Desert Rats (pt.1)
Hello all!!! Posts have been delayed due to many factors. Read more
Posts tagged ‘Relationships’
Jan 2
2 Comments
Two Peas In A Pod
Two peas in a pod. That’s what my mom says about Jeff + I. Read more
Merry Christmas 2011!!!
Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas!!! Jeff arrived Christmas Eve night + I was so happy to finally have him in Los Angeles!!! Read more
Happy American Thanksgiving!!!
I say Happy American Thanksgiving because Canadian Thanksgiving takes place in the beginning of October. People say, “Weird! In October? Do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving? Were there Pilgrims in Canada? I don’t get it!”. I didn’t either, but I did some research + there’s lots of different reasons for Canadian Thanksgiving – “Jour de l’Action de Grace” in Canadian French thankyouverymuch. Read more
Lofty Goals
Jeff is coming to visit this weekend!!!!! He arrives tonight at 6:45 tonight + leaves Monday at 9pm. Very quick trip. The main goal was to paint + do last minute fix ups to the condo which we assumed would be rented by now. Still no takers. Kind of a bummer. But I’m still glad he’s coming to visit because I won’t see him again till the day of Christmas Eve. I just can’t wait to have our own home in Canada!!!!!! AAAAAARGH!!!! Read more
Technology Saves Relationships
People ask me often how Jeff + I keep in touch, considering our entire relationship has been long distance + still is. It sucks. But we’ve never experienced anything else, so to us it’s sort of normal. I miss him all the live long day, but I pretend that he’s “on location” + psych myself out that way.
In the beginning, when we first started dating, we would just text + email. Then, we graduated to buying phone cards + skyping. It all sounds so archaic now! Here’s pictures we texted to each other during our respective holidays 2009. 
Can you see I’m trying to convey a sense of, “Hey, don’t I look fun?”. I look a little uncomfortable doing it. My friends had to force me to take this picture + send it to Jeff. We had met at the end of November, so at this time I was still trying to woooooo him with my charms.
Jeff’s 2009 holiday photo to me with Matt + Tobin. Don’t they look so little?! Isn’t it crazy how fast kids grow up?! What do you guys think? Jeff better with or without a moustache??? With, of course!!!! That’s the answer!!! Mother Jean would definitely NOT agree!!!! My mom LOVES his moustache because she thinks it’s macho. 
Mas Macho!!!! Does anyone remember an ad campaign from Camel cigarettes in the 70s about “The Turk”? I totally don’t. But it’s amazing!!! Jeff + I saw an art installation with The Turk in it at the MOCA “Under the Big Black Sun: California Art: 1974-1981” exhibit. Hot!!!! What’s not hot about panning for gold?! http://www.moca.org/black_sun/
Sorry, I always get distracted on the subject of men with moustaches. Ok, carrying on. Jeff + I would also email photos of what we had been up to in our separate lives.
Here’s Jeff bowling. This was when his facial hair evolved into this weird Wolverine style. I was like, “What the heck is going on with that hair on his face?”. But it was too new in the relationship for me to say that. Now, I’d be like, “Yo, do something about that. It’s weird!”
So weird. I don’t even know what inspired him shave like that. I should maybe ask him. 
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. So hot. I love me some Hugh Jackman. Distracted again. Sorry. 
Here was me at the San Juan Capistrano mission. In the picture I was probably trying to convey, “Hey, I enjoy California history. And aviator sunglasses”.
Once Jeff got an IPhone that revolutionized our long distance relationship. We basically FaceTime almost every day, if our work schedules allow it. Seeing your significant other’s face while talking is very important in my book. I’m no couples therapist, but in my opinion it is a huge deal. Some other vital tools for being in two different countries is to get the Whatsapp + Viber apps. My techy savvy friend Kim has a boyfriend who travels out of the country often for work + she was aghast that I didn’t have them. They use up data on your phone, not minutes. So you can basically text, send pictures + talk for free if you have a wirelss connection or 3G connection. My sucky AT+T plan only lets me send 100 texts to Canada a month. Lame-o!!!! These two apps are a must for long distance relationships!!!! If you + your guy/gal have smart phones, get these apps stat!!!! http://www.whatsapp.com/ http://www.viber.com/
We also send a picture of ourselves every day to each other.
