Me a cleaner? NEVER!

“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” – Lillian Smith

Cleaning day...  hahahahaha I wish I enjoyed cleaning.  I'm going to have these ladies on speed dial when I grow up - click me

But at least there were clean dishes :)

Titus and Gizmo were of no help to me today.  Gizmo refuses to sleep anywhere but on Blankie.  He must know how much I love my Blankie!  Ridiculous!

 It begins in 5 days!!!

Mele Kalikimaka Part Dos

 So yesterday after Christmas was over with the Sullivan's (at 8:30 a.m.)  Mary, Nate, and I did some gifting, which was awesome.  I had been super pumped about them getting their presents for days!  Eric came and got me at 10:30 and we set out for Bellows beach.  We went to the Air force base because its less crowded and he's a Marine, so we get to do things like that :) 

 Bellows is a beautiful park with tons of safe camping, mini golf, waves, and beauty.  The surf breaks really close to the shore line, so standing up is pretty silly, unless you would like to break your neck, but riding in on your belly is always fun!  We took the board out and just floated on it.  It was fun trying to keep our balance and not flip the board over.  We both kept trying to sit on it, but since its a short board it could barely hold our weight together.  Beautiful morning in Hawaii

I know, its exhausting to hang out with Anna Banana, or so I've been told. 









So at about 2:00 we finally got some food at the concession stand place, delicious burgers.  Then we went back to base to get his camping stuff out of storage.  Holy shit.  He opened his storage locker and it was packed, front to back, with more stuff than I have ever owned in my life!  I was super over whelmed and was speechless for a while.  How could you have that much stuff and only be 23! yikes!  I wont get into any back history, but lets just say, I wont have that much stuff til I'm 60 and retired....   We went to another beach on base and just walked the shoreline while the sun was beginning to set.  The tide was coming in, so I got pounded by a few huge waves.  I was wearing my normal clothes, but as you all know I didn't care and just continued to get wet.  We played the game "see who's feet go deeper in the sand as the waves rush over them" I won of course because I cheated and dug my toes in.  I'm also a known cheater.  The sun went down so we went back to watch Super Troopers and Super Bad.  After pizza and popcorn I was exhausted.  What a great Christmas this year :)

Mele Kalikimaka

Sing to meeeeeeeeee I no joke sang this all day yesterday on repeat, even at the beach

Well its here, and I am tucked in bed at 5 a.m. waiting for my family to skype with me from the mainland.  Mary made coffee, but now its time to skype.  I was going to try and post all day to update about our Christmas adventures, but that didn't happen.

This is what our skype convo looked like.  It started with Andrew up close and Alec in the chair, but soon Andrew went and got the sofa chair so he could relax and Alec found his blanket from a very ex girlfriend that he still wraps up in.

Mom was modeling the tree for us.

Mom showed off her dance moves all morning.

In fact, Mom didn't sit down all morning and was so giddy and excited for us to open our gifts and regifts that I think she lost at least five pounds.  There were dance moves, and twirling thumbs, and standing on one foot in excitement.

My gift to Andrew.  Notice mom trying to sit on her hand so she wont jump up and open the gift for him

He freakin loved my gift!  Slow cooker with timer.  Too bad Arin and I totally failed and got him the exact same gift.....

 Mom's hug for Mary
Its protocal to give hugs, even if it is via skype!

Andrew and Alec's sweet lazy hug

So that was my Christmas morning.  Walked out of there with a bad ass camera case that dually functions as a fanny pack, a flare bottle so I can start throwing my drinks around, and a book on etiquette so I can learn how to be a real woman!  boom

Finished!

Yay!  You should see the whole Calender, its amazing. Mary and I got ours in the mail today, I hope the rest of my family did too!!!!

Hiking with boys

 So this is Eric.  We hiked to the top of Olomano on Wednesday.  He came and got me at 7 a.m. and we hiked til noon.  The hike was so cool because there were so many different climates almost!  Super muddy, and then tons of trees, and then a small pine forest where you could hear the wind blow through the trees which was awesome.  After that part the mud turns red, and then you have to climb up rocks, literally up the side of the mountain.  There were ropes there to help you, but I am stubborn, so of course I went around the ropes and climbed up them like I was in the climbing gym.  The views from the top were incredible.  360 degree view of the oceans and mountain side.  It was really cloudy at the top, so hopefully next time I go I will be able to see the tops of the mountains too!  Mary and I are thinking of going on Sunday.  I hope we do!

God is peeping through!!! yikes!

