Progress

2009-08-13T13:08:00.003-10:00

I've always known that if I were ever to get married, I would make my own dress. Well, maybe not always. The decision probably came around the time I made my first dress, back in Creative Clothing in high school. Somewhere I still have that dress, and though it fit last time I tried it on, I doubt I would ever wear it again. What looked cool to me at 14 now looks like a print from a picnic table cloth. The dress wore to my Mom's wedding at 16 will likely never be worn again, as I knew much less about fibers at 16. Turns out flannel is better suited to quilts and boxers than summer style dresses. I really liked the print though.

Four weeks ago today Doug proposed, and I said yes, so now I get to make that wedding dress. We both want a beach wedding, so a long dress seems rather silly to me, as I don't need a dress full of sand. The so-called "traditional" dress fabrics are out too: none seem well-suited for saltwater and I can't guarantee I won't get wet in it. I would also like it to be washable, so I can wear it to the mainland receptions we are planning. And it would be nice to wear the dress again in general, though I'll likely dye it another color to do so as white tends to be a poor color choice for me in everyday clothing.

I've started making a dress. Not the dress, but a prototype of what I eventually want to have for the wedding. Good thing too. The patterns I have chosen are resulting in a dress that is far too loose fitting. I say patterns because I was unable to find just one I liked. So I am merging two. We'll see how that goes in the end. Below is a picture of the work in progress:

Also in progress are knitted baby items. Not for me though. One is for a friend who is expecting in October. The other is a sweater for Doug's (and in the next year mine too) niece. All three projects are fun, and all three have been going together easier than I anticipated. But right now I am really excited about getting the pieces of the dress put together, so I have been working on that for the last two days.

Not sure how many more free days I'll have to spend at home working the whole day. It's only the second week of school so there haven't been many calls for subs yet, but with another semester's tuition and the wedding coming up, my bank account is demanding I take every call I get for work. The upside to subbing is that weekends and evenings are still mine, so around homework I should have plenty of time for these and any other projects I decide I must do.

Border to Border Pictures

2009-07-18T08:47:00.017-10:00

So... I've been meaning to get to this for a few weeks now, but life just kept getting in the way. First we managed to stay plenty busy while visiting Southern California, and then we've done pretty much the same since we got back to Hawaii since last Tuesday. But more on that later. Here are the pictures from the 12-day motorcycle trip, finally!

I'm sure you've already seen this one, but I find it hilarious, so I'll post again.

Riding through Southern California towards Mexico.

Mark on a slide in Jerome, AZ. Because there is still a kid in all of us.

Bev riding.
Mark riding.
Tim riding.

Entering Zion National Park.
The next few pictures are the natural beauty we saw.

Beware! I have a pirate!

Doug and Mark plan to take over something...

Apparently, this is the reason the window warned users not to open.

Scaring little kids.

What Doug looked like after the longest, coldest morning ride. Nevada might be worse than Utah.

Salmon River, ID.

A tiny deer, escaping the road.

Doug and Mark, taking the exit sign too literally. Silly Canadians, they should place their signs better.

Not sure what they think they will win if they manage to free the giant chopsticks, but they're sure trying hard.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Moose."

"I think the hotel is over there."

Being as touristy as possible in Victoria, BC.

Because they always stand around like this.

Mark is finally taller than Doug.

He broke they trunk key. Good thing there was backup.

The bridge to Astoria, OR.

Becoming artsy while waiting for a tow vehicle.

Bad things start to happen when you have too much time on your hands.

Boo! The downfall of Bev's bike.

And the 6-hour wait in Fred Meyer begins with Doug's neck tattoo.

After 6 hours in the deli seating area, Sudden Onset Slayer Moments are bound to happen.

Ready to go: 3 bikes, 1 U-Haul.

Pretty coast along the way to Ft. Bragg.

Golden Gate Bridge coming up next.

Looks pretty neat in the fog.

Doug and his college buddies Matt and Steve, throwing up their fake fraternity sign. For more information, you'll have to ask him (or one of his friends).

