the best gift EVER...really!!!

Merry Christmas everyone...a day late! Today it is raining, so I thought I'd update this a little bit. We've been keeping ourselves busy with snorkeling and eating and relaxing. I've introduced Jeff to malasadas, which are Portuguese donuts covered in sugar. And of course we've made time for shave ice! And then there's all the other goodies that the island brings. I feel like we've been eating our way through this trip, but at least the swimming and walking down the beach will help burn off some of those delicious calories! :)


And now for the main reason to update this...Most of you have already heard by now, but....


JEFF AND I ARE ENGAGED!!!

He popped the question when we went out for a walk on the beach at sunset on the 23rd, and of course I said yes. I kind of had a feeling something was up by the way he was acting so weird and wouldn't let me set my stuff down or turn around to head back toward the condos. And yes, I cried...I was crying before he even got a word out. Don't worry, the wedding won't be until after I'm finished with school. There's no way I could even fathom trying to plan a wedding with the amount of spare time I have. So, keep spring/summer of 2011 open because that's when it'll be!


Well, there's not much I could say that could top that news. We're just enjoying our time here being lazy bums. I'll probably try to get a fair amount of studying in today with the less than perfect weather, although it looks like it might be clearing up in a little bit. Hope Santa treated you well, and you had a happy holiday. Until next time, ALOHA!

We made it!

Aloha from Hawaii!!! We made it in late (11:30ish) on Saturday night and left the gloomy, cold weather in California behind. Current conditions in Maui: 79º with a slight breeze. Current conditions back home: 52º and raining. Yeah...not missing that!

Yesterday we didn't do a whole heck of a lot. After sleeping in, we had breakfast on the Lanai and watched the waves crash on the beach. Then Jeff and I had a walk on the beach and went for a swim in the ocean and some sun time. We had fish tacos for lunch and then ran a bunch of errands, picking up odds and ends that we forgot on the mainland and buying groceries. Jeff has come down with a cold and spent all yesterday late afternoon/evening/night in bed, but is feeling better today. He's taking it easy so that we can go snorkeling tomorrow and go see the turtles that are hanging out in the reefs by our place. Here is our first sunset of the trip...

Hopefully there will be many many more of these to come.

I've gotten some homework done, grudgingly. I read a chapter on the plane and have finished my take-home test. There's still plenty to do, but I'm just trying to get a little bit down every day so it's not so overwhelming. And heck, if I have to study, at least this is what I get to look at the whole time...

I am in charge of dinner tonight. On the menu: baked ziti, salad, and french bread, with ice cream for dessert. I'll be glad to be done with my turn so early on in the trip. Then I can just relax and not deal with the stress of feeding 13 people on time. Anyway, I should get back to the studying. FUN FUN! Oh well. Whenever I start to get sick of studying I'll just look up and think...look where we are!!!

The best gift EVER!!!

If only this were true...One can dream, can't they?!

Anyway, I came down some sort of flu bug yesterday at Jeff's family Christmas and spent the day upstairs in bed. I stayed home from school today too, and will hopefully make it tomorrow, especially because there's a patient day, quiz, and the test I missed today to make up. At least this is happening now instead of in Hawaii. 5 more days!!!

less than 2 weeks...

...and I'll be feeling the sand between my toes in Hawaii!!! :) Let me tell you how excited I am! Pretty darn, that's for sure! I can almost smell the sunscreen and plumeria, see the pretty sunsets and colorful fish, and taste the wonderful mai-tais and lava flows...*sigh* But, before I get to enjoy the warmth and sunshine, I have 1 horrible week and 1 normal week to get through. This next week we have 2 tests and a practical on Tuesday, a practical on Wed and Thurs, a patient day on Thursday, and a guest lecturer on Wednesday and Friday (meaning we have to get dressed up for the occasion). Then Jeff will come down here on Friday and we'll head to his parents' house for the weekend for their family Christmas gathering. I'll still have studying to do, since there's a test on that following Monday and Friday, along with some projects and quizzes. Basically it's non-stop action and studying!

I'm bummed I missed out on Jeff's family's annual bake day. It was yesterday, and even though I really wanted to go, it probably would have been the dumbest idea on my part. Someone needs to figure out how to stop time or extend the day b/c there never seems to be enough time to fit everything in. There truly isn't a day that's more made for me. A whole day of baking and eating...who could ask for anything better than that?!

Anyway, looking forward to the holiday. The house is somewhat decorated. We don't have time to go get a tree like we wanted to, but I put up lights and some decorations and candles. Can't go wrong with a seasonal candlescape! Maybe I'll get some baking in next weekend. For now, it's back to the books.

sniff...

Well...it was bound to happen sooner or later. I've gotten my first cold of grad school. And let me tell you, a 13.5 hour day of class when your head feels like it's going to explode is pretty miserable. Fortunately, this week is fairly light in terms of tests, as opposed to next week, which is jam packed! I'm pleasantly surprised it has taken this long for me to get sick considering how many other people have been sick since February. Oh well...I will survive somehow. I'll talk about turkey day later. Right now I have to go blow my nose...