"a moment that will define a generation"

What an amazing and historic day! I couldn't help but watch hours of the coverage of all of the inauguration festivities today on tv. I even woke up early (shocking, I know) to watch. I don't want to talk about politics today, but WOW. So awesome. Our country does throw one hell of an inauguration!

Not politically related thoughts... I did like Michelle's dress/sweater/coat combination - however that color was scary! I don't think anyone else could have pulled it off; I thought that the girls looked absolutely adorable; I thought Michelle and Jill looked absolutely stunning in their gowns; I loved that the President and First Lady danced with service members at the Armed Forces Ball (and I almost cried); I wish that I could have attended the Youth Ball; I'm kind of sad that the President didn't wear the bow tie and cumberbund that a dressmaker from Kailua made for him (it was made of one of his grandmother's dresses); I spied one of the MOST hideous dresses OF ALL TIME on an ABC News reporter - but I will save the hideousness for tomorrow - it's a must-see - and then a must-laugh at. :)

(Pic above by Matthew Cavanaugh/EPA)

I have been to two new beaches since my last post, bringing my total to 6. 

On Saturday my current roomie, Melissa, and I went to Kailua beach - and met up with another JO's wife and her dog.

Here is a shot! It is on the beautiful windward (east) side of the island.

Then on Sunday Melissa and I met up with a family from her husband's sub and we went to the lagoons at Ko'Olina resort - on the west side of the island (where they are apparently building some sort of Disney resort). It was so relaxing, and I got to play house while wading in the ocean with Grace, the youngest of the 4 kids (she is 4 years old). :)

Here are 2 shots of the lagoons...

There are wave breaking barriers - rock walls built to absorb the huge waves that hit this side of the shore. There are 4 lagoons at Ko'Olina - we were hanging out at lagoon #2. The shot on the right is one that I took as we were walking back - but I thought it was a cool view.

And finally, I wanted to write a little about 

my roommates of the last week. Melissa has been so kind to open up her home and let me crash here while I continue the house hunt. 

<-- Meet Melissa. She is a veterinarian who is about to have her first baby (a boy), next month! We met in NH, and her husband, as I mentioned earlier, is also on a sub.

  

<-- Meet Kodi and Sarah. Kodi, the yellow lab, was a service dog. He retired at the age of 4, and Melissa adopted him. Every time I put on my tennis shoes, he starts whining and begging to go out for a walk. He is super smart. Sarah, the boxer, is currently smelling my suitcases and coming in my room to check on me every 5 minutes. She loves to cuddle, and totally thinks that she is a lap dog. They have been walking with me every day and keeping me company during the day when Melissa was working and I wasn't running errands. I think that they like having me here, because that means they don't have to stay in their kennels while Melissa is gone. They are so sweet, and make me miss Aidan soooooo much, but I am thankful to have other dogs around me. 

In other news, the realtor called me today! She said that there is only one other applicant for the home I am waiting on, and that we should hear tomorrow or Thurs. if we were selected. Please say a few prayers if you think about it! I will keep you posted. I am really nervous about this!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Inauguration Day 2009! 

Aloha,

RAWE

Another creation and Thursday night deep thoughts with RAWE...

Another one of my quilts was quilted, and Donna was nice enough to post it for me!

Click here to see more of it!

I made this quilt a few years ago for my grandmother, who was a quilter. She made several beautiful quilts for family and probably for friends. I loved taking my finished quilt tops over to her house to show her - one artist to another. Finishing this quilt is so bittersweet, which brings me to my first deep thought. When you have a project that means something to you, if you are making something/doing something for someone, don't put it off. This quilt is a classic example of the exact opposite of what I just told everyone not to do. I finished the top of this quilt, and then let it sit for years. Since then, Grandma passed away, and now the quilt is finally almost finished. Don't put IT off.

RAWE's deep thought number two: 

(If you care to read on - but I totally understand if you are already typing "facebook" into the http bar up above.)

So I have had a LOT of time lately to think about jobs. Where should I work? Should I try to find something part time, temp or full time? Should I look for something that will be great on a resume, or something that I am really interested in? For me, the job situation has been one of the hardest aspects of being a Navy wife. In a perfect world I would have a job that could travel with me. Something I could do that would allow me to be busy, but still have the flexibility to have weekends off to explore with Zac and when family and friends come to visit. I crave to be challenged mentally; to learn new industries and their tools - software, processes, etc. Something that is changing enough to not be boring, but not totally foreign every day. Something that allows me to interact with people. Something FUN! Any ideas? Ugh.

Until later,

RAWE

One of my creations...

