Lame

I've been reading Katelyn's China blog and I feel like my blog is now totally lame. I really want to visit her sometime this fall.

I was able to get a voucher for our flight to Molokai minus $20 each which I considered a real victory. The Molokai trail is supposed to be open again by May1st, but I'm not booking it again until we are sure its open. Construction usually takes longer than original predicted around here....for example...The shopping, restaurants, and mini mart they are building outside our apt complex was supposed to be open fall of 09. It is now the end of April and we have had two places open so far. The ice cream opened and the Hawaiian BBQ opened.

We haven't been to the ice cream yet....its $3.50 for a scoop (not big scoop) and I'm having a hard time accepting that. We stopped at the Hawaiian BBQ place (run by a Chinese family) last week. Hawaiian BBQ is not what mainlanders consider BBQ so don't get excited. They have local plate lunch type dishes. This is a meat item (usually fried or very fatty meat) with two scoops rice and macoroni salad. Brian tried to order the healthiest item on the menu chicken stir fry. He paid an extra $2 so he could have brown rice and lettuce salad instead of white rice and mac salad. Until this day we did not realize how bad someone could mess up stir fry. The chicken was too authetically chinese...chicken parts that were fatty and sinuey. The veggies were barely cooked (Brian even likes his stir fry veggies with some crisp to it still). And the rice was like mushy oatmeal. I didn't even know you could mess up rice like that...especially if you are Chinese. I, on the other hand, chose wisely...cheeseburger and fries. Nothing too exciting, but it hit the spot and I didn't have to drive to get it. Of course my fast food type burger and fries were $7, but I can still see myself on occation getting it. In the future I will try their Mahi Mahi plate (fried fish, rice, mac salad) because I think its hard to mess up fried fish...we will see.

I went back to the outlet stores the other day and hit up the Banana republic store. Now my jeans were on super sale! I got one pair for $25, and another for $8. Also, I found a white blouse for $13. Then I broke down and bought a beautiful strapless linen dress with embroidery. The dress has boning in it so it has a great shape and has a sweetheart cut in front (very flattering). This dress was not on sale much, but when I wore it to Roy's (restaurant) last night, I caught some people looking at it so I know it was worth it. Brian loves it too, but he likes a lot of things I wear.

Its all downhill from here...

Well, I realized its all downhill from here. I've peaked at 32. Three events happened that may never happen again.

First, yesterday, I tried in a bridge on a patient that spans 4 teeth and it fit perfect! No adjusting. This is unheard of. I've had it happen once before with a crown, but a bridge that covers 4 teeth?! This is a dentists dream.

Then, today we went on a hike to Kaena Point. It was nice 65-70 degrees and very breezy. Downright windy....Its a dirt road that has eroded to where you can't get down it all the way. The road/rail used to connect the north shore with the west side. Its a 5 mile hike to the point and back. It is a great trail to go on because there isn't really any change in elevation and easy walk along the road. Just a couple places where you have to hike up the hill where the road washed out. I think Uncle Gary would love to go there with us.


The area at the point is considered sacred to Hawaiians as it is the place where the soul jumps from when you die. In addition, the point also is a sort of nature reserve and is where Albatross and other birds and Hawaiian Monk Seals rest. There are only 1200 Hawaiian Monk seals left and only about 100 of them live around the inhabitted hawaiian islands. They are the only marine animal to only live in one place. And we saw three of them! Two were resting on the sand and one was off on the rocks. It was so cool!


Also, we saw a baby albatross. We were walking along the marked area and I looked down and saw this furry thing. It looked like a brown furry bear all curled up...until it stuck its head up and we saw it was a bird. I was sure a big mama bird was going to swoop down on us.

Now, the third miracle. After our hike, we went to the outlet mall (after a nap). We stopped at the Banana Republic outlet for Brian to pick out shirts. I was looking at jeans (in celebration of the low 70s these past two weeks), I grabbed a stack because as all us ladies know you have to try on about 10 pairs of jeans to find one that you like. I tried on those jeans and every single one fit me like a glove. It was crazy! They were all on sale for $40 or less. But I had to be practical since jeans season is short. I just bought one pair (until I sneak back without Brian and get one more pair- ha ha ha).

Just talked to Katelyn on Skype, she's doing great! Cold though, apparently in China they turn off the heat for everyone on April 1st. But she is having the adventure of a lifetime!


This was the latest pillow I made for my dental assistant, DeDe.

Total Bummer!

I am SOOOO disappointed! There was a mudslide on Molokai and they canceled all hikes and mule rides. Background story....

We had a tour booked with Damien tours for next friday. Its one of my Hawaiian adventure dreams. Its expensive, but it is awesome! Our flights were $300 total to get to the island and then the tour is $175 each. We were going to fly to the island at 7:30am, tour at 9am, return that night to go to work the next day. The tour takes you down the side of a mountain (26 switchbacks) on a mule, elevation of 1800 ft each way to the Hansen's disease colony. You get a tour of the area...Father Damien's church, etc. The views are supposed to be spectacular! Now, there is damage to the trail and everything is cancelled. Our tour money will be refunded, but I'm working on the flight.

We could still go, but Molokai is 20 miles by 6 miles and there isn't a lot to do other than the tour. We will look into what kind of adventure can happen if we rent a car and drive around. The trail may take over a month to repair....

To console ourselves, we are going on the Keana Point hike today. A hike to the end of the island after the road ends on the west coast. We've been wanting to do this for awhile, but its always too hot. There is no shade there. Its about 5 miles round trip with no real elevation gain.

By the way, obviously, since I am typing again...my thumb is much better!

Kitchen disasters continue...

This will be short because I'm typing with one hand. I was cutting kale last night and took off the tip of my left thumb. I can't get stitches because there is nothing to stitch too. Its not too deep, just a bit below the attached part of my nail, but I cant look at it, its gross. I didn't go to work today due to needing those pesky opposable thumbs. We just changed the bandaging and it really painful. I'm back to icing. Ironically....Erin did the same thing this week on her pointer finger.....we obviosly get this from mom. I'll keep you updated..