So, I've been incognito here, just floating under the radar on stealth mode.....
Thought I'd let everyone know what's going on in my life.
First and most importantly...we are caring for an abandoned kitten. She opened her eyes on Wednesday of last week making her about 16 days old today. We are bottle feeding her -- every couple of hours, keeping her warm, grooming her and making her potty. What a lot of work! She is growing now and had a vet check yesterday. She weighs a whopping 9 oz. !
Now I know why younger women are supposed to have the babies! It's really hard on me and hubby to get up every couple of hours to feed and burp. Luckily the girls are taking the brunt of the responsibility. The kitty is very luck and well loved.
Much more is going on around here, but I won't bore you to death in one post. I'll try to spread it out over several....aren't you lucky???? Awwww......

I love a rainy night!

Last night as we lay in bed, listening to the rain pound down steadily for the third day in the row, my husband wondered if he might need to paddle to work. He suggested he could take his surfboard and ride it down. I commented that going down would be relatively easy, but coming back up the hill several thousand feet in altitude from sea level, that might pose more difficulty We began imaging possibilities. We ended up with him wake boarding up, towed by a local pick up or jeep.

Hopefully, that won't be necessary.

The rain has stopped for time being. The sky however looks dark and unpromising. I love rain. Remember that old Eddie Money song... "I love a rainy night"? I do. Always have. Growing up in AZ the monsoon storms were amazing and exciting. These quiet, cool and dark rainy days are perfect for curling up with a book, and a hot cup of coffee. I love it!! Of course it's spring break, so the girls aren't that happy, since they had visions of lazy days playing in the waves and soaking up some sun. Now however they are indoors, hangin' with friends and spending too much time on the computer and watching TV. I met a tourist from AZ the a week or so ago in Costco. He was sunburned (of course) and had biked down Haleakala, been on a whale watch, and been snorkeling. When I asked him how he had enjoyed his stay, he shrugged, and said it was "alright.". It had rained too much for him, and he wished that we'd had better weather. This is our winter, and rain is our winter weather. You book your vacation for tropical winter, and you take your chances. You want pretty much guaranteed good weather and constant sunshine, plan for summer.

Oldest is having a "movie night" tonight. She invited about 10 teen agers over to watch movies and hang out. We are providing movies, a dy spot to sit, and earplugs for grownups. Oh, wait, that's us.Oh boy am I excited. Can you tell? Nah... just kidding. I'm actually really glad that my kids have friends, and that their friends enjoy coming over here. That's what we all really want. Even if might be more difficult, more expensive, and much louder! Still, if she's here, then I know where she is, if her friends are here, I know what they are like, and if they are in my house then I know what they are doing. And since I'm a pro, as discussed in previous posts, I like to know the situations I'm in!

I'm off to get things ready for the day.... my routine will include taking tylenol in advance, laying in a supply of earplug, cleaning my room and stocking it with food and supplies so that I have a place to go hide.
Question for the day:

What's your favorite kind of weather??

Thanksgiving Fun

This is our cat Pippin... a.k.a. Houdini. I feel like this today!
Fun was had by one and all!

Ok, so the girls admittedly got bored after a few hours. Who could blame them really? They weren't in their home, with their friends or their family (well, besides their parents, and since they have both entered the 12+ arena, we don't count anymore).

Oldest dd had a good time for awhile, once her two buds got there. But they both ended up leaving shortly after dinner.

Since I had my scrapbooking stuff with me, guess what?? It was a long afternoon! Of course we had taken two cars.... (too many folks for 1 car), so hubby, Squirt and Nephew were able to leave. After Hubby had watched a movie in the Vis lab and Nephew spent 2 hours outside on his phone.

I stayed till 9:30 when the pathetic expression on my seriously bored daughter's face guilted me into leaving.

In all fairness.... I tried to get her to go with the rest of the crew when they left. At that time she was "decorating" her cell phone and retainer cases with my vast array of stickers. When she finished that a mere 20 minutes later.... she was stuck, watching pathetically while I scapbooked my little heart out.

I can't be blamed for her choices right??

Yeah, it wasn't too long after that I forced by guilt to pack up and go home. Otherwise, I might STILL be there scrapbooking!!!

I talked to my family, but forgot to call my sister back. Oops! Have to call her today and make it up to her. I didn't even have my cell phone on me so I couldn't have heard it ring if it did.

So today is the official start of the Holiday shopping season. I however, being the sane person I am, do not plan to go within 100 yards of any type of retail store. I have decided that no amount of savings is worth my time, patience and sanity. Pretty much they would have to pay me lots, and lots of money to go shopping on this day.

Then it would work for me.

