PHEW!

I feel as though I am on a merry-go-round that keeps spinning faster and faster. You know how after the holidays, you are a little relieved that things will get back to normal? Well, there is no normal for me any more it seems.

Since the 1st of January, I have returned from PHX, roundtrip to San Diego, to Las Vegas, Fort Collins and back. For those of you who don't know, I agreed to work with Event Solutions again late last year. While it was really great to see so many of those folks again, working that show was absolutely exhausting. I am still unsure how I did it, except that adreniline kicked in high gear. My feet were scabbed, blistered and swollen when we were done. We were a week in Vampire Vegas and I never saw the sun (well, maybe 3 minutes a day) and sleeping was totally optional. I am waaaaaaay too old to be living like this. BTW - do you realize that perfectly healthy people rent scooters in Vegas now?! No wonder we are the fattest country on the planet...we are too lazy to WALK to sit at a slot machine.

After Vegas, I took a swing over to balmy Fort Collins (it was 50! everyone was so excited to tell me?!). I had a GREAT time with Piper and Quinn. I cried when I said goodbye to Piper, we had so much fun together..maybe me more than she, as Piper observed "TT isn't good at singing". I'd like to note that my voice was basically GONE from the tradeshow. She also noted that I am not very good at reading in Spanish....so....maybe she was ready for me to head home. I had fun anyway. Quinn is such a big girl already...she took a couple of steps while I was there...it was SO close. I think she likes crawling, and secretly knows that once she is walking, she will be carried less. Quinn is an angel. When I tucked her in one night, she went right to bed.

Since I last updated, we have also had some visitors: Jeff's parent's joined us in early February. We had a great time with them and really enjoyed their company, it is so unusual for us to get to spend time with just them and it was a real pleasure. Also - Mia and Brooks will be here a week from today - you can JUST imagine how much we are looking forward to their visit!

Some other news - I decided, finally, to get serious about my travel writing. I recognize that this is a journey, not a destination, so I am taking baby steps. My first step was to begin a writing class, which I am just getting into now. I am also the "official" "Honolulu Events" Examiner on Examiner.com (check out the badge with link on sidebar). I get paid (very little) for that gig, based on the number of visitors to the site, so please, feel free to visit often. I'm finding that the writing, the brainstorming and even the selling doesn't feel like work, so I guess that's what they mean when they say "do what you love and it will never be work". It is a revelation.

Also, you can all stop asking me about children, at least for now. Meredith posted a typical day's schedule on HER blog and well, suffice to say it sent me running to the drug store. I am not saying never, but I am saying that posting was well over 3 weeks ago, and I am still getting over the shock.

You'll also feel as though I am getting my "just desserts" by knowing that the weather here has been AWEFUL. Cold, windy and cloudy. Ick. I am feel like my friends in the PNW, who are pasty ready for sun...that's me.

That's all I have for now...I was feeling guilty for ignoring both my remaining readers on this blog. So, that's all there is for now.

OOOOOOOOHHHMMMMMMMM

Growing up I really only played two sports: water skiing and snow skiing. I was pretty good at both and I really enjoyed them. My dad always told me that I was good at them because they used "big muscles" and no hand-eye coordination (thanks, for the boost of confidence, Dad). A side note - I later found out that I could be good at golf..which BTW, requires hand-eye coordination.

ANYWAY - it was always embarrassing to me how much I would sweat during gym class..I suppose I was particularly surprised by this as you don't notice it much in the water or in the winter.

If you think hearing about my sweating is TMI, stop now, because there is a theme here.

So, as an adult, I haven't really done much in the sports area. A couple of hikes up Camelback not withstanding, but there was always a nice breeze up there..and the desert has a way of drying you out. One of the BIG reasons is that I really hate how much I sweat.

Imagine my surprise at finding out my latest passion: Bikram Yoga. If you aren't familiar with this particular form of yoga, it's 90 minutes of hardcore yoga in a room heated to over 100 degrees. Essentially it's yoga x10 in a sauna. I love it. I can't imagine my life without it anymore. A side note: apparently you can burn 900+ calories during this time.