I can’t WAIT to live in the same country + under the same roof with Jeff!!!!! It’s getting really old, y’all. I really hope our immigration paperwork gets processed without any delays or complications. And no, we haven’t turned it in yet. 😦 Jeff is coming to visit for Remembrance Day ( a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty since World War I) + we’re going to put our heads together + work on it because I think I have all the documents I need now. Come to think of it, I flew to Calgary on Remembrance Day in 2009 for work + that’s when I met Jeff!!!!!!!!! Wow, I just realized that because when we landed all the Canadians were wearing red poppies + I thought, “Oh how nice the Canadians are with their red flower pins.”. I had no idea what they were for, I just thought they were cute. The red remembrance poppy is a symbol of Remembrance Day, due to the poem in “Flanders Fields”. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, + red color represents the blood spilled in the war. This is probably going to be on my citizenship test!!! One question, down! 
Oct 5
Jeff’s 2 Day Birthday Festivities Pt. 2
Jeff’s Birthday weekend, part 2. Jeff is well loved. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND Jeff insisted all of his West Coast family (family also includes the Hoiles of course) to be together to celebrate his birthday, so for that to happen, we celebrated on Sunday. The Hoiles had us over for the partay. Tom, Deb, Matt, Tobin, Steve, Liz, Keiko, Hana, Benjamin + cousin Neil were all there! 
Appies, y’all!!! Shaka!!! 
Filet mignon + shrimp kabobs on the grill, yo!!! Decadence to da max!!! 
Now that is the way to party. Veganism, goodbye. Sorry, Charlie. 
Here’s little button Hana using a remote control as a cell phone. Ridiculously cute!!!!!! Unbearable!!
The dinner spread!!!! I kept instructing Keiko + Matt, “The Ta-Daaaa Pose!!! The Ta-Daaa Pose!!! Arms spread!!! TA-DAAA!!!!”. Like an obnoxious stage mom.
Jeff wanted a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. What do you think of the caption? 45 IS a big deal!!!! The zombie kid at Dairy Queen made me want to reach over to check his pulse, but I got a slight crack of a smile from him when he saw my ecstatic happiness when Isaw the cake. 
Before the cakecame out, Matt, Tobin + I busted out the crown that we all collaborated on the day before with our sweat + tears.
Hana had to give the crown a whirl. 45??? Me thinks not. A mere babe in the woods. A wee bairn. 
Jeff is definitely a young-at-heart 45.
Okay, how many times does it take to wrangle 4 children into a semi perfect group photo? Let’s take a count.
One. Where’s Tobin? Oh, there you are!!! 
Two. Do you like Hana’s Uncle Jeffrey moustache?? 
Three. Uh-oh. Things are starting to unravel. Yikes. Focus Hana, FOOOCUUUUS!!!!! Tobin! Matt! What the heck!!!?? 
Four. Jeff + Hana, come on!!!! Keiko, kudos. Always ready for a photo op. Well done. Well done. 
Five!!!! Success!!!! Oh wait, Hana + Keiko aren’t looking into the camera. Oh well, as long as everyone is facing forward with their little faces towards camera, that equals done to me!!! 
Oh hey, I know what’s going on here!! I see the love gaze flowing between these two!!!!! 
What the heck??!!! Alas, I always knew Jeff was Hana’s main squeeze, before I even met Jeff. I digress. She’s always asking me, “Where’s Jeffy? Where’s Jeffy??”
After cake, Jeff + Hana blissed out in each other’s arms. They were so content, that they didn’t even notice the bright light of my flash. 
So cute!!!!!!!! Buddies!!! Happy Birthday, Jeff!!!!!!!!!
Oct 4
Punch it, Los Angeles!!!
Guess what? I’m finally in Los Angeles. And guess who came along with me? Jeffrey Andrew Keith Fayle. Yep, that’s right. Believe it. Jeff doesn’t start his new job for another week, so he decided to squeeze a SoCal trip in. Also, it’s mostly because I think he knew I’d be inconsolable + despondent facing the reality of brown, smoggy Los Angeles alone. Codependent much????
Eew. Flat + brown.
My mom + dad came to pick us up at LAX which is always a joy to see their faces after a long trip. The weather would be considered warm by Canadian standards, but my mom was wearing a mohair sweater.
