It is day 133 on the island. Megan's husband Sawyer and friends started their whole time travel gig around day 100, but I've decided to keep on pushing forward instead because I'm a survivor(what)/I'm not gonna give up (what)/I'm not gon' stop (what)/I'm gonna work harder as Beyonce puts it so eloquently with her former gal pals for life. (Thinking back to "making the video" days I do recall this being filmed by the ocean which only makes it even more appropriate).
Megan was able to go home for the holidays, and since her flight didn't leave until 10pm, we were able to spend the day on the north shore for the Billabong Pipeline Masters finals. So fun. He didn't win, but my boyfriend Kelly Slater did make it to the finals to serve as eye candy even if he did get dominated by Taj Burrow. Afterwards we make the short hike back to the car for me to pull out Megan's flight info. Remember when she told me her flight left at 10pm? well, pause for a second then give me a big fat PSYCH! It was 2:30pm when we left the north shore, and her flight was leaving at 5:50. We had an hour drive home, followed by her getting last minute stuff together and approx. 30 minute drive to the airport and to check bags, etc. I know you're in a panic but of course I kept my cool because if you remember my little NYC adventure with Lice-Face last July, you'd remember that I live for this kind of down-to-the-last-minute stuff. Needless to say, this story is pretty anticlimactic because she made it in plenty of time. We totally could have still stopped at Matsumoto's for Shave Ice. I didn't even have to go over 60mph on the highway to make it on time.
Ten days later, I was able to celebrate Christmas with the Elliotts (well, most of them...click here to find out where the absent ones are...and join a team of prayer warriors for a quick return!). Since I mainly hang out with mom's and their kids, it has been neat to see different ways Christmas is celebrated in the house during the season. I really admire how the Elliott's have such an emphasis on educating their kids about Christmas and its history, what different symbols mean, etc. They have an advent wreath and I felt like one of the kids learning more about the candles and advent in general. Let's be honest--I hear it every year in church but it has become more of a formality to me, unfortunately. you have a wreath, you light a candle each Sunday, the one in the middle for Christmas Eve, yadda yadda... Also through church and kids books I learned how the theme of Christ and Jesus' birth is even more embedded in Christmasy "things" than just a nativity scene. So many people, believers and non-believers alike, celebrate the season with many symbols of Christ even if they don't realize it! I can tell I'm mumbling so I'll move on.
On Christmas morning, as I watched Colin and Maddie tear through paper and the room morphed into a Princess and Star Wars mini mall I did miss my family, real bad. I have to admit, I was surprised that I didn't have a call yet saying that dad was boohooing over my not being there. However, thanks to the miracle that is the world wide web, and moreso, SKYPE, I was able to enjoy two wonderful hours with my dad's side of the family enjoying (or, watching them enjoy) one of the few meals mom actually cooks in a year and opening my aunt's hilarious gag-gifts for Christmas. This year I got a second tiny souvenir plate (it might actually be a saucer sans teacup) and a leopard print stuffed frog. Can't wait to get it in the mail, Bernard will be happy to have a friend. On Saturday I was able to Skype in again while some of mom's side of the family was over and joined in a few games of "4-on-the-couch" and had a blast. Technology amazes me.
Megan did get me The Office trivia board game, which is for 2 to 6 players. While she is gone, I now have to find 2 to 6 friends so I can play. Heather (one of the mom's) invited me on a hike with her family and a run club she goes to (remember the one Megan goes to, but I stay clear of the "r" word...I'll salsaerobics instead mahalo nui loa (thank you very much)). It was a fun, super muddy hike. The water at the falls was refreshing and full of bacteria (plenty of signage along the way to remind us) We jumped off one of the waterfalls which was fun. Anyway, eventually out of that came Heather finding me some friends so that's good news. Thursday morning I'm going with Heather et al for a sunrise hike to close out the year, so it'll be the starting point to testing the water with people in my peer group.
Well, that'll have to do pigs, for now. Although I will share this little gem I experienced earlier today. We turned off the A/C and have windows open instead. This means I get to share life a little more with the neighbors, whether it is listening to the ones on the right watching "The Hangover" while I'm in the bathroom, or hearing someone to the left to nicely ask their kids to "get off the ledge"...this eventually escalates to "GET OFF THE LEDGE NOW!" and I couldn't help but chuckle and think of this oldie but goodie.
Get Off The Shed! - The funniest bloopers are right here
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