Oh-na-ni!!!!

Aloha! Zona and I are laying poolside, drinking Mai Tais, watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. We just lay here with smiles on our face without a care in the world. We just looked at each other and said "I could not be happier now." New Year's is almost upon us. Our plans include watching the fireworks explode off-shore and in the street, then dancing the night away at a club. For the first time in my life, I am not embarassed to not be a tourista and don't care about walking into a restraunt wearing a sarong, and ordering some fru-fru drink like a pina colada. Poor saps at the pool think we are staying at the hotel and are bringing us fresh towels - ha!!! So, the sights I've seen...well, let's start with the massive third nipple on a middle-aged Japanese man, followed closely by a white-thonged, sunburned middle-aged man I am assuming is German (who else would do such a thing, seriously). The sun is low on the horizon and the palm trees are swaying in the breeze...hey, I just realized there are no seagulls here. Tonight, our last meal of 2005 will be kaiten sushi, which is sushi that goes around on a convayer belt and you pick what you like. Based on the color of the rim of the plate is how much you pay per plate. Yum-o. Ooooh, so I have to write about an architectual masterpiece that Zona and I saw just this morning. No, it is not the royal palace. No no, something much more significant. Sit down for this one. A Denny's with a tiled Chinese-style roof. Denny's people. We are not talking something Asian or Polyponisan here. A f*cking Denny's. It's not like we are in Chinatown, just some regular street in Waikiki. Oh, and who eats at Denny's on Waikiki? Seriously. So Zona and I have figured something out. We have been laying by the pool here, drinking, laughing, reading, etc. They are bringing us fresh towels, there is a shower and a restroom at our disposal. Zona is charging her cell phone, I-pod and computer as I write this...the tempature is moderate to warm. Why are we paying for a hostel? The beach is literally across the street. We could be out all night, then sleep by the pool or on the beach during the day...maybe next time. Soon, we will be kissed by some random guys to ring in the New Year...may you all have a fabulous night and beginning to 2006. Happy New Year to all.

Hawaii five-o

Yay! Zona & Ems are finally in Hawaii! Woo-hoo! Some major shopping has been accomplished this fine morning in the lovely town of Waikiki. We wanted to get it out of the way. And, a girl does need a cute cover on the beach. The beach eludes us, but it is only 12:30 Hawaiian time so there is plenty of opportunity. The hostel is 1 and a half blocks from Waikiki beach. The air is thick and heavy with humidity, although I don't feel the least bit stiffled. I was hoping when I walked off the plane, I would smell something like plumeria or freesia, but alas, it was a nice combination of diesel smoke and airplane. I hoped when I walked out of baggage claim, these lovely tropical scents would waft themselves in my general direction. Nope. Just the smoking section. Damn Smokers!!!! Maybe Maui will give me this tropical flower exerience. After arriving at the hostel, we discovered someone screwed up our reservation so Zona & I are not going to be in the same room on New Years Eve. Bastards. There has been no apology or anything. I am a bit hostile at the hostel people. At any rate, our room for now is nice and the girls are funny. We had fabulous and cheap sushi for dinner, washed down with a draft of Kiran followed by a restlest sleep on the top bunk of a rickety bunk bed. Tonight, we are doing Japanese style kareoke (Japanese is the second language of Hawaii, in case you were un-aware). Zona is excited. I don't know what I am in for. Apparently you get your own room to sing and goof off in...Tomorrow, we are going to hike Diamond Head, then finishing up shopping and lounge some more on the beach. What the night holds in store for us is unknown. In case you were wondering, my cold is still around, but not nearly as bad. The fish will be disappointed.

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! Caution: Rant to Follow

I just want to go. I am sick of dealing with all the things that I have to deal with. Pay attention. A signing appointment is here. Guess what that means. The clients expect to sign paperwork. Do you think we need to print it? Why do you have to bring in your pay stubs when you are salaried? That is a good question to ASK your CONGRESSPERSON, not me; I didn’t make the rules so stop trying to argue. Do you think I want to collect this stuff just for fun or to be difficult? I don’t care if you don’t keep meticulous records, let alone basic things like oh, bank statements. Not my problem. And you know who else doesn’t care? The US Trustee’s office, the Bankruptcy court and your creditors. You got yourself into this mess, and I am trying to help you get out of it so a little patience would be in order on your part. Did I mention that I am going on an island paradise vacation with my dear dear friend in less than 48 hours and have not started to pack, clean, create the oh-so-necessary memo for the office to follow-up on while I am frolicking on the sandy beaches of Hawaii. I forgot to mention my 2 biggest fears, didn’t I? First fear: I will come back and not have a job – be given a permanent vacation, should I so desire to make it so. At that point, I think I would try the “career blend” at my neighborhood Charbucks. I hear I could get benes with only 20 hours a week of work. The second fear is based on the first not happening – let’s assume I am still gainfully employed. So I come back and NOTHING has been crossed off on my memo of necessary follow up. Yup, so I get to pick up where I left off, with angry clients because no one has returned their call and yadda yadda yadda for almost 2 weeks. Sometimes I feel a bit dumped on. Isn’t it interesting that my 2 big work fears are based on my being unimportant/not necessary? Did I mention that I am not feeling hot, fighting a cold (it should be on the downswing since I was wicked ill on the Eve of Christmas). Let me tell you what is NOT HOT: a chick in a bikini having to blow her red nose every other breath. Or better yet, doing the grody snort of snot/hack it out. YUK. But I hear fish love that crap. Hmmmm. Sick.

Post Birthday Buzz

So I have officially had one of the best birthdays of my life. 27 years...wow. I can't really tell you what I have accomplished, but does that really matter?? All I really care about is that I surround myself with people who make me a better person and affirm and love me! I think I have done that and, well, hope all my friends and family can say the same about me. I don't know what this year holds for me...law school...new job as a policy researcher...I do know one thing though: I will be starting it the best way I possibly can - in Hawaii with my dear friend on Waikiki beach...ahhh...I feel joy and what more could a girl possibly want?