Camouflaging Myself as a Productive Citizen

Woke up this morning ready to hike Kuliouou but Mary and I decided, after some excellent and huge Kefir smoothies, that we would instead hike to the lighthouse.  My Kefir smoothie was made of 1) homemade Kefir 2) in a peanut butter container, so whatever was left in there 3) a banana 4) some frozen strawberries 5) ice
Delicious! The lighthouse hike was sweet. We went right off the trail and down to the tide pools down at the bottom of the cliffs. There, we observed some ginormous waves and a sweet blow hole.  Mary warned me about all the stupid tourists that get sucked into blow holes because they want cool pictures of them.  Fine, point taken!  We ran down the trail back to the car to prepare for the Warrior dash, and were cheered on by a lot of cool onlookers. I think it was because our backpacks were super loud smashing against our backs repeatedly.  Possible.
 Check out this link to my video from today:)
Check out this super sweet good looking link

 Look at how brilliantly blue that water is!  Those waves were so loud too!

 Get in that hole Anna!  You will fit!

 But Mary! I don't wanna!

I made some super delicious brownies, and bought french vanilla ice cream to go along with them! yum!  Now I am enjoying a delicious shock top while anxiously  waiting for yet another dinner that my sister is cooking. I still don't know how she does it so great every time!

Friday morning hikes are just my style!

So today Austin and I went on another cool hike on a trail called Maunawile.  It is supposed to be a short hike and there are supposed to be a super awesome waterfall at the end, but we didn't make it that far on account that I had to work at 2 so we ran out of time, and Austin lied, I mean got confused at how long it was :)

Mmmmmmm I picked my first guava straight from a guava tree! And then ate it!  It was so ridiculously delicious!  Be careful of the seeds though!

 We didn't make it to the top to see the waterfalls at Maunawile, but we still got to see this awesome view at the halfway point

 And this was the awesome view just to the left of that previous awesome view!  I love the way the clouds touch the top of the mountains!

 Don't forget to click on the pictures to get a full size view!

 Austin convinced me of these delicious tasting purple berries that grow in the trees.  He hoisted me up so I could pick a few and then we feasted.  They are super bitter, but excellently delicious

 Did we make it there?  Nope!  There was a sure fire attempt though!

 See that mud on my forehead?  Yeah I'm badass, that's right!  Even my bright blue eyes can't fool you! ha!

 Smelling the sweet sweet oxygen from the immense amount of Hawaiian trees.  Breath Deep!!

 Since we didn't make it to the waterfall at the top, we stopped along the river and pretended we made it to the waterfall.  OK OK, really we pretended we were gnomes, and gnomes would definitely think that the water splashing over the rocks was like a 90-foot waterfall!! 

Of course, only I got eaten alive by mosquitoes...  Luckily there is not West Nile Virus here!!!!

Relaxing weekend??

Before I forget, here is Mary and my to-do list for this weekend:
Hike Kuliouou Saturday morning, then to fabric store, then begin slow roast for... the roast- check!  But we hiked to the lighthouse instead
Return things at Target, buy a bra that fits my now strangely huge boobs, also buy hangers so I can stop living out of my suitcase
Make brownies
Finish pig (present for Elisheva)
Make Kefir smoothies - check! and they were delicious!
Clean car windows - check! Now I can see outside so wondefully
Make bullet-proof coffee
Make Elisheva her baby blanket
Finish Thesis
Library (important)
Find Nate's Diploma - Check!
Hike Likeke on Sunday
Deposit first paycheck from babysitting

Breath-Takingly Beautiful

 You know how beautiful it is when it takes your photos 15 minutes just to upload!!  So I woke up at 5:45 and met up with my new friend Austin and his doggie Kaimana to hike the Pillboxes to see the sunrise.  We made it there before there was any sun at all! It was amazing.  The hike is not that bad.  You definitely work up a quick sweat, but it is 100% worth it.  20 minutes later you are sitting in one of the old army bunkers, shaded from the slight rain coming from the North, but in perfect view of that sun rising.

The whole world seemed to still be sleeping, and we didn't even see anyone else on the trail on the way up, which was good because Kaimana doesn't do so well with others yet! 

 So, look on and you can see as we saw; the sun slowly coming up to greet us :)

As many of you may know, I am totally infatuated with the pinks and purples that come with the sun <3

 Even Kaimana was amazed by the beauty!

It started to get extra super bright!

 His mom made me promise to print this picture out for her :)

 Good Morning Kailua!!

 Love at first sight for me and this big headed pup

Babysitting

So, my first job in hawaii so far is babysitting. Three mornings a week, from 6-8 in the morning.  I wake up at 5:45 in the morning and ride my bike over to their house.  I hang out with this super sweet 8 year old and play with him til 7:15 when we walk to school together.  Sweetest job ever. The only problem is that I miss the sunrise...

