It’s cool and foggy again today. I know a lot of people are in some serious winter weather out there… so don’t think I’m complaining. It’s actually nice to not need the fans and be sweating every time I get up and start to move around.

I want to clarify about my nephew and the shotgun situation. I’m not angry with nephew, I was amused by his logic and how it only applies when it benefits him.

He’s 20 years old, a sophomore in college and is still in that stage  where he thinks that he knows everything now, and that the world revolves around him. He’ll grow out of it.

I remember when I had a couple of years of college under my belt, I started thinking that I knew SO much more than those around me. That I was an Intellectual.

Now I look back at that person and have to chuckle. While I acquired a great deal of knowledge in college (and continue to do so) I have learned soooo much more from my life experiences. The greatest teacher I’ve ever had has been my hubby who continues to teach me about life and the day to day stuff that goes on in it.

So I hope everyone learns something today. Even if it’s to not give spaghetti to a toddler with out covering the walls with plastic, (yep, I learned that one).

Happy learning!

Nephew is off to the big island.

DD is up getting ready for school.

I have my coffee, my laptop and am watching morning news. All is right with my little world again.

I got back my grade on my literature review. I was very disappointed. I received 16/20. Not what I was looking for.  I knew their might be a markdown, as I couldn’t locate any primary sources. I just couldn’t find any! It’s one of the prices you pay to live in paradise… very limited resources. I just had what I could find on the Internet… and obviously that wasn’t good enough.

One funny thing that happened yesterday. We went to Lahaina in the jeep….. all of us. That’s five in a small jeep. You do the math. Nephew is a big boy, 5’10 with a surfer body. Anyway’s we had him sit in the back on the way up.  The next time we stopped, when we were getting back in the jeep he called “shotgun”. Well… I figure, it’s my jeep, I’m the adult, he’s been staying at my house, eating my food and taking up the entire sofa for four days… he can sit in the back. So I make him get in the back.

This happens two more times when he says “Every time you make me get in the back… you look more unjust”.

See he’s all about equality and fairness for everyone… except if he has to give up something, like control of the TV, Music or use of the entire couch.

So I say “you can have shotgun….. as soon as you make my jeep payment for this month”.

He commented that he had given up shotgun in his car when he was too drunk to drive and someone else called shotgun. I told him he was obviously a more just person than I. The fact that he is only 20 and still gets so drunk he can’t drive isn’t a problem with his ethics apparently.

He starts talking about how there are “rules” that govern this and I am just bypassing all the standards. What about the “rules” a.k.a. LAWS that govern underage drinking? I ask “isn’t there rules about adults being given respect by children”.

“There called MANNERS. But I don’t see those being adhered to either.”

After that I got the front seat.

I did call “shotgun” the next time, just to make him feel as if the proper procedures were followed, however, even if I hadn’t —- I would have still sat in front.

It’s my Jeep after all.

Today was fun and productive for all.

I enjoyed myself with friends and scrapbooking. Also managed to do some shopping — ha ha! Now that’s productive!

Hubby and girls went diving and although the water conditions weren’t the greatest, they had a good time none the less.

Nephew took my jeep and went around the west end and hung out and surfed.

This evening we dined on brisket. I love hubby’s brisket. Everyone loves hubby’s brisket!

So I have had a couple of rough days. Some political disagreements with family and friends. What amazed me, was the depths to which these two people were willing to sink in order to protect their position. What I really was stunned at was the lack of tolerance, and acceptance for my differing opinion among these two who repeatedly told me “I am open minded, I believe there is a compromise. I accept others beliefs”. Evidently that didn’t apply to me however, as they felt the only comprise was one in which I gave up everything I believe in and stopped saying what I was saying.

Funny how they used citizen rights and freedom of speech to defend their position but… those could not be applied to me. Everyone else rights were getting trashed by my freedom of speech.

Those who claim to be the most tolerant and understanding, I find to be the least tolerant of my right to my own beliefs and opinions.

The really funny thing is, even though I would normally jump in and start all this in a second — I honestly didn’t!! I even kept telling one friend “I don’t want to argue about this with you”. She refused to let go. Like a hungry dog with a juicy bone she kept insisting that I was black and white and party line with no seeing the other side.

What disturbs me most… she of all people should know me better. Evidently, when it comes to defending their position, some will abandon all things, including 14 years of friendship.

So I tried to avoid it, but the argument came to  me anyway. We all just do the best we can.

Fun was had by one and all!

