i am...mai

I Survived Public Trans

I'm taking it easy this morning, completely exhausted after two days of adventure aboard the city bus with a five year old.  I really wasn't sure I would survive the ordeal.  It had been so long since the last time I used public transportation that I feel as though I deserve a medal or something for making it to our destinations and back in one piece - and still with the kid!

So where have our adventures taken us?

After dropping the car off at Punchbowl Fenderworks on Waialae to get the bumper fixed:

Kaimuki Playground - on our way to the bus stop.
Coffee Talk - to buy a blueberry scone for bus fare change and to snack on while waiting for the bus.
Bus 1 to Aina Haina - newer, clean, and not very crowded.

Aina Haina McDonald's - for breakfast.
Aina Haina Shopping Center - browsing to kill time before class begins.

My First Art Class - summer art program for Arwen at Holy Nativity Church & School (more on this later.)

Aina Haina McDonald's - for lunch because Arwen wanted the Ty Teenie Beanie Baby Happy Meal toy that isn't available during breakfast.  Spent our whole lunch chatting with a nice homeless man that said he isn't technically homeless because he does have a job.  Okay.  Scored a second toy from nice older woman that offered Arwen the one from her meal.
Aina Haina Foodland - to pick up some coffee creamer and make more change for bus fare.

Bus 1 to Kaimuki - the same bus that dropped us off, so still new and clean, and this time practically empty.
The credit union - to make a deposit.  Getting errands done without my car.  This was terrific!
Sitting on the bench - waiting for the bus home because generally this bus only runs once an hour.  Explained to Arwen the reason we couldn't sit on the covered benches was because they reeked of urine from some not so nice people that find the world is their toilet.  Also bumped into an old friend, Al, that used to drive for Snuba.
Bus 14 to home - likely the most ghetto bus in the lot.  Old and dirty.  Rattled so much on the way up Sierra Drive that I was convinced something would fall off or apart before we arrived to our stop.  Thankfully not too full, as apparently some of the "special" people like to ride this one (of course they do), and we arrived home without incident.

And for our second day:

Bus 14 to Sierra Drive - Old, empty bus.
7-Eleven - to buy a pack of gum for bus fare change.  Arwen picked the flavor.  She's still new to the gum thing and only gets to have it on occasion.  She raved about this watermelon flavored piece of gum all day.
Bus 1 to University - Old bus, but clean and not crowded.
Bus 6 to Manoa - Hey!  I think this is the same bus (546) that we took for Aina Haina yesterday.  Not crowded.
Manoa Starbucks - for coffee and cocoa.  Bumped into my friend, Kimberly (aka Griffin's mommy.)  Arwen placed and paid for her first order all by herself using a gift card she received from Auntie Malia.
Leahi Swim School - After a 25 minute walk from Starbucks, we were still 30 minutes early for her lesson.  This should make up for us being five minutes late for just about every other class this session.
Bus 6 back to University - After 20 minute walk from swim school, this is the only time Arwen complained during our bus adventure.  "I'm tired of walking.  They should have a bus that comes down here."
Bus 1 to Kahala Mall - older, dirty bus with many of the "special" people on board.
Kahala Mall CPK - One of Arwen's fave places for lunch.  Who can blame her with that fantastic mac'n cheese?  Good news!  Punchbowl Fender called, and the car is ready two days early!  Woohoo!
Kahala Mall Macy's - because Arwen needs to use the bathroom.  Score!  Swimsuit clearance sale in the girl's department.  Picked up two new bikinis for Arwen for only $4.99 each!

Kahala Mall Longs - introduced Arwen to Spree candy.  We needed more change for bus fare.
Bus 1 to Punchbowl Fender -  we got on before the crowd showed up a few stops later.  Packed with Kaimuki Middle School students and a few more of those "special" people by the time we got off.  Happy reunion with Quest!  How I have missed you for two whole days!

I'm not entirely sure why I'm so tired, but I think it's a result of the mental anguish put forth to choreograph the bus schedules, routes, and transfers in such a way that we'd make it to our destination on time with a little padding for error, delays, and unpredictable five year old behavior.  Thankfully, everything ran smoothly, and I now have gained a few things from the experience.

