I have been scolded by Michelle for no new blog posts in "10 whole days." 

Where should I pick up from... On Saturday, March 13, we took Rusty to Pacific Paws at the Koko Marina, for a much needed grooming. Pacific Paws also has doggie day care, as well as boarding - which we need to start looking into, so we are prepared for a visit home at some point :). They were VERY friendly, and knowledgeable. Told us the name of a new oral medication for flea prevention, that supposedly works, unlike Advantix and the other topicals we have tried. 

While Rusty was getting groomed up, we met up with Tony's friend Jimmy, who took us around the Koko Head/Hawaii Kai area. We had a nice breakfast, on the water. Hawaii Kai is gorgeous! 

Rusty only took about 2 hours, and when we picked him up he was very excited to see us. He looked SO HANDSOME!! They did a great job! 

Tony and I were on opposite schedules most of last week, with him working during the day and me at night. We watched a lot of March Madness basketball, and saw our brackets slowly falling apart, one by one! Very sad to see the Terps out :(

On Friday night, we ate dinner at PF Changs, thanks to the Davidson Family (our Hanukkah present). After that we headed to Dave & Buster's for some fun and games! 

Tony was excited to get out and surf the big south shore swell over the weekend. He went out on a friend's boat in Hawaii Kai, and surfed the "biggest wave" he has "ever surfed." After I finished work on Saturday night, Tony met me at work and we had a yummy Hula Grill dinner - the Ahi is soooo good! Tony enjoyed the Coconut Shrimp.

We had a tough pool match up on Sunday, for our pool league. Tony's game will soon improve when his birthday present (coughpoolcuecough) arrives in the next few weeks. More details and pics to come when that arrives! 

Today, I am off work, and have the car - so I am off to run errands at my favorite place, Target. I may even try to surprise Tony at his softball game tonight! 

We have tickets to Thursday night's Honolulu Twestival, at Oceans 808, which we will be attending as long as I don't get called into work for my On Call shift. Here is a quick explanation of Twestival:

On Thursday 25 March 2010, people in hundreds of cities around the world will come together offline to rally around the important cause of Education by hosting local events to have fun and create awareness.  Twestival™ (or Twitter Festival) uses social media for social good.  All of the local events are organized 100% by volunteers and 100% of all ticket sales and donations go direct to projects.

There will be pupus, prizes and lots of live music! I am excited to check it out!

This weekend is also the Honolulu Family Festival, aka a carnival. I promise more pictures and stories to come!! Tony's birthday is less than 2 weeks away!!

Aloha!! 

Kyle's Trip to Hawaii

Aloha! Today is the last day of Kyle's Hawaiian vacation. Here is a recap...

I mentioned Kyle's first night in my last post - but here are a few pictures from the Big Kahuna 3D Mini Golf course.

 

  

 

The next morning we went to Hanauma Bay to go snorkeling, but the parking lot was full, so we gave Kyle a little tour of some beaches. We started off at the blowhole, where there were some whales off in the distance. Tony and Kyle saw a tail of one, and I only saw one blow out water. Next we headed to Sandy Beach.

 

After checking out a few other spots, we headed back to Hanauma Bay.

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

On Saturday afternoon, we went to a Yelp party at Ala Moana Beach Park. Emi, the Honolulu Community Manager for Yelp, rented 4 Stand Up Paddle Boards and we had a pot luck lunch. I made some yummy Valentine Day cupcakes. Kyle and Tony got out and paddled around on the SUP (Stand Up Paddle) boards... which made me want to try it... I got up... paddled 15 feet away, tried to turn... and fell off! No fun. I worked that night, and afterward, Tony, Kyle, Russell and I went to the movies to see Valentine's Day. It was good, not great. The boys weren't big fans. Tony and I are celebrating Valentine's Day next weekend - hopefully getting couples massages!! 

Valentine's Day/Sunday afternoon, Tony and Kyle went to Diamondhead Beach, while I shopped around Waikiki looking for a V-day gift for Tony. I found him a new extra stretchy Rip Curl swim suit and a pair of Rainbows flip flops. Tony got me an awesome camera - which arrived on Tuesday... pictures to come! Sunday night was pool league night at Hawaiian Brian's Billiards. I played first for the team... and lost all 4 matches :0(. Tony played last and sealed the win for our team! After pool, we went to LuLu's for some amazing Kalua Pork Nachos. On Monday, Tony, Kyle and Russell drove to the North Shore. I had to work that night, so I didn't join them. 

On Tuesday, Tony returned to work, and Kyle and I went to Waikiki beach.

 

When we got back from the beach, we both realized how much color we had gotten!! Kyle had a racing stripe down his arm and my butt was bright red!! My new camera had arrived (thanks for sending Jill, thanks Shannon for selling)!!

Check out Rusty's nose from at least 6ft away!! 

 

My awesomely huge Valentine's Day balloons! 

  

The mountains from our Lanai! 

 

More stories and pictures to come - but now I have to get ready to take Kyle to the airport and for work tonight!

xoxo

Hello, Hello!! I am very sorry for the break since the last post! Let's start where we left off...

On January 27th, we went to a Yelp Elite Party at Tiki's Grill and Bar.

