I'm back~! :D

Warning: This post is not cut for several reasons. One, I'm lazy and just want to get it all posted up. Two, I like the look of all the text. Three, because I can. This is from two weeks on vacation spannig from February 8, 2010 to February 24, 2010. So if you'd like to skip it, I'd totally understand. Not every day has an exact blog post. I have absolutely no stamina so some nights I was half dead.

However, I would like to say that random texts to pengtwin helped keep me sane when I couldn't talk to anyone else. ;_; You Rock.

2.8.2010:
We do not have internet access in our condo, hideaway place, thing. Kind of irked about that as I was assured we’d have access. I was really concerned about not being able to do my homework (I’m very serious about my school work, mmkay).

Arrived in Honolulu. The flight itself was five hours long. It was quite painful in general but it wasn’t as bad as some flights as I have been on. In fact it had pretty good music to choose from on the on board terminal. So I got to listen to that, which was really nice. I didn’t get too airsick or anything so that was also really good. I sat next to Cherri. And I’d randomly change her music because I’m awesome. I really actually kind of enjoyed it. The only real troublesome thing was the turbulence, the take off, and the landing.

Also Hawaii is awesome. There’s literally like no dress code. Shirts and shoes are not required to go shopping. Swimsuits ARE the norm. I think I’ve seen pretty much everyone in sandals and/or barefoot too.

Took pictures of the condo because the view from my balcony is lovely. Its not the beach but its green and peaceful.

Cherri and I had different rooms at the start of the day. But she opted to double up with me after I woke her to turn off the air conditioner in her room. It was really loud and Nana tried to get her attention, but I figured Cherri had her headphones in, so, I set my hand on her to get her attention because I knew she wouldn’t hear me - when I did it scared her pretty badly. So she came and took over the second bed in my room. So it’s now our room.

2.9.2010:
We’re using Starbucks for internets. I was able to get my class assignments but I’m not online for any extended amount of time. I really need to do my writing but homework is my first priority. I have a word pad situated with all the adventure stuff. It’s really boring since there’s nothing to it right now. I didn’t even try and fluff it up. I just put bare minimum. So my trip sounds terribly dull. I’ll make it sound better – because it’s actually very amazing. I think I could easily live/retire in O’ahu. It really is very nice here.

Everything is so green and lovely! And the ocean is amazing. It’s a nice even temperature, kind of like being at home only not as hot. Haha, though it’s all rainy in California right now!

Tomorrow we’re going to Honolulu to shop~! XD It’s going to be very cool. I think we’re going to china town and to see the Japanese temple (which Cherri is really excited about).

Unfortunately I’m still stuck on California time. So I get up earlier and am tired as hell right now. It’s only 2200. Also now that I think about it, its very lame that I’m keeping two separate blogs right now. But I’m doing it because the one is supposed ot be turned into a website for our trip. Dunno if we’re still going to do that. Might end up being lazy about it.

Got up at 0600 Hawai’i time. Booya, that’s 0800 PST. Still I lay in bed for an hour because I wasn’t feeling very spectacular. Cherri got up around 0715 we went downstairs and had breakfast then I took a shower. After everyone was all done getting ready we went to Starbucks so I could get my assignments. Cherri turned in her URL for her portfolio and is now officially on break. Then we came back to the condo so I could work on some of my assignments. I got one done before lunch. I took a break and then we decided to go to the Dole Pineapple plantation because my grandfather really wanted to go.

Pineapple express. WHOO. We visited the Dole Pine apple plantation. Not a whole lot to say on the matter. Lots of walking, Cherri got a black pearl – apparently it symbolizes wisdom. We both got bracelets with our names on them. The garden was nice, and I love the fact that I often get to practice reading Japanese! Took pictures of the garden mostly and found out how to say my name in Hawai’ian (Kalene in case you’re curious; Lae if you’re calling me “Rae”). Fun fact, the Hawai’ian alphabet only has twelve letters in it.

Got a new ring which is really nice. It’s got soft colors and I think it’s very cute.

Unfortunately I cannot think of anything too important or relevant since I wasn’t really up for the Pine apple place – I really don’t like pine apples at all. We got the rings else where but I can’t think of the name of the town. And we watched the sunset too.

I’m going to try and detail the Pineapple place anyways~!

Let’s see though, the Pineapple Express was the train we rode on for half an hour after we walked around the maze trying to find all the little seals (which we never did because I have an awesome sense of direction). We didn’t get any pictures of the maze because that would be silly. Who wants pictures of a dungeon? There were no random encounters so we didn’t really get any experience.