 Now when I said it was muddy, I was serious.  I was covered all over my legs and it looked like I had sock tan when I took my shoes off!!  I also fell, twice, and so my butt and back pack were super muddy too.  Oh stubborn Anna.

...and the saga begins. (Heather will understand)

Say a little prayer for you

When Thundertron was happy

Thundertron was dead this morning :(  The orange sunny, named Beyheim after some Syracuse football guy killed him!!!! MURDER!  Mary and I had to take him out of the fish tank and send him to his next life in the dumpster out front.

Say a little prayer for him!

 On the way to the airport yesterday to drop off Jak for her flight to Florida

 Look at that super cute baby with glasses!  Yes, I snuck in a picture, but how could you not sneak one in!!!!  ahhhhhhhh She's so adorable!

Mary with her babies yesterday

Mary today with her new haircut from me!!

Transitions

I woke up feeling sick today, but I finally managed to clean all of the dirty dishes, its now 4:30....







Mary and I decided to post pone our paleo challenge until the 1st of January.  Really, it's Nate's fault because he bought us a whole bunch of beers and donuts and said "you can eat this on your diet right?"  Well, it worked out well for me, because now I can drink at the Christmas party at my bar.  This also means we will be taking new before and after photos.  Two more weeks before that happens luckily.  I went out swimming with some new friends last night in the ocean.  It was dark, scary, and awesome. It reminded me so much of Australia when I did that with Katina one of our last few nights there.  Australia had way more lights near the ocean than they do here.  And there was less of a homeless people issue out there.
It was really fun.  I was running away from this guy Eric on the sand along the waves. I heard him quickly approaching, so I veered to the right, which apparently he did at the same time and he pummeled me into the sand. It was hilarious.  It seemed like how those football players run right into each other and just knock one another into the ground.  He felt so bad and didn't understand how I could be laughing (little does he know how strong I am or how I'm little miss independent).  I got up and shoulder checked him into the water.  Totally solved the problem :)  It was awesome, other than the wind.  The water was warmer than the air, and the stars were shining bright.  I still have all of my ligaments also, no shark bites yet!!!

You are gonna get your ass beat, you dumb white kid!

I never really think about race, until you are presented with a situation that contains it.  Its nice to be here with the time difference because if someone needs someone to talk to super late at night, they know they can call me because its still earlier here.  On the other hand, when I really need someone to talk to, and Mary is already sleeping, I am stuck.  The only person I could call that I know would be awake now is my mom...  and I am not sure its a good idea yet to call her.(yes, she is awake at 5 a.m. or earlier that crazy awesome lady who takes advantage of all sunlight hours) But, being there for my friends is super important to me, and I am glad, even though JC is a "dumb white guy"  that Cassie and JC now have a reason to move closer to me.  I can't wait to have my own place in a safe neighborhood.  I was just walking outside, breathing in the clean air, and all I wanted was to go for a long walk in the street lights.  Sadly, you have to be worried about most bushes because there could be someone sleeping in them, or be worried about drunks walking home from the bars. Is anywhere really safe anymore?  Please leave a comment of a place that you believe to be safe, I would love to hear your responses.

Mary and I spent this past week gorging on all of the grains, gluten, chocolates, beers, wines, carbs, dairy, and legumes that we could get our hands on.  Starting today we are doing a 30 day paleo challenge.

We took before and after photos last night, and will be taking new photos every Friday.  My hope is that my complexion will get better, along with my energy.  I would like constant energy instead of random bursts.  I am not looking to lose weight.  Maybe my sides could slim down, but that is just because I have a muffin top phobia.  I wonder what that phobia is called.
Yoursidefatisspillingoveryourwaistbandphobia.  Say that 5 times fast.
If I actually stick to the diet, and don't sneak milk into my coffee, or snack on shitty food at work, I'll be able to find out if there is something that my body actually doesn't like, or I am possibly allergic too.  I remember when Cassie and I were younger, we were sitting at the island in her kitchen she was telling me all about the different foods she couldn't eat anymore.  I was devastated to learn she couldn't have dairy since I was living off of an ice cream diet while working at the Jolly Cow that summer.  But in a pretty short amount of time, from what I remember, her face cleared up and she was definitely happier.  I like when my Cassie is happy.  Hopefully this works the same for me!  two weeks with just paleo, and then starting in January Mary and I are joining Crossfit. I hope I get jacked!

Day 1 - My  legs look sweet!

p.s.  I barely made it through today without quitting........  We'll see how far I make it.  Please support me with words of wisdom, strength, and hope!  Also, mail me brownies!