For dinner we decided to take our chances at Sushi Gen in my Little Tokyo neighborhood. I’ve been there a couple of times, but haven’t been back in a long time even though they are located right next to my condo due to their long waits. My dad has been dying to eat here for ages, being the foodie that he is. They are considered one of the best sushi restaurants in Los Angeles. Luckily, we arrived early enough + we were seated right away in a booth! Score!!!! 
My mom + I got the Chirashi Deluxe. Chirashi is something you get at a sushi restaurant when you’re too tired to pick out what you want because it’s a smorgasbord of sashimi on top of a bed of rice. It was the best sushi we’ve all ever had!!!! Look at how gorgeous! Fresh! 
At the end of dinner my parents punched it. In Nishino family translation that means, “I do say, that dinner was a culinary masterpiece!!!” They’re so hilarious, so I made them pose for my dad’s signature gesture. A really nice way to be welcomed home. http://www.sushigenla.com/
Oct 3
Jeff’s 2 Day Birthday Festivities
Who get’s to celebrate his birthday for an entire weekend? Jeff does. He’s 45 y’all.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1ST – Jeff’s actual birth date
A present from yours truly.
Tobin’s new chapeau. All the rage with the kids.
Bent plywood magazine side table/stool!!! How moderne!!!!
Later, I had Matt + Tobin help me with some decorations for Jeff’s birthday party for the next night. It was a group collaboration, not without a couple creative differences. We had to stop every once in a while + re-group with a board meeting. 
Serious teamwork.
That evening, I took Jeff to Deep Cove to have dinner at a great restaurant called Arms Reach Bistro. It was tasty + stylish without being pretentious – so very Canadian!!!!
We got into a little fight before we reached the restaurant. Here’s me expressing my discontent in a very mature manner.
Jeff caught my very discreet expression + so I obliged him with a reluctant stiff smile. Not bad, right?!
I couldn’t stay mad at Jeff! He’s too cute!!! We hugged it out after a little talking + we enjoyed our dinner. We had a beef carpaccio appetizer (Canadians call it an “appie” as in a beef carpaccio appie – funny, right?) which I’ve never had before. It was UNBELIEVABLE!!!! OMG it was so good, like melt in your mouth good. 
http://www.armsreachbistro.com/frame.htm
After dinner we went for a movie. FYI, Canadian movie theaters really need a serious makeover. Ever heard of stadium seating? Surround sound??? Consider it, Canada!!! They’re all pretty small + outdated + make me feel like I’m in middle school at the Janss Mall going to see Beetlejuice. 
I can’t wait for the Muppet movie to come out!!!!! Oh, Fozzie bear, you charlatan!!
I wanted to go see Moneyball, but since it was Jeff’s birthday we went to see Ryan Gosling in Drive. I mean, who doesn’t want to see a movie about baseball + statistics?! Let’s just say Drive was highly lacking. Jeff enjoyed it for some reason. The actors were extremely good, but there was absolutely no character development + the storyline was majorly weak sauce. When we got back to Tom + Deb’s, they were still up so we shared some bubbly to celebrate Jeff’s 45th year on the planet. Tom just got back from a trade show in Europe + bought this perfect Mr. T shirt for Jeff in Spain. Pity the Fool. Pity the Fool.
What are we doing here in this picture? I don’t know but it looks like a bunch of ballyhoo to me. Stay tuned tomorrow for Jeff’s 2 Day Birthday Festivities Part 2.
Sep 27
Luau Memories
I’m going to do a couple series of Hawaii pictures + reminiscing because Vancouver has been gray + chilly! Also it’s because when we were in Hawaii the azure sparkles of the ocean would be calling to me, “Shelli!!! Shelli!!! Get off that damn computer! Come play, Shelli!”. Thus, I feel those posts were a bit lacking, so let’s revisit the much glossed over luau night.
I know I already posted this picture, but it’s my favorite. 
So happy, so in lurve.
I also love the fact that before we got to the luau Kelly said to me, “You + Jeff are like Michael Jackson.”. I said, “Come again????”. She replied, “No, not in the pedophile way, but in the sweet, childlike, innocence you both have!”. Isn’t that really hilarious?! I love being compared to Michael Jackson.
