Tuesday, May 29, 2012

I DO

Well, I was doing so good, just blogging away each day of my trip in Hawaii.  But once we got to Kaua'i, things just got so ridiculously heavenly, I never got back online.  But not to worry...there will be a Hawaii Wrap Up here soon!  So please give me time to go through my pictures, and memories, and accept that I'm back in Dallas (boo hoo), and I'll post something up within the week.

As I had mentioned, Fermin and I celebrated our 18 year wedding anniversary while there.  (So yeah, if you do the math, you'll realized we got married when I was just 16!!) 

All those many years ago, Fermin didn't do any extravagant kind of proposal.  Which at the time, sort of bothered me.  And if I'm being honest, it did for years.  But these days, being older and wiser, I realize I'd rather have many happy years than one great proposal-- and that, he has given me!

But every now and then, I hear about a proposal like this one my friend had posted on Facebook, and I sorta wish Fermin had gone all out and gotten ridiculous on me.

If you're a romantic sap like me, you might want to have some Kleenex nearby. It is just so joyous, your eyes might start watering!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I Heart Kaua'i


Today Fermin and I drove over to the North Shore of Kaua'i.
It doesn't look that far on the map, but because the speed limit is often 25mph, the roads are very winding, and believe it or not, every now and then, we hit a bit of "traffic", it took a little over an hour and a half to get there.

This was our first stop along the way...
This is the lighthouse-

And this is us!

If I went to church, and if I lived in Kaua'i, this is where I'd have to go!

I love these one-laned bridges!

Next, we did a little hiking~


But as so often happens, low blood sugar cut our trip a bit short.  :(

But nothing here in Hawaii doesn't end well.  We met a new family in the parking~

Found a little cave on our way out~

And then, we found a great spot to eat on the way home...

Love, love, love Kaua'i-

And love is everywhere here!



Monday, May 21, 2012

Fantasy Island

Ok, now we're on to serious vacationing!

We're in Kaua'i!  It's where the show from the 70's, Fantasy Island, was filmed, and it's obvious as to why.  It's breathtaking everywhere you look.  So much so, that I  haven't snapped many pictures yet.

We arrived yesterday in the early afternoon.  As we were walking along the beach, we saw our first dog of the trip.  Out of all the dog breeds we could have run into, what are the chances that we'd see an Australian Shepherd?  And what are the chances it would be a red merle with one blue and one brown eye, just like Lucy?  Must be a little sign that we're in the right place!
The lovely Savannah
We're staying at the Koa Kea-  It's small and it's beautiful and the people here are so nice.  We LOVE it. 

After a super yummy breakfast- a Belgian Macadamia Nut Waffle- we're heading over to the North Shore today.  I'll try to remember to snap a few photos!

We are in heaven.  Oh, I mean Fantasy Island!  xo

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Fire and Ice

Oh my gosh!  I can't believe it!  We are back from the "Fire and Ice" party, and Fermin actually suggested we leave before I even had to say the word!  That is so not  the way he rolls typically, but let me tell you, I am happy!  We came up to the room and ordered a pizza. 
Pizza for 2?
But by the time room service brought it up, Fermin didn't look all that hungry. He may have had just a little bit too much to drink, or maybe he's just super tired tonight!  ;)
I might get killed for posting this photo, but it just CRACKS ME UP!
So here are a few highlights from the "jaw-dropping" evening...
My favorite costume of the evening:
What's so great about this, you wonder?
Ok, there it is.


My favorite people at the party:
Fermin and me with Darryl and Molly-- I'm sad they'll soon be moving from Dallas to St. Louis!
 My favorite picture of the night:
I most definitely have the cutest husband!!!
And here's just a few more photos I feel should be included in tonight's post:
Blades of Glory, and me!
Fermin reeeeeeaaaallllly wanted to dance with the girl on stilts!
Random weird guy that got in the middle of my picture!
Tomorrow morning we check out of this hotel, and this island, and fly over to Kauai, where our REAL vacation begins!  Just us.... No plans, no parties, no bullshit.  Can't wait!!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Cat Scratch Fever

Day 3 of Hawaii:

Last night, Fermin and I finally left the hotel! We took a quick shuttle ride to Waikiki to eat, and then pick up a few things at the drugstore.

