Saturday...

So the guys finally got underway today after an entire week of maybe-we-will-maybe-we-won't each night. We went out yet again to see them go. You can see the sub in the background. I don't think I'm ever going to go back there to see them go. Only to see them come. I hate to see them go and you can't describe how it feels.

Then Kim and I went shopping because she wanted to get some new jeans. She bought three pair and got a free shirt with each one, so she gave me one. That was super nice of her. Its an American Eagle shirt. Then we ate dinner and headed on back to the house.

When I was walking up the sidewalk I noticed my bike was missing. I looked all over and couldn't find it. Someone stole it. Stole my bike...my green machine. What assholes. Only a super mean person could steal someones cheapy little getaround bike. UGH. I'm beginning to hate Hawaii. I know, I know, but it's not as great here as you think. I'd much rather be home. I miss home.

Charles really didn't want to go underway this time-not that he ever really does, but especially not this time. For the past two nights the coners (non nuclear guys) have gotten to come home and see their families and sleep in their beds....but not the nucs. So not fair. He's been docked for the past two days and I havn't even heard from my husband while others are at home with their families. If mine has to stay, then they all need to stay. It wasn't even his duty day.

So I'm all stuffed up....my allergies are exploding and my sneezing is constant. I'm ready for it to go away. I know why I'm all sick and stuffy though....It's because the A/C was out for those two days and I slept in a wet house.

Okay, I guess that's enough of my bitchin' and complainin'. I'm off to take a bath and hopefully "breathe" better. Night all.

Venting...

I woke up this morning with the most horrible sore throat ever, thought seriously about calling off work, and called my mom... I ended up going to work and making it through the day until I left at 3 for a doctor's appt I scheduled. When I got to the doctor (Nurse Practitioner, to be exact) she looked me over, swabbed my mouth and told me there was nothing she could do.

NOTHING SHE COULD DO?????

So I proceeded to tell her how every other doctor had treated these oh so common symptoms of mine: a simple cortizone shot with a round of antibiotics. Works every time. So why should this time be any different?

Apparently she doesn't like to prescribe cortizone shots or antibiotics. She went on to give me a lecture on how bad steroids are and why the world is so antibiotic resistant. That's all fine and dandy, but why fix something that ain't broke??? And the shot works for me. It's not like I have one all the time. Once, maybe twice a year if that.

She told me to salt water gargle and get rest. Really? I mean a bum on the side of the road knows that much. I asked her what the point of me even showing up was? She didn't have an answer. What a quack. This isn't the first time she has shown her quackiness. I wanted to rip her hair out- stupid woman. She could tell I was in pain and all she could say was "do you need a note for work?" A note for work???? You stupid quack....I need to go to work. That's why I came to the doctor-so you could HELP me to go back to work...Not stay sick and get a note.

No work = No Pay and No Pay = Divorce soon.

I hate the stupid Navy Doctor System. So I walked over and immediately changed my insurance. Won't ever have to see the troll again. Stupid woman. I still have steam coming from my ears. Left work early for the appt and for what? NOTHING. ARGH!

When I got home, Charles was home too. They were supposed to go underway on Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, and now it is set for tomorrow. What morons. Again, the Navy. Go Figure. So we decided to go out to eat since he won't be home for a long time. We went to Dixie Grill. It is the closest thing to southern food around these parts. They have good sweet tea too! But not as good as Meme's! So then we headed over to Yogurtland (quite a neat place...make your own dessert type thing) and got some dessert. Then to Target to get some OTC meds since my lovely doc didn't feel the need to prescribe anything at all. And of course, Target didn't have any Zicam. So I had to settle for some gel tabs. We'll see how it goes- I just took 'em. My throat still hurts.

Okay, enough venting. Going to bed with my honey and my pooch. Night all and Aloha from Oahu! Hopefully tomorrow will be a brand new and better day! :)

New Job...

So, I've started a new job at Tripler Army hospital. I am working at the General Surgery Clinic and the hours are 7:30-4pm. So far, I really like it here and the people are really friendly. They have asked me to work here permanently which means I would be a government worker and I will be eligible for 25% cola. I'm at work now, so I will post more later.

Hickham Air Force Beach

This is Hickham Beach on a normal day versus a holiday like the Fourth of July...BIG difference!

Just some thinking I was doing...

Last night Charles and I drove down to Waikiki to our favorite sushi place on the strip. We love it so much because it is never too busy to make us wait for a table and there is a balcony that looks over the city. We always sit at the same table and they are beginning to recognize us there. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing! Their prices are pretty reasonable too! Last time we were there was July 4th and we parked in a nearby parking garage expecting to pay the necessary fees. Little did we know that our favorite sushi restaurant was about to be "favoriter"! They VALIDATE the parking tickets when you eat there! This means the usual $10-$20 worth of parking fees is waived. How wonderful is that? Very. We used to park in the military lot for $3.25 and walk all the way down (which gets old) but now we don't have to. This is exciting for us and I wanted to share!