So, those are the best of the pictures. There are tons more of the scenery, but 613 pictures is a lot to look at. And that's only the pictures I took with my camera.

Back in Simi Valley

2009-07-01T21:28:00.000-10:00

Today we made it back to our starting point, Simi Valley, CA. Sadly we did not all make it in one group though. The boys were able to make it along the planned route on the three bikes that were still running, but Bev and I came inland and came down I-5 from Mark's parent's house.

Yesterday on our way into Menlo Park, CA (where Mark's parents live), Bev and I made a stop at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center. I was still coughing and wheezing hard, and since it had been three days since the wheezing had started, Doug decided that it was likely more than just a cold and that I should get seen as soon as I could that day. Bev took me since we were already in the U-Haul with her bike. I was a bit annoyed when I made it to the ER, and the clerk told me I had to register since it was not my normal VA Center. I asked if there was anyway that I could just be seen, and when she realized I was short of breath just from the short walk in from the parking lot, she ran the paperwork around for me so I could be seen. Turns out I had been having a mild asthma attack, but because of the cold I didn't know it. After 60mg of Prednisone and two Nebulizor treatments I was let go, but told to take it easy for the next week or so, and given more steroid pills to help my breathing improve. Its been over two years since my last asthma attack, but with this last one, I won't likely forget the feeling anytime soon.

After getting the doctor thing out of the way, we met the boys at Mark's parent's house, where his parents put on an amazing meal for all of us, plus Doug's college friends. It was nice to finally meet the friends he has been talking about since we starting dating, and it was fun to watch him interact with them and bring up all the old college strories. After all the visiting was over, Mark's mom (Betty) gave me lavendar bath salts, and I soaked until all the road soreness and chest soreness was gone.

The boys said they had a great ride today, and it was a bit of a bummer not to finish with them, but the doctor said that it would probably be best for me to ride in the truck as long as that was an option, so I had to miss out. Bev is great company though, so we had a nice girls ride down from the San Fransisco area.

I'll work next on posting all the pictures. I'm sure there will be plenty of commentary to go along with them, so I'll end this post here.

Bike Out of Commission

2009-06-29T22:10:00.000-10:00

Another quick post, and another without pictures. Late night tonight getting into Ft. Bragg, CA, and it was a long drive getting here. Yep, you read that right, drive, not ride. Yesterday morning Bev's bike lost its drive shaft, and is now out of commission. We had to wait in Tillamook, OR for her uncle to come pick up the bike, and then this morning her and Tim went and rented a U-Haul to get the bike back to Southern California.

I rode in the truck with Bev to keep her company/help with the driving, and also to get some rest from the bike myself. The cold I picked up back in Idaho is still with me, and I was hoping that with a little extra rest from the road it would clear up. We'll have to see how I'm feeling tomorrow.

We went the same route as the boys, and managed to stay ahead of them the entire day be getting a head start and making fewer stops. We knew they would be excited about all the twisties, and they were. They were pumped when they pulled into the hotel only minutes after us. I'll write more about the trip later.

Astoria, OR

2009-06-27T18:42:00.002-10:00

Just a short post tonight, from Astoria, OR. We've been through to see my family in the Seattle area, where we were able to stay with my Dad and Stepmom. After 5 nights in hotels, it was very nice to stay somewhere familiar. It was also great to see my family again, even though it had only been a week since I left them to start on this trip. So thanks Carmen and Dad, for having us!

After leaving Seattle we headed north for Canada. We crossed the border on I-5, and then took a ferry over to Vancouver Island. We stayed in Victoria, BC, which was for lack of any better word: beautiful. We were there early enough to enjoy the city before bed, and left late enough today that Doug and I were out playing tourist this morning.

Today we took another ferry, from Victoria, BC to Port Angeles, WA. Then headed south to Astoria, OR. The ride was great.

More from me later. I need to get some sleep so I'll be ready for the ride tomorrow.

