08/31/2009 Hawaiian Vacation

The day after we went to Pearl Harbor, we decided it was time to relax and enjoy the sun. So, we went to the beach.

Before we made it to the beach, Veronica gave a tour of Oahu. The tour was really unintentional,we were not lost. She wanted to take us to a nice beach on the West side of the island called Waimanalo. From Honolulu to the west side of the island requires a short drive through the beautiful lush mountains of Oahu. Trust me when I say they were big mountains. As we drove through the mountain it began to rain on us, but only for a short time. When you come out the other side of the mountain you see fantastic beaches and sunny skies. During our drive we took a few pictures of the scenery.
When we got to the beach on the west side of the island, we noticed the warning flag was purple. We asked the lifeguard, who told us that there were Man o' War jellyfish in the water. That's all he had to say to me, and I knew I was not swimming here. He then told us we might get stung but that the jellyfish were on the surface of the water, so we would be able to see them. I think he thought by telling us that we could see them, we would stay and swim. From the beach we could see the jellyfish, and therefore we asked where he thought would be a better place to swim. He sent us to the calm waters of the North Shore. He added that they were having sick swells that day. I was excited...surfers!!

We jumped in the car and proceeded to drive from the Southwest side of the island to the North shore. The lifeguard was nice enough to suggest Waimea Bay, which is a very nice and semi calm beach. To get to the North Shore we drove by the Dole Plantation, tons of fields of pineapples...yum, Coffee bean fields, and rows and rows of cars watching the surfers. Waimea Bay is the perfect spot to relax and the waters were nice and cool. We stayed on the beach for several hours working on a good tan.

The North Shore
Waves
More Waves wishing I had my nice camera
Michael and Veronica swimming

After awhile we decided it was time to go get some lunch. We went into the village of Waimea to grab some lunch at a local place. We ate in this little shopping center that also had tons of stores. Once our bellies were full, we walked around to all the little stores. Veronica bought her first baby outfit here and was so excited. While walking around we found the best little coffee shop and Michael ordered a Cappuccino Freeze with two shots of espresso. I loved this place because they had a Mocha Freeze, which was exactly like a Mocha Shake at Sweet Bay in Fort Smith. Needless to say Michael was a little wired for our drive back to Honolulu.

Me and Veronica-meant for little kids

As evening came we decided to go down to Waikiki for some dinner. We ate at this great place on the beach called Duke's. The sunset, the dinner, and the conversation was the best. We definitely did not want our evening to end. Here are some of the sunset pictures from our dinner spot.

Diamond Head behind us
Diamond Head
Tons of people watching the sunset

Day 1-2 Hawaii

Michael and I left Saturday afternoon to head for Hawaii. It was a very long day. It began at 2:00 Chicago time and ended at 7:40 Hawaii time. Hawaii is 5 hours ahead of the Central time zone and therefore it was very late in our minds. Once we landed my friend Veronica met us at the airport and provided us with the traditional Hawaiian lei. She then took us to Hickman Air Force base and we got to see their new house. As soon as we arrived I was ready for bed. After the long day of traveling I was exhausted, but Michael wanted to stay up to ensure he got on Hawaii time.

Our first real day of Hawaii life was very long but very fun. We woke up at 6:30AM to the trumpet that plays daily at 6:30AM on the Air Force base. Veronica and I cooked eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast. It was a well needed big meal for our big day.

As soon as breakfast was over we all got showered and headed to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. We were a little concerned it might be really busy and that we might not get to see the Arizona Memorial, but lucky for us, it is the end of the tourist season and it was Sunday. We were able to get tickets to the next available Arizona viewing.

I don't know how to describe the Arizona Memorial. The first thing they have you do is watch a short documentary about what lead to that day December 7, 1941. It was a very somber video, it had shots of the actual day and it showed the Arizona actually being bombed. Once the video is over they take you on a short boat ride over to the actual ship that now sits at the bottom of the harbor. We got off the boat and enter into the Arizona Memorial, which first opened on April 4, 1984. The USS Arizona is very visible at the bottom and it still is leaking oil. I thought the oil was very interesting since the ship actually sank over 60 years ago. We then took the same boat back to land decided to go check out the USS Missouri, which is the last battleship ever made.

I recommend to anyone who is planning a trip to Honolulu to take the time and go see the Arizona, which is free, and to spend the money for an extended guided tour of the Missouri. Veronica, Shane, Michael, and I had a guided tour of the Missouri and it was the best $40 tour I have ever been on. Our guide, Jim, is a history teacher who does guided tours two days a week. He took us through parts of the ship that only the extended guided tour can go. I think the most interesting part of the entire tour was how steep the ladders were between floors and how short someone would have to be to get around without getting a concussion. I enjoyed learning all the interesting facts about the ship. It was crazy to know we were in a place that famous people have filmed movies like Pearl Harbor and a President has eaten dinner with sailors. Harry S. Truman was the president who was on the Missouri during his term and they used the ship to film a very short portion of the movie Pearl Harbor.

After the ship, which took all of the morning and part of the afternoon, we decided to head back to the house and go check out one of the beaches on base. Veronica and Shane took us to this beach that we could walk out several hundred yards and the water never came above our knees. It was so cool. We hung out there for a little while until we realized we all needed a nap. We all took a short nap before heading to downtown for dinner. We ate right on the water and watched the cargo ships come into the harbor. After dinner we went back to the beach, took the dogs, and watched the sunset. The dogs had a blast, it is the perfect area for dogs to run through the water and chase birds.

I don't know what tomorrow will hold for us, but I am sure we will be spending some time on the beach and enjoying the sun.

