Travelin': Ha'aena State Park, Na'pali Coast

Travelin': Kauai

Where I was yesterday.

Where I was today.

In the Pacific (specifically, Kona): firsts

Nearly every day, I have been swimming laps in the pool near my aunt's condo here on Kona. The view is amazing and the sun in the morning is best. Swimming makes me feel strong and peaceful. It is also new. Historically, I am a weak swimmer. I would barely make the length of the Aquatic Center pool as a Beginner C (age 9-ish), and I was demoted more than once. Apparently, in Kona, I like swimming. In Kona, I swim just fine.

I am also reading crime novels and I am a non-crime novel reading kinda girl. I feel like they'll be cliche or way too violent or booooooooring (yawn) or lacking character development. Maybe some (maybe even most) meet those criteria, but I just bulldozed through Girl With a Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Thumbs up. In Kona, I like crime novels. In Kona, crime novels are just fine.

My mom and I just boogie boarded together this morning at Hapuna Beach. We had a blast, caught lots of waves together, racing towards my dad on the beach with the camera. While I was out there, in the Pacific, a sea turtle swam under me as I floated on my board! Then he popped his wee head up at my mom and me, then moseyed on his way. In Kona, we swim with sea turtles and giggle uncontrollably. In Kona, everything is just fine. :)

I leave tomorrow (on a jet plane). Aloha.

Through my father's eyes.

I borrowed my parents' old camera Saturday to take some pictures of a hillside in Pleasanton for work and found pictures from their trip to Arizona on it from 2006. I love how amused my mother looks.They brought me back a teeshirt from the Coffee Pot Restaurant in Sedona, Arizona. Sarah and I had been there for breakfast a few months earlier and my mom agreed that they have the BEST BISCUITS EVER.

Rollin with my homies

To augment Sarah's trip to SF, Bill had the rad idea of renting those yellow GoCars....you know..the ones that you always see on Haight street driven by confused looking tourists and bellowing out really loud tidbits about what's where yadda yadda. The cars are zippy things...unless you try to go up a steep hill and then the passenger has to lend a wee bit o' muscle. Bill on Lombard.

Me and My Lady Hotness in the Presidio

GoCar Kiss by Presidio Gate.

My Lady Hotness

My friend Sarah from London came to visit and it was lovely. I jam packed her visit with activities and festivities and all sorts of ivities to the point where she's convinced she left some braincells in the Mission and I'm ridiculously sick in bed. Ah well. All for the cause.

We went to the mountains, specifically to Lori and Brandon's and to see the Giant Sequoias in Big Trees National Park. AWESOME. Cabin pics here.

wind

Disneyland

The last time my family and I were in Disneyland, I had just finished high school, my sister was about to become engaged, and the trip was pretty much the final time things would be as they had always been. Ten years later, our family has grown...and two small girls in minnie dresses lead the way through princess castles, adventure land, and all the way to space mountain.

I hitched a ride down with my folks, listening to my ipod this time instead of a walkman. I also crashed in their room... talk about flashbacking to high school. Dad immediately passed out once we arrived at the hotel for a well-deserved nap. Mom giggled. I checked my shutter speed.
Our first day, we of course hit up the classics. Point of interest: Somehow, as you become older, the teacups become less fun and more barfy. My sister and I were startled by this realization, which lead to unrestrained laughter anyway. Take one for the kids.
It's A Small World. To a five year old, a magical interpretation of the extremely happy cultures of the world. To a 28 year old, something else that mixes a surreal sense of horror along with the feeling someone definitely spiked your drink.
The Matterhorn. Everyone look left. Brinly wasn't stoked on the abominable snowmen with red eyes, but she couldn't really see them, hands in front of her face and all. I drew comical pictures of them for her later to dispel the anxiety.

Tradition. Everytime. Sissy and I try to be Authur. Yes, we are in matching shirts!

Jungle Cruise. Worst. Jokes. Ever.

Mom and Dad wait for the parade. Yay coffee. Tip: Get there early and totally move a bench. My sister and Brian are seasoned veterans.

Dad is beaten in paper, rock, scissors by Brinly. She has no method which is a brilliant method.
Cuteness in Mickey's Toon Town window. Toon Town was actually one of my favorite parts of Disneyland, possibly because there were fun pieces of oversized furniture to climb on. Also, my sister and I found a gem on Roger Rabbit's wild ride or whatever.....the car, which drives erratically anyway, also SPINS (a la teacups, but less barfy). We had our own car together (Brian had the girls), so we let loose with the spins, laughing laughing laughing. It was one of those moments where you suddenly realize you are still 12. More Toon Town Fun:

Dad keeping it real. The fam. Ten years. We look different, but Mickey looks the same. LoveLoveLove.

in hiding