Thursday, July 31, 2008

Hawaii: Cures What Ails You

Would it be cheesy and over the top to start out this post by yelling "Aloha!" then pretend to wait for your response of the same greeting, then act like your first attempt just wasn't good enough, and yell it at you again? It would? Sweet.

Aloha!
no, no, no, I said...
Alo-ha!
I needed this vacation like you wouldn't believe...like McCain needs a prayer...like my oven needs a cleaning...like I needed a tan. Stresses manifested from all areas of my so-called-life had been tugging at me from even the most unsuspecting places. It was all I could do to pacify those nasty stress monsters with overdoses of Sour Patch Kids knowing that a blissful vacation was on the horizon.When I stepped off the plane in Honolulu, the most amazing thing happened. That one thing I freaked out about? Over it. That other thing I was stressing about? Poof. Gone. And those other little petty things keeping me up at night? Nada. And for that reason, Hawaii is a magical, mystical place with special healing powers that I will forever be grateful for. It is because of Hawaii that BD is still my PerfectDarlingAngelBearClaw and no one else has lost their life due to my unpredictable bouts with craziness. P.S. I might also feel this way about Hawaii because LOST is filmed there. But I'm still iffy on that part. So, thank you Hawaii.

My Hawaii Top Ten
10. Hot malasadas filled with cream. Fat free, calorie free, but only in Hawaii. And if you've heard otherwise, keep it to yourself.9. Contemplating whether to take the golf cart or walk to the beach was the most important decision I would make all day, and all week for that matter. It was incredible to really vacation and really relax. In my world there's a huge difference between a trip and a vacation. Hawaii was meant to be the latter.8. Hawaiian Shave Ice from Matsumoto's. Not to be confused with regular shaved ice, or even a snow cone for that matter. Shave Ice is in a sweet-sugary-sticky world all it's own with ice cream and beans to boot.7. Sand in your toes and in all the places in and around your body that sand shouldn't ever go, but still does. That naughty sand.6. Cliff jumping at Waimea. Or in my case, watching the cliff jumpers at Waimea. Don't judge me, I'm not a baby but someone had to stay back with the kid, who BTW is an actual baby, and I'd rather that someone be me, with my butt safely parked on the beach where it belongs. Crazythrillseekingadventurists...as if it wasn't enough that I allowed myself to swim in shark infested waters (AKA "the ocean"), I didn't see the need to go carelessly flailing my body off a mountain into that same death trap.5. Eating delicious shrimp from a broken down bus on the side of Kam highway, discovering you have a rather unpleasant intolerance for palm oil, paying heavily for eating that delicious shrimp for the next several days.4. Being reminded that I am officially back to "baby hungry." More like carnivorous actually. Sigh. Thanks a lot Nixon, you cute little monkey you. If you need me, I'll be working on my denial routine for the next 6 months. To speed up the process, be a dear and send me pictures of your little brats doing terrible, horrible, no good things to you and your house, preferably with snotty noses and germy hands. My posterity thanks you in advance.3. Living like a rock star better than a rock star for a week. Mahalo to the Murdocks for including us in their summer vacation. Someday, we'll return the favor (translation: we'll never be able to return the favor, but we'll die trying!).2. Sunsets on the beach, holding hands with my beau, and feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated than I ever thought possible.1. Spending 7 days in Hawaii together as the perfect excuse to connect, reconnect, and make incredible memories with dear friends. These two beauties are my old roommates from back in the day, like way back, when it was probalby still cool to say "back in the day." I've since given up on cool, but I still heart them. Possibly even more than I heart Hawaii.

23 comments:

Rachel said...

My, oh my, HAWAII is the BESTEST!!!!! (I know bestest isn't a word, but I know you know what I mean) You described it perfectly....just stepping off the plane! Seriously, I want to live there! BUT, I'm soooo glad your back! Love you tons!

kami @ nobiggie.net said...

Your trip looked amazing! I have never been, but I am (now) dying to go. Glad you had fun!

P.S. What program did you use to make your collages? They look great!

Could you email me about it?
itsnobiggie@gmail.com

Jana said...

Wow! Your pics are amazing! Of course a beautiful setting and beautiful people help, huh? ;) So glad you all got to go. What fun!

Lacy said...

Like I said before, best post EVER!! You portrayed our trip very well. Lets go back soon!! It was so fun to talk about old times.. you make me laugh so hard. I heart you too!! I just only wish there was a picture of that floatie blowing aways from you!!!

j e s s i e said...

WOW! Sounds and looks like SO much fun. Really great pictures too! What a fun place to take your new lens to play around with it. I'm wishing I were there to stay!

C*K*J said...

Okay...I'm a little jealous! It looks like an amazing trip and you're pictures are beautiful! I'm so glad you guys got to get away for a well deserved vacation!

Two Wheeler said...

I'm thinking we better leave this weekend to go back...

Tuttles said...

You are so lucky! Hawaii looks so fun and beautiful! (I've never been:( ) Glad you're home. Great post!

j e s s i e said...

Brad, Great idea... we'll come with! =) I wish!

Allison said...

Great Post ~ like Lacy said it really captured our week together! We are missing you guys & wish you could have stayed longer! Nixon SO misses his beach buddies! No PCC in the top ten....ha! :) Love your guts!!

gina bina said...

Ali, definitely no PCC anywhere near the top 10. Sadly, that was the most expensive part of the whole vacation. Oh well. We certainly can't complain. Give Nix the biggest slobbery kiss from me! And when you're on the beach today, do me a huge favor and hold onto that floatie!

Emily said...

Oh... How I love Hawaii. You made me want to go! Glad you had a good time!!!

Anonymous said...

Nothing like memories from Hawaii. I think I was there before they finished putting all the beaches in, but it was still an awesome place - from the Arizona to Dukes to sandy beaches all with the one you love.

Great you had an awesome time.

Natlee Lloyd said...

Oh how I wish I were there right now! I am so glad you guys got to go and have awesome times! So sorry the PCC didn't measure up.

Persnickety Prints said...

GINA! You sure have the life! Ask me if I have EVER stepped on Hawaii sand? ...mmm....nope!
Your photo's look like postcards! Don't even say it was ALL Bradley!? Dang, I need a good Camera...Oh, and someone to take ME to Hawaii!!!! LOL!

Tiffani Ford said...

Looks like you had a fabulous time!

Mindi said...

you just made me "hawaii-sick"--i agree 100 percent with the magicalnessessssss of hawaii. why can it do this to us so easily?

i am already saving my pennies for the next time back.

you look darling in the photos. still lovebirds--good job.

CHUNTZ said...

Love Hawaii...how can you not? PS it was great to see you guys the other night!

abbyjane said...

welcome back Ms. Bina, I've missed you!

Shauna said...

Glad you made it to Hawaii-so now you can stop being jealous of our trip there!! ha ha. Looks like you had an amazing time, how can you not when you're basking in the sun and laying on the beach? Glad you had a chance to relax and leave all the stresses at home.

Chad and Margaret Olson said...

oh my gosh! How fun! you have cool friends that would actually plan a freakin trip to Hawaii, and then really see it through. I am officially jealous. Also, you are quite a clever and witty blogger! You are a really good writer. You should have your own column!!

Heather said...

It looks like you guys had so much, I am so jealous! Hawaii is one of the most beautiful and most relaxing places ever!! You guys deserved this much needed trip, I am so glad you guys had such a great time! Beautiful pictures as always

Wildings said...

Looks like fun!