Hawaiian Vacation

Okay, I am ready to take the plunge and write about our Hawaii trip.  I could take the easy way out and provide a one word assessment - AWESOME!  However, that would hardly do it the justice it deserves.  So, settle in and prepare, I may be a bit long winded (a glass wine never hurts - just saying).

At our wedding Matt and I informed our families that we would not be coming to MI this year for Christmas, we wanted to travel somewhere fun and tropical, not dry and cold.  Fast forward to September, we received a call asking if we would be interested in joining the rest of the Klungle's and my dad in Hawaii.  That was easy to answer - sure!

From the start this was the easiest trip we have ever been on.  Linda was fabulous and handled all the planning and logistics, we just followed the directions on the sheets of paper we were provided.  It doesn't get much better than that.

We spent the fist couple of days on Maui.  The condo was located right on the ocean and there was fantastic beach access and snorkeling right out our back door.  To top it off Matt was able to do a little bit of fly fishing, without success.  From Maui we headed to Kona (the big Island) for the remainder of our trip.

While Kona was nice, the beach access wasn't as prevalent as in Maui.  Kona is a newer island so the sand beaches are replaced by rocky shoreline.   In order to keep things from getting drawn out, below is a list of everything that was accomplished during our vacation:

• Spent time with family

• Learned to surf

photo credit: dad

• Attended a luau

• Deep sea fishing

Shortnosed spearfish

• Snorkeling

• Ate 4 pineapples (Matt)

I realize this isn't a pineapple, I didn't take any pineapple picture.  Instead you get to see some strange fruit we found at the market. 

• Consumed an entire pig - Mixed plates are awesome!

• Spent time with family

photo credit: dad

• Saw some volcano's

• Drove the Road to Hana

• Tried Kava 

• Ate banana pancakes 

• Drank Mai Tai's on the beach

• Wildlife viewing

• Opened a coconut (Matt - with a bottle opener)

• Fly fishing

• Swam with turtles
• Saw spinner dolphins
• Saw whales

Wuthering Heights - Bronte

I am putting off writing about Hawaii because I am trying to determine how to speak of our family adventure in a concise manner - I will get there.  In the meantime I will review the book I read while on vacation - Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

In one word - good.  I wasn't really sure what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised.  It struck me as a more grotesque version of Romeo and Juliet (for lack of a better description).   I suppose it may be more appropriate to say that it looks at love and hate and how those feelings shape a person.  I feel Heathcliff  (Wuthering Heights) is the male equivalent of Cathy (East of Eden), both are despicable characters.   Honestly, I am not quite sure what else I can write about this book.  It is by no means a favorite and I have no plans to re-read it at a later date.  But, I did enjoy it for what it was.

Oh Dear...

It is official, vacation is over...  Today was my first day back to work and while I was perusing my calendar to plan for the upcoming months I noticed something I must have been trying to repress - I am signed-up to run a 50k in one month.  Now for the really bad news, I haven't run more than about 12 miles a shot since my last ultra...in September.   I guess I better get back at it!

Speaking of vacation, I will update with pictures and details at a later date.  Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

Mele Kalikimaka!!!

Here Comes the Rain Again...

Falling on my head like a memory...

Winter in the PNW = rain, lots and lots of rain.  You would think after one season of it I would be used to it - I am not.  Instead I repressed my memories of dark rainy days, only I can no longer repress it, the rain is back, with a vengeance. 

Today Matt and I went to Capital Forest for a trail run, we were met with loggers.  The once beautiful trail system we spent the summer enjoying is now a disaster.  I wish I had taken my camera to capture the state things, you can no longer discern where large chunks of the trail are.  Hopefully there will be some rehab, I need to check and see if the FOCF are having an event to address this.  If so I plan to volunteer my time.  I spend so much time utilizing the resource, I really should give back.

Did I mention that the entire time we were out the rain was coming down in sheets?  Yeah, it is that time of year again.  Fun!

The worst part of the current weather pattern (pineapple express) - we may not be able to catch our plane to Hawaii.  There is one route from here to the Portland airport, if it floods we are screwed.  Lets hope it doesn't flood!

Pink Elephant

Seattle

Portland

Guilty Pleasure

I have it, I have decided what makes owing an e-reader so awesome.  You can get away with reading cheesy novels without anyone knowing!  Admit it, if you read you likely have a guilty pleasure - books that you are embarrassed to be seen with.  Books that you feel ridiculous taking out when you are in a waiting room or train station for fear someone will judge you.  Because, of course you judge other people based on their literary choices. 

I will be the first to admit that I am a voracious reader, however, my choices are by no means heavy literature all of the time.  Sure, I love the classics.  If you have been reading this blog you will have seen my previous post listing the classics I am working through.  But, I can only read so much "heavy" material before I need something "light and easy".  Not to mention my favorite genera is horror - this admission automatically puts me in the poor taste category. 

What drove this post you may be asking?  Well, I recently read a review for a compilation titled "Chicks Ahoy!" and I must admit it sounds hilarious, I want to read it.  One problem, they do not have it in e-format, only paperback.  This would have me toting around a book that has a scantly clad women on the front cover, not to mention the title... Oh, the humiliation.