So yeah I am going to vent, since my husband is on a mission and can't answer his phone, my mom is not answering hers and no one else will pick up I am turning to the blog world to VENT!
I want to go home. I mean my home, my things, my place to call my own. Not my parents house or really the house in Charleston. I just want to go to someplace that is mine. I thought, stupidly, that this move wouldn't be so bad. I could handle living in a hotel for 2 months with 2 kids. Well it hasn't been terrible. The kids have adjusted and call the hotel home. But today I go to the housing office and they tell me that the houses we were slated for won't open until April/May and that sorry you are probably too far back on the list to get one now. What happened is the people that were in 6 month leases will be in front of you. So I say "well what does that mean for a move date?" Maybe in June or July when the other renovated houses open up. WHAT THE F#*K! Where the hell am I supposed to live until then?
The base hotel we are in will only let us stay till the end of March...and even that is on a space available basis. We thought we had a reservation in April but they said that isn't because it is all Space A because we exceed what they have for PCS moves. HOLY SHIT...so where do we go after March? I have no idea. A hotel I guess where we pay 200 a night out of our own pocket to live.
Get a rental house you say. Oh we have thought of that. We only brought one car because we were told 2 months for a house. S can ride his bike from anywhere on base to the squadron. No need for 2 cars. Plus now we don't have a car payment, gas, insurance of maintenance to budget for. If we move off base he would have to have his own mode of transportation. He alerted at 4:45 this morning. You think I would be getting up with 2 kids to take him 20 minutes to the base and then drive back. He couldn't just take the car because well I have 2 kids to get to school. Not to mention that if we move off base we would have to switch schools again and we just got them settled in their new schools. So that isn't going to happen.
So yeah I am pissed and have no one to talk to, so I came on here and vented. I really don't feel any better and I still want to go home. Oh and on top of that the poor dog is with my parents and losing weight because she is depressed and needs to come out here because we feel bad taking advantage of my parents generosity in keeping her. They signed up for 2 months of dog sitting, not 6.
So if anyone has any great ideas on what we should do, let me know. That doesn't involve moving off base and paying out the ying yang for rent, buying a car and having payments, insurance, gas and maintenance to worry about, making the kids switch school again, I am open to them all. Maybe I can pitch a tent on the beach or on the side of the road like the other homeless people do.
Bottom Line: I WANT TO GO HOME.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
back from "Vacation"...
So we have spent the last 10 days in 2 different hotels. We first stayed at the Embassy Suites in downtown Waikiki...fun you say? Well it was for the most part. The bad part is having to drive (well to be honest S had to drive) Big A and little A all the way to school which is 30 minutes away in traffic. So it was early mornings, but that was made better by the awesome Embassy breakfast buffet! Big A was in heaven getting to have eggs and fruit every morning. The kids have also become fans of POG juice. (Papaya, Orange, Guava) We just call it pink juice and little A just drinks it up thinking it is princess juice.
Our week there went quickly. We walked around the mall, the main streets of Waikiki, went to the zoo and ate every meal out (YUCK)! It gets very tiresome deciding which place the kids will eat chicken fingers or mac and cheese at. They saw a vegetable and gobbled them down...I think they were a bit deprived of vitamins!
The second hotel we stayed at was the Turtle Bay Resort. I highly recommend it! It was beautiful and the people we super nice, the rooms was clean and big. Breakfast was tasty but expensive and dinner was good but we had to eat the same place both nights because it was the only place to get something for the kids to eat. Dessert was fantastic though!
We only spent 1 full day at the resort. We arrived Friday afternoon and played at the pool and watched the sunset. Saturday we got up had breakfast...mmmmm good, and then went to the beach. You get one hour of snorkeling included with your room. So S and big A set off to explore and see what they could find. A seemed to enjoy it and could actually do it. He now insists that we buy him his own "gear" so we can snorkel anywhere at anytime. I went out for a few minutes after the boys came back in. Lots of fish out and the water is pretty clear. The surf was rough so it was a little cloudier than I think it usually is.
Speaking of the surf....WOW...it wasn't even as big most winter storms make it. The waves were amazing to watch. The resort was hosting a paddle boarding world tour so there were guys out there giving the guests a preview of the event. They are so crazy! They basically surf of the waves while paddling to keep themselves going. INSANE!!!
Sunday we got up to a rainy morning but that didn't deter the boys from using their free hour of snorkeling. They headed out while little A and I sat under and umbrella on a lounge chair. They didn't last as long this morning but S said they saw a lot more fish, still no turtles but we will come back to find them!
