Hawaii, In a Few Words...

Before last week, this is what I knew about Hawaii:

Hula Girls
Surfers
Volcanoes

I also knew that people love to visit Hawaii, but I never knew why. My friends would say things like, "Oh, you've got to go," or "It's so fun there," or "It's so beautiful." Those are pretty vague descriptions. You could use those same phrases to describe Disneyland or your local shopping mall (trust me, I've seen beautiful malls).

So last week, I finally got to go and see Hawaii for myself. And now I know why there are only vague descriptions of this incredible place: there are simply no words to describe it. My husband and I were standing at the top of a mountain in Waimea Canyon on Kauai, overlooking this lush, green valley that sloped down into the ocean. I was mesmerized, as I couldn't tell where the sky ended and the earth began. I looked at him and asked, "How would you describe this?"

He thought for a moment and then said, "I can't."

I can post a picture, and even that doesn't capture the essence of how beautiful it was.

A week was certainly not enough. We visited Pearl Harbor, where the flag happened to be at half-mast in honor of the lives lost in Colorado. There is something so stirring about a naval officer standing guard at a national monument where the flag is at half mast.

We ate a Dole Whip at the Dole plantation. Truly, there are no words to describe how delicious a Dole Whip is, so imagine my delight when I discovered a stand near our hotel in Waikiki!

We visited the Polynesian Cultural Center where Tahitian dancers shook their hips with super-human speed and I learned that New Zealand is called Aotearoa in the Maouri language. Consequently, I want to visit Aotearoa next.

We paddleboarded in Hanalei Bay, where the current carried us out in about 10 minutes and it took us an hour to paddle back! I also discovered something called an Acai bowl that day. It happened to be my birthday (I'm 26, thank you very much) and it was much better than any birthday cake I could have had.

Then there was the Na'Pali Coast. Lava tubes, towering vistas, red soil, blue surf, and trees that look like they came out of a Dr. Seuss book are just some of the sights to see there.

And that was just two islands. I've still got a few more to go. As a writer, I'm a little disappointed that I can't pin it down. So all I can say is, you've got to go. It's so fun there, and it's beautiful!

The Here and Now of Summer

It's summer! And it's no secret that I think summer is the best. Sunshine, shaved ice, minimal amounts of clothing -- what's not to love? I've enjoyed every minute of summer, so far. I've played lots of tennis -- outside. I've gone swimming. I've eaten lunch outside. And there's still lots of summer left to enjoy.

But I've noticed something. If you're a bit of a Pinterest addict like me, you might have noticed it, too. Lots of people are already pinning pictures of pumpkins and hearty soups and even Christmas trees! May I offer two words: STOP IT! Can't we just enjoy the summer as it is, without thinking four of five months ahead? Let's bask in its warmth for as long as we can. I happened to be at the local Walmart on the 5th of July, and do you know what I saw? A few employees were taking down the red, white, and blue stuff and replacing it with school supplies. School supplies! On the 5th of July! I nearly tripped over my own flip-flops.

Anyway, I am going to enjoy the rest of my summer by doing summer-ish things. I'm going to spend some time at the lake. And go fishing. And hiking. I'm going to ignore my wool socks and eat my weight in watermelon. I'm going to give evil looks to people driving around in their convertibles with the top up. I'm going to sit outside and get lost in a book.

Who's in?

In Which I Finally Post Something

Oh, there you are. I mean, here I am! I'm very flattered that in the last few weeks I've had no less than three people ask me about my blog. It has been a while since I posted anything. I'd like to say that I've spent countless hours happily pinning away on Pinterest. But that's only partly true.

First of all, I was sick. For like, ever. And then spring came, and I got all giddy because the sun came out and melted the snow. I also started subbing, which is nothing like real teaching. Sometimes it's a lot more fun. Sometimes you want to shoot yourself because middle school is a dark, dark place.

Then there's my novel. I love it, if I am allowed to say so myself. I'm in the middle of revisions, and it is a lot of work. A LOT. And it's getting better. And stronger. And sometimes, I sit outside on my red adirondack chair, and soak up the sunshine, and write and write and write. It's not a bad way to spend a morning.

Then May came along. And here's what happened:

I got hired by two resorts to do some (and by some, I mean a ton) of writing -- website content, brochures, you name it.

I also got an idea in my head for another project, which I am not quite ready to share yet. But the wheels are creaking.

I also decided to start my own business. And now I am in the process of actually starting my own business! I will share more details later, but it does involve writing.

And then I joined a ladies tennis league. I know! I haven't played organized, competitive tennis since 1990. That was in another century, People! But it has turned out to be highly enjoyable. I've met some nice people, and sometimes, my two-handed backhand actually works.

Then there's life: I now officially have a teenager. She's sweet and pretty and I'm sure I'm going to be locking her up in a tower very soon. My 16th wedding anniversary is approaching. The term "sweet 16" still applies, right? Fred is running as smooth as ever and everyone in the family loves her. As for funny things my boy says, he recently told me that he considers the start to his weekend to be Wednesday afternoons, once piano lessons are over. He hates piano lessons. And yet, he can play. He'll thank me one day.

So there you have it. For now.

Leap Day

Leap Day came and went last week, and leading up to it, I started thinking that there should be some sort of purpose for Leap Day. After all, it only comes once every four years. So this year I declared (as I am apt to do) that Leap Day should be a day that you do something you've never done before -- in other words, take a leap! I declared it, and so it became.

