Departure

My week vacation in Hawaii is coming to an end and I am very sad to leave. I have gotten as much of a tan as I'm going to get in the couple times I have made it to the beach, visited the Waikiki Aquarium (saw some illegal venomous Amazon Stingrays which the Hawaii Agriculture Department confiscated from some moron who tried to smuggle them in as pets), ate plenty of good food, saw Meet the Fockers and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, took some lovely photos which I will try and get up soon, spent lots of time with my family, and am on my way to San Francisco now for Susan's wedding. Have a happy new year everybody--and be safe!

Surf's Up

Ahhhhh, Hawaii! I spent 11 hours in the air yesterday--and a four hour layover in LA where I left the confines of the airport to have lunch with a six months pregnant Jenny. It was delightful with the exception of the flight to Honolulu because of the number of kids on the flight. If the Bermuda Triangle was a portal that sucked kids into another dimension of time--that would be my 5 hour flight to Honolulu. I don't mind kids--I mind kids whose parents fail to tell them kicking seats in front of them isn't really cool. And fat people have to buy two seats--not one! Please!!!!

Today, I got up very early, hit Chinatown with my mom and brother, and then, set out to Waikiki to try and catch some waves. I'm such a pathetic newbie. I kinda, coasted in on some waves on my knees, but did not manage to paddle in hard enough to catch anything. Bummer. But boy was it gorgeous out there in the water. Diamond Head looked spectacular and the water was cool. I have war wounds, lovely war wounds--I ripped open a right toe on some rocks when I was kicking to swim up after eating it on my board. Ouch! It bled; no sharks appeared so I continued to surf until 4 or so. I hung out on the beach tourist watching while my surf buddy, Justin, and his brother Jamie proceeded to serenade me on their guitars with John Mayer songs until the sun went down. They were gooooooooooooood! They plan on becoming Japanese pop stars. Nice!

Tomorrow, I'm off to the movies to catch one of the many movies on my list I still haven't seen with Justin before his trip to the mainland. Now, I need to sleep--so exhausted!!!!

Sixth Harry Potter Book Release Date

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is set to be released July 16, 2005. You can pre-order it now at barnesandnoble.com. The last book was released in June 2003 and sold 5 million copies in the first 24 hours of its release. The sixth book promises no less than a record-setting sale. I'm sure all those crazy Christians will once again come out of the woodworks with their pick-axes and stakes intending to put aflame this great book series. Yes, the same people who put Bush back in office and believe abortion is evil, but the death penalty is a-ok!

An aside--something I need to pay better attention to:

Better

It's something like I apologize
It's something I still can't decide
But I know it gets better
It only gets better

And I want to say that it's not always easy
But it's simple that way
And I want to stay and play it out
But I still have my doubts
So you say it gets better
It only gets better
Better this way
Better, maybe it's better this way

Beautiful things they never stay, oh, the same way
They pass, oh they pass away, they always change
Who are we is who we are
When the act of love can get us so far
So good I wish you would
Think twice on me
Cuz it only gets better

It only gets better
Better this way
Better, maybe it's better this way
Just give it some time
Just give it some space
Just give it some time, maybe it's better this way
Just give it some time
Just give it some space
Just give it some time, maybe it's better this way

So better
It's better this way
Baby, it's better this way
Just give it some time
Just give it some space
Maybe, yes maybe, yes maybe, yes maybe
It's better, oh, this way
Promise me you'll always be better
Better

(Jason Mraz)

Holiday Preview

It is nearly time for me to head home for the holidays. This has to be my favorite annual vacation in terms of me being some place where it is not only spectacularly beautiful but I'm surrounded by people I love. And with the way winter is shaping up in New York with 11° weather yesterday after a light blanket of snow Sunday night, I need this trip desperately. My itinerary is shaping up nicely:

12/22: Four hour stopover in LA where I'm having lunch with Jenny (you'll recall she got married last January and is 5 months pregnant!) and arrive in Honolulu Wednesday night (yes, now is the time to be jealous) where the temperature will be a comfortable 72°
12/23: Thursday, I'm off to Waikiki to surf for the afternoon; there are numerous surf and snorkel sights which you can review at Snorkel Bob's. You gotta love his description of Waikiki Beach:

Waikiki Beach is excellent for watching people with mostly nothing on. Some of them are fat, however and the snorkeling is marginal, because no coral and no rocks equal no habitat. Yet the surf is good for body boarding every now and then. Watch out for people learning to surf on large fiberglass objects with fins on the bottom.

