wally world

i love going camping. really, i do. as a kid, my parents would pack my sister and i up in the truck and take us all over the california coast. some of my favorite childhood memories include discovering out-of-the-way nature trails, getting lost on a hike to the bathroom at 3am, and waking up to the sound of waves & smell of bacon every morning. So, a few months ago, when my roommate (tracy--below with her friend erika & me) asked if I wanted to go with her on an annual camping trip scheduled for the weekend after labor day, i said yes without hesitation.

but i wasn't prepared for this. back in 1984, tracy's parents started a tradition of camping at "campland by the bay" in (mission bay) san diego. They invited a few neighbors, and called the adventure "wally world" (after a movie that came out around the same time). Fast forward 26 years, and wally world has grown to nearly 300 people. yes, you read that right. 300 (see below). parents bring their kids, kids bring their friends, and now grown-up kids bring their families to participate. i've never seen anything like it. so many people in one place, having a blast all weekend long. what an adventure!

here are some things i learned from wally world this weekend:

1. chili cook-offs are serious business. better bring your a game if you plan to participate
2. yes, your campsite is SUPPOSED to look like white trash. the more flamingo lights, plastic palm trees, and wind sockets, the better.
3. going along with #3, camping is a relative term. our neighbors had a microwave, a coffee maker, and a satellite flat screen tv!
4. don't drink the "moose juice". there's a reason why it's free to anyone who wants it. (vodka, tequila, rum, etc.....aka "recipe for a hangover")
5. you don't have to be a friend to be "part of the wally world family". people will smile and wave at you just because you're wearing a wally world shirt (yes, they have them made every year).

needless to say, this weekend was awesome. i can't wait for next year!

welcome fall!

With summer officially over after the holiday weekend, I thought I'd get back to blogging. For some reason, I suffered through a writer's block that lasted about two months. So I'll start again simply: with a list of my top 10 reasons why fall is my favorite season.

1. Back to school: there's something about the excitement of a new school year that's infectious. Maybe it's the smell of new school supplies, or the feel of a new first-day outfit. Maybe it's seeing old friends, or the idea of a fresh start. Even though I'm not in school this year (for the first time since kindergarten) I get to live vicariously through my roommate, who is a 4th grade teacher. So fun!

2. Crisp autumn air: I love the feeling of an early morning chill in the air. In southern california, the fall months are known for still being pretty warm, but that first chill is something I look forward to every fall season.

3. Sweaters: There's something about being cuddled up in a sweater that is just so comforting. After a summer of bathing suits, tube tops, dresses, and shorts I'm looking forward to being a little more covered.

4. Football: if you know me at all, I shouldn't have to explain this one.

5. Holiday decorations: Decorating for holidays is one of my favorite things. Fall decorations are fun, because they usually involve candles & pumpkins & other fun things. I love the color scheme, and I love the way that the fall points to Christmas.

6. Cinnamon & spice: Have you ever noticed how people tend to remember spices in the fall? It's like summer, winter & spring are flavorful enough on their own, but fall needs some extra spice. Well, that's ok with me. Bring on the cinnamon & nutmeg!

7. Empty beaches: I love love love it when tourists go home in the fall and I get my beach back. It's nice to go catch the waves rolling in feeling like you're the only one watching, and even better when you can run in the evening and beach bonfire smoke doesn't choke your lungs. Yay!

8. Baseball world series: Always fun to anticipate & watch. Even though the Angels aren't doing so well this year. :(

9. Pumpkin spice lattes: This goes hand in hand with #6, but the pumpkin spice latte is worthy of its own post. And I'm not talking about Starbucks either.

10. Changing leaves: I know, I know. What would a southern california born-and-bred girl know about changing leaves? After all, I live in the land of palm trees & birds of paradise. But socal does have the occasional tree that changes color. And while finding one is difficult, it's always a bit awe-inspiring when you do.

So there's my list & I hope you've enjoyed it. I'd love to hear what you love about fall as well!

deep in the heart of texas

it's been a while, friends! may was such a crazy month! i barely had time to think-- let alone blog--about my life. a lot has happened since my last post. let me break it down for you with a word and picture montage:

May 4: presented at colloquium--the last academic activity of my grad school career

May 6-10: Went on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico with some of my favorite people EVER!


