I'm baaaaack
So I have tons to catch up on, but before diving into work and LJ and all that fill my desk hours... here it is: my long awaited Hawaii post!
Friday started off great -- I love 4am Runs with Bums(TM). Down Venice beach and part of the Marina Del Rey bike path with some friendly support from local bench residents and police. It was a bit dark, but Mike (Disney boy) walked while I ran so that I wasn't out there all alone. And I had a great energizing run. Perfect start to a vacation.
Then to the airport. Met up with Jeff, got on the plane, and we found a way to get to sit by each other. Wheee... Sleeping and reading and talking 'til we made it to Hawaii. Found the hotel, and took a walk along the beach. Ate yummy sushi. Relaxed and then went in the water -- it felt good, but was pretty rocky. Apparently much of the coastline there is. Later met up with his roommate, Tod, and Lindsey (his other roommate and Tod's girlfriend). I'm always a bit nervous with meeting friends of friends (especially when I'm going to be spending a large amount of time with them) but I really liked them both. They were friendly and interesting and we ended up getting along really well. We went to the "World's Most Beautiful Chinese Restaurant" which was hosting an 8th grade (at best guess) graduation dance and about to close. So we were entertained by young dancers and loud music.
Saturday morning I ran... a nice 11 miles around a crater and down some areas near the beach. I was amazed at the number of people out running, walking, and just enjoying the outdoors at 6:30 in the morning. Irvine has fewer people out then by far, and since most people are there on vacation it sorta surprised me. I guess you have to run then because it gets so warm/humid.
That afternoon Jeff and I drove around the island -- well, part of it. We sorta ran out of time for going much farther since the wedding was that night. Which was ok with me. I liked seeing the other parts of the island, but touring by car has never been my favorite thing. Car rides just tend to make me sleepy, and with only a few days in a place I'd really rather stay more in one area and do more.
That evening was the wedding, which was beautiful. On a lawn right next to a beach (that was fairly narrow) so the backdrop was a little (fake) island and the ocean. Oh, and an occasional beach walker or paddler. It incorporated some island traditions, which was fun to see -- like the couple greeting each other by exchanging leis, and giving leis to their parents. The ceremony had some great wording. A bit too much of an emphasis on being faithful for my taste, but maybe that is because I see deciding to marry someone as already saying you will be faithful. And it could have just been me. I just felt it had extra emphasis sometimes.
After was the reception. And there was a dolphin pool at this hotel, so while hanging out outside and the final touches were put on before we were able to go into the room for the dinner, Jeff, Tod, Lindsey and I went to watch the dolphins. And oh did we see them. Gotta love exhibitionist dolphins... they were all kinds of boisterous and mate-y.
There was one part that did kinda bug me... I don't really drink. Jeff knows that. But he still seems convinced that everyone should. So at the reception he somewhat mocked that I was drinking water, and then at one point offered me a sip of Nick's Chocolate Martini, a special drink of the grooms. Sounded interested, so I tasted it. Then he did the whole "oh you took it from me now you have to drink it" thing. Which bugs me. I'm an adult, and I'll drink if and when I decide to. Instead of that making me want to, it made me resolve not to (whereas I had been considering having a drink at some point if I was comfortable -- that somewhat killed the comfort). So I just basically said that things like that will make me not drink, but never the opposite, and he let it go. However, it did put me in a stubborn/less willing to just relax kind of mood. It's just how I work. So when it came to dancing, I just didn't want to. And I didn't feel like making myself at all comfortable because he would enjoy it, so I didn't. It also helped that Tod hates dancing and Lindsey respects that but loves it, so she and Jeff danced some. I felt badly about not dancing, but seriously, I will do things to make other people happy when I feel they are respecting my wishes in other areas. And I wasn't feeling that. That was about the only negative part of the trip though.
Sunday morning's run felt pretty good... lots of running on sand, and then on the bike path along the beach for about 5 miles. Then all 4 of us went to visit the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor. Read lots of info panels at the site before heading out and seeing it, and it was... deep? intense? Not sure what the word is... maybe touching, or reflective. Seeing the decks, and having some picture in my mind from what those people had gone through.
The afternoon was spent reading (and napping) on the beach, and then in the evening I needed a break from company and went for a walk and did some postcarding on the beach. It was good -- I really do need some of my own time when I'm around most people. There are a few that I could easily spend 5 days with, but not that many. I guess I just need time with my thoughts that I can't always have in company.