The girls are so funny.... they are so different. Squirt wants a western saddle and gear for Christmas. Silver_fangz wants books and some serious rock.. like Underoath, Switchfoot, Reliant K.... NIGHT and DAY I tell you.

I do have to leave the house, however, (bah humbug). I have to go take some pictures of nephew surfing at Ho'okipa for his mom. (and for me too.) He started surfing at same time as hubby, but hubby says... "he's really good". Course nephew is 26 years younger, and..... surfs 3 hours every day. I figure anybody could drastically improve with that kind of practice! I'm looking forward to seeing him make the board dance as hubby says.

So it's off to do damage control on the kitchen. Funny, we didn't have Thanksgiving here, and only made two dishes and still the kitchen is trashed. How does that happen? It's one of those mysteries like how do you end up with 2,000 hangers from the 5 wire hangers you put in the closet, where does that sock go to in the dryer, and what happened to the toilet paper???

I guess I'll never know.

Holiday Tips

Currently Watching: Sahara (Full Screen Edition) see related

I love this movie. It's become one of my all time favorites. Sooo Funny. I haven't read the book yet, but it's on my list. Maybe after I finish the Count of Monte Cristo.

[Al, Dirk and Rudi are being chased in the Admiral's boat]
Al Giordino: What do you think, Dirk?
Dirk Pitt: Uh... I think we need to pull a Panama!
Al Giordino: A Panama? A *Panama*!?
Admiral James Sandecker: [on the phone] A Panama? No! No Panama!
[on the phone, after they pulled a Panama]
Admiral James Sandecker: He pulled a Panama!

Today's tip: whatever you do, don't go to a bank on the day before a national holiday during lunch hour. Inevitably, they will have the foresight to send all the tellers on break, and only leave two to deal with the 20 people in line.

I was able, after an extremely long wait (which is difficult for me as my patience matches my height... short), to deposit my student loan refund check. Now lets do some math. School started in August, it's now mid November. That's four months. The semester ends the 12th of December and I get to start the process all over again. Hooray.

Another tip: when driving on the day prior to a major holiday... you can not wait for traffic to clear. It's just not going to. Especially when you can clearly see that it's backed up two lights. You just have to starting easing out into the flow and count on the kindness of others to let you in to the lane you want.

Ok, last tip: If you insist on talking on the phone while you drive -- please stay with the flow of traffic. There are impatient people behind you (namely... me!!) who don't want to go 15 miles under the speed limit and constantly stop unexpectedly for no apparent reason.

I love the holidays.... as long as I don't have to leave the house.

I'm not good with crowds, traffic, inconsiderate self-obsessed people, and lines. I try to be happy while I'm out, smile and wish everyone Happy Holidays, but aarghhhh... sometimes, my admittedly limited patience runs out and I end up with an unpleasant feeling in my heart and a frown on my face.

NOT how I like to spend my holidays!!!!

Ok, I had fun ranting, but now I'm done.

Things to look forward to about the holidays:

• Family, friends and fun
• Wonderful food, good conversation
• Less work than usual
• Scrapbooking
• Christmas Lights
• Christmas Music
• Christmas Services
• The girls faces as the open presents
• The feelings of good will and charity that seem to accompany this time of the year.

So here is wishing everyone a GREAT Thanksgiving!!

Enjoy!

You don't just luck into things as much as you'd like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities.
Barbara BushUS wife of George Bush 1945 (1925 - )



Literature Review 5 page paper -- check
Lesson plan using Learning styles -- check
Sanity -- check

I have once again narrowly escaped from being pulled into the abyss of insanity. Only my incredible skills and keen intellect have protected my fragile little mind.

Ok, so maybe... just maybe... I slipped over the edge, just a bit. Two toes maybe.

We head towards the upcoming holiday with enthusiasm and enjoyment.
Ok, maybe not so much. I love Thanksgiving, don't get me wrong. However........ since we've been here we do a big Thanksgiving buffet style get together with the Unit. While that's all good, we don't have a family dinner. Since it's an AF things, we don't spend a lot of time considering all the things we have to be grateful for. Since we don't even have a Chaplain here, there probably won't even be a group prayer prior to eating.

It just takes some of the shine of the holiday.

But never the less, I am determined to be grateful and enjoy myself... if it kills me, and everyone around me!!

Hubby's nephew will be coming over from the "Big Island" where he attends College. I enjoy having him, but he wants to always just wants to "surf, surf, surf".

What can you expect? He's a 20 year old living in Hawaii.