Shit Hole Mother F*cker

That's what I said to the box of coconut water as I spilled it because I squeezed it too hard while trying to get the groceries out of the trunk.  I hate having my period. 

I watched the fish in the tank a lot today.  I couldn't go to the beach to play because my cramps sucked way to much :( 

But I just got called in to work at Bob's tonight.  Hilarious.  The owner said I wouldn't be working a night shift until I was comfortable in my day shift duties.  Well its a Friday, after one day shift, I'm probably going to get my ass handed to me tonight.  Its gonna be sweet.  Maybe I'll come home with big tips though.  Ooooo I know. Maybe I'll show off my big chest while I have it for a day or so more :)

Shit I forgot to post yesterday

Fish faces

We ran outside for the sunrise :)

Babysitting is going way better now.  Monday of this week, Zane gave me a ton of attitude and was super rude.  I talked to his dad about it, and by Wednesday things were better.  Yesterday when I showed up he was already dressed including his sneakers.  Woah, that's a big difference.  He even brushed his teeth and everything (which is usually a big struggle) without me asking.  Sweet.

the sun wasn't even up!

Zane is vacuuming the rug, cause Tyson, the funny looking and kinda moronic dog, decided to tear up a Christmas present that came in the mail for them on Wednesday.  What a jerk!  And no, I did not help









So bartending a little crazy.  Allow me to explain.  I've never actually been behind a bar before when it wasn't already set up.  I got to work early yesterday, but the owner, and person who was supposed to train me didn't get there until 11, or the time that the bar is supposed to open! I sat out back and waited in the nice morning sun til he came.  He told me to go set up and that he would come up front soon. ok....  I went to check it out and there were mats everywhere.  Nothing was even close to where it should be, and I was clueless and quite overwhelmed.  I went in the back and was like, "ummmmmm I'm overwhelmed, I don't know where anything goes" He came to the front to help me, and it turned out, he didn't really know either. Now the reason for him training me and not someone else was because he didn't want me to pick up any bad habits from anyone else.  Well I didn't pick too much up from him either.  While I was winging it, and not really knowing what was going on and really needed his help, he was staring at the juke box picking out music....  I had a customer come in pretty early, and I didn't even know how to use the cash register!  You would think that would be an important part of training.  Luckily it was pretty slow for the first while.  But then it started to really pick up at 2.  It was Thursday afternoon football, so there were a lot of rowdy guys who thought it was HILARIOUS that I love math, that my name is Anna Banana, and that I'm from NY.  It worked out for my benefit though.  Oh, and by the way I had no idea how much stuff costs.  I was kinda making it up.  Like I also don't know how much wine goes in a wine glass.... I was just winging it.  Everyone there was really funny though.  Something that may make this story more realistic is that I was at the bar alone from 12 - 4 maybe even 5.  Shit, I was laughing at myself so hard.  I only cried once from being overwhelmed.  I made it through though, only a few mistakes and drinks poured down the drain.
I was told that people only ever order beer.  Its a beer bar, you have nothing to worry about!  No.  Mad rum and cokes with specialty rum, that I knew was supposed to charge something different then normal.... oops.  Other mixed drinks that I didn't know I what I was doing... Sorta.  Wine, Wine!!!  ugh.  shots of patron, crown royal.  patron was chilled and the guys loved watching me pour it into the glasses after they convinced me to shake it, even though that's not even necessary.  And crown royal on the rocks, and the guy complained hard core about how much was in the glass.  wowza.

One more thing. When you are a new hire, you get to train for a day or two, for a few hours both times, without doing any actual work.  Yeah, I had none of that.  Such as goes my crazy life story.

I have no pictures because I was running around all day, but I was told I did really well, so that was nice.  The other day shift bartender says she makes 60 on a good day in tips, and 10 on a bad day.  I made 86!  I'll be eating good food this weekend!!!! :)

Wine Wednesday

So I'm sitting in the apartment, watching Lie To Me, drinking (delicious) wine, and painting my nails.  Its been rainy and cloudy all day, so I decided to clean my sisters apartment.  I washed everything in the kitchen. Like, I even picked up things and wiped under them.  I moved everything around even!!  And then, I even picked up all the electric thingys for the stove, and washed in and under them, and then covered them with aluminum foil (pronounced as you are supposed to in Australia Al-you-min-ee-umm)! I was very pround of myself after these gregarious hours of work

Boom clean apartment

Titus and Gizmo were both very exhausted watching me do all of this hard labor, that they decided to sleep on top of, or inside all of the warm clean clothes that I washed through out the day.

