Hawaii 4.0 - A Treacherous Ride

After watching the sunrise, we loaded back into the nice warm bus and headed down the volcano a bit to a drop off point to begin our 28.2 mile bike ride down the volcano to the beach below (far, far, below!). We got a long safety brief (blah, blah, blah) about riding in single file, keeping our distance from other riders, not crossing the yellow line into oncoming traffic (that was pretty intuitive to me, but I guess they had to mention it!), to keep a safe speed of 18-25 miles per hour (surely I can handle that!) and to remember to tip our guides (how that is part of safety, I am not quite sure).

At this point I was feeling pretty confident that I was not only going to have a great ride but that my days riding a bike as a kid would help me race down the mountain with finesse. They gave us gloves, a bike, and a wicked cool helmet and we started down the mountain. Not one switchback later and I was in a sheer panic...my bike won't STOP!!! I am hurling down the side of a volcano and my brakes won't save me! Switchback after switchback I tried pumping the breaks...it sounded simple enough during the safety briefing, but when it became a matter of life and death it just didn't work! I tried pumping the breaks and all I got was a heart pumping faster as I continued speeding down the mountain!

About 7 miles into the ride, we all stopped for a photo opportunity and I threw myself into Kevin's arms crying that I was surely going to die on that mountain. He lovingly told me I didn't have to ride anymore and that I could get into the van that was following our group (to carry the wimps like me who can't handle the speed)...but my ego wouldn't let me. I was pretty sure I was going to die, and not only would it be the fault of my seemingly missing brakes, but also my pride.


So, we were off again, and this time I had a new resolve - I was going to enjoy this even if it killed me! Well, we made it to the beach and all in all it was a great experience, even if I cried half the time down and wanted to kill my daredevil little sister for egging the guide faster and faster down the volcano. I was COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone - that's for sure!

Photo Op!

WE MADE IT!!!

That's a look of relief!

Hawaii 3.0 - Sunrise on Haleakala

Why on earth would anyone request to be woken up at 2AM while on vacation? Oh...because they are crazy and want to watch the sunrise from the top of a volcano! Well, it sounds really fantastic on the flier..."watch the sun rise over the Hawaiian Islands from the top of the Haleakala crater" but what they don't mention is that the tour company brings you up the mountain so early that by the time the sun actually rises you are too tired to stay awake and watch it and are frozen solid from the frigid winds of the volcano! The company does provide wind breakers, but it was FREEZING (by Hawaiian standards at least) on that mountain!! However, I have to admit that it was all worth it when the sun finally rose! After standing and staring at the dark horizon for an hour waiting for this life changing event to take place, it was pretty exciting when we finally saw the sun again! Of course, I took plenty of pictures so all of you can feel like you are watching the sun come up too!

Kevin, Me, Brother Mark, Sister Stacie, Dad, and Mom

before driving up the mountain

Hold me up Honey - I'm tired!

On the top of the volcano waiting for the sunrise

Kevin and Leslie's thoughts: "It is always coldest (or is it darkest?) just before the sun rises...

it can only get warmer, right?"

Look! Hope that the sun WILL rise!

Getting closer...

Much closer now!

Just rise already!

Stacie was a real trooper!

Mom and Dad - freezing, but trying not to show it

I've never been so thankful for the sun to rise!

Here it comes!

It is going to be a beautiful day!

Hawaii 2.0 - Cheeseburger in Paradise

No trip to Maui is complete without visiting the famous Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant located in Lahaina. What can be better than eating greasy cheeseburgers and onion rings (my favorite!) in an open-air restaurant complete with a cool ocean breeze while watching the sun go down over the water, all the while listening to the acoustic strums and strains of a live singer/guitarist?

Me and my honey!

Me and my brother, MarkA great picture minus the wind blowing my hair!

Me and my dad...do you think we look related?

Hawaii 1.0 - The Resort

Our trip to Hawaii was FABULOUS! A few years ago, my parents bought a timeshare at the Westin Ka'anapali Resort on the island of Maui (just up the street from Lahaina on the west side of the island) and when they went two years ago for the first time, Kevin and I were unable to go (we were living it up in Russia!) so needless to say, we were very excited for our big vacation! We had such an amazing time and made so many memories and actually remembered to take pictures! In order to not overwhelm myself with documenting our trip, I will be breaking the vacation down into parts for all of you to enjoy!

Views from Our Window

See the happy people on the beach? That was me - happily burning (I didn't get too burned...just created some weird tan lines when I missed some spots!), while Kevin was happily snorkeling!

View from the Lobby

He's Home!!

After 15 LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGGG weeks, Kevin is finally home safe and sound! To celebrate the end of a long summer apart, Kevin and I vacationed in Hawaii with my family for a week (more to come on our vacation, I promise!), but then sadly had to separate again as I flew to Virginia to go back to work and Kevin flew back to Houston to pick up the car and start the 22 hour drive home. Happily, our separation didn't last long as Kevin showed up on my doorstep a day earlier than planned after driving home from Houston in a speedy day and a half! I was in total shock to see him home so early (let's just say he didn't sleep much and only stopped for gas and food!) and burst in to tears! I couldn't be happier! Thanks, babe for driving home like a maniac so I could see you a day earlier...I love you!

We Partied until the Breaking Dawn!

After much anticipation, Breaking Dawn was released at 12:01AM Saturday morning...and along with my fun friends Kelly, Nora, and Stacey, I was there to be one of the first to buy it (along with every other nerdy, Edward-obsessed, Jacob-hating, wannabee vampires in the Williamsburg area!).


We started the evening as every other girls night out should start - with ice cream and lots of chatting - and then headed over to Barnes and Noble to wait with bated breath until midnight (or rather 12:01). Well, after an hour of wandering around B&N in my Team Edward shirt (Kelly sported a cute "I am NOT Switzerland...Team Edward" shirt that she made herself...super cute!), making a "Bella Bracelet," watching this really weird kid wander around trying to pick up on vampire lovin' girls, and taking pictures under the balloon canopy, we decided that we had had enough of the oddly attired adolescent crowd and went back to the comfort of Kelly's home to wait it out. Just before midnight, Kelly, Stacey, and I drove down to Books A Million to pick up our copy (it was cheaper there, what can I say?) and were not disappointed when after thirty seconds in line we had our copy of the book, a cool Breaking Dawn button, and stickers - go Books A Million!


I am proud to say that I conquered the 754 page novel within 18 hours (it would have been less, but I had to spend a couple of hours sleeping!) of picking it up. While the book is catching a lot of flack from disappointed readers that fail to realize that this is indeed a fantasy novel and tradition rules do not apply, I really enjoyed it. I was sad, however, when I reached the end and there wasn't an epilogue (I will always revere JK Rowling for giving me that for Harry Potter, albeit a short one) so I am pushing for book #5! And you know what, I've been thinking about it and Stephenie Meyer has only said that this will be the last book from Bella's perspective and while most people think that she is just leaving space for the release of Midnight Sun, she could write another novel from Edward's/Jacob's perspective about life after Breaking Dawn. It could happen!

Anyway, if you haven't read it yet - happy reading!

Commentary on The Dark Knight

If you have seen The Dark Knight, you might find this article interesting... even if you don't agree with the writer's opinion, it is an interesting concept that I didn't see in the movie until after Kevin pointed it out to me on the way out of the theatre. I want to hear your thoughts...please leave a comment!

Forgive me for leaving a shameless politically conservative plug on my blog - I try to keep things apolitical, but sometimes I can't help it! (and if you know Kevin, we get really into discussing politics!!)