Diving 101

So, nothing exciting has happened this week. While I continue on my jogging endeavor (I'm up to week 3 and my body is still trying to resist the effort to get in shape!), I've just been going home and studying for the dive exam....still have to pass the tables portion. It's been like college- studying at work, working at work and then coming home and studying some more! I don't miss those days (well, at least the studying part).
I have my pottery class tonight and I'm going to have the instructor show me how to glaze- I should seven pieces to glaze and three bases to smooth tonight (which will hopefully will be fired for next week so I can finish them). Next week is the last official class, but our instructor says that he usually gives one extra class to come in and finish up any unfinished pieces!
I'm really just excited about this weekend......I have tickets to the Kokua Festival here in Waikiki featuring Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews! Should be an awesome show!
Enjoy the rest of the week- Aloha!

Dinner for Four

Aloha!

I apologize for my postings becoming fewer and farther between, but I figure most of the ordinary parts of life aren't going to be as noteworthy as the really new and exciting Hawaiian adventures. I promise to still keep you up to date on my well being though!

For example:

I met some colleagues after "work" on Friday- I'm still getting acquainted with everyone and since some people left to go on research cruises shortly after I started here, it's hard to remember them (and for them to remember me) when they have been gone for almost three months!

Saturday morning, I spent some time at the Humane Society- I attended the Animal Handling and Dog Walking training. In order to be 'hands on 'with any of the animals, you have to learn how to remove them safely (for both them and me!) from their cages. As for dog walking, they use gentle leaders instead of just leashes and collars and they have certain rules about where you can walk them and how to handle the dogs around other people and animals. Afterwards, I went with my friend, Annette, to a colleagues house for a little BBQ in honor of those who just returned from sea (again, mingling with people I work with to help get to know them). I had also slow cooked a pot roast in my crock pot and since pot roast doesn't feed just one, I had a small dinner party on my lanai! My friends, Annette, Heather, and Coleman, came over for some food! Had a great time and finally got to use my patio area! I was a little embarrassed to have guest over and have my room look like a mess, I made a big effort to get my bedroom put together. I bought replacement parts for my bedframe, so now most of the junk is just stuffed under my bed, but at least it looks clean!

I slept in way too late on Sunday (but it felt really good) and then Annette and I went boogie boarding at Bellows Beach. The wind has been good lately so the waves were high! I got taken out by a couple of big waves and now a turtle might be cruising around wearing my sunglasses!

Rebate Update: Chris and the baby are doing well- they had an appointment last week and the doctor is happy with everyone's health. They moved her due date back to Sept. 14th (so she feels like she skipped a week and jumped from 16 to 17 weeks!) and she has a sonogram (the one that will hopefully tell if I'm going to be an aunt or uncle) scheduled for May!

One Day Off-

Aloha!

I actually had today off! Good Friday was a holiday for my department and since my coxswain class required me to work that day I got to take today off! What's even better is that the sun finally came out again after a week of rain!

I'm still jogging- I actually found myself wanting the rain to stop the other day so that I could go! That's a good sign, right?

My pottery class went well on Thursday- I've discovered a habit that I'm going to have to break myself of so that the walls end up uniform. I had a rough week the week before, but I got to work on some techniques to help fix my problem and I got three new pieces done this week! Here are some of my newer pieces before they have been fired into greenware...

This was the last week to make new pieces and the remaining two classes will be used to finish off the bases and learn how to glaze!

Aloha and I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thanks!

Hey Everyone-
Just wanted to share that my friend, Courtney, bestowed the Blog of Distinction Award upon my blog! That's so awesome and I'm glad that my blog is being enjoyed- I wish you were all here to share Hawaii with me!
Courtney- you and your family are all in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers! Love you and miss you!
Mahalo!

Time flies when you are actually working!