Ok, so the girls admittedly got bored after a few hours. Who could blame them really? They weren’t in their home, with their friends or their family (well, besides their parents, and since they have both entered the 12+ arena, we don’t count anymore).

Oldest dd had a good time for awhile, once her two buds got there. But they both ended up leaving shortly after dinner.

Since I had my scrapbooking stuff with me, guess what?? It was a long afternoon! Of course we had taken two cars…. (too many folks for 1 car), so hubby, Squirt and Nephew were able to leave. After Hubby had watched a movie in the Vis lab and Nephew spent 2 hours outside on his phone.

I stayed till 9:30 when the pathetic expression on my seriously bored daughter’s face guilted me into leaving.

In all fairness…. I tried to get her to go with the rest of the crew when they left. At that time she was “decorating” her cell phone and retainer cases with my vast array of stickers.  When she finished that a mere 20 minutes later…. she was stuck, watching pathetically while I scapbooked my little heart out.

I can’t be blamed for her choices right??

Yeah, it wasn’t too long after that I forced by guilt to pack up and go home. Otherwise, I might STILL be there scrapbooking!!!

I talked to my family, but forgot to call my sister back. Oops! Have to call her today and make it up to her. I didn’t even have my cell phone on me so I couldn’t have heard it ring if it did.

So today is the official start of the Holiday shopping season. I however, being the sane person I am, do not plan to go within 100  yards of any type of retail store. I have decided that no amount of savings is worth my time, patience and sanity. Pretty much they would have to pay me lots, and lots of money to go shopping on this day.

Then it would work for me.

The girls are so funny…. they are so different. Squirt wants a western saddle and gear for Christmas. Silver_fangz wants books and some serious rock.. like Under Oath, Switchfoot, Reliant K…. NIGHT and DAY I tell you.

I do have to leave the house, however, (bah humbug). I have to go take some pictures of nephew surfing at Ho’okipa for his mom. (and for me too.) He started surfing at same time as hubby, but hubby says… “he’s really good”. Course nephew is 26 years younger, and….. surfs 3 hours every day. I figure anybody could drastically improve with that kind of practice! I’m looking forward to seeing him make the board dance as hubby says.

So it’s off to do damage control on the kitchen. Funny, we didn’t have Thanksgiving here, and only made two dishes and still the kitchen is trashed. How does that happen? It’s one of those mysteries like how do you end up with 2,000 hangers from the 5 wire hangers you put in the closet, where does that sock go to in the dryer, and what happened to the toilet paper???

I guess I’ll never know.

Here’s my cat, and what I feel like today. Now that is comfortable and care free!

I love this movie. It’s become one of my all time favorites. Sooo Funny. I haven’t read the book yet, but it’s on my list. Maybe after I finish the Count of Monte Cristo.

[Al, Dirk and Rudi are being chased in the Admiral's boat]
Al Giordino: What do you think, Dirk?
Dirk Pitt: Uh… I think we need to pull a Panama!
Al Giordino: A Panama? A *Panama*!?
Admiral James Sandecker: [on the phone] A Panama? No! No Panama!
[on the phone, after they pulled a Panama]
Admiral James Sandecker: He pulled a Panama!

Today’s tip: whatever you do, don’t go to a bank on the day before a national holiday during lunch hour. Inevitably, they will have the foresight to send all the tellers on break, and only leave two to deal with the 20 people in line.

I was able, after an extremely long wait (which is difficult for me as my patience matches my height… short), to deposit my student loan refund check. Now lets do some math. School started in August, it’s now mid November. That’s four months. The semester ends the 12th of December and I get to start the process all over again. Hooray.

Another tip: when driving on the day prior to a major holiday… you can not wait for traffic to clear. It’s just not going to. Especially when you can clearly see that it’s backed up two lights. You just have to starting easing out into the flow and count on the kindness of others to let you in to the lane you want.

Ok, last tip: If you insist on talking on the phone while you drive — please stay with the flow of traffic. There are impatient people behind you (namely… me!!) who don’t want to go 15 miles under the speed limit and constantly stop unexpectedly for no apparent reason.

I love the holidays…. as long as I don’t have to leave the house.

I’m not good with crowds, traffic, inconsiderate self-obsessed people, and lines. I try to be happy while I’m out, smile and wish everyone Happy Holidays, but aarghhhh… sometimes, my admittedly limited patience runs out and I end up with an unpleasant feeling in my heart and a frown on my face.

NOT how I like to spend my holidays!!!!

Ok, I had fun ranting, but now I’m done.

