recent films

This was on my 'to see' list until I saw the previews. I thought it was going to be one slooey-gooey-kissy of a movie. But when I heard my Altus bench marker say she was going to see it with a few others, I decided I would put it back on my list. I'm sure glad I did! I don't know how it slipped me, but I didn't realize that the actress was Hilary Swank! I have been a fan of Hilary Swank's since I saw The Next Karate Kid. Don't laugh! This movie had me laughing and tearing up all the way through. If you appreciate good mail, you'll appreciate this movie.

Another movie I've seen recently was The Great Debaters. When looking up the critic reviews, I read that Denzel Washington had used the same feel-good scheme he had used in Remember the Titans. And because I loved the feel-good scheme in that movie, I figured I'd feel the same about this one. I have a sincere respect for African Americans involved with the Civil Rights Movement, and I think their story should always be told, and remembered, with respect. I think we can all learn something for how hard they had to work to overcome what they faced in their communities and 'free' states.

Take these reviews with a grain of salt, because I like just about every movie I see. But these two deserved a positive review here. Enjoy.

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I photographed this flower pod at the Japanese Temple (mentioned below) while on vacation. The surroundings were pristine; I couldn't let my camera not get a taste.

notion

"I got the notion that life in Hawaii was one, long sweet song" - Jim Dole

A couple things I learned about pineapple this last week:

1. How to pick a ripe pineapple: look on the bottom of the fruit and if the ring is white, it's a good one. If it's yellow, it's not as sweet.

2. A pineapple plant takes 20 months to grow the first fruit, then 18 for the second; then the plant is done. Poor, hard working plant!

The Guinness World Record Maze is on the Pineapple Plantation. We stood in line twice because I've always wanted to navigate one, but there was always something yellow, sweet and tasty that deterred us from the 1.5 hr. avg. maze.

The world's first Satellite Concert was claimed by Elvis in Honolulu on Jan. 14, 1973. Mark had been conspicuously looking for this theatre while driving and scared me half to death by shouting "There it is!" while narrowly avoiding traffic as he made a left turn into the parking lot. He now has a talking/singing head of The King.

This Byodo-In Temple was erected entirely without the use of nails. It's a replica of a 900 year old temple in Japan to honor the first Japanese immigrants and their ancient religion, who settled in Hawaii. Beautiful surroundings and the cloudy skies added to the ser-zen-ity. As we left the incensed environment, Mark 'donged' the bell for all to hear. I guess it's to tell the big Buddha you're coming onto the temple grounds (we just reversed it):

In the movie Pearl Harbor, there's a part of the movie where the two pilots drive to an air field and try to take off with the remaining planes as the Japanese fly overhead trying to destroy their air fleet. Mark took me to this place. It's called Bellows Air Station. They have left a part of the airstrip/runway ruined and broken. It's very humbling; it looks old and forgotten. But still it remains beautiful.

At the beach at Bellows, the first POW of WWII was captured as he swam to shore after his midget submarine broke down in the harbor. The same POW returned to Hawaii after a long life (he even worked for Toyota, which we were excited about); upon his return to Japan, his country told him he should have committed suicide rather than be captured; what an awful thing to be told.

And lastly, my favorite part of the island:
On our 2nd to last day there we were nearly running out of things to go see and do. Mark's father recommended that we drive around the back side of the Punchbowl (a volcano-crater with a WWII memorial inside). It was so jungle like and just how I have envisioned how a piece of my own personal heaven would be like. There was a hiking trail that we noticed, so we hopped out of our car and started the ascent. We just got far enough for me to take a few pictures before gangs of mosquitoes started to torture us and as we started to turn back the rain started. Mark and I ran down the muddy hill so fast. It was so fun! Next time I'll wear bug spray and proper shoes. There will a next time.

2008

Happy New Year! I figured this very small sea shell looked more like a firework than any other picture I have taken, so there you go. We are still in Hawai'i, and we'll get home (wherever that is) Thursday at 11 am.

Last night was celebrated with delicious pizza, fireworks, and I woke Mark up to watch the Times Square ball drop with me.

