It's Christmas Time!!!

It's December?!?!  Where has the time gone?  It's been a whole month since I last wrote a blog.  Have I been that busy this past month?  I guess so.

Let's see what have I been up to?  I started Japanese minyo dance at the beginning of November and just started minbu practice in December.  I also started my Christmas planning around the beginning of November.  I started to increase my training for GAR (The Great Aloha Run) since it's coming up soon (February).

There were many parties in November.  There was the "Twas the Month Before Christmas Party" that my friends invited me to.  Lots of people thought it was weird when I said that I was cooking for a Christmas party.  There were only a few that understood why it made sense to make it early.  You see, everyone works and has family so they will have their own holiday parties which they would have to attend.  So my friend decided to create Twas the Month Before Christmas.  This way we can all get together and have some Christmas fun.  Like all Hawaii parties, it was potluck.  So I signed up for main dish and brought mochiko chicken.  But, then I got into the holiday spirit and decided to make not one but two desserts.  I made everyone's favorite, tricolor chichidango and andagi (my menu was so Japanese).  To make things even more festive the chichidango was red, white and green; and when you bit into the andagi it was either red, green, or just regular white.

For those you don't know, chichidango is also known as mochi but it really isn't exactly mochi.  Dango is dumplings and chichi is milk.  So it's milk dumplings.  That's not right either.  It's just easier to call it tricolor mochi like everyone does in Hawaii.  Andagi is Okinawan doughnuts.  It's more like doughnut holes by the shape.

After my friend's Christmas party, I was busy planning my Christmas:  what to buy, who to buy for, what to bake, making shopping lists for my baking, etc.  Then Thanksgiving came.  How fun.  Time for more cooking for me.  Well this time I just baked.  Of course I made my tricolor mochi for my family since they don't really know I bake and cook now.  It's a good thing I made dessert because there wasn't much at our Thanksgiving.  My uncle said "We had to cut back somewhere, I'm sorry."  We didn't have a turkey.  My aunty had to make chicken, and my mom made tempura just for me.

Here is a close up of a piece I made for Thanksgiving.  It's supposed to be red, yellow, and orange; autumn colors. 

After Thanksgiving, of course is SHOPPING!  Well almost half my shopping was done by the time Black Friday came about (Yay!).  There was still some shopping to be done.  So I did go shopping on Friday, just not during those hectic 3:00, 4:00 AM hours.  I do want to sleep since I do work on Black Friday.  And I guess it brings us to December.  Time sure does fly.

On December 1st, I decided to bring out the tree (yes, my Christmas tree is fake).  It makes things so much simpler.  I have no way of transporting a real tree to the house.  After couple of hours of struggling with the tree, lights and decorations, the tree was 99% complete.  I still haven't found the tree topper.  Maybe I'll just make one out of ribbon.  Just have to go buy some.  Hopefully there still is some left on the store shelf.  It's amazing how fast things are being bought in places like Wal-mart.  They brought Christmas items the day after Halloween and by Thanksgiving over half the items were sold out.  

Of course, my tree would be decorated all purple.  It's my favorite color.  Does it look like I went overboard with the purple.  I don't think so.  It's not all purple.  There is charcoal and silver ornaments.  I call it my Quest Crew inspired tree (just by coincidence).  It's almost their colors except for the pinkish-purple ornaments here and there.

Now that the Christmas tree has been decorated, it's time to put some presents under that tree.  There goes the theory that Santa is a real being (sorry little kids).  So I decide to wrap my presents.  I'm OCD so things have to be perfect.  Wrapping all my presents to a combined total of 5-6 hours (damn you OCD).  But now my tree is filled with Christmas spirit.  There are decorations and presents.

This past Friday I was able to go to Oahu for an accountants meeting.  This allowed me to find any other presents for people that I could afford to buy for.  At the hotel where the meeting was held, I saw this cute pink Christmas tree that I HAD to take a picture of.  It's decorated with sakura and butterfly ribbons.  I really love Christmas decorations.  Hopefully I get a chance to go around Maui to see all the decorations at residences and at the hotels.