Things to look forward to about the holidays:

• Family, friends and fun
  
• Wonderful food, good conversation
  
• Less work than usual
  
• Scrapbooking
  
• Christmas Lights
  
• Christmas Music
  
• Christmas Services
  
• The girls faces as the open presents
  
• The feelings of good will and charity that seem to accompany this time of the year.

So here is wishing everyone a GREAT Thanksgiving!!

Enjoy!

Literature Review 5 page paper — check

Lesson plan using Learning styles — check

Sanity — check

I have once again narrowly escaped from being pulled into the abyss of insanity. Only my incredible skills and keen intellect have protected my fragile little mind.

Ok, so maybe… just maybe… I slipped over the edge, just a bit. Two toes maybe.

We head towards the upcoming holiday with enthusiasm and enjoyment.

Ok, maybe not so much. I love Thanksgiving, don’t get me wrong. However…….. since we’ve been here we do a big Thanksgiving buffet style get together with the Unit. While that’s all good, we don’t have a family dinner. Since it’s an AF things, we don’t spend a lot of time considering all the things we have to be grateful for. Since we don’t even have a Chaplain here, there probably won’t even be a group prayer prior to eating.

It just takes some of the shine of the holiday.

But never the less, I am determined to be grateful and enjoy myself… if it kills me, and everyone around me!!

Hubby’s nephew will be coming over from the “Big Island” where he attends College. I enjoy having him, but he wants to always just wants to “surf, surf, surf”.

What can you expect? He’s a 20 year old living in Hawaii.

We also argue — in a friendly manner, about most of our beliefs. He believes the word God should never be used in any public institution (he’s agnostic). He feels that is pushing our religion on him. I argue that taking away my freedom to mention God… pushes his “religion” on me. Yes I believe that agnostic is a religion. It is a group of people that all practice and believe the same way. It makes it interesting. I especially like it when I use logic and he finds himself unable to counter! MUAHAHAHA!

Scrap booking this weekend — Yay!!!

Hubby wants me to entertain said Nephew while he, the girls, and some friends go SCUBA diving.

But the way I  see it, I had my plans first. His changed, and I can’t be held accountable for that!

Nephew will have to entertain himself. 

I think he would rather do that then snorkel with his old aunt while everyone else goes SCUBA! I know when I was 20, that would have been my choice — to entertain myself!!

Well it’s off to do the hum drum chores that fill so much of my day. Laundry, cleaning, dishes, blah, blah, blah…

Hooray for the mundane!

Have you ever meet people who are obviously late bloomers? People whom you decide are one way, then years later you are stunned when they turn out to be so much more?

My hubby is a late bloomer.

He never finished college, and joined the Air Force instead. We married in 1986. At that time he was behind the promotion curve due to some disciplinary actions and a lack of motivation and focus. Not long after we married he began to promote. In his late 30′s he took up golf, and finished two Associates degrees. He took up road racing in his BMW.

In No. CA he took up fishing and started catching up with his peers in the promotion arena. He decided to teach himself guitar. He was in his 40′s by this time.

Here we are today, in Hawaii with all kinds of opptunities for personal growth. Since we’ve moved, he’s taught himself to surf, and gotten SCUBA certified. He continues to improve his guitar playing and has a  buddy come over a couple nights a month to just hang out and jam.

So his friend is here and their playing, learning, talking. They start discussing other guys they know that play. They say Lt. so and so plays drums and this civilian contractor is a bass player. So at the age of 46 –  my dear hubby and his friends are planning to start: 

A garage band!!

I’m not kidding. The one guy said they could play at his house but he didn’t have a big enough room so they would have to use the garage!

As I said — He’s a late bloomer. And I love him for it!

I hope when I get to 46, I’m still willing to try new things and put myself out on a limb.

I would love to chat, but I have one more paper to get out today. I guess I’m still blooming too, since I am determined to achieve my Master’s before leaving here. Since I want to accomplish that, it means I have to go do the work so I can get the grade I want.

Ain’t life Grand???

The People to People meeting was amazing. These kids are going to have some great adventures. They went through the application process. Only 40 students will be chosen from High School to attend the Europe and Irish Heritage trip. 40 Students from all the islands — not just Maui. Yikes!!

However, they said most students who proceed with the application process are accepted, even if they don’t make this trip they can go on other ones. Silver_Fangz really wants to go on this on.

Some of the things they will be doing: visiting Parliament and meeting a member of Parliament, witness the changing of the guard and seeing the London Tower and the crown jewels, ride the London Eye, attend a first run show in the famous West End District, Visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and take part in an act from a Shakespeare play, white water raft, learn a jig, rappel down Penhyrn castle, Visit Edinburgh castle, play traditional Irish sports, and possibly get the opportunity to blow glass.

