Week 2 of 150ish

Day 8: Sunday, August 21st
After having to turn in my MacBook to Millard with my resignation and after finding out Justin's work computer does not have a webcam, we were FORCED to buy a new MacBook on Saturday.  I'm in love again.  I love this thing.  I've had it now (from the day this is posted) for a little over a week, and like I said, I love it.  I get to Facebook, Pinterest, blog, read other blogs, research, google, check email, and look at Omaha.com. I get to use a calendar, iTunes, Skype, and the always fun Photobooth.  Of course, most of this is done during nap time.  I am so thankful for this purchase because it gives me something to do in this hotel room.

With that said, we got to Skype with my mama, Justin's parents Pam and Mike, Tina, and our close friends Emily and Charlie.  It was so fun to see everyone again even though we are thousands of miles away from home.

Day 9:
On Monday, we go to Skype with Lexi (Lexi Rae as Gracie likes to call her favorite cousin).  Lexi is one of our oldest nieces and will be turning 15 soon.  Her quincenera is in the works and she will get to celebrate on the 17th.  We are so sad we won't be there, so we'll be patiently waiting for pictures!

We also got to Skype with some more close and dear friends, Erin and Chris.  Their computer stinks so in reality they got to see me and Gracie,  but we didn't get to see much of them.  They are expecting the 2nd little baby (it's a boy!) this month...actually in a couple weeks!  Again, we are so sad we won't be there, so we will be patiently waiting for the announcement and pictures!

Also, got to finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on the Kindle.  It was a great read and highly recommended.  Now on to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  It's about a black woman in the 50s who has cervical cancer and gets treatment for it.  At that time, doctors were not able to grow human cells successfully and because she received free treatment, the doctors felt it was okay to use her cells without her knowledge and consent.  Henrietta's cancer cells were taken and were the first cells to survive and multiple outside the human body.  The writer of the story learns about this lady in a biology class and begins to research the cells and who this woman was.  It is Henrietta's untold story.


Day 10:
This was the day I saw Dog the Bounty Hunter.  I don't even know if I'm spelling that right.  Hold on while I google on my sweet laptop :)  Yep, I was right, D.O.G.  You can read my previous post here to read all about it.  Other than that, nothing else exciting.

Day 11:
On Wednesday, Justin bought his new (used) car, 2009 Tahoe.  It took 5 hours for him to finally get what he wanted from the dealership.  He was supposed to get a company car out here, but they did not have one available like they had originally thought.  He is loving it right now.  It's so spacious! I feel like I'm in a boat.    That took up the majority of his day and a small part of ours.  Dealers out here are strange (5 hours to buy a car?).  I do not like car shopping out here because of it.

After the deal was sealed, we went and ate at Dixie Grill.  Pulled pork sandwich, bbq chicken, brisket, and so more meat with some awesome tasting barbecue sauce. yum.  My mouth is salivating just thinking about it!  We will definitely have to take our visitors there to eat their grub.  It's good.

Day 12:
Nothing exciting, I'm sure we went out to eat somewhere for the millionth time.  I'm really looking forward to getting into a house and having home cooked meals and getting back to some paleo eating.

Day 13:
I was invited by a new friend, Karena, to a Scentsy party at her house.  Although I drove in an hour worth of bumper to bumper traffic, I got to meet Karena and some of her friends for the first time.  They all seem like great women, and I can't wait to get to know them a bit better.  The drive was so worth it!  Karena has been extremely helpful with our house hunt before we even arrived on the island.  She has a little girl the same age as Gracie, and we are so excited to get them together to play.  Her husband works with Justin on the rail project.

Day 14:
Saturday morning, we decided to check out the water park in Kapolei.  It will be a short drive when we move into the house (which has now been pushed to the 6th...seriously?).  It's called Wet'n'Wild Hawaii.  If you watch Bert the Conqueror, he actually did a taping at this park.  You can see a slideshow here.

Gracie had so much fun!  She went down some waterslides, attempted swimming, and splashed till her little heart was content.  We loved watching our little girl act so big!  She is seriously growing up too fast.  We will definitely be back as it is open year round. :)

Day 15:
Sunday, we ate Duke's Waikiki, good breakfast buffet.  Way better than the one here at Ala Moana, AND it's the same price!  We totally get jipped here.  We sat near the beach and let the soft morning rain fall on our heads while we at pancakes, fresh delicious fruit, eggs, sausage, and potatoes.  Don't worry that rain only last 2 minutes or so.  We weren't drenched and eating at the same time.  I tried Portuguese sausage for the first time, and it was actually really good!  It has great spicy flavor.  I would recommend trying it if you can get your hands on some.

Later that afternoon, we met up with an old friend of Justin's, Tom and some of his friends.  They had a beachside barbecue.  We sat next to the sandy beach and ocean water, grilled up hamburgers and sausages, and hung out till the sunset over the ocean water.  Gracie actually got to play in the water and sand, and of course, she loved it.  She also got to meet a new friend, Emma Grace.  Emma was a little blond hair, brown eyes, super tan skin baby.  What a cutie!  Totally looked like a beach baby.  It was so nice to meet more people and to see a familiar face around such an unfamiliar place.

So, things are looking up.  We are meeting people, getting out of the hotel, and still anxiously waiting to get into the house.  Next week, folks!  Then, like I said, all visitors welcome!