During yoga, you should really only worry about yourself, focus on your own practice, that however, is a more evolved yoga practice than mine. I look in the mirror at other people, Alot. And, while I am envious of some of the really fit flexible people in my class, I also notice they all look so lovely and delicate..not me. I sweat. Alot. And my closely held suspicion that I sweat more than the average person is TOTALLY confirmed.

My only hope is that sweat is like the eggs in a woman's ovaries: there is only a limited amount. I will keep going until I "sweat it out"

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHMMMMMMMM.

Lofty (or down under) goals

By now, surely your location newspaper, TV station or radio station has made you aware of the best job in the world. If you haven't heard about it...Google it....and watch the news once in awhile. Join the world of the living for god's sake.

I have just picked up part one of my plan to obtain this job. There are plenty of people in the world who would agree with the namesake given to the aforementioned gig..and believe me, about 1/3 of the world has applied...and they all have good reasons: they are OUT of a job, they live in a cold place, they have nothing better to do, and for some of these people their reason is that they are really, really, really gorgeous.

I fall into none of those very respectful categories. I desperately hope that they do not hire on looks alone for this gig, because I really don't think that gorgeous but dingy is going to get the job done....but that's just my humble, not so staggeringly gorgeous, opinion.

As usual...I fall into a category all my own: for the first time in my life, I have the time, support and where with all to do something completely off the wall and wacky. Oh, and, its a great launch to my dream career of travel writing. Seriously, if "travel writing" meant travel blogging...bring it ON! I would LOVE that! Oh, and one more...Jeff and I recently decided that Australia was one of our very next international destinations. Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!! I almost forgot the other reason: I totally love island life...well...MOST things about island life.

That, plus my sparkling personality...which will make me the life of the party on the island...and my undeniably fabulous blogging skills (can a sister get a shout out now and then, by the way?!!) which will make me the life of the party on the internet... AND, AND my very relevant background in sales and marketing make me an ideal candidate. Don'tcha think?

Well - this, like all job positions is one to be taken quite seriously. And, with any serious endeavor, there must be a plan and some personal investment. Let me tell you people, I have seen some of the submissions to this gig, and believe me - my personal investment ALREADY far outweighs that of most tiring, but gorgeous applicants. I know, you can't BUY your way into the world's best job, but perhaps a small "token of appreciation" might be appropriate..isn't that how they say it..without SAYING it?!!

InDEED...I will be sure to let all of the interviewers know the "E Komo Mai" mat in front of my house SPECIFICALLY applies to them..and should they find THEMSELVES in need of a vacation, a Hawiian vacation with a free place to stay is ALMOST as nice as a Whitsunday Island vacation with a free place to stay....the Coomans Coconut Shack is all theirs. Hurumph. Beat that cute, sexy girl from very cold and dreary London.

Ah, well. Alas...tis all I really have to offer: a clever idea for the 60-second video submission and a dream and a prayer. But really...a girl can and should dream...after all...if you can't have lofty goals...then you should at least set your sights on being the best beach bum ever!!

Wish me LUCK!!

Resolutions Schmesolutions

I really hate the idea of NY resolutions. I think its totally ridiculous to wait until the new year to set a goal. Besides...I always celebrate my birthday as the beginning of my year...I think that is more to the point. Your birthday is YOUR day...its the day where you start all over again...anyway...I digress.

The point is, I hate NY resolutions. I never, EVER bother making them, though I have probably been guilty of gym membership or two on Jan 1..or maybe 2....well...anyway...THIS year though, after an incredible food and drink fest that was the holidays, I DID make a resolution. This year, I will take care of my body. I will exercise regularly, I will eat better, I will drink more water...I will think good thoughts...and..if by doing all this, I just HAPPEN to lose a little weight, well, then, that would be a nice bonus.

So, last week was great. I felt great..I was hydrated, I went to Yoga twice, I walked Makapu'u once, we went snorkling on Saturday, the current was incredible and so was the workout.

Ahhh. Life was good. I felt confident that I could keep up the pace.

Ok - I made one more: not to consume so much. That doesn't mean I won't go to COSCTO, but rather I will not be wasteful of food, I will ask myself why I am buying something and I will be more concious of what I am sending to the landfill.

Speaking of landfills.
After all the back patting last week about my good behavior...last night, I went to ColdStone. I got the medium in the paper-throw away cup.

