Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Really People, Really?!?!?!
I had lesson 15 of my "Learn Conversational Spanish" CD on. (Which, by the way - if you are in Mexico and see a handsome Spanish speaking man and want to grab a beer with him - I'm the girl you want with you because I have gotten as far as easily asking someone if they want to grab a beer at a local restaurant. Anyway, it is how I kill my commute.)
All of the sudden, all traffic comes to a screeching halt. I'm amazed to see so many cars lined up I mean, it is the crack of dawn on a kind of mild, back "highway" going towards RI on an overcast day. I rarely see cars on this commute let alone so many just stopped as far as the eye can see.
I turn off Mr. Spanish and tune into the traffic channel on my radio. Nothing. No update, no word, just a static and crackle. Grrreat. As I creep along the road at 5 miles an hour, watching the GPS continually recalculating the arrival time...later and later and later.
I can't help but wonder what the hold up is.
About 45 minutes later, I pass the cause of the hold up. A guy broken down, changing his tire on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD!
Seriously, I know it is hard to look away from a car accident or something but a guy changing his tire on the other side of the road is cause to slow down the commute for 45 minutes??!!?!?! Really people, really? Get a life and get out of my way.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Migration Ends...With a Couch
Monday, July 19, 2010
A Meeting of the Minds
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Migration Continues...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
And So The Migration North Begins.....
Ah ha!.....my edge would be graduate school...courtesy of my parents. (I know what you're thinking...I'm spoiled but here is another thing my Dad once told me...people who appreciate everything they are given, all of their life advantages and use it responsibly and with respect - those people are not spoiled, they are fortunate. Boy, did I ever appreciate all the advantages life had to offer me so while you may consider me spoiled I consider myself fortunate and indebted to my parents!)
So, I began applying to lots of schools - all in and around by beloved NJ. My plan was to get a Masters degree in 2 years and hop back into the job front at a higher ranking, better paying position. Of course, none of the programs were exactly what I was looking forbut they were in NJ so I was willing to compromise. However, I had recently spent some time with my brother (who had settled in RI) while I was in their wedding, loved the ocean, salty air and surfer guys so I figured I would look at schools in and around RI. Amazingly, there was a program that had every component I had ever wanted in a degree. It was as if I had written the ciriculum myself. That it happened to be in stunning Newport, RI was the icing on the cake. I applied, was accepted, gave notice at the Prosecutor's Office, packed up my apartment in my beloved NJ (with all my stuff stored in my parent's basement) and began my search for an apartment in Newport, RI.
I found a fantastic in-law apartment with french doors that opened to a patio where I could smell salt water and hear the waves crashing. It had its own driveway for parking multiple cars (a huge deal in Newport), private access to the famed Cliff Walk and I could easily walk to classes, downtown, the bank, the grocery store, the beach. It was newly renovated with a large bathroom and bright, airy open floorplan. In essence, I had found heaven. I had to have this location - it was made for me! My landlord lived upstairs with his wife and young son so you can understand his concern that the "right" kind of tenant live there. During the application process, I put my best foot forward - wore a tasteful skirt and top to meet him, had my resume in hand, references from my former landlord, personal references...and a check with first, last and security deposit. He said as long as I wasn't a late night partier, the place was mine as of July 1st. I couldn't have been happier as I signed on the dotted line. It was the first apartment I had ever moved into without at least showing my parents first and I couldn't wait for my mom to see it so I quickly enlisted her to help me move in....July 4th weekend.
And so the move began.....
Stay tuned to hear about our adventure of moving us in and furniture shopping!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Have I Ever Steered You Wrong?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
“Grown-Up” Really Isn’t a Bad Word….Who Knew?!?
When Did You Realize That You Had Become A Grown-Up? Think about it - your answer might surprise you.
“Honey, put your shoes away. Daddy and I spent good money on those.”
My Mom said this to me every afternoon when I came home from school, as I kicked my shoes across the kitchen floor, and draped myself across a chair (leather, Pottery Barn – no doubt they spent good money on this item too). I couldn’t help but think…if you guys spent such good money on my shoes, why should I put them away? Shouldn’t everyone who enters be able to view my shoes? Yes, even as a kid, I was sarcastic.
One day I actually said it out loud and I got the parental glare of disdain which I promptly followed with, “Oh Mom, you’re such a grown-up.” I remember the pride I took in saying it with such angst.
Fast forward - When I came home for my first winter break from college with my dorm room packed up, my withdrawl form from the University in hand and proudly announced that I had dropped out to drive cross-country and take some time to enjoy my youth, I got the look of disappointment followed by a reality check from my Dad. Come January I would be returning to a college. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Geez, just another buzz kill grown-up.
College graduation - my parents were so proud, had their cameras at the ready and inquired constantly what I planned to do now that I was entering the world as a grown-up. The thing was, I didn’t feel much like a grown-up.
I would play the game, go through the motions, apply for jobs but in my heart, I was still a kid, excited for another summer on Cape Cod. I spent 20 summers on the Cape at my parents’ summer home, I wasn’t ready to trade in the flip flops for pantyhose, thank you very much.
