Sweater-ific.

I put on a sweater this morning. And a whole bunch of the regulars I see running along S. Kihei Road were wearing sweaters too. I think that's the first time since I've been working at Mala that I've put on a sweater in the morning. Granted, I'm going to work ass-early in the morning these days, but still....it's momentous.

Bi-what?

I went to the eye doctor on Thursday with the express purpose of getting new glasses. Really for no other reason than I am an accessory whore, and insurance covers them, so I figured I may as well.

After a rather long an laborious exam, and then another exam of my existing glasses, the doctor let me know that my distance prescription is now a little too strong for me, and that I need closeup glasses too.

WTF?!

Apparently in the last couple years, my distance vision has actually improved, and now my closeup vision is going down the tubes. Now, I've never had a terribly strong prescription - a little astigmatism in one eye, and a little fuzzines in the other. But for her to tell me that I now need reading glasses, and that I really don't the distance glasses except at night....well, folks, it just felt like the beginning of the end for me.

Apparently 30 is the age at which life begins to send you small reminders that you're not going to live forever, and that you should probably start taking care of your body.

Granted, it's not that bad right now, but essentially that doctor just painted a picture of future bifocals action for me. Lovely!

I still satisfied my accessory feening, and found a cute pair of reading glasses. I'll put up pictures when I get 'em.

I Lettered in Massage.

Got my license number in the mail yesterday. I'm so excited, but the letter is totally nondescript and boring - I believe it was actually printed on a dot matrix printer.

I wonder if I paid a couple extra bucks I could have gotten the version that came with fanfare?

It's still awesome. I'm MAT 10971 baby.

On the Plus Side...

...I haven't eaten barely anything in the last three days, so maybe this will kickstart some weight loss.

On another note...I've been looking up information on lost sleep, and pretty much everyone agrees that you can't make up for lost sleep. If you lose some sleep one night, then the next night your body might try to regain homeostasis by sleeping deeper, and perhaps longer, but studies have shown that with repeated loss of sleep....the body stops trying to compensate. And then your IQ diminshes, along with reason, and certain functions of your cognitive, cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems.

Which means, when you lose sleep, you become irrational, emotional, and stupid.

Guess what - this applies to both men and women.

Comforting.

Life in Paradise...is still Life.

And heartache is still heartache. Why is it so difficult to relate to another human being? And how is possible that a person (me) can go from feeling so happy to so overwrought in less than a heartbeat? Why do other people have the ability to affect me in that way? Do I expect too much? Do I give too much? Too little? Should I spend time alone to figure it out? Should I try to make myself understood? Is it worth the effort?

On the one hand I wish I wasn't affected so deeply, but on the other hand I know fully with intense pain comes that intense joy. And I suppose all you can do is hope that the joy outweighs the pain.

Just don't ask me that question right now.

I spend a lot of time and energy trying to understand my partners - to know what makes them who they are, to understand their history, to know how to best comfort and soothe, to feel what they feel. Can it ever work long term with someone who doesn't approach me in the same manner?

I am so adamantly against the stereotypical roles of man and woman - I know there are men in this world who are emotionally evolved, and who approach a relationship with a desire to understand their partner. Just as I know there are women in this world who would rather check that level of intimacy at the door. I am not that woman...and I want that man.

What I wonder is how I could love a man who doesn't want to understand me. And how could he profess to love me...without understanding me?

How could we enjoy each other religiously, share so much, our deepest secrets in fact.....and still not be communicating?

Why do I feel like it is my job to fix it? Why does my stomach hurt? I know I have the strength to make it right for myself, but doesn't he know how little it would take to save me? From pain, from turmoil, from myself?

I am a pragmatic romantic. If that makes sense.

It's been so very long since I have been in love....did I forget about this part of it? Or is this relationship really not good for me? Do I need to be more patient? With him? With myself?

Love in paradise....is still love. Only now I don't have my girls with me to share a bottle of wine and bitch about it.

I gotta find myself a therapist. And start working out again. And get back into my jewelry.

I really need a nap.