Yuma, AZ to Ketchum, ID

2009-06-23T18:15:00.007-10:00

Well, not all in one day. It has actually taken us three days to get this far, but blogging was put aside for sleep two nights ago, and gambling last night. Tonight I write from Idaho. Here are a few pics of what I have caught with the camera:

June 21st: Yuma, AZ to Page, AZ

Riding through some twisties. I tried to catch the lean of the bikes in front of me. Tim is leading, Mark is riding second. Doug and I were third in line, and Bev rode fourth. Pictures on these roads are a little more of a challenge for me, as the bike doesn't have a bar for me to hold onto like Doug's bike does. This was on the way to Jerome, AZ.

In Sedona, AZ. Apparently there was a sign that said "Please Do Not Sit," but since we all read real well, it was missed.

Doug looks like he was having way more fun.

View from the bar where we found Tim and Bev once we were ready to be back on the road.

Going through some mountains in Northern Arizona. This was a huge change from what we had experienced the day before.

Plenty of signs advised us to watch for deer and elk, but none were seen.

June 22: Page, AZ to Ely, NV

To start the day we passed over a really cool bridge, but in effort to keep postings on the road short, I'll have to post those pics later.

Bev in action.

Mark in action.

Tim in action.

Heading into Zion National Park.

Doug and I rode last so I could get pictures with the other three in them.

Inside the park's Visitor Center. Doug and Mark are planning to take over the world. Or at least this part of it.

Some more Utah.
Wide open road, Doug and I leading. We had to speed up to pass Tim. This was shortly after we passed into Nevada.

Just a nice shot, showing the difference in terrain from the start of our day.

We stayed in a hotel that was built in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in Ely, NV. Funny signs were posted all over the place. One said "Caution: Do Not Open Window." Mark is demonstrating the reason for this warning.

July 23: Ely, NV to Ketchum, ID

Today was cold. Cold enough that I wore my jacket and liner, with a long sleeve underneath. For the entire day. We also encountered our first delay for construction.

Mark, trying to evade the elements.

Doug, after the longest stretch of nothing-to-see highway. The gas station was called Loves. About 50 miles after leaving Ely, we passed a sign that said "Next gas 78 miles." We usually stop every 100 miles or so for gas, so this was a stretch. Luckily, we had mp3 players plugged in to make the ride a little more enjoyable.

Most of today was spent just heading north. Not much to see, though we did stop for lunch in Jackpot, NV, the last stop for gambling before leaving the state. Idaho was yards away from the casino.

Once I have a chance to edit the rest of the pics so they'll load faster, I'll post a photo journal of the entire trip. Until then, I'll just keep up with the short(er) posts.

Simi Valley, CA to Yuma, AZ

2009-06-20T20:11:00.000-10:00

8am: the 4 bikes, all lined up and ready to go. Just need their riders to climb on and get them started. If you look real close, you'll see Doug's co-pilot, Sharka, strapped on to the front of the right bike.

Out on the road, Doug and I riding tail. Tim is leading, Bev is riding second, Mark is third.

The day started with some sprinkles in Southern California along the coast, but after lunch we found the heat.

Mexico is on the other side of that fence. Notice the Border Patrol car keeping this empty street safe.

Gateway to Mexicali, Mexico.

See? Sign to the left of the door says "to Mexico"

Sign says "Arizona State Line." Yuma is only 2 miles from the border of CA.

4pm: end the ride for today. After checking into the motel (which I got a great deal on with my military ID) we headed for the pool to get nice and cooled off. Tomorrow starts us on the road at 6am, in hopes of missing most of the dry, Yuma heat. And I should get to see the Grand Canyon by the time we finish the day!

Getting Ready to Ride

2009-06-19T16:02:00.007-10:00

Yesterday Doug, Mark, and I arrived in Los Angeles. Doug's Dad (Tim) picked us up from the airport and the ride from LAX to the house was a conversation based on the upcoming ride. Below are Doug, Tim, and Mark looking at the bike that Doug and I will be riding for the trip.

Doug and Mark are so excited about this trip, it is like Christmas and their birthdays all rolled into one, with probably a 4th of July or two mixed in.

The funniest part of the trip so far - and also the best way to acquire the 4th bike. Mark will be riding the bike of Doug's Stepdad.