I never once asked myself why I was doing it. I never admonished myself for wanting it. I didn't let the guilt ruin my inhalation of my Sweet Cream Icecream with Black Cherries and White Chocolate Chips. I felt a certian sweetness, a childishness at devouring my ice cream before it melted. I thought of Piper and her concentration and determination to ENJOY her ice cream...with abondon.

And then, you know what I DIDN'T do? I didn't go to the ColdStone website to figure out how many calories I had.

Ah, I am so glad its the THIRD week of the year...all the pressure is off.

I'm "Home"

Last weekend marks the anniversary of the weekend we came to Hawaii for our house shopping visit. We've been here almost a year.

When we decided to move, I worried. Worried that keeping in touch with friends and family would be increasingly difficult. I worried that I would miss out on so much in your lives, that it would never be the same.

I worried that poor Jeff would get tired of spending SO much time with me (us both working at home, and not having as many separate social outlets) and that his new wife would suddenly not seem so shiny and new.

I worried that I wouldn't make new friends in Hawaii that "got" me (after all, it takes a brave soul to count me as part of your Entourage). I worried that so much of what was important to me to be wouldn't find me important anymore.

Honestly, it wasn't really "worry" it was fear. I was afraid. I have never been the one to get up and go to another place. I have always lived in the same place as my parents. My friends who moved away always knew where to find me: in Scottsdale. I think I have lived in about 5 zip codes in my entire life...and to move to an island in the middle of the Pacific..suddenly, after we had decided to go, that seemed really, really scary.

Over the last year, however, I have come to appreciate my friends and family more than ever. Even though it means some planning, I talk to so many of you so often. Sometime I talk with you more now than I ever did before! You call me when its too late to call your local friends, you call me on the weekends when you know you might reach me. You leave me messages on Facebook and you keep me in the loop with pictures. Sometimes, you even come to Hawaii and allow me to enjoy my new home through the eyes of people I love.

And indeed, having a life where I rely almost exclusively on my husband for friendship, support and love has made our relationship stronger. We spend more time together than ever before, and I love Jeff's company more than I ever did.

While we don't have lots of friends here in Hawaii, we do have them. Our friends here are good, warm people, who have opened their lives to us with warmth.

I have come to realize that "home" is in my heart. I am very much looking forward to visiting Phoenix next week and catching up with so many of you and giving (and getting) a huge hug...but you are always in my heart. Your smiles, your laughter...everything is already there...and seeing you again in person is the icing on the cake.

I do miss you. And time together is short.

But this holiday season, I am so grateful for my wonderful, loving family and friends who continued to make me feel important, allowed me to still be part of your lives, even from Hawaii. Sometimes, when I am in a funk...I think about you and my heart warms up and a smile comes across my face...and I am ever more grateful for you all.

Love to all.

Fall has come to Hawaii

The flight that we took to move out here, I remember a woman commenting to her travel companion, "I could never live there..there is no change in seasons." This gave me pause, as I wondered how I would deal with the same weather all of the time.

I needn't have worried. While its true that we didn't really note much of a difference between spring and summer here, there WAS a difference, we were so busy appreciating the difference between summer here and summer in PHX that it didn't matter much.

However, the difference in the fall, while subtle is definite. The winds are from a different direction and that brings bigger waves to the entire island, but especially the North Shore. Very soon, our world famous surfing competitions will begin there and I personally, can not wait to see it happen. Wind coming from a different direction may seem like a small change, but in fact, it effects everything here on our little island. With the wind, comes wetter weather. Our very own extinct volcano, Kokohead looks lush and green when only a few weeks ago, she looked withered and dry. The clouds are lower, and so they hang on the small mountain range near our house. Even where we are , the rain has come more frequently. And on days that it isn't raining, we have clouds which threaten rain, if only a light smattering. In comparison, I think it rained at our house 2X this entire summer.

The water looks different too. Due to the stronger winds and the waves they create, she looks less azure and more steely blue. Its easier to imagine how treacherous the crossing from island to island might be right now...on the other hand, this water will soon give bear to whale watching...and we are hopeful that we will see plenty this winter.

The thing about living here is that you become more aware of the world around you..including the most gentle of weather patterns.

Mahalo.

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