Sunday evening we went out to a nice dinner (all 4 of us). It was a really long walk from the hotel, but it was a pleasant one. Then dinner, where Tod was cute -- ordered a bottle of wine, but made sure to mention to me "don't feel like you have to drink any of that". It just made me a lot more comfortable. But I guess I still feel a bit out of place with that group of 3. I mean, they all live together and so know each other decently well, and then the issue of money came up, and in general money talk makes me uncomfortable. I think it was stock option talk or some such... but yeah, made me definitely feel less part of the group. I like my comfortable friends where I really feel I can just be me. I could pretty much with them, but it wasn't the same as being there with a group of 4 that I really know -- where we all share jokes and more of our lives.
Monday was beautiful and spent at Hanuma Bay -- a wonderful snorkeling spot. Tod and Lindsey saw sea turtles, but Jeff and I saw huge fish (like a few feet in length) that just swam right by us. And then we relaxed on that beach most of the day. I think that might have been my favorite outing of the trip. And that day ended really nicely as well -- Jeff and I went down to the beach right outside the hotel and watched the sunset and watched kids playing on the beach. There was this one little kid -- I'm guessing about 3 and a half -- and his mom was trying to take a picture of him with a tree and the ocean behind him. At one point, he runs from the tree (about 10 feet from us) and comes over and sits down right by Jeff, saying he wants his picture there instead. So all of us laughing, his mom took it. Later she did get him to stand by the tree, but he liked sitting by us and came back again briefly.
Tuesday morning I ran again around the crater I had gone around on Saturday, but this time I went inside and climbed to the top. Made it into a bit of a hike and run combo as parts of the trail were steep and there were a number of flights of stairs for getting to the very top. But the view was worth it! I could see forever -- in the crater, over the ocean and beaches... it was breathtaking (or maybe it was the running that did that... hmmm).
But my visit was over, so I had to run down and back to the hotel and then after one last walk along the beach with Jeff it was time to go to the airport and come home.
Overall, a fun, relaxing trip. Learned a number of things about me, and about Jeff, and just about life. It was a nice break from work and day to day life. I enjoyed the trip, and I'm definitely glad I went. I took some (not too many) pictures, and I will try to get those off my camera at some point and will post a link once I do. But I am back now, and happy to be home.
Friday started off great -- I love 4am Runs with Bums(TM). Down Venice beach and part of the Marina Del Rey bike path with some friendly support from local bench residents and police. It was a bit dark, but Mike (Disney boy) walked while I ran so that I wasn't out there all alone. And I had a great energizing run. Perfect start to a vacation.
Then to the airport. Met up with Jeff, got on the plane, and we found a way to get to sit by each other. Wheee... Sleeping and reading and talking 'til we made it to Hawaii. Found the hotel, and took a walk along the beach. Ate yummy sushi. Relaxed and then went in the water -- it felt good, but was pretty rocky. Apparently much of the coastline there is. Later met up with his roommate, Tod, and Lindsey (his other roommate and Tod's girlfriend). I'm always a bit nervous with meeting friends of friends (especially when I'm going to be spending a large amount of time with them) but I really liked them both. They were friendly and interesting and we ended up getting along really well. We went to the "World's Most Beautiful Chinese Restaurant" which was hosting an 8th grade (at best guess) graduation dance and about to close. So we were entertained by young dancers and loud music.
Saturday morning I ran... a nice 11 miles around a crater and down some areas near the beach. I was amazed at the number of people out running, walking, and just enjoying the outdoors at 6:30 in the morning. Irvine has fewer people out then by far, and since most people are there on vacation it sorta surprised me. I guess you have to run then because it gets so warm/humid.
That afternoon Jeff and I drove around the island -- well, part of it. We sorta ran out of time for going much farther since the wedding was that night. Which was ok with me. I liked seeing the other parts of the island, but touring by car has never been my favorite thing. Car rides just tend to make me sleepy, and with only a few days in a place I'd really rather stay more in one area and do more.
That evening was the wedding, which was beautiful. On a lawn right next to a beach (that was fairly narrow) so the backdrop was a little (fake) island and the ocean. Oh, and an occasional beach walker or paddler. It incorporated some island traditions, which was fun to see -- like the couple greeting each other by exchanging leis, and giving leis to their parents. The ceremony had some great wording. A bit too much of an emphasis on being faithful for my taste, but maybe that is because I see deciding to marry someone as already saying you will be faithful. And it could have just been me. I just felt it had extra emphasis sometimes.