So now we are happily back at TLF on base. (never thought I would say happily!) It really is nice to know that we don't have to pack everything up for a long while. That is the bad part too...we don't have to pack for a long while because it doesn't look like we will have a house for a while still. Hopefully the end of March or early April. Trying to no think about it to much. The kids are happily adapted to staying here and they are glad to have beds to themselves again. It is also nice to not have to play the where are we going to eat game...we are going to eat right here in the room!!!!
here are a few pictures of the Resort.
Our week there went quickly. We walked around the mall, the main streets of Waikiki, went to the zoo and ate every meal out (YUCK)! It gets very tiresome deciding which place the kids will eat chicken fingers or mac and cheese at. They saw a vegetable and gobbled them down...I think they were a bit deprived of vitamins!
The second hotel we stayed at was the Turtle Bay Resort. I highly recommend it! It was beautiful and the people we super nice, the rooms was clean and big. Breakfast was tasty but expensive and dinner was good but we had to eat the same place both nights because it was the only place to get something for the kids to eat. Dessert was fantastic though!
We only spent 1 full day at the resort. We arrived Friday afternoon and played at the pool and watched the sunset. Saturday we got up had breakfast...mmmmm good, and then went to the beach. You get one hour of snorkeling included with your room. So S and big A set off to explore and see what they could find. A seemed to enjoy it and could actually do it. He now insists that we buy him his own "gear" so we can snorkel anywhere at anytime. I went out for a few minutes after the boys came back in. Lots of fish out and the water is pretty clear. The surf was rough so it was a little cloudier than I think it usually is.
Speaking of the surf....WOW...it wasn't even as big most winter storms make it. The waves were amazing to watch. The resort was hosting a paddle boarding world tour so there were guys out there giving the guests a preview of the event. They are so crazy! They basically surf of the waves while paddling to keep themselves going. INSANE!!!
Sunday we got up to a rainy morning but that didn't deter the boys from using their free hour of snorkeling. They headed out while little A and I sat under and umbrella on a lounge chair. They didn't last as long this morning but S said they saw a lot more fish, still no turtles but we will come back to find them!
So now we are happily back at TLF on base. (never thought I would say happily!) It really is nice to know that we don't have to pack everything up for a long while. That is the bad part too...we don't have to pack for a long while because it doesn't look like we will have a house for a while still. Hopefully the end of March or early April. Trying to no think about it to much. The kids are happily adapted to staying here and they are glad to have beds to themselves again. It is also nice to not have to play the where are we going to eat game...we are going to eat right here in the room!!!!
here are a few pictures of the Resort.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Ambulances, staples and turning 30 OH MY!
What a week!
Big A got a ride to the hospital in an Ambulance, get 6 staples in his head and recieve what will be a gnarly scar. Darn you playground equipment! He was running with his head down under the stairs to the slide and WHAM! his scalp made contact. He left a 7 inch gash in the top of his head that required an ambulance ride to the trauma hospital in Waikiki. All the doctors and nurses were great and it was a decent ER. They put 6 staples in his head and sent us on our way. He seems no worse for wear and is recovering well and will not sit still. He wants to go tackle and play sports and we have to tell him why don't you sit down and relax for a bit.
At the end of the week I turned the big......30!!!! Oh my! It wasn't as dreadful as I had imagined. We got up went to breakfast here on base and sat outside to see the water. Then we hit the road and headed to Haleiwa in the North Shore. We had lunch at Kono's and our first Shave Ice's at the famous Mastumoto's! The kids shared a rainbow, I had a coconut flavored snow cap with ice cream and aszuki beans on the bottom. It was so good. The beans not so great and I will most likely not get them again, but had to try it at least once. I highly recommend the snow cap (condensed milk) it was AMAZING!!! I am craving another one right now.
We headed back home and got ready for the babysitter to come over. WHOOO HOOO we got a babysitter! First time out without the kids since we have been here. It was much needed. S and I went and had a nice quiet dinner at a Thai Restaurant in Pearl City. It is in a pretty sketch area but the place was gorgeous inside, the food delicious and the service impeccable. It is called Souvaly Thai. I highly recommend.
After dinner we headed to our friends the Bakers for "Pipes and Poker". We had so much fun meeting some of the other couples in the squadron and just being out and with good people was the best present of all. Jen had a great cheesecake with Happy Birthday candles in it and they all sang and I felt silly...and the cheesecake was homemade goodness. We stayed out laughing, drinking and carrying on. Best 30th birthday ever! Mainly because I got to spend it with my loves, and with some great people.
Till next time...