With everyone else stressing with Christmas, I am done with my stressing.  Well actually I am relaxing before the biggest stress of Christmas season...baking.  I am trying to mentally prepare for all the baking I will be doing for almost a week.  So many cookies are going to be baked.  I wonder what the electric bill will look like.  You have to think, Christmas tree lights and lots of baking.

What's on the list for baking?

• Choco-chip cookies
• Peanut butter cookies
• Gingerbread cookies
• Shortbread cookies
• Sugar cookies
• Peanut butter blossoms
• Oatmeal-craisin cookies
• Mini apple squares (apple crisps)

Pictures will come when I'm done baking.  Wouldn't you like to be my coworker.  This is the 2nd year I'm baking cookies for them.


This year I'm just filled with the holiday spirit.  I guess that's what you should do during these hard times.  Think of the positive and not the negative.  Everyone should share the positive of the holidays, togetherness.

Life is too short (Part 2)....

So last month I posted something about realizing that life is too short.  I shouldn't hold grudges for long periods of time.  I shouldn't think about the "what if's" and just do it! (sorry for stealing that from Nike).

Today is Veterans Day.  My 比嘉 おじいさん (Grandpa Higa; my mom's dad) was part of the 442nd.  When I was growing up, I would spend a lot of time with my Grandpa Higa.  A lot of the time he would take me to his 442nd gatherings.  I never really knew what it was.  I just thought of them as my grandpa's friends.

It was only in intermediate school I found out who they really were.  During our history classes there would be little sections about the Japanese-Americans fighting in WWII.  That's when you hear about the 100th Battalion and the 442nd.  I got curious and starting reading whatever books there were about the two.  My grandpa had most of the books that I "borrowed."  It's borrowing since we're family (I still have some of the books).

Anyway, I was 7th grade when my Grandpa Higa passed away.  It was at a 442nd dinner when it all started.  As my grandma and grandpa were about to leave to go home, my grandpa went into cardiac arrest (I think, that's the story my family tells me).  Me, my mom and my dad were at home at the time.  I don't know why I was home that night.  It was a Friday night.  Hmmm.

But anyway, my aunty calls to tell my mom that she NEEDS to get to the emergency room.  So my mom says that I NEED to go with her.  We rush to the emergency room.  Doesn't take too long.  We live 2 minutes away from the hospital.  We get there and are put into the other waiting room of the emergency room.  I didn't know this room existed.  But here we all were, my mom, aunties and uncles sitting and are told that the reverend is coming.  I suddenly go into panic mode, but they tell me that my grandpa is in a coma.  Still, I'm crying.  I think I'm crying the most out of anyone.  I guess I'm the most emotional one in the family (how'd that happen).

It's getting close to midnight, my grandma says that I should go home since there's nothing I can do (How rude!; stole that one from Full House).  Just because I'm in 7th grade.  Well actually the rules say that visitors under 13 are not allowed (good thing I looked older than my age back then).  My mom takes me home, even though I don't want to.

The next day, I am taken to my other grandparents' house.  I want to go see my Grandpa Higa!  But, can't fight my parents, especially my mom.  I have to stay the rest of the weekend upcountry.  I don't mind, usually.  I really like spending time with them.  Just that weekend was not the weekend I wanted to be visiting.  At least my mom is keeping me and my brother in the loop about things.  The doctor says that my grandpa's fever has gone down and my grandpa has responded once but hasn't come out of the coma.

Sunday comes.  It's dinner time, well dinner time at Grandpa and Grandma Nikaido's (5:30 P.M.).  That's when my mom calls and tells my dad that we all need to get to the hospital.  I don't know what to think.  It could be good news (he's up and okay) or it could be bad news (his fever has gone up and he's non-responsive).  We all head down to the hospital.  Worst 30 minutes of my life!

