Resolution Time

Well it's that time of year again. I looked back on what I resolved to do this year and out of 27 I accomplished 14 which is slightly more than half. So I consider that pretty good. Now it's time to make resolutions for the New Year 2012. Some of these are the same as last year since I still need to do them and keep them up.

NEW YEARS 2012 GOALS

1. Become debt free
2. Own a car
3. Find “The One”- does not mean get married
4. Go back to Hawaii
5. Visit Grandma
6. Visit Marie or have her come here
7. Party with Sam and Ben.
8. Get back into Lake Powell shape.
9. Knock out three states on my list.
10. Visit another country.
11. Ride 100 days on the slopes for 2011/2012 season.
12. Make a budget
13. Stick to my budget
14. Pick a place to have a permanent home.
15. Learn to stand up paddle.
16. Ride Crested Butte and Telluride.
17. See Grand Canyon
18. Advance my photography skills.
19. Hit up an amusement park.
20. See Nickelback in concert. If they tour this year.
21. Become happy again.
22. Actually have a savings account with money in it. Preferably over $5000
23. Look into owning my own bar and restaurant.
24. Plan an amazing 4^th of July.
25. Do something awesome for my birthday since I am turning the big 3-0.

Colorado

Here I am, almost three weeks into the resort life again. So far I have worked my ass off, quite literally. One day off so far. I can't complain though, anything is better than Michigan. I feel so much better and much happier. I have been eating healthier and been more active and it's a start back in the right direction. Now to just get back to Hawaii and my life will be perfect. I will post some photos soon of the beautiful mountains. I just need to get some time to take some. Maybe on Christmas day when I'm up on the slopes. In the meantime, I have been catching up with my girlfriends and I have to say it's been so nice having actual girlfriends around and being able to stop by and say hi to them. More frequent updates soon!!!!

YES!!!!!

Hooray!!!! I am leaving Michigan. I will be in Aspen, Colorado for the winter selling ski and snowboard gear and getting to ride every day for free. This is awesome!!! Finally my life will be vaulting out of this horrible pit they call the Great Lake State and into the mountains.

Aerial Michigan

The only fun thing I have done in Michigan is go flying in some small planes. One of my friends is studytng Aviation Science, basically becoming a pilot, and has taken me up a couple times. The first plane was a Cessna 152 which is very small and cramped and honestly doesn't feel that sturdy. It kind of feels like it just floats in the air and is pushed by wind. The Cirrus SR I rode in yesterday was much more solid and quite a bit more comfortable. Since it's almost fall I did get a few good pictures from the air. I hope to take a drive up the coast and capture some fall colors in the next couple weeks, but I am also headed to Colorado on a week vacation, so I should get some fun stuff done there as well.

 

Stuck

I have had no new posts because quite frankly I have done nothing exciting. This state sucks and I hate it. I miss Hawaii terribly and dream of the ocean and smells every night. I fear one night I will just take off again and go back to my home. Please, kidnap me and take me back.

Colorado Trip

My Colorado visit went well. It's always good to see friendly faces and remininsce about old party times. I took my friend Nicole with me to Aspen for her first time. Springtime in Aspen is absolutely gorgeous. We hiked the Ute trail which has a tremendous view at the top well worth the hike.

We took Independence Pass home which is beautiful any time of year you venture up there. I wanted to show Nicole the view at the top at the Continental Divide but stepping into the snow, I dropped to my crotch. Way more snow than I thought. Below are some more shots from my time in Colorado. I will be back soon.

 

Last Sunset in Hawaii

Moving On

Well, I did already cry and I haven't even made it to the plane yet. I can imagine once I'm on the plane it won't go to well. Hopefully I don't sit next to anyone who wants to chat.

I am excited to get some pics of Colorado now with my new cam. I love the photos I'm getting from it. I hope to catch one last sunset tonight with it before I leave.

I plan on hitting up Denver, Breckenridge, and Aspen this week, so I'll be busy. I found out I can snowboard in Aspen still, so I'll be grabbing my board to get my only runs of the season in. It won't be great snow, but the company will be great and the views fantastic. I also wanna try and hit up the Royal Gorge and Rocky Mountian National Park, since I never have. At the least, the Royal Gorge. One mountian national park is pretty much like the next, haha.