The tram. 
Explanation of how the pig is traditionally roasted underground. I missed this part because I was already on the bridge to be first in line for drinks. 
See? When I heard the guy say, “Everyone please enjoy…” I was already gone. I’m just a blur. I’m like, “Peace out!”.
Dinner, drinks + a show!
The bass player probably has a license plate that says, “I’d rather be fishing”. His face said, “Somebody get me another whiskey + soda.”.
The couple’s dance! My sister Ashley gave the MC our name to announce. This was only the second time Jeff + I did a “traditional dance” together!!! Jeff isn’t much into dancing unless it’s crazy person dancing.
Jeff’s first visit to Los Angeles was the first time we “danced”. Can you believe it?! 
Ohhhh, sniff!!! Looking at these pictures again is making me sad! I had so much fun on this trip!!!!
The mothers got a golf cart ride to the hula performance. My mom was hanging off the back yelling, “Woo-hoooo!!! Wooooo!!!”, when they rolled up.
The “Japanese” part of the dancing was the best. It was so cheesy + wrong. I think I remember they called us, “Our humble brothers + sisters of Japan.”. Ah, so desu ka….
Liz + I called it, “Japanese Disco”, because their kimonos looked all shiny + synthetic even from stage! They were dancing all fast + nodding their heads a lot at each other. I was cracking up! Loved it! 
The “Maori” girls are always my favorite with the fire lit poi balls.
And of course, the piece de la resistance of the hula – the fire dancer. And they always happen to be a chief from some faraway island. Uh-huh, ok.
We all had so much fun at the luau! There’s always haters that complain that it’s cheesy, not true to the cultures, the lines are long + the drinks are weak, blah blah blah. What do you expect!? It’s good clean, dorky, fun!!! I miss Hawaii. I’m signing off to go cry now.
Sep 26
Cottage Culture
Hi everyone!!! I’m completely + absolutely enjoying my Canadian immersion! Over the weekend Jeff + I went out to Steve + Liz’s Cabin/Cottage. Everyone on the West Coast (west coast is the best coast) calls them cabins, but east coasters call them cottages. Steve + the Fayles are East side so they always refer to it as the cottage. Sorry for the tangent, MOVING ON!!!!!
This has been my third trip to the cottage – located on the Sunshine Coast on Sakinaw Lake. Canada is plentiful with lakes. Cottage culture is huge since the summers are so short (regard my last post – Seasonal Affective Disorder, y’all) + Canuncks know to party it up with boating, canoeing, inner tubing, wake boarding, swimming, diving, paddling, water skiing…need I go on?
First, is the hour long BC Ferry trip from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale. Then, it is an hour long drive up the Sunshine Coast to where Steve + Liz’s boat dock is. 
We usually grocery shop in Gibsons + pack up the boat tout suite! 
The girls are old pros. Old pros.
It was surprisingly hot + so Keiko + I went swimming when we got to the cottage. Keiko loves to get in the water + yell, “I’M SWIMMING!!!!!!!!”. And we both get really psyched. 
The next day was also warmer than we thought it would be so Jeff decided to get the party started by jumping off the boat house roof as he is want to do. The girls always have to have their life vests on when they are near the water. Auntie Shelli is learning alot of child safety the past couple of months. 
I’ve done this jump before. It’s a lot higher than you think once you are mid air. It hurt my ears when I hit the water – I’m not a fan.
The girls love to yell, “Again! Again!!!”. This picture cracks me up because I didn’t use a fast shutter so I only caught Jeff’s legs right after he jumped off the roof. Doesn’t it look like muppet legs dangling from the top of the frame?! Hah!
Daddy’s girls. Awwwwww!!! 
So irresistable!!! This picture reminds me of my sister + I. Cuuute. Buuuddies.
A couple pictures Keiko took with my camera. Not bad, eh? Eh!!!! Canuck Transformation commence!!!
Then, we did some work laying wood chip as a path from the dock up to the cabins. 
More SWIMMING… 
The water is exceptionally clear, clean + oh so refreshing!!! There’s nothing like it!!!
After swimming, Keiko + Steve started a bonfire. Check out the determination on Keiko’s face as she’s fanning the fire! Keiko + Tobin are two of the hardest + most tireless workers I know. If they ever teamed up, they will be CEO + VP of a multi billion dollar corporation + I shall work for them. 
