Here's to hoping this week will go better then last week.  Work was awful last week.  Tempers were high, patience was low, and communication sucked.  It's Monday, we'll see how it goes.

On a lighter note, I now have the jeep to myself. Dan has a vehicle for him (we picked it up Saturday) and I actually spent most of the weekend out and about.  House is slowly coming along.  Hope to tackle the bedroom tomorrow.  I transplanted some tomatoes and the Zucchini, I hope they survive (I should have waited for help)  The dead cars are getting cleaned out and hopefully hauled out of here this week. I'm going to start going to the gym Wednesday after I can get resettled into a routine.  Yay!!!!

Well..need to go settle for a nap for tonight.

I'm taking a short break as the floors in the kitchen/Dining/laundry are dry.  It's amazing how messy and awful things can get when no one will do anything.  I feel like I have to throw a temper tantrum just the get someone to take the trash out or load the dishwasher.  I'm tired of throwing fits that get me no where.  I'm concentrating on just getting the the rooms clean right now, next step is finding what is in good enough shape to give to Goodwill or anyone that wants them.  Figure after the floors dry I can start on the living room.  Once I've located the floors and surfaces I can break in the new carpet cleaner Dan got me for Christmas. (I actually asked for it)
Sometimes this week I'll start on the bedroom.  I'm actually looking forward to tackling the bed room.  While Dan and I were taking a day for ourselves on Saturday, we put money on a platform bed with drawers.  I'm hoping to pick it up in a couple of weeks.  If all goes well I can think about putting money down on a living room set in a couple of months.  New furniture....I haven't had really new furniture since that pine 4 poster bed I bought as a teenager (I was so proud of myself at that time).  It'll be nice to have everything match an look nice.  Almost 30 y/o and my house still looks like I went shopping at a thrift store,  Don't get me wrong, I love shopping thrift stores, You can find really great stuff there.  I just want to show that I'm prospering a little as I get older.

Figured I put new dishes and cookware on my list for Christmas.  I have an idea exactly which sets I want to..lol  I'm also looking into a cabinet I can put my linens in.  The shelf I've got them in now do nothing for dust.  I wonder if I vacuumed sealed bags with bedding set for each bed.....that's not a bad idea...save room too.

Well, floor is almost dry, time to move stuff back.

Well, we just got back Tuesday afternoon from Oahu Island, Hawaii. It was a interesting trip. There was a huge family gathering on Dan’s side of the Family (His extended family is HUGE!!!) It was a little difficult for me to get over my normal shyness (I’m more for small intimate gatherings of close friends and family). It helped that I had met most of the Aunts and Uncles when they we’re going through Washington Last year in en-route to an Alaska Cruise. My head is still spinning trying to get all the names and order of birth in my head. As it is (aside from a couple of New York Cousins) I can only remember a few names out of all the cousins.

Day 1 (Wednesday)- Exhausted from lack of sleep and a long flight we get land in Honolulu International Airport. We go to get the car….of course there’s trouble from the get go there. Finally figure it out and get the car, it’s 4pm…..rush hour. Thank the gods for GPS. Back Roads all the way to the hotel. We get to the hotel, get our room keys, walk into the tiniest hotel room I’ve ever walked into and guess what…It’s not ADA Accessible. Come to find out that this particular hotel was grandfathered in and doesn’t have any ADA rooms. Since we’re tight on cash, we adapt to the situation and make a mental note never to book at the Aqua Surf Continental again nor to use Priceline to book. Rather then just relaxing after the flight, we go straight to dinner with a friend of Dan’s from back in his elementary school/Boy Scout days. Later we get back to the room and pass out.

Day 2 (Thursday)- We meet up with Dan’s Parents for lunch, drop the car off at his Aunt and Uncles, then go for a ride around a Quarter of the Island. (I got a lot of cool pictures that will be up later). We go visit Dan’s Aunt in Mililani then out to dinner with Aunt, Cousin and Dan’s Parents. Dinner with Tuli’s family members is interesting. They order a bunch of different stuff then everyone shares everything. ( I was soooo stuffed). Back to the room…pass out.

Day 3 (Friday)- Take a walk to the Beach, wade in the water, Dan takes funny picture of me getting wet and surfers with huge boards. We went to the Arizona Memorial. I dare anyone to go to that and not get a little teary eyed. It was a solemn thing, but very interesting. The Oil is still leaking, you can make out parts of the ship under the water and a few rusty pieces of the gunners still stand above the water. If you loot closely you can see some of the fish that swim through the openings and the surface area of the ship deck. If you close your eyes you can almost feel the souls of the men that are still there going about their business on the ship, unaware that their young lives had been cut short by such a tragedy. The white wall with over 1400 names and ranks listed with a small marble block listing the dates of the last of survivors deaths off to the side. In the entrance to the memorial is a row of flags to each side marking their respect for those below and those that fought to save their comrades. Next to the dock is a lei floating in the water that someone threw in offering to the Brave men below. It was a somber trip back to the visitor center. I bought some of the newspaper reprints of the head lines from back in 1941 to bring home to my parents and a copy of each just for me. Dan bought a coin for the memorial and Hawaii’s 50th Anniversary After the memorial we went off to Pearl Ridge Mall in Aiea. (it’s a big mall split into to big buildings) for shopping. I got the cutest tank top that looks almost like a corset but isn’t. We rode the tram between the buildings (got on free too) and did a little shopping ( I got the cutest little black tank top on sale at a store there). It was fun, though I need to get more exercise….the walking was taking it’s toll. We head to Ala Moana Beach Park for BBQ with most of the extended family, a walk along the breakers and fireworks display (still haven’t figured what the fireworks were for, but it was fun to watch) I got to know a few more cousins better and adjusted to the huge crowd. Party Breaks up, we park the car back at the hotel and take a walk along the main business strip of Waikiki, observed the night life, and made some interesting observations of the Ladies of the Night there. Back at the room-passed out.

Day 4 (Saturday) Shopped at the Swap Meet (HUGE!!!!!!), got a little sunburned,  helped put together party favors for the Big bash on Sunday. Big Party at Auntie and Uncles house. All family and Close friends of Auntie and Uncle. At least 50 people if not more. Very Crowded. I had to take a few trips out side to calm my nerves. I’m not use to so many people. It was fun. Played with the kids and the puppies. Back to the room….crash out Day 5 (Sunday) Had brunch with one of Dan’s buddies (Charles) and later met up with Charles and another one of Dan’s Friends (Paul) at Ala Moana Mall then to the Ala Moana Park so I could swim. Ala Moana Mall is kinda cool. It’s and Indoor/Outdoor mall. The middle is Open to the Sky and has these really nifty Koi Ponds going down the middle. Big Bash for Uncle in Mililani…….almost 400 People!!!!!!!!!!!! It was fun though. Little Skits and contests and the food was good.

Day 6 (Monday) Nothing exciting. Checked out, visited with family for a few hours, grabbed some gifts for people, and back on the plane home.

We're hoping to go again next year and see all the stuff we missed.  I still want to see North Shore, the Museums, The Cultural Center, and soo much more.