I have decided to push myself to find things in Michigan that are cool and little known about. Since I hate Michigan, I need to find things to keep me from diving into the depths of utter despair. Either that or I will soon be single and on my way to Alaska. Hello, Sasquatch.

Maybe Montana.

Or Australia.

Last Days

My boyfriend got me a nice camera for my birthday, so you can imagine I have been going nuts taking pictures all over the island before I leave. I have gotten some great new pics and am pretty impressed with the quality from this camera. The pictures come out with great depth and color which is two things I hated about the one I had been using.

For my birthday we went camping near the ocean again and I think I prefer it over any other kind. I managed to down almost a fifth of Beam by myself and I remember standing in front of the ocean with a full moon shining down, the waves catching the light like diamonds and the warm salt air brushing my face. The water was black as tar except for one long strip of light dancing it's way up to the moon. I think I will end up settling down by the ocean.

I woke up early for the sunrise and missed some of it since clouds had rolled in but I still got some good pics.

 I have also fallen in love with panoramic photos and am trying these out as well. Today we went hiking at the westernmost tip of the island and the other day I checked out some higher points on the island. Most of today's post will be photos. Wednesday I land in Colorado for a few days and then head to Michigan. I fear I will be shedding some tears on the plane and hope to return soon to such a beautiful place.

Makapu'u Beach

Kitesailers off of Lanikai Beach

 

 

 

To the right, Olomana Peak

 

Honolulu from Tantulus





Pali overlook at Kaneohe



 

Almost Lost My Hearing

Today I was starting to do dishes and my brother comes in and asks if I want to go skydiving. With suds all over my hands, I pondered this for about 2.5 seconds, asked if he was paying, and then of course said yes. It turned out this was my birthday present. YES!!!
The skydiving place is on the other side of the island at Dillingham Airfield called Pacific Skydiving. We had to wait for almost two hours to go up but I didn't really mind. For some reason though I never did get nervous. My tandom jumper's name was Bundy and it turned out I was #11,058 to jump with him. That's a lot of jumps. We loaded up into a small plane and as usual I was the only female. Seems to be my destiny. From the plane you can see all of the North Shore and if you're lucky you can also spot the other islands in the distance. Unlike the grid pattern you see in the air from the mainland, Hawaii's grids are very unkempt and uneven making for a very colorful and beautiful patchwork. The view was incredible since I could see two mountain ranges, pineapple and coffee fields and the endless blue ocean. Bundy cinched me in my harness good and tight, and I do mean good and TIGHT. I couldn't move anything almost to the point of pain. I thought by this time I would be nervous, especially when they opened the door, but no go. I was definitely ready to do this. My brother was right in front and when he dropped out, it almost looked like he got sucked out. I got to the edge and for a second I wasn't sure if I should just go for it or if Bundy would give me a push but the next thing I knew I was free-falling at about 180 feet per second. At first it was really cold and uncomfortable from the harness being so tight, but seconds later I realized my ears were seriously about to blow out of my head. It was the most intense pain I have ever experienced, like the pressure you get when they need to pop but ten times worse. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore and was going to cry like a baby, (jk) the parachute opened and we jerked into an upright position and the pressure almost immediately lessened.
The view from up there is breathtaking. I couldn't get enough of it. Once the parachute opens though you don't have too much longer. Bundy let me do a few 360's and then we were inches above the ground. We landed in a standing position and I was instantly warm again. I think I would go again if I could do something about my ears, maybe ear plugs, but if I can't I'm not sure. At that speed it was an intense pain. They have been bothering me all day now. Not everyone has that though. This is one of the views I had. I think I will take up paragliding now.

Last Month in Hawaii

Time is flying by and I only have a short time to do the things I want to do on this island. This time is hampered even more by the fact that it's so hard to get anyone to get out and do anything with me and I don't have my own transportation. My boyfriend is no help either since he claims to HATE Hawaii and is less than thrilled to be out in nature. Uggghhhh, I guess I can't have it all. Anyway enough complaining. Kristina and I headed out yesterday to explore some things and even though it has been raining for the last three weeks with a torrential downpour, we decided it was worth it to get wet and dirty.

