Duck-Hunting
Mood:  mischievious
Fluffy & Amanda were eating Pringles and putting them in their mouths to look like duck lips. I said, "Oh, there's a little family of ducks." Scooter came along, "And I'm the hunter. Pow!" [sound and gesture of a shotgun]

Beach Day
Amanda must have had a lot of fun with us yesterday, coz Lisa called this morning and asked if Amanda could hang out with us today. We were supposed to get together with Guido's friend John in the morning, so we told her we'd pick up Amanda after brunch.

I could have sworn Yum Yum Tree was at the Ward Centre, but Guido and John insisted it was at Ward Warehouse by the Spaghetti Factory. Ha! I was right! Of course, nobody listens to me, so we went to W Warehouse and then had to turn around and go to W Centre.

I don't know why people like Yum Yum Tree so much. The food sucked! Maybe it was my fault for ordering an artichoke pesto omelette. They ran out of artichokes and subsituted with more mushrooms, onions and red peppers. And cheddar cheese! With basil pesto! Local people should stick to cooking local food.

Anyway, Guido's friend John is very nice. Even nerdier than Guido, but very kind and gracious.

After brunch, we went back to Ward Warehouse (just couldn't get away from that place) so I could get matching T-shirts for Fluffy & me from Taj.

We picked up Amanda and went off to the beach in Kahala. It used to be the Kalaha Hilton, but now it's Mandarian Oriental at Kahala or something like that. The water wasn't that clear, but it was very calm, and there was a diving platform which Amanda, Scooter & I swam out to and jumped off of.

We took showers at the hotel and had dinner at Cheesecake Factory in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. I wouldn't normally eat at a Cheesecake Factory, since there's one right by our house, but Amanda had never eaten there, so we had dinner there and bought extra slices of cheesecake to take with us. I swear, that had to be the biggest restaurant I've been in. It was huge! And this is kind of weird - it's 80 degrees and they had lit torches next to the outside tables.

We walked around Waikiki a little bit. One of the shopping plazas (maybe Waikiki Shopping Plaza) had a store with an aquarium in it. Pretty cool. Those walk-through tubes seem to be very popular, but it was weird to have one in a store. They had the requisite sharks and manta rays and assorted fish. You could see it from inside and outside the store, which was on the corner.

Chili Burritos
We're still on California time. Woke up around 4:00 a.m. and forced ourselves to stay in bed until at least 5:30. It's nice to get an early start, though, so we can make the most of the day. Had breakfast at Zippy's (chili burrito - yeah!), stocked up on bottled water and misc. supplies at Longs & Times, and headed to Waimea Bay for some swimming.

I LOVE driving through the country. Brings back good memories of cruising with Leann on the weekends. We stopped at the Dole Plantation just outside of Wahiawa. Took a little train ride and a walking tour; got reacquainted with the local vegetation and crops, and learned a lot about pineapples. Fed hundreds of fish in the giant koi pond. Then we broke into teams (Fluffy & me, and Guido & Scooter) and went through the giant pineapple-shaped maze made out of hibiscus shrubs. If you follow the map they give you, it's really easy. Of course, Fluffy couldn't wait for me to read the map and took off haphazardly through the bushes with me chasing her, and we immediately got lost. It took us an hour to get out of there! (The record is five minutes!) The guys beat us by seven minutes, and were enjoying lunch on the big, breezy porch when Fluffy & I staggered out of there. It was a great team-building exercise.

It was late by the time we left Dole, so we said screw Waimea and drove over to Haleiwa for Matsumoto shaved ice instead. Wow! That place was really crowded. Busloads of tourists actually stop there, and we got there just before four buses unloaded.

We got back in town just in time to meet Lisa, Lance & Amanda for dinner at Gyotaku. Had the weirdest dinner - poke don - poke over rice with tempura. After that we went to Chuck E. Cheese (leftover tradition from our last trip to Hawaii).

I'm sure we'll be on Hawaii time tomorrow, coz we stayed up REALLY late.

