Back to reality

Crazy, right? Sofas on top of each other, random doors--just a mess.

Umm...yeah. I woke up last Thursday morning to a soaking wet first floor. I immediately went nuts and called hubbs in Hawaii (at 4am his time) to find out how to shut the water off from inside the house.* I honestly can't even believe the last week. Thank goodness that my in-laws are close by and retired b/c the shit was a mess. Our hot water heater went bad and there is no drain the in storage closet where it sits. My father-in-law and husbands cousin came over to suck the water outta the carpet. They also helped me move the furniture and put stuff under the legs so the wood wouldn't be ruined. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have had people to help me through this.

On Friday night, I went to my in-laws to take a shower. I get there and my father-in-law (FIL) asks me have I ever had a grape martini. I tell him no and he then insists I have one. Now I knew that once I start drinking I was done for the evening which meant I wouldn't be driving home. I know I must have had at least six martinis plus 2-shots. I definitely out-drank my FIL. The next morning (Saturday) I jumped up at o-dark-thirty and ran home b/c I'd left my pets without care overnight. They were fine and I waited for my FIL and the plumber to arrive so I could leave and pick-up hubbs from the airport. My FIL arrived holding his head and looking totally hungover. By the time we got back from the airport, the plumber was gone and so was my FIL. Plumber couldn't help b/c it turns out we have polybutylene pipes--which I'm actually familiar with b/c of the horror stories, but had no idea we had them. INSERT: Total panic. Then I get a call from my mother-in-law telling me that she's had to rush FIL to the hospital due to chest pains. Shit. My poor husband was so tired that I told him to sleep while I handled all phone calls, floor rip-up, and furniture moving. Once we finally get the hospital we learned that my FIL needed to have 2-stents put in to 80-90% blocked arteries. He got through surgery fine and should be resting, but won't.

On Sunday I get a call from my mom telling me that my uncle had been car-jacked and robbed at gunpoint while attending a chess tournament. He tore a tendon in his knee while running from gunshots and is having surgery today. We were suppose to go with my aunt and uncle to Vegas in July, but his doctor says he can't take the trip now. This is all so nuts. The whole freaking weekend is a blur and I can't believe all that actually happened.

Long story shortened, I called insurance and they sent someone over the weekend to collect the carpet, padding and wood floors. There was no working water, and blowers and dehumidifiers were going everywhere--so once I pick up the hubbs from the airport, we went to his parents to stay. On Tuesday, the new water heater was installed (thanks only to family members) and we're back to the home-with-no-floors. Oh yeah, they also found termites in a corner next to the pipes eating their nasty little way through the trim. Fuckers. Someone came this morning and sprayed/treated for them. I hope it fixes the problem.

Everyone is safe and seemingly fine now. I have to be thankful for that. I have a terrible cold and have been in bed for 2-days. Feeling a little better now. We're living in the bedroom and the insurance adjuster won't be here until June 5th. Yeah. Isn't that all kinds of wonderful.

I felt so bad for my husband having to come home to all of this from Hawaii.

*Notes:
1. Know where your emergency shut-offs are and how to operate them.
2. When you leave town, turn your household water off. Can you imagine if this had happened while we were away?!!!

No floors!!

Thoughts on Hawaii

From top of Diamond Head Crater

What to say...the vacay was ok. As most of my vacays are. I'm beginning to realize I'm simply not happy no matter where in the world I am. My real life problems seep in. The whole first week I was in Hawaii I was completely stressed and worried about my life and problems at home. Finally I was able to loosen up a little and breathe the sweet air at the beginning of week-2. By Thursday I was not sleeping again. Already anticipating the return home. Crazy, huh? Plus my husband was there to work, so I was alone during the day with only my thoughts. I can't tell you how much I looked forward to him coming in every night just so we could have dinner.

Anyway, not to sound ungrateful--it was beautiful. The beaches and mountains especially. The rest reminded me of Ft. Lauderdale in the '80s. You remember growing up hearing that Hawaii was the place to be. Everyone wanted to honeymoon there and vacation there--but it was expensive. Well, it's still expensive, but also still looks like it's the '80s. Lots of renovation and updating needed. Graffiti is everywhere and crime is a problem. There is also a big homeless problem. However, I can only speak for Oahu. Maybe some of the less developed islands are different.

In case anyone ever goes to Waikiki, here are some notes and just my opinions:
--Stay at the Hilton Prince Kuhio, not the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The Prince Kuhio is only 1-city block from beach and is really in the heart of everything. It's also been renovated, is cheaper and the (minimal) gym is free.
--Hamburger in Paradise is hot (not in a good way) and the burgers are not good. Skip it!
--Moose McGillicuddy's on Lewers has the best happy hour (any drink $3) and really good food. Try the fried ono on all-u-can-eat-fish-and-chips-Friday for $11.95. Don't got between 7-9pm b/c there are no drink specials.
--Diamond Head is a bitch of a hike. Don't let anyone tell you different. Definitely doable, but it's not an easy hike.
--Lanikai is the best beach--hands down. Kailua is nice too but more crowded. At Lanikai it's possible to find a little beach just for you. It is behind homes in a residential neighborhood, but the beach is public. Earlier is better b/c of erosion.
--La Pizza Rina is so good and it's cheap. Check out the Cheap Places to Eat in Oahu food blog. Full of great info.
--My new favorite wine is Volcano Macadamia Nut Honey. OMG. Totally sucks it's not sold on the mainland. Cheapest at Walmart or the ABC stores. Around $15/bottle.
--You can use bus transfers for a roundtrip.
--Traffic sucks and is a major problem. Worse of course at rushhour.
--Take the time to smell a plumeria blossom. Wow. Next to Lily of the Valley, it's the most beautifully fragrant flower I know.
--Check out the Marriott's Kuhio Beach Grill buffet early bird special on the weekend. Its $26/pp, but so damn good. Better on weekends.
--Ughhh to the Da Big Kahuna on Kuhio. Drinks seemed sooo watered down it's not even funny. Even the shots.
--If you're walking down Kalakaua, walk down the beach side and you won't be attacked by the flyer brigade.

I guess that's it. I tried to take moments to soak-in where I was and realize I'd probably never be there again. The Hubbs is still there until Friday. Can't wait for him to return!

Hanauma Bay


Waikiki Sunset


Hubbs and Me on Lanikai beach. Just us :)

Sex...the movie

Is it just me or has anyone else been going crazy looking for spoilers for this film?? It's been so difficult to find out anything. But finally, freakin' finally I found out what happens--beyond what I can already tell from the previews. I actually sighed a huge relief once I found out. How funny is that? I still want to see the film, but I've become increasingly bad at waiting to see what happens. Blame it on infertility I guess. The 2-week-wait has made me not want to wait for anything. I have to know. I won't post the spoilers here, but if anyone wants to know--email me.

Ooo-la-la

Lanikai beach in Kailua, Hawaii

So I'm back. Kinda. I need to take a couple days to adjust to my current time zone. Hope everyone is well.