I have taken far too many pictures, and I want to share them all, but I will limit myself. But as for right now, there is a line of people waiting behind me and the other 2 computer users. So farewell, and here's one last one for today:

This is us at the Dole Pineapple Plantation in the middle of O'ahu. Mark has been showing me all these places on the island. I have the more fun ones on my camera still. Goodness it's harder to not have your own computer! Here's us on the Pineapple Princess Train.

Mele Kalikimaka

This would have been a Reeder's Digest, but we didn't do too much. When on vacation with the Judds, we just loaf around and watch the palm trees sway.

Tonight my family (minus my sister who was a little too tired) walked to the hotel three lagoons down to see the huge Christmas tree and hammerhead sharks. The sharks scared me, go figure, so they didn't warrant a picture from me. But here's the picture with the tree; you can see the Hawaiian statues on the top, left.

I hope everyone had a wonderfully, merry Christmas! Mele Kalikimaka!!

Christmas Eve

It's great doing a Hawaiian Christmas again with my family; it's difficult to think of the Christmas season when it's so warm, but oooh, I can't complain. Christmas Eve was spent with my parents, sister, and Mark on the beach by a lagoon. It was nothing short of Heaven.

Happy Christmas Eve!

moved

Moved out, at least.

Another move is done...well almost. On Thursday we moved all our things out of our apartment into a friend's/neighbor's house so we could go on vacation, in peace, and not worry about everything being in our car.

Then Thursday night we cleaned. Oh, did we clean clean clean! Nothing feels better than a good scrub down. Except throwing away all the cleaning supplies. Good riddance. That feels even better.

Thank you to all of you who have sent Mark and me things; to our old address or to my parents address. It is so fun to have an excuse to send and receive. I must apologize for our lack of Christmas Spirit. It's not like I've been having a baby or anything; congratulations, Jamie and Rod! Perhaps I'll find another sort of excuse to send things out soon.

Christmas films

So many good ones! So many jolly ones! So many that make you want to give something better than your best to those around you. For me, Little Women does the job at putting me in the sort of mood to be most charitable and most appreciative for what we've all been blessed with.

Name some of your favorites. I Triple Dog Dare you!

looming winter

Across the street, next to the now-plowed cotton fields, sits this old forsaken shack. Constructed of rubble and loose wood, I think it's shelter for two horses and a little donkey.

paint swatches

Already, the search has begun for choosing colors for the home we will settle into in Alaska. In our previous home in Texas we had three rooms painted, one wall in another room swathed in dark fabric (a quick fix instead of paint), and repainted our bedroom to a lighter blue. Chelsea, I never got back to you, but that color was Cumberland Fog from Behr.

I've chalked this pasttime of mine up to a hobby. Back in Texas the search began for light spring-like colors for a "winter room" to keep us awake during the dark and dreary days, but I didn't give a much thought about a "summer room" to unwind in when the sun stays up past it's usual bed time. I think I have about... oh I'll just count them.. I have: 29 from tonight + 27 from before = yes, 56 paint swatches. Watch out mom and dad, I'm bringing them to Christmas for us all to stare and awe at. O! I'm just so happy!

happy things

After a cold afternoon of tying quilts and putting screen doors on patios, Mark and I headed over for some delicious Happy Donuts. Compare these to the best, most mouthwatering donuts you can imagine: Winchell's or Dunkin' Donuts. Whichever you like more. That's right. That's how yummy these taste.

frozen rain drops

This 'storm' I mentioned below is beginning to brew. We had made plans to drive to Northern Oklahoma to visit a few friends of ours, but the base wasn't allowing passes because of 'frozen rain' that just ices over all the roads when it lands; almost instantly.

This morning the passenger side of our car was all glossed over with these crystal beads of ice. It was freezing, but very pretty.

Christmas in the city

There is a park downtown that has been decorated with Christmas lights and set-ups throughout. There was even a Santa Clause with a real beautiful white beard. I had seen his poster hanging in a boutique when doing Christmas shopping earlier this week; he must be famous. I thought I saw a man in a car a few weeks ago and thought, "wow! He'd be a great Santa." Perhaps it was him, giving his reindeer a break.

