Hawaii: Week Three

The truth of the matter is that I'm TERRIFIED of the ocean. It has nothing to do with swimming and everything to do with not being able to see what's in the water. But then, I'm just as scared when I'm snorkeling and CAN see under the water. I'm still debating in my head which is worse: not knowing something creepy is next to me under the water or knowing that I'm swimming with something creepy. Whenever Wyatt and I go snorkeling I'm practically on top of him the entire time we're in the water. He reminds me that he likes his space while he swims...

I guess my fear has slowly crept into my dreams because I dreamt that Wyatt had been eaten by a shark. In my dream he knew there was a shark in the water and deliberately got in despite my pleas and chomp, chomp he was gone. After I awoke from my dream I woke Wyatt with a punch in the arm and made him promise he would not go into the water if he knew there was a shark present. Well, yesterday we were snorkeling with a friend (who lives in Hawaii) and managed to swim FAR AWAY from the shore and into the middle of the ocean. And then my friend announces, "I've never snorkeled this far out before." I was certain my dream the night before was about to come true... so I suggested we return to the beach. And then I swam my little legs as fast as they would carry me to land. I bet you thought I was going to say there was a shark? Nope. I was just scared is all. This is probably why I will never be a surfer. Oh and the fact that I probably wouldn't be very good at it.

We have two-weeks remaining and I am digging my heels in the dirt trying to make time slow down. I am not ready to go home. If we didn't have to return for Wyatt to start school I might consider setting up camp here for another couple months... or even years.

Thanks for all the book recommendations. Unfortunately we couldn't make it to a real bookstore and I had to settle on what I could find at WalMart and the thrift store. So I picked up 'To Kill a Mocking Bird', 'The Informant', and 'Neither Here nor There'. I am planning on picking-up 'The Help' when I get home (since I had so many recommendations for it) - or maybe my momma will send me her copy? Mom? I'm halfway through To Kill a Mocking Bird. I don't think I gave this book as much credit as it deserved while I was in high-school. I am really enjoying it and am in love with Scout (and her name) and Atticus.

Oh, and they're filming Pirates of the Caribbean FOUR just up the road. Does anyone else think it's ridiculous they're milking that series? I really liked the first one and personally feel like it went downhill from there. They're being real hush-hush about the set so I don't know if Johny Depp is within proximity. I hope so.

And now pictures:

Laie Temple at Night

cheif of the Samoan village at the PCC - note his GIANT calves!

Laie Temple during the day (closed for construction until November 21st - sad day

giant flower - little head

something we do frequently... wait for the bus

our PCC uniforms

amazing sunset!

Hawaii: Week Two

I think this pictures sums up my feelings on Hawaii pretty well

So... our camera broke. It was such a silly way that it broke too. Both Wyatt and I are kicking ourselves for being so careless. We bought a small water-proof-pocket-thingy that holds our bus passes, credit cards, cash, and camera all while not getting them wet. Well, we got a little too brave and started taking pictures of ourselves in the water (might as well since we had our camera in the water (in the water-proof-thingy) anyway) and next thing we know an unexpected wave comes in and submerges our camera under water. And now it doesn't work. Sad. It's beyond me how Wyatt's Bluetooth headset can withstand an entire wash cycle in the washing machine but our camera can't handle a little (maybe a lot?) of water. As a result we spent nearly the entire day yesterday making the trek to the nearest Costco for a new camera... only to find out they no longer sell the one we wanted to buy (a waterproof Fuji). BUST!

As a side note, the bus has been GREAT for getting around Laie, especially up to the North Shore. It has not been so great to get to any "big" town - any with WalMart and Costco. We spent all last Tuesday getting to and from WalMart - only to find out that it wasn't a super center and the prices weren't any better than the ones in Laie. And of course yesterday was a waste of time since we left without a camera. I talk as if we are short on time... Still, who wants to spend unnecessary amount of hours on a bus when they could be playing at the beach?

Plan B was to buy one on Amazon but after we made the purchase it said it wouldn't ship until next Monday. And then it would take another five or so days to get here. No good. So we canceled the order and found one on (just like ours) Craigslist for $45. I like this option the best. The downside... it's located in Honolulu. Which means another ALL-DAY trip on the bus. I am really hoping the needs to come up to the North Shore for some reason and can meet us somewhere up here. Otherwise, we're going to have to take our fancy camera with us to the beach. And that means we won't be able to leave our stuff unsupervised on the beach.

That has been the news of the week. Everything else is status quo - beaching it nearly every day. Oh, we did finish-up orientation for volunteering at the PCC. Our official first day was last night. We're helping out in the dining area for the nightly buffet. Wyatt and I both have mixed feelings about our experience. I will comment more on this later when I have had more opportunities to evaluate what we're doing exactly.

In other conversation, I am HAPPY to say that I have read TWO books and am in the middle of my third! I have MISSED reading and am thrilled that I finally have all the time in the world to do so. Maybe I have my priorities listed differently than most but while I was working full-time I just couldn't seem the time to sit down and read a book. I finally had to use an alternative method to get the job done and listen to books on CD while driving in my car. Which is quite enjoyable but still not the same as actually reading a book. The last book I read was in Costa Rica - "Remember Me" by Sophie Kinsella (which was a fun light-read book).

Last week I finished "Cold Sassy Tree" and I polished off "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" in two days (the book I was supposed to read with my book club last year but it wasn't available on CD). Now I'm in the midst of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" one I've read before and LOVE.

If you're at all interested, here are my book reports:

Cold Sassy Tree - I knew nothing about this book when I started reading it. My friend Jen (marathon Jen) loaned it to me when I told her I was in need of something to read while in Hawaii. I really truly enjoyed myself the entire time I read it. It takes place in Georgia during the early 1900's and I think it paints the perfect portrait of what it must've been like to live in that part of the country during that era. The story is told by a 14-year-old boy, Will Tweedy, and I just loved hearing things told from his perspective. Especially his constant dwelling on kissing! It's a good story about family, life and death. If you're looking for a good story you won't be disappointed with this one.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Creatively written, this story is told through letters. It takes place in England (London and Guernsey Island) post-WWII. About a young author and her correspondence with the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Light-hearted in many ways it did a great job touching upon the affects of war, as well as life during war. My only grip, I kind of feel like the authors felt like they needed to wrap up the book and that the ending was a bit rushed. Even so, I enjoyed the book. Another recommendation from me to you.

I only packed three books with me and seeing that I'm half-way threw my third book I need some recommendations on what to read next. Hoping that I can find a book store close to Laie so that I don't need to spend another entire day on the bus to find a good read. Please let me know if you have something you liked and think I would like too. I have three more weeks and will need something to entertain me while at the beach... and on the bus.

More pictures to enjoy: