Honolulu, day 3

This will be short. I just typed a nice, long, well-worded post, but when I ventured from the page to get a screenshot of the map, it didn't save. Lesson learned. 

A full, sunny, hot, salty, wonderful day. Swimming in the ocean. Boogie boarding. Dinner by the pool. A Salvation Army spotted to try out. Despite sunburns, fun was had by all. 

The sirens of Avenue Five make a Hawaiian style dinner with fried rice, fresh sping rolls and ahi steaks. 

Amazing. I still cannot get over our global positioning. I think this every time I travel, but I want a giant map with pins marking everywhere I've been. Absolutely amazing. 

Honolulu, day 2

Well, actually it's day three, but someone had a little too much fun last night and couldn't muster the composure to publish something coherent and worth reading. So today you get double the pleasure. You're welcome!!

We had a beautiful day yesterday. In the 80's with a nice breeze and a lot of sunshine. A bunch of our group took their broods plus mine to a snorkeling beach. Rowan came back with a stuffed seahorse she named Gloria, and who is French. C'est magnifique! 

I went with Joelle & Co. to the Swap Meet held at the Aloha Stadium where they play the Pro Bowl. Kei, Kai and I had fun with that! Luckily we had our Hawai'i native, my super bestie, as our navigator and tour guide. We saw where she played a lot of volleyball and was born! I love a good trip down memory lane. Anyone's lane that is-- not just mine. 

We loaded up on sugary deep fried dough balls called Malasada and polish hot dogs at a place called Leonard's Bakery (established 1952) before we loaded up on a bunch of cheap tourist crap like grass skirts and coconut bras. I was in heaven. I LOVE a chincy souvenir and this place was full of them. We spent our money wisely, and I'm proud to say Kai and I are the owners of 7 t shirts for $20. SCORE!!

We returned to the rental house a couple hours later after getting stuck in: 

1.) crazy Honolulu traffic

2.) a guy on a bike (who we turned out to see several miles later...in FRONT of us)

3.) a Honolulu transient having a helluva time getting his cart of goods up the curb of a overpass cross walk. 

We had happy hour pool party with ALL of us in the pool. 7 families. Yeah. It got loud. We got in trouble. Sorry. That's what happens when you rent out your vacation house to the 12th man. BOOM!

Ok. Time to wrap up. I need to spend a little more time enjoying these red birds eating nectar out of the Birds of Paradise bush and drinking my coffee on the patio before we head to the beach. Ahhhhhh. I love vacation. 

Honolulu, day 1

Wow. I don't know what other word to use. Actually I can think of a few, but 'wow' pretty much sums it up. We are sitting here now, Tj on his Surface playing a video game, Rowan dancing around the living room, of our rental house in the Hawaii Kai region of Honolulu. It's 5 pm, it's 79 degrees, and it's absolutely breath taking. 

We arrived yesterday at 2p after a 12 hour journey from Bothell to the most populated city in Hawaii. and after a jaunt with shuttles and an upgraded rental car (they ran out of compacts so we got a simple upgrade to a Chrysler Town & Country minivan), arrived at our house where we were awaited by loved ones. 

Before we went to bed, Rowan and I squeezed in our first (for both of us) mother-daughter paddle board session in the lagoon outside our house, then went for a quick trip in the kayak. FUN. 

I was up by 5:30, 7:30 Seattle time, and waited until it became light to take my walk. Just me, a butt load of Hawaiian doves or pigeons or whatever they are, my coffee and a quiet, beautiful neighborhood.  As I walked I tried to take mental recording of the sights, sounds, temperature and personal feelings I was experiencing. Here's what came to mind:  there's nothing quite like the first time experiencing a new place more than experiencing a new place for the first time. Yeah. That's what I said.  I already told Tj we'd be coming back sooner than later. 

We took a drive to the east side of the island and spent a couple hours at the beach, before retiring to the house only to spend another 2 hours in the pool. I was lucky enough to find an inner tube in the garage, and rope my brother-in-law, Kai, into making me a few rounds of Rum Punch. 

What a fabulous day in paradise. We leave in an hour to meet my sister, Suji, and her boyfriend Tyson for Japanese dinner in Waikiki. I still can't wrap my brain around that we are here in this magnificent place with so many of our closest friends.  This is a once in a life time type of deal folks, and I wouldn't trade it for all the pineapple in Oahu. And there's a lot. Dole's plantation is here, and I mean to tell you the pineapple are the biggest I've ever seen. 

Stay tuned. More to follow tomorrow. 

