LOST with Ingrid Michaelson...

I love the show LOST and have watched it since the beginning air date. I also love Ingrid Michaelson. Put them together and it's a joyous occasion.

No Means No...

Jaiden (named Jady Lady by her cousin Jackie who is known as The Roo) has learned something new to "say...".

Tornado Watch 2010.

In Southern California?!?  Are you kidding me?  Actually, no.  I'm not.

Last week, Southern California got a taste of El Nino, which has been forecasted since October of last year.  It lasted pretty much the whole week and we have a few more days to go after a short break.

On Wednesday, I got an email from a coworker with the subject heading: "Uh oh!"  When I opened it, I had to laugh.  There it was.  A Tornado Alert for Orange County.  With my hometown of Huntington Beach as one of the first cities.  I think my favorite part of the whole "special weather report" was when it advised us Southern Californians that the best place to go during a tornado is in a basement...

Excuse me?  Um... WHO in Southern California, let alone Orange County, has a basement?!?  I actually laughed out loud at that one.

In light of winds reaching up to 95mph, and receiving a total rainfall (in Huntington Beach alone) of 4.17" (my work got 8.17") in one week, I thought I'd share some pictures from around the Orange County area.

Darkening skies over Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

(MARK RIGHTMIRE)

Waves almost touch the bottom of the Huntington Beach Pier.  Luckily, it didn't wash away like it has in the past.

(KEN STEINHARDT)

A Dana Point Waterfall from a new storm drain.  I posted this picture because I lived up the street from it.  (ROSE PALMISANO)

Sand being leveled in front of the houses on Seal Beach just down PCH from Harbor House to help drain the water.

(MICHAEL GOULDING)

The storm moves past Seal Beach.

(MICHAEL GOULDING)

More storms to come (Orange).

(MARK RIGHTMIRE)

This tree took down power lines when it fell in Anaheim Hills.

(BRUCE CHAMBERS)

Doheny Beach in Dana Point.

(MARK RIGHTMIRE)

Corona Del Mar.

(LEONARD ORTIZ)

After a tornado hit at Peter's Landing Marina in Huntington Beach.

(MICHAEL GOULDING)

Floodwaters in Costa Mesa.

(RICHARD KOEHLER)

San Clemente Pier during 35-50mph gusts of wind.  (One of my stomping grounds while living in Dana Point.)

(PAUL BERSEBACH)

Erosion from a tidal surge in Seal Beach.

(MICHAEL GOULDING)

This is one of my favorites...  Costa Mesa.

(SAM GANGWER)

AND NOW PROOF THAT WE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS, DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN...

Placentia (right by my work).

(BRUCE CHAMBERS)

This genius attempted to drive through 3 feet of water after a CHP officer had just pushed a BMW out of the water after it stalled on the 91 freeway.

(BRUCE CHAMBERS)

Diesel fuel leaked over 4 lanes when this big rig jack knifed.

(BRUCE CHAMBERS)

Why I was late to work on the 22 Freeway...

(H. LORREN AU JR)

On Santiago Canyon Road a van attempts to cross a creek.

(KEVIN SULLIVAN)

El Toro Road, my exit to one of my friend's houses.

(JEBB HARRIS)

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But after the storm(s), the rainbow  :)

Santa Ana River in Orange

(JOSHUA SUDOCK)

Overtime.

One of the benefits of working OT these past 2 weeks, aside from the extra monies, is the sunset on the way home...

Who cares about traffic when you can enjoy a sky like that?  It makes me appreciate the smoggy state that is California.

I Want One, Too..

Out With the Old, In With the New!

It seems to me that I should pole vault on to this giant bandwagon of bloggers* posting reviews of their experiences last year.  After all, it IS the new year right?  2009 is now just a memory of the past.  It's time to look to the future of 2010...

Then why the heck dwell on the past?

I have to be honest with all of you... 2009 may have been THEE worst year of my life.  Of course there were many wonderful events that happened!  I gained 2 new nieces, Jaiden Lily and Anne (Cozy) Cossette.  I visited Hawaii to see Family and Friends.  I got to experience the famous Manta Ray Dive off Big Island and watch 15 Mantas do acrobatics (and get hit in the head a couple times).  I went skydiving.  I was visited by amazing Friends from out of state.  I went to Disneyland... A LOT...  But all of these fun events are already posted on this blog.  These were the experiences that kept my head above water while experiencing a terrible, terrible year.

And so, to 2009?  I bid you an effing adieu.  Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Family and Friends, I could not have survived last year without Your love and support.  You are the silver lining to the clouds of 2009.  Without You I would have given up treading water and drowned.  It is because of You that I have these positive experiences to add to my happiness.  And I thank You.  Immensely.  Do me a favor right now and wrap Your arms around Yourself and give Yourself a GIANT hug from me!

It is time to move on.  Bring on 2010!!!

Oh, and another thing... I'm not quite sure how we're doing this... What are we calling it?  20-10? 0-10? '10?  I think I'm sticking with 20-10...

Anyhoo, I wish You a happy and prosperous 20-10!  I leave You with this fantastic song from an artist recommended by my favorite female artist, Ingrid Michaelson.

Xoxo to You all!!

