Most Tuesdays you can find Piko and I doing a 4-mile loop around Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island. Now that we are solidly into the fall season (despite it being summer temperatures), the sunset happens earlier and earlier, so much so that Piko and I find ourselves walking in the dark on the way back to the car. Today's sunset was particularly pretty. I think it had to do with the lack of tradewinds and vog particles in the air.
So the work week of the 19th-23rd was packed. I'm still teaching, grading papers, working on my presentations AND recruiting. In a way, I kind of like being so busy at work that the time flies and you don't even realize that it's time to leave. I guess you could say that's been a joy in and of itself. Not only do I have a job, it's occupying my time and giving me a sense of purpose.
To all my loyal readers, let me just say I AM SO SORRY!! I know I haven't written in 10 days and I truly feel bad about that. I've been having some internet connection issues at home, so that was my original issue with getting the blog up daily. And then, well... work got busy and I got lazy with my free time. All very lame explanations, I know. I'm sorry. I'm planning to get back on top of this thing starting today.
View from our seats to the arena stage below. There was a huge Aerosmith logo on the entire stage.
I have a particular affinity for Starbucks coffee. No, it just isn't the coffee itself (although that pretty much gets me going), its the whole process. I know just what I want and the best part is that the guys behind the counter know what I want too. I feel like I'm not just buying the coffee, I'm buying the experience and like Cheers, I'm going to a place where everybody knows my name. :)
The BBQ
Kimi prepping the fish.
Yummy!!
A change of scenery can make life that much more interesting. I met up with Kaliko today for lunch downtown and got to spend that time talking story and watching all kinds of people walk by. Obviously, given the location, there were a lot of professional looking lawyer and banker types, but I also saw a few politicians and lobbyists, students, and kids. No one really stands out, but I really like the past-time of observing and not being observed in return.
Cromwells
It was another late night last night, so I slept in a bit then joined Malia for brunch at Cafe Kaila's again. You can't beat the scenery and the food! Today's joy, however, was cruising at the beach solo. I went in the late afternoon after some errands and just took time to relax with a book on the shore and a quick dip. It was lovely to listen to the waves and enjoy the scenery.
After a rocking Thursday night and a not-so-sterling Friday work day, I decided to hole up at home and take it easy. I'm never any kind of fun when I'm tired. Netflix to the rescue! They make life so easy, you don't even have to go to the store. I got this weeks R&R watching season one of True Blood.
I'm right in the middle of the Fall semester, so I am completely bogged down with grading exams and papers and trying to do individual student evaluations. I'll spare you the details, but it can be tedious and exacting work. Enter my new best friend: Pandora and her music goodness. She spares me from the monotony of my own iTunes library and keeps the hits coming. Plus, the music keeps my energy up and helps to distract me from the fact that I have been staring at the computer screen all day and giving myself a healthy case of carpel tunnel. 
I had been in a good mood all morning and for most of the day, but sometime around lunch I started getting this sharp pain under my rib cage on my right side. I get that sometimes, I'm not sure why/how it starts or what sets it off. It really sucks when I do get it though. Anyway, the pain lasted until I got home from work so I had to forgo yoga today (sad face) and buddy up with my pal Advil instead. Thank goodness for those two orange pills and a steaming hot bath. By the time I was ready to hit the sack, the pain had dulled to manageable levels.
French toast, my standard choice. 
Lovely Malia.
It feels like forever since I've had a nice sleep in. When you're on vacation, there is no going to bed early or sleeping in late (although I tried). So, that is what this Saturday morning was for. It felt so nice to just laze about in bed. I have the softest bed in the world and my sheets are finally at that broken in stage where they feel just perfect. Aaaahhhh.
I <3 First Friday. I consider it one of my personal holidays, one that I get to enjoy each month. To me, each FF is so different. You always run into someone you haven't seen in forever, you get to cruise and spend time with friends that never go out, and you almost always have way more fun than you expected. Of course, happy hour martinis and late-night patron shots will have something to do with that.
I know, I know. Is that a typo?? Seriously though, it felt good to be back in the classroom this week. I really do enjoy being in there, interacting with the students, and trying to get a certain message or concept across. When I first started teaching, I was worried about how I would be percieved by the students (since we are so close in age), and if I really knew what I was doing. As time goes by, I get more and more confident in my abilities and I look forward to those "aha" moments that students have when they finally get "it."
There are so many wonderful things that I can say about San Francisco. I've visited the City by the Bay every year for the last six years. But it seems this trip that I only took pictures of food. LOL!! We had the best time eating our way through San Francisco. In-N-Out burgers and fries, lemon ricotta pancakes at the Blu Grill, Ghiardelli chocolate sodas, Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Fisherman's Warf, Italian cuisine at Rosa Pistola, garlic everything at the Stinking Rose. Yummmm. 