We also argue -- in a friendly manner, about most of our beliefs. He believes the word God should never be used in any public institution (he's agnostic). He feels that is pushing our religion on him. I argue that taking away my freedom to mention God... pushes his "religion" on me. Yes I believe that agnostic is a religion. It is a group of people that all practice and believe the same way. It makes it interesting. I especially like it when I use logic and he finds himself unable to counter! MUAHAHAHA!

Scrap booking this weekend --- Yay!!!

Hubby wants me to entertain said Nephew while he, the girls, and some friends go SCUBA diving.

But the way I see it, I had my plans first. His changed, and I can't be held accountable for that!

Nephew will have to entertain himself.

I think he would rather do that then snorkel with his old aunt while everyone else goes SCUBA! I know when I was 20, that would have been my choice -- to entertain myself!!

Well it's off to do the hum drum chores that fill so much of my day. Laundry, cleaning, dishes, blah, blah, blah...

Hooray for the mundane!

Late Bloomer

Have you ever meet people who are obviously late bloomers? People whom you decide are one way, then years later you are stunned when they turn out to be so much more?

My hubby is a late bloomer.

He never finished college, and joined the Air Force instead. We married in 1986. At that time he was behind the promotion curve due to some disciplinary actions and a lack of motivation and focus. Not long after we married he began to promote. In his late 30's he took up golf, and finished two Associates degrees. He took up road racing in his BMW.

In No. CA he took up fishing and started catching up with his peers in the promotion arena. He decided to teach himself guitar. He was in his 40's by this time.

Here we are today, in Hawaii with all kinds of opptunities for personal growth. Since we've moved, he's taught himself to surf, and gotten SCUBA certified. He continues to improve his guitar playing and has a buddy come over a couple nights a month to just hang out and jam.

So his friend is here and their playing, learning, talking. They start discussing other guys they know that play. They say Lt. so and so plays drums and this civilian contractor is a bass player. So at the age of 46 -- my dear hubby and his friends are planning to start:

A garage band!!

I'm not kidding. The one guy said they could play at his house but he didn't have a big enough room so they would have to use the garage!

As I said -- He's a late bloomer. And I love him for it!

I hope when I get to 46, I'm still willing to try new things and put myself out on a limb.

I would love to chat, but I have one more paper to get out today. I guess I'm still blooming too, since I am determined to achieve my Master's before leaving here. Since I want to accomplish that, it means I have to go do the work so I can get the grade I want.

Ain't life Grand???

People To People
The People to People meeting was amazing. These kids are going to have some great adventures. They went through the application process. Only 40 students will be chosen from High School to attend the Europe and Irish Heritage trip. 40 Students from all the islands -- not just Maui. Yikes!!
However, they said most students who proceed with the application process are accepted, even if they don't make this trip they can go on other ones. DD really wants to go on this on.
Some of the things they will be doing: visiting Parliament and meeting a member of Parliament, witness the changing of the guard and seeing the London Tower and the crown jewels, ride the London Eye, attend a first run show in the famous West End District, Visit Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and take part in an act from a Shakespeare play, white water raft, learn a jig, rappel down Penhyrn castle, Visit Edinburgh castle, play traditional Irish sports, and possibly get the opportunity to blow glass.
Now... after going through that exhausting but partial list, I need to clarify a few things before I move on. DD is 14. She is very intelligent and outgoing. She is a major adrenaline junky -- she loves roller coasters, fast rides, trampolines, rock climbing, etc., etc. When she was 12 we had the opportunity to attend Wolf Mountain camp in No. CA. One of the things she had been waiting for, was to go at the age of 12 so she could participate in a Ropes Course obstacle called "Leap of Faith" (mom did it too!) So you climb up the side of a tree using these giant stakes and staples -- 65 ft up. Then you climb onto two 2x4's sticking out from the platform. You walk out till your toes stick off each of the boards and............ JUMP!! You are aiming for a trapeze bar about 5 feet away. Of course you are on a belay line, but never the less, your heart is pounding and the adrenaline is running high. We both did this and loved it!! Along with all the other ropes course challenges. Now... recall the activities she will have an opportunity to participate in, and add that she wants to be a glass artist when she grows up.
Here's her comment on the way home from the meeting.
"I was so excited when they started talking about Parliament and watching the changing of the guard. We'll get to go into Parliament and see how their government works.. that's soo cool".
What a great kid huh? She continues to surprise and amaze me. I hope she gets into this trip. The money is substantial, and with me not working, not easy to come by, but we are determined that she should have this opportunity. We will do all the footwork, and leave the rest to God. If it's meant to be, she'll go. I have faith in that.
So I'll end this extremely long update and wish everyone a great week end.

The Picture is dd about 60 feet up, almost to the platform on the "Leap of Faith".