After was the reception. And there was a dolphin pool at this hotel, so while hanging out outside and the final touches were put on before we were able to go into the room for the dinner, Jeff, Tod, Lindsey and I went to watch the dolphins. And oh did we see them. Gotta love exhibitionist dolphins... they were all kinds of boisterous and mate-y.
There was one part that did kinda bug me... I don't really drink. Jeff knows that. But he still seems convinced that everyone should. So at the reception he somewhat mocked that I was drinking water, and then at one point offered me a sip of Nick's Chocolate Martini, a special drink of the grooms. Sounded interested, so I tasted it. Then he did the whole "oh you took it from me now you have to drink it" thing. Which bugs me. I'm an adult, and I'll drink if and when I decide to. Instead of that making me want to, it made me resolve not to (whereas I had been considering having a drink at some point if I was comfortable -- that somewhat killed the comfort). So I just basically said that things like that will make me not drink, but never the opposite, and he let it go. However, it did put me in a stubborn/less willing to just relax kind of mood. It's just how I work. So when it came to dancing, I just didn't want to. And I didn't feel like making myself at all comfortable because he would enjoy it, so I didn't. It also helped that Tod hates dancing and Lindsey respects that but loves it, so she and Jeff danced some. I felt badly about not dancing, but seriously, I will do things to make other people happy when I feel they are respecting my wishes in other areas. And I wasn't feeling that. That was about the only negative part of the trip though.
Sunday morning's run felt pretty good... lots of running on sand, and then on the bike path along the beach for about 5 miles. Then all 4 of us went to visit the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor. Read lots of info panels at the site before heading out and seeing it, and it was... deep? intense? Not sure what the word is... maybe touching, or reflective. Seeing the decks, and having some picture in my mind from what those people had gone through.
The afternoon was spent reading (and napping) on the beach, and then in the evening I needed a break from company and went for a walk and did some postcarding on the beach. It was good -- I really do need some of my own time when I'm around most people. There are a few that I could easily spend 5 days with, but not that many. I guess I just need time with my thoughts that I can't always have in company.
Sunday evening we went out to a nice dinner (all 4 of us). It was a really long walk from the hotel, but it was a pleasant one. Then dinner, where Tod was cute -- ordered a bottle of wine, but made sure to mention to me "don't feel like you have to drink any of that". It just made me a lot more comfortable. But I guess I still feel a bit out of place with that group of 3. I mean, they all live together and so know each other decently well, and then the issue of money came up, and in general money talk makes me uncomfortable. I think it was stock option talk or some such... but yeah, made me definitely feel less part of the group. I like my comfortable friends where I really feel I can just be me. I could pretty much with them, but it wasn't the same as being there with a group of 4 that I really know -- where we all share jokes and more of our lives.
Monday was beautiful and spent at Hanuma Bay -- a wonderful snorkeling spot. Tod and Lindsey saw sea turtles, but Jeff and I saw huge fish (like a few feet in length) that just swam right by us. And then we relaxed on that beach most of the day. I think that might have been my favorite outing of the trip. And that day ended really nicely as well -- Jeff and I went down to the beach right outside the hotel and watched the sunset and watched kids playing on the beach. There was this one little kid -- I'm guessing about 3 and a half -- and his mom was trying to take a picture of him with a tree and the ocean behind him. At one point, he runs from the tree (about 10 feet from us) and comes over and sits down right by Jeff, saying he wants his picture there instead. So all of us laughing, his mom took it. Later she did get him to stand by the tree, but he liked sitting by us and came back again briefly.
Tuesday morning I ran again around the crater I had gone around on Saturday, but this time I went inside and climbed to the top. Made it into a bit of a hike and run combo as parts of the trail were steep and there were a number of flights of stairs for getting to the very top. But the view was worth it! I could see forever -- in the crater, over the ocean and beaches... it was breathtaking (or maybe it was the running that did that... hmmm).
But my visit was over, so I had to run down and back to the hotel and then after one last walk along the beach with Jeff it was time to go to the airport and come home.
Overall, a fun, relaxing trip. Learned a number of things about me, and about Jeff, and just about life. It was a nice break from work and day to day life. I enjoyed the trip, and I'm definitely glad I went. I took some (not too many) pictures, and I will try to get those off my camera at some point and will post a link once I do. But I am back now, and happy to be home.