View of the cotttages (we stayed in the smaller one – the “honeymoon suite” as Steve called it) from the bonfire pit. 
Enjoying some brewskis + vino.
Last year’s picture from the deck!!!! 
Vintage!
Grilling dinner!
Sakinaw Lake past dusk. Ah, serenity!
The next morning of our departure was crazy downpour. We managed to catch a break + quickly dash out to pack up the boat + take off!!! 
View from the ferry. Oh, Canada. Sigh.
Sep 23
Canadian Bacon
How’s it going, eh?! It’s been great to be back in Vancouver at Tom + Deb’s. Matt has transitioned from geckos to salamanders. Tobin + I have transitioned from sand castles to Lego villages. Yesterday was Jeff’s brother Benjamin’s birthday. Jeff + I stopped by the most awesome british butcher recommended by Steve to pick up some burgers. This place was my dad’s dream. Tongue, haggis, kidney pie, blood sausage, 12 different types of bacon, hooray!!!!! 
Look at the dolls they had for sale!!! I was like, “WHAAAAT!!!!????”. I had seen them before because Jeff + his family grew up with these minstrel dolls called Golliwogs which was a character from children’s books popular in England during the late 19th century. AND they had a Golliwog clock on the wall!!! I just couldn’t believe they had them for sale on their counter, right up in front!
Jeff’s grandmother owned the original 1895 publication of this exact book.
Anyways, we all enjoyed the burgers – Steve, Liz, Keiko + Hana came to join the festivities as well!!! It was awesome being with everyone again! 
The Salamander Whisperer + his face painted assistant, Hana the Amazing!!!
Keiko patiently waiting for her burger to be cut.
Tobin lost his two front teeth!!! Look at his superb cowboy hat + vintage suede cowboy vest. Courtesy of Uncle Thrift Store Jeff. It’s one of Tobin’s favorite looks to go shirtless with the vest.
One totally rad dude. Ready to rip it up to the extreme. Jeff said now he really looks Canadian. Really? I didn’t know Canadians were toothless.
I thought Tobin was channeling Bunker Spreckels, infamous surfer from the 70’s who inherited $50 million from the family fortune (his grandfather was a sugar baron, publisher + railroad tycoon). He partied hard + had really great style. Oh yeah, + Clark Gable was his step father. 
Someone is anticipating cake time! 
YAAAAAY!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE BENJ!!!!
Today Jeff + I had a phone consultation with an lawyer to discuss our immigration paperwork. It is going to be alot of work, but she told us that if we have all our documents in order, it will take 5-6 months to process!!! Very good news!!! Chin chin!!!!
Well, Vancouver is already damp + drizzly. I’m going to buy a car load of Vitamin D when I move up here. I’m going to get Seasonal Affective Disorder y’all!!! We took the bus to pick up Jeff’s car from the detailer in downtown. 
The bus!!! Very exotic for an Angeleno.
After picking up the car + on the way back home to North Vancouver, we were driving through what Jeff + I call Cracky McJacky Town. Very unsavory, but I could still eat Canada’s crack addicts for breakfast when comparing them with Los Angeles crack addicts!!! But look at what we saw!!! 
Girl fight!!!! The little one was dragging the big one by the hair!!! Then they both stood up + the little one was throwing punches like a pro boxer! It was on the driver’s side + I was hitting Jeff + yelling, “Take a picture!!!!”. Jeff wimped out + didn’t even roll down the window to get a good shot, so it’s blurry. To all my American friends, you probably thought Canada was all maple syrup + baby deers?! Well, think again!!! The mean streets of the Great White North!!! Voila!!!!!
Sep 22
Last Day in Paradise
I’m writing from Vancouver, but wanted to post some pictures up of our last day in paradise at our Puako house, in fond remembrance. The entire day consisted of AMAZING snorkeling (we searched + did not find our shark again, but instead swam with a school of unicorn fish), reading + hanging out with my turtle buddies. Paradise, indeed. I’m so sad to have left it, but now it will always be a special place where Jeff + I will always return.
Here is a photo I found on the internet which is a really accurate representation of the marine life we snorkeled with in Puako. I’m not even exaggerating. 