1.  I have a new appreciation for the convenience my car provides.  With a car, just about everything is a quick hop, skip, and a jump away.  25-minute swim lesson in Manoa?  Be there in 10 minutes.  Same 25-minute lesson without my car?  Required at least an hour of studying and matching up bus route maps and schedules the night before, resulted in us having to be down at the bus stop by 7:45 a.m. for a 10:30 am lesson, and took us an hour and 40 minutes to get there 30 minutes early, but if we took a later bus from home, we'd have been late.

2.  I have a whole new respect for those that take the bus on a regular basis.  They deserve medals (or perhaps to be offered a ride more often) for the amount of time and thought that needs to go into planning their daily routine and all they have to put up with while waiting for and aboard the bus.

3.  I have found something that makes my five year old very happy.  It simply amazes me how easy it is to please a child.  I think she loved every aspect of our two day adventure.  While I preferred to sit in the front, so we could get off as quickly as possible, Arwen insisted we sit in the back of the bus, always selecting a seat by the window, so she could ooh and aah at the things that passed by and watch the rest of the people getting on and off the bus.  The excitement in her voice as she'd spot our bus coming down the street, "It's the number one!"  It's the number one!" was precious.  And we both enjoyed the extra time spent together during these two days.  Arwen was genuinely bummed to learn the car was already fixed, cutting our bus adventure short by two days, so I promised her that we'd ride the bus again some time soon.  She smiled.

"Turtle! Turtle! Turtle!"

Though I've already showered after a very long day, I am still coming up with bits of sand each time I comb my fingers through my hair.  My back is roasted to a neon shade of red - something I will definitely be paying for over the next few days (time to grab some aloe) and will most likely continue paying for the rest of my life (either in freckles or wrinkles or both.)  But after the amazing day I had today, I have to say it's all worth it.

 
We met up with the Majors family at Ehukai Beach Park on the North Shore.  When we first arrived, the beach was practically empty, so it was like having the beach all to ourselves.  Arwen and Gabe went straight to work collecting shells.  Isom and Rob jumped into the water to get tumbled by the shore break.  Larisa and I sat up on the beach guarding our stuff from rogue waves that kept climbing up the beach.

Eventually, while all of the boys were in the water attempting to body surf, the girls had a near wipe out on the beach that completely took us by surprise.  I caught a good portion of it with my flip camera and will post that when I've got more time.  I'm thankful to report that all of our cameras and phones survived the surf.

As we drove to Ehukai, Rob pointed out a little kid-friendly beach that he thought was called Chun's Reef.  We later learned it was actually Laniakea Beach - Chun's Reef was a little further down the road.  Since the shore break was still going strong, and the water continued to follow us up the beach, we decided to pack up and give the other beach a try.

While searching for a parking spot, I spotted a flipper waving in the shallow water.  "Turtle!  Turtle!  Turtle!  We need to stop here.  There's a turtle!"  A turtle?  When we arrived at the beach, I immediately pulled out my camera and stared in awe through my lens at dozens of Hawaiian sea turtles swimming in the shallow water, surfing in the waves, and snacking on the seaweed along the shore.  Simply amazing.

I've seen Hawaiian sea turtles before, usually one or two at a time, while swimming, snorkeling, and sometimes just sitting on the beach.  But I have never seen so many swimming freely just a few feet away.  No wonder this beach is also known as Turtle Beach.

Arwen and Gabe had so much fun admiring these beautiful creatures from the shore, shrieking and pointing, "Turtle!  Turtle!  Turtle!" every time one surfaced.  Hours later, there had been so many that eventually this became pretty silly, and the kids just played in the shore break, pretending to be turtles while the real turtles surfaced right behind them.

The beach portion of our day finally ended with a delicious lunch at Kua 'Aina Sandwich Shop, and then we headed over to the Majors' house to clean up for Central Oahu Carnival, a fundraiser for the armed services YMCA and their Wounded and Fallen Hero Fund. 

How our children were still able to function after a napless day full of sun and surf, I do not know, but they had a blast.  I think the accompanying dads did, too.  As for Larisa and I, we thoroughly enjoyed the time to graze on the yummy carnival food - roasted corn, pizza, funnel cake, deep fried twinkies, and shaved ice.  Mmmmm...

I took hundreds of pictures today, so it'll take some time to load them all.  I'll post when they're ready to be viewed.