May 12: my parents, sister, and grandmother trekked to waco to see me graduate

May 14: Graduation! Well, convocation really, but it worked for me


May 16: Went to my friend's house in Louisiana for a week to help her get ready for her wedding



May 18: road tripped to new orleans for the night



May 22: wedding day!

May 25: flew back to CA from Waco


It was a busy month, and June hasn't been much slower. I've hit the ground running in Huntington Beach: moving into my new house, coaching at the cabana club, and doing exciting things like getting my wisdom teeth out. But I'm "back in the saddle" so to speak, and I'll hopefully have much more time to blog now. So stay tuned!

kayaking on the brazos

One of the best things about having adventures is that I don't often realize I'm having one until it has already passed me by. I can't think of a single time I've been doing something fun and exciting, only to pause in the middle and think "this is an adventure I'll remember for a while!" No. Usually I'm so caught up in the moment I don't think to remember details or take pictures. This "in-the-moment" adventurous spirit is a good thing. Sometimes, thinking to much about the fun I'm having slows down my process, and can make something that was once fun much less so.

On the flip side, however, I think it's good to pause in the middle of an epic moment and snap a few pics every once in a while. That's what I did yesterday--in spite of the groans and complaints of my friends. You see, yesterday I did something that has been on my "List of things to do while living in Texas" for a while. I went kayaking on the Brazos River that runs right along Balyor's campus.

It was my friend Kari's idea. We tried to go for her birthday 6 months ago, but the weather had been bad and the river was running too fast. So yesterday we finally made it to the Baylor Marina, where kayak rentals are free to students. Gotta love the advantages of being a student--I'll miss that when it's gone in a few short weeks!



Two friends met us at the marina, and the four of us geared up for our Brazos kayaking debut! After picking out snazzy gray life vests and stowing our shoes, we headed out to the riverbank where four brightly-colored OceanKayak's awaited us. We grabbed our oars and pushed off into the water, with only a little help from the guy working the marina grounds.






We settled into a slow pace, paddling upstream towards the distant I-35 bridge. As we paddled, our conversation alternated between three subjects: a) squealing at how soaked we were getting b) marveling at what little progress we were making, and c) pointing out all the turtles sunbathing on branches near the banks. It was a beautiful sunny day. I haven't felt the sun much since I left Hawaii, so it was greatly appreciated on the river.

Slowly, the I-35 bridge got closer. And slowly, we started to get tired. But finally we made it all the way, and listened to the sound of cars barreling through Waco overhead. Not the prettiest sound in the world, but now I can say I've been under the highway in Waco, Texas. Because that's a great way to start a conversation. Ha.

On our way back to the marina (traveling downstream now) we decided to relax and let the current take us. We drifted by the Baylor Law school, and waved to some students sitting outside. They didn't wave back. I wonder why...... :)

As we paddled back into the marina and disembarked from our kayaks, I realized this was one of "those" adventures. The ones you'll remember for a while, but don't usually recognize at the time. So I made my friends wait at the dock and ran to get my camera from the car. They grudgingly took pictures with me, but they turned out really cute so I'm sure they'll appreciate it later.




It was a great way to spend an afternoon, and a fun way to see a different side (literally) of Waco.

transitions

I haven't blogged lately, and so much has happened since my last post. I've sat down to write several times, and somehow I just don't have the words. But I'm going to try again, so please bear with me.

The last two weeks have been a blur of luggage & hotels, goodbyes & hellos, reflection & planning. Our last full day on Lanai (April 11th) was spent with the amazing people that made our internship a success. The church threw us a luau at the beach, and it words can't describe what that meant to me. So many people we love showed up, and we got to hug everyone one last time to say goodbye.

My favorite moment was with one particular woman who we've all grown close to. She is a mother of four, an accomplished hula dancer, and absolutely beautiful in every way. When she dances, her love of God and her Hawaiian heritage shines through in her eyes. It brings me to tears. So when we showed up to the luau, she was waiting for us with homemade bougainvillea leis. She and her daughters had picked the flowers the day before, and strung them one-by-one to create a lei designed to go around a woman's head. Not only were the flowers beautiful, but they meant to much coming from her family. Below is a picture of us in the leis, with some wonderful women from the church:



Our goodbyes were bittersweet, as we said farewell to our new Lanai o'hana to return to our family and friends on the mainland. We spent two days in Oahu before returning to Texas. While we were there, Kelsey's dad treated us from afar to a dinner at "Top of Waikiki", a revolving restaurant that afforded a 360 degree view of the Honolulu skyline. Dinner was fabulous, and we loved having a good excuse to dress up!



