Good Bye 2007!

This past year a lot of I have a lot of things to look back at.

For starters, I have totalled 80 pounds lost. My family didn't know what to say when they saw me other than... "OH MY GOSH!" My mom even said, "I wouldn't have recognized you!" That's pretty awesome for someone that was overweight her whole life. I plan on keeping this a permanent look...

Next I'm entering my 3rd year away from home. Man does time fly. I remember just yesterday I left Hawai'i with 2 suitcases and 2 boxes and boarded a plane for my new life. It's been quite the adventure since I've been gone and quite the enjoyable one. Nothing is complete without it's ups and downs and trust me, I've had my share of those.

I've made and lost friends since I've been here. That's ok. God places people in our path for us to learn from them. And for whatever reason, they exit as quick as they come. Everything happens for a reason. That's my motto.

Another thing that I've learned about myself this year is how strong of a woman I am. I remember how easy people used to walk all over me and how timid I was about standing up for myself. Now, people can't pull anything over me or push me around. I will push right back. I don't have to be mean about it. Words are power and I'm learning how to use them. I think that I get from my dad. :-)

The part that I get from my mother is my heart. I am a Christan thru and thru. The words that come out of my mouth may not reflect it at times but my actions definitely speak louder than words. I don't want to say all the "noble or humble" things that I've done because I don't do anything for praise. I do it because for one reason or another, I feel that I need or want to do it.

The down side to this year for me, I missed my sister giving birth to my nephew Meka and my sister getting married a couple of weeks ago. It's awesome that I have my independence here and I live alone. I truly love it here with the season changes; which you don't have in Hawai'i; but you miss so much. That's the hardest thing. You get a phone call and it's someone saying, "I'm pregnant." Or another call saying, "I'm getting married." You can't help but feel that it sucks. I appreciate the time spent in Hawai'i with the family. I can't wait for the next trip.

These are all things that I've learned, encountered, realized, overcome, and accomplished as of 2007 and the 3 years that I've lived in Washington state. I'm sure that I'm missing a ton more stuff but that's ok. The main thing is that I'm happy (most of the time), healthy (most of the time) and am looking pretty good (all of the time...) HAHA!

Looking forward to what 2008 has in store for us all.
I think it's going to be a good year!

What I've been up to?

My two friends Shelia (left) and Michelle.

My incredible friend Carla (who happens to be my boss!)

Good friends Robin (left) and Vicky who's from Hawai'i too.

I've been busy and a little under the weather but first things first. Last week friday I had my company christmas party. It was at the Sheraton in downtown Seattle. Very close to where I work.


We had a lot of fun. Here are a couple of pictures...

Thanksgiving 2007!

This year was just another choice of where is God going to land me for Thanksgiving. Another holiday for me to drop where I may.

I ended up at my good friend Michelle's grandmother's house. She lives almost an hour away from me in the state capital Olympia. It was a very nice holiday. I cooked some of my mothers dishes that were a hit. And everything was from scratch. Nothing from a box. That is one of the reason people think I'm spoiled. I made stuffing (not Stovetop) and baked beans (not Bushes).

It was so good. I was very impressed with myself and am more like my mother than I thought. I knew that I could bake but apparently I can cook a few of her famed dishes as well. I was a hit!

Go SEAHAWKS!

Tonight was the first Seahawks professional football game I saw. It was very cool. A friend of mine from work is a season ticket holder. His seats were incredible. They are in the 100 section. We were so close to the field and it was a close game.

The Seattle Seahawks played the Chicago Bears and the score you ask, was 30-23 to the Hawks.

It was a great first game and perhaps it will not be my last! I will put a picture later so you can see where our seats were...

Until next time...

My commute!

So yesterday was quite the day to say the least....

My friend Michelle commute to and from work together on public transportation which on a normal day is fine. The bus is totally fine. But yesterday was a joke. Michelle was sick. I thought she was going to vomit next to me. I had a plastic bag taking some stuff home, so I made it fit in my messanger bag (works like a purse for you men...) and gave her the bag just in case.

So she was tired of waiting for our normal bus and we got on another bus and were just going to walk across the street to the Transit Center that we catch our bus from. On the 30-45 minute bus ride the driver makes an announcement that there is a flat tire and she is pulling over at the next bus stop.

So we get off that bus and get on the next bus. We no longer have to walk across the street to the Transit Center because the new bus we got on actually took us there. Michelle said, "never a dull moment with us!" Amen to that!!

Once we got off the bus she said, "since this day went to pot... we deserve a drink!" Who was she kidding. We had a bowl of soup at Applebees.

That was our EXCITING day yesterday!

My Ohana!

When I went home this summer Maika said: Let's take a family portrait!



So here it is.



Our Family Portrait...

Sorry!

Well, I finally got my computer back after 2 weeks. I had a bad power supply so it was fixed. It's sad but it was hard not having a computer at home. Almost like not having a cell phone when you go out. We became so dependent on these things. And I've been so busy with work that once I'm home I'm pretty down for the count.

So now that I will be able to download my pictures without worrying that my computer will die in the middle of the process, I can send some off via e-mail. I'll try to get that done in the next few days.

Take care and I hope to get this out more regularly now.

All the love...

Light the Night!!!

Tonight is the night that we are walking for Leukemia and Lymphoma society. We had a goal of $2000 for the team. The preliminary totals that we got yesterday as we were leaving work was slightly over that so we MADE OUR GOAL!!!!!

But all the money isn't in yet so when I get the actual figures then I will let you all know.

Personally, I raised on my own $400. Thank you so much for the people who supported me in this effort. It meant a lot to me.

Update!

Hello there people.

I know that it's been a REALLY long time since my last post but this girls been busy!!!!!

Work is going good. I'm doing a lot of new things. Maybe a promotion is in the future... :-)

Next month I'm going on the one day cruise over here. That'll be fun.

And lastly I came home for a visit last month for 10 whole days. I have pictures and will post them at some point. I'm not on my computer right now so that will have to be later.

Hope all is well and I'll talk to you all later.

I love you....

Until the next time!

Happy Independence Day!

This morning I worked