First up was the Byodo-In Temple in the Valley of the Temples which is a VERY nice cemetary built in 1968 not far from the Marine Base. The temple itself is built entirely without nails and is a replica of one in Japan that was built 900 years ago. The building is beautiful and the whole atmosphere here is very calm and serene. There is also a 3 ton brass bell that you are supposed to ring when you enter to ensure happiness and peace. The Buddha statue is covered in gold leaf and is 18 feet tall.

 

The temple is surrounded by koi ponds and lots of birds and swans. With all the rain we've been getting there were additional waterfalls in the background off of the Ko'olau mountains so the whole effect was very peaceful and almost like being in another country. We managed to make it out just when a tourist bus full of old people drove up. There is nothing worse than sight-seeing around old people. Or Asians. I don't care if that makes me sound racist or exclusive. It's a fact.

After this temple we decided to drive by the Mormon Temple as well. I basically spent my Sunday checking out religions other than my own, but not to worry, I wasn't swayed.

Continuing around the island we stopped for some of Romy's Shrimps and Prawns, some of the best spicy garlic butter shrimp and rice you will ever have and then stopped at Sunset Beach for some shells. Currently I am attempting to fill a vase I received that previously had flowers in it with shells from all the beaches I go to here. I'm about halfway there.
I have today off too and am trying to nag my boyfriend into doing something, which he won't, so I just need to motivate myself to go check out some waterfalls close to my house. This would be an urban hike and I find these less thrilling.

Recent Pics

I feel a little disappointed in myself since I have been slacking on my hikes and wanderings. It's hard to be motivated though when I would be doing these myself since the girls are with their husbands and my boyfriend really doesn't enjoy it. I did manage to hike up Diamond Head the other day though. This isn't really what I would call a hike, merely a climb to the fifth story of a house, haha. It's pretty easy and the whole thing can be done in less than an hour unless you get stuck behind slow Asians, which I did the first time. Believe me, they do not like to move fast and need to take snapshots  of E-VE-RY-THING!! I also included the best night shot I have gotten of Honolulu so far, but I'm working on getting a better cam to perhaps get a much better shot before I'm no longer here. Time is running out.



My brother heading up into the tunnel.



Honolulu from the observation deck.





Honolulu and the Punchbowl from the top of Tantalus Drive



Skinnydipping

I went skinnydipping off of Waikiki Beach Saturday night. While in hindsight, this was probably not the best location, especially since there were a ton of tourists, I have to say it was tons of fun. The ocean is pretty warm at night and the water feels soft on your skin and since it's so salty you stay bouyant. I recommend going for it and feel I will be doing it again before I leave.

Sharkman Cave and the Lower West Side of Oahu

I took a break from my quest for waterfalls and instead decided to check out a cave I had heard about on Oahu. I had found a small cave on my Makapu'u Lighthouse Hike but when I say cave I mean "dark, slimy, tunnel in the rock to huge caverns cave." Supposedly this one was much larger.

It's called the sharkman cave since in the early days of Hawaii, a god, born from a shark father and a human mother lived in this cave. Once the sharkman had gotten a taste of meat he lived on the bodies of Hawaiians. He would take human form to lure people into his cave and then kill them and leave them on a large rock in the back of the cave in order to eat in his shark form later. Eventually the Hawaiian people were able to kill the sharkman but the cave still has a taboo aura about it.

One of the tunnels

Kristina and Christina

The cave is rather large but quickly stops short about 300 feet in. There are two small tunnels I couldn't crawl through since I had shorts on and also I have a problem with claustrophobia, so this is an adventure I will have to do with a guy.

It's real name is Makau cave and is almost to the far western point of Oahu just before the Kaena Point State Park hike.
Since there was literally no hike involved in with this cave, we decided to check out some of the beaches. The beaches on this side of the island have frequently been referred to as "Tent City" since the homeless used to live here. They have recently been eradicated, thankfully, since this area has some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. We ended up laying out at Yokohama Beach, which is so named since the Japanese used to frequent this beach back in the 40's. It's original name is Keawa'ula. Almost no one was out here on a week day which means we had a long 7 mile stretch of beach to ourself.