Probably the only time anyone will ever see Mark riding passenger. Had to prove it happened.

And then they were off to Palmdale, to pick up the 4th bike. They took their time riding back, so both could have a chance to become acquanted with a bike they haven't ridden much yet.

Today we went out for about 200 miles. 200 miles on the mainland is completely different than it would have been on Oahu. For one, it didn't take the whole day. And second, it was all new road. Well, at least for me and Mark. Doug used to ride on the mainland before moving to Hawaii, so he already knew about going 200 miles without doing the same loop we always do. Since it was just to go out for lunch and to get used to the bikes, I didn't take the camera along, though I should have.

Tomorrow we head for Arizona. The day will mark the beginning of our 12-day journey from Southern California to Victoria, BC and back. And the idea is that we will not travel the same road twice.

Repack

2009-06-05T16:56:00.002-10:00

For the last few days I have spent my productive time of the day down in my Grandma's basement. Opening boxes and storage bins that were packed and brought to Seattle nearly two years ago. Some things are easy enough to discard. Others are set aside to be thought about. And some are immediately repacked.

Most things that are set aside to be thought about end up getting moved to the discard pile, but it is a slow process. I packed with the expectations that after only a few months, I would be unpacking the boxes in a new apartment. Now it will be some time again before I get around to unpacking. I need to have the boxes packed and ready to go to get a valid estimate of shipping costs, but I still need more time to finish. Once I've chosen a company, I need to make an appointment. At this point I feel it is unlikely I'll finish in the time frame I expected to. I'm hopeful though, I'd like to get this done.

Last Day of School

2009-05-31T12:51:00.002-10:00

Friday was my last day of school... As a teacher. My last day as a student was May 12, and on the 13th, I took over teaching a second grade class. I learned how to come up with things to do when lesson plans provided were inadequate for the amount of time I had in the day. When the lesson plans I was given ran out, I learned to come up with things to do that would keep 20 8-year-olds busy and be somewhat educational.

The class wrote auto-biographies, learned about fractions and multiplication, had a mini geography project, and even had a couple of PE sessions. Turns out with all the other stuff second graders are supposed to be learning, not many get out for regular PE. And they love PE. Our two and a half weeks together were fun for me, and by the end of it I was a little bummed I had already made travel arrangements before I was asked to take the job - otherwise I could have stayed with them next week too.

Tomorrow I fly to Seattle. I need to go through my things that are in storage in my Grandma's basement and decide what is worth shipping to Hawaii, and then figure out what to do with the rest of it. Hopefully I'll have time for a small garage sale - the cash will be useful for shipping. And then: summer adventure begins!

Validating My College Education

2009-04-21T10:19:00.002-10:00

This week is the start of me depending on Substitute Teaching to pay the bills, finally doing something that requires that I have a 4-year degree. I spent a day in a classroom a couple of weeks ago, but was still waiting for my final two weeks of the last job to finish up. Yesterday I worked in a classroom again, and loved it. Working with kids is way more fun than hanging signs for grumpy shop owners. Today I turned over my computer and other supplies from that last job, officially ending it. I can see the bottom of my car trunk again, yay!

Whale Watching

2009-02-09T15:27:00.009-10:00

For my birthday I got to go whale watching. It was yet another event that Doug planned in advance, told other people about, but kept secret from me until giving me a handmade birthday card with all the details. It was tons of fun - I've been interested in a tour since I started spotting whales while out on rides nearly a year ago, but was worried that they would just be overcrowded boats full of disappointed people. Doug knew all that ahead of time, and was able to find a small tour company. The catamaran that took us out had plenty of room, and we saw more than could be caught with the camera.

Doug thinks he'll be the tour guide for the day...

I'll just hang out here and keep my eyes open

The first whale - turned out to be a mama whale with a calf in tow.

The whale's back.

A dreaded stickfish. We told some visitors from Wisconsin that these could be deadly - that they needed to watch out. They believed us, so we had to tell them we were joking. I learned later that night that there really are stickfish, and while they won't hurt you, they are pretty ugly.

