Fake Out...

So much for the huge windstorms with gusts of 50-60 mph. It WAS more windy than usual, but not as bad as they expected.

This is IT. This is the Big One.....

Currently, a "cold front" is working its way across the islands. High winds and rain are expected at least through tomorrow. Winds are predicted as high as 60 mph and a few places on the windward side had already lost power this afternoon. Surf has been high as well -- on the north shore and higher than normal even in the lagoons here at Ko Olina.

I'm not gonna lie...everyone at school was kinda hoping we wouldn't have school tomorrow. Its not that we don't (well, I at least) love the job...but come on...an extra day off? Especially when its the first week and I've already acquired three pre-k for testing? And, when you're temporarily in the library living out of boxes? And, 43 progress reports are due asap? And, more IEPs are coming in? Honestly, its never dull and really -- that's a typical week at our school. There's always something brewing.

On the way home today the announcement comes over the radio...I'm driving down the highway...oh about 15 minutes from home or so, listening to the radio...when they stop the music to report: ALL DOE schools are closed tomorrow. ALL. OF. THEM. That's like the whole state. I dunno...I was a little impressed I guess...never heard of that happening tomorrow.

So, we'll see what happens tonight and tomorrow. It figures that I left my raincoat/umbrella at school today when I left. Sure didn't forget files to work on progress notes. Huh.

We went out to eat tonight and stopped at the grocery store for a few things on the way home. We haven't been since we've gotten back and didn't get a lot, but just a few things for now.

Its pricey...$7.00 for a case of water...$6.00 for a small box of cereal...$4.00 for a bag of chips...

I dare you...guess how much a bag of ice was? GUESS.


















$2.29. Yeah. Frozen water for $2.29. The life we live.

Stay dry and warm everyone!

Check it out

While we're here in StL. enjoying some cold/warm weather and some rain, back on the island people are without power. Apparently they had a big thunderstorm and the whole island of Ohau lost power for a while...slowly its coming back. Check out the article if you like. Looks like we missed the weather there, but we still get to experience the rain here in StL.

Whew....

Today is the day that came to fast and we never thought would come -- the last day of school before winter break! 3 whole weeks! The kids got out at 11, so yesterday was our last day of therapy, but we had lots to do. Right now the school is being renovated a few rooms at a time. The time for us to move out of our room for a few weeks falls right around when break ends. So we had to be ready to go. Black writing on labels of boxes going into storage and red writing on the labels of the boxes going with us into our "temporary classroom". a.k.a. the library -- with a few other programs...school based behavioral health, primary school adjustment project and I think the school wellness program. This is going to be....interesting? Especially when there's only one key to the library and we have 24 boxes going with us (yeah, we're high maintenance). But, 24 out of over a 100 isn't bad...yes, we have speech/language related items and "stuff" galore!

And, now its the mad rush to pack to go to St.Louis for Christmas. We'll see what winter clothes we can dig up. Oh -- and we've found out we're staying in Hawaii till 2011 (feb.). So, we'll be sticking around here a little longer than initially anticipated. And yes, its in writing! This means another deployment in '09. We still have to move as well...that'll be fun...but I think we've found another place.

Below are photos from Nov./Dec. In no particular order:

Part of our room near the end of packing, labeling and taping

Our Pre-k's putting on their winter program. Most of them we claim as speech kids.
You know, we have 7 preschool classrooms...

After all the rain we had...this is what part of the area around the golf course
looked like. What was usually dry, turned into a lake.

Self-portrait before the ball

During Kathy's visit in November.

We're Finishers!

Today was THE BIG DAY a.k.a. MARATHON RACE DAY

We were out the door a little past three and made it downtown by 3:45. We met up with others from scott's work around 4:30 and walked to the start. We started together at 5, but everyone ran their own race so we didn't all finish together.

For the first 10 miles, it rained. It wasn't a fun experience trying to see where I was going with my glasses on; we were soaked. That wasn't all bad once the sun came out -- we did stay a little cooler and the clouds helped give us some cover from direct sun.

We stopped at every water stop and walked through them, which was a nice break. We met some more of Scott's fellow 3/25 members between 17 & 18 and they had food/water for us -- it was nice to see a familiar face.

We did pretty well from mile 10-20. We stayed motivated and steady. Mile 20 is where it started to get challenging. My legs were on fire and by mile 23 Scott was miserable too with leg cramps. At that point it was only 3 miles left, but it was a LONG 3 miles -- especially considering we had to go back up diamond head before heading to the finish.

The last mile was a killer -- we could see the finish as we went around Kapiolani park, but it felt like it took forever. We ran it out to the finish and finished in 5:21 according to my watch.

We ran the whole way, which was pretty impressive. Hard to believe that we actually did it!

We hung around this afternoon; alternating sleeping and eating. I don't know how we'll feel tomorrow, but if today is any indication it may be a bit rough being mobile at work tomorrow.

It was a good experience; people cheered, bands played, and we ran with 25,000 of our closest friends. And the t-shirt: the most important part.

Rain, rain, rain!!!

Today is crazy weather day around here!

Rain has been coming down since last night. It was so heavy we couldn't really see the other condo buildings around us and rain was blowing in our windows b/c of the wind. This morning Scott and I drove to work together -- though that isn't the norm. His report time was pushed back so he was going to drop me off at school and then go to work. We left the house a little before 6:30 and got a little ways before we ran into traffic. Eventually we found out that school was canceled for the day and his report time was pushed back even further. So, we were back at the house by 9. Today was a good day to have a jeep -- there were some big puddles!

So, now we're under a flash flooding warning, several streets have been closed, some schools are closed, several areas are without power (not us thank goodness!) and its just a mess. So much for paradise today! Hopefully we'll have good conditions for the marathon on Sunday.

October revisited

A few from October when Tim visited. Better late than never!