We love Thai food, and so when we saw this place, and read the reviews on Yelp, it seemed like the right choice.
But it wasn't.
We're probably spoiled, because in Dallas, we know of the best Thai spots-  Noodle Wave, Royal Thai, and Tukta Thai are probably our top 3.  So if we compare those great places to this one, in a word- it sucked.  Pretty flavorless and boring food, and not that great of an atmosphere. 

However, there were TVs playing a DVD of some little singer/dancer that I sorta fell in love with.  The volume of the TV wasn't even on, but the dancing was super cute and I couldn't help but copy the girl's dance moves from my seat.
The dancing was much more flavorful than the food.
After dinner, we walked to a Long's Drugstore and found one of my favorite things about my trips to Hawaii...
Ok, NOW we're in paradise!
Butter Candy Glazed Mac Nuts. I could eat a whole can of these in a day, but I try to limit myself because for just 1/4 of a cup, you pack in 16 grams of FAT, and 180 calories.  But, oh my god!! SO WORTH IT!!!

I got so excited about mac nuts, that I forgot all about the other stuff I needed.  I only remembered once we got back to our hotel room.

SO, after my run this morning (another great one!) we went out for lunch, and back to a different Long's Drugstore (they're everywhere!) to buy an anti-itch cream for my freaky little rash on my arm.  I have no idea if I got bit by something, if I ate something I'm allergic to or what, but I seriously want to scratch my f-ing arm off!
The picture does not do the rash justice!  My arm looks really fat and sand paperish from the swelling and itching.
Fermin bought sunscreen and some much needed hair gel!  :)
Even without the hair gel, he's foxy!
We've got a few hours before the big "Fire and Ice" party tonight.  Fermin and I just keep cracking up over the invitation:
I'll report back tomorrow to tell you all about the sultry and jaw-dropping moments IF I ever make it back to my room!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Crows Don't Excite Me, But Dolphins Do!

Day 2 of Hawaii

Last night we had a great dinner, award reception, and a private concert given by the Counting Crows for all the McAfee people, and their significant others, like me!

Like I mentioned in my previous post, the Counting Crows played at a McAfee thing in Maui 3 years ago.  I remember Adam Duritz drank a gross amount of Pina Coladas throughout the perfomance and by the end of it, just sort of stumbled around the stage singing "Mr. Jones".  Either too much sugar, or too much alcohol, or both.

I wasn't all that impressed that year, and was even less impressed this year.  Adam did forgo the Pina Coladas, but he still seemed to be stumbling around.  But I think it's just the way he moves.
Just before Counting Crows took the stage


Not a good picture, but really, who cares?
Today while Fermin and I were eating our fish tacos for lunch (yep, the same awesome meal I ate yesterday!), a crew of people walked by and before I could even figure out what the heck they were doing, Fermin said, "Oh look, they're carrying in a dolphin- Get your camera out."  And like always, I did exactly as he instructed.
See him?
There's his sweet little face sticking out!
I learned that the dolphin had just flown in from another island and he is now the newest member of the dolphin family here at the Kahala Hotel and Resort.  He's 11, which means he's reaching his sexual maturity.  Which means he can no longer live with his sisters!  So had had to come live here instead so he could meet some other potential female partners.