Aloha
Mood:  rushed
Spent a crazed morning trying to clear my desk so I could go on vacation. Co-workers thought I was crazy when they found out I was supposed to leave for Hawaii in just a few hours. I can't believe I managed to write copy for 15 sell sheets in one morning! I should go on vacation more often.

Guido insisted we had to be at the airport by 3:00 for a 6:20 flight. A little early, don't you think? So we sat in the airport for a few hours, as flights came and went. Kids didn't seem to get bored, though.

The plane seemed pretty new, and I swear I had more leg room than I usually do. Fluffy wanted the window, of course. Dinner was a choice of a turkey croissant, tortellini or some beef thing. I noticed that all the utensils are plastic now.

Both kids wanted headphones so they could watch the movie, and then they both fell asleep and missed the entire thing, so Guido and I watched the movie instead. The airlines are pretty sneaky. I used to be able to use my own headphones. Now they have these weird jacks, so you can't use your own headphones unless you have a special adaptor, which you probably won't have, so you have to rent their headphones at $5.

We landed at 8:something p.m., which would be 11:something in California, but since both kids had napped, they were rarin' to go. We hopped on a shuttle and the driver asked if I was a McKinley grad. I don't know about here, but in Hawaii, the first thing people ask you is where you grad from and what year. I do that every now and then and people think I'm rude for asking their age in a roundabout way, but it's just a way of placing you. In Honolulu, people always think I grad from either McKinley or Roosevelt or Pearl City, and once in a while Priory. Must be coz I'm such a townie. Ha ha ha ha ha!

The Sheraton Waikiki is pretty nice. So many Japanese tourists. And lots of locals, too. We're on the 15th floor, and the hotel is right on the beach. A bottle of Evian costs $4.50.

Summer Vacation Officially Begins
Scooter kicked off his summer vacation this past Friday with a field trip to Universal Studios with the Hickory Y.

We didn't do much this weekend. Got our hair cut, stocked up on stuff at Costco, rented a few movies, cleaned house, and just kicked back on Saturday. Fluffy rented a Care Bears movie (gag), Scooter rented Johnny English, and I rented Matchstick Men (on Toye's recommendation).

Picked up Guido at the airport on Sunday, then went to Fluffy's basketball game in Gardena. We were going to take Guido to Lucille's for Father's Day, but he didn't want to eat ribs, so we ended up at Elephant Bar instead.

Monday morning both kids started summer camps. Dropped off one kid at Anza for basketball camp and rushed over to Arnold to drop off the other kid for day camp. I made sure when I checked in that there was at least one person at each camp that my kids knew, so they didn't feel too lost. Scooter doesn't really care, but Fluffy does. We didn't see anyone familiar, so I made sure we got all the leaders' names so she at least knew them.

Last night we were invited to an impromptu birthday party for Ryan. It was a real kick-back evening. Kevin bbq'd, Nancy provided the accompaniments. The kids played while the grownups chatted on the little patio. What a great way to spend the first day of summer!

You're Not Really Married Until You Dance
Was dropping Scooter off at basketball camp this morning and ran into Renee from the Arapahos. Fluffy remarked, "That's not the same lady she was with before." So I had to explain that Renee has two moms. Fluffy didn't quite understand how that worked out, so I told her usually a man and a lady get married, but sometimes a man and another man want to get married, or a lady and another lady want to get married. And she said, "And they danced with each other?" And I said, "Yeah, if they want to." And she said, "I would be SO EMBARRASSED to dance with another lady!"

I think it's funny how both she and Scooter think you have to dance in order to be married. Maybe that dancing symbolizes something else you do on your wedding night.

Nothing Comes for Free
What the F*&# is going on with this blog? I logged on this morning, and all my entry dates are gone! This has replaced my written journal. What good does it do me if nothing is dated? I should have known. I got this service for free. As Fight Back's David Horowitz says: If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Last Day of School!
Whoa! I just logged on to post a new entry and my input screen is all different. I don't understand all this stuff. "Now Playing"? What's that for?

Yesterday was the last day of school for Scooter & Fluffy. I took off from work early and picked them up at the front of the school, which is a real treat for them as it happens so rarely. We went to see "Shrek 2." They made so many jabs at everyone, especially Disney. I loved it.

