Hawaii Day Two

On tap today.... Pearl Harbor and then the Big Kahuna Luau.  The morning started very early 5:30am, but they have a Starbucks in the lobby, so we got a little coffee and a delicious Macadamia Nut muffin, so I was pretty happy.  Our Tour Guide Charlie was beyond fabulous.  He was a fount of knowledge about Pearl Harbor and the war.  So many interesting tidbits, also a lifelong Hawaiian resident, so plenty of details about Hawaii as well.

The Arizona Memorial was very moving, hard not to get teary-eyed about everything.  I guess I didn't  realize that the memorial sits over the actual sunken ship with the entombed bodies of over 900 sailors.  So, hard to imagine that kind of loss.

After the Arizona we went and toured the USS Missouri.  Again very cool and impressive.  So much to look at and absorb.   After the Missouri,  we got a little tour of the city and saw the Iolani Palace, the only palace on America soil, statue of King Kamehameha in front of the Hawaiian courthouse.  Then we headed back to the hotel for a nap and my first beach run!!

I went 2.5 miles, it was really nice to run along the beach.  I didn't run in the sand, to hard to do, but there was a pretty decent walkway.  Good people watching and beautiful scenery.  I guess in this instance it was better at the beach.

The Big Kahuna Luau finished out the evening.  Again our Tour Guide was amazing!  The Luau was pretty good, the food was really good - but honestly just not my thing.  Hanging around "having fun" with a bunch of strangers...  I don't know.. it was okay.  More fun was taking pictures of the beautiful boys and sending Brenna potential husband choices!  The scenery again was just stunning and the sunset beautiful as well.  Hawaiian is so beautiful it's almost seems fake.

Tomorrow is a relax, on our own day.  I think we're going to hike Diamond Head Volcanic Cone, try a dinner place that our tour guide recommended.  Maybe do some shopping...

Hawaii Day One

No fiery crash, but one hellaciously LONG ASS plane trip.  Fortunately John and I both had aside seats, so at least we could get up and walk around as needed.  The trip to Dallas was uneventful, the trip to Honolulu was also pretty uneventful, did I mention it was a LONG ASS plane trip.  It was also an old plane, so no in seat TV, no really bennies..

I read my book, all my magazines, played a few games on my phone, ate all my snacks, walked around and stretched.  What I didn't do is sleep very much.  I used to be able to sleep anywhere any time.  I don't have any trouble falling asleep, but I can't stay asleep -  my shoulders ache, my neck aches etc.... 

The view down into the courtyard of the hotel.

They have a beautiful Banyan tree in the courtyard and their pidgeons are pure white.  It's lovely.

I did get leid at the hotel, and unfortunately for John he had nothing to do with it! :o)  The view from our balcony was not too shabby.  The Hale Koa is a lovely hotel, the rooms are pretty standard (we had 2 double beds, which was delightful for me) but the grounds are really beautiful.  All sorts of eating places, bars and even a PX with very reasonably priced souvenirs!  Their very own beach front and grassy picnic area, pretty much anything you might need.  We got here, showered had a little Mongolian BBQ and a drink at the bar and have pretty much collapsed in bed.  Early pick up tomorrow - 5:40 am to go see Pearl Harbor.

T-1

Bags are packed, alarm is set...for 4:00AM!!! and now I just need to go to sleep.  Try not to think about dying in a fiery crash....

Bits and Pieces

We are on Snow Day #6 and still have tomorrow off as well!  It's been a crazy Snowcation!  The roads are fine and everything is starting to melt, but the sidewalks are still not shoveled so there is no way for the kids to get to school except to walk in the road.  So for safety reasons we are home!  I'm loving it!  

I've gotten completely caught up on my scrapbook for 2015.  It was a major push.  And involved hours of binge watching Supernatural (23 episodes) and White Collar (18 episodes).  Binge TV watching is no joke... It takes stamina, planning, proper nutrition... I'd venture to say, I'm pretty much a professional now!

I may be done with 2015, but I still have 2 years of Zack's crew seasons to take care of, my racing scrapbook and soon I'll have Hawaii to keep me busy.  I better find a new show to binge on!

I can't believe we leave for Hawaii in 2 days.  It's kind of snuck up on me, which is a good thing, otherwise I'd totally be freaking out about leaving Zack and all my other obligations.  I'm not good at change, or disruption to my routine.  I love my routine.   But after our last week and Snowzilla, this is looking pretty good!