Later in the afternoon, on my way up to my room take some insulin after drinking a Pina Colada at the beach (honoring Adam Duritz, of course), I saw the dolphins in their lagoon area.  All the trainers were standing around watching as the newest dolphin acclimated to his new home and met his new friends.  One of his "new" friends happens to be his dad, and another, his brother.  But apparently he does not and will not ever know this.  You could tell which dolphin was him because he was wearing sunscreen on a few spots that had gotten a little overexposed during his transport.  So yes, dolphins can sunburn!  I also learned that they weigh about 20 lbs when they're born, and that their dorsal fins are curled up at first.  I asked all sorts of questions because the trainers seemed so happy to answer.
I also learned you can tell when a dolphin is entering their sexual maturity by the size of their testes!  Another little factoid I got today was that the gestation period of a dolphin is about a year.  And that they are born with little mustaches, that later fall off.  The hair of the mustache helps them find their way to the mammary glands so they can nurse when they are babies, and that actually, the correct name for a baby dolphin is calf.  
He seems to be fitting right in!
Yippy!!!
And as cool as all this Hawaii stuff is, a big highlight is whenever I get sweet pictures of Lucy and Ricky from my sister, like this one of Lucy...
I miss you!!!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Aloha, Hawaii!

Day 1 of our Hawaii trip:

For the first few days of our vacation, we're in Oahu.  Fermin won this part of the trip (and the flight getting us to and fro!) for doing such a great job at work.  Way to go, Fermin!!! We're staying at the Kahala Hotel and Resort thru Sunday.  Thank you, McAfee.

Here's the view from our balcony:
Golf course view...
and if you stand in JUST the right spot, we have an ocean view!
Fermin is in meetings until 4pm today, and so I'm just hanging around.


I went for a run this morning, just got to eat yummy swordfish tacos, and now I'm out on the balcony about to serenade myself with my ukelele! (Which, by the way, I bought when I was in Maui a few years ago...) Not a bad day at all!
my sweet little Mele Ukelele
This is the first vacation Fermin and I have taken since Lucy and Ricky joined our family.
Just about an hour before we left for the airport yesterday...
I have the best sister in the world~ She flew in from New Mexico to stay at my house and take care of Lucy and Ricky while we're away!  I know they're in great hands.  She and I look a lot alike, so they may not even know the difference!

Tonight, there will be an award reception and dinner for all the Mcafee people.  The Counting Crows will be performing~ which would be more exciting if we hadn't already seen them last time we were at one of these work trips, which also happened to be in Hawaii.  (This is a little like the movie, "Groundhog Day".)  I think they should've instead invited Eddie Vedder to perform his "Ukelele Songs" CD!  But sadly, they did not ask for my opinion. 

But hey, we're in Hawaii!  I really can't complain, can I?!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Don't Ask


After the puppies served me my Mother's Day breakfast in bed this morning, we were just lounging around watching some "Dog Whisperer" reruns.

But my life of luxury was brought to an abrupt halt when I rememebered I had a morning church gig and only had 10 minutes before I had to leave the house!

Sort of miraculously, I made it there on time, and got to sing a song I wrote about Mom years ago, called "Upside Down". 

As soon I got back home, I took the Ricardo's on their morning-ish walks.
And since it was Mother's Day, of course I saw a red cardinal.  I hadn't seen one in months and months.  I can't remember the last time I saw one, in fact.  But there it was, swooping just above us.  Definitely seemed to be Mom saying "Hi!"

Since Mom and I are/were both big movie buffs, I decided to take myself to the movies in the afternoon.

I went to the gross dollar theater, because that's the only spot the movie I really wanted to see was playing.  (Jeff, Who Lives at Home~ in case you're wondering.  And it was GREAT!  A funny and sweet movie I highly recommend you renting on DVD unless your $1 theater is much cleaner than mine!)

While standing in line to order my popcorn, I very weird old man with really bad teeth and body odor said hello to me.  He had said hello to everyone he passed, but it could be that I was the only one who said "hi" back.  Which I guess said to him that I was ripe for conversation...which I was not.  He asked me, "So, what'd you buy your mother for Mother's Day?" For some reason, I was just so turned off by the question and the fact that he had intruded on my personal space on a day when  I really needed it, that I answered him honestly and didn't really care if it made him uncomfortable, "My mom isn't alive anymore. So I didn't get her anything."

"Didn't get her anything... How many years ago did she die?" he asked.