Last night we went to Mulligan's with the Trailblazers. That was a lot of fun, especially the little go-carts. The only problem...the minimum height is 58". I am 58 and 5/8. And I couldn't reach the pedals! I had to slouch way down in order to keep my foot on the gas, and then Scooter put his foot down on top of mine to hold it there. We took turns steering and kept crashing into everything.

Screen Test
We were at Nordstrom this weekend. I was bitching at Scooter for acting like a jerk when a woman said, "Excuse me, are these your children?" and I thought, "Oh, great, what did they do NOW?" I said, rather sheepishly, "Uh...yeah..." and the woman gushed, "Your son is ADORABLE. Have you thought about getting him in commercials?" She gave me her card and invited us to a screen test. She gushed some more about how "ADORABLE" he was, and I was bracing myself for Fluffy to ask, "What about me?"

I guess Scooter did have "the look" that day - cool in his soccer jersey and Tony Hawk shoes, hair spiked and arranged haphazardly (he puts in quite a bit of effort and gel to get it to look that way), but intelligent with his wire-rimmed specs. That's the third time we've been approached by a talent scout, not to mention that weirdo who wanted to take Scooter's picture for his own personal collection. I've always thought he was the cutest guy to walk on this planet, but it's nice to get validation from a pro. Scooter does know how to turn on the charm. When he flashes that smile, you'll do anything for him.

Sporty Red Cars
Last year, Scooter's friend Guy's dad got a bright red Jeep Wrangler. Recently, Guy's mom showed up in a bright red Miata. (Guy's parents are around the same age as Guido and me.) Now whenever Scooter sees a red Miata, he screams, "There's a Midlife Crisis!"

Harry Potter & Co.
Scooter and I have a standing date to see all Harry Potter movies on opening day. So this past Friday, I hurried home from work, picked him up, and we raced up to Rolling Hills to see "Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban." We had outrageously overpriced hot dogs, popcorn and soda for dinner.

This was the best HP movie so far. It's hard to cram all that detail into a 2-1/2 hour movie, so you really should read the books first in order to appreciate everything that happens. But the movies have been very true to the books so far. They leave out a lot, but they don't make up anything in its place. The direction, cinematography, everything was better than previous movies. I also preferred this new Dumbledore. The old one seemed very frail and weak (maybe because he was dying in real life), and I would never believe he could hold his own against Voldemort. This new guy was stronger and yet kinder.

Halfway through the movie, Scooter asked me for his sweatshirt. I thought he was cold in the air-conditioned theatre, but instead he covered his head and leaned in closer to me during the scary parts. He's still my little boy!

Marriage Proposals
Fluffy's class was dancing or something yesterday. When they were done, her classmate Joseph gave her a big hug and said, "You're so cute!" She told me it was "so embarrassing" and "it was a good thing he didn't do it when the fourth graders were around." (Scooter is a fourth grader) She said TWO boys like her, Joseph and Dale. Joseph has "had a crush" on her since the day she showed up at Scooter's soccer practice back in September (Joseph's brother John played on Scooter's team). But Dale wants to marry her.

In preschool, Fluffy was planning to marry Ty and Patrick. By the time she was five, she decided she no longer wanted to marry Ty, because "he always sticks his hand in his pants."

Party Animals
Another busy weekend for us Bunnies. On Thursday, Fluffy & I went to Lauren's house again to finish the scrapbook for Molly.

Friday, Scooter & I saw Harry Potter.

Saturday was busy, busy, busy. Fluffy, Scooter & I went to Thea's birthday party at our favorite place, Chuck E. Cheese. From there we went to the Rainbow Kiddie Cocktail party at Lauren's house and hung out for a few hours before we had to leave for Fluffy's softball team party and game. After that we went back to Lauren's house for a BBQ. Looking back, we left the house at 9:30 in the morning, and didn't come home until 11:30 that night. THAT was a long day!