At 16, my parents insisted I get a summer job – to help pay for the shoes and designer clothes they kept insisting that I put away. As grown-ups, they thought a part-time summer job would make me appreciate all of my carefree days and that at some point, I too had to grow up. Being the kid I was though, I got a job on a strawberry farm. It abutted a sparkling lake, required minimal labor, paid well, and I was done by noon. In my eyes, it was a dream come true, I could go to work fairly messy, I was outside enjoying nature while getting a tan, making money and best of all, I could still spend all day at the beach, evenings out with friends. Ah youth – something my parents, as grown-ups, couldn’t appreciate no doubt.
Fast forward - I got a job. A real job. One that required me to wear a suit and heels. I worked at the State Prosecutors Office – a very grown-up job. I liked the work. I liked the people and the socializing better. All the suits and pantyhose and responsibilities still, did not make me feel like a grown-up.
After a couple of grown-up years at work, I went to graduate school. A very grown-up thing to do. But I chose to go to graduate school in Newport, RI and when my dad asked me how classes were, my response was that I could see the ocean from every class. Ah, still just a youth.
I got a much coveted job (you know, the one where I get paid to be nice to people). Same feeling as the State Prosecutor’s Office. Loved the job. Appreciated having it. After all, it paid for my seaside apartment and introduced me to lots of new, fun friends. Nope, still didn’t feel grown-up.
I was making decent money so I upgraded to an apartment with a guest room. I had apartments before but could only ever afford a studio or 1 bedroom. Good enough for me, people could crash on the couch if the stayed over. So was it the 2 bedroom apartment that made me realize I was a grown-up? No, not exactly.
My 26th birthday. By then, I was an Auntie. I had a professional career. I had earned a masters degree. I was a self-sufficient, strong young woman. None of this made me feel like a grown-up. But on that fateful 26th birthday, my parents gift was to offer to buy me a bed for my guest room. “So you can have proper company” my Mom explained. Not some hand me down mattress. Not a futon. Not a $99 special or Salvation Army find but they offered to buy me a real bed to set up the spare room for “proper company”. Here is the kicker….I WAS TOTALLY EXCITED FOR IT.
I comparison shopped. I wheeled-and-dealed with the area mattress companies. I thought about sheets and comforters. I was excited to have company pay me a visit. On the day the mattress and box spring arrived, I was so excited. The delivery men couldn’t get out of my way fast enough. Finally, with the room set up, I stood back and admired the guest bed. Leaning in the doorframe, sun gleaming through newly Windexed windows, dust floating through the air, with an enormous sense of happiness for my birthday gift is when it hit me. I’m excited about a guest bed. A bed. I got a bed as a birthday gift and I’m happy about it. I mean, it isn’t even a bed I was going to sleep in and yet, I couldn’t wait to show it off. Right there, in that doorframe, three days after my 26th birthday is when the realization settled in – I had grown up. I was, in fact, a grown-up.
I had to share my revelation with my parents so I got to the phone and invited them for a proper visit – to stay in my guest room with the new beautiful bed. When they arrived the following weekend, I served them lunch, bought them dinner, made breakfast the next morning. It was unbelievable. I talked to my parents as adults and we laughed and I discovered that being grown up is fun.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
What's In A Title?
Monday, July 5, 2010
That's What I Like About You
1. Kona Coffee - just the memory of the smell off 100% Kona Coffee - freshly brewed - makes me smile
2. The People - mahalo for your patience and kindness to all of us tourists - I know I would never be that polite to so many haoles asking annoying questions
3. Blue Sky, Blue Water, Powder White Sand - really, no explanation needed, right?
4. Duke's Hula Pie - It's not really pie and I don't really care - it is fantastic!
5. Snorkeling the Na Pali Coast - a hot rainy day, just my husband and I and thousands of tropical fish and coral - paradise found!
6. Diamond Head - the view from the top is indescribable. The fact that I made the hike to the top makes me feel like I can do anything. If I had a bucket list, this would have been on it and it would have felt fantastic to scratch it off the list.
7. The Seven Sisters Waterfalls - natures waterslide
8. Black Sand Beaches - lava tubes, smooth black stone pebbles against colbalt blue waters.....you just can't make that beauty up.
9. Did I mention the Kona coffee?
10. Dole Plantation - fresh pineapple, lightly salted (yes, you read that correctly - just when you thought fresh pineapple couldn't get any better...) comes with everything from pancakes to steak to fish.
11. The Banyon Tree - taking up an acre of land, it is said to symbolize eternal life as it has never ending expansion. Beautiful tree, beautiful symbolism.
12. the Postal Code Is HI - how great is that?!?! The people are so flipping friendly, even their state code is welcoming.
13. Fraaaaank - Nobody gets hurt on Frank's tour
14. Disney may claim to be the happiest place on Earth but 2 weeks in Hawaii with the man I love is my happiest place on Earth.
These are a few of my favorute things...Hawaiian style.