My first attempt at Surfing

Well I woke up at sunrise today and made my way down to the beach, with my surfboard of course.  I attempted to carry my board under one arm while I road my bike, but that was a total and complete fail since my arms are definitely not long enough for that. So I walked about a mile down to the beach, but passed the normal beach that you can go to.  I wanted some privacy.  I did some good morning yoga, and finally stretched out enough that I could touch the ground again.  My hamstrings have been super tight since all that log rolling that we did. After I finished my yoga, I wanted to find a bigger part of the beach so that I could put my towel out without worrying that it would get wet.  A lot of the beaches here have just a little bit of sand before the residential line starts.  So I started walking, and walking, and walking...  I then decided that I would stop wherever another person was surfing so that I wouldn't feel so alone.
Yeah, I didn't want to surf all alone and what if there
were rocks under the water?  I had to make sure I picked a good spot!  So I walked some more, until finally I saw someone else out in the water on a board. Such a vast beach and there were no people in the water!  Where were all the tourists??  I walked for ages, and was tired by the time I finally picked my spot because the sand seemed forever deep.  I went out in the water and it was awesome.  Perfect temperature, but the waves were pretty big.  It took forever for me to get out passed the waves in order to ride one in because they kept knocking me over, and trying to strip me of my swim suit.  The waves are very naughty, let me tell you.
I finally got out, and of course the guy surfing was super hot and good looking.  I made sure to let him know that I totally sucked at surfing so 1 he wouldn't make fun of me and 2 maybe he would help me out.  He grew up on the island and was SUPER good at surfing, but I made sure not to compare my skills to his because I knew I would not even come close. 
I did not get any good tips, but it was super nice in the water.  No, I did not stand up on my board today, but I know I have lots of time to practice and get good at it.  I just wanted to get a good feeling for my board today.  After a while (or what seemed like a while) I was heading back out for another go after riding one in on my belly, and a big wave took me out, flipped me over, and stole all my breath and my bathing suit top.  I decided it was time to go in for a break.  I read some of my book and then started the long walk home... I had walked super far that morning I came to realize.  I was walking back on the road and it was still forever long.  It was totally worth it :)

A beautiful Sunday

On our drive to the South Side of the Island we stayed along the ocean for most of it.  The views were incredible

I was trying to be artsy

We're halfway there, Mary!

A great view from the top of Koko Head

We hiked all the way up that!

Looking stunning at the bottom of Hamama falls

Today I woke up early and hiked with Mary and all of her girlfriends up to Hamama Falls.
It was a short hike, but so much of it was uphill! No views, but beautiful foliage.  We brought four dogs with us.  I was so surprised that they all stayed with us the whole time.  My dogs at home would never ever be able to do that.  I can't wait to have an awesome dog to call my own someday!

We came back and then walked to the beach (first flip flop blister!) and hung out in the crazy wind to watch the hotties and their kite surfing madness. Kite surfing is super cool, and maybe something I would like to try, but only when I have enough money and some courage. I have found that courage is one of the hardest things for me to come by sometimes.  I may act like I am so big and tough and one of the most outgoing people I know, but the reality is until I am comfortable somewhere I am not any of those things.  I have to warm myself up, or completely throw myself into a situation.  I still haven't handed in my bartending applications because I am nervous. So strange and frustrating!  Why do I even care!!!!  That is my big goal for tomorrow or Monday.  Write a new resume and hand in my applications at the two local pubs.  Build up that courage girl!

Of Course I would NEVER fall on a hike, not even almost!

Sweet Sweet Ride

Say hello to my new cruiser bike. Her name is Carmen, the kind of bike is Electra :) I don't know if you can tell but she is hot purple. Slick black fenders will be put on this Monday. I can't wait to cruise around the East side of the island on her, or perhaps take her on the bus to the North Shore. I opened up a bank account today, even though the woman talked our ears off and tried marketing the i phone to us. Yes, that's right Mary came with me! I am officially a real resident... Maybe :)




---Chasing your dreams will never fail you. Just get up and keep going. Do your best to not look back, but if you do, think of the happiest times. Don't dwell on the times that you can no longer change.

One More Thing

In spirit of Thanksgiving, I know it is so incredibly important to be thankful. Thankful for what you have, what you have been given, and what you have earned. I know that I walk through this world a ridiculously lucky girl. Sometimes it seems as though things that are so perfect just land in my lap, and then other things I work my butt off for in order to be as successful as I am. I have been here for three days, and I have a job now as a babysitter, bringing this kick ass boy to school most mornings. How perfect is that? I am thankful for my awesome brothers and sisters, and being able to see them so much the last few weeks. I am thankful to my sister Mary for allowing me to stay with her, rent free. You're damn right those will be the cleanest dished you have ever had! I am thankful for the money I have saved in my bank from this summer of babysitting, which was fun and not at all like work. I am thankful for my car, and that it has kept me safe and sound for over two years now. I am thankful for being able to have been in such an awesome masters program which enabled me to teach at two amazing schools in two amazing states and then travel the southern part of the country for a month. I am thankful that JC and Cassie are so happily married and that I was able to be such a big part of their wedding, and enjoyed every second of that. I am so incredibly thankful for Andrea Taylor, who is now a part of my family (sorta kinda maybe officially, even though I have always considered her to be). I am also thankful that my sister Angela has THREE amazing kids now for me to play with, and that they are all so brilliant and healthy. I am thankful for being fluent in ASL finally and the awesome friends that I have gained through that beautiful language. I am thankful for 2011 and that it was such an amazing year for me. I can't believe its almost over. I'm 24 now, I still have so much to do in my life! I better stop wasting time then. Tomorrow I am going to go buy a bike from a shop, because craigslist is not panning out so well, and then also if it breaks I can bring it back to the shop for them to fix it. I am also going to walk to all the bars and try my hardest to get a job. What other employee do they have that will work on holidays?!?! Oh! And one more thing to be thankful for. I am thankful for my Dan, who stayed with me all fall no matter how stressed out I was or how long I had to stay in the library for homework. He is pretty darn great ;)

Dan even sent me a sunflower to Hawaii <3