Travels // La'Haina

La'Haina is a little touristy, quirky town that used to be a port. It's an hour drive from where we are staying. You don't "go" to La'Haina, you "do" La'Haina. Take it all in. Shop. Breathe. Do unashamedly touristy things.

 It's so wonderfully blue and green and American. Look at that!

 Oh and were they the best burgers! I don't EVER say this. I don't say this lightly, but that was the best burger I've ever had. It had bacon, pineapple, Maui onion, and Hawaiian sauce. Oh my was it good.

 Nom. The place had a 50s diner feel. Not like, "we're trying really hard to be relevant and appeal to a generation obsessed with vintage", but like "we happen to have lots of cool memorabilia and have an awesome atmosphere". So yeah, I bought the tee shirt.

 Dude, did I enjoy that burger. I wouldn't post such an odd, slightly unattractive picture unless I wanted to prove my love to that burger.

 Apparently Maui, specifically La'Haina, has a touch of Britain. So that was just there.

 Hawaiian Sunset shave ice. It was delicious. It was flavored mango, guava, and strawberry. See? I had such amazing food!

This is America's largest Banyan tree. It stretches over three city blocks. The branches grow out and drop down to the ground, making new trunks. It was really neat! That's the main trunk.

This guy had some gorgeous birds to get Real Hawaiian Feeling Tropical Pictures taken with.

Pretty bird

I talked the parents into letting me get a tattoo. This was at a place called Henna Lounge, but my tattoo wasn't henna. It was jagua, which is a new product. It lasts longer than henna and looks black like ink.

Before anyone asks, it means "Rat" because I was born in 1996. I have a necklace charm of this kanji as well. Also, before you get all "ew rats are gross and that must mean that you're gross and nasty too" (oh my gosh stap being like that) I'll say that the Rat is the beginning of the Chinese zodiac, making it the most important. The rat is synonymous with intelligence and ambition. Those born in the year of the Rat are supposedly clever, quick-witted, funny, and sharp. I appreciate these traits and wish to identify with them.

Well, that was La'Haina. It was amazing and fun! I did some shopping and came home full and tired.

We leave for home tomorrow morning. When I get back I'll get the rest of the trip presented in blog post form for you guys and myself!

~billyBobjoe

Travels // 1

Aloha! It's gorgeous here and the eating's good.

We bummed around the first day we were here, Monday the 6th, because Sunday was such a hard day of travel. I hadn't flown so long before and it was exhausting. I body surfed and swam and read. Also we had to go shopping for groceries, a necessity even in Hawai'i. We went to The Cinnamon Roll Place, as evidenced by Gnome, and had some good rolls for breakfast. We ate at Cafe O'lei for lunch the first day and it was great. I had this roasted turkey sandwich with dijon mustard, tomato, sprouts, spinach, cheese, lettuce, and avocado.

This is the building in which we are staying. We're on the second floor, which is perfect. You don't have to climb many stairs, but aren't right there in front of the beach where all the people are.

Hey look, there's me! I look super cute with my lei that I got at the airport. My mom ordered one for me and one for my sister to greet us when we landed like Hawaiian tradition.

Well, that's all I have for now. That's a general update and post, but I'll have more later! Mahalo!

~billyBobjoe

grey skies

It's pouring at my place. The sheets of water make white waves in my culdesac.

I've been mentioning rain these last few posts, so I figured that I should devote a whole post to it.

I love rain. Maybe not more than sunshine, but definitely equally.

Well, not when the wind sounds scary, or family members are out driving, or you're stuck at school (which I have been because of flooding), or sirens are going off, or your roof is in danger of being whipped off...

...but when the rain hits the windows and makes that sound...

...when the sky is just a low wall of darkness, and makes the world feel small, but not crushing...

...when lightning flashes and shows you the glory of God Almighty...

...when thunder makes you look up in apprehension...

...when your soul can feel itself being washed clean as you think of nothing at all...

...when you swear that the electricity in the clouds affects your blood...

...when soup, chili, and hot cocoa is called for...

...when friends are stranded at your house for long periods of time...

...when you run outside in old clothes and dance...

...when it's not too cold and not too hot, but just right...

...when you stare at the water hitting the pavement for so long that you can actually see the faeries...

...that's when I like rain more than sunshine.