Aloha!
I hope this blog finds everyone healthy, happy and doing well!
Sunday, a strange thing happened. It rained all day long. In the three months that I've lived here, that hasn't happened. There were a few breaks during the day, actually just long enough for me to walk to the library and then get stuck in the rain on the way home! That actually gave me an excuse to chill at home, get some housework done (does that ever end?), and actually finish up my scrapbook from my family's trip to the Grand Canyon in 2006! I still have a few little finishing touches to add, but the majority of it is done (for you scrapbookers out there, you know this can sometimes feel like a major accomplishment!).
On Monday, another strange thing happened. I had enough work to keep me completely busy for the entire day! By the time I actually looked at the clock, it was almost time to go home! I'm entering coral settlement and recruitment (I think I've mentioned what this means before- but I would be more than happy to provide additional info if anyone is interested!) data into a spreadsheet so that it can be analyzed. I got half of the data sheets entered!
After work, I went for jog #3 in my couch to 5K training- my body is beginning to resist me! This was probably the hardest so far (even though it's the exact same workout as jog #1 and 2!). I think my body is catching on that I'm trying to do something to it!
Well, it's back to the data for me! Take care and Mahalo for all the well wishes after my (small) disappointments last week!

Saturday at the movies

Hello everyone-

I've had a few disappointments over the past couple of days, but I've told myself not to dwell.

So, here are the good points from the weekend:

I spent a nice quiet night at home on Friday after jog #2 of the Couch to 5K workout schedule. I'm still up to the challenge!

Today, I went to a general volunteer orientation at the Humane Society. I'm going to start volunteering there and this was the first step in the process. We got a tour of the facilities- they have lots of dog pens, a large cat house, and even bunnies and guinea pigs- and an introduction into some of the duties that I can sign up for. I still have to attend an animal handling training session before I'll be able to actually work with any of the animals, but in the meantime, I can still volunteer some time and prepare food, treats, etc. I'm excited about the opportunity and I feel it will be a rewarding way to spend some of my time!

Afterwards, I ran some errands and got a little shopping done (and had a nice long conversation with Rich and Chris!) and then Annette and I hit the beach. We went to my usual little place on Waikiki and it was less crowded today than normal due to a little rain shower at noon! The sun felt perfect though and the water was a little chilly, but very refreshing!

I went to see the movie "Leatherheads" tonight- it's the new George Clooney/football movie. I felt it was entertaining, but a little long for the storyline. Funny to see how times have changed in the world of professional football!

Look! I have new bookends/sofa ornaments!

The weekend is almost here!

Aloha!
Wow- I can't believe that it's Thursday already! This week has really flown by!
I've been busier at work than usual. I've almost completed formatting the coral disease data for one of my supervisors and I found out that I'm actually taking the written diving exam on Friday, so I've been studying hard for that (which may be a little overkill, but I would rather be over-prepared than have to take it again!). I had a meeting today to discuss doing some data entry for my other supervisor on some coral recruitment (where the little coral larvae settle) work that she has done in the past. I've said this before- data entry is not my favorite part of the job (actually I don't know any scientist who likes it), but it's a necessary evil and I'm glad to be getting my hands on some different aspects to the job.
My time after work has been busy this week as well:
Monday, my department had a farewell party for Suzy who worked for the marine debris program and with the algae group. She had been out to sea for most of the time that I have worked here, but was really sweet and has decided to move back to the mainland to be close to family and pursue teaching. It was nice being able to hang out with some of the people that I work with (you know we are all much more relaxed when not at work!).
Tuesday, Annette and I went to yoga- this class was much more active than the intro class I took. I had no idea that yoga would work up such a sweat! I couldn't do some of the poses (such as the hand stand or crow), but it was such a great workout and gave me something to work towards.
Wednesday, I decided to take up jogging. Now many of you know that I am opposed to running, but my cousin (thanks Jenny) sent me a link to a workout schedule that is supposed to get you from the couch to a 5K in 2 months. Why not- it will get me outside (what can be more motivation than running along the beach?) and it's only for 20-30 minutes three times a week- I can do that, right? Let's just say I will keep you posted on my progress!
Ciao for now- I have to study!