Insect Invasion

It's been a buggy kind of summer.  I say this partly because of the bug exhibits we've visited recently, but also because the hot and humid weather has brought the REAL bugs back.  We live in Hawaii, so the bugs never really go away.  The warm, tropical climate is a bug haven, but we do get a short break from them over the cooler winter months, a time when they seem less active.  We're in the middle of summer now though, so the temperature is rising, the tradewinds keep hiding, and rain seems to enjoy sitting on the sideline creating that "it feels like it's going to rain any minute" kind of humidity.  And this is when the bugs come out to "play."  Flying termites coat the screens, pacific beetles scurry throughout the bushes and trees, and the giant B-52 cockroaches... ATTACK!

I spend most of my summer nights on full alert, armed with my swatter and a bottle of spray.  I hate bugs, and I think they know it.  I'm convinced they purposely find their way into the house to torment me.  Arwen shares my distress.

So why would either of us be so excited to check out Pearlridge's Giant Insect Safari exhibit that includes, among other bug displays, a 19-foot praying mantis and a 16-foot locust?  I have no idea, but we both thought it was pretty cool.  Arwen and Gabe even took the little train ride that allowed them to get up close to the giant robotic insects.

More Pearlridge Giant Insect Safari pics available here.

As if these bugs weren't enough, we visited the Backyard Monsters - The World of Insects exhibit at the Bishop Museum with some friends today.  They had more of these gigantic robotic bugs!

Bonus for the day was that we had enough time to wander around the Science Adventure Center before the museum closed.  A first visit for me.

More Bishop Museum pics are here.

Wonder what other bug adventures the summer will bring.  Hopefully more of the giant robotic kind and not so many of the real ones.

Busy Summer Saturday

We had a relaxing Sunday today.  We caught up on some much needed sleep, had a delicious brunch at Big City Diner, and went to see a great movie Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in 3D.  All of us loved the first two Ice Age movies, so we walked into the theatre knowing this would be another "must have on dvd."  All of our favorite characters were back with a couple of new ones - a girlfriend for the Scrat the squirrel and, my fave, Buck the weasel.  Voice by Simon Pegg and hilarious.

Much of today was a recovery period for yesterday - another busy summer Saturday.   After Arwen's ballet lesson, we went to a wonderful pool party to celebrate Pierce's third birthday.  A few Calvary parents that we hadn't seen since school ended in May were there, so it was a great time to relax and catch up while the kids played.  The party also included an awesome korean food spread with homemade (by Pierce's grandmother) kim chee.  I couldn't pass up seconds.

As we left the party, we realized that we still had time to catch the tail end of the Contemporary Museum's ArtSpree.  I am such a huge fan of this annual event and used to volunteer for it through Alpha Gamma Delta each year.  Originally disappointed that our day's events wouldn't allow time for us to go this year, I was suddenly excited that we'd make it after all - even if just for a short while.  As always, the event was fantastic with lots of kid hands-on activities, demonstrations, and entertainment - all provided free of charge to the public.

 

Arwen not only enjoyed the face painting and crafts, but also seemed to be quite interested in the artwork and sculptures displayed throughout the property.  We'll have to return one day soon to check it all out.  Maybe it's time to renew our membership to support the museum and fabulous family events like this one.  You can click here to see a few more photos from ArtSpree.

Following the return on the crazy shuttle bus to our car parked at Punahou, we decided to make the drive out to visit the Majors family who were camping at Malaekahana in Kahuku. 

Even though we weren't going to spend the night, Arwen was so excited to "camp out" with Gabe.  This was her first experience with sitting by a campfire in the woods by the beach.  Exciting stuff for the 5 year old.  Not so exciting for this 37 year old that isn't exactly the "outdoorsy type."  But that's okay.  We still had a great time checking out their campsite, the beautiful beach, and the idiot from a neighboring camp that broke his fish line. 

We also enjoyed eating a delicious salmon and hot dog dinner grilled up by Chef Isom and roasting yummy S'mores for dessert.  The kids played for hours in the tent while the adults got smoked out by another neighboring campsite.

On the drive home, I was almost convinced we could go camping some day.  But after discussing this possibility with Rob over dinner tonight, I realized that it only sounded like a good idea because we had a great time hanging with friends by the campfire and then came home to a hot shower and our own bed.  Had we spent the night out there, I don't think I'd still be smiling about our "camping" experience.  You can click here for more Malaekahana pictures.