On Sunday we went to the annual Cheyenne graduation / picnic / water war. We seem to get a smaller turnout each year. We had a great time, especially when it came time for the water war. I have a feeling I was the only mom running around and getting into the action. It's just a matter of time before my kids realize this and start getting embarrassed by it. Hee hee!

Interjections
Fluffy's latest favorite expression is "Oh dear!" She says it with a very even, ladylike tone. She sure isn't taking her cues from me; otherwise, she'd be saying "Oh shit" and "Goddammit!"

Possums from Heaven
Michael spent the last week moving out of his apartment into the new condo he just bought. He came back to work yesterday and started to tell us about his moving adventures. "You know how that possum fell into my kitchen. Well..."

"Wait!" we all cried. "How'd a possum FALL into your kitchen? And what do you mean, ANOTHER possum?"

Well, a few years ago, while Michael was away on vacation, a possum fell through a hole in the ceiling into Michael's kitchen. It was a big possum, which Michael's friend chased out of the apartment. You can imagine what the place looked like when he returned...

So last week Michael was watching TV and heard something in the kitchen. Deja vu... Another possum fell through the ceiling. This one was a little smaller, presumably "Son-of-Possum." Michael thinks he came to say goodbye on behalf of the big Possum.

Tiger Tournament - Memorial Day Weekend
Fluffy and the Sparklers played in a basketball tournament this weekend. The girls have come a long way since they started playing together last August. Some of them seem like naturals, while others have to put more thought and effort into it, but overall everyone has improved, and they seem to enjoy playing together.

We dragged ourselves over to Monterey Park early Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings. On Monday, we found out that our team was working the shaved ice booth that day, and that there was an awards ceremony at 4:00 that afternoon. No big deal, we thought, we can stick around to help. It turned out to be really hot and a great day for shaved ice. We made around 500 shaved ices, and we even had to turn away customers when we ran out of ice. We were pooped by the time it was over, but we had a lot of fun, and we made a nice little profit to go into our gym rental fund.

Star Student of the Week
Every kid in Mrs. Henderson's class gets to be Star Student for a week. Since Fluffy's birthday is in July and she loses contact with her school friends over the summer, we made arrangements to celebrate her un-birthday during her star week. Notes went home to the parents letting them know that lunch would be provided for their kids on Friday.

So Thursday night I was in the bathroom and Fluffy came in and barfed in the sink. Turns out she had a mild stomach virus, just enough so she couldn't go to school on Friday.

So is it ironic, or is it apropos, that we celebrated an un-birthday for a guest of honor who didn't show up for her own party?

Pow Wow 2004
Spent another weekend with Fluffy and the Rainbows, this time in Idyllwild or wherever the hell we were. Actually, we didn't spend the weekend; it just felt like it. Stayed up really late Friday night, packing, preparing food, making nation t-shirts. Finally went to bed at 12:30, and got up at 4:00 in the morning! Vickey and Lauren picked us up and we were on the road by 6:00. We got to Hurkey Creek in time to make breakfast! Wow!

We made these really cool drums out of coffee cans. Fluffy painted my arm with paint that is not suitable for skin. I now have suntan on my arm in the shape of a flower.

We listened to stories told by "The Grizz," who is a Cherokee/Creek Indian.

The weather was much more pleasant than last year. The crowd was smaller, too, with about 25-50% fewer attendees than last year. I sure hope they have it again next year, because I wouldn't mind going. It was kind of nice to go just for the day, too, because we didn't have to worry about putting up and taking down our tent.

Camp Whittle
Spent the weekend with Fluffy and a couple hundred parents & kids at Camp Whittle. Weather was great. We didn't participate in too many of the planned activities, but the kids had fun. We let the girls plan and execute their own skit. I doubt anyone really understood what they were doing; our own tribe didn't quite get it.

A couple of chipmunks tried to take over the lodge, but they couldn't take all the screaming and left.

It was a very relaxing pace, but I still came home exhausted. You never heard such snoring until you've slept in a cabin full of tired children and women on sleeping pills.

Mix It Up?
Is it weird that whenever I stay in a hotel, motel, whatever, I always rearrange the furniture to my liking?