I know I'm not supposed to be up in the regular visiting area, but no one stopped me.  When I see my Grandma Higa, I know what news it is.  My grandpa is dead.  I can see it in her face.  She doesn't even have to tell me, but she does.  I'm just hysterical.  I don't know how long I was crying and holding my grandma in the hallway.  I make my way to his room.  I really don't want to see it, but I am forced into the room by my grandma.  She tells me to say good bye to grandpa.  I just shake my head and start to cry again (OMG I'm tearing up just thinking about it).  I never said good bye.  Even when the morgue came to take him away, I couldn't, I couldn't even watch them roll him away.

Now that it's almost 15 years since that day, I still haven't let my grandpa go.  I haven't said a good bye.  Not even at the funeral or any one of the services we've had since then.  I don't think I could ever let go.  I know I'm in denial.  I have had vivid dreams where he would pick me up from Japanese school (this was when I was 8th grade).  I have had dreams where I would be at my grandparents' house and he was there in his chair.

Since life is too short, shouldn't I move on?  I don't want to, not with my grandpa.  I think a lot of it was anger since I was only 12 years old.  Now, I don't know what it is.  I guess it's just the bond you have with a relative.  I cannot let go.  I think if I let go, I will forget.  I think that's why I have been avoiding visiting his grave-site.  Today was the first time in a LONG time I went to visit.  I even got lost looking for it.

Since I was there, I went to visit my great-grandparents.  I even got lost looking for them.  That's how long I haven't been there.  But I noticed that no one has been to visit either.  Everything is overgrown.  Before my grandma would go almost everyday to keep the gravestones nicely kept.

This is how I got my Japanese name, my grandma's mom.  Now I kinda want to do a family tree.  I don't know much about the Higa side of the family, or the Ouchi side.  When I find the time, maybe I'll work with someone in the family.

Happy Birthday Keani!!!

Today was Keani's 2nd birthday party.  What a day it was!  First off, NEVER go out clubbing till 4 A.M. when you have to go to a kid's birthday party the next morning.  Well, I think you can go clubbing till the wee hours of the morning as long as you don't drink as much as we did.  OMG 3 rum & cokes and 3 jagerbombs = hang over.  I was surprised I wasn't more sick, just dehydrated.

Anyways, enough of my drunken night.  It was a day of partying with little kids.  After less than 4 hours of sleep, I had to get ready for Keani's birthday party.  First I had to wrap his present.  I don't know why I wait till the last minute for things like this.  Plus I am so OCD that it took me 20 minutes to wrap the gift.  Majority of the time was making the bow.  So stupid, he's only 2 and his parents would probably just cut the bow off, but that's how I am. (^_^)

So of course almost everyone is there when I arrive.  Such a sluggish day for me (lol).  At first I thought it was going to be the family, but I forgot that Makana (Keani's older sister) is going to preschool so her friends were invited and so was Jayson's co-workers.  In all there were 15 kids at the party.  Plus a few extra "kids" (Erik, Nelson, Jasmine, etc. lol).

Of course the "kids" are in Erik's room playing on the computer.  Erik is glued to that thing.  He really needs a job!  Being unemployed this long is not good.  He's my age!  I would be thrown out of the house if I didn't have a job.  He's so spoiled that he gets to live rent free.  Free food, free utilities.  All this AND he doesn't have to work.  I guess all my anger is more jealousy (lol, yeah right).

Time for the party to really begin.  Time for the most important part of the party, FOOD! (lol)  So much food that I CANNOT eat.  But what I can eat is musubi and sushi, yay.  That's alright, I was still a little hung over.  The carbs did help a little with that.  After eating, I felt so tired.  While everyone was at the party, I went to Erik's room and just read my book.