The last beach before Kaena Point.

Coming back towards Honolulu there is a large valley on the left hand side of the road created by the Waia'nae Mountain Range. This is an absolutely breathtaking view of one of the prettiest valleys in Oahu. I will be coming back to hike this area.


Oahu's Waterfalls

Currently I am on a quest to find and explore all of Oahu's waterfalls. I think I have done four so far, although it seems like I have done more since a few of them I have hit up more than once. Manoa Falls, Likeke Falls, Waimano Falls, and Maunawili Falls are now all under my belt. I plan on checking out Kahena Falls (these were featured in the movie Rundown, the jeep hurtles over them) tomorrow with my Russian friend Kristina. I did Maunawili Falls today and since it has been raining like crazy in the mountians and was raining while we were hiking, the falls were huge. Kristina had hiked them before and said there was only one fall and it had been a trickle. The water was pretty muddy but I was undeterred and braved it anyway. Hopefully I do not catch the dreaded bacteria leptrospirosis which seems to like to hang out in lots of the waters around here. If I do catch it, I guess I will be getting fevers and severe headaches in the next few weeks. We shall see.
Sacred Falls are techically closed but as you can imagine this wont stop me. I'd like to hit these up next week if I don't go to the Big Island like I am hoping. The only other ones I know about are at Waimaea Bay. Hopefully I can find some more after that.

Random Stuff Since I Have Been Lazy

I haven't been doing much in the way of exploration since all the boys went underway and I have very few friends outside of them. I spent another day at the beach which I have to admit is a huge stress reliever and I have been stressed about money lately. Mainly because I have none.

I am expecting a really good friend to come out next week and I have lots planned for her. Since this is the first time someone has to come to see me here I'm excited to show off the island so someone new can discover exactly what makes Oahu so fantastic. I aim to have her fall in love with it just as much as I have. Big girl pants only please.

I joined Netflix since I have all this extra time and I completed season one of Dexter. Talk about getting sucked into a show. Now I know why fat people are fat. It's impossible to leave that show for a day. Thank God I have three more seasons to go through. I should have stuck with Criminology in college.

Work is going great so far. I have learned tons and still have a ton to learn. Just today I made the store almost $9000 in revenue (excluding tax) and the bosses say I have been doing really well. I can't tell you how AWESOME it is to have a job that doesn't stress me out, I don't have to stress about it once I clock out, and the bosses recognize when you actually try and work hard. Imagine that. If you want to see some of the TV's I am selling here is my favorite one by Sony right now. I WANT this TV. The best part is I know exactly what each feature is and what it does. I love being a nerd.

Sunday is Super Bowl and we all know what that means. Amazing commercials!! I knew that's what you were looking forward too. I think I am hanging out with some of the new girls I have met, but if not, I'll be hitting the beach again since I will most likely have it to myself. Hello skin cancer.

SPEAK AMERICANO!!!!!!!!

Let's speak hypothetically here. Say one day I decide on a whim that Germany looks like a rather nice country to live in. I mean after all, they have mountains, they have tall Germans, I can breed tall kids, they have German chocolate cake. So I pack up and move. I decide that speaking German is too far below me and so I breed this kid who can learn both languages and be my interpreter. Because I'm lazy. And stuck up.

NO!!!!!!! This happened to me at work today. This Chinese couple came in looking for a TV and don't speak a word of English. They have one 16 year old child and one 5 year old child. The 16 year old speaks very broken English and  none of the other three speak any English whatsoever. After a grueling 2 hours of trying to explain TV options and pricing and how to change the language settings on the freaking TV, (and "No, for the fifteenth time I cannot give you anything for free") I finally get this couple to ring up a TV and find out they have lived on the island for about 12 years.

I will be sending a petition around to sign. It will require anyone entering the States with the intent to live permanently to speak decent English. Anyone achieving green card status will need to be fluent.

Seriously, if I was to move to another country I would be learning the language pronto. Or choose Australia.