A fluke!

Sharks live here too - of course it helps they are baited by other boats for the shark diving tours.

Having a great time.
Looking for another whale to swim under our boat.

When I stood there I got so excited that I nearly fell overboard. I had just seen my first whale of the day though.

Doug being artsy. Good thing I let him hold the camera, most of these pics wouldn't have been taken otherwise. I was too preoccupied.

Back of the boat, back in the marina.

One last pic of the boat.

I'm a Graduate Student

2009-01-27T14:20:00.001-10:00

I've been excited about going back to school for a while now. I even stayed up until midnight to register for classes on the day my letter told me I would be able to register. Instead of registering though, I was only highly annoyed to learn that for my specific classification, I couldn't register for 4 more days.

On the new day I was supposed to be able to register, I found I was unable to get into any of the classes I had though looked interesting: all claimed to need instructor approval, first because it was a 600 level course, then at the lower level because I wasn't formally accepted into the program for which the classes were offered. I called the Graduate division at UH only to be told I had to email the professors teaching the courses I was interested in. They even told me not to call, as classes hadn't started yet, it was unlikely I would reach anyone in their office. I sent out emails, but on the morning of the first day of classes I still hadn't heard from anyone.

Next best step: show up in person. Before leaving the house I found that I could take 600 level course so long as the department approved. Upon arriving at the campus I was told the parking garage was full, I would need to find street parking. Getting lost and wasting half an hour looking for a place to park led me to pay for parking - $8 for two hours. Once at the Anthropology department, I was informed I needed to go to the professor directly. Lucky for me, the professor of the course I was most interested in was in his office. He had emailed me back, but by the time he sent his reply I was already on my way in to see someone. He assured me he would put in the waiver so I could register for the course, and said he would see me in class the next day. Happy about finally getting in to a class it was off to the bookstore to see what I'd be reading for the semester.

Before arriving in class I was still unable to register - but the professor went through the process again for me and now I'm in. Turns out the system was too busy from everyone trying to get things taken care of. But it all worked out, and now I am taking Linguistic Anthropology. The class only meets on Tuesdays and I've decided taking the bus is far better than dealing with the driving/parking issues on campus - even though it means a mile and a half walk.

Outside of the University I have also put myself into another course: one for getting certified to be a substitute teacher. Once I am done it will be interesting to see just how much of all those elementary education classes I took can be put to work. I've been told that there is such a need for subs that I can work everyday if I wanted to. I suppose I'll have to see how much I like it first.

Just for Fun

2009-01-23T14:00:00.006-10:00

I've received this email from a few people now, and rather than email it again, I thought I would just place it in my blog, since it's been awhile since I posted anyway.

Welcome to the new 2009 edition of getting to know your family and friends. Here is what you are supposed to do, and try not to be Lame and spoil the fun. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who Sent it to you. Some of you may get this several times; that means you have lots of friends. The easiest way to do it is to hit 'forward' so you can change the answers or copy and paste. Have fun and be truthful! I want to see your answers!

1. What is your occupation right now?
- Student of sorts

2. What are on your feet now?
- Nothing. I live in Hawaii. That means leave your shoes at the door.

3. What are you listening to right now?
- An airplane flying over head.

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
- A slice of cold pizza.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
- Only because I was taught in the last year (thanks to Red and Doug)

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
- Err, my boss. To tell her I hurt myself and the ER doc said I can't work for 3 days. I would recommend NOT falling up concrete stairs.

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
- Yip

8. How old are you today?
- 27

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
- The summer Olympics weren't bad.

10. what is your favorite drink?
- Carbonated water. I like the fizz.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
- Yep, but not since someone called me Barney after the last time.

12. Favorite food?
- I'm gonna go with sushi. But really, I just like food in general.

13. What is the last movie you watched?
- The Visitors. Next up: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (required for my grad class).

14. Favorite day of the year?
- The sunny ones.

15. How do you vent anger?
- I complain to others around me.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
- My books. Not really a toy, but they were all read more than once.