That's a real flower. I know!!!!!

Beach Babe, Rowan Katherine

Island in the stream…cousins in the surf. Same diff. 

Rowan's abstract body art, Olin doing an island impersonation. 

The largest pineapple I've ever seen. 

Holy cats! We're going to the Super Bowl.  I can rest easy.

Yesterday and today I am holding down the Berry-Nelson fort in downtown Bothell while Joelle works at the frame shop.  My thoughts so far:

1.  I haven't taken care of a kid in diapers in a long time.  Nor a kid that needs you to dress him and one that takes naps and falls asleep in your arms.

2.  I also haven't had cable since I lived in my apartment in Kenmore where I moved out from two years ago.  I'm getting my fix of day-time USA Law & Order SVU reruns.

3.  I love my nephews, so much! Yesterday we Wyatt, Rowan and I got Olin off the bus.  Today Wyatt and I took Rowan to school and will get Olin off the bus in an hour.  We are having a lot of fun!

I especially am loving the time I get to put Wyatt down for a nap.  His bedroom is so cozy and sweet, and we rock in the rocking chair with a cup of milk.  We left his prized Rainbow Dash giant My Little Pony at my house this morning, and that tough boy went right to sleep without R.D. and just snuggled up with his lovey and me, and fell asleep in my arms in the rocking chair. What a sweet boy.

Here was my highlight today, when we are settled in the chair with our warm cup of milk, getting ready to sing a nap time lullaby:

Me: "Wyatt, what do you want to sing this afternoon?"
Wyatt: "You sing one of your songs."
Me: "You don't want to sing Baa-Baa Black Sheep?"
Wyatt: "No, you sing your songs.  I like those songs."
(Read: Sing the Nanci Griffith song where you can't hold the notes let alone hit the high ones.)

It's been lovely to be here in this bright house especially today with the sun shining.  Despite my exhaustion dealing with a poor ear-ached ridden Rowan from 3a - 5a this morning, I'm feeling rested just sitting here watching decade old Stabler and Benson mysteries and using Jo and Kai's Mac Book with a sweet lap pad.


Happy Thursday!

There's a bit of me (the part that really wants the Hawks to win today) that thinks I'm jinxing myself by getting in here for a game day post before the game has been played.  Deep breath.  It's only football.  I'm watching the news and they are showing a bunch of people that have gotten tattooed.  Some of them look good.  Some of them look strange.  To each their own.  I'll stick to my jersey, #25, my sweet Richard Sherman.

I was listening to 94.9 (one of our local NPR stations) a few days ago, and they have a small piece where they'll play messages left my listeners regarding certain topics.  The topic was the 12th Man.  Two of the three messages called it total crap (in more elegant words) and the other person who admitted to not being a fan, said Hawk Fever and spread through her house overnight.  I thought it was interesting how passionate the people who called the 12th Man "bologna" on the radio felt.  What is the big deal behind that? No one is munchin' on your butt because you have every answer to Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!  Or beat the Will Shortz puzzle every Sunday.  I've said my words.

In other news, Rowan is still fighting a nasty cold that she's had for almost a month, which has left her not wanting to leave my side (for the most part) and a bit of a crabby patty.  It means a lot of snuggling which is fine with me, until I have a glass of wine and fall asleep in her bed and wake up at 12:30 wondering where the hell I am.  

Tj and I have been walking everyday.  He's more than unstable on his stork bird legs, but we've found a nice balance: he uses his hiking pole in one hand, holds my hand in the other and we're able to walk at a quicker pace than if we walk separately.  Here's what you'll find in my other hand:  a hundred pound black lab pit that is a bulldozer and a 7 pound chihuahua that entangle themselves around my wrist.  Imagine me being pulled forward by dogs, and then me pulling Tj's other hand to make sure he keeps his pace up.  It must look odd.  But it's nice to get the exercise with my main squeeze.  The good days are ok, and the bad days are awful when it comes to gauging the symptoms of his illness.  But this new trend we're setting, he puts his boots on everyday and we go for a walk.  I'm proud of him.

Saturday for the Win!

Whew.  That was a week for the books.  Or more accurately, a Saturday for the books.  A sweet win over the Saints, and as my new favorite tagline goes, which only applies when you are watching a Hawks v. Saints game, Kearse the Saints! Unfamiliar? Jermaine Kearse is our Wide Receiver, who hails from Husky Country.  So, Kearse the Saints!

