Happy, Happy New Year!

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas are over and a new year is on its way. Now even though this holiday season was truly a memorable one, and I was able to enjoy my turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy in Waikiki, as well as celebrate Christmas with a friend, it is completely true that there’s “no place like home for the holidays”. Somehow, it just doesn’t feel quite the same. Yeah, yeah, I know, deal with it. Done. Wishing you all a blessed 2009.

"Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities."

~Women's Home Companion~

December 1935

Hawaii

Waikiki
Does it get any better than this? I'm just not sure how it could. Needless to say, Klynt and I really enjoyed our time in Hawaii. We even ended up staying a bit longer than we originally had planned. That's our hotel on the far right.

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The North Shore

The North Shore is peppered with shrimp trucks similar to this one. Giovanni's is one of the best. Twelve jumbo garlic and butter shrimp scampi along with two scoops of rice......it was SO GOOD!

Jurassic Park was filmed on this ranch along with the current show LOST. At least that's what the brochure said.

The tiny, little island in the distance is called the "China man's hat".

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Hanauma Bay and Sunset Beach

This bay is where everyone comes to snorkle. Well, everyone except me. I enjoyed a nap on the beach while Klynt spent the afternoon searching for sea life.

Sunset beach is where Barack Obama went surfing.

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Pearl Harbor

A day for remembering. We visited the monument two days prior to the 67th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

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Friends

Patrick and I showing off our coral.

Gracie found a nice spot to dry off.

Spotted, a giant sea turtle!

Kenzel found a crab shell.

A special treat. Matsumotos is very famous for their shaved ice.

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Cincinnati

A little pre-game peace.

Go Bearcats!

The girls; me, Cora, Paqui and Regina.

Klynt was down on the field during part of the game and snapped a few photos.

The UC Bearcats are #1! The final score was Cincy 29, Hawaii 24. Next stop, the Orange Bowl on New Years Day.

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Look What the Cat Dragged In!

The immigrations office seems to be slacking off quite a bit. It appears that they will let just about anyone into China these days.

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