The train was not fruitful (or maybe it was since we took a tour of and saw pine apples and bananas among other planty objects). After the train ride (which was only cool because we got to sit down in shade after being in the sun looking through the dungeon) we went to the garden to look around. I really enjoyed the garden and took a lot of pictures. We had two encounters there – one was pre-emptive but Cherri’s so strong she scared it away. There was a lizard on one of the Hibiscus plants but I didn’t see it and when she tried to show me it ran off. After that we found another lizard elsewhere; but I was able to get a picture of it. The garden was also pretty shady and nice. It was supposed to be an audio tour but my speaker thing stopped working after the introduction. So I just walked around with Cherri and read the signs and took pictures.

After we were done there we went to a small town (I forget the name of it) and did some looking around. Got my new ring there, its silver with green, orange, blue, and pink shells. It’s hard to describe so I’ll take pictures.

They had a really nice little art gallery there, but the guy there didn’t believe that I was almost twenty four even after Nana vouched for me! No one believes me. I’m not surprised by that at all anymore. I just smile and try to convince them that I’m not lying. But I don’t really force the issue. I’m not concerned because I really have nothing but time. I’ve decided I would love love love to buy art. And I would have had I had the money and/or storage space to get it back home.

I think I’m going to crash now.

2.10.2010:
Woke up around 0300 due to a text message from Chris. Went back to sleep and woke up again around 0630. Got the homework I had done turned in. We came home for a bit and then made lunch to go to the beach. We were going to go to Waikiki. But somehow got sidetracked stopping on almost every beach along the way. We went to Kailua Ranch and took the tour. We got to see Godzilla’s foot prints! We took pictures because I thought Hikou might appreciate it.

The real highlight here though is the Byodo-in temple. It is a recreation of the Byodo-in Japan. Simply amazing. I can’t even describe how beautiful it was. We got to meet the bishop. He was lingering around the gift shop helping out customers (aka me and Cherri). And he was very sweet and easy to talk too. Cherri got a yukata! She was so excited.

One thing that amused me was when we met the bishop (whom I didn’t know was the bishop until near the end of our trip) he asked if Cherri and I were friends, we told him we were sisters. And he asked me if I were the older! I was so happy about that as most people think Cherri is older than I am for some reason. But he greeted us when we entered and was very helpful the entire time. We got pictures taken with him.

I was able to buy my first piece of art! YATTA! I missed the artist by like an hour so I didn’t get to speak to her. That made me a little bit sad, but, I’ve started my future art collection.


I fell down the stairs twice today. Once this morning and once on my way back up from dinner. The first time I caught my shoulders and wrists pretty good when I fell and now they’re all sore. The second time didn’t help but my wrists caught the brunt of that. It hurts a bit to type but I’ll survive. Tomorrow we’re going to a luau.

I think I’m doing pretty well on my homework this week though things are feeling a little rushed. Everyone says I have the time to do it, but, it feels like the opposite is true.

2.11.2010
Did some quick writing in the car while Cherri and Grandpa were taking pictures of the beach. We went to the Polynesian Culture Center and went through four different island tours (well more like they had the events set up like other islands). Then we went to a luau, which was a lot of fun. The rolls were purple. I think they were taro rolls, and they were purple, but they tasted like sweet bread. Just a random fact for you. Poi is also purple but it’s very bland – kind of like mashed potatoes. There’s no real flavor to it. There was a lot of music, which was awesome, and a lot of dancing – which was also awesome!

Unfortunately Leon (Cherri’s camera) was not cooperating so we didn’t get any pictures or anything.

Didn’t get to type this up yesterday because I was beat when we got home.

2.12.2010
My foot huts so bad. I think in part a lot of my ache is from having fallen down the stairs the other day. I think part of going on vacation is relaxing. Today is the first day we’ve gotten to actually sit down. Not that we haven’t been taking it easy, it’s just that we’ve been out pretty much every day. And it annoys me to some degree, because we don’t really get spoken to to make the decisions. By the time we’re asked we’re already leaving and it’s a pain to say ‘No, I’ll pass’. Today though, I found I had an extra assignment due and I had to redo one, so I opted to stay and work on them. It’s important since they’re due Sunday. I don’t have steady internet access though, so I can only do about half the work. And I don’t really like sitting at Starbucks for four hours (I only make it two) to work on everything. We were assured we’d have internet access.

I’m annoyed that isn’t the case. Obviously? Not that I’d spend a lot of time online, but I’d like to blog and upload everything. I’d like to be able to research my homework. I took the internet for granted, and I’m sorry.

2.16.2010:
So let me recap the 13th. DEATH MOUNTAIN. Seriously. We hiked up Diamond Head and I swear that was one of the most terrible experiences in my life. I don’t mind walking around or whatever. I have no problem with that. The problem with Diamond Head is the fact it’s a friggin’ mountain and I’m used to flat surfaces. But this mountain was terrible. It hurt to breath and I only got about halfway up – three fourths – I got halfway through the check points but it wasn’t the halfway up point. But I didn’t think I could climb ninety nine more steps and deal with another tunnel. It hurt to breath and I shouldn’t have gone as far as I did. So it seems that the pleurisy takes longer to heal than I thought it would. But I got to say, I feel pretty epic anyways. I did what I could. And I didn’t really go beyond any limits. I can admit my limits without any shame.