The Traditional Hawaiian lei

USS Arizona Memorial
Michael and I at the Arizona
USS Missouri
The group on Big Mo

Last few weeks

Michael and I have been very busy lately. We have had a ton of fun activities. Friday, August 14th my office had a Day at the Races. The entire office and spouses are invited to attend each year. We had a lot of fun and we even won some money...or I should say I won some money, then Michael lost my money.
The weekend of August 14 was the Chicago Air and Water Show. Michael and I went on Saturday and it was a perfect day to watch the show. We had great sunshine and few clouds.
Michael wanted to setup on the beach near Ohio Street. I have never seen Lake Michigan beaches so busy since I have lived here. We went and sat on some steps right next to the busy beach.
Last weekend Michael and I went to the annual SEC Flag Football tournament. We had more fun this year than I believe we have had in the past two years combined. Arkansas won the first match against Florida. GO HOGS!! Then we had to go play LSU. BOOOO!!! We lost to LSU, but it was a good game. Everyone played hard and had fun.

Action Shot playing LSU
Here's a team photo
Our cheerleader, Karl
Michael and I after the game
Everyone loves the HOGS!!

After football, we had our annual bar after party. This year it was at a small place in Wrigleyville called Houndstooth. That's when the real party got started. They had drink specials, which just got everyone a little looser for flippy cup and dancing. Lucky for me I stayed sober and got tons of great pictures. The pictures below just sum up the evening.

Arkansas Alumni Chicago Club

Friday evening, Michael and I went back into the city for a fun filled adventure. We belong to the Arkansas Alumni group here in Chicago and we love to get together with everyone. So, when they annouced we were going to do a bike hike through the city together we couldn't stay away.

Bobby's Bike Hike, which is owned by a fellow Arkansan, ran the tour. The tour start around 7:00 in the evening. This evening was particularly was cold and it really wanted to rain. We rode for three hours and was about 8 miles. Who knew that in Chicago in July one would need to wear long sleeves and pants, we had a ton of fun.

The best part of the entire trip was seeing the city from a different view. Riding along Lake Shore Drive, through the middle of downtown, and then Millennium Park at night was awesome.

After the tour we all went to dinner at a little corner place to celebrate Jeremy's birthday. Below are some of the fun pictures. I recommend to anyone who wants to see the city of Chicago to look up Bobby's Bike Hike next time they are in town.

Bekah & I sporting the helmet
City view
Biking in July

Michael and I at Buckingham Fountain
Arkansas Alumni Chicago Club

Elton John & Billy Joel

You definitely read the title correct.

Last night Elton John and Billy Joel graced Chicago with their music and presence. Michael got us tickets to watch the two legends perform live at Wrigley Field. They were awesome to watch. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the two of them perform together on stage.

The concert started with both on stage in dueling piano style. Then Elton John took the stage and performed for almost an hour and a half solo. Billy Joel and his crew of New Englanders and one Australian, who I believe on the weekends works in Las Vegas for Thunder Down Under, were up next. Billy Joel made a lot of jokes and played tons of music. After Billy Joel was done performing solo, Elton John joined him back on the stage for another 45 minutes of dueling pianos and great music. It was four hours and one of the best and most memorable concerts I have ever been to. Michael and I enjoyed every minute.

Special thanks to Jen at Michael's office who let him in on the fact that tickets were going on sale.

Billy Joel performing with Elton JohnMore Billy
He was loving it.
Love Elton's hair
Elton's hands...
Jamming to the music
They were great!

Florida

July 2nd, I flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My friend, Megan, recently made West Palm Beach her new home. I went down there to help her get settled and of course to enjoy the warm weather, the sun, and maybe the beach. I spent 10 days in an apartment with no furniture or TV. Yikes!

I am getting ahead of myself. The day I was flying out started the week badly. My flight was three hours delayed. Should have known something then. By the time I arrived in Fort Lauderdale it was almost 1:00AM. As soon as Megan picked me up at the airport we drove 40 minutes to a hotel in West Palm Beach. So tired we were knocked out. The next day we went to Megan's new apartment, which is in a high rise next to the intercoastal. When we walked into Megan's apartment it was covered in dirt and a film of tile dust. The smoke alarm was also beeping at us. Priority one, make the alarm stop beeping or we might not be sleeping in the apartment. If it hadn't been for the 20 foot ceilings and the alarm being on the wall next to the ceiling, we might have been able to handle that task alone. We went and got help and then went to Wal-Mart for cleaning supplies.

Once back with new batteries and cleaning supplies, the security guard came up to try and help the problem. Well apparently a new battery doesn't help much so the smoke alarm ended up not being reconnected. So, Megan and I start cleaning the apartment at the same time as washing sheets to sleep on that evening (on an air mattress). Not too long later Megan and I begin to hear water, but it sounded like the water was hitting tile. Sure enough the washer was leaking. We immediately call for help and the security guard comes upstairs and turns off the water, but not before we learned that the sink and refrigerator were also leaking water. So fun.

This basically sums up the never ending problems this apartment has brought. I did find some time, while also working remotely for my job, to lay out in the sun. Megan and I met some really nice people in her building. I think she will be in good hands.

Beautiful Sunset
View from Megan's Apartment
One of the weekends
It stormed everyday
This storm brought lots of lightning
New friends

Engagement

Seems like it has been forever since I haven't posted anything, oh wait it has.

Since my last post I have been very busy. Michael and I received our engagement pictures, which we were very pleased to see. Striegler Photography is the one who took the photos. Michael and Bryan are friends from college and he takes wonderful pictures.

We spent two hours with Bryan and his wife Ashley taking pictures around the University of Arkansas campus. It was a lot of fun and we got 191 great pictures. It is very hard to go through them now and pick the best. Our favorite includes about 40 of the pictures. I decided to only place a few of those on here for your entertainment.