I Need to be Kinder to Stupid People...

So I feel pretty comfortable that as a part of my desire to understand my fellow human being, I am continuing to grow as an individual. The thing I need to now focus on is ensuring that I'm being understanding to ALL my fellow humans, and not just the ones that I deem worthy enough to warrant my good graces.

This morning, I happened into a Starbucks and ordered a breakfast sandwich (side note: I've been "off" my good eating habits the last two weeks, and starting over on Monday. i'm sure there will be a post about my disappointment there). The name of the sandwich is a Turkey Pesto Melt. I don't know if the girl was new or what, but she asked what I thought was a kind of dumb question. Here is how the conversation went:

Starbucks Gal: What can I get for you this morning?

Me: I'd like a Turkey Pesto Melt please.

SG: Would you like that heated up?

(pause)

Me: Isn't that the way it's served?

SG: Well it can be a cold sandwich as well.

Me: Ah, I've never had it that way. "Melt" kind of indicates it's heated, yeah?

SG: (chuckles nervously). Yeah..

Me: (wonders why I didn't just say...."yes".)


So....I find it interesting that with friends and loved ones I am forgiving of these kinds of small stupidities (I suppose because I trust they will forgive me mine), and yet I felt the need to elevate myself to the woman who got me a sandwich.

Are you kidding me?

I know I'm not like that all the time, but I left feeling disappointed in myself. Don't get me wrong...stupid people/questions will probably irritate me until the end of my days, but I certainly don't need to be calling it out.

It's time to expand my area of zen to those outside my circle of trust.

Baby Got a Name

...Monday night Bradley came over and promptly started up the scooter. This was after I came home and still couldn't get the engine to turn over. Apparently I wasn't being aggressive enough.

This island is making me soft.

So I've been riding her for exactly one week now. Love it!!!

And I must give credit and thanks to Megan for naming her. The scoots is officially named.....

Symone

Megan suggested Simone, which immediately just seemed totally appropriate. Especially because...get this...the make of the scoots is a "Sym". And Megan didn't even know that....weeeiiird. So with a slight spelling adjustment, she has a perfect name. Thanks Megs!!

Officially Official

I passed!!! Wahoo!!!! Now all I gotta do is pay another chucnk of cash to the state of Hawaii, and I'm officially a licensed massage therapist.

That's flippin awesome.

Buzzkill

So tired this morning from an awesome night of performing last night, got my butt out of bed at 5:45am, had to get to work by 7am because we have a huge conference in the hotel, and they are all coming for breakfast, and I'm managing today.

The scooter wouldn't start.

The dealer said that happens fairly often to a new scooter because the engine has to get broken in (blah blah blah), and he showed me how to kickstart it if that should happen. I couldn't for the life of me get it to kickstart this morning, tried for over 20 minutes, getting more and more sweaty and gross. So after all of four days of ownership, I had to leave it there and go run for the bus. Got to work a half hour late.

So irritated. Gotta call the dude today when I get home. After walking home. From the bus.

%$#()*&$#@&)!!!!!!!!!!

Do It Again..

Had an absolute BLAST last night, singing with the Ryan Robinson Band. I was really nervous (it's funny how a few years off the stage will leave you shaking in your boots!), but pretty much ALL my friends here came to check it out, and it was awesome to see all their smiling faces in the crowd.

The first song, I just sang a little backup vocals, but the second song was was a new one for the band and a feature for me. We killed it!


Here is a small clip from the night. Sorry about the side angle on the first part - the cinematographer didn't realize that my little Canon Elph isn't actually a video camera. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIFg2Zc_-bk

I'm totally on YouTube. There should be more video forthcoming.



Some pictures posted below too, and more on Facebook. So much fun.

Time to Find My Girl a Name...

It happened a little crazy fast, didn't expect to have her until the weekend, but here she is my friends....my new scoots!!! I do quite love her a lot.

I don't know why, but she's definitely a girl, and so it's time to give her a name!!

I might change out the basket on the back (he threw that one in for free when I bought the rack), because it's a little too small.