And although I didn't want to answer him, or continue the conversation at all, I didn't know how to avoid just giving another honest answer.  So I gave it.  "8 years ago." And again, he repeated my response, "8 years ago..." but then, no follow up question was offered.  He walked away.  (Apparently, I think I did make him uncomfortable.  Yay, Me!)

So odd.  The man, and the fact that I engaged with him when I really didn't want to.  And the fact that Mom died 8 years ago

I am so glad he didn't keep asking me more questions because I realize I don't know how to politely decline in answering.

Like my mom use to say, "Don't ask if you don't want the answer."


Friday, May 11, 2012

Got a Smile, Got a Song for the Neighborhood

The other day at lunch, somehow, the old show, "Alice" came up in conversation.

My friend broke into the theme song- and knew it word for word.  It took me a little bit, but I was able to chime in towards the end.

"Alice" wasn't even that good of a sitcom, but back in the day, we only had 3 choices- ABC, NBC, or CBS.  Oh my God:  I am old, and I have just admitted it!

Anyway, for those of you that were of TV watching age somewhere between 1976-85- Enjoy!  There's a new girl in town...

***FASCINATING FOOTNOTE***
After my friend (the one who knew the lyrics to "Alice" the other day, and got this whole party started) saw this blog,  he told me those were not the lyrics he remembered.  So he did further "Alice" research and found these.

As it turns out, they changed the theme song mid-series.  I definitely prefer the older version!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

What I'm Listening to TODAY

Some women buy shoes.
I buy CDs. 

And just in the past several days, I've bought a bunch of new ones that I am so excited to become familiar with.  Sometimes when I buy too big of a clump at a time, they don't really get enough attention, and then I end up barely even listening to them. 

It just so happens, that my house needs a major spring cleaning.  And that Spring cleaning needs a soundtrack.

So I'm loading these in my player right now, and within a few hours, my house will be sparkling!

In case your wondering, here are the CDs in the photo:
Amy Stroup- The Other Side of Love Sessions
PremaShakti- Pulse of Love
Rufus Wainwright- Out of the Game
Melody Gardot- Worrisome Heart
James Morrison- The Awakening
Jillian Edwards- Galaxies and Such
Maria Taylor- Overlook
Sarah Jaffe- The Body Wins

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Wonderstruck

A new little ditty-  It's actually changed a bit since I recorded this the other day, but this was it's original form.

Wonderstruck

You don't have to wonder if I love you
You'll never have to wonder off too far
The answer has been clearly written for you
In the stars, in all those stars

I am wonderstruck
I am so caught up in you, in you
It's like lightening struck
Only just this once
My love is true, it's true

It's a wonder in this world I ever found you
It's happenstance that our paths ever crossed
You're the map I found my way home with
Without you, I'm sure I'd still be lost

But I am wonderstruck
And I'm so caught up in you, in you
It's like lightening struck, only just this once
My love is true, it's true

Oooooh...

I am wonderstruck
I am so caught up in you, in you
It's like lightening struck, only just this once
My love is true, it's true with you

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Did You See It? Did You?

My brother was on Shark Tank last night, pitching his cruiser bike company, Villy Customs.  He had a watching party at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas.  Now, do you really think my brother would've had a viewing party if he didn't get the money he was asking for?
No way!

So yep!  He got it!
$500,000 for 42% of his company- And his investors were the exact ones he had hoped for- Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran.  He gave up a little more than he was asking for, but ultimately, pretty much got what he wanted.

Like I said, he had a little viewing party. The room he had for us was awesome for watching-- great seating all around and big TVs on every wall.
Fleetwood and Me!  Just as the show is starting...
Such a great time, and such a fun thing to celebrate!  I had tears rolling down my face the whole time his portion of the show aired.  I was (and am) so proud of him.  He's worked so hard, has made such a cool product, and did such a great job of selling it!
Taking in the applause from his friends after the show
If you missed the episode, but would like to see it, you can see it here.  My brother's segment is the very last one.  Because, of course, they saved the best for last!