Let's chat.

Seriously guys. I know I've been absent the past month or so and I know a lot of you have questions. So, ask me anything. Seriously. And I will do my best to answer it.

I really feel like I'm in a better place than I was last month at this time. I'm not only referring to my physical location. Mentally I'm in a better place.

So, lay it on me. Anything that you've been wondering or things that have occurred recently. You could ask me why my kid is so cute, but just know that it's all me. Really. Why did I go to Hawaii? What is my favorite pizza topping?

Just leave me a comment on this post and I'll have a follow up q&a post. If I have too many questions I'll do a second post.

Chat soon!

I pretty much love this.

::le sigh::

I need your help

I had a thought sneak back into my head the other day.

Going back to school.

I've considered nursing school. But what do I want to do with a masters in nursing? Teach? Be an NP? Work in an office? I'm not even positive I want to get a masters.

But, what about photography classes? I could learn so much more and be doing something I really enjoy. Do they offer online photog classes? I don't have the time or patience for live classes right now.

Which to choose? Or both at the same time, or separately?

All I do know for sure is my nerd bug has been biting recently and I feel the need to scratch.

And my shutter finger is getting itchy. I'm going to go out exploring for cool new areas to shoot eventually.

Outsiders

We aren't liked here.

We're main-landers. My family is a military family.

We're the minority.

Hawaiians don't want us here. They would very much like all of us main-landers to go back to the main land and let them be their own country free of the US. I guess it never occurred to them how much the US, the military in particular, pumps into this economy. Without tourism and us "outsiders" this island state would collapse.

So far I haven't noticed it a lot, but Thursday and Friday I spent most of the day trying to get my RN license in Hawaii. Something, I've been told, that would have been much easier if I was a local. Nonetheless, Friday afternoon I finally annoyed the office to death and I got my license. I haven't yet started my job, but I'm curious to see how I will be treated there.

Hawaii doesn't have enough money to run most public offices and schools on Fridays so they have "furlough Fridays". Everything is closed. But because this is an aloha state they spend Monday and Tuesday recovering from the 3 day weekend and Thursday preparing for the 3 day weekend. So work really only gets done on Wednesdays. They also embrace the aloha with 2 hour lunches everyday.

Don't get me wrong, it is nice living in such a laid back, relaxed place. Until you want to get something done. Until your job calls you and says that you have to have you license by Tuesday or they can't hold your position and you call the Licensing Division and they could give two shits less. Then you devise a plan with your brother-in-law to zip tie the lady and hold her hostage until she issues your license.

I'm only 20% joking about that last statement.

In spite of not being wanted here by the locals, Avery and I are enjoying ourselves here. It is such a different culture from the midwest. We even went to a southern baptist church last Sunday. That's weird, right? A southern baptist church on an island in the middle of the pacific.

And when Avery wakes up in an hour or so? We're headed back to the beach!

I know, life.....it's rough right?

Aloha from Hawaii

Hi guys!

I pretty much dropped off the map there for awhile, but we were busy settling in to our new home in Hawaii! The day after we got here Avery and I headed to the beach with my sister and niece. My sister and brother-in-law were still in their apartment so we spent a few days after that moving into our house.

Avery has been loving on her cousin.



And getting spoiled by her aunt and uncle.



We went to the beach again last weekend. Avery was pretty nervous about it and kept telling Uncle Brandon to be careful. By the time we left, she was liking the water ok.





Avery is doing surprisingly well adjusting. We have had a few moments, but for the most part she is listening well and not testing too many boundaries.

I have more to talk about but I have to run. Just wanted to give a quick WE'RE ALIVE AND WE LIVE IN HAWAII NOW update!

Oh, and my car got here today. I missed it more than I probably should. It only took about 3 weeks!

Tata for now.

Crunch time

Who am I? What day is it? And why am I still awake?

It's down to the wire around here folks. Which means, I'll give anyone a big fat kiss and booby honk if I could just get a few hours sleep. And a diet coke. Because I think this love affair with diet coke runs deep.

WHY IN THE NAME OF CHEEZE WHIZ AM I AT WORK TONIGHT? Oh you know, I'm just moving 6,000 miles in THREE EM EFFING DAYS!!!

And I work tomorrow night too....yep, I know. Slow learner. Also? I like to torture myself.

I ran around like a lunatic most of the day today. (Yesterday, it's after midnight, but still my today since I haven't been to bed so shut up.) And I also thought all day that it was the 28th, but knew it was Friday. My dad's birthday is the 29th, today was actually the 29th. ::facepalm::

(10 minutes passes)

Oh, sorry, I got distracted staring off into the abyss. My brain checked out there for a second.

::yawn::

Tonight is going to be rough.

Oh! Look! A blog!

I’m not going to apologize for the hiatus, it’s been much needed. Much, much needed. A lot of crazy things happened in a short period of time and I was overwhelmed. At the end of my rope more times than I can count. Thank you so much to those that were there to lean on when I couldn’t handle it all myself. You’ve helped me more than you know. I took time to do a lot of thinking and reflecting.

And packing. And making arrangements. And doing a whole lot of praying.

Next Tuesday Avery and I are moving. To Hawaii.

We were presented with an amazing opportunity and chose to jump on it because you only live once right? I’m not positive how long we will be there and where we are going after, but I am choosing to enjoy the chance while I can.

Things with this move have worked out much easier than my previous move attempt. Making me think that this is what I’ve been waiting on all along. Also? Yesterday I got an amazing job opportunity. I’m still weighing my options, but relieved to have two offers waiting for me when I get to the island.

It’s crunch time right now. My car leaves tomorrow to head to Hawaii. The storage unit in my driveway is being picked up on Friday evening. I still have to finish out 2 more shifts at my current job.

So for the last 6 weeks or so my life has been consumed with a move. I’ve also decided that I really need to get into the car shipping business. Holy Tom Sellecks mustache! That’s where the money is!

Sorry (kinda) about my absence. Swearsies I’ll come back eventually. I also solemnly swear to try to figure out my blogger app on my phone. That should make things easier!