We had gone to Bishop Museum before that and walked around quite a bit, so I was already a little tired from that.

The 14th we stayed home? Oh no, we went to Starbucks so I could turn in my last assignment for the week. Then we came home and just lazed about? Actually, I think that’s a pretty fair summary. I was feeling terrible that day. From the hike the previously and it was painful to breath, so I opted out of doing anything extra. I was asked several times but kept insisting I didn’t want to do anything else. So Cherri and I listened to women’s hockey. We’ve been watching the Winter Olympics a bit. Uhm, what else? Nothing much for that day.

The 15th, I thought we were going to Pearl Harbor, and I didn’t have any homework. We went shopping in Honolulu and went to Waikiki beach (it was terribly crowded). There was a lot of walking around which I’m recovering from today. It’s not even my feet that are bothering me. It’s the whole “need to breath” thing. How lame. It doesn’t hurt to breath, but it’s still a bit labored.

Okay so shopping, I got a new shirt, ring, and hairclip. I’m very happy about all of them. Finally got mom something too.

Today it seems like they’re trying to decide when would be best to go to Pearl Harbor now. Ugh, and it seems we have to leave early in the morning because of wait times and everything. And I have a paper due this week. Yatta. Ah, the real problem with that is that I have to do research for it. And without internet access it’s a pain. Yes, I can go to Starbucks but I find it uncomfortable (more so than being at home) because it’s so busy. I don’t like being around people for a reason.

My grandparents argue a lot. It always feels really tense when we’re in the car. So I have been slowly trying to learn how not to let other’s energy over power me. It’s a slow process and I’m not very good at it. But when it’s tense in the car, I feel like I get nauseous a lot faster. I suppose because I can’t s imply leave whenever I want too. Like if they’re arguing or bickering downstairs I can simply go upstairs and wait it out, let it run its course. Naturally I’m not able to get through it all by myself. And I’m so thankful that I don’t have too.

But it’s a “relax day” so I’m going to try and get as much homework done as Snowily (HAH new words D; I was going to use humanly) possible. I just wanted to take a moment to try and get this as typed up as I can since I haven’t been on the computer in the evenings due to being tired and not feeling very well. I’ve actually been writing on a memo pad and have it all stashed away in one of my books so I can upload them later. XD Speaking of which, I should do that now. O.o That’s done. Bwah, I procrastinated on homework enough now…

I got three assignments done. I still have four or so to go. But as usual, I need internet. I need to do some research for a paper, and I have no idea what I want to write one right now. I just want to be done with homework. Though I suppose if I used something from one of my textbooks, I could easily write it. *ponder* And now I’m hungry since I didn’t have lunch today. I really need to eat.

2.17.2010:
Got up early today to get my assignments turned in. So I had to get up earlier, showered was ready to go. On the way to Starbucks we find out that after that we’re immediately going to Honolulu. So fine, I can deal with that because I can write my paper today. No problem. It’s easy peesy I can take all day tomorrow too. Right? Wrong. Tomorrow morning we’re getting up early to go to Pearl Harbor. SO I have this evening to bs my way through 7-10 pages and I’m frustrated and tired. I’m having trouble breathing and I have to do what I can with the research I was able to get done. Then tomorrow evening if I’m not dead I can go to Starbucks to turn it in. It feels like everything’s rushing today and tomorrow, I can’t fathom why we hadn’t done some of these things before now.

We went to some palace thingy today. It was okayish, no pictures because photography was not allowed. We also went to a cemetery. Which I thought was kind of terrible. It was a very heavy place. So I’m trying to blog to get my frustrations out so I can write my paper. And it was looking like such a promising day too! I was so excited this morning because I was going to be doing everything. I did get some extra assignments done – thankfully. But I’m still thinking that I have little time to actually write my paper.

Vincent’s being a bit uncooperative too. I’d sigh but it hurts.

2.18.2010:
We went to Pearl Harbor today! I had a lot of fun. It was really nice. Not as somber as a cemetery, though it is technically a resting place of many sailors. ;_; We couldn’t take many pictures because it’s a naval base pretty much. You can take pictures of some of the memorials but Cherri left our camera in the car. So we didn’t really get any of them. However, I toured a battleship and a submarine today! I’m so epic. I wasn’t going to tour the submarine at first because I figured it would be a small closed space (it was). But I was determined to see it, if only to have just experienced it. It will make good writing! Maybe, at least I can use the general idea for Shinra stories. Yatta!