After a looooong trip across the ocean and half the US, we arrived in Houston. We had dinner with Brooke's family, spent the night in H-town, and headed back to Waco the next day. This past week has been spent in class and hanging out with my friends every chance I get. I appreciate them so much, and have thoroughly enjoyed catching up on their lives.

So, that is my life in a nutshell. And now I come to the real reason for this post: my decision to keep this blog. I've been skeptical about blogging for years, so for me to write about my Hawaiian adventures was a big step. And now that my Hawaiian adventure is over (for now), the question remains: should the blog be over too? Blogging has been an eye-opening experience-it has helped me see my life and my everyday happenings through new eyes. And here's what I've discovered: everyday life is an adventure. Whether I'm living in Hawaii or Waco or Huntington Beach, I don't want to get bored with the time God has given me. So I've decided to keep this blog to write about my adventures in life. I hope those of you that are following will continue to do so. But regardless of if people read this bog, I'm going to write. Because when I write, I'm given fresh eyes. And sometimes fresh eyes can open up a whole new world.

alberta's farm

well, here it is April 9th, and I'm long overdue for a blog post. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind! My sister came to visit on March 25th and stayed for a week. Then I went to Maui to drop her at the airport and met up with other friends who were visiting from San Diego. After coming back from Maui last Friday night, I've been immersed in life here as we prepare to leave and say goodbye to this beautiful island. While I could write 10 blogs about the last two weeks, I'll spare you the headache and write about one of my favorite experiences.

When Katie and I first arrived on Lanai after a weekend on Maui, we went to the Blue Ginger Cafe for dinner. The Blue Ginger is the town hangout, where the community gathers to eat, have coffee, and talk story. But on this particular Sunday evening, the Blue Ginger was empty and quiet---like the rest of the island. Virtually nothing on Lanai is open on Sunday, so the town always looks abandoned.

As we sat and ate our burgers (mine a teriyaki and katie's a mahi burger--yum!), I hear footsteps behind me. I turned to see a Hawaiian woman in muddy work boots delivering a stack of Lanai Today newspapers to a shelf outside the cafe. Something in my brain clicked, and I realized this must be Alberta--a woman who I've heard several good things about but never met. Alberta owns and operates the only farm on Lanai. She grows fresh produce and does it organically, providing vegetables for an island who otherwise has to pay and arm and a leg for healthy food. She's also the editor and publisher of Lanai Today and a mover-and-shaker in the community.

I stood up and introduced myself and Katie. Recognition dawned on Alberta's face--I guess she's heard of me too. She asked us about our plans for the week, wanting us to come to the farm for a barbecue on Tuesday. Katie was ecstatic about the idea of seeing a Hawaiian farm (she'd live Alberta's life if she could, i think) and I knew Brooke and Kelsey would be up for it too. Alberta said she had just arranged for two English guys to work and live on the farm, and they had been there a couple of weeks. She wanted us all to meet. So with those things in mind, we looked forward to a visit.

Tuesday came quickly, and the four of us piled into the car to find the farm. It's right off the highway near the airport, but none of us had been, and we had to guess which gate to turn into. After some stressful moments, we turned through a white gate and down a dusty road to the farm. As we got closer, four dogs raced to meet us, barking and scaring us to death. Only when I realized that their barks were accompanied by wagging tails did I feel safe to get out of the car. But when we did, we looked around in amazement. The place was incredible! Fresh fruit, veggies, and flowers everywhere! Alberta grows it all--bananas, avocados, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, limes, lemons, cumquats (did I spell that right?), etc.



We said hello to Alberta, and she introduced us to Danny and Steve--the two new "farmhands". They seemed like really fun guys, and we all hit it off right away. Alberta sent us to get avocados, and the six of us (Brooke, Kelsey, Katie, Danny, Steve, and I) set off to discover the farm. Katie climbed a ladder to grab some avocados, and was having trouble getting them. We encouraged her (and laughed with her!) for about 10 minutes, before realizing that there were low-hanging avocados on the other side of the tree--just within our grasp on the ground!