Lyrics:

Another year you made a promise

another chance to turn it all around

and do not save this for tomorow

embrace the past and you can live for now

and I will give the world to you

Speak louder than the words before you

and give them meaning no one else has found

The role we play is so important

we are the voices of the undergroud

and I would give the world to you

Say everything you've always wanted,

be not afraid of who you really are,

cause in the end we have each other,

and thats at least one thing worth living for,

and I would give the world to you

A million suns that shine upon me

A million eyes you are the brightest blue

Lets tear the walls down that divide us

and build a statue strong enough for two,

I pass it back to you

and I will beat for you,

cause I would give the world

and I would give the world

and I would give the world to you

This is the new year

A new begining

You made a promise

You are the brightest

We are the voices

This is the new year

We are the voices

This is the new year

<3

* This post, in no way, is trying to offend anyone, nor make any blogger that has posted a blog with the topic of "Review of 2009" feel ashamed.  This post only reflects the feelings and opinions of the author.

Christmas with the Obamas...

Ok, I know it's New Years, but I needed to post about Christmas in Hawaii with no presents first. Yes, that's right.  I said no presents.  *GASP!*  I know, right??  Not even stockings!  It was my first Christmas without a stocking :(  *TEAR*

(Traci, Ashley and I after walking around aimlessly looking for the beach.  We never found it but stumbled on this giant Christmas tree!)

So, instead of buying presents for each other like we usually do, we decided to take that money and put together brown lunch sacks full of goodies for the homeless people in Ala Moana Park.  These packages included thins like McDonalds gift certificates ($5 per bag), shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste, mouthwash, razors, clementine oranges, candy and more.

But before the big day of Christmas, we volunteered at a women's shelter for Christmas Eve dinner.  It was fun putting on the plastic aprons, gloves and hair nets and seeing how silly we all looked in them!  It was such a great feeling though serving others in need.  My favorite was seeing this adorable little girl walking around beaming because she had a cupcake with HUGE amounts of frosting!  The people that work the facility are so humble and just amazing people.  If I still lived there, I would go and help out more... Although I'm sure there are plenty of places around here I can find!  That's on my list!

When we got back to the villa we stayed in, we assembly lined the presents for the homeless with smiles on our faces as we decorated each bag with stickers and markers.  It had been a long day!

The next morning we went on our adventure to Ala Moana Park!  We were all a little timid at first, approaching someone trying to sleep, or families gathered together, but after the first person, our hearts smiled and we continued on until all 50 bags were handed out to elderly men, single moms and families with young children.  My heart was very full as it began to rain and we walked back to our cars.  Up until then it hadn't felt like Christmas at all.  As soon as we handed out that first gift and saw the tears in their eyes, it felt like Christmas.

(My parents delivering Christmas joy at Ala Moana Park.)

It was a VERY humbling experience.

Aside from that, we had a good time being entertained by Jady Lady.  She's 10 months old now and has been nonstop smiles since she was born!  Our favorite thing to do with her is say "Yes, Ma'am" or "Yes, yes, yes" while nodding our heads up and down.  In return, she shakes her head "No."  It's very entertaining!

(Jady Lady giving me salutations by spitting.)

I also took the day after Christmas to go diving with Marisa and Gabe and to see old friends.  We woke up bright and early and dove a wreck dive, YO and a shallow reef called Nautilus.  Oh yeah, and Gabe decided to put me, the coldest girl in the world, in a shorty wetsuit!  Well, I learned my lesson because on the second dive I was so cold!  During my safety stop at the end of the dive, my hands were numb holding on to the line and Marisa was trying to rub my arms because I was shaking so bad.  That'll teach me to alway bring my own wetsuit...  But at the YO, we had a blast!  we didn't see any whales like I'd hoped for but I did see my first Brown Stingray!  That made the dive worth it :)

(Risa and I having fun at the YO)

(I thought this pix was pretty awesome of 2 eels "kissing.")

After diving, we went to Duke's for lunch to meet up with our friend Wayne.  He and Risa both work there.  It's always fun seeing old friends!  They are trying to get me to move back to the island, it's pretty funny.

(I was already tanner than Risa at this point, haha!)

Next we drove to my old work, Sea Life Park.  This was the very bittersweet part of my visit.  It's so good to see my old friends and visit, but it's also hard.  The last part of my employment there was very difficult for so many reasons.  It's hard to see them still dealing with it.  I gave out plenty of hugs and visited my old animals, whom I miss dearly.  I was very happy to see all of the younger turtles had been released or adopted out.  My sharks were all still alive and Ula was as fat as ever.  My stingrays, although their barbs had been cut, were still cruising around.

When I returned back to the villa I found out my brother in law, Seanie, had worked out with the Obamas on Kaneohe Bay Marine Base Semper Fitness.  He said Michelle Obama was a stud, all lifting weights and being buff, while Mr. President was on the elliptical machine.  Haha, I thought that was hilarious!

(Air Force One. We had to wait 20-30 minutes at the front gate of Hickam because they closed it while Obama drove off Hickam and to Kailua.)

Overall, it was a good visit and I'm glad I had the opportunity to not only get back in the water, but to help some of those in need.  It was a very different Christmas.  Very humbling indeed.