Honolulu Pride 2012 (a little late)

I'm not someone who is very comfortable in big crowds...I get awkwardly shy, so back home I wasn't jumping to attend things like Pride.  But here, I figured why not.  Of course my roomie wanted to go, and I was interested in seeing how they celebrated it here.  I even bought my shirt about a week before...I was all ready!  Those who know me know I've been an Ally for sometime... I think I have more gay and lesbian friends than straight friends by now.  I like to joke that I have a sign on my forehead that says, if your a gay man you must love me!

The weekend started on May 31st, with my roomie volunteering for the Rainbow Film Festival.  I thought it was an awesome chance for her to meet some people, maybe make some friends.  And I attended the opening night showing.  The film I saw was Cloudburst, about two older women who had been in love for something like 30 years.  One had been blind for several years.  Her granddaughter still didn't know that the woman her grandmother had been living with nearly all her life was her partner.  After the granddaughter puts her in a home, the two lovers break out and go on a road trip to Canada to officially marry.  It was hilarious, and then so sad it brought a tear to my eye.  It was preceded by a short film entitled Lunchtime...which was also awesome.

The next night wasn't really part of Pride per se...but we ended up at Manifest, a bar in Chinatown that has become our new spot since Apartment 3 closed.  This was our first night here.  Great DJ's, cute bartenders, and an awesome spot complete with exposed brick walls and art...what's not to love.  And we got pinchos on the walk home!  Meat on a stick...gotta love it!  This place will be mentioned often.  This particular night my roomie got so drunk she nearly stole one of those orange cones on the walk home, did cartwheels and ended up scraping her arm, and tried to ride the bike rack that's in the shape of a bike.  An all around good time!

Saturday was Pride.  There was two separate celebrations this year, misunderstandings or disagreements between people caused it to be split up.  I think it would've been much better all together...after all that's kind of the point.  But we visited both spots.  We got some goodies at the first...new bracelets, food etc.  But we noticed pretty quickly that it was more for older people, and families.  The second spot was just up the street from our apartment, and it was definitely for a younger crowd.  We saw our favorite bartender from the gay bar we love here.  We also met the owner of Ono Pops, Josh.  Ono pops are the best pops ever!!!!  And we met his new sous chef Steve, who actually moved here about two weeks after us!  We've actually been here longer than someone, yay!  We also got food here, did I mention we love food?  I got Puerto Rican food...which made me very happy.  Not to mention the man working this spot was Puerto Rican himself, decked out in full Puerto Rico memorabilia, and he gave me a little education on Puerto Ricans and the Hawaiian islands.  Good food, + some knowledge = happy Jackie.  After talking to people, eating, listening to the band, eating, listening to the not so good singer, eating, and walking around a bunch, my roomie was sufficiently happy and we headed home.  An all around good weekend!  Enjoy our awesome shirts!

new bracelet 

us and Josh

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...

Welcome to the world!

Around the same time I really decided to make the move from NJ to HI, one of the people I've known the longest, and know the most, got pregnant.  She's one of few who has been to my house, who has had private conversations with my mother, who knows my father and my brother (and my dog).  It's the same with her family and I.  I've even been on vacation with them...her mom has even gone so far as to say I'm the only one of her friends that are welcome on vacation with them anytime!!  My line sister in greek terms, my friend in layman's terms, but really just an extended family (her and hers).    The day she told me she was expecting was the day I told her I was leaving.  It's been difficult, not being there physically.  It's not how I envisioned it happening when one of us was in this position.  Before I left I was able to go to one of her earlier appointments with her...I got to hear the baby's heartbeat.  But it makes me sad that aside from that, I missed all her pregnancy moments.  I never felt my niece kicking around in there...or got to talk to her through her mommy's belly.  It makes me sad because I know I can never get those moments back.  I do believe everything happens for a reason, and I guess I was supposed to be here, while she was back in NY letting the baby cook...but that doesn't make it any easier.

Yesterday they induced her labor.  And being thousands of miles away hit me like an emotional ton of bricks.  I'm pretty impatient by nature...so being so far, and not being able to be there to see them both, and know they're both ok made for a pretty nerve-wracking day.  Finally, this morning, at 740am EST, my beautiful niece, Analiese, made her arrival into this world.  I'm not easily brought to tears, but I admit I shed some as I looked at her pic and realized that it would be months before I got to see her in person, and hold her.  The most difficult part about moving away from everyone you love is that you miss moments you'd never miss otherwise.  There's not many people in my life that I would go and sit at the hospital for as they were in labor...simply because I don't keep many that close to me.  But in this case I know I would've been there.  And in every way I could be there, I was.