Staci Meets the Seal

Did the 4 mile walk route around Diamond Head again today and was pleasantly surprised to find our monk seal returned just a little further down the beach than where it was on Monday.  Arwen was still on an excitement high after showing her seal photos to her school friends today that I couldn't help but share the good news when I picked her up.  Of course, she insisted we go straight back to Diamond Head to see it again, and this time, we swung by my mom's to pick up my niece Staci. 

Arwen is now very interested in Hawaiian monk seals and asking lots of questions about them.  What do they eat?  Why do they like to sit on the beach like that?  Why are they "nen-daned-derd" (endangered)?  We Googled it, but it seemed that the more I read, the more questions she had for me.  I think I may take her to the book store or perhaps the library to learn more about her new friend.

Walking and a Sunbathing Surprise

Under doctor's orders to get out and do some exercise, I started walking regularly a couple of weeks ago.  I'd attempted to start up a walking routine several times in the past, but I'll admit that I never made my walk a priority, quickly dismissed it at as soon as an offer to do just about anything else surfaced, and often burned myself out from sudden urges to just throw my shoes on and walk (trudge) up our San Francisco-style steep hill.

 

Two things seem to have helped me so far this time.  The first is that I registered for Alpha Gamma Delta's Walk to 2010 Challenge.  Each Alpha Gam has been charged to walk 1,000 miles from June 2008 to June 2010 as a way to promote improved health and well-being and diabetes awareness.  I cut my time to attain this goal in half by beginning a year into it, but I think it's still possible.  Now I've got a goal, and thanks to some helpful tools on their website, a way to track my progress.

The other is that I found a simple routine that's been easy to stick to.  I drop Arwen off at summer school in the morning.  I drive myself straight to Kapiolani Park for the walk.  Then I head home to shower and start my day.  Since Arwen goes to school Monday through Friday, I can commit to exercise 5 days a week and take the remaining 2 days off.

It has been working out wonderfully.  I began with 1.7 miles a day (one lap around Kapiolani Park) for 4 days the first week.  By the end of the week, my pace was about a 20 minute mile, which Rob said is average.  For a morbidly obese woman that rarely does anything remotely athletic, this was good news.  I'm an average walker.  Would have gone all 5 days, but I got a flat tire on my way to the park that Friday, and I didn't finish with that fiasco until after 1 pm.  I think the stress and frustration from the event got my heart pumping enough for the day, but I didn't log any miles.

For Week 2, I decided to add a loop around the zoo, which upped my walk to 2.9 miles.  The walk was still pretty comfortable, so I also picked up the pace to a 19 minute mile.  It's got to feel like work to work, right?  The only bummer is that because of the holiday observed on Friday, Arwen was home from school.  The break in her routine broke mine as well.  Rob was home, so I could have left her home with him and still done my walk, but it was so nice to sleep in just a little.  After a week of hard work, this was a mild set back.

Now here I am into Week 3, and I've raised the bar for myself once again.  I started at my normal parking spot at the park, but instead of turning to circle the park, I head straight out and around Diamond Head.  3.8 miles later, I was feeling pretty good.  Sweaty.  Heart pumping.  But I wasn't hyperventilating.  Just feeling good.  My pace dropped back down to about a 20 minute mile, but I'm still considering this an improvement because I was able to maintain an average pace with a longer distance and some inclines.  We get bonus points for degree of difficulty, don't we?

Aside from feeling great, I came across this sunbather on Diamond Head beach.

It's a bit hard to see with this iPhone pic from so far up, but I didn't have my big camera with me on the walk.  I just happened to glance over the edge at the water, and there it was, bathing its belly in the sun - a Hawaiian monk seal!

I returned later in the day to show Rob and Arwen what I discovered during my walk.  We walked down the path to the beach to get a closer look, and this time, I brought the better camera.

Signs had been set up to remind passersby that the seals are critically endangered and to stay a safe distance away.  We heeded the signs, took a few quick photos, and climbed back up to the lookout.
 

The seal wasn't there this morning when I walked by today, so I'm grateful for the opportunity we had yesterday to see and photograph it.  And now I've got a little motivator each morning to do my walk and see if it returns.