XOXO
Big A got a ride to the hospital in an Ambulance, get 6 staples in his head and recieve what will be a gnarly scar. Darn you playground equipment! He was running with his head down under the stairs to the slide and WHAM! his scalp made contact. He left a 7 inch gash in the top of his head that required an ambulance ride to the trauma hospital in Waikiki. All the doctors and nurses were great and it was a decent ER. They put 6 staples in his head and sent us on our way. He seems no worse for wear and is recovering well and will not sit still. He wants to go tackle and play sports and we have to tell him why don't you sit down and relax for a bit.
At the end of the week I turned the big......30!!!! Oh my! It wasn't as dreadful as I had imagined. We got up went to breakfast here on base and sat outside to see the water. Then we hit the road and headed to Haleiwa in the North Shore. We had lunch at Kono's and our first Shave Ice's at the famous Mastumoto's! The kids shared a rainbow, I had a coconut flavored snow cap with ice cream and aszuki beans on the bottom. It was so good. The beans not so great and I will most likely not get them again, but had to try it at least once. I highly recommend the snow cap (condensed milk) it was AMAZING!!! I am craving another one right now.
We headed back home and got ready for the babysitter to come over. WHOOO HOOO we got a babysitter! First time out without the kids since we have been here. It was much needed. S and I went and had a nice quiet dinner at a Thai Restaurant in Pearl City. It is in a pretty sketch area but the place was gorgeous inside, the food delicious and the service impeccable. It is called Souvaly Thai. I highly recommend.
After dinner we headed to our friends the Bakers for "Pipes and Poker". We had so much fun meeting some of the other couples in the squadron and just being out and with good people was the best present of all. Jen had a great cheesecake with Happy Birthday candles in it and they all sang and I felt silly...and the cheesecake was homemade goodness. We stayed out laughing, drinking and carrying on. Best 30th birthday ever! Mainly because I got to spend it with my loves, and with some great people.
Till next time...
XOXO
Friday, January 7, 2011
NYE to First day of school....
The adventure continues....
Things have been great! So much to catch up on...here is how the last week or so has gone down.
We spent NYE on the BEACH!!!! It was a fabulous 79 degrees and sunny (for most of the day) and we headed out to Bellows beach, which is part of the old Bellows Air Field, so you have to have and ID card to get to it. We hit the beach at around lunch time with our friends that our also living on the island. They are a great help showing us the ropes. :) We ate a picnic lunch, talked and watched the kids and boys play in the water, boogie board and run around like crazy people. No one got sunburned or stung by a PMOW or jellyfish so it was an awesome end to the year. Some days I still have to pinch myself that we are here! Here are a few pictures from NYE....
beach bum
beach beauty
We spent the first few days of the new year out and about exploring the island. We ventured out to North Shore to see the waves...only to realize that where we were in the North Shore waves were not. No big deal we had a great drive anyhow. We saw Dillingham Air Field where the do gliders. It was fun to watch the planes pull the gliders up and then let them go! We parked at a beach park and got out and walked around. The kids loved climbing on the rocks.
We have also gone out and explore Kaneohe Bay Marine Base so that S could try and find his old house. After some drooling over the amazing new houses the Marines have, not to mention the views! We found his old street....the houses that were there are gone and nice new ones put up, but it was the same street. He showed us how close to the beach, softball fields (even though as a kid he said they were on the other side of the base), and various play areas that he enjoyed as a kid in Hawaii. How the world comes full circle. Now he is back with his son in Hawaii at the same age. I know he has some great memories of living here and I hope we can give big A, the same experience.
After leaving Kaneohe we decided to try our luck in North Shore again. On the way we passed some beautiful views and also the Turtle Bay Resort. If you don't know about this place, watch the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall...filmed on site and well I will stay there before we leave this island! Gorgeous! We found a beach to stop and watch the waves...only to find out that we were right next to the original spot from a few days earlier...the waves were not of epic proportion and personally didn't look any larger then what we see in California. Apparently we need to wait for a high surf warning and then go watch. The kids enjoyed it non the less and we saw some sea turtles as we walked on the rocks.
the scenery
our turtle friend
Things have been great! So much to catch up on...here is how the last week or so has gone down.