After some time had passed, it was time for some games (Yay!).  These games were a little different than most birthday party games.  These were Japanese games.  So the first game was "How well do you know Keani?"  The people with the most wrong had to play the "batsu" game (punishment game).  This batsu game was the wasabi cupcake.  They had to pick a cupcake and the loser would be the one that found the wasabi cupcake.  The next game was putting the 10 recent presidents in order.  The batsu game was find the mini marshmallows.  The "losers" had to find 2 mini marshmallows in a pan of flour with their mouth.

Time for the kids favorite part of the party, CAKE!  The cake consisted of cupcakes, which all the kids were allowed to decorate.  What a bad idea.  Once they decorated the cupcakes, some of them started to eat them.  It was pretty funny, but unproductive.  Kids will be kids.

Now it's time for the birthday boy to see his birthday cake.  Time for some singing.  Yay, for Keani!

The party is winding down.  It's time to clean up.  The birthday boy doesn't want anything to do with the clean up.  Instead, he wants aunty Stacey to play.  So into the house he goes to get all his toys.  What a time for the hang over to resurface.  Who would have thought it can sneak up twice in a day.  I thought I was over the hang over, apparently not.  So as I play, my head is pounding and Keani is making high pitched siren noises.  How fun.  I bear through it though.

I finally get home.  The headache is still there.  It was off to bed.  I wanted to take a short nap, but it ended up being a 3 1/2 hour nap (lol).  What an interesting day for me.

Happy Bday Hello Kitty!!!

So, November 1st was Hello Kitty's birthday. I planned to celebrate it a little differently this year, since it was her 35th birthday (wow, Hello Kitty is older than me).

For a couple of weeks, I planned to bake a cake with the Hello Kitty cake mold that I have. Also, I planned to use the extra batter to make cupcakes out of the Hello Kitty cupcake molds I have. These I would give to my coworkers.
It was my first time using the cake mold. Didn't know which instructions to use to bake the cake. Ended up taking almost an hour to bake. As you can see from the first picture, Hello Kitty has a nice tan to her (lol). I still think it looks cute.

With the cupcakes, I've used them before for chocolate cupcakes but white cake mix is so much different than chocolate cake mix. I have had bad experiences with white cake mix. So I tried my hardest to make this batch work.

After about 2 hours of baking, I had to wait for the cakes to cool down. What to do? I was going to play some HKO (Hello Kitty Online) but for some reason I wasn't that motivated. I think it was more I needed to catch up with all my errands that I didn't do. After I got back home from running errands, it was time for the cake and cupcakes to go into the refrigerator. Poor Hello Kitty, banished into the cold.

I'm not sure how long I left it in the fridge. Must have been 5 hours. Time for some decorations! I stuffed Hello Kitty's face with frosting. Sounds like a mean thing to do, but I didn't want to frost her face (lol).
For the cupcakes I left them in the cold a little longer. I did the same time as the cake. Here's the finished product for my coworkers. (They are so spoiled).
So now, it was time to destroy all my hard work. Yup, that's right, time to eat Hello Kitty (lol). It's so hard to put a slice through all your hard work. I couldn't put it to waste.
So I did it. I cut Hello Kitty (T-T). I have to admit, Hello Kitty tasted really oishi!!!

Little Apple Dolls

So here is another obsession that I have, Little Apple Dolls. I think it was around 2004 when the first series of these dolls came out. I originally missed the first series and purchased the second series when I was shopping at Spencer's (of all places). But being the OCD person that I am, I had to repurchase the second series of the dolls since 1) the boxes were beat up and 2) I was missing one of the dolls in the set. So the picture above is of the first dolls I purchased at Spencer's. Since I bought another set, I could open these.

My friend thought that they were freaky. I really love them. I guess it's because it reminded me of my favorite J-Horror movies (Ju-on and Ringu). I guess I am a strange person to like horror so much. Not too many Japanese girls are into horror or thriller movies, like I am. It takes a lot for me to get grossed out or scared from a horror/slasher movie. (What a weirdo, lol ^_^).