12/24-25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
12/26: My brother, Steve, and I have been planning to kayak out to Chinaman's Hat off Kualoa Ranch State Park; I'll attempt photos though probably from a disposable camera
12/27: Monday, I'm off to the Waikiki Aquarium to meet with the the curator of the live exhibits
12/28-29: Open but am planning to go out the Sea Life Park and the Honolulu Zoo to meet with someone on their staff. Sea Life Park is the only place on the entire planet you can see a wolphin (half false killer whale, half bottle nose dolphin); she'll be 20 years old next year. Our zoo rocks too with a great array of animals that one admission fee (not 20 like the Bronx Zoo) will allow you to view: tigers, lions, hippos, crocs, gators, cheetah, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, primates, elephants, Galapagos tortoises!
12/30-1/2: I'll be in San Francisco for my dear friend Susan's wedding to her lovely fiancé, Damien--probably one of the greatest guys ever. They've been dating for a few years and Susan has gradually overcome her fear of commitment (he's so patient!) and is taking the big leap New Year's Day. As a bridesmaid, it is my duty to keep her beautiful and happy. Let me also add that the dress she and her mother picked out is absolutely lovely (black, not seafoam green). It promises to be very fun!!
1/3: Back in New York at work
1/5: My birthday; I'll be at my Wednesday sushi/bar hangout, BondSt, to celebrate with my friends who plan on being in the city at that time
1/14-17: Okay, I know the holidays are technically over by this time, but I'm heading to San Diego to visit Jano (all those frequent flier miles need to be used for something!) and have another behind-the-scenes zoological tour of the San Diego Zoo/Sea World. We're off to Japan in April as well. After that, I have one more free round trip ticket left to use for... maybe Costa Rica or... perhaps Canada? I've miss Jano so much and congratulations to him for landing a sweet job--they have no idea how lucky they are to have you!

My holiday shopping is just about completed, all my holiday cards are mailed, and I'm just about packed for my journey home. I'll be vegging at home tonight to get up at 7am for my flight tomorrow and Aurora will be off to Westchester for the next 12 days.

There are still 4 days left to shop! Can't think of anything to give that someone who has everything? Try giving plastic surgery gift certificates for someone with crow's feet or a little too much loose skin from massive weight loss or saggy boobs or droopy faces. Really, it sends a message saying that you care!

My Wishlist

I'm busy dammit! At work, at school, at home, at life, at death... well maybe not so much on that last thing. As it is, holiday time is probably the fastest passing period on Earth. When I was younger, the days couldn't go by fast enough, but when you're a ripe twenty-something, the days have shortened to 16 hours and everything else moves twice as fast. This is why online shopping is a blessing. Not only can you order things from foreign countries, but returns and exchanges are that much easier. It seems so 4-years-old of me to do, but here's my holiday wishlist:


My Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/BIRTHDAY Wishlist

Sony WEGA HDTV-Ready LCD Flat Panel Television (20 inches and up): Okay, maybe this is an everybody chip in gift, but it's on my list

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers: Yeah, a book, I read. It's on my bn.com wishlist. Also, The Plot Against America, Thought Gang, Cloud Atlas, Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare, Shantaram, Le Cordon Bleu at Home

Chambord 8-cup Coffee Press by Bodum or Eiffel French Press Brushed Stainless by Bonjour: I do not drink a lot of coffee, but occasionally, having the ability to drink a cup of freshly ground Kona would be nice without having to make a whole pot, but having the opportunity too. Speaking of freshly ground...

Krups Coffee Grinder in Chrome or Cuisinart in Black: small, and easy to clean. I can quickly grind some coffee to make in my smashing French Press.

Chef's Blowtorch: I like fire. I like creme brulee. I'd like a big fat blowtorch. Creme brulee ramekins are welcome.

Jason Mraz's "Sold Out" CD: It's out of print, it's rare, it's hard to find, and I want it. Recorded way back when in the early 2000's at Java Joe's in San Diego when we all feared the Y2K debacle that never happened.

Jude Law 1-Sheet double-sided movie posters: I collect poster and I have the posters for 3 of the 6 Jude Law flicks released this year. I'm missing Closer, The Aviator, and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Original studio release posters make it to my collection

Calvin Klein Bamboo Flowers bedding set, Queen: yeah, it was in Sex and the City, but it goes with my blue bedroom.

David William's crystalline glaze ceramics: You can find these at The Big Pagoda Company and they are gorgeous

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended Edition Widescreen DVD: Complete my collection, please! Also, The Office 2-hour Special DVD, Widescreen