HAWAII, Oh, How I Love thee...Let me count the ways...

I cannot believe that it has been a month since i have left the place I was supposed to be from.... Oh how i miss the lovely tropical air and sunshine of HAWAII. Pretty sure I was supposed to be Hawaiian...Darn parents! They just had to be living in Utah and no Polynesian decent whatsoever! Boo :( Well I will just pretend to be... so there.

On my tropical getaway to the "place of my birth"....I was reminded why and how much I friggin love that place with all my heart, mind, and soul..

10. The people are so chill... i need to adapt that quality into my life. Less stress that way! I need to start saying... 'whatever man...' for all that I encounter.

9. Fresh Fruit Stands! Had to stop regularly to pick up fresh coconut, mango, pineapple, papaya..... in the bundles. Pure Deliciousness!!!

8. The soft, warm sand! My toes become so giddy on the Hawaiian beaches.

7. Tropical rainstorms that come from....Nowhere! With rain...always comes adventure!

6. Matsumotos Shaved Ice!!! Need i say more. YUMMMMMMM! :)

5. Discovered Macadamia Nut Hershey Kisses... A little tasty chocolate treat that literally says,
ALOHA! Does not get bettter than that!

4. Hawaiian tan... or in my case Hawaiian sunburn. I don't mind one bit...I was touched by the
Hawaiian Sun! No complaints!

3. Massive Northshore waves!!!! Wipe Out!

2. Night swims.. So refreshing!! Ahhhh Plumerias...mmmmm

1. My soul sisters!!! It would not have been the same without them... You Know Who You Are!!!
I wanna be bback with you in Hawaii so Frickin Bad!!! Love You

This is just a snipit of the love I have for my homeland ;) ALOHAAAA!!!

Too Long...

Life keeps getting busier and busier. A busy life has it's good and bad points.

Bad...I never get to update this blog, I can forget my name at times, doing more of what I HAVE to do then WANT to do, headaches, lower immune system, and less sleep!

Good...I forget my name, better at prioritizing and organizing, being anxiously engaged in a "good cause", I get a lot more done, less focus on myself and more on others, happier and progress!

Anyway... I am going to try and write more often... The End!

a whistle...

My nose has been so dang dry lately...darn desert we live in mixed with darn winter!!! Anyway along with that dry nose, I have noticed that my nose has more whistling talent then I have ever had! I will be talking and here a little whistling tune coming from my nostril area...geesh what is that about!? I had one of those whistling occurrences yesterday. They can be quite embarrassing when in the wrong company. I was reminded of one of those awkward and embarrassing nose-whistling moments that occurred on my mission.

My companion and I were tracting, and a lady let us in from the bitter cold outside. After we entered her house, we started sharing a bit of the gospel with her. As I began sharing our message, my nose decided to join in as well. The funny thing was, at first I did not realize the whistle was coming from me at all. My companion, the lady and I looked around at first, in wonderment of where this whistle was coming from. Every time I stopped talking, the whistling would stop. I soon realized it was coming from my nose.

My companion realized soon after. I tried coughing and sniffing but it would just not go away. Here I was trying to have a moment, and my nose just wont shut up. The lady was slightly confused. My companion quickly took over...to give my singing nose a break. After we left the home, I could not get my nose to whistle for the life of me. I guess it is one of those noses that only likes to play for a crowd.

A whistle nose…who knew I had talent!

BLISS List...

Ever heard of a bliss list...you know a list of things that happen to you that just make you smile...and feel all warm n' fuzzy inside? Well I have been thinking of a few lately...feel free to share or add to my bliss list...

-Finding along lost lip gloss, treasure or money in your coat pocket from last year

-Warm, fresh from the dryer, sheets and towels

-Sonic drive-thru's Happy Hour

-The tasty lil' mints from Olive Garden

-Someone remembering your name

-An unexpected thank you note

-A nice hot shower at the end of a stressful day

-A call from a friend you have not heard from in far too long

-When you have just the right amount of change for the cashier

-Your favorite song plays on the radio

-A big bear hug, just when you need it

-Hoodies that are super soft on the inside

-When a store brings back a favorite discontinued item

-A friend who kidnaps you after a hard day and takes you to a JAZZ games

-Carmel Apple Cider from Starbucks

-When a child whispers that they love you, softly in your ear

mmmmmmm hmmmmm....I feel all warm n' fuzzy just thinkin about it all.

Potty Peeper...

Last week I was shopping and had to use the public restrooms...nature called...I answered. As I was answering this call...a mother and her small child came into answer their calls as well. There were only 2 stalls...I was occupying one of them. The small child, about 4, I was guessing, went into the other. The child had some...how would I put it politely...sound effects while answering it's call. Well I was just finishing up my call...when suddenly a brown little head with grinning white teeth appeared on my side of the stall...ahhhhh! What a surprise to have a small African American boy join my conversation with nature!!! He even said "Hi!” He then went back to his side of the stall wall as gracefully and nonchalantly as he had appeared!