 
I got my packing taken care of today.  I'd be a lot happier packing, if those pesky 5-7lbs I don't like, had melted away like our snow.  But... I'm not going to let (I'm going to try not to let) it bother me too much.  I'll be ready to back on the bandwagon when we get home.

Resolution update....
I'm doing pretty well with my working out.  I had 3 days off with our Snowcation, but since I've done something everyday.  I've Erged, I've run and I've gone to Spin class.  I've been feeling pretty good about the working out, it's just the eating that has been a little more challenging.  It's hard when you are staying home all day and doing nothing but watching TV.  I figure a week off in Hawaii, where I am NOT going to worry about what I am eating, and then I will be recharged and ready to get right back on the healthy train!  Zoey needs to get back on that train as well... that girl is growing... it's been hard to walk them and when I'm having a snack... they are having a snack... all our progress has been undone.  So...Choo Choo... healthy train here we come!

I've also kept up with my 5 year journal cards as well.  Gotten each day done, there have been a couple where I had to double up on one day because I forgot, but I have a new routine in place and they are going well.

Currently....

I'm stealing this idea from another blog I read.  We are still hip deep in the Storm of the Century, so besides napping and shoveling, there's not much to report...

Currently:
Time and Place: 5:00pm, Stamping Room, working on all the crew paperwork that has been piling up.

Cooking: Venison Stew in the Crockpot!

Awaiting: For the Storm of the Century to stop!

Working On: Our much delayed Christmas, now Snowzilla 2016 letter.  What better time to work on the letter I've been putting off for weeks, but during our forced time at home, it's that or shovel again!

Reading:  The Sword of Shannara, again, for about the 6th or 7th time.  It's an oldie but a goodie and part of my 2016 Reading Challenge.  Read a book you've already read once.  Next up... A book you can read in a day - Ethan Fromme, A book you should have read in school - Fahrenheit 451.

Listening to: The sound of snowflakes hitting the house and my space heater warming my toes!  When I run... Book 2 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Craving:  These stunning Chocolate chip cookies.  I don't know why sitting at home makes me want to eat everything I can get my hands on, but if the snow doesn't end soon, I'm going to undo all my resolution good!

Hating: Running right now... trying to find my way back to it, but not paying any attention to pace or time.  Just running to run.

Loving:  3 o'clock naptime, hanging with Zack for these last few months before he heads off to college.

Anticipating:  Our trip to Hawaii next week for our anniversary.  I've got a little bit of pre-trip anxiety, but I'm also excited!

Watching:  Supernatural Season 10 - I'm on hour number 8 of binge watching.  That's what snow storms are for!  I just keep saying..."just one more, just one more."  Thank goodness I can sleep in when the bingeing is done!

Avoiding:  Negative thoughts, doubts and misgivings.  I'm going to proceed with confidence and belief in myself, fake it if I have to!

That's it... what's Currently... going on.  Hopefully the snow will end soon and we'll get back to doing something worth writing about!

Snowzilla 2016

For once in their lives, I guess the weathermen were right... it came, it snowed, it's still snowing... We probably have 16 inches right now, and it's still snowing.  We're supposed to get up to another foot today.  This place is going to be paralyzed.  I wonder when we'll ever go back to school?  It think we'll be lucky if we're back on Monday - maybe Tuesday.  Zack went to a sleepover yesterday evening and it looks like he'll be staying until tomorrow.  No way we are going to get up our hill today.  But, they were prepared for the boys to stay a couple of nights and I guess they are having a ball.  They shoveled, are sledding and just hanging out!

Cooper waiting for his "pee spot" to be shoveled out.

Zoey is not as fond of the snow, it's a little more difficult for her to get around.  She's not quite as limber or leggy as Cooper.  She's a bit more "dense" than Cooper, not quite as bouncy.  But once we got a couple of paths laid out for her, she was good to go.

Probably the most snow we've had in 3-5 years!

Thanks goodness for the cul-de-sac snowblower

Really a shit ton of snow!

Zack and his buds!

So far so good.  As long as the power stays on, we're set.  

Tragedy Averted

No need to panic... the story has a happy ending!  Our Naked Gnome was freezing his ass off....literally!!!

Now he's safe, sound and warming his ass nicely, just like the rest of us!