When we got back, Alberta had chicken on the barbecue and announced that she couldn't stay. She had to be at a meeting in town that night. Without further ado, she said goodbye and rumbled off in her truck, leaving us with the boys and making me (and probably all of us) feel more than a little set-up. Ha! That Alberta is sneaky!




Even though we had just met these guys, we didn't feel awkward or out-of-place. Our evening was so much fun--the food was great and the company was even better. We spent the night drinking rum-punch, fighting off bugs, hearing stories about life in Cornwall (England), and laughing at how little we understood each other sometimes. Who knew that the Brits had so many funny words? And I'm positive the guys felt the same about Americans.



We finished the night by roasting marshmallows over the fire on bamboo sticks. The boys had never heard of s'mores, so we promptly introduced them and they loved 'em!



After a great night, we said goodbye and made plans to meet again soon. In fact, we've hung out with them already a few nights this week! What a fun experience.

let's go fly a kite--up to the highest height!

Today was "Kite Day" at Lanai Elementary School. Brooke texted Kelsey and I with an impromptu invitation to attend, so we walked over to the school at noon not knowing what to expect.

Oh, how I wish I'd had a camera! Since I didn't, I'll try to paint a picture with my words. Bear with me....

Lanai High & Elementary School is situated just off one of the main roads in Lanai City. It has two narrow administration buildings with their broad sides facing the street, and behind them are five similar buildings perpendicular to the street. The buildings are organized by ages, with the kindergarteners at the south end, and the seniors at the north end of campus. All the other grades fall somewhere in between. As we approached the school, the high schoolers were between classes. It is my opinion that passing periods do something sinister to high school students. Normally happy and friendly kids that I see every day will suddenly look at me as though I'm from Mars when they pass me in the hall. Is it an unwritten rule that you have to be surly and detached if you're a high school student? Or maybe it's truly a sign that I'm beginning to look more like the "adult" than the "student". Yikes!

Anyways, after passing some kids who looked like they'd rather be punched in the gut than waved at by an "adult", we made our way towards the elementary classrooms. This side of campus was deserted, which should have been a clue as to what I was about to witness. As we walked the winding footpaths across the grass towards to soccer field, I caught a glimpse of some children posing for a picture near the baseball dugout. We walked toward them, and as we turned the corner, I was amazed by what I saw: Kids everywhere! The entire elementary school was on the soccer field, along with teachers, administrators, parents, and younger siblings. Lanai is a small school, but man did they ever fill up that field! The official kite-flying had not begun yet, so the kids were lined up (and I used that term loosely--such was their energy and excitement) on the edge of the field, awaiting the whistle to blow. And finally, when it seemed like they were about to collectively burst from excitement, it did.

Every child had a kite. Some were store-bought, with brightly colored pictures of ponies and dragons and unicorns. Some were ornate and expertly designed for aerodynamics--probably built with lots of help from mom and dad. But most were kid-made with sticks, straws, newspaper or printer paper, and more glue than I can probably fathom. Some ingenious kids had attached their kites to fishing lines, and used their fishing poles to control its movements.

Chaos reigned on the soccer field. Kids were everywhere. Some were running around wildly, trailing an unfortunate kite on the ground. Some were getting help from dad. Some were unconcerned with the trivialities of kite flying, and were using their kites for more creative purposes. I'll let you imagination run on that one. At one point I decided it was no longer safe to walk out on the field. I thought I might get clotheslined by a wayward fishing line. Eek!

The most beautiful thing about kite day was the way it brought families together. As I chatted with families, complimented kids' kite-making abilities, and looked on with administrators, I noticed just how many children had both mom and dad present for this event. Dads undoubtedly took the day off work to be there, and moms towed their younger children to school just to support their child. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! And what a lesson in family dynamics--but that's another story.

All in all, kite day was a success. Isn't it unfortunate that in our culture, we now have to have a planned event to fly a kite? And even, in some families, a planned event to sped time together at all. I never see people flying kites anymore. If only Mary Poppins were here to inspire families to fly kites together. Maybe she was on to something.....