honeycomb your hair...

+1 day til the looong plane rides

2010-03-20T02:43:00.000-07:00

hope to see this soon!

on my way to melbourne

2010-03-20T02:22:00.000-07:00

ok, finished with all the work details and need to finish the packing details-- not tonight!! off to bed then pack away pack away-- finish the details and on sunday i leave.

sharing the reunion pictures

2007-06-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, I tried to email all the reunion pictures but... that was pretty awful... the file was way too big... now I know.. use the costco.com site to upload and share the love.

works great!

I must say, that I truly feel blessed. Trying to work hard, create harmony and trust with the projects I manage and I think, inch by inch...it's happening...Let's hope tomorrow's meeting is just as smooth.

now the real adventure begins

2007-06-28T01:30:00.001-07:00

ok... we are off to 7th grade, visits to california and much much more...
hope you are hanging on!

graduation hawaiian style!

2007-06-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

6th grade graduation

a wild ride and choices made (a recap of the last 6 months)

2007-06-28T00:46:00.000-07:00

I'm finally back in the swing of this space... it has been a wild 6 months... new job, interviews for new schools (http://midpac.edu/) quick, fun adventures all around... including a visit from someone famous and the very crazy 30th class reunion.

2007-01-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

the newest snorkeler in Kauai...Nick had a blast a Lumahai Beach where we saw a turtle on the beach, a monk seal sunning him/herself and scores of fabulous fish, sea cucumbers and many other creatures.

honeycomb your hair...

2007-01-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Glad that 2007 has stepped into view... 2006 just shot right by us. Every week or so I would think there would be time to update this page, but alas, no such luck, time and space updated! So, with a few free minutes, here is a picture (the requisite 1,000 words) to share.
happy day!

diving for sand!

2006-07-11T00:45:00.000-07:00

Look at this sand diver! Now I call that being immersed in your environment! Leave it to my child to try to wear all of the sand on this beach! Don't you wish you were able to abandon your inhibitions and live fully in the sand? I'll settle for just a little of that, thanks. We have been enjoying our little beach area again ~ even telling a select few friends about it! It's nice because this spot helps bring the balance back into the picture. The sound of the waves alone are enought to keep you going for weeks. I have to settle some days for the cd I keep in the player near my bed... very soothing to hear the crash of the ocean as you sleep.

honeycomb your hair...

2006-07-06T00:28:00.000-07:00

honeycomb your hair...
and it sure seems like I have just fell off the face of the earth... not so. Life seems to speed up at times. So, when the busy get busier, they only handle the big chunks and leave the little piles of sand for later. Speaking of sand, more pictures to follow in the next day or so... of our favorite beach of course. And yes, I got a little burned again...

In all of this, my brain has been working feverishly to determine what I am really about... Wow! that sounds so ... prophetic.. NOT... it's just that we are at the time to determine where to send N. for 7th grade... I know.. he has not started 6th yet... details, details....Ha! The real dilemna is will he get what he needs at a smaller school or will I have to sell out to the name brand school just to stay with the pack or do we need to be with the pack??? all of his friends are there... not on purpose...yet, this kid seems to adapt to any environment easily. so... what is the hangup??? Well, I haven't found that answer yet... because everytime I try to look in other directions, I get steered back to this name brand choice or choices... and it bugs me that I am so vain to consider that as a viable answer when it goes against my ethics for him to be the middle income --low income kid in that pressure cooker of gotta haves. I haven't quite got a solid handle on what would be the 'best' for him.... other than what we can afford...
see, brain overload... it will get better. In the meantime, gotta learn to pick up after myself since I feel like a walking mess ball...kinda like a ping pong ball with stuff on it..

reconnaissance into Waimanalo

2006-05-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

Waimanalo has such a beautiful beach...
we were on a mission to determine if this beach was accessible~

and this is the view from the pathway

as you approach the sand..

the view from the path from the street.
some one was getting married
the ocean to the left
and to the right
and smack dab ahead!

hawaii charity walk-the slipper tour

2006-05-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

After a late night, I still get up at 4 AM for the Hawaii Hotel Association Charity Walk. I know, don't work for a hotel any longer but thought this would be a great way to stay on my exercise program. Ok, this was before I realized the walk was 7 miles!!! Well, the good news is -- they feed us all along the way... so much for the health strategy.
So, I tried to make this a walking tour... much to my son's chagrin! He kept trying to tell me that he was embarrassed by my nasty picture snapping habit.. I made sure to point out that he could pretend he didn't know me...

this is Ala Moana Beach Park at 5:15 AM as we arrive to begin our journey. It was interesting to see that the tide was so low. On normal days, the group of rocks in the distance are not visible.

We start off with a group shot to get in the mood, then a little gnosh to start us off: we chose bananas and yogurt in the tube... a healthy way to start the walk!

The first station we stopped at sponsored by the Ala Moana Hotel was very GERMAN... and pretty funny! They played the chicken dance music.