We came upon a couple of turtles having their shells cleaned by surgeon fish + tangs. So exciting + fascinating to watch. Again, not our photo, but a great example. 
When the turtles are munching at the moss underwater, every once in a while they would bring their little heads up for a breath. I would wait with anticipation for that moment, like the patient naturalist that I am. 
This little piggy was chowing down like it was his last meal for god’s sake.
Out cold. A most uncomfortable looking snooze.
The day we left the island, I went outside for the last time to say goodbye to our beach + to my turtle companions. It was high tide + I saw a group of three having their breakfast. I became teary eyed + went back inside. I hope to return to swim with them again. 
Paniolo Pride
Ladies + Gentlemen, we celebrated the 36th Annual Waimea Paniolo Parade on Saturday, September 17th, 2011!!!! Jeff was up + ready! We drove 20 min inland + when we arrived in Waimea, I saw the crowds + tents + boy howdy did I start getting excited!!!! I LOVE festivaaaaaaals!!!!! Lobster Fest, Octoberfest, Scottish Fest, Swallow Day Fest….I could go on. It’s too bad my festival homie Debbie Im couldn’t be with us. In spirit, Debbie!!! In spirit!!!
Jeff found this Hawaiian western shirt couple days ago thrifting + wore a tiki bolo tie that he brought from his collection in Canada, just in case. Who knew it would become useful on this trip? Who knew? Jeff knew. 
The parade begins!!!!! I’m going to organize the photos by section because we took so darn many. Hawaiian Royalty!!!! 
Check out the court announcer singing with his gelled Jonas Brothers hair. And check out the kid in the red loincloth next to him giving serious stink eye!!!! Hah!!! 
This guy is going to beat you down with a stick. In ancient Hawaii it was kapu (forbidden) for those of lower class to look upon the chief or cast your shadow upon him. The penalty is death. I think this guy is regulating!!! 
These were my two favorite guys at the parade. How cute is the french horn player??? 
I picture this as my friends + I as we gracefully enter our sunset years.
Here come the paniolos!!! My heart was racing!!!!
Why sir, that is a very handsome moustache! Y’all know I’m a sucker for a hearty moustache!!!
Here are a couple of hunky paniolo pics for you ladies:
Lots + lots of adorable keiki (kids)!!!!
The Princesses! Each one represented a Hawaiian island. They would extend their hand from their mouths + softly say, “Aloha.”. After each one passed by, without fail I’d say, “preeeeettyyy”, like Lennie from Of Mice and Men. 
The pink princess, I called the Nicki Minaj of Paniolo Princesses. She was all about it!!! Posing, waving, huge smiles!!! Girl was like, “Haaaaay!!!!!”!!!!
Here are some other highlights from the parade.
My favorite outfit with the whitelace gloves + jaunty woven hat. Sassy!
Let’s not forget the pooper scoopers!!! Each one had a different theme! Look! The driver is receiving a kiss! Poop + romance!!!!
The haole local ladies sitting in front of us did not appreciate this one!!! Oh my, no they did not!!!!
Jeff was obsessed with this kid because he had a drawn on moustache. Ole!!!!
After the parade was over, we went to the Waimea Farmer’s Market where Jeff had a fresh, homemade bacon sandwich. He pretty much was salivating over the lady making it + staring intensely at her (which I think freaked her out a bit), because we were staaaarved at that point. I really think it was wild boar that they killed in the hills because apparently the island is over-run with them + it tasted really, really amazing + fresh.
I still think it was not enough food for a lumberjack, unfortunately as you’ll find out later in the post.
Sir, why so intense, sir??? Do you realize you’ve been on a tropical island on vacation, sir? Hello, sir???
At least SOMEONE was enjoying themselves!!! Sheesh!!! Island style, brah!!! Chill, mon!!! Someone bring me a Mai Tai!
After Jeff had a little food in him, we wandered to the park for the Ho’olaule’a for food, hula + fun. My recommendation to anyone going to the 37th annual Waimea Paniolo Parade is to skip this part. Great people watching, don’t get me wrong. But it was crowded as heck, the lines were insanely long for food + it is generally like herded cattle. We waited for $7 kahlua pork, they forgot about us + when we reminded them, they said they ran out of rice + the amount of pork given to us was like a melon ball scooper’s worth. Jeff was so irate but I felt bad for them because they seriously looked panic stricken + one of them was calling their auntie to bring mo’ rice. 