17. What is your favorite season?
- Summer! (the only season we have here)

18. Cherries or Blueberries?
- Blueberries. In my pancakes.

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
- Or they can cut, paste, and repost on their blogs.

20. Who is the most likely to respond?
- No idea.

21. Who is least likely to respond?
- People who don't read my blog.

22. Living arrangements?
- In a house with no heater.

23. When was the last time you cried?
- Eh, when I thought no one was looking.

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
- Shoes.

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending?
- ?

26. What did you do last night?
- Went to my knitting group.

27. What are you most afraid of?
- I think snakes are pretty scary.

28.Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
- Cheese. Blue cheese.

29. Favorite dog breed?
- Mutts.

30. Favorite Day of the week?
- Tuesday

31. How many states have you lived in?
- Five. And 3 Countries.

32. Diamonds or pearls?
- Neither really - my latest favorite jewelry is made of glass.

33. What is your favorite flower?
- I don't know enough about flowers to answer this question.

So there you go. A blog with some random information that you might have already known. Til next time.

A Christmas Kidnapping

2009-01-05T10:41:00.003-10:00

Ahh, the holidays were fun, but it is nice to be back in Hawaii and warm again. Mostly because when you get used to the weather around here, 60 degrees (F) feels a bit chilly - making the near freezing temperatures experienced on the Mainland feel even colder.

There was a lot of pre-planning on Doug's part for this adventure, but seeing as he was the kidnapper, I suppose that is to be expected. He started by waking me up on the 24th and telling me I had two hours to be dressed in my dress and ready to go.

Now you might be wondering why I had a dress in California for Christmas break when it was freezing. I might have wondered too if he had told me to bring a dress, "just in case." This was covered up with family photos. His Mom wanted to get family photos when everyone was around because there was a new baby in the family. Doug convinced me that it might be nice to wear a dress since I don't dress up much, and I agreed. Somewhere along the line he even got me to decide that green would be the better dress choice. Knowing that it would be a bit chillier than we were used to, and that I tend to freeze while sitting indoors when I'm not dressed in jeans and a sweater, he also suggested I find a shawl and boots to go with the dress. Deciding that it might be fun to get decked out, I went ahead and found the necessary accessories, all the while believing that this was for a family photo.

So I got dressed and off we went. For the entire drive he still wouldn't tell me where we were off too. He wouldn't even let me see the directions he had copied from the internet. I had to wait till we turned a corner and I saw the signs for Wicked. Yep, he took me to see the musical Wicked. It was the coolest theater experience I have had yet, and I'm sure the little local theater here in Hawaii will seem a bit sub par after that show.

I've Been Tagged

2008-12-18T23:03:00.000-10:00

I finally finished the project I was working on for my sister, and decided it would be a good time to catch up with the blogs I read on a regular basis. Upon doing so I found that Roadtripper tagged me in a post she did last week, so here goes:

Four jobs I've had:
1. Care provider in an infant/toddler daycare.
2. Merchandiser (currently doing this)
3. German teacher
4. Student (yep, I really got paid to be there)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Wall-E (or anything Pixar made)
2. The Saint
3. It's a Wonderful Life
4. Harry Potter (any of them)

Four places I have lived:
1. Grand Junction, Colorado
2. Seoul, Korea
3. Altenmarkt, Austria
4. Aiea, Hawaii

Four TV shows I love:
1. Two and a Half Men
2. Weeds
3. Coupling
4. Daily Show

Four places I've vacationed:
1. Maui
2. Boston
3. Los Angeles (going back tomorrow)
4. England

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Stroganof
2. Spaghetti
3. Sushi
4. French Toast

Four sites I visit daily:
1. Google
2. Hotmail
3. Facebook
4. Bookmarks - to see if anyone has posted new blogs

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. In bed
2. In a yarn store with no spending limit
3. At the beach (been too much rain to go lately)
4. Traveling the South Pacific

Four People I am tagging:
1. Ann
2. Red
3. Michelle
4. Anyone else who writes a blog and also reads mine

Toys for Tots

2008-12-09T07:48:00.011-10:00

For the last few weeks, Doug has been looking forward to the Toys for Tots ride. It took place this past weekend, and we remembered to take my camera along to get a few shots. It was the most bikes I have seen all in one space, and it was really neat to me to see all the different types of bikes. Before when I had seen large groups of bikes together, they tended to all be sport bikes, or all Harley's, or all BMW's. Not here.