There were crowds of participants enjoying the music...

well, maybe not everyone was so enthusiastic

The City has been renovating the park recently and left a few things behind... I guess they were not finished with all of the projects since this big bin was left behind.

and this big pile too:

As we crossed the Ala Wai Canal into Waikiki, this was the morning sky with calm waters towards the ocean.

At the very entrance to Waikiki, we were greeted

by a hula dancer with her musicians.

Thought this sign was appropriate for island life...

if only that were true all of the time.

look at all of the surfboards, ready for wave riding.

a quick glance at the ocean as we truck on past...

duke kahanamoku's statue...

he's the famous swimmer/surfer that won an olympic medal

and was a famous beach boy.

weekend activities to attract locals to the tourist areas.

oops, this surfer ran out of water... end of all the hotels... beginning of Kapiolani Park/Aquarium area.

looking back into Waikiki from the end of the park.

are we done yet??? Hurry Mom, I want to eat this ice cream.

The view from Ala Moana Beach again...

about 10 am... what a nice day...

next time, I will show the Ala Wai Canal and the interesting finds...

gotta rest my toes in the sand... Aloha!

mother's day

2006-05-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Well, mother's day was an event at our house... complete with monkey business and all.
We ate an early dinner at Tadashi where I embarrassed my guys by taking pictures of what I ate. I only just realized that I forgot to take a picture of the dish Nick usually eats.. the butterfish. (next time)

The first dish served was this mixture of cooked fish bits.. with a smoky, tangy flavor. I think there were green onions in it as well.

I got to order all of my favorite sushi.. and some for the guys too. When I ordered the Clam.. I was thinking of the one we usually order at Genki that is mixed with mayo.. so this was a nice surprise and it was oh so soft and buttery. Not chewy at all.

Nat ordered the Butterfish special (not the regular menu today) and it came with a tray of sushi as well.

I couldn't resist ordering my 2 fave handrolls... spicy Ahi and california roll... I know.. I am such a light weight but after that I was full..

I tried to get a close up or 2 especially since the california roll was so full of crabmeat... yum!

for dessert, they we had strawberries with green tea whip cream... very tasty, not overly sweet.

and of course, Nick was up to his usual monkey business

All in all ~ a fun day ~ even with the crazy pilates ball...those pictures will come later.

aftermath of aquarium life

2006-05-17T23:43:00.000-07:00

the aftermath of the sleepover was a morning of sleep... including on the way home ...

Nick rested til noon the we played a little (read) then went to the library to investigate information about fireworms... then off to get my hair cut.. I know, it's short enough but not bald yet!

zip into zippy's for dinner

2006-05-13T03:44:00.000-07:00

Nick went on an adventure today... 1st the JPO Competition followed by a night at the Aquarium... http://www.waquarium.org/A Sleep over for all the clubs in the school.. with only teachers for chaperones. How fun is that?

Meanwhile, Mom works late and Dad sits in traffic to make sure he gets there on time.. then, our big date was at Zippy's.

Not so romantic but nice to sit and chat together. We came home and watched Memoir's of a Geisha. Was a great movie. Read the book about 5 or 6 years ago so I was trying to rack my brains to remember if this movie followed the book... close but quite a few details were missing I think.

tomorrow is library day.. we'll be going to the main library which is so incredible that I could probably sleep over there.. so many books, so little time.

Am currently reading 'Bird's Eye View' a mystery by JF Freedman. The funny or strange thing is, that it is set in the same areas as the battles of the Civil War. Nick has been researching all of the battles and it seems that everywhere I turn there are references about this war. We are also reading a book together -a diary (ficticious) about a young woman who lives in the South and writes about her life. It would be interesting to come across a diary of someone from the north.. funny, that this topic or subject strikes my fancy for a while, then fades... oh well, perfect time now since Nick needs more scoop for his report. We watched the movie Gettysburg too.

I am all over the map today.... lots to ponder...

home again, home again, jiggety jig...

2006-05-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

It's funny, that for all the time I spend at home, I am not really here most of the time. It's nice to slow things down just a little bit for the 'quality' of life.. not the quantity... this concept was brought up today at a meeting with the owner.

Most of the time, we are on our little treadmills, walking and walking through our life. It can be challenging to step off, see through the eyes of others and just watch for that next train that really speaks to you to come along.

thought for today... Value what you have....

half a day today

2006-05-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

well, we had a short day today... seems this virus is going around. Had to miss the meeting tonight. Got to watch House tonight!! N actually ate the leftover chicken with mushroom gravy I made. He liked it til he just read it had mushrooms in it... was yummy anyway.

Thinking about Grandma A today... sending her big hugs and hoping she gets well.

2006-04-28T00:28:00.000-07:00

as this says.... There really is a story behind everything... we recently went to a music and reading festival where N got a chance to write the beginning of a story on a postcard. It was pretty amazing that in just a few minutes he was able to create something that seemed intriguing.

the front yard

2006-04-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

today is the day!

2006-04-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

Today is the beginning of the rest of my life... Actually, the interpretations you see or read are just about my life and times. Hope to provide something interesting...