Check out the serious lock I have on it too...it's monstrous, but nothing is safe enough for my girls. Especially when scooter lifting is like a state sport around here.

The speedometer reads 12 miles right now. I put all 12 miles on it, and I like that. The first time this baby was ever fired up was for my test drive.

I really really want to take off the DD stickers. They're fugly. And I want to put a (white? black? maroon?) racing stripe up the front.

So....send me name suggestions!! She's a very smooth ride, so she needs something a little more sophisticated and classy.

Oh, and Did I Mention...

...that gas is almost $5 a gallon here, and my little scooter will be getting approximately 115 miles to the gallon? You heard me. Yeah....I'll pretty much be paying about $5-10 a month in gas, depending on how many times I need to go into town.

That's flippin awesome.

Scooter Love

I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that I have officially chosen a scooter. I test drove several yesterday, and the one that I want is such a nice ride. After riding some of the more "sporty" mopeds (we're talking loud and proud sport bikes - the ones that you hear coming from North Kihei), I hopped on the Sym DD50. Let me tell you friends, for a fairly small ride, there is plenty of power. AND, it's likes riding on pillows compared to the others. The ride is so smooth and comfortable, and now I know why it's $500 more for this is contraption. The Sym DD50 is the red one that is pictured in my earlier post (but I'm getting silver).

All the reviews I've read say these little guys go forever without any problems. The other one that I pictured in my previous post - the silver and black GTX Turbo Cam - tends to have some issues. As a matter of fact, both times I went to the dealer, he had a different GTX out that he was replacing the crank shaft and piston on. Neither of them were older than two years. (yikes!)

So, after the test drive and research about the other models, I madethe decision to get the little Sym. And a huge thanks goes to Nicole (roomie, and going forward will be referred to as Nicool) for helping to make it possible. She's an awesome gal. I'm going to call the dealer tonight I think and order up my new scoots!!

I'm gonna have him put a cute little basket on the back too. Cool! Next stop - helmet land! Here are a couple pictures of the model I am getting - I like it in silver SO much better. I want to take the "DD" stickers off it (I think they look dumb), but the dealer guy said the resale value is higher with them on there, so I'm torn. I guess it just depends on how much they really bug me.

I'll send pictures of my exact one when it's in my possession!!!

Pain in the Ash

The way to cultivate the land here for sugar cane is to burn off the cane field after harvest. Frequently you can smell the fields burning, and while it's not altogether unpleasant, the ash certainly is. That crap can travel such great distances, it's almost divine.

I totally wanted to jump in the pool this morning to wake up, but there was ash in it. Big black strips and chunks, and they just stick to you if you jump in. Ew. So I went out by the beach, and while I was sitting on my little steps, you just see the ash floating through the air like gossamer.

Luckily, we only have this problem when they're burning the fields on the more western side, but they've apparently been doing that all week. So annoying.

Whew!

I'm done with the exam. I'm done with the exam. I'm done with the exam.

I don't think I fully realized (and still haven't) that this test was basically the culmination of a year's worth of time and energy.......and now it's over. Totally out of my hands now. It was grueling, but mostly because it was flipping loooong, not necessarily because it was difficult. There were definitely a few questions on there that came out of nowhere, but it was all multiple choice, so on those few, I still have a 25% chance of having gotten it right anyhow.

I'm just annoyed because I got home and started looking up answers on those few that had stumped me, and I found at least two that I know I got wrong. UGGG.

Anyway, I feel fairly confident that I passed, but now I know that I didn't get 100%, and that's irritating. You know, to find out that you're not perfect. ;)

So now it's a waiting game - I think we find out within a week or two what our scores were, and then hopefully after that I get to put some letters after my name.

I don't think I'll sleep well until I know for SURE.

Off to the Races

Here we go folks! It's time to spend three hours filling out a Scantron form so that a form letter can tell me whether or not I'm allowed to pursue a career as a massage therapist. Wahoo.

Been studying/cramming the last four days, let's hope it paid off!