We spent NYE on the BEACH!!!! It was a fabulous 79 degrees and sunny (for most of the day) and we headed out to Bellows beach, which is part of the old Bellows Air Field, so you have to have and ID card to get to it. We hit the beach at around lunch time with our friends that our also living on the island. They are a great help showing us the ropes. :) We ate a picnic lunch, talked and watched the kids and boys play in the water, boogie board and run around like crazy people. No one got sunburned or stung by a PMOW or jellyfish so it was an awesome end to the year. Some days I still have to pinch myself that we are here! Here are a few pictures from NYE....
beach bum
beach beautyWe spent the first few days of the new year out and about exploring the island. We ventured out to North Shore to see the waves...only to realize that where we were in the North Shore waves were not. No big deal we had a great drive anyhow. We saw Dillingham Air Field where the do gliders. It was fun to watch the planes pull the gliders up and then let them go! We parked at a beach park and got out and walked around. The kids loved climbing on the rocks.
We have also gone out and explore Kaneohe Bay Marine Base so that S could try and find his old house. After some drooling over the amazing new houses the Marines have, not to mention the views! We found his old street....the houses that were there are gone and nice new ones put up, but it was the same street. He showed us how close to the beach, softball fields (even though as a kid he said they were on the other side of the base), and various play areas that he enjoyed as a kid in Hawaii. How the world comes full circle. Now he is back with his son in Hawaii at the same age. I know he has some great memories of living here and I hope we can give big A, the same experience.
After leaving Kaneohe we decided to try our luck in North Shore again. On the way we passed some beautiful views and also the Turtle Bay Resort. If you don't know about this place, watch the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall...filmed on site and well I will stay there before we leave this island! Gorgeous! We found a beach to stop and watch the waves...only to find out that we were right next to the original spot from a few days earlier...the waves were not of epic proportion and personally didn't look any larger then what we see in California. Apparently we need to wait for a high surf warning and then go watch. The kids enjoyed it non the less and we saw some sea turtles as we walked on the rocks.
the scenery
our turtle friendNow on to the first day of school...TODAY! It takes 2 full school days for the registration process. Don't ask why, I still don't understand it. We had to take a tour of the school which I understand, but that took 15 minutes. Oh well, big A has now started school and well it was a bit traumatic for him and me. Tears spilled over our cheeks as I said good-bye told him to be good and show them the smarts in his head. He looked at me with wet cheeks and said "ok" and then hid his head in his arm. S talked to him and little A gave him a hug and out the door we walked. I know he is fine (mainly cause I just called the school to check) and because he is more than prepared for this. As most of you (friends) know my concern with moving in the middle of the school year was that I didn't want him to be the new kid...well now he is. He will adapt and be taken into the group but still...that stigma is hard to get rid of sometimes. The good thing is that since it is a base school they are used to kids coming and going during the year. Doesn't make it easy on my heart or his though. I am now counting down the hours till I can go pick him up and see for myself that he is okay. Here is the pictures of his first day with the new "rainbow" plate.
Till the next post!
XO
XO
Thursday, December 30, 2010
ALOHA! We have arrived!
Well as most of you know we successfully arrived on the beautiful island of Oahu. Saying good-bye is never easy...even when it is for a move we wanted. Saying good-bye in Charleston to our family and friends was hard, saying good-bye to our parents was quick, like pulling off a band-aid. It wasn't planned that way.
We boarded the plane, after standing in the mile long security check point. The kids and I got to go through the regular and scanner and S being so super scary and all was told to go through the full body scanner. I watched from the other side and I saw nothing on the screen. It just says pass or fail, so not really sure what the big concern of privacy is. Once happily in our first class seats (yeah we did that and so worth it) the drinks started coming. Mimosa for take off and then I think a total of 5 Mai Tais for the duration of the flight. The kids were actually quite pleasant on the flight with all the free movies and games to play on the tv's.
We landed a bit early under some cloud cover to be welcomed by the smell and warmth of Hawaii. If you have never "smelled" Hawaii it is kind of hard to describe. It is a tropical, floral, warm, beachy sandy smell. Every time we are outside little A tells us she likes the smell. Maybe she is a beach girl :)
As we grabbed all 8 plus 2 carseats, of checked baggage our wonderful friends started to show up. We had arrived about 20 minutes early so everyone got there at different times. I had always said it wouldn't feel real until I saw JBake there waiting for us and the first person I saw....you guessed it. It was real we were here! We also met our new squadron commander and his family, our friends from pilot training who I hadn't seen in the past 5 years and our other friends from Charleston who now call Hickam home. It was so great to be welcomed by familiar faces!
After some puzzle work to get all the before mentioned luggage in the car or rather cars, plus 2 adults and 2 kids in car seats we were off to....pick up our car!!! Yeah it had arrived the day before and ready for us to get it. I was so glad to have our own vehicle back!
We came straight to the base and made it with some time to spare to the housing office. We are hoping to get a house by April, but no promises were made. We will take what we can get and I think I may prefer the older homes. They have a bit more character than the new. But the new are nice and well NEW!