Anyways, I was getting to a point and here it is....As we were driving towards town, I was just riding and thinking about how blessed we are to be able to have a nice car that works pretty good and nice clothes and the ability to eat out about once or twice a week. As we passed all the homeless (and there are a lot of 'em here) I was just thinking...How am I more deserving than they are? How did I end up so lucky and so blessed and with not much of anything to complain about? Sometimes it almost makes me feel guilty to have all the things we do. I mean, we don't ever have "tons" of money, but we usually make do fine (thanks to our family that helped us get on our feet). Now that our pay is worked out and I am working, we have enough to do just about whatever we feel like. I don't "NEED" anything. I have everything I need. I do "WANT" things just like everyone. I usually am able to buy most anything I want with the exception of big ticket items. For example, if I am shopping and see a shirt I like, I can usually afford to add it to my basket. I am so thankful that I am able to have everything I do and I know I don't always deserve it.

I always wonder how people end up in the positions they are in. Is it their fault? Did they even have a choice? How did I get so amazingly lucky to have a wonderful family that would do ANYTHING for me (and I do mean anything)? How did I get to grow up in a loving environment like I did and have the great life experiences that I've had and others don't? Who decides that and why is it fair? Fortunately, Charles has also had the same story. We both have just "always been provided for". Our families have worked very hard to get us to where we are and I just wanted to let everyone know that I do think about it and I am very appreciative.

Ahh. Thank you for letting me get that out. I've been needing to blog that for some time now.

Today Charles and I drove down to the new Petco in Pearl City for the grand opening. I found an extra-large kitty litterbox that Felix can actually fit in! I was very excited. We also got Bourbon an extra large tennis ball which he tore up immediately. We are slowly learning from that mistake. We always want to have hope that the toy might make it longer than a few minutes...but that usually doesn't happen. Yet we keep trying.

Now we're back home and I just woke up from a long nap and now I am blogging. Just a lazy Saturday. I am doing laundry and I need to clean up the house. Those are the plans for the rest of the evening.

Now that you have all been updated, I am going to get started on my housework. Love you all.

Fourth of July Weekend...

Aloha everyone! I'm so sad that the holiday weekend has come to an end. Back to work for both Charles and I tomorrow. We have been busy the past two days though. On the fourth, we headed over to Hickham Air Force Base Beach for the Beach Blast. There were so many people there, but we managed to find a spot to set out our towels. They had a live band and tons of rides for all the kiddos that are everywhere here. The water is always so clear and calm there and I always enjoy it. It was warm too, so we were able to swim without freezing.

After the beach, we headed home to clean up and get ready for our fave meal....SUSHI! So off to Waikiki we went. We got there right when the fireworks were starting, so we walked the few blocks to the beach to watch them. I had no idea what I was getting into. There were globs of people headed in every which way trying to get to the beach. Once we hit the sand I couldn't believe it. I have never seen so many people in one spot in my life. You couldn't move up and down the beach. There were so many people standing for miles that we were nearly shoulder to shoulder. We were so far away from the fireworks that we could see them, but we couldn't hear the pop when they went off. After just a few minutes of fireworks it began to rain, and I was kind of aldready "over" the whole situation. I don't like having to share my personal space with all those people. Especially when most of them are pushy squeaky little japanese tourists that don't mind shoving you to get where they need to be.

So we headed back downtown to our favorite sushi restaurant called Doraku. We always sit on the balcony outside under the umbrella. It was so yummy...just as it always is.

After we had filled our bellies, we were ready to fall into bed. But first we had to battle the traffic. It took us nearly an hour to battle the 8 or so miles we were away from the house. UGH! I hate traffic. Good thing I made Charles drive...Besides, I would have never made it in the stick shift for an hour. It was way past my bedtime and I fell asleep. We finally made it home around 10:30 pm.

We were determined to sleep in on Sunday, and we did until about nine or ten. Bourbon is always ready to go out, so it makes it difficult. Around one, we headed out to pick up Charles' rental gear from the dive shop, and were on our way to Shark's Cove at the North Shore. More traffic....There usually isn't any up on North Shore, but today was a holiday weekend so there were a lot more people out and about. We got there and much to my surprise....NO BEACH....just a rocky shore. I carefully set up my little area and waited for the guys to finish diving. They said that the dive was really good and there were lots of caves to go in.

Then we packed up and headed back home.....Needless to say, MORE TRAFFIC. Apparently, Fourth of July weekend is a huge deal on this island.

Now we're home and in bed...our little family all cuddled up in the covers watching Animal Planet. I'm about the hit the sack to be rested for work tomorrow. Hope you all enjoy the photos. I have some videos, but I will have to put them up later.

Happy Fourth of July!

Hey everybody! I hope everyone is having or had a wonderful holiday. I'm so excited to be spending it here in Pearl Harbor. I can't wait to see the fireworks tonight! I hear they are amazing. Just wanted to post a quick thought! I will blog later on the fireworks! Love and miss everyone. XOXO Charles and Lacie