Titus is enjoying Nate's clean shirts and the towels










Gizmo is enjoying my clean underwear and dresses.  He likes to REALLY feel the warmth, so he digs in deep.

Titus decided it was a much better idea to sleep on my air mattress because some of the air is let out, so it is much like a water bed to him.  He can sink right down into it, and really enjoy his napping.  This is all happening while Gizmo is cozied up in his clothes fortress.

My first day of actual bartending starts tomorrow!  No training apparently, because I have been hanging around the bar since last week, so I guess I am supposed to know everything already..  I bet I will have like 10 people come in total (day shift really sucks) but I will be learning what I am doing and how to set the place up.  I'll be there alone for most of the day, so I better not mess anything up! I'll be missing all of my quality day time hang out hours with my boys though.  I'm sure they will cuddle themselves up in blankie even though I wont be here.

Liquor License

Woke up at 6am to drive with Mary out to Honolulu where I finally found the correct building, floor, and then room where the class I NEED to be a bartender takes place.  2 hours and a 25 question test later I now have an ID that says that my position at Bob's Sports Bar is Manager :) with an awesomely hideous orange picture of me refusing to smile.  Bad ass.

I walked around while trying to find a bus stop where the bus I need (preferably 57A) would stop at.  Stopped at a few cute stores and talked to a super cute old man at the bus stop.  He kept telling me how much he hated all the traffic, and misses when it used to all be country.  50 years! Its all changed within the last 50 years. He was telling me all about what it used to be like, and how things used to be.  So cool.

I went to Bob's and I start training on Thursday :)  Boom! I stayed there for a while and made margaritas with the owner of the kitchen, Chris.  They don't make blended or frozen drinks there yet, but they may soon! We also may start doing some different forms of promotions which would involve me standing out front and gathering people to come in and maybe even start a bikini contest!!!!

I tripped over this today while looking up at all the cool stores in the middle of this plaza.  It rains everyday at least once in Hawaii, why would the floors NOT be wet!

I'm am definitely going to run out of titles for my posts

So my job this year, again, is to make a calender for my family with all of the very best pictures from this past year, and in the past.  I asked, because I thought it would be nice, for everyone to send me their very best and favorite pictures from this year.  A simple task you say?  Me too!  Well I have not gotten any pictures from my siblings so far, so this is going to be the front cover, and perhaps the picture for every month on the 2012 calender this year :)

Honolulu Marathon

I will definitely be semi training, but seriously running the next glorious marathon that perhaps happens to come my way.  Keysa kicked serious ass today, and it was awesome to be a part of it with her.  I ran the last 4 miles with her (which is the most I ran, I mean all I ran, in the last year) So I was surprised at myself that I was able to keep up with her and give her motivation.  Super great day full of running around and massive amounts of cheering.  Oh! And I was totally able to rewear my spandex from Cassie's wedding for this excellent event! :)

Keysa is the one in the middle wearing white, and yes, after 22 miles she is TOTALLY smiling!