Kayaks and Sunburns

Don't think that just because you have a good base tan you can't still get a sunburn. I was foolish and retarded enough to think this. Generally, I am sooo good at putting sunscreen on and keeping my skin safe and healthy. This past week I got a little sun happy and after five hours in the sun turned a nice ripe tomato red. I had to show up to work like that and since I work with all guys you can imagine how many comments I received. Luckily, one of the guys decided to emulate me and today it was my turn to pick on him. Ahh the sweetness of revenge. Our lesson today, wear sunscreen alllllll the time in Hawaii, even if you have a tan already.

Sunday we decided to kayak to an island called Chinaman's Hat off the North Shore of Oahu. This is a little over a half a mile out and the surf was pretty calm getting there in the kayaks until we got to the opposite side facing the ocean. My kayak tipped over since I have an over eager boyfriend with more muscle than he knows what to do with. There is a tiny beach on the ocean facing side. The island is shaped after the straw hats farmers wear in China. Hence the name if you couldn't follow that. We hiked to the top of the island(about 500 feet up) and the view up there is spectacular. You get a good 180 degree view of Oahu's windward side and the Koolau mountains. Well worth the kayak trip and climb. I will definitely do this again with any friends that visit me.

Chinaman's Hat from the Koalua Beach Park

Koalua Park with the Koolau Mountains in the background

Venting on Lazy Humans

I know I have mentioned this before but I don't get people who spend their entire weekend just laying around the house watching TV or surfing the internet. What happened to getting together with friends or family and doing outdoor activities? This is why America is FAT. And I don't mean Phat. I mean effing FAT. You know why you have to use a wheelchair to get from the car to the store? It's not because of your genes. It's not because of a medical condition. It's because over the last fifteen years you have spent every spare second sitting on your ass in front of the TV eating 2500 calorie TV dinners and McDonalds takeout. It's because instead of taking the kids out and teaching them sports or how to enjoy nature, you hand them a PS3 and start them on their journey to get fat as well. I have no sympathy for you hunched over in your wheelchair, sweating buckets simply trying to reach a remote control. I have no respect either, merely disgust. And I will tell my friends later about you so we may laugh at your expense.

This probably seems very judgemental and inhumane, and you are probably saying, "Joey, you're so sweet and innocent. Why would you say such things?" One, I'm not sweet and innocent, and two, stop being so soft. Don't make me high five your face.

In other news, I conquered another hike (no fat for me for a bit) and found a relatively decent Greek restaurant on the east side of the island. Not the best Greek I have had, but decent Greek food considering it's run by Asians who specialize in different hot sauces.

Pigs in Trees

Another five hour hike along the Likeke Trail via the Old Pali Highway. This road is no longer in use and winds along the mountain to hook up with a trail that leads under the currently used Pali Highway. You have to hike under the highway then along a small ridge to a waterfall.

This waterfall is so far the best one I have seen on the island so far. I took my friend Christina and it took us three hours to get to the end. Along the way we ran into three dead baby pigs hanging in the trees. Not sure why they were hanging there but my final solution since I couldn't find anything on the internet about it is that these pigs were attempting to fly and failed. It took us another two hours to get back to the truck and by that time we were tired, sore, and spent. Good hike though. I may have to do it again with some more friends.

In other issues, I have discovered that while Hawaiians, at least the construction workers, are some of the laziest people I have ever seen they like to start work insanely early in the morning. Sometimes it has been before six am and today was eight. I had to look up the quiet hours and sadly they run from 10pm-8am so there was nothing I could do about it today. Also I am really freaking close to throwing a brick through the windshield of my neighbor's white acura outside my window. Anytime anything with a deep muffler or lack thereof zips past our house her alarm goes off. I swear I'll give that car a reason to go off. 

Life in General

Yesterday I went hiking with my brother and three others to a waterfall in the heart of Oahu. We ended up getting lost and taking a side trail that turned a two hour hike into a five hour hike but isn't that usually the best kind of hike? There are two pools at the end of the waterfall and I ended up jumping in and the water was FREEZING!! Colder than the water in the mountains in the springtime. So cold. I was proud of myself for jumping in though since I have a bad fear of having my head under water. Ironically, the two people most afraid of water and who can't swim, (my brother and I) were the only two to get into the water. We may have our phobias but we also like to push ourselves.