Look at all those darn people! Moooo!!!
Princesses on their off time, hanging out in their jeans + drinking pop. This one princess in tan was probably related to Andre the Giant + was like 2 times taller than her husband. He + the baby were both wearing forest cammo tshirts. Bad ass Waimea style, yo!!!!
The good part is, there was a really crowded craft tent + Jeff bought a carved bone necklace by this old time artisan, Ika Vea who carved the pendant that Jeff chose + wove + braided the necklace while we hung out. It’s a very special handcrafted piece of art that Jeff is really happy about. 
Here is Cranky Pants not so happy to be in a craft tent holding one of the gorgeous wood carvings Ika made that we now regret not bringing home with us.
Note to all ladies. Don’t take your significant others to festivals unless they’ve been previously amply fed. You’ll thank me later.
Sadly, I’m writing the ending to this blog post from Vancouver. Not sad, because I love Vancouver (we arrived at 2am to Tom + Deb’s last night), but sad because I miss my tropical paradise + all of my turtle family. I spent the entire last day in the backyard of our house at the beach. I couldn’t bear to be near the computer + had to fully enjoy our most amazing last day of the honeymoon. I will post more pictures of that last day tomorrow!!!! Sniff, sniff.
Sep 17
Oh, It’s Such a Perfect Day
Today was the best day of the honeymoon so far!!!! I finally managed to sleep in, + this is what today mostly consisted of. 
That’s right in our backyard, y’all. I’m sad because I think I had salt spray on my lens, so some of my pictures from today are a little blurry.
We did a good amount of snorkeling + it was like a GOLD MINE OF AQUATIC TREASURES!!!! Although, to our dismay, we realized that instead of my totally radical Japanese flippers that I bought at Waipouli Variety on Kauai, we had mistakenly grabbed flippers that would fit a 7 year old!!!! So, I had to go flipper-less + we swam out FAR, y’all!!!! The coral reefs were like a teeming city of fishies!!!! Like the Chicago World Fair of fish!!!! We saw a ton of humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, the longest word in the Hawaiian language. 
Butterfly fish, dragonets, puffer fish, surgeon fish, yellow tangs, humuhumu’ele’ele, wrasses, etc.!!! As we were swimming around, along the ocean floor I noticed A SHARK slinking about!!!!!!! I was trying to be as non-conspicuous as I could be, “I don’t really see you, mister shark, do you see me???” while making minimal body movements. Jeff was pointing at it + so excited!!! I was thinking, “Be cool!!! Be cool, man!!!’!!! We surfaced + he asked, “What kind of shark do you think that was?”. I replied, “White tip shark”. Well, I’m a regular marine biologist, y’all, because when we got back to the house we did some online research + I was on the money!!!! White tip reef shark!!!! 
Thank god they are non-aggressive. Shark bait. By the way, these underwater pics aren’t ours cuz we don’t have an underwater camera, but you betcha we are going to buy a disposable one tomorrow, after today’s bounty!!!! AAAAAARRR, avast ye yellow liver land lubbers!!!!!
Let’s just say swimming in white capped waters without flippers made we well worn out. The rest of the day we hung out, sunning ourselves with our turtle neighbors munching along beside us. HEAVEN, Y’AAAAAALLLLL!!!
Here’s one face down napping like a champion. 
They get so pooped from eating from the algae buffet + dragging their fat little heavy bellies onto the shore, that once they manage – they just straight pass out. I can feel you, turtle brother. I feel you.
Jeff got antsy, of course + decided to yard work. Let me repeat, yard work on a rental house!!!! This guy doesn’t know the definition of RELAXATION!!!! My god, help me!!!!! 
I was happy where I was, but since mister ants-in-his-pants wanted to go out for sunset, we went to Pu’ukohola Heiau. Built by Kamehameha I, on a prophecy that if he built this temple, he would conquer all the islands. 
And by 1810, he united all the islands of Hawaii.
It’s been the most amazing day together. We are both so sad to see it coming to an end, but we are going to take advantage of this paradise to the end!!!!!!!!!!!
how's it going, eh? 