Overall I can explain the experience, but, it might be pretty dull. It was like walking through a bunch of museums. The museums just happened to be battleships. In fact the Arizona was underwater – the memorial itself is lifted over the remains. So it kind of sways a little but over the water. At least you can feel it moving. I made the mistake of trying to read a pamphlet while on board. I got very nauseous but I was also felt very sad while I was there. There’s just something about grave sites I’ve never grown accustomed too.

2.19.2010:
It was decided we needed to go snorkeling today. So we headed to the east side of the island. When we got there it was pouring rain. Without any dry sand to make a home base we decided to go to a different beach. Three times. And every time there was nothing but rain. So we didn’t go snorkeling and we spent the better part of the day just driving around. I have a headache from being nauseous most of the late morning/early afternoon now.

I’m trying to get my homework finished up. I have a terrible feeling I’m going to have to scrap my entire rough draft to work on the final one. That’s fine for me, I guess. I can write easily. It just feels like my homework is nothing but a huge inconvenience to everyone else. Thankfully though, most of the rest of my homework is just responses to classmates. So I can do that fairly quickly.

I’ll be happy when I’m home and can rest and play on the internet as much as I want.

2.20.2010
I’m feeling congested today. I have a paper to write. And I really need to send out postcards. Homework is my first priority. I don’t care what everyone else is doing. I need to finish this. Not the blog, the work. It’s all due tomorrow. We’re only going to be here until Monday so I need to get things moving so that the very last few days aren’t hampered by anything. Otherwise my grandparents are going to have fit.

But it seems they decided to go out today. So its just me and Cherri. Nice and quietish.

Anyways I’m slowly writing my paper. It’s not going as well as I’d like. I keep getting sidetracked by random things. Like Xanxus trying to kill Marik. Like Cherri with her soul candy. XD; Pez for the win!

Good quotes from today.
Snow: Ah I guess I’ll just eat the lemon. (When trying to decide between lemon or grape soul candy – but its not the way Cherri took it.)
Cherri: One of us is vibrating. (When someone’s phone rang)

2.24.2010:

LIBS 150:
Research Log 2 (Due 3.1)

WRTG 391:
• Have you completed the readings and the assignment under "Module 3:Commentary?" (due 2.24)
• Have you completed the assignment under "Ethos, Logos, and Pathos?" (due 2.24)
• Have you completed the assignment under "Toulmin's Model?"
• Have you completed the assignment under Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum?"
• Have you posted your entry in your Writer's Journal in the Workbook?
• Have you responded generously to your peers?
• Have you gone to the Assignments Folder and submitted a note telling me that you have finished this week's activities?

ARTH 370:
Japana, China, Korea
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Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday was without computer. Most of all three was spent driving around and the latter two days spent traveling. Got home around four PM yesterday and then we went bowling. It was really nice to see everyone again. And it will be even better to be online today! I have assignments due today (Yay….D: ) My email is receiving mail but I can’t send it for some reason. I know most of my posts are not epic. And that’s fine. I know that I complained, and you’re going to have to deal with it.

I really did have a great time in Hawaii. There was so much going on though, that I felt very tired all the time. Still, I can say that I had a fun time. There were so many historical things and it was simply wonderful. In particular I enjoyed Byodo-In and Pearl Harbor the most. In addition it’s hard to say that I enjoyed every aspect as the schedule of everything we did was on someone else’s schedule. Again there was so much going on that I don’t think I could adequately describe everything anyways.

I’m feeling very tired and at some point I’m going to type up better versions of everything later. I’m too tired right now and I have homework that needs attended too. I’m most of the way through Dante’s Inferno. I’m on Canto 30/34. Hooah. Then I need to read part 2 but I’ll do that in March since it’s broken up into two books.

It’s going to take me a couple of days to get back into the swing of things. The assignments that were due today are completed. I have to make dinner tonight and its really windy outside. ;_; I still have to take all the pictures off of Dias. I hope to do that tomorrow. I still have things I need to do today.

Writing Updates:
2.8.10: Ironic – Indulgence
2.9.10: Serene – Shades of Gray
2.10.10: Happiness – Shades of Gray
2.11.10: Rain on my parade – Shades of Gray
2.12.10: Ironic (2) – Indulgence
2.13.10: Why – Shades of Gray
2.14.10: Mountain – Shades of Gray
2.15.10: Music – Shades of Gray
2.16.10: Scared – Shades of Gray
2.17.10: Faster – Shades of Gray
2.18.10: Memory – Shades of Gray
2.19.10: Breathe – Shades of Gray
2.20.10: Ironic (3) – Indulgence
2.21.10: Holding on – shades of gray
2.22.10: Masquerade – Shades of Gray
2.23.10: Short of XYZ – Shades of Gray
2.24.10: Ironic (End) - Indulgence