We got to watch the game at our friends' Holly and Gabe's house.  There were 24 humans in one house, celebrating our win.  I staked out a cozy spot on the couch just before the coin toss, and hardly moved.  It.  Was.  Divine.  Pictured below you will find: Holly, top of pyramid.  Quinn and Tom, left and right from Holly.  Kai, me, Tj.  And some guy I don't know who is trying to get out of the picture.  Hey guy, it didn't work.

A 12th Man Pyramid!

We left after the game only to head to new (to us) restaurant in Edmonds on the water.  We not only had a gift card, but we got there during happy hour! It's the only way to eat (and drink).  From our dinner with Katie and Liana we drove up a few blocks to the highlight of my year thus far, 2 hours spent with my favorite musical duo, the Indigo Girls.  It was super fabulous to be under the same roof with all 4 of my favorite lesbians ;) (I am serious, though.)

I have often thought of drafting a letter to them.  They are, by far, my favorite band and although in the past I have gone months without putting them on, their music transcends me to a state of childlike bliss.  I have had them by my side through some of the best and worst times of my life.  I'm not a musical gusher, but holy cats, those two women, their instruments and their voices ... meeting them would be a dream come true.

Amy Ray & Emily Saliers: The Indigo Girls

I scored a set list.

Rowan got a library card last week! She was delighted and I was thrilled.  I never caught the reading bug when I was young, and still it takes me a long time to get through a book.  Rowan is a reading fiend and I'm pretty sure she feels like she can do anything with her library card! I'll only make a small note that she was even more excited that the library had a movie section.  HA!

Proud kiddo with her 1st library card!

We also got to go a Mountains & Tunnels show! If you aren't familiar with the music stylings of Chris Poage, check him out.  He's super.  He was accompanied just by Sandy and Norm of the band, and they played at a place called Smokin' Pete's BBQ on 65th.  The food was SO good.  I had a couple of thoughts after that show: 1.) I would live in the south if someone made me Hushpuppies from scratch and gigantor ribs falling off the bone daily.  2.) I would weigh somewhere in the 400 pound range, but it would be worth it.  So yeah, I'll probably just stay is Bothell.

Sid trying to get on stage with her dad. 

We are heading up to Tom and Susan's (Tj's folks) place on Whidby this afternoon.  We will spend the night and I will come home tomorrow with Bam, Tj and Ninja will stay through the week.  I'm hoping for a walk on the beach tomorrow, and maybe a stroll this afternoon.  My goal to walk everyday this last week was only 3/7ths successful.  But guess what? Today starts a new week, with new goals!

Be good.  Do good work.  Thanks Garrison Keillor.  I will.  

Kickoff! (The New Year...and maybe some football undertones)

Round two for the new year.  I've already invested 25 of my precious minutes of 2014 creating a post you would have loved to read.  I typed it on my iPad, which is difficult in its own right but which also has faulty wifi connectivity.  I lost it.  And I was sad.  And I thought to myself, " Who am I kidding?! Trying to keep this up when I don't even have a real thing to type on?"  That's when TJ said, let's fix your computer.  That was easy.  He did it in about 15 minutes and now I have a real computer again.  The gods must be crazy, III, because this has been a beautiful, relaxing January 4th if ever I lived one.

Tj celebrated 40 years of life yesterday.  He requested a SausageFest, which was executed excellently thanks to a few friends I was able to call favors of.  His birthday party wrapped up a streak of holiday get-togethers that I added up to be nearly ten legit parties in 2 weeks.  THAT is crazy.  And no one came down with anything too serious.  Except for now that I jinxed it I'm sure we'll all be down and out with the flu by tomorrow night.

here's a glimpse of Tj's birthday food table.

We have a lot on our fun-plate coming up and I couldn't be more excited about it.  I try to remind Tj frequently that we both need to live in the present moment. Not to dwell on what's to become of us, but what experiences we will bank with our time on this planet.  And it all starts next week with my SIXTH Indigo Girls concert with neighbor-besties Katie and Liana.

My very favorite musical artists of all time.

Here's my personal goal for the next week: keep my house clean, go for a walk every day with Rowan, and to eat salad.  And Wurstsalat (German salad made of cheese, pickles and main ingredient, Wurst (sausage)) - pictured above, can you find it? - doesn't count.

Happy Saturday! I can't wait to share all of my hilarious anecdotal stories with you next Saturday.  I think I'm basically ready to send in my application to be a writer for Prairie Home Companion.

I will leave you with this photo of my girl and her holiday bangs.  

She is a smart, compassionate, beauty.