Home Alone

So today officially marks the first time I have been sad since I came out to Hawaii.  Some things happened to build up to this, I am not sure if they are blog appropriate information, but they were important enough, or seemingly to me, to make me sad the way I am now. 
Boundaries is a good place to start.  Why is it so hard for some people to respect your boundaries?  I don't get it.  Like they think that they can have their own way, no matter what. For example  "No, I would not like another beer."  "Oh well I am ordering you one anyway." What the fuck is up with that.  Like what you say doesn't matter?  Of course that is a lame and vague example, and of course I could go much deeper than that, and now that you are reading this maybe you can think of an example in your life when someone has done this to you.  What the hell?  Maybe you are not good enough.  They look at you like you are less than them.  Your opinion (on your own life and well-being) doesn't actually matter. 
Sometimes it doesn't even matter how extroverted you really are.  I understand when shy people get walked on every once in a while.  Speak up for yourself why don't you, my dad would say. But even when you do, it doesn't always make a difference.  People can be such assholes.  Where do you find the people that you can really trust and know that they wont take advantage of you or your feelings?  Or the people who wont disrespect your boundaries.
Disrespect.  I don't throw around the term respect very often. That is a sacred word to me.  How do you know who you really respect, or know who really respects you?  That is something I try to convey to my students no matter if I am in the classroom for one day or three months.  Respect. 
Personal space.  Not everything is for you to touch.  It took me a long time to learn about personal space and not being to over bearing with other people.  I was so used to my big family and how we encroached on everyone else, that I forgot about people who may not have grown up in the same situation.  Even just the small things about getting changed in front of people.  Shit, I'll change with my door open.  Locker rooms?  NBD.  But does that mean that I am not respecting myself then? By not having the self awareness to cover myself up and not show my butt to everyone in the room?  That personal space that other people may feel is being invaded when I'm standing there naked.  OK I don't go that far.  I try to change as quickly as possible in the locker room, but I don't feel the need to be covered by my towel the whole time I'm doing it.  There's this one lady who gets out of the shower and then walks with her towel around her head instead of her body back to her locker, and then sits on her bench naked, and contemplates the world and all of life's problems, and then covers herself with lotion, and then chills a little bit more, and then finally decides to start dressing, but only after she has weighed herself and brushed her hair.  No, I do not stare at her, but it just so freakin happened that we were always in the locker room together.  Its very hard not to notice someones routine after 10 weeks of this. 
Anyway, what was I saying?  Ohh right.  I'm sad.  What the fuck.  I somehow managed to make my eggs stick and burn in a non-stick pan for dinner, and then I tripped over the freaking cord to the blow up mattress in my room and fell face first into the bookshelf.  Then I got real angry and started crying and cleaned my room and sat down in my chair and fumed for a bit.  And now I am here, sad.  At least the dogs like me.  Titus and Gizmo hang out with me.
Tomorrow at 5 a.m. Keysa is running in the Honolulu marathon and we are going to help cheer her on, feed her, and possibly run a few miles with her.  After that I am going to a surprise party with a new friend I made for one of her friends.  So I'll be meeting some more people which I'm excited about.  Should be fun :)

Living Vicariously

Yes, you would be correct.  I am wearing a strapless dress with a one piece bathing suit.  I rule

Simple and Elegant

Today I did a ton of different things, but one of the best was helping Rotana decorate her excellent 5 foot Christmas tree.  We went for simple and elegant :)

Off to bed, surfing at 10 a.m. with Jak!

Walkin on a Dream

This was my day.  Rough I know.

Rode my bike so I got to feel the breeze against my skin and through my hair.
Watched some girls do a photo shoot where the waves hit the sand.
Got some good tips on surfing by watching some people who sucked, and some who were good at it.
Listened to some good music like Heather, Sammy, and I used to do on the shores of Australia.
Talked to Sammy for 18 minutes and 31 seconds, and it was awesome.
Went in the ocean and caught some waves by diving in and then floating with them.
Spent some quality time by myself.

Sometimes its actually way harder to be by yourself for that long.  I know a lot of people that would never make it to the beach alone, and wouldn't have the guts to just sit there and not care if people are looking at you (which they probably aren't because you are not the center of the Universe).  It takes a lot to go it alone, and for the people who can you should give them extra props.  Honestly though, sometimes its easier to be alone when you need to figure out the bus schedule or the best access point to the beach, because then, the only person laughing at you is yourself.  Live Free

Productive Wednesday?

Mary made us matching pants!!!!  Bad ass right??


Today I started out early at the Social Security Administration getting a new Social Security card so that I can take this class at the Hawaii Liquor Commission so that i can become a bartender.  So much effort!  They take serious measures to make sure everyone is a good citizen.  The bus was fun downtown though, and I finally got to go to Victoria's Secret!  Sickkkk

Strength is Beauty

I only have one picture today:

Me getting my ass beat in chutes and ladders at 6 a.m.

Yup thats right, the sun wasn't even out yet!

Sunday at the North Shore - Monday applying for jobs

  I forgot to take a million good pictures like normal yesterday at the North Shore, cause it was definitely too super fun being there!  The ride to get up there is long, but there are beautiful views the whole time.  On the way home you drive past the stairs of Stairway to Heaven, I can't wait to do that hike!  Ananda and Jak met Mary, Nate, the dogs, and I up there.  We bought fresh pineapple on the way up too!  YUM.

Yesterday was great though because I got to spend a lot of time alone in the water just swimming around and checking out the scene.  It was nice just being in the water, so calm and clean.  I think I will figure out the bus schedule to go back there again soon







 Ananda and Jak stayed and caught a few extra rays even after we left 

On the way up I had to release the Parolee into the ocean after he was convicted on consecutive life sentences of the murders of 200 dollars worth of fish in the tank.  We got to buy 5 new ones on the way home, and boy are they way cool!