Two Weeks in Pictures

Finally! I remembered to take along my camera and snap some pics while out over the last couple of weeks. Here are some shots of what I've been up to:

First, a visit out to Laie Point, on a motorcycle.

Even on an overcast day you can still get in a good ride.

Me Standing next to Doug's bike.

Doug and I, out at the point.

A whole in a rock just off the point.

A full view of the rock with a whole in it.

Doug trying to look serious, but Kyla goofing around just to prove its all about a good time.

Next is Halloween. This was a fun night that took some time in the making.

My dress as it was when I brought it home - yep, started with 5 men's button up shirts from Goodwill

The finished dress, plus stitches drawn on me by Doug. I was Sally from
The Nightmare Before Christmas

A close up of my stitches

Doug as Jack Skellington

The Pumpkin King

Jack Skellington and Sally

Mark dressed as an anime character - it was fun when people recognized him and stopped him on the streets of Waikiki for a picture

Doug and Mark, dressed to go out

The next activity has become a regular one: Hawaii Winter Baseball. Never went to games as a kid, but it turns out I enjoy watching - so long as it is in person. Not a big fan of baseball games on TV, and watching the game has become even more fun now that I have learned how to score it. And at $4 a game, it's not gonna break the budget.

Doug looking tough

Doug and I, getting a goofy pic

The game in action

One of the 4 creepy mascots of Hawaii Winter Baseball

And today's excitement: a hike out at Hanauma Bay. Doug and I had gone out looking for this hike before, but we had bad directions to the trail head and never found it. Today our directions were better, and we had some great views.

On our way to the start of the hike, Koko Crater in the background. I told him to look like a tourist. I've never seen this green, it usually looks like it belongs in the desert.

The start of the hike. It looks almost too easy...

Further along the hike. It got pretty steep.

The breeze was great

Hanauma Bay in the background

The end of the world

The sign says it. We didn't know this was here, so it was pretty neat to find

Looking over the ancestral grounds

A closer look at the ancestral grounds. Not sure why the white flags were there

A survey marker found along the way

Looking down into Hanauma Bay

End of the hike pic. It was a great way to spend the morning of Election Day.

No Pumpkin for You

This year I learned about the availability of pumpkins in Hawaii. It's been a few years since I bought a pumpkin to carve. Last year I was out of the country, and the year before that I ate all the pumpkins I bought without carving a single one (well, besides the normal carving and cutting up involved with pumpkin preparation). This year I saw that stores were "starting" to get their pumpkins around the beginning of the month. At least I thought they were starting to. Turns out that initial shipment I saw at each store was the ONLY shipment. Of course, I didn't realize that there would be a shortage of pumpkins until it was far too late.

Now it is Halloween, and there are no pumpkins. I've been all over town looking for them, but all I came up with were specialty varieties of squash (which I bought. Hope Doug likes squash). The squashes are too small for carving. I wonder if I can still roast the seeds though? And if any stores will get in another small shipment of pumpkins for the pie making at the end of next month?

Something to Squeal Over

Last night this was found in the bathroom:

It's the biggest cockroach I've seen yet, and it made 3 adults shriek and squeal like 12-year-old girls. Lucky for me, I'm not the one that had to go to the bathroom when it was found. What is funny though is that I was the only girl....

Heading Back

To Hawaii that is. Most of the "business" stuff I came for I accomplished: the Camry sold (finally out of my Dad and Stepmom's way), found the paperwork I needed for immunization records (I think), and I closed a bank account that has no branches in Hawaii. I also rounded up what I hope will be the most useful of my college books for my upcoming studies. Yes, I know that new classes will require new books, but I imagine that I will need to review some of the material I should have already learned. And there is the Sociology GRE I need to take if I am to apply to that department. Plus, I miss having books. My very small collection of 8 is depressing considering I had 5 full bookcases in Colorado. With the box I mailed to myself, I might have enough for a full shelf now.

Between rain-filled days and waiting around for people to come look at my car, I did get to do some fun things. Went to Defiance Point Park in Tacoma with my Dad on Sunday. We hiked around the park, all the while feeling lucky we had found a hole in the weather. The trip home included a detour through West Seattle for pub-grub followed by a walk along Alki Beach. Soon as we got home it started raining again.

Tuesday I caught the bus into downtown Seattle. I had a gift card leftover from Christmas, and it turns out September is a great time for deals on summer clothes. I then walked all over the downtown area, from Pike Place Market to the International district. Some things have changed dramatically from what I remember on previous visits, but there was still enough the same that I felt at home. By the time I'd had enough and decided to find a bus back, I had been walking around for nearly 7 hours. Just like the Euro-adventure, it is still the best to see a city by foot. Again, I managed to pick the best day to do that, as it has been raining for the last two days. Here are some pictures I caught along the way (and yes, I forgot my camera, so all pictures were taken with my cell phone).

Flower Stands

Produce. Wish I could find something like this on Oahu.

The guys that throw the fish.

"Go to Hell" brand cigarettes. Found at a small odds and ends shop in the market. Thought it was hilarious.

Looking out across the water from the park at the end of the market.

On the bus ride back home I got in contact with my sister, and instead of making the connection to get back to my Dad's house, we went out for some retail therapy.

