Making yourself into who You want to be

Well Let's just say that 2011 was certainly a year about making myself into a better person.  I traveled more than I ever have before, and started some roots in a few different places.  I certainly think I am a better person now than I was a year ago today.  Especially because at this exact moment last year I was still so hungover in Colorado that I couldn't move out of bed... Luckily Heather was there to take care of me.  I loved this year.  I finished my masters, almost.  I still need to finish the final draft on my paper.  I let my hair grow back out from its very short stint.  I like it longer, I feel much more like a beachy surfer girl. I moved out of Saugerties after I finished in Rochester, and did not move back in with my parents like so many of my peers have.  I saved enough money to be able to live a little before I am stuck in conformity for a long time with small paid vacations but mostly only pay cuts and paper work.I discovered how much I love pilates too. 
I met some amazing people in 2011 also.  People that changed my outlook on the world, how I coach sports, my vision on camping in the wilderness, and my perspective on teaching/ how I can make myself better.
Most importantly, I changed how I act towards guys.  Well no, I still act the same TOWARDS them, being the too outgoing type that  I am, but I hopefully changed how I portray myself to them.  I'm not some slutty girl that you can just hook up with! I am a good person! And you need to treat me better.

2011 was more about changing my reactions.  I can't change what  other people do or say, but I can change how I react to it, and by doing that, I can change the outcome of a situation.  Actions and Reactions. I went to some awesome therapy this year at RIT too, she was the bomb digity yo.  I wish I had gone sooner and more often, it was well worth it.
So my goals for this year are this:
1. I am going to stop picking at my face and/or touching it at all! My complexion would be fine if I would stop adding to the grease on my face!  errrrgh
2. I am going to take things slower, and not rush into them
3. I am not going to expect tips, only accept tips
4. I am going to drink my coffee black
5. I am going to get a job as a math teacher and love the shit out of it
6. I am going to get my own apartment
7. I am going to go camping in Utah again
8. I am going to start competing in races
9. I am going to eat paleo at least until February 1st
10. I am going to show my true self to people, not only what I want them to see.

That's a pretty positive list of things I got going there.  I hope I can stick to them. No, I will stick to them!

Yesterday??? YIKES!

Well Mary and I went on an hour long walk on the beach yesterday, accompanied by some push ups.  Then I went to work at the bar... Clocked in at 10:48a.m., clocked out at 10:52 p.m. wowza! Long day.  I chugged Eric's beer as soon as I got off, and then another one.  Yup, I was intoxicated pretty much immediatley.

I need to post about Thursday, and Mary and my adventure to the top of Kuli'o'o :)  I'll figure out the spelling to it later.  We're going to hike Olomana with her friends now, so I will post tons later.  AND I don't have to work tomorrow or anything!  So tonight I will finally find out what down town is like!!!! Sweet!  Lots of Love pre New Year.  I'll do a whole post about that when I get back from the hike.  <3

Ka'ena Point

Albatross!!!!   Makes me think of Rescuers Down Under!

No Words Necessary.  Shut yo mouth
Don't go to sleep filled with hate. It's not worth it, and it will get you no where

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!!!