I can't wait to fill the blank space with a picture of us, and baby girl:

Why yes, I do cook! (update)

I realized it's been a while since I mentioned my cooking skills.  So I thought it was about time for me to update you.  Yes, I am still cooking!  No, I don't always hit it out of the ball park...but I've never made a complete disaster out of any meal...that's saying something no?!?  Actually, I think I've grown in this area by leaps and bounds.  I'm learning more about food, and flavors, and what goes well together.  I can't wait till my parents come to visit so I can cook for them!  Right now the roomie is my guinea pig, but she never complains  I look forward to cooking for my folks...and having them give me their honest opinions.  I know sometimes people want to spare others feelings, but not me, I'd rather you tell me something is horrible, that's the only way I'm going to learn!  Luckily I don't think that's happened yet.  Here's some pics of my newest creations...

roasted potatoes, broccoli and chicken breast

rice & corn medley (Jas's fave), shrimp, and lettuce & cabbage salad

fries, broccoli, chicken drumstick

pita pizza!!!!  our new obsession

my first attempt at real Puerto Rican rice (not bad at all!)

steak tacos with corn, black beans lettuce and cheese

pancakes, homefries and bacon

chicken burrito with black beans, corn, cheese, rice and lettuce!

I only keep getting better.  

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...

Epic Weekend

This weekend was utterly awesome.  I know most of the country was partying because it was Memorial Day weekend, but that wasn't my reasoning.  Jas and I partied for four nights straight, and 3 of those nights were at Apartm3nt...the bar I mentioned in my "Awesometastic Saturday" post (do I overuse the word awesome, or is it ok when life just gives you a ton of awesome!?)...the bar we fell in love with that we found out was closing about 4 days after our first visit.  Sunday was it's last night, which was my reason for going out all weekend.  I can't say how great this place is.  What makes it great is the staff.  I think that's true of any place, or event, or any moment in life really.  It's not usually about where you are, but about who's there with you.  In this case the people were amazing.  From the bouncers, to the promoters, to the bartenders, to the servers, and everything in between, they were not only nice, but simply fun people to be around.  And they remember and recognize you from day one, or at least that was our experience for the most part.  It's sad to know that they'll all be going there separate ways now because together they made Apartm3nt the place to be.

I should also mention, I attempted to get in touch with my feminine side this weekend.  I've been a huge tomboy since I was a little girl.  I've never been a "fashionista".  Actually I've hated shopping for as long as I can remember...well except for shoe shopping, because shoes are my weakness (I get that from my mommy).  But, with the move, and all the changes that have been happening, and the changes I've been trying to make, I figured I would step out of my comfort zone.  I'll say this, I'm still not jumping for joy about shopping.  I'll admit I'm pretty cheap when it comes to unneeded materialistic things and hate spending so much money on clothes, but I realize that usually you get what you pay for...and, that things are just pretty expensive nowadays!  I'm never going to be the girl that goes shopping everyday, and combs through the racks for hours on end to find the hidden gem, or hits all the thrift shops known to man.  But I do love a good deal, and, I think I've learned to put a little more effort into it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still a tomboy, but at least I can embrace the girlie side of me from time to time.

So back to those weekend details, Day 1, Thurday, was spent at Apartm3nt, where we chatted with the bartenders, a server, one of the promoters/guys at the door...I really don't know what his job was, I just know he was great!  Lots of drinks were had.  We'll call this the moderately drunk night.  Here it's so much different then home.  Back home I drove everywhere, so I was always the designated driver.  And even when I wasn't supposed to be I ended up being it because in truth, I don't trust other people to stay sober, but I do trust myself to get myself, and my friends, home.  But here, we take the bus everywhere, or walk.  In this case, every night we took the bus there and walked back.  Just another reason to love Apartm3nt...it's proximity.

Day 2 was the only night not spent at Apartm3nt.  This night we headed into China Town, to 39Hotel, for what looked like a very interesting event.  Basically there was a live band playing to a backdrop of clips of Tim Burton movies.  If you know me well, you probably know I'm a Tim Burton fan...and more specifically a Tim Burton/Johnny Depp fan.  I have a slight obsession with Johnny Depp, and I think when him and Burton link up, it's simply magic.  Not to mention I'm a Helena Bonham Carter fan also, so the fact that she's been added to the Depp/Burton duo so often the past few years makes me happy.  The band was pretty dope.  By look, they were the most random three guys to ever make up a band.  But it worked.  Not to mention they had some really interesting, and different instruments.  We enjoyed a few drinks, and I enjoyed clips of several movies, including Edward Scissorhands, Alice in Wonderland, and Sweeney Todd (which I've always been in love with.)  It was a cool night.