We were so impressed with the party - when we walked up we signed in and got our name tags. PuPus were being walked around - including yummy coconut shrimp, steak skewers, and crab cakes (nothing like MD). There was a great two man band. Everything was sponsored by Tiki's, Skyy Vodka, Jose Cuervo, Captain Morgan, Barefoot Wines & the Kona Brewing Company - so there was NO cost!! Can't wait until the next party!

 

  

  

We even made it on the event's story board... 

The next day I went on a 3rd interview for a job at Hula Grill Waikiki... and got offered the job!! I had orientation that Sunday. I will be starting out as Cocktail, and will eventually become bartender! Hula Grill is part of TS Restaurants - same owner as Duke's Canoe Club Waikiki, as well 11 other restaurants in Hawaii and California!

On Saturday, Tony, Russell and I went to Diamondhead Beach. Tony took his board out, and I actually got to watch him surf - since the break is closer than in Waikiki.

 

  

  

That night, we went to La Cucaracha for dinner - not near as good as the first time we went. The service was great - but the place is a big rip off. My taquitos were over-fried so there was no cheese left, just over cooked chicken. 

 

 

After the new job orientation, on Sunday, Tony and I went to Hawaiian Brian's for our pool league. Tony won his games (ALL OF THEM), and I lost mine... but our team won!

Honolulu has some strict liquor laws - so on Monday, I had to go take a class at the Liquor Commission. Everyone that works in a restaurant has to be registered with the Liquor Commission - and bartenders and managers have to take a 4 hour class. Needless to say it was a long morning, but the test was 25 questions, and all common sense. 

On Wednesday night, Tony left for his snowboarding trip to Mammoth, California. Mike and Nick met him there. He gets back tomorrow, and has taken lots of pics, so I will add those this week.

Unfortunately the day Tony was to leave, I woke up with a sore throat. The next day, the sore throat turned into a full blown cold - stuffy head & nose, weak, sore threat... the works. I had my first night of work on Thursday night - training as a Greeter (hostess). The head cold got so bad that by 8:30 I started to feel faint. They sent me home from work so that I could get some rest. They even switched my Friday shift to Sunday - so I stayed in bed in a NyQuil induced sleep from Thursday night until Sunday afternoon. I worked again last night, training as a Dining Room Cocktail. Luckily, I was feeling much better, compared to Thursday, but still not 100%. The shift went very well and I had a great trainer.  I work again tonight, as well as the rest of the week.

I am very excited for Tony's return, as is Rusty, who looks for him to come through the door every afternoon. On Thursday, Tony's cousin Kyle will be arriving - and will be vacationing with us until the following week. We are very excited to have him visit - and have lots of fun stuff planned.

Again, sorry for the delay in posts - but being sick is no fun, and sitting at the computer made me weazy. I promise to be better!

xoxo

Aloha! Hope everyone is having a good week so far.

My friend Jamie and her father arrived in Hawaii on Thursday. They were in town for Jamie's cousin's wedding. On Friday night, they met us for dinner at our very first experience with Thai food. We went to Phuket Thai. I ordered the Sampler Platter for an appetizer - just so we could try a little bit of everything. The platter came with Spring Rolls, Fish Patties, Shrimp Rolls and Stuffed Chicken Wings. Our first mistake was missing the word "stuffed" in the chicken wings - Tony cut into this odd looking "chicken wing" and we were more than surprised to find noodles and some other crazy stuff inside (looked like the chicken wing had intestines!) Neither of us really liked the taste of it, and I don't think we got over the sight of cutting it open (and lets just say the 2nd one just sat on the plate, going uneaten). I have had Shrimp Rolls at pho restaurants before, and already knew I wasn't a fan. Our guests tried it, and weren't into the basil taste. I enjoyed the Spring Rolls, but had mixed feelings on the fish patties.  Next time I think we will skip the sampler platter and go with just the spring rolls!

For dinner Tony ordered the Thai Crispy Fried Chicken. I ordered the Seafood Combination, minus the fish. Jamie, ordered the Thai Fried Noodles with Chicken. I didn't try the other two dishes that were ordered - Russell ordered a curry dish and Jamie's Dad a broccoli noodle dish. Tony's chicken was very good. I really liked Jamie's Thai Fried Noodles - I think I may order this next time with shrimp, because I was mixing hers with my Seafood Combination, and it was really good. She was surprised by the spiciness of the dish.  Tony surprisingly liked the restaurant, and we both agreed we will be trying Thai again!

Jamie and her Dad

Russell & Tony

Me & Jamie

On Saturday, Tony went surfing with his friend Mike. He had a really great time, and caught his first barrel! That afternoon we took Rusty to a beach by Diamondhead. Rusty hasn't been off leash anywhere besides inside the apartment, since we moved to Hawaii, so we were really excited to take him there! He stayed closer to us off leash, then he does on a leash!

 

 

 

 

 

Rusty swimming above the water... 

 

There was a modeling shoot while we were there! 

 

 

 

 

 

 Saturday night, Russell joined us for some Pizza Hut pizzas at the apartment. Afterward, we went to Dave & Buster's for some games. Tony, of course, won a monkey from the giant claw machine!

On Sunday, Tony and I went to our first week of the pool league we joined at Hawaiian Brian's Billiards. Unfortunately, the team we were supposed to play couldn't make it, so we will be playing TWO teams this coming Sunday.

 

We had a good time, learning some new techniques from our team captain, Dean.

That's all for now... more to come later this week.

xoxo & aloha