I am really liking my job right now at Best Buy. Today I moved from Customer Service to Magnolia Home Theatre and I have to say, I LOVE being back with technology and learning all about TVs and HD again. I tend to soak up the info like a sponge and that gets me really excited. I hope this goes well for me and I succeed very well. I aim to succeed.

Tomorrow I plan on another hike with my new friend Christina and her friend. I'm loving that I have new friends that like being outside. I'm planning on the Pali Lookout hike which is a bit longer but should be awesome with views unless it's raining like it is now. I do love a good rainy day though. I can't even complain about those here.

First Friday

Ever first Friday of the month in Honolulu, Chinatown hosts a four block party that showcases art galleries in the district and small corner chic bars. It's very popular and generally THE place to be that one Friday of the month. I decided to go last night for my first First Friday, although I quickly discovered it would have been much more fun had I been a little intoxicated. Maybe a lot more.

I discovered many art galleries and small design shops I hadn't been aware of before and also some cool bars, one being an Irish pub called O'tooles, (but then you can never go wrong with an Irish pub), a multi-room dance club called SoHo, (apparently this is where all the girls on the island hang out), and a cool sushi and wine bar called Bambu with a dance floor next door. There is a rather large glass art gallery I will need to check out further since I have a fascination with glass art. The city shuts down Hotel street for a couple of blocks and by ten oclock the streets are packed with every ethnicity the island holds. Quite a few places charge cover but if you search hard some of them don't and the ones that don't usually have the best atmosphere anyway.

Hiking

I didn't use to like hiking but ever since Moab last April I really have developed a passion for it. Since I've been in Hawaii, I have tried to hike once a week at least and the hikes here are some of the most beautiful I have ever done. Inland hikes are often damp being in the middle of the jungle and the air has a heavy earth scent after it rains. Hikes on the outer banks are often rocky and right on the ocean. None of them are boring. I particularly like the hikes that have waterfalls but apparently for the best waterfall hikes I am on the wrong island. I am posting a couple pics below of the hike I did on Wednesday to Manoa Falls.

Today I am headed to the beach. I haven't had a full beach day in some time and am looking forward to just spending hours in the sand with the sun kissing my skin. I need to up my tan factor anyway. The first pic is also from Wednesday and the people in it are stand-up paddling. It's a fantastic way to work your abs while hanging out in the water too. It's on my list of things to accomplish this year.

My Postsecret

Every Sunday I check the website Postsecret. This is something I look forward to every week. Sometimes they make me laugh but often they make me cry. Too many of these secrets hit home so hard it's often difficult to read them, but I still do. It makes me feel not so out of place and different since someone else out there is going through the same thing. We all have secrets, some more than others. I have many many secrets that even the closest people to me don't know. I don't think some are actually secrets but more self-realizations. I don't think I have fully "self-realized" myself yet, but I have more than when I was 18. One thing I have realized most recently is that I am terrified to fall in love again. As of today though and some information I found out, I have decided to let go of some things and someone, and maybe take a leap and give another person a chance.

New Year's Eve

So, here it is, New Year's Eve and I'm home alone. Moment of silence for my pity-party. I don't really want to be alone but also I'm not regretting not ringing in the New Year being drunk off my ass and wishing I could remember more of the night like I am sure most of friends will be doing.

I did finish my resolutions list which will start tomorrow. Hopefully this year I can get everything checked off my list.
1. Become debt free
2. Own a car
3. Find “The One”- does not mean get married
4. Visit Colorado
5. Visit Grandma
6. Go see Olivia
7. Visit Marie or have her come here
8. CENSORED. (haha) ;)
9. Work out frequently
10. Cut out fast food.- does not include pizza, chicken wings, or subway
11. Eat a healthy diet.
12. Make a budget
13. Stick to my budget
14. Learn to swim
15. Learn to stand up paddle
16. Kayak
17. See Grand Canyon
18. Knock off at least two more states on the list
19. Get back into photography
20. Get a good camera
21. Skydive
22. Hit up cedar point
23. Look into going back to school
24. If not school, consider reserves or vice versa
25. Stay Hot or relatively good looking
26. Stay happy

Whether or not I accomplish any or all of these goals doesn't matter since I will more than likely find something to replace them or do instead of them. That's it for now though since I'm one hour away from the New Year and on the phone with someone special.