Day 3, Saturday, we returned to Apartm3nt.  Compared to our first two visits here, I'd say it was a mad house.  Clearly all those who love the place came out for it's send off weekend.  As always, we enjoyed some drinks.  Did I mention the bartenders were freaking awesome!!  And, because it was it's last weekend pretty much everything was so cheap!!  This night we weren't really drunk, just happy.  Even though a drink got spilled on my brand new red blazer that I'm absolutely in love with!  Ugh!  And this night I wore heels...and I walked all the way home in them!  Some might not understand the magnitude of that...but for a girl who, though she loves heels, can just about count on both hands how often she has worn them in the past few years, it's big!

And now we come to Sunday, night 4 of 4, and the last day of Apartm3nt.  This night, we'll call, very drunk!  And all for a $30 tab!!!  If I thought the night before was packed, I was wrong...there was barely room to move without spilling your drink.  This night was filled with meeting so many random people!!  There were also several businesses there...like a massage place with a woman giving out back massages, which both Jas and I got thank you very much!  There was also some company giving out raffle tickets for...you'll never guess...breast implants!  I couldn't help but find that hilarious.  The night started with the woman from that company asking us to sign up and get a free make-up bag and enter the running for the free boobs.  As she was talking to Jas one of the bouncers was explaining to me what she was trying to say, that she was giving out a chance for a free boob job.  Well, I couldn't give up that perfect opportunity could I?  I asked, innocently, "are you trying to tell me something"...and this over 6 ft tall, over 200 lb Hawaiian mans face dropped as he tried to remove the foot from his mouth!  haha  I started cracking up, as did the other bouncer behind him, as I assured him I was only kidding.  When a night starts like that, you just know it's going to be a good one.  Later that night the boob job came back around, in the form of a cute looking guy we named New Zealand, because he had an accent.  He somehow got suckered into helping the girl pass out raffle tickets for the contest.  He was clearly very nervous about this, as he hesitated to tell us what the contest was for.  It could've been a recipe for disaster with the wrong woman, but with his boyish charm, I have a feeling it actually was a good ice breaker for him.  Also co-starring in our night were two women from the Cherry Blossom Cabaret that we saw back on our first night there.  They remembered us because that night they laughed as this ridiculous woman (who really appeared to be on some kind of drug!) in a bathing suit, shorts, a floppy hat and swimming shoes drank by herself, with three drinks in front of her, and danced like she was in her own world, right next to us...and eventually came over to talk to us.  I let Jas do the talking.  I think I forgot to mention that in my post from that night!  Anyhoot, these chicks were pretty awesome, and we spent the greater part of the night drinking and getting to know each other.  The last part of the night I apparently spent harassing one of the bartenders I had been chatting with every night we were there...and forcing the aforementioned bouncer to take a pic with me.  Enjoy!  Oh, as a side note, I should mention, there was a random deck of cards on the bar, and when I cut the deck I ironically got the queen of hearts you see in one of the pics.  Go figure!

The best bartender ever! (top left) and our Cherry Blossom Cabaret friends!

some of the awesome staff!

We'll miss you Apartm3nt!!!

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...

A second family

I've been blessed with an incredible family...but I've also been blessed with an incredible second family- my friends.  As I mentioned in my previous post, some relationships have fallen apart with the move...but others have just grown stronger.  It's funny how distance can make you feel even closer to a person.  Lately, a few of my friends specifically have been effecting me deeply, in different ways.  When I created this blog I never imagined it would effect some of the people I love like it has, and I'm grateful for that.  Some people have gotten to know me even better through this blog...and I've learned that I've inspired some, and that both flatters, and humbles me.  There have been so many inspirations in my life, so to even think I've given anyone an ounce of inspiration makes me feel so fortunate.  Another unexpected benefit of the move...is that when some of my friends can't sleep, for different reasons, I'm up!  I'm missing out on big moments in some friends lives, and to be able to do even this small thing makes me feel more involved.  Like through the distance, and across the pond, I'm still filling a void in their lives.

Today I got to speak for hours, to one of my favorite people in the world.  And he left me with so much to think about.  I love my friends for that.  They always have opinions and thoughts worth listening to.  I enjoy intelligent conversation, and I can never say that's lacking...I am in good company.  From this conversation, I somehow came face to face with feelings I was avoiding lately.  I had to admit to myself how much I miss a friend that I haven't spoken to for a while.  I'm tough enough...but, the people I sincerely love stay with me, and I can only avoid that for so long.  It sucks when you become close to someone, and then the relationship ends so unexpectedly.  But, as I mentioned before, I do believe in the reason season lifetime theory...so, I'm left thinking, if it's supposed to be a lifetime, in time the break in the relationship will heal.  Only time will tell.