After repurchasing the second series, I realized there was a series before the ones I just purchased. So I had to get those! The only thing was, no one was selling them as a set. I would have had to buy them all separately. I decided to wait to see if there would be a set released. It was a smart move. In a couple of months, Little Apple Dolls started getting a cult following. Soon the first series had a special box set. Yay for me! I finally got my first series set.

I was so obsessed with the dolls that I knew when the next series was going to be released. It's a good thing I had a friend that worked at Hot Topic. I told her to hold an entire set for me. I was so so happy when she agreed to do it.

Soon after the third series was released, exclusive Comic-Con dolls were going to be sold. Grrrr!!! I had no way of getting to the Comic-Con. At the time, I was struggling just to get the other dolls. How am I going to afford to fly to Comic-Con? Good thing there's eBay.

I had a while until the fourth series was to be released, but still I told my friend at Hot Topic to hold the whole set for me. Every week I would go in asking if they got the dolls in. I think she was getting a little irritated with me asking. Obsession can do that to a person.

So in just about two years I collected (hmmm...3 + 4 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 4 = 19?!?!) 19 Little Apple Dolls. OMG, I really didn't count how many I had. Well actually I have 22 since I have the 3 opened dolls. Everything else is still in its box. What OCD and restraint I have. I would take a picture of all of them arranged in order, but that would mean taking them out of the closet where my doll collection is stored. I am too lazy, it's a lot of boxes to fit in a picture.

The only thing that really gets to me is that I don't have the fifth series. I kind of had to make a sacrifice about the fifth series and also the place I pre-ordered the dolls from canceled the shipment. The sacrifice I made was a big one. I had to save money for my Japan trip, so it meant less spending on all my collections, which included Little Apple Dolls T_T. Later on I will blog about my other collections. (I think I will blog about my ultimate obsession last ^_^; but for those that know me, you already know what it is).

So now I have a hole in my collection and haven't found my fifth series. Hopefully I will find it. It is my mission to find those two dolls, then my collection will be complete!

Life is too short....

It's been a week since I last posted something. So many things have happened since then. A tragedy, but many celebrations in a week. It makes you think about life in general.

This past week, my dad just so happened to mention that my uncle Mitsuo passed away. It was weird how it came up too. I was eating my lunch and we were talking about something (I can't remember). All of sudden he says nonchalantly "by the way, uncle Mitsuo passed away." It brought up memories of when my grandpa Higa and grandma Nikaido passed away. I guess my family is this way when it comes to death. You don't hear sorrow in their voice. It's just so-and-so died.

For me, it's a punch in my gut whenever someone in my family passes away (no matter how close- or far-apart we are related). I knew my uncle was sick, but I didn't think he would pass away. He was okay for a couple of years and even came over when my grandma Nikaido got sick and for her funeral.

He was always quiet. Aunty Martha would always talk for uncle Mitsuo. I guess he was shy, runs in the family. I do remember him eating andagi when he wasn't supposed. It made me feel happy since I made the andagi.

So a tragedy in the family occurs. A couple of days later, it was time for celebration. ICU (International Credit Union) week started off with a community service project at the Keopuolani park. Employees and volunteers of credit unions around Maui came together to clean up the playground equipment and clean the play area of the park.

A couple of days after that, it was ojiichan's birthday. His lucky birthday (88 = double luck). So I decided to bake 2 pies for him. I didn't realize it until the pies were done that they were both yellow pies (weird). I can't believe my grandpa is 88. He doesn't look 88. I guess it's a Japanese thing. I don't look my age. Well that's what people I meet say.

My grandpa was so so so happy that I baked him a pie. I know a many many months ago he mentioned that he wanted me to make a pie for him. When I delivered it, he says to me "you're a good girl." All I reply with is "I guess." I don't get much compliments in the family. The older part of the family really has a hard time expressing things, but we know what we mean.