Our first day on base consisted of S getting up and putting his flight suit on...yes he was already in his flight suit. He headed out to some appts while the kiddos and I stayed in the room and watched a movie. When he got back we ran a few more errands mainly finding out how we get the car its "rainbow" plates, so that we don't stick out like a sore thumb! In the two days of driving here I have only seen one, just one other out of state plate. In case you are curious it was a Texas plate.
We also went down to Waikiki to eat lunch at Moose McGillicuddy's. The vibe is different when there isn't a bunch of drunk crazy people hanging around but still the food was alright.
We had dinner at a great place on the harbor called Schooners...it was great!
No pictures yet, the weather has been kinda cloudy and drizzly, and well nothing exciting has really happened yet. Not sure you (the blogger world) want to see pictures of the kids and I waiting in the car while S runs in to various uninteresting visually buildings. Sorry this was so long. Just wanted to catch up on everything. Hopefully something exciting will happen this weekend!
XO
We boarded the plane, after standing in the mile long security check point. The kids and I got to go through the regular and scanner and S being so super scary and all was told to go through the full body scanner. I watched from the other side and I saw nothing on the screen. It just says pass or fail, so not really sure what the big concern of privacy is. Once happily in our first class seats (yeah we did that and so worth it) the drinks started coming. Mimosa for take off and then I think a total of 5 Mai Tais for the duration of the flight. The kids were actually quite pleasant on the flight with all the free movies and games to play on the tv's.
We landed a bit early under some cloud cover to be welcomed by the smell and warmth of Hawaii. If you have never "smelled" Hawaii it is kind of hard to describe. It is a tropical, floral, warm, beachy sandy smell. Every time we are outside little A tells us she likes the smell. Maybe she is a beach girl :)
As we grabbed all 8 plus 2 carseats, of checked baggage our wonderful friends started to show up. We had arrived about 20 minutes early so everyone got there at different times. I had always said it wouldn't feel real until I saw JBake there waiting for us and the first person I saw....you guessed it. It was real we were here! We also met our new squadron commander and his family, our friends from pilot training who I hadn't seen in the past 5 years and our other friends from Charleston who now call Hickam home. It was so great to be welcomed by familiar faces!
After some puzzle work to get all the before mentioned luggage in the car or rather cars, plus 2 adults and 2 kids in car seats we were off to....pick up our car!!! Yeah it had arrived the day before and ready for us to get it. I was so glad to have our own vehicle back!
We came straight to the base and made it with some time to spare to the housing office. We are hoping to get a house by April, but no promises were made. We will take what we can get and I think I may prefer the older homes. They have a bit more character than the new. But the new are nice and well NEW!
Our first day on base consisted of S getting up and putting his flight suit on...yes he was already in his flight suit. He headed out to some appts while the kiddos and I stayed in the room and watched a movie. When he got back we ran a few more errands mainly finding out how we get the car its "rainbow" plates, so that we don't stick out like a sore thumb! In the two days of driving here I have only seen one, just one other out of state plate. In case you are curious it was a Texas plate.
We also went down to Waikiki to eat lunch at Moose McGillicuddy's. The vibe is different when there isn't a bunch of drunk crazy people hanging around but still the food was alright.
We had dinner at a great place on the harbor called Schooners...it was great!
No pictures yet, the weather has been kinda cloudy and drizzly, and well nothing exciting has really happened yet. Not sure you (the blogger world) want to see pictures of the kids and I waiting in the car while S runs in to various uninteresting visually buildings. Sorry this was so long. Just wanted to catch up on everything. Hopefully something exciting will happen this weekend!
XO
Friday, December 24, 2010
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
To all our friends and family near and far...we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am so very thankful to have Steve home this year and know how hard it is for our friends who's loved ones aren't home to celebrate. Thank you for making the sacrifice for our country, fly safe and hurry home. Merry Christmas! XO
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Hello Blogger World!
I decided it is about time we jump on the blogging band wagon. I so enjoy reading everyone else's blogs so I thought maybe people would enjoy reading about what is happening with us on the island.
We aren't there yet...one more week. Pitstop in California is still in progress. We are having a great time with all our family and friends.
Check back soon for updates on our new adventures in Hawaii.
XO
I decided it is about time we jump on the blogging band wagon. I so enjoy reading everyone else's blogs so I thought maybe people would enjoy reading about what is happening with us on the island.
We aren't there yet...one more week. Pitstop in California is still in progress. We are having a great time with all our family and friends.
Check back soon for updates on our new adventures in Hawaii.
XO
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