Backyard Fishing

Just how it sounds. We went fishing in my backyard last night. It was pretty cool. I say "we", but really Bradley set out five poles, all from the back wall of my yard right into the ocean. I helped a little bit, and this last time he did actually leave me alone with the poles (which he's normally reluctant to do, and to be honest, scares the bleep out of me...if a 50 lb ulua actually took hold of one of those poles, I wouldn't know the first thing to do). Slowly but surely, I'm learning.

Before you even ask, nope, we didn't catch anything. And if you were to ask Bradley that totally reasonable question after a fishing trip, he would tell you wisely:....it's not called "catching", it's called fishing. Luckily, he says it with a smile, and a twinkle in his eye. But of course he only tells you this when his efforts don't yield any pescado. Reeling something in is apparently just a bonus, it's all about the sport for him.

But it was still pretty fun. And it was an especially beautiful day (been a bit rainy here the last week or so), with a killer sunset. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Practical vs Stylish

After riding one around town the last four or five months, I have definitely been converted to a "scooter girl". It's so easy to park, convenient, and with gas prices hiking further and further up on the island....it's quite economical to get me back and forth to work. We're talking....$10 a month in gas.

So this weekend I started the arduous process of finding a new one - spent a good amount of time shopping this weekend, with dreams of finding that perfect Aprilia Mojito, or a super sweet Vespa LX. You know...scoring something with some serious personality!

Unfortunately, practicality completely outweighed my ability to take home a sweet retro-looking scoots. Turns out, those ones are pretty damn expensive, and after all my newfound knowledge of what I should be doing with my money (see earlier post)....well, let's just say I placed a very modest budget on myself for the new scooter. Also...buying parts for the Vespas and Aprilias, and almost any other "cool" brand, is unbelievably expensive. And sometimes rather hard to locate on the Hawaiian islands.

I had originally thought I would find a steal of a deal buying a used scooter, but that idea was quickly shot down by every single person whose opinion I respect on the matter. Apparently these things get monkeyed with all the time, and the risk you run buying a used one is not worth the break in price.

Also, I'm really only buying the scooter as a temporary solution while I build a steady home massage business to a point where I feel comfortable buying a car. So...the car being the ultimate goal....again it doesn't make sense to invest in a super cool looking scooter whose resale value is nowhere near that of the cheaper (not-so-cool) scooters.

All that said... I have resigned myself to the purchase of a scooter with no personality.

Which is totally bumming me out, but makes the absolute most sense. I had to make a grown-up decision and practicality outweighed style.

I'm down to two possible scooters, pictured below. I figure I can do something creative to make it more fun, less like the rice rocket of mopeds, and more classy looking. If you have suggestions, lay em on me.

I'm test driving them both this week...will keep you posted!

Oh, and yes mom, Megan, and Nicole.....I'm BUYING A HELMET!!!

The talk of the town!

My little sister is immensely talented. She's also wicked smart, and wears bright yellow fishnet stockings.

She made me the coolest thing ever, and it is all the buzz amongst the massage therapy community. The lotion holster is an important tool for a therapist - gotta have that lotion or oil at the ready, for those not-so-smooth moments in the rubbing trade.

Elissa, with her own God-given and mom-fostered talent with the sewing machine, made the lotion holster pictured below, and I effing LOVE IT. Not only did she capture the spirit of the Hawaiian islands, she also managed to work in my favorite color - orange - and thus it truly is the most perfect accessory for my work.

(Confession: I actually wear it around the house sometimes, and I've even been tempted to stick my wallet and phone in there for trips to the market. I checked, they both fit.)

I LOVE YOU LITTLE SISTER!!!

Interesting...

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-steinem4-2008sep04,0,7915118.story

Trifecta of Retail Goodness

Is anyone else stoked that you can now shop online at Banana, Gap, and Old Navy in one shot?

Saving on shipping is priceless here. I love it.