After ojiichan's birthday, it was Akiko's birthday. She really needed a night out. She's a stay-at-home mom. She told me that it was a very very long time since she went out without kids or husband. It was really good. All I did was take her out for dinner and drinks. Then walked around the mall so the booze could wear off. The night ended up at Zippy's since she was craving cake. We did a lot of talking that night. Now she wants to go out more often just to talk.

Tonight, me, my coworkers and everyone else involved with the Maui credit unions closed credit union week with a dinner at Maui Beach Hotel Elleair Room. It was a very interesting night. It was a night to network with other credit union workers and volunteers. By networking, I mean more socializing than network. By socializing, I mean DRINK. There was quite a bit of drinking going on.

Of course we had door prizes throughout the night. Didn't win anything this year T_T. Also we had our annual jan ken po competition. Now that was memorable. Because of Trevor, I am going think of "Fuchigami, Fuchigami, Tanimoto" instead of "jan ken po."

This week was an interesting one. It made me think about life. Akiko and I also talked about it and it's true; life is too short. My uncle Mitsuo is an example of it. Death can occur unexpectedly. We have to live life to its fullest. Instead of mourning, we should celebrate life. Because of this way of thinking, I am thinking of things that I want to do in life.

I do want to live in Japan or study in Japan. I am contemplating the masters program at Waseda University through U.H. Manoa. Akiko said I should apply for Jet Programme. I really don't want to be teaching English (it's not my passion), but it would allow me to live in Japan.

I also want to learn Japanese dance. This past Monday, I got to watch a dance practice. In the end, I am going to join the class. I just have to wait until after their recital. Right now they are rehearsing for their recital on the 24th. So probably in November, I will be learning Japanese dance (yay for me).

I want to get my CPA license soon! I was thinking about taking the exam next year. I just don't know if I am going to take the Becker's Review course. It's soooooooo much money. The exam is already pricey. This one I have think about really hard. I really do want to pass it but how much am I willing to sacrifice. But I am going to start studying for it this coming week.

I have decided to take up running with some of my friends. We are planning to run the Great Aloha Run in February. So for almost a month, I have been training. I think I'm doing good. I can't do the entire 8 miles yet. I have about 4 months left. I still have to register, plan my flight/hotel for Oahu.

So much things going in my head just because of this past week. Actually it has been like this since graduation. I can't believe how much studying took out of me. Now that I don't have the stress of homework and exams, my mind just goes from one idea to the other. ADHD going on in my head. How fun!

Electronics

Electronics. I am such a sucker when it comes to electronics. This past month, I spent $1000 on Sony electronics. I can't believe it. I bought a new lens for my Sony Alpha, 2 Sony Readers (pink and navy), and a PSP Go. And I wonder where all my money goes, LOL.

I realize that I am very brand loyal. Majority of my electronics are Sony. I have 3 Sony cameras (2 digital and 1 DSLR). I really want another Sony DSLR (maybe next year). I have the first generation PSP and now a PSP Go (which has only music and videos; can't believe I have buy all my games again). I have 2 Sony Readers (beats carrying around a 1,000 page hardcover). I have the first generation PS3, PS2 (American and Japanese), PS2 Slim, and PS. All the TV's in the house are Sony (Trinitron and Bravia). I am a Sony junkie. I need some rehab.

Speaking of gaming systems, I think I have almost all the gaming systems that has ever been released and they are still in working condition (thank you OCD). Let's see I have the original Nintendo; and yes, it still WORKS (and no I am not selling it). I have the first gen Gameboy, Gameboy Color, DS, DS Lite, DSi (Japanese), Super Nintendo, N64, Gamecube (first shipment), and Wii (first shipment). I mentioned all the Sony gaming systems I have. I have the Xbox, Xbox360 (first gen, still working; close to the red ring of death though), and Xbox360 Elite. I still have the Sega Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and also GameGear (OMG, you didn't think I would have that, huh). What can I say, I am a gamer.

