from our porch

On Maui this was a daily sight. Here it is a special event. I've seen two this week! Must be luck coming my way! Or maybe that is the luck!

Give me one moment in time..

Raph almost fell off his chair laughing last night at our school's National Honor Society Induction. I almost had to make him leave.

The students hid in the back of the room. All the lights were dimmed. Whitney Houston's voice bellowed out of the speakers..."When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me..." The students proceeded down the aisle in twos bearing lit candles with the paper plates around them. They split into their assigned seats and one by one blew out the candles as Whitney inspired the mood.

All Raph could think of was the helping hands club in Napoleon Dynamite. I think we should all take a minute to celebrate the silly drama of high school and enjoy the fact that we can laugh about it.

John and Gwen 4-18-07

A long time in the making, this was a very fun wedding. Fun to photograph because it was so damn beautiful. Good friends, good weather, good times. What more could you ask for?

superbowl of hula

This week was the Merrie Monarch festival, which is pretty much the superbowl of hula. We didn't get it together enough to go to one of the competitions (they sell out), but we went to the parade. Highlights included a local school's marching ukulele band, a decorated street sweeper, a nice volcano float, and the groups of fancy horses that dropped gifts in the road for us. It was fun, hot, and exhausting.

An update

I'm 30 weeks (a little less in this picture which doesn't seem like me). 10 more weeks to go, unless this little guy is early, which he and I have been discussing, since that would help our travel plans. No pressure though. Our doctor's appointment double now to every two weeks instead of every month, which is sort of a bummer since every time I go in there they piss me off. This week when I went in, I wasn't on their appointment list. The nurse said "Are you sure you have an appointment today?" When I assured her that I did, she went and checked the computer and said, "Didn't you move to Maui? We have your chart packed up in a box to send to Maui." So twice the doctor stress. Maybe it will help me prepare for parenthood. Otherwise things are good, belly grows, baby kicks, I can bend over with less less comfort. In fact lots of things aren't as comfortable - sleeping, tying shoes, etc. but we're both excited.

We put in an offer on a house in Pgh, though we're trying not to get our hopes up since it's a foreclosure, the bank is taking its sweet time in replying to our offer, and we don't have any job for next year yet. But the house is really cool and cheap and if it worked out, it would be exciting. So we're waiting to hear...And madly applying for jobs.

a whole year a little late

Seems impossible that it has already been a year since our wedding. A little over a year really, but we've been busy. This weekend is our first vacation from vacation - no visitors, no traveling. just laundry and each other again and it's nice. (Not that I didn't enjoy my visitors or my travels, by the way). I feel lucky to have had this year with just Raph.

Full Circle

Cara, my Maui roommate and good friend, spent about a week with us. She was annhiliated by mosquitos, but still had a good attitude. It's nice to have friends. By the way she's standing in front Hale maumau crater on the Kilauea volcano.

Sunset on Siesta Key

Some pics from our vacation with Raph's family in Sarasota, Florida. Pretty fun. Gabrielle was the star, as is to be expected. Here is the new family and Raph's cousins Jason and Deanna who just made Sarasota home.

Garrulous Gabrielle

My newest niece. Awfully cute. And boy, she'll make conversation all day. Too bad we can't understand.

deluge II

Everyone had a crush on Patrice's six-month-old son, John. Mimi entertained many of us with commentary about gifts, and well a good time was had by me at the least.

the deluge

My friend, Shirley Crawford, once suggested instead of calling a baby shower or a wedding shower a shower, we should call it a deluge. I am lucky to have good friends and family and indeed was given a deluge of gifts. Best of all, I got to see all these people I care about.

First, our host, my childhood best friend, Laurie Giarratani. Thanks Laurie. The baby's new ugly doll. And Cara's mom oggling the baby's hand-knitted quilt from my Aunt Suzanne. I told her, I wasn't sure I was willing to share with the baby because it is so nice.

some more belly

Hope you don't mind seeing my underwear. Raph was playing with the exposure on the camera as I tried to nap. The final days before we went on vacation. I love vacation. Hip hip hooray for year-round schooling.

Pretty Julie and the Bowl Player

We've had visitors this week. My cousin Julie who lives in the Marshall Islands met her mom and step-dad here from blustery Gallupville New York. And Julie's friends came from Chicago as well... Lots of hiking, eating, some cards, laughing. Warren locked himself on the wrong side of the gate, which sent us into hysterics. Jean bought a Tibetan prayer bowl, which she plays "to heal us, bring us into harmony, or wake us up." She is getting quite good at it because it isn't as easy as it looks. And pretty Julie is happy for a hot shower.

4 pounds seems like a lot

Amazingly, at my appointment last week I had gained a grand total of four pounds. So where on earth did this big belly come from. I guess it is a case of redistribution! In any case, I am starting to get big...and the baby likes to kick.

more walk pictures

Some more pictures from my walks...the last one is my favorite - Jobe's tears.

making dinner

By the time we get home from work, there are only a few hours before dark. Without normal electricity, dark has new meaning. We rush to fit in all we like to do in daylight - walk, chores, start homework, and most importantly start dinner. While we intend to move back to the East coast to be near family, having the opportunity to spend so much time with just Raph has been pretty great. Dinner is one of my favorite times. Sometimes I cook, sometimes he cooks, but usually we share. I have always thought there is special intimacy in sharing a kitchen with someone, moving in synch to allow many parts to equal a whole. These images look empty, still, and silent, in the last few minutes of light. But I treasure them for the time I spend with Raph.

on our antennae

This little guy had made a home of the antennae on our truck when we went to exercise that car last weekend. We felt bad to wreck him beautiful home, but alas, we had places to go. Looks pretty scary doesn't he? We're kind of used to them.

daily walk

In order to stay in shape (at least moderately) I have been religiously walking a mile a day since my energy returned right after Christmas. I walk our half-mile driveway to the gate, which I hate to open and close) a path through the woods. I pass the macadamia nut trees, the jobe's tears patch, ancient Ohia (native trees), a gigantic pit crater, Albizia tree bones, and two sets of bee hives. I love it. Raph comes with me sometimes, and when he doesn't, often I stop to pick jobe's tears. I'm going to start posting some nice pictures from my walks.

mac nut farm

On my daily walk yesterday I detoured through the mac nut farm I always pass. The bees were busy with the new flowers while some forgotten nuts still hung from the trees.

Pohulu Valley Hike

One guy did tell me I'd better watch out or I'd be in labor tonight from the exertion, but it was good fun. A challengin hike for my pregnant butt, though worth it!