So I had lunch with the cast of LOST

There isn't even an ounce of truth in that title. Except for the part where I've eaten lunch, so I guess there's at least an ounce.

I've almost suffered through my first full week in Hawaii (Hawai'i).  Colorado was fun. It was good to see Julie, Gabe and some other YL friends (or, I guess, friend. Brittany was the only other person I already knew that I saw now that I think about it). The flight from CO to HI wasn't too bad, although the Pheonix airport has joined the Kansas City airport on my list of worst designed airports I've been to. The plan ride seemed to take forever. I was stuck in the middle seat for both legs of the trip, so it was hard for me to actually fall asleep because I didn't want to risk getting cozy with a stranger. Since it was morning, the meal was a breakfast burrito which I should have declined. Note to self: don't fly to/from Hawaii in the morning. Take your chances with lunch and dinner.

When I arrived, Carrie (the mom) came to pick me up with the kids (Colin, 5; Madeline, 3; and Gracen, 1) and a lei! I now felt like my arrival was official. The family is wonderful, the kids are energetic and fun, and the island is beautiful. The Elliotts have an extra minivan for the time being, so I've been fortunate to have an old red toyota pickup truck to drive around and explore the island. I have fallen in love with the truck and his name is Red Rover, but you can call him Rover for short. I've been all around the island: Ewa, Kailua (GORGEOUS), the north shore (Hale'iwa is a really cool old beach/surf town that is popular), the Dole Plantation where I had a delicious pineapple sorbet cone. The water is all so clear, I can be waste deep and still see the bottom of the ocean. Yesterday a few of us went to Ala Moana, a popular spot where a friend and I learned about coral and Vana (sea urchin that shoots poison into you). Lydia feel victim to the Vana, but after some googling we decided it will be a little painful for a few days, but the rest of the spikey thing in her foot should dissolve on its own in due time. Phew, close one. I don't think they make shirts that read "I went to Hawaii and all I got was poisoned by a sea urchin"

Anyway, I love the feeling of community out here. The evenings are beautiful and you can walk down almost any beach I think and see groups of families/friends gathered around on the beaches or the parks next to the beach, barbecuing, playing music, even hula dancing. Last night I was able to a part of one of these gatherings. It was so good. Steak, chicken, and grilled breadfruit and bananas and potato salad. There were two young girls, Maya and Mercedes, who were fun to run around with. Mercedes taught me how to play a card game she made up that can be best described as matching colors meets go fish meets uno where Mercedes made up/changed rules as the game was played. Afterwards I got my first taste of really touristy Hawaii as we walked from Diamond Head down Waikiki.

There are a few pictures on my facebook, so look there.

Side note: The freeways here (I think there are only 3, there might be a 4th but I haven't seen signs for it) are called interstates. Carrie initially pointed out the irony in this since Hawaii is an island.

I think this afternoon I'm going to take my first stab at surfing out here, and this week hopefully I will do some hiking, etc. since my things I shipped come tomorrow! (fingers crossed)

ALOHA!

(the packing) Nightmare on Quinlan St...

I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but it is incredible how much junk one can accumulate in such a short time. I realized this when my whole packing process started in Columbia. For starters, waiting until the last minute (which is sort of my thing. I've got procrastination down to an art form--why change what you know works?) meant packing up last things from the Santee house in the rain. It is times like these that make you really wonder why you under-estimated the usefulness of an umbrella hat. Sarah Shutt and I bought them in high school and I gave mine up as my dirty santa gift in Worsham's AP class senior year. Sure, it was one of the "cooler" gifts but I wish I would have really thought it through. Not to mention, I ended up with dumb votive candles or something lame. Back to the story before I digress any further. Then there was the mad-dash stuffing the  MUV from the Turbeville's house (my summer 2K9 residence). It got really exciting when I was supposed to pick up Alice in 30 minutes so we could make it to Charlotte for our flight and I still had half my belongings up on the 3rd floor of the house. Right before leaving, Mary tells me "I'm going to be honest, I didn't think it could be done." I just work better and faster under pressure. Now, after dragging my feet for four days I'm finally kicking it into high gear since we are leaving Lynchburg by 11am and I still have a few errands to run. Oh, the adrenaline is a flowin' already. 

Had some good family time this past week and a half.  Maggie's baby shower went well. It was good to see some old family friends and catch up. There were also some good Hudson family fights--I don't know if any trip home would feel complete without them. Dad broke his old hearing aids and got his new, more advanced ones today (on his birthday!) so they were the best kind of birthday present--the kind that is like a present to everyone else as well since now you don't have to repeat yourself as often. He also doesn't have to fake understanding some people anymore. You can tell he is just tired of having you repeat yourself when he just starts nodding and saying "yeah" then walks away or changes the subject. I hope I'm like him when I grow up. With the McGuigan's good looks, of course.

Also spent some good quality time with Megan. Can't wait for her to come join me in October! Or sooner....(hint)

Next update will be from Hawaii...aloha!

Aloha, South Carolina

I've been gone from the land of Beautiful Places and Smiling Faces for a week, and have started to figure out how to put pictures on here from my last few weeks in Cool-umbia.

As one can tell, I've caught my first fish! Do not be fooled by this fish. You know what they say, it ain't the size of the fish in the fight... point is, we caught a shark later with these fish. It was my important job to keep the overambitious dog from imminent death as she definitely wanted a piece of the hammerhead shark.

I've also shot my first gun. If nothing else, this should make people feel safer around me. If I had my CWP, then between packing heat and a blackbelt, I'd be a real life Sidney Bristow (Alias, anyone?) and that ought to be enough to sleep soundly at night.

This is my beautiful family.  It started with Monday night family dinners at D's wings for $.25 wing night. They are all wonderfully special people who make it hard to leave South Carolina. I look to each of them as examples of how to lead a life for Christ and am blessed to call them family.

My first and only Columbia Blowfish game:

I've had the priviledge of knowing Callie since freshman year and seeing her come to the Lord and just fall more in love with him in the past 4 years.  I cherish how honest, and encouraging she is.

Ginnie. My BFF. After all the crap we've put each other through in 4.5 years as roommates, the fact that we're still best of friends really says something. :) She challenges and pushes me in so many ways to pursue the Lord, I'm sure she doesn't even realize the magnitude of how God uses her in my life. 

I also got to spend a weekend with my other two best girlfriends in NYC. Katie has a real job and lives there and was a wonderful hostess for Alice and I. It's also always great to see her brother/fellow model Patrick. Gonna miss them.

Now that I'm in VA, it is time to face the reality that is unpacking Cliff (my car) and the MUV (Mom Utility Vehicle--the minivan) and reorganizing and repacking to ship my things to Hawaii. I've come home to find my room turned into my future neice's room so I sleep on a sofa and my family won't let me unpack anything until after Maggie's baby shower tomorrow.  I'm glad that's tomorrow because I'm down to one pair of clean underwear left (the rest is somewhere in the minivan) and it's pure luck that I put my deodorant/toiletries on top of everything. I've been wearing clothes that Maggie has given me that she can't wear anymore in her current condition (6 months preggers). Her belly weight gain is my wardrobe gain. 

One week until I leave...