Recently Mom took 3 of my quilts to Canadian, TX to Donna Francis to be professionally quilted. I am so excited about how this one came out, I thought that I would share. This is the quilt I made for Miss Mandy Cozart!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE QUILT!

Here is a preview...

I am ready to have my quilting stuff so that I can work on some here. My goal while I am here is to make a Hawaiian Quilt!

While I'm thinking and talking about it...I also recently finished another quilt - one I started in 2004! (Ridiculous, I know!) This was the "Turning 20" pattern that I created for Miss Beth Lynch. Isn't it cute!!??

That's it and that's all.

-RAWE

Mary Alice's article and my first visit to the North Shore

Mary Alice is famous!! An article was written about her experience with Hurricane Ike in The Pampa News! The article made the front page of this past Sunday's paper, above the fold with this picture! (In the journalism world, that is a big deal!) Click here to see her story.

I have now moved out of the Navy Lodge on Ford Island, and I'm staying with a friend in Pearl City. (Thank you, Melissa, for not letting me be homeless!) We drove up to the North Shore this afternoon to hang out. We saw a huge sea turtle, and a few swimming in the water.

 

Then we went up to Wimea Bay park/beach to just relax and watch the waves. (The surf was huge today - the weather lady just said they were the biggest swells of the year - granted it is only Jan. 13!) But - the point to this story... While we were there, the two groups of people next to us were robbed! The poor couples were playing in the water and didn't leave someone on the beach to guard their belongings. We saw several groups of people walk by, but we were so preoccupied talking and such that we never saw their bags being taken. These thieves were SNEAKY! NOTE TO SELF: Never leave your stuff unattended on a beach in HI. 

No housing updates - still impatiently waiting.

Aloha,

RAWE

Impatient Frustration

So far, moving to HI has been more stressful than fun. I know that this stress will eventually end and turn around, (especially when Zac finally arrives) but at the time, this is NOT fun!

I just typed a list of things I do not like about everything going on here with me right now, but I deleted it, because it was getting too long. And, I feel as though I should just stop focusing on all of the things frustrating me at the moment.

But, today I did get my car! It seems like it is fine so far - no new scratches, but most importantly, I don't feel like I am such a burden on my friends any more. I have mobile independence again! Whoop! PS - I don't want to hear any of you on the mainland complaining about gas prices ever again. :) Thank goodness for gas stations on base (which are still MUCH higher). It is nice to have one of my own things here, though. For some strange reason, it is very comforting. I wanted to take a pic of myself in the car, but I thought I would spare you all.

So, say some prayers for our housing situation, please. Mahalo.

Goodnight to all!

Hawaiian Arrival

Aloha!

I arrived in Honolulu Monday evening. My friends Steve, Marisol and their baby

 Natalia picked me up at the airport and we had dinner at the Ala Moana mall. Since then I have been checking in with all of the appropriate people and offices, which has kept me extremely busy! 

I have also been searching and searching for a home. The home that the Navy offered to us just wouldn't work for Zac and me, so we decided to decline and keep searching. This has been an incredibly frustrating house hunt thus far, so please say a little prayer for us! 

In third grade, we learned a fun song called "Hawaiian Rainbows" (which my sister and I can still sing for you, if you are ever int

erested). Every day that I have been here, there has been at least one beautiful rainbow in the sky. Here is a picture I took walking out of the Navy Lodge, where I am staying. These are such nice reminders that I am in Hawaii, and should be enjoying the beautiful scenery, rather than stressing out so much. 

Today I decided that I needed to take a break from worrying about housing, so Molly and I went to Lanikai beach. It was breezy, and a little chilly, but beautiful, never the less! This is my first visit to a Hawaiian beach, and I am so blessed to be able to have many more ahead. This is what I stared at all afternoon. 

Goodnight, and more to follow.

Love to all,

RAWE

Happy 2009!

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

My family and I are back in Pampa after a fabulous trip to Ruidoso. Click here for pics. We drove back on the 30th, ran errands in Amarillo yesterday and then had a relaxing New Year's Eve at home - including a fabulous Chicken Express dinner. I hope that everyone had a safe and exciting NYE wherever you happened to be!

Resolutions? I am not one for making (and sticking to) them. I really do need to resolve to being much better to my body - so I think that this year, that will be my pseudo-resolution. I'm hoping that if I don't call it a resolution, I may be more likely to stick to it! Ha. We shall see. I will technically resolve to write on my blog more often, and share with you what is going on in our lives.

For Zac and me, 2009 brings a new state (with a totally different climate!), a new home, a new job for me and many more changes. That is very exciting and a little scary all at the same time. We are really looking forward to exploring our new location, visiting the other islands and meeting new friends. 

Here's to a successful 2009 for all!

-RAWE