The funny "Spotted Dick"

Some EVIL wine. Bet this would go good with the "Go to Hell" cigarettes.

Tonight my brother should be stopping by with his girlfriend. He's making some big changes in his life right now, and it is good to see him doing so well. Next time I promise to remember my camera too, so I can get better pictures.

Space-A

I have thought of using Space-A travel before, that is, flying on military flights where there is space available for passengers, but was never quite able to figure out how to go about doing so. A few weeks ago at a BBQ, a Navy retiree filled me in on some useful information, and I found that getting signed up and learning more was a simple visit to my local Air Force Base. Thinking that the passenger terminal would be closed over the weekend and holidays, I went in the day after Labor Day to get myself signed up and learn more.

It was easy. Show them my military ID card and I go on the list for 60 days. The sooner I know I want to go somewhere and can sign up, the better my chances for going. I was then given a sheet with telephone numbers for bases all over the world and told to call ahead to get on their lists. With a dark week (read: no hours) coming up at work, I signed myself up and made a mental note to stop back by a couple of days before I wanted to fly out. I was told that if I came in person, I could get flight information for the next 72 hours.

On Monday I stopped by after work. The next flights that looked to get me close were headed to California, but I was told they would be a good bet because the base there acts as a hub. I had to work Tuesday, so I wrote down the info for Wednesday and went home, thinking that would be the earliest I would have a chance to get out.

Tuesday I stopped by again, just to see if there was anything new. There was. A direct flight, and if I wanted to make it, I would need to be back ready to go in 3 hours. Good thing I travel light, I was able to finish up work stuff, get packed, and go see my boyfriend before heading back to base to see if I would make the flight. Of course, it helps that the base is only 15 minutes away. About half an hour after getting there I was told I would fill the 5th and final spot available on the plane. When I was handed my ticket, I was told not to go anywhere, we were loading shortly. The plane was meant for take-off an hour after the seats had been assigned.

Now for the other part of Space-A: it is unlikely you will be on a plane meant to carry passengers. I rode on a C17. It was full of cargo. Hence the reason for only taking 5 additional people.

(not the plane I was on, but I pic I found online)

I arrived at Ft. Lewis (near Tacoma, WA) at about 5am local time. Made it to my Dad's house a few hours later, and now I'll be here for about a week visiting family and friends. I think next time I might see about traveling out of the country. That would be fun, but I probably need to save some cash first.

I'm Going Back to School!

Today I received an acceptance letter from the University of Hawaii, granting me admission as a graduate student to start in the Spring 2009 classes. According to the information they sent, looks like classes start on January 12, 2009. I haven't looked at class schedules yet, so I don't know what is going to be available, but I do know I'll be back in the classroom. I haven't yet decided on a set program, but am looking at both Anthropology and Sociology. I'm also interested in their International Cultural Studies Certificate, which would go along with either program.

The next step will be trying to convince them that as far as their residency requirements go, I'm not a resident of any state, and therefor should be granted in-state tuition for Hawaii since I have been here the longest in the last 12 months. Then I'll have to work on the funding issue.

But I'm still excited, some of my waiting has paid off. Now if only I would hear back on one of those government jobs I applied to last week....

Waiting

Seems like there is tons of waiting going on in my life right now. Waiting for someone to respond to my ad on craigslist and buy my car. Waiting to hear from the University of Hawaii. Waiting to get my final scores on the GRE. Waiting for paperwork to come from the VA so I can apply for jobs with veteran's preference. Waiting for October so I can turn in 30 days' notice to my landlord.

And once those are taken care of, there will be more waiting. Waiting for the money from my sold car to get to my bank account. Waiting for classes to start so I can be in school again. And waiting to hear back from the various places I applied to.

No worries here though. I'll just keep pushing forward and dealing with each thing as it comes along.

Koko Crater

Last Sunday I went for a hike in Koko Crater Botanical Gardens. More of a stroll really. It was a 2 mile loop through the crater of what used to be a volcano. The plants in there were very interesting considering the plants I have become accustomed to seeing around Hawaii. Inside the crater was pretty dry, but the plants were neat anyway. The following are some pics I snapped while walking around:
"Bougainvilea Glabra" Not really sure of the common name, but I thought they were pretty. I really liked the color.
Didn't take a picture of the name card for these trees so I don't remember what they are called. But they made me think of a Dr. Seuss book.

Yes, that is a cactus from Mexico. In Hawaii.
Golden Barrel Cactus. You probably don't want to kick one of these.
"Rathbunia Alamosensis" from Western Mexico. A giant tangle of spiky cactus.
"Octopus Agave" Just like the name sounds. Made me think of Red.
"Pachypodium Lamerei" from Madagascar. Yep, this botanical garden has things from all over the world. Which is a bit weird considering they are very strict concerning what you can and cannot bring into the state.
"Crown of Thorns" These had big spiky sticks surrounding the flowers.
View from Pali Lookout. A stop I made on my way home from the beach, which was the stop I made after the hike. Nothing better than a dip in the ocean followed by a great view after a stroll through a crater.
Another shot from the Pali Lookout. There is an old road up there that has been mostly reclaimed by nature but that is still hike-able. That may be my next hike.