Roughin It

Wahoo! I finally made it out to Hana to go camping. It was quite a quick trip, but so worth it. About eight of us made the trip out Saturday for Nicole's (my roomie) birthday. My friend Jason and I headed out Saturday morning, set up camp at Kipahulu campgrounds, actually a bit further than Hana. Some of you have been out to Hana to visit the 7 sacred pools - the same place where the hike up into the bamboo forest is. Kipahulu campgrounds is in that same turnout.

That first night was pretty relaxed - it was an early morning, so I crashed pretty quickly, but not before we enjoyed a few drinks and some delicious hot dogs from the grill. The diet was on hold for the weekend. Especially after Jace broke out the roasted garlic flavored Easy Cheese. Sometimes you just gotta let go.

Side note - that side of the island, it rains a lot, and without warning. So you have to have the rain cover for your tent, and you also have to be pretty easy going, because it can get miserable if you dwell on the fact that you're getting soaked every couple hours or so. The breaks in the clouds are worth it though. Seriously.

My favorite overheard comment of the weekend was right after I climbed into my tent. I was just settling in for a marginally comfortable night's sleep under the stars, when I heard from the neighboring rowdy crowd of 20-something surfer wannabes....."Duuuude, are you on acid tooooo?". It was awesome.

Our Sunday morning is sure to be one of my favorite memories of my time spent here. I was the only up for sunset, and it was phenomenal (see pictures!!).

There are some die-hard coffee drinkers in the group, and we were planning an excursion to a little oasis in Kaupo that made smoothies and coffee - but they made them with a blender powered by a bicycle. I was so excited to check it out, so all eight of us piled into Nicole's pickup, and headed down the road Maui locals-style. Unfortunately, but also typical Maui, the coffee shack doesn't open until 11am. Uh - huh.

Anyhoo....we ended up just continuing on down the road until we couldn't go any further just for the fun of it. Some of you may remember when you could drive all the way around the island (and we did one year! fun!), but since the earthquake and some storms a while back, the road has been closed indefinitely. But the beaches down there are quite majestic, with the rain-forest jungle on one side, and black sand inlets on the other. We stopped several times. On the way back, we stopped off at the Palapala Ho'omau Church, which is an open worship building with lots of books and history about Hana on display. It's a really neat atmosphere - and there is a small unassuming graveyard where none other than Charles Lindbergh is buried. I didn't have my camera because I though we were just shooting out for the coffee, but you can actually see some pics here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh (scroll down to the Later Years/Death section, and you'll see a picture of his grave). And a picture of the cute little church: http://somanyplaces.blogspot.com/2006/01/palapala-hoomau-congregational-church.html

The rest of the day was spent driving around a bit more, and then enjoying sun and swimming at the seven sacred pools. I actually did some cliff jumping! Nothing too daredevil-ish, but enough to get my heart pumping. Jake and Nicole actually jumped off the highest spot - probably a solid 40 feet up. Yikes!

Shortly thereafter, I had to get packed up and head back on the road because I had to work on Monday, but it was a great mini-vacation. I feel lucky that I have found a solid group of friends to spend time with here - with eight people camping, you never know how things can go, but there wasn't one moment of drama. Everyone was just happy to laugh and be together, enjoying the blessings of this beautiful place. It was so nice.

Unfortunately Bradley couldn't make it, but I look forward to the next time we can go, and maybe I'll get to do some spearfishing Hana-side. Wahoo!

Pictures: Above is one of many amazing pictures I took of sunrise on Sunday morning.

On the right is Nicole eating a lilikoi fruit.

Below is Jace with the Easy Cheese - he's making Dorito sandwiches with it. Mmmm.

Continuing down the line: The grill decked out with chicken, hawaiian hot dogs, and opihi (found in nooks and crannies on rockier shores - it's illegal to harvest any smaller than a quarter).

Me n Jace.

Nicole in her birthday getup.

Nicole's tent - I decorated in the morning while they were sleeping. It promptly got rained on, and the streamers got soggy. Lame.

Nicole and Sara doing shots out of the lilikoi rinds. Nice.

I posted the whole lot of pictures (there are more good ones!) on my Facebook profile. Check it out!