Monday Medusozoa

MAN-O-WAR JELLYFISH
FIRST JELLYFISH I HAVE SEEN IN HAWAII!!!

Welcome to Hawaii!

I arrived in one piece in Hawaii on Thursday around 13:00 Hawaii time!  It was SO AMAZING to see Levus!  One of the first things we did was tour the base and go to the beach.  I had shaved my legs the day before, and wow.  I had forgotten how much the salt water makes you burn, especially if you are recently shaved.  The water here is much colder than I thought it would be because the air is so warm here, but I guess we are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean... so much water that it is probably impossible for the warm sun rays to heat it all.

We've done and seen a lot, but right now I am less compelled to stay inside and write a blog, and more interested in going outside and enjoying the air.  Heard it was about 101 degrees back in Missouri.  Although it is hot here, I have barely broken a sweat since I've been here thanks to the lovely island breeze.  Honolulu and Hickam AFB are both beautiful.  I'm so ecstatic to have the opportunity for us to call this place home!  A few years of this shouldn't be too hard to handle, although I am already missing the Buffalo River and Table Rock Lake.  I guess the lush botanical gardens and the swimming with giant sea turtles on the sandy beach will have to make up for it.

Happy Birthday Harriet!

Grandma Harriet and her crew
(((disclaimer: this picture is six years old)))

Today is my Grandma Harriets 77th birthday!  The picture is old, but to date my grandma has three children, six grand children, and four great grand children!  My grandmother and mother are the two most inspiring women in my life.  Although she doesn't have a high school diploma or a college degree, she is one of the smartest women I know.  She has more life experience than anybody and has used her life experience to raise a beautiful, smart, strong, amazing family.   Although we occasionally give her trouble, everybody in the family looks up to her as a great mother, grandmother and great-grandmother!

I am set to leave for Hawaii TOMORROW, and I am so excited!  But I am going down with the illness.  I'm not sure yet what the illness is, but I am coming down with it.  My throat is bothering me and I have been having stomach problems.  I've gone through a bottle of Pepto in the last week which I am/was assuming was stress due to family weekend/life changes/getting things together/etc, but now that I'm getting sick elsewhere I really have no idea.  I would go to the doctor, but alas, not insurance card received in the mail yet although I am supposedly insured.

Flying with American Airlines on the same flight that Levus flew from Dallas to Honolulu.  I'm so thrilled to go through Dallas instead of somewhere on the west coast so that I may spend an extra few hours couped on on the plane.  (Yes, I fluently speak the language of Sarcasm.)  Levus said that in coach class on American there is no meal service for the short eight hour flight, there is only food you may purchase from the airlines at a bloated cost, so I'm going to head to the store today and pack some cheese cubes, apples and jerky for my trip.  I want to try to stay away from the salt for obvious reasons (if you fly, you know), but in order to pack food that won't spoil and will get through security my options are somewhat limited.  I know I shouldn't complain about the food service or the long flight or the being ill, because in less than twenty four hours I will be on my way to see my Airman, but sometimes I can be a bit of a Nancy.

By the way, still at moms.  Need to go back to Springfield to my un-airconditioned apartment to shower and finish packing.  The lake is so nice, and I am in avoidance of the stress and work that must me done at home in order to get myself to the next (temporary) step in my life.  Wish me luck with dealing with my tasks and the motivation to take care of what needs to be done in the months ahead!

Monday Medusozoa

As patriotic as I could find... HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!

The Best Holiday Ever

Having a great time at Table Rock with my family this weekend!  Lots of babies and dogs, so never a dull moment!  Yesterday morning my mom, cousin and I went skiing in the morning before there were too many boats out putting out a lot of wake on the lake.  I always love watching my mom ski.  I think it is spectacular that my almost 54 year old mom still slalom skis and gets up out of the water on her first try!  And I'm counting down the days before Hawaii... 4 more days till I get to see Levus! 

mom skiing

Lyla with her mommy, about to tube for the first time!



a family favorite: "Health Missiles"
(hot dogs wrapped in bacon)