WOW! You never know what you are going to get in those public restrooms, when nature's calls cannot wait until you get home.
Potty peepers...

Funny...

I swear a million funny things usually happen to me (either around me, or directly involving me)...but when I go to share them...I just cannot seem to recall them all. I want to share them with everyone...but then they are gone. Funny...it is what you make of it I guess. I love funny! So I got to thinking...maybe it's me, and I am not finding situations AS funny these days...or are less funny things happening around me? HMMMM??? Not sure, maybe both?!

The only two funny things that I can think of lately…
I was driving to LAGOON…It's what fun is... and I looked over at the car next to me...it actually was not a car...an old 1960's Winnebago...with an old man driving going to town, pickin his nose! Even though he knew all passengers in my car were staring at him…didn’t stop this fierce nose pickin machine Ha...shoulda gotta pic!
Another funny that took place...I was at work, and heard laughter that then turned into a high-pitched squeaky noise. I knew who the laughter was coming from...2 hallways down from mine...yes I could hear it...but the squeaky noise...could it really be coming from him? Sure was. So from my office... I stated to my lovely friend/co-worker.. "Oh my gosh! What is that sound? Sounds like a Giant Choking Squeaky Toy...Someone needs to get that checked out!!!" It's true... that is not normal, but it sure has provided hours of entertainment since. Beware of GIANT CHOKING SQUEAKY TOY.
This actually makes me think of laughs I just can’t stand. I have a few of those in my office…and it just seems that no matter how many doors are shut, and how many notches I turn my music up to… seems to not be able to drowned out that "LAUGHTER" ! Any of you ever encountered those laughs? I often want to send an anonymous letter...telling them to fix that laugh of theirs...NO, too rude?! heehee J I just wonder, do they know how terrible they sound...do they not realize that it causes those around them to want to put their ears in sound proof box and ship them off to China? Come on people...its not cute! But I guess funny...after my ears stop bleeding.
Anyway... those are my random thoughts. Nose picking to Ugly Laughs in 60 seconds!!!

My PASSION...

Who am I? What do I love to do? What drives me? These are some thoughts on my mind these days...but it really hit me hard today. I am not sure what prodded it...but it sure needed to.

I do not love what I do...I am a social worker. I have gone through ups and downs with this job for the past two years. Then I started my master to be a school counselor. Then I got to thinking...WHAT IS MY PASSION? I am not sure I really have one, and I am bound and determined to find it...even if it is the last thing I do...but lets be honest, I sure hope it is not the last thing I do. That would sure be the pits if I finally find it...then I kill over.

Sure I like all sorts of things... I like to interact with people, I like kids. I like fashion, I like movies, I like fitness and nutrition, I like to write as well as read. I like to be creative and artsy...but do I really LOVE these things??? I need to figure that out.

I also need a change, because I am not feeling passionate about any particular thing I am doing right now. In order for change to happen...I must do something to make the changes. Maybe a job change or a change of scenery...just something has gotta change.

Hopefully on this quest to finding my PASSION I find myself...but shouldn't I have already found myself...I am 26?! I guess I will some how figure it out. I did come up with a great analogy earlier about the state I am in. I love analogies!

Basically I need a door to open for me, because I am just hanging out in this hallway that has gotten pretty dark, with all the doors shut. I find myself too scared to push open any door myself to find out what is on the other side. Now I am becoming to realize that anything is better then a dark hallway...I get nowhere in a dark hallway...

Now I just need to be brave enough to start knocking at or even pushing some doors open.

BLOG INSANE...

Not sure if it was from watching Julie & Julia so close to hittin the sack...but i have decided I am a bit BLOG insane! I wonder if that will one day be classified as a psychological disorder in the next addition of the DSM (V) ...hmmm just a thought.

Hold the phone…back on track...BLOG Insane. I could not fall asleep last night because I kept thinking of an array of BLOG topics. I am nuts!!! I kept tossing and turning...thinking what I would share next.

Finally...I turned on my desk lamp and grabbed a trusty pencil and my mini comp notebook...and wrote away. I came up with quite the list. After writing them down...I was able to fall quickly asleep.

SO ODD!!! Not sure if I will share all those random BLOG topics...since who knows what my half asleep brain can produce...I would be scared if I were you...they probably are not the most appropriate or sane ideas. I will weed through the list I am sure.

Who knew...a BLOG could drive a woman who prizes her sleep beyond most possessions valued on the earth, to giving up her own sleep.

LOVE IT HATE IT I WILL GET OVER IT!!!

Summer...Please don't Go...