A sea of bikes

Doug's bike and Mark's bike, with toys strapped on.

Some bikes have had lots of work.

A sled packed full of toys.

Doug wants to decorate his bike next year.

Even dirt bikes came to participate.

And there is always room for the friendly biker dog.

The entire main drag of Waikiki was closed down for the bikers.

Kinda hard to see, but in this picture the lights are red. Notice how no one's feet are on the ground - it's because we are still moving.

Mark and Kyla on Mark's new bike.

Big street bike in the dirt - he had to stop to readjust his toy. No idea what made him leave the road though.

Bikes leaving the toy drop-off site - we are still waiting to get in.

There isn't enough snow for reindeer in Hawaii, so Santa comes on a motorcycle.

Another sleigh packed full of toys.

Maui + Motorcycle = Tons of Pics

2008-12-01T18:49:00.018-10:00

For Doug's birthday we went on a trip to Maui, on the Superferry. Going on the ferry meant that we were able to take his bike, which was really exciting to him as he has grown tired of the roads on Oahu after living here for a year and a half.

Here are pictures from our trip (there are nearly 100, but I tried to make them small so they should load fast).

On the boat, ready to go.

Still a bit sleepy though, it is only 6am.

The Dramamine knocked me right out.

Awake just in time to watch Maui come into view.

We were on Maui and checked into our hostel by 10am, which gave us nearly the whole day to set out on a ride. We decided to head for Haleakala National Park.

Cool surfboard fence, found when we were lost.

Made a few wrong turns, but finally made it to Haleakala National Park.

Ready to head for the crater.

We managed to get above the clouds - looks like we found the top of the world.

The top of the world is cold.

Haleakala Crater

The highest point on Maui.

That is Big Island in the background.

Can you tell I am freezing?

Back beneath the clouds.

Waiting for a table for dinner.

Doug's reaction after hearing it is taking up to an hour for food to come out of the kitchen.

On the second day we set out for the road Doug was really looking forward to: the road to Hana. Outside the hostel a local stopped to talk to us as we were getting the bike ready for the ride. He was also a rider, and suggested that we take the back road to Hana, leaving the windy, though fully paved, road for the ride back. It seemed to be a good suggestion, so we followed his advice.

Just past the turn off for Haleakala we found the first sigh that said we were heading in the right direction.

The local mentioned before recommended getting gas here, as it would be scarce along the route.

Wooden porch people.

Out away from the towns.

The road is more like a patchwork of filled in potholes.

Warning signs along the windy road.

Bottom part of the Seven Sacred Pools.

Looking up from the Seven Sacred Pools.

A replacement bridge. The bridge that was here was destroyed during an earthquake in 2006. This part of the road just opened a few weeks ago, making it possible for us to do a loop around the Southern part of Maui, instead of a trip out to Hana and back.

Crossing the bridge, and it is starting to sprinkle.

Stopped for lunch at Hana Beach Park. For as much as I heard about "the road to Hana," I was surprised that there wasn't much of a town at Hana.

Doug excited about getting back on the road. Notice that he is dry.

Paia, the first big town after Hana. It is about 45 miles between here and Hana. We went over several bridges and around countless tight corners, all in the pouring rain. Doug is soaked through.

I was wearing a rain jacket, though it only kept my upper half dry.

And the bike is filthy. So much for washing it the day before we left.

After all that riding Doug needed a shirt to prove he made it.

Getting a quick breakfast Sunday morning before heading out to ride the West end of Maui.

A natural arch.

Another narrow winding road of Maui. This one is much more popular though.

And much more narrow.

A blow hole, surrounded by people interested in an ocean shower.

Adding to the stacked rocks that supposedly have no real significance.

Look, my rock is bigger than your rock!