-billyBobjoe



a trip around the Christmas tree

'Twas the (new year, and I never got my pictures posted about the) night before Christmas, and all through the house...

 Here are a bunch or ornaments from our tree.

This is the type of mushroom that I like!

I love this one! So cute!

My mom's tree has a lot of diversity. Us kids usually have our own tree to put our ornaments on, so my mom's is a "thing of beauty," and not to be touched, but a few things have changed as we have gotten older!

I think this car is very cute.

My mom loves the beach, and got this in St. George's Island when we went a while back.

This one is for my dad, who used to play saxophone. I say "used to", but I want him to start again! He was good too!

I just think this crown is pretty.

I am a Coca-Cola fan! Vintage is good, but vintage Coke is even better! This little vending machine is so cute!

I just bought a pink, polar bear, Coke t-shirt, too!

Someday I want this ornament.

This will make my older sister unbearably happy, that I posted a picture of her marvelously wrapped present! Isn't is cute? Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. *sad*

Get it? It's Christmas... in a nutshell! The outside looks like a walnut. It makes me excited! I will never forget my amazement when I understood this.

My Christmas was very good! I'm not going to try to tell everything I received, but I will say that I did get headphones, a lava lamp, a flash drive, which I returned because I found that which was lost on Christmas day, Star Wars OT in BluRay, some tshirts, and a necklace. What did you get?

Merry New Year.
bBj

I'm Back!

Here I am. Sorry it has been so long, but lookie down there! To the right.

I won! 30 days of insane are finally at a close, and I literally have been avoiding my computer since then. I don't even want to get online. Weird. My writing has improved a lot, but NaNo has mostly upped my determination, lack of sleep, and pride. Yes, I do have eternal bragging rights, thank you!

I am off of school, and only have a little bit of homework for over the break, including reading this:

But instead, I have been reading this:

I love Jane Eyre! I have read it once before, in a day and a half, but I wanted to read it again. It is also the first book for the next semester, so I am getting ahead. Good for me! I just finished it last night, when I should have been asleep. *looks sheepishly around* Who me?

There is a little bit of snow on the ground still, from last night, but it will melt soon. I, unfortunally, think I am growing up. *sigh* I did not even go out in it! It was beautiful, and I saw the shape of a snowflake for the first time! It was shocking and fantastic, in the most original sense of the word. It looked other-worldlym which makes sense, it falls from heaven.

Also, *inhales excitedly* my family and I have been watching this:

I love it! So funny, interesting, and smart. By "smart" I mean that the mystery is well done. And Neal Caffrey's wardrobe? Oh yeah! We are only five episodes in, and three of them were watched last night, with the snow falling! So cozy!

I also recently organized my room. I am one of those people who enjoy doing that sort of thing. No pun intended with the "sort" thing. Did you catch that? You did? Well, never mind. Anywho, I started out organizing and cleaning ONE shelf... I took everything off of several shelves, out of four drawers, and my attic space. I should have taken before and after photos to show you! I moved everything around, made a huge mess, got sick of it, left the room, left stuff all over my bed, had to sleep on the couch, then finished. I still have a few piles of things that I do not know what to do with, but I'll get to that later.

I'm going to post a few pics of me in my new apron that my grandmother made and gave me, the halo that I bought today, and all my bracelets. I hope you want to see them! I have a ton of bracelets. Random fact.

Sorry if I am MIA on everyone's blogs. My mini computer is as slow as day-old honey, and doesn't like me to hang out on teh interwebz. Oh well.

Holler at me!

bBj

Pilot Post

Hi readers! This is the beginning of everything! I just want to let you know that this is not my diary, and that I will try my best to be faithful to you as the author of this lovely blog and to make my posts interesting and not ramble on so! I'm really excited about this and if you want to know more about me, you've probably already read the "About Me" section!

My family consists of Madre, Daddy, Bro, big sister JC, big sister Ro Joe, and little sister Stanley. Right now, Stanley's friend Ashley is here and is requesting to be an honorary family member! Y'all might hear a lot of her! I mustn't forget Stanley's rabbit Tickles or my lovely betta fish Gandalf the Purple.

Just sayin', I want to sell papes for a living! Kudos to everyone who understands!

Can't wait to get to know you and let you get to know me!

~billyBobjoe