Can I please in live in a land where SUMMER graces my presence all year round??? SUMMER and me just go together. September 1st hit yesterday...RUDE awakening...21 days left of SUMMER. For all you SUMMER lovers...this may bring a tear to your eye, and for all you SUMMER haters... well I have nothing to say to you.

SUMMER is great because of...sunlight, long days, warm SUMMER nights, being outside, swimming, hiking, camping, BBQ's, flip flops, less layers, 4th of July, snow cones, sunbathing, running, fresh veggies and fruit stands, running through sprinklers, parades, fireflies, smell of sun block, LAGOON, road trips, yard sales, lemonade stands, picnics, and the list goes on and on.... AHHHH

I guess instead of dwelling on the little SUMMER I have left...I should be grateful, enjoy, and look forward to counting down the days, weeks and months until June 21, 2010!
There is light (SUMMER) at the end of the tunnel (the rest of the year)...

Are you ACTIVE....

Car accidents...they happen to me!!! I was in one last week. Not fun at all. No broken bones...just bruised up pretty bad. Actually I have a temporary built in seat belt (bruise) across my body. Thank goodness for seatbelts...even if they do a bit of damage. At least I am not broken.

Car accidents...make ya Crazy! I went into panic mode...the paramedics (who i kept referring to as pediatrics as well as periandrics...huh?) were trying to ask me questions and I went on a swearing spree. Weird! Then I started crying because I had sworn so much. (Crazy). I went to the other cars...and kept apologizing, and would start crying again. They were great...I was not! (Crazy)
Car accidents...make you say Looney things (or maybe it was the drugs). I was very ok with sharing intimate details of my life with my supervisor (who so kindly sat with through this whole ordeal) (Looney). The heart doc came into my room to perform an EKG on me. They have to place those sticky circles across your chest. Lets just say that was the most action I have ever gotten. Well he had to stick one quite close to an intimate area. When taking them off he ripped that one off quite fiercely..."Hey, could I get my nipple back?!", I replied. (Looney)
They wanted to make sure that I was not broken and ran all sorts of tests...Which means the hospital staff persistently asks... are you pregnant? NO! Is there any possibility that you could be? NO! They have to! So I was getting used to answering these questions. My last test, a MRI...I was asked those same questions followed by "are you active...?" I replied with a firm YES! Not seeing this as a problem, she asks me to do a pregnancy test. I asked her, whatever for? Then it clicked and I said to her "oh, NO, I am not SEXUALLY active... I thought you meant active as if you can move around!" (Looney) Ooops… I blame it on the drugs!!!
Ok maybe I am Crazy and Looney already…but if anything, car accidents and the drugs to ease the pain … are nice reminders!!!!
Drive Safe and Buckle Up!

There is still HOPE for you...

I was at a wedding reception recently, chatting away, gettin my groove on, ya know doin my thang... and this lady (who shall not be named)...came up behind me and gave me this awkward side shoulder hug and said "See, Amber, there is still HOPE for YOU..." Bahahaha. Yep she surely did say that. Loved it! I looked at her with my quizzical, bewildered eyes...and said "Hope...whatever for?" She then proceeded to go on about the whole marriage thing. blah blah blah. I told her I was not too worried about. Which to be honest, I am not. Ya sure, I wouldn’t mind getting married as much as the next chick (ok maybe not that much), but it will happen when it happens. She was dumbstruck that I was NOT worried. "You are not worried...well I am!?!" , she said. Bahahaha, for the second time. Geesh I am 26... Get ova it lady!

Receptions... gotta luv um, family...gotta luv um too!!!
While I am not worried... I will continue to get my groove on, and do my thang...no use wasting time worrying. Life is too short, and continues to get shorter...

Zupas...It's about time!!!

My First encounter with ZUPAS occurred this week. If you are a fan of ZUPAS...you may be thinking...where has this chick been living...a cave?! Well I feel like I have, after indulging my taste buds in the amazing sensations of ZUPAS! I can now never go back to life before ZUPAS. I have been told time and time again that I need to eat at Zupas. Ya ya...I know. But never really got a round to it. They are not in the most convenient of locations. But after trying out ZUPAS...any location is convenient. I ate there for the first time on Tuesday, and then on Friday. But the 2 days between I continued to brainstorm how I could get there for a quick bite to eat. Who knew you could be completely obsessed with an eating establishment? I now know that you can... I can!!! I first treated my palette to the pina-colada salad and Hawaiian chicken BBQ panini. WOW! A tropical paradise on my tongue!
I am in no way trying to advertise for ZUPAS...I am advertising the fact that we should never fear trying something new and to venture out of our boxes. There are a world of experiences to discover...even if it is just that food joint you have never tried, down the street...get out there and experience! ZUPAS!!!