Hawaiian Poge

(random inside joke: Amy, bist Du da?!)

Verena and Sophie are here!

This is Verena

She’s my host sister from Austria. 

This is Sophie.  (On the right.  The one in the middle is my host brother Matthias)

She and Verena have been friends for years, and I first met Sophie 2 years ago (2 years!) at Verena’s wedding.

This is Verena’s wedding.

It’s been so nice to have them here. I haven’t really done much about making friends here, so I just import them.  It’s nicer anyway.  We’ve known each other a long time.  It’s so nice to see Verena and speak German and explore. We’ve been having a blast. They’re on the Big Island until tomorrow and then we’re all going to Maui this weekend. It should be nice. David and I haven’t gotten the chance to explore the other islands much at all yet.

I’ll send current pictures of Verena and Sophie soon!

David’s Mom and Dad came to visit and David got a new camera recently. This means: 2 parents + 10 days = 1000 photos.  For real.  So I’ll give you a preview.  They turned out amazing.

It was a really fun 10 days. It was so nice to see them. David took the time off so they got to do a ton of stuff. I went on most of the really cool things.  

Polynesian Cultural Center

Pali Lookout

Star of Honolulu

Pearl Harbor

Scenic Lookout

Me as a pineapple at Dole Plantation

I got a free TV from work the other day when we cleaned our offices (the office looks so nice!) and so I put it in the bedroom so that I can watch it when I’m feeling even lazier than usual and don’t want to go ALL THE WAY TO THE COUCH to veg.  So anyway, lots of channels, all normal… except when you hit TBS. At almost all times there’s Sex in the City on. Normal enough. But it’s in Spanish.  I watch it all the time.  They’re funnier in Spanish. Partially because I can’t understand them.

But their voices are so wrong.  Does this bother anyone else? Someone in Germany once told me that they usually hire the same voiceover actor for the same actor so that the voice is the same. For example John Travolta or Jamie Lee Curtis would always have the same actor or actress do their voice in different movies so that it seems like it’s really their voice. But sometimes the people they pick baffle me.   In Sex in the City, Sarah Jessica Parker sounds husky- not nearly as annoying as usual. You’d think I’d like this better, but I find it bothersome.  (Sarah Jessica Parker- if you ever read this, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. But really, you’re kind of whiny. And I’m mad you broke Aidan’s heart.)

Anyway, David found the SAP button today so no more Spanish programming for me.  But that’s okay.  I’ll find something more productive to do.

There’s a spearfisherman who lives in my building.  Seriously. It’s the coolest thing.  I’ll be on my way to work dressed up all fancy like and I’ll share the elevator with a man wearing swimtrunks, no shirt and carrying a spear.  Not an oldfashioned spear, but a newfangled spear.  Sometimes Mom and I see him come back with a bag full of fish. I’ts kind of a cool thing. 

I’m thinking of taking it up as a hobby.

Karyn’s baby shower was today.  So fun.  It was her, her Mom, her sister in laws, her cousins and Aunts…. and me.  It was really funny, but so fun! It was great to meet everyone and say goodbye before she leaves tomorrow.  She’s on her way to Sacramento - that’s where her husband Will is. For all you Chick- Fil-A fans, they’re running the Sacramento store. Go say hi!

She’s having her baby in October.  No names so far.  We keep brainstorming, but they’re getting vetoed. Her nephew’s name is Camden, so we were thinking things like Fenway or Wrigley, but no luck.  Lincoln was a top choice for a while- I voted that one because then I could call him Link like the caveman character in Encino Man (that one’s for you Nate) but Will didn’t like that idea.

If his name ends up being Bob I’ll be very disappointed.

I’m bummed she’s moving, but I console myself with the thought that at least I’ll be the only Karen around for a while.  No need to call myself Karen with an e, or Karen #2.  Still, not really a fair trade. 

Have you guys ever heard about this organization? They’re awesome.  I went to an event the other day because the charity they were raising money for was Big Brothers Big Sisters.  I was there to  present at their dinner.

It’s a really cool idea.  It costs $35 a month for members and then the events are free, or it’s $45 per event if you’re not a member. $25 from each person goes to the charity they choose for that month, and a person from the charity comes to talk about what they do and how you can help.  It’s a great way to network, meet more people and learn what charities are out there.

It’s only in a few cities so far, but hopefully more soon.  I don’t know about the name though….

 http://www.chickswithchecks.org/

So, I always hear about geckos around here, but I never see them that much. Word on the street is that they’re good luck, so no-one really cares, even if they’re in the house.  Mom said she’d seen hints that there was one in the apartment but she’d never seen it.  Of course it decided to make an appearance yesterday… in front of David’s Mom.  Poor woman- I thought I’d killed her. Then David and I spend the next 1/2 hour chasing it around. He’s wily! And jumpy. I swear I had him in the gecko capturing device (yogurt container) at least 2x but it did some crazy gecko ninja move and got away. 

It was really cool looking though (Tug, you’d have loved it.) It didn’t look chameleon-like, like the ones outside, it looked white or clear almost.  (But not see-through. No gecko innards.)

Anyways, it’s behind the fridge now and I warn it before I come into the kitchen.  “Hello gecko. Here I come.  No need to come out.”  It’s a peaceful existence.  And it’s eaten all the gnats in the kitchen. Mom’ll be happy.

(Random inside joke: Karyn 0, Tug 1, Mom 1)