Now… after going through that exhausting but partial list, I need to clarify a few things before I move on. DD is 14. She is very intelligent and outgoing. She is a major adrenaline junky — she loves roller coasters, fast rides, trampolines, rock climbing, etc., etc. When she was 12 we had the opportunity to attend Wolf Mountain camp in No. CA. One of the things she had been waiting for, was to go at the age of 12 so she could participate in a Ropes Course obstacle called “Leap of Faith” (mom did it too!) So you climb up the side of a tree using these giant stakes and staples — 65 ft up. Then you climb onto two 2×4′s sticking out from the platform. You walk out till your toes stick off each of the boards and………… JUMP!! You are aiming for a trapeze bar about  5 feet away. Of course you are on a belay line, but never the less, your heart is pounding and the adrenaline is running high. We both did this and loved it!! Along with all the other ropes course challenges. Now… recall the activities she will have an opportunity to participate in, and add that she wants to be a glass artist when she grows up.

Here’s her comment on the way home from the meeting.

“I was so excited when they started talking about Parliament and watching the changing of the guard. We’ll get to go into Parliament and see how their government works.. that’s soo cool”.

What a great kid huh? She continues to surprise and amaze me. I hope she gets into this trip. The money is substantial, and with me not working, not easy to come by, but we are determined that she should have this opportunity. We will do all the footwork, and leave the rest to God. If it’s meant to be, she’ll go. I have faith in that.

So I’ll end this extremely long update and wish everyone a great week end.

Here’s dd climbing up to the platform. She’s approx. 65 feet up in this Picture!

Tonight is the big night! Silver_Fangz meeting for the student ambassador program through People to People. It’s an amazing opportunity for her. I hope we can make everything fall in place.

I obviously survived yesterday. Nothing else that threatened my safety happened but I did have some other difficulties. For instance: I had taken out meat to cook in the crock pot Tues. night.

About noon — I suddenly realize I haven’t start it yet! I go promptly to the kitchen to make my family their dinner. I put the meat in the crock pot and turn it on. As I’m adding the rest of the ingredients… I have to use the can opener, I unplug the crock pot and plug in the can opener. I’m sure you can see where this heading.

Needless to say about 3:00 PM my youngest dd says “mom, it’s not cooking”. Me: “WHAT????” Her: “I know why, it’s not plugged in!” Me: YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!

Can you guess what we are having for dinner tonight??

My friend was having a true Wednesday too. But dd who swears that “bad things happen on Wednesdays” had a great day yesterday. Her explanation? Having her braces removed on Tuesday overcame the bad things that would have happened on a normal Wednesday.

If only all things in life could be that simple.

25/25 Comment: Excellent Introduction, well-documented opinions. (emphasis mine)

Maybe hard work does pay off.

My oldest dd has long held the opinion that “bad things happen on Wednesdays”. The last couple of Wednesdays has lead me to believe that she may be right. Today was no exception.

It started out innocently enough with me sleeping snug and safe in bed, while hubby got up and prepared to go surfing.  I’m laying there sleeping peacefully… and all of a sudden… the dog runs up my back, over my head and into the bathroom to bug hubby. This may not sound too bad, except the dog weighs about 50 lbs.  So now I’m awake, but no longer peaceful, laying there trying to return to my previous blissful state. It’s the cat’s turn.  The cat decides now is the opportune time to knock a cedar box down onto my head — fortunately the evil demon missed, though by mere inches.  After cleaning up I am lying (still in bed – I’m a slow learner) talking with hubby.

Me “you’re going surfing?”

Hubby “yeah, I thought I go ahead an go for awhile”

Me “where are you going to surf”

Hubby : picks up pillow and hits me over the head!!

Me ” What was that for???”

Hubby “I just answered that question and you asked again”

Me “I asked WHERE you were going”

Hubby… “ohhh…. sorry”

So… let’s recap shall we?? I have now been run over, targeted for destruction by the cat, and beaten by the husband. It’s now 5:23 am.

I decide that it’s in my best interest to get up, for self preservation.

I go to turn on the light, (we sleep with the ceiling fan on year round) and the light cord breaks and comes down on me.

I prop my butt on the recliner in front of the TV with the remote, phone and a cup of coffee and decide that I’m not going to move from here for the rest of the day.

Hubby just called — to check if I was still ALIVE!!!!!

DD is right…………… bad things happen on Wednesdays.