Because of the predicted ice storm this weekend we expected it to be cold. We were right!

It was cooooold. We wore long johns under our jeans, I had two sweatshirts on underneath this 3 layered coat! Then my mom's bear gloves, then the incredibly fun beanie with a pom-pom atop. Mark just looked chic in his magazine-appropriate turtle neck and dark accessories.

on this day

At about 5:30 tonight I drove onto the air base here to pick Mark up after his simulator finished and as I drove around the 'round-about I saw 4 men in uniform pulling the flags up to full staff.

I didn't realize today was a 'half-mass' sort of day. Only when I was driving back past them with Mark in the car did I remember that today marks the 66th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

It was a beautiful reminder to see all those flags at half staff.

unoriginal thought

Wednesday laundry. I don't have a set day for laundry, I just do it when it needs doing. Suppose I like spontaneity in more things than just behavior.

Having a dry week for blogging entries, and a day full to the brim with washing, I thought an ode to laundry would be appropriate. Just to see what was out there, I googled "Ode to Laundry." My, what an unoriginal thought I had.

Blogspots here, typepads there. Everywhere there was an ode to laundry, or an ode to my Japanese laundry line. I didn't read any, thought it would be a bit intrusive on what someone else thought was a fun, original thought.

O Laundry, Laundry, wherefore art thou Laundry!

Folded and stacked away neatly and warm.

Saturday's sunset

After the rain ended and the clouds began to break up, this is what was left behind. This is sans photoshop, just a crop to get out the 'worldy things'.

rain drops

This morning I opened my eyes to find a grey hue coming through the tight blinds. I looked outside and got a very pleasant suprise! Rainy days make me enjoy my day so much more thoroughly. Being 'stuck' inside with warm pajamas, oatmeal and a good book with rain tapping the windows is my version of a good day.

Because I was so cozy within my warm walls and new pajama pants, I decided to stay inside and look for a rain picture rather than go outside and risk my warmth.

I found this rain drops picture above from a site I've never heard of before. I was really impressed with the ones I browsed. I don't know what else could be on this site, so note that I don't endorse it 1oo%.

In other Jayci-news, I've begun a new book. I finished Eclipse yesterday, and instead of going into a post-good-book-funk, I reserved this book for this time. It's young and fresh and it's called Secret Society Girl. So far so good. Looks like another rainy day tomorrow!

babyshowers

Tonight will be my first triple babyshower that I'll be attending in an hour. I'm still a little sick, so I will bounce out after 20 minutes (a planned escape) to go get Pizza Hut with Mark.

Buying gifts for three different babies proved easy, just expensive. You can't get one girl something extravagant just because you're her visiting teacher, so to be fair, you get all three girls something just as fun.

Pajamas! Footsie pajamas to be more precise. With onesies to wear underneath. I always go a size bigger than newborns. This means getting the 3 month old size. I like to think that I'm helping them plan a few weeks ahead for when the baby outgrows all the cutsie teeny stuff.

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You see the gold shimmery bag in the back? That was the only bag I had, so I bought the cute 8" bags from the Base Exchange (BX) and stuffed white tissue paper at the top to hide the gift, of course. Usually, I try to give non-baby bags at baby showers so that they can reuse them for most any occasion. The camera light setting was on Sun, so that's why they look a little yellow. When I turned it off, the bags looked blue. I stuck to this one:

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This is an older picture, but somehow it has a winter-ish charm to it. I'm still playing around with winter pictures.

Ah! stress of the holidays, even on a blog.

enchanted

No Lord's name in vain, no smoking, minimal cursing, marriage supportive, and fair. This movie I asked Mark to take me to was very sweet and very mesmerizing. It makes you appreciate Disney for what they do for families. They support the marriage system and never conveys the message of sacrificing all the good times for the bad ones; no one has to fall out of love. I had to laugh with this whimsical girl as she experienced the anger-emotion for the first time. Even in reality, we're still able to live happily ever afters.