Whatever the case, I am so genuinely thankful for my friends.  They love me past my flaws...and even when I forget, they remind me how important I am to them, and how much they love me...and I hope they know I feel the same.

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...

Awesometastic Saturday

This past Saturday, the 19th (my parents 33rd wedding anniversary!  Happy anniversary to them!) Jas and I had an action packed day.  The night before, I looked up some hikes on the island, because we've both planned to get into hiking.  There's so many things to do for free here, and most of them have to do with the outdoors which is awesome.  So, why not take advantage of it all.  My roomie wants to do Diamond Head...which is probably the most famous hike on the island, as do I.  But, while I have no doubt I can physically do it now, if for no other reason than I have the pride of a man and if I start I will finish, no matter the toll it may take on me...I know that the smart (and safer way) is to work up to more challenging hikes-  so I found a beginners trail, or at least that's what it was called online.  The location was just under an hour away from our place, in Hau'ula.  So after cleaning and seasoning a ton of meat, putting them in freezer bags and then putting them all in the freezer (if you don't do this, it saves a ton of time) we headed out.  On the way we passed the famous "Shrimp Shack" and decided we'd stop there on the way back...just another thing to check off our list of to-dos!  When we got there we were a little confused on where the trail started, but quickly found our way.

I don't think the trail was difficult really, but, for it to be described as 'for beginners', it was definitely more then I imagined.  It was, of course, beautiful.  It almost felt like throughout the hike you were in at least 3 completely different places...that's how much the scenery and the surroundings changed.  It's difficult to put into words how calming it is to be away from all the ruckus of everyday life, and replace the sounds of cars, sirens, tv's and people with birds singing, the wind rushing past your ears, trees swaying, and waves dancing in the ocean.  This hike ended up being just under 5 miles...and I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it.  Including the moments where we questioned which way to go because part of the trail just wasn't exactly obvious!  I can definitely say that I look forward to more hikes...longer and more challenging ones.  And I also look forward to spending more time nurturing my relationship with nature.    It was a great way to spend another beautiful day in paradise.

left my mark

the ocean through the trees

On the way home, we finally got to the Shrimp Shack!!  And may I say, it was awesome!  After reading about this place, and seeing it on a food tv show, I had been waiting to get here....and now we can finally say we've been there!  The women who run it were all so sweet and nice.  And the food was great...no complaints here!

That night, we went to a semi high class lounge here called Apartm3nt.  Once a month they team up with the Cherry Blossom Cabaret for a themed party, and the women from the Cabaret perform.  Both Jas and I enjoy Cabaret, Burlesque kind of shows so we were in as soon as we read the flyer.  (Have you seen the movie Burlesque? if not, you should...it'll make you want to be a burlesque dancer!)  This month's theme was Animal Instinct.  There was also two birthday parties that night.  We had a couple drinks...some fries, (did I mention I always want fries when I drink?) and enjoyed the music.  The DJ was great!!!  Jas kept saying she felt old because we were rocking to tons of older music, but I didn't feel old at all!  I will definitely be up to going anywhere DJ Sho is playing!

the heels I was going to wear, till I remembered how uncomfortable heels are!

Jas always calls my arms "Jackie arms"...so I wanted to take a picture of them, and my nice shoulders and back...why not take advantage of them now before I get old and they go away!  Jas tried to copy me...ha!...but really she was just trying to show off her tattoo.

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...

Lessons

I'm a very private person- I think I always have been.  I don't announce things about my life publicly...so when I decided to make the move I kept the information close to the chest.  I told only a few, and I just assumed that people who I didn't tell wouldn't be hurt by not knowing.  I fully expected some of my relationships to change, or end with this move.  And when I use the term relationship I mean that generally...not romantic relationships specifically.  People change, and grow.  And sometimes distance is enough to fracture any relationship.  I've always subscribed to the belief that if it's that easy to end a relationship it wasn't worth having.  People leave your life sometimes.  And my response to these times were to just shrug it off and chalk it up to another relationship ended.  Many times I assume that people just don't care that much, and my roomie has to remind me that many do...and that I sometimes don't show people that I actually care, that I don't realize people's feelings are hurt.  I should mention, I also believe in the "reason, season, lifetime" theory...that people come into your life for one of the three.  Some people come into your life, complete their purpose and leave as quickly and quietly as they came into it.  Others stay around for good.  However, I do realize that no relationship works without both parties putting effort into it.  As I hoped it would, the move has given me clarity on some relationships I previously was letting fall by the wayside.  There are still some I don't care to try and save...but there are others that I realize I should make an effort with.  I'd hate to look back in the future and know I lost someone very special to me because I was too cold to let them know they were.

Just another lesson learned.  Hopefully I never stop learning them.

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...