More of What I'll Miss

• Pretty, cute birds.
• Smells that remind me of Hilo.
• Warm air. That perfect mid-year evening temperature when the air isn't cold, it isn't warm, it just is. And maybe there's the slightest breeze...
• Manoa Valley.
• Kids that call me Auntie.
• The high, slow drawl of friendly local ladies, ending their statements with a question mark.
• My tan.
• The ease of weekend plans, BBQs, and meeting up with friends.
  

What else do you think I'll miss?

A Blog by Any Other Name?

Okay. You convinced me, twisted my arm. The four of you that read this blog can follow along as we move to Portland.

I've decided to treat "Hawaii Adventures" as a chapter in my blog life. This blog will stay standing and untouched as we move on.

So the question I have for you is... What should I call the new blog?

"Hawaii Adventure" was never very creative. Any ideas for the future? Bryan suggested "Kite Strings," I have no idea what it means but it's starting to grow on me. I welcome any any all suggestions.

Island Count

At the risk of bragging, I thought I'd recount our various neighbor island trips since we moved here...

Oahu
Four and a half years of living and loving.

Kauai
Together: trip with Bryan's parents, kayak Na Pali, Princeville weekend with friends
Bryan: additional trip with parents, visit childhood friend
Jenni: 3-4 trips for work, hike Na Pali, paddling competition

Maui
Together: Wailea/Lahaina weekend, Wailea/Upcountry weekend, Road to Hana camping, Paia weekend, Sara's wedding, New Year's with Carr family
Bryan:
Jenni: 3-4 trips for work (never did make it to the top of Haleakala)

Big Island
Together: Bryan meets Tutu weekend, Brian and Maiko weekend, Thanksgiving in Waikoloa, Kohala Coast with Carolyn, Thanksgiving in Hilo, Easter in Hilo
Bryan:
Jenni: Visit family Waikoloa-Volcano-Hilo, Tutu recovery weekend with Mom, paddling races x3 in Kona, 3-4 work trips to Waikoloa

Lanai
Weekend with Laura and Dan, Anniversary weekend

Molokai
Together: Easter weekend
Bryan:
Jenni: paddling race x3

The benefit to knowing we weren't going to be here forever is that we really committed to doing and seeing it ALL. And we don't skimp when we aim for ALL!

Happy Father's Day!

Justification

Why are we moving?

Because this morning I opened the cabinet to get a plate and there was a COCKROACH sitting there next to my plates. I couldn't find a slipper (and I can't do it with a papertowel because then it would get too close to my fingers) so I grabbed a clean spatula - that we use for FOOD - and whacked at it. But I missed. ARGH!

~~~

Of course, that's not why we're moving at all. Shockingly, I've nearly gotten over the cockroaches. I rarely have complete meltdowns because of them anymore.

We're moving because it feels right for our future. Because we'd like to own a home someday. And I want that home to have a fireplace and a yard. And we want to pay less than $133 for two days worth of groceries (no joke, I just spent that. But it also included beer for two weeks). We want to be closer to families and our mental images of "home." We want our kids to have a childhood that looks and feels close to our own. We're moving so we can grow our careers and make more money - hey, I'm being honest. Also, after more than four years we still can't find a great deli sandwich or kick-ass Italian.

I suppose you could say we've been living on a cloud the last four and a half years. It's like we're in a dreamy movie. Who is every lucky enough to live on a beautiful island for years with great success? We've been lucky. It's time we try our hand in the real world again.