I had the good fortune of being on a cruise last week, so my options were somewhat more open than if I had been home, complaining about the cold weather. And what did I do? Thanks for asking. I went parasailing! It was incredible! Exhilirating! And yet very Zen-like at the same time. I flew, 600 feet over the Sea of Cortez, and loved every nanosecond of it. I can't post a picture yet, because I'm on someone else's computer. But as soon as I get home, I will post one.

Anyway, the point is this: because I gave Leap Day purpose, I had the best day ever (despite the fact that I had to report my son missing to Mexican authorities -- but that's another post). And you know what I got from that? Every day should have purpose. Don't just wake up every morning and do what you've always done. Except, do eat breakfast, because it IS the most important meal of the day, after all. But do give purpose and meaning to each day. Think about what you're going to do, why you're going to do it, and then DO IT! If you don't know why you're doing something, don't do it. Make things happen. Cause something -- even if it's just making someone else smile.

Go ahead. Take a leap.

I dare you.

The End

So I've been writing this story. And it's been a lot fun. But I got kind of stuck there for a while, and I just wasn't sure how my heroine was going to work her way out of a sticky situation. Also, the situation was not sticky enough.

And then last Wednesday, I was waiting in my car; waiting for my children to come out of piano lessons. I spend a lot of time in my car on Wednesday afternoons, so I usually pack along my iPad and keyboard so that I can write in between schlepping the kids to their various places. And boy, did the story start to flow! So I went home and kept writing.

I subbed on Thursday and Friday, so I had to impatiently wait to write until well after dinnertime. And then Saturday came. And you know what? I spent about 12 glorious hours type type typing away. Thankfully my husband was willing to keep everyone else busy. I did take a break to cook dinner, leaving my heroine in the most precarious situation, but I came back to her and she managed to save herself and the boy in the process. Before I knew it, it was 12:30 a.m. and I FINISHED MY BOOK! I actually got to type the words The End.

Granted, I have about 7 or 8 more drafts to go, but the story is done! The editing and the re-writing shall commence; but for just a moment, I can enjoy the sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing THAT I HAVE WRITTEN A NOVEL.

And just to make things a little sweeter, a fellow writer-friend, upon hearing the news that I finished, brought me this to celebrate:

It's my first you-wrote-a-book cake!

Thanks, Jen!

A Day in the Life of PMS

Wake up after tossing and turning all night because you just couldn't get comfortable. Make your children's lunches without complaining, even though all you really want to do is sit on the couch in a zombie-like stupor. Get the kids off to school and then come home and clean up everybody's crap and get angrier and angrier the longer it takes you. Take a hot shower and realize it's doing absolutely nothing for your mood. Realize that you have PMS and you're angry for no apparent reason, AND there's nothing you can do about it. Think about saying a dozen swear words, but don't because you're a good Mormon girl who doesn't use such language. But dammit to hell, PMS sucks! Put on your most comfortable pair of jeans and favorite hoodie, because it's just going to be that kind of day. Sit down and make a grocery list and mute the Rachael Ray show because even though you like her recipes, you couldn't care less about the latest gadgets to give your valentine.

Get in your car and drive down the steep, icy mountain at high rates of speed with the radio turned waaaaay up loud, because driving fast often cures a bad mood. Make a stop at The Store for a $2.50 Ruby Snap cookie. Yes, singular. And you don't care that it costs $2.50 because the cherry chocolate filling is instantly calming to your soul, which makes it a good investment for peace at home. Continue on to the other grocery stores and lament the fact that everything seems twice as expensive and it makes you feel really old because you remember exactly what you paid for that same loaf of bread ten years ago. After grocery shopping and wondering what in the heck you dropped a hundred bucks on, go to Beto's because let's face it, as good as the cherry-chocolate cookie was, all you really want when you have PMS is salt. Get yourself a 99-cent burrito that ends up actually tasting pretty good, even though you wish that Beto's was still Sonic, because a cherry lime-ade would really hit the spot.

Drive home, radio still loud, and pretend to be nice when the room mom calls to finalize plans for the next day's class valentine party - even though the LAST thing you want to do is spend two hours with 25 sugar-intoxicated 3rd graders. Wolf down your burrito and put the groceries away before pick-up time begins. You could make them walk, but there are maniacs out there who like to drive down the icy mountain at incredibly high rates of speed.

Take them shopping because they want to pick out valentines treats for their dad, and what kind of monster would that make you if you said "no"?

Come home and start dinner and undo the button on your most comfy jeans because there's no sucking in when you're this bloated. You make a shrimp stir-fry because that's what sounds really good, even though you know 50% of your children will complain. Enjoy a family dinner around the table even though, for no apparent reason, you want to yell at everyone. Finish your dinner and put on your elastic-waist pajama bottoms because the jeans are now the most uncomfortable article of clothing in your entire wardrobe.

Eventually, you make your way back into bed, praying either for the week to end quickly or the sweet relief of death. Whichever comes first.

Can You Relate?

I'm going to take a small stab at politics today. Just because I'm curious.

In many recent polls, a common question that keeps reappearing is this: "Do you feel that (insert candidate's name here) relates to you as an everday American?"

Who cares? Why does that matter? Of course they don't relate to me. I lead a very different life than they do. The sheer fact that they are running for president sets them apart from me. I don't want, nor do I need the President of the United States to relate to me. I can deal with my own life just fine, thank you very much.

What I do want from my president is for him or her to do what the oath says: to protect, preserve, and defend the constitution. Perhaps that sounds simplistic. But look at how complicated this whole process has become. I just want the president to ensure freedom and to not be a control freak about it. To get out of my way and let me live my life according to my own dictates -- as long my own dictates aren't infringing on someone else's freedoms. The constitution guarantees me nothing more than the opportunity. And that's all I need.

Now THAT'S something I can relate to.