To party or not to party...

here's the dilemma. I have an infant son, who just turned two on Sunday. I decided that it would be more costly and disappointing overall to throw a party for him. My husband is in training. He has managed to miss his birth, 1st birthday and his 2nd as well. I don't blame him, and my son shouldn't suffer. But here's the deal. We have so few friends left on the island, and most of my friends don't have children. So do I throw a soiree for five people with no kids? Kinda silly. I decided that my son wouldn't know any better and it wasn't going to be as hard to not have my husband there, if we just didn't throw a party at all. But as soon as I started getting questions from friends and family(all out of state... mind you) about whether I was having a party, I started to feel guilty. Why should I feel guilt for not throwing a party or "get together" for a toddler? I think it was kinda overwhelming to think about a party that no one would attend. So I nixed the idea and got grief about it. Why would someone want to make me feel worse about the lack of friends and family I have supporting me here? I am doing all that I can to keep my family sane 6 thousands miles from my closest relative and support system. It is rough as an Army family to still keep traditions and holidays as important as they once were. It appears that we make more of the effort that not. Why? Because we were the ones to move away? That's not fair. Give me a break. I love my son, and my husband, and I feel that a two year old's party, or rather, lack thereof, is not as important as the fact that his family makes that effort to contact him or send him a little gift to show their acknowledgment of his life. I guess some may call it selfish, but I feel like I didn't need a dog and pony show so that people in other states can see pictures of what they missed.
My son got a little cake, gift from us and we had a nice dinner. But apparently that wasn't suffice. Why can't anyone see my point of view? You think this is easy? Well hell, then you try it on!

Speedracer

Ok well I have been driving for about 11 yrs now and have thus far been able to avoid a ticket of any kind. I have never been sited for an accident, a parking ticket, running a stop light, let alone speeding! I know I have done all of these and I thanked my lucky stars that I have never gotten caught. I consider myself a defensive, yet safe driver.
Well let me tell you about Hawaii driving. First of all the speed limits are ridiculously low and the drivers are super slow and hazardous. On the freeway, everyone goes the same obnoxious speed in all the lanes! So when you try to pass in the fast lane, you are surely to get stuck behind a bad driver taking their time. We are not on ALOHA time here!
Well today I decided I wanted to drive my husband to work so I could take my son to the zoo. As I was leaving post, I was spacing out and missed the green light. I am So not awake in the morning. So Kunia road is the way we travel a lot. It is a two lane road that looks like the country. On either side of the road used to be a pineapple farm, so it's way desolate. Why would the speed limit be 35?
BORING drive! And wouldn't you know that as I was still in la la land, and following a herd of about 6 cars(being in the last spot), a cop is hanging out with his radar out the window.
Well I wasn't concerned because I was trailing a lot of other cars going the same speed. But of course the cop can't get all of us, so it was me...oh lucky me!
Well he showed me the radar gun, to add insult to injury. But I thought I was in the clear because the sign I was literally parked in front of said 45mph. So the cop tells me I was going 16 over!
What???!!!
I pointed to the sign and he states "ma'am I clocked you in the 35 mph zone going this speed."
Bullcrap! I think.
SO I try to state my claim, which gets me a lot of stares and no response. Finally he says, "well ma'am, you can take it to court or I can lower it to 15mph over and you will less of a fine".
Whatever!
I am steaming mad, and thinking this can't be happening to me, the most anal about speeding person I know.
But it did. And now I'm mad and totally disappointed.
After all that's said and done he asks me "Just how long have you lived in Hawaii?"
I'm thinking, "like it matters!"
He just wanted me to know in his nonchalant way that because I am not local that I must be a retarded mainland driver.
SO here I am defeated and sour about the cops here, I guess I was still in the wrong, but c'mon now. Couldn't I just have gotten a warning? Oh well, $132 later.....

Lobster anyone?

Well yesterday we went to our favorite snorkeling spot on the island. We have never really ventured to a regular beach since my son was born. It's kinda hard to enjoy yourself when you are constantly worried that your kid is going to drown. Children just don't show any restraint in the water, and the waves here can sweep a grown man out to sea, so I was uneasy about the idea.

But at Sharks' Cove(not really named appropriately), there are lots of volcanic rock that create these little inlets and tide pools.

It's a great place to take children because the water doesn't get too deep and the rocks create a barrier from the deeper water. As much as my son loves to play in waves, this place has little to none, so it's the perfect spot for lil babies! We had a great time and I was diligent about applying sunblock, SPF 50, on my son. He is blonde and blue eyed. I'm sure that's a recipe for disaster in the sun. But somehow I neglected myself. I am usually pretty good at remembering sunblock. But I didn't this time. And now I am so sunburned that it is actually miserable to even sit here and type!! I have always lived in very sunny areas of the country so I have had many a sunburn, but dang this is never easy! And I just don't have the means to just sit and veg out on the couch to heal. And I don't know about other ladies, but wearing a bra in murder! So here I am, a lobster in disguise and simply afflicted. Oh well I suppose, at least my son is fine, and we had a great time.

My first Post

Well here I am, and in full swing ready to blog(i.e. vent).

I have never had my own blog, but I figure I am tired of trying to keep in touch with people via phone call, emails and myspace. I have been away from home for a long time now and it seems that i have slowly drifted from my buddies. I joined the Army in 2004 and shortly after met my now husband. We were both medics, and both stationed in the same place. It was fate I suppose! We had our son in August 2006 and now I am in the Guard and he is still Active. I wouldn't change this crazy, lonely, stressful and hard life of the Army for anything. I love my family, my country and fellow "battle buddies". Now we are adjusting to a new change in our lives...a PCS move to N. Carolina. I'm excited, but weery about change. So begins my new saga...