Hawaii: Day 1

As many of you might be aware (ha, I talk like there are hordes of people) I went to Hawaii- not very long ago. Seems kind of a dream now. I know I went.. I have evidence of such adventures... But it's a far away memory... 

Many moons ago, Patty & Ileah (aunt and cousin) informed me that she was taking Grandma's ashes back to Hawaii, they were making a trip out of it. I should come. 

(*Note. Grandma Isbell is from Hawaii... hence the return) 

After much dispute of lack of funds, not wanting to miss work, and varied excuses... my car got totaled. This suddenly opened another avenue of maybe. No gas/insurance/car payment. BAM! Endless possibilities. Thank goodness for public transit. So i folded and agreed and made my plans. These plans involved my friend Brenna who happens to be in the navy and stationed on Oahu. Which turned into more than I bargained for with my island hoping escapades. 

And with this, we begin. 

I leave work Friday, rush to the link rail to take me to the airport. Why waste the evening going home when I could fly out that night. Logic was sound. Actions may vary. 

I get to my flight and on my plane and hawaiian music is playing in the background and there are fancy menus on each seat that have the itinerary for the trip. I was amused. I was even more delighted to see that I got the row to myself. Score- considering the 6 hour flight. I was convinced, due to my experience at work, that I would be able to fall asleep anywhere and in a wink. This was false. And annoying. But who wants to hear about a long flight? That's even worse than living it. 

Brenna greets me at passenger pick up with a lei in hand and we head off. (It's very late at this point and I turn into useless jabber) 

DAY 1!

Brenna (seen above) takes me to a place called Yogur story. While I am convinced it's going to be some random food stand with variations of yogurt. It wasn't. And there was no yogurt anywhere in sight. 

 But there was this..

 And this... 

NEXT UP! 

PEARL HARBOR! 

*please note. I am fascinated by WWII. I won't go into crazy detail on it, but just know that I am. It helps to have had grandparents that fought and had stories to tell. Grandma Isbell was in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked- which we have some original pictures from.  

So, needless to say, and I will say it anyway, Pearl Harbor was a requirement for my adventure. 

 Oddly enough, even though she had been stationed there a few years, she had yet to go. 

 The USS Arizona Memorial

 Is "debark" a word?

 USS Missouri 

 These are all the men that were trapped on the Arizona. 

 These are the men who survived, but chose to be returned to their ship and their crew after they passed away. 

 I'm ridiculous. 

Split second decision turned into Leonard's

And goodness. 

Another note: All day I kept looking around stunned, repeating.. I'm in Hawaii... This varied from question to statement to shock and repeat. 

Which turned to wandering... 

 Waikiki 

 Be-where-your-feet-are

Dinner

 WAS DELICIOUS!!! 

We met up with her friends at this place- Duke's, which is named after this insanely awesome surfer who won olympic medals. It was fun to meet Brenna's friends- supposedly they wanted to meet me. I think they really just wanted to see a mormon in the flesh... (haha jk) 

We proceeded to wander downtown where there were crazy amounts of street performers- extremely talented people. For example: this kid duo- we came up on them singing Beach Boys, playing the keyboard and belting their tunes. They flirted with the crowd and I swear they couldn't be older than 10. Super talented. Very alarming. 

Wander wander wander... good conversation.. fun people.. exhaustion hits and morning comes early. 

End day 1. 

NOTE: I have about 400 pictures that I took on this trip. Some repetitive.. some garbage... While it might not seem to be, this is the condensed version. 

In Hawaii- btw

More legit pics... Later?

Doctor Who... Maybe I went a little overboard...

So I may or may not have been watching a lot of Doctor Who. What can I say, I got addicted when I had my asthma attack a few weeks ago. Well.. Last Saturday, (like day before yesterday), knowing that the end of David Tennant as The Doctor, I may have gotten a little over-enthused and had a mass marathon. 

In typical Amanda fashion, I got way too into it. Yelling, gasping, and laughing (loudly) at all the appropriate moments. And of course, also in standard fashion, Tessa caught me in the act of my ridiculous behavior. 

After much laughter, she decided that she would write to Doctor Who, and let him know that he ruined her life. 

The letter proceeds as follows: 

Sept 1, 2012

Dear Dr. Who (or rather THE Doctor, or even David),

      

     You may ask why, David... There is no need to explain much further than this, the content of this letter relates to the time of your life in the form of one, David Tennant. Now, I must confess my acquaintance with yourself and your adventures is quite limited- as in I have only witnessed 1 1/2 episodes of your life, the final ones of your brief existence as David (everything must be considered brief in the context of a 900 year old life, however, as you will see shortly, the brevity was still too long for me.) I must compliment you on your composure and sensible action during what must be the longest death march (pardon me, regeneration march) in all of history and all possible realities. It is only more impressive that you maintained such composure while billions of Masters laughed maniacally and Hell itself descended. Very impressive. This and all other pleasantries aside (how are you? This police box is larger on the inside, etc), I must turn to the serious purpose of my writing. 

   

     It seems you have strung along many women. However, from all I can gather, it seems the majority find some happy end- a subpar doctor (albeit more- er, expressive) sprung from a severed hand, erased memories and a wedding, adventures with Captain Jack and Mickey, a normal life with a 14 year old son (whom you save), and a successful book. All very fine happily ever afters. But there is one heart you've strung along (even if unwittingly) and crushed by regenerating. And there is one life you've ruined (that would be mine). The crushed heart? Not me. My roommate. If I could even begin to express the hours spent, even in the last 24 hours alone, watching your every step, rejoicing in your triumphs, laughing at your British (Scottish?) humor, gasping at your life's high suspense, and crying as she sees your pain- you could perhaps begin to understand the depth of her love, and consequently, the depth of her sorrow, her despair in losing.. you.. as David. She is so affected; she is mad for grief. How could you so selfishly regenerate leaving the heart of a young woman devastated- past, present and future, and thereby ruin her innocent roommates life- MY LIFE! I apologize, but I completely blame you. The thought of allowing you to live, hundreds, thousands, or bazillions of years without knowing the damage you've done- was unbearable. Your charms as David Tennant have done me great wrong. My only consolation is the potential of a me living free of this trauma in a parallel or alternate universe. You have two hearts! Would it have been too much to give Amanda one of them and spare me this sadness? 

  

     Thanks for possibly forever ruining the life of an innocent bystander. Congratulations on regenerating when death seemed a possibility every moment for 2 episodes, even if your new self caused some destruction and seemed keen on crashing. I hope you crashed. 

Geronimo,

       Tessa