Right now I am in a big predicament. I actually have to choose between two games that are coming out on the same day. Usually I don't have to, but since I went on my Sony spending spree this past month, I can't afford to get both. I am talking about Tekken 6 and DJ Hero. I really want both, but right now I am convinced in getting my Tekken 6 (only because I have the limited edition reserved). I really want the limited edition fighting stick. The only problem is, I don't remember which system I reserved it for. I am pretty sure it's for the PS3 because of the graphics.

Electronics are my weakness. I think I would rather buy electronics over Hello Kitty stuff (OMG, did I just say that).

Maui County Fair 2009

I can't believe a whole year has passed since the last county fair was here. Where has the time gone? From October 1st through the 4th, all of Maui County gathers for the annual county fair. The fair is kicked off with a parade. Each year, I don't have a chance to see it because of work. I don't mind. Every year during high school I would have to be in the parade due to the marching band. (Yes, I was a band geek.)

This year, I decided at the last minute to enter the Homemaker's Fair. The Homemaker's Fair showcases amateur sewers and crafters. I think it was a bad idea to commit to it so late. I decided in September that I wanted to sew some things for the fair. Dumb, dumb, dumb. One month to make as many items as I could and do them as cleanly as possible.

I also was dumb enough to announce to my coworkers that I was entering the Homemaker's Fair. Now, I HAD to finish everything I could and at least enter one item. So much stress. I had to find material that I wanted because in the end, I would want to wear the items that I was sewing. The worst part of sewing for me is cutting out the pattern. Argh, I hate it! You don't realize how many pieces there are in the clothing that you wear until you have to make it yourself.

There were times when I just wanted to throw my sewing machine out the window because of all the stress I was putting myself into. I'm very OCD. So sewing can get quite stressful for me when things go wrong. It's not like I had all day everyday just to sew. I still had to go to work. At least work would keep my mind off of my sewing.

In the end, all the stress was rewarded. I WON!!! Yay for me! My Aloha Lolita outfit won first and my oriental purple dress won second. I told my coworkers that if I didn't place, I would be very sad.

This year I didn't spend much. You can tell times are tough. I didn't even get a chance to ride any rides :(. The lines were too long. Went to the fair at the wrong time. I can't believe my friends and I would actually wait in line for 30 minutes at a time. I guess your perspective changes when you get out of high school.

All I did was go through the exhibits and get food. (OMG I'm getting old). Next year, I will ride the rides (I hope).

Here are some pictures from the orchids exhibit. I wish I had a green thumb like these people.

About me....

I guess I should start off my blogging with one about me. So...Hello, my name is Stacey. I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Maui (Hawaii). Lots of people mistake me for F.O.B. Even the F.O.B. people I've met ask me when I moved to Maui, LOL.

In the Spring of 2009, I graduated from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu with my BABA (B.A. Business Administration) in Accounting. Now I am at a crossroad with what to do now. Do I continue to graduate school or do I skip it and study for the CPA exam? I really do want to continue my education, but times are tough and I don't think I can afford it at the moment. Hopefully when I do decide to get my Masters in Accounting, they will still be offering it at U.H. Manoa. How often do you get the opportunity to get a Masters in International Accounting from U.H. while studying in Japan?

I'm ambidextrous. I have a logical and artistic side because of this (go figure). Don't know how that happened. At times it makes things difficult. Both sides are constantly fighting. In the beginning, I wanted to be a designer, but slowly the logical side started fighting and ultimately won because I got my degree in accounting (and math also) instead of design. Maybe one day I will go back to get a degree in design.

I am in constant struggle to wanting to do everything. One moment I want to be studying and learning more; the next moment I want to draw, design or go take photos. Sometimes it can be frustrating. There isn't enough hours in a day for the things that go on in my head. My mind is constantly going. I even remember over 75% of my dreams. I don't think my mind ever rests completely. If it did, I think I would be dead.

So that's a little about me. If you want to get to know me, you can follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/michan14) or you can find me on MySpace (http://myspace.com/momusu). I am on Facebook, but that's more for close friends and family (sorry >_<).