I'll use it to squish your rock.

Ta Da!

A sinking boat in the harbor of Lahaina.

Stupid shark thing.

Bikers at the beach.

We managed to find another narrow road...

It goes out to the last place on Maui that lava flowed.

If you look closely, you can get an idea of the lava flow as it was.

The bike strapped down, ready for the ride back to Oahu.

The boat ride back started out with a lot of motion. Again I took Dramamine, but this time it hadn't kicked in by the time the boat set sail, and I started to feel quite sick before the drugs took over and put me to sleep again. Like the journey to Maui, most of the sailing took place in the dark so I didn't miss much by sleeping.

A Day as a Tourist

2008-11-13T07:42:00.008-10:00

On Tuesday Doug had the day off for Veteran's Day. Instead of doing nothing with the day, we decided that it was time for a trip to the Honolulu Zoo. To make our trip even more fun (at least for us) we decided to act as tourists. Here's what we saw:

First up: Elephants!

Doug wants to go play

So he can read...

I think he is beginning to get agitated over not seeing the lions yet

Look what I can do

Look at all the children - I didn't know there was a display for them!

Just like a good tourist, I stood on the railing to get this shot. Good thing Doug held my belt or I might have fallen in.

I'm supposed to be making an, "Aww, how cute face." He made me do it.

"I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys "R" Us kid...."

This is Doug's joke: What is black and white all over?

ZEBRAS!!

Maybe I was wrong about Doug being able to read...

Where do the animals go when they aren't home in the zoo?

A little teeny tiny antelope. They only weigh about 20 pounds.

I wonder what all the animals make of the humans looking in on them?

This child was beating down the plants with his stick - an example of poor parenting or a child that got loose from his cage?

Oh Rhino

I was able to make getting up on this statue much harder than it needed to be.

Next: We shall conquer the city!

I made him crawl in there with a bunch of little kids...

Hanging out with the fish

It was payback for the face I had to make

And the end of the day souvenir: A squished penny

I'm the Creepy Lady

2008-11-12T16:36:00.002-10:00

Well maybe not really. But I did succeed in creeping out an ABC Store (the largest chain of convenience stores on the island) cashier. It was super easy, and I did it all without even trying. Really.

On Sunday Doug and I went to a craft market in Honolulu too look around. Anticipating a lack of parking, we took the bike but also a change of clothes. Upon arriving at the park where the craft market was taking place, I changed into shorts and slippahs. After a couple of hours in the sun, we decided to change locations, and this is where the fun begins.

Instead of going through the trouble of wrapping a towel around myself and changing out of shorts back into jeans in the parking lot, I just pulled my jeans over my shorts. This was to save time, as I thought I would be removing my jeans at the next location to enjoy the comfort of shorts again. In thinking that I would be removing the jeans, I left my wallet and cash in the pockets of my shorts instead of transferring them to the pockets of the jeans. En route to the next location, it was decided that we should visit a local mall instead of the streets of Waikiki, where we would have the added comfort of air conditioning, since it was a rather warm day, even for November.

Once parking at the mall, Doug and I decided that it would be better to just leave our jeans on. After all, while air conditioning is a nice touch to indoor venues, they often have it turned a bit too high, and then I freeze. Of course, at this point I had forgotten that my wallet and cash were still in my shorts. And after being in the sun for a couple of hours, my body was in need of some liquid refreshment. Good thing there was an ABC Store nearby. I walked in to find myself a tasty beverage, and then proceeded to the counter. The nice lady told me how much I owed, I reached into my pockets only to remember that my cash was in the pockets inside my jeans. No worries, I'll just undo my belt and out of the cashier I hear: *gasp* "What are you doing?!"

Duh!! Normal people don't just start undoing their pants to find money, do they?? Haha. I quickly explain that it was okay. I was wearing shorts. I was with my boyfriend on his motorcycle. I put my jeans on over my shorts. It wasn't til I walked out of the store with the drink and receipt in hand that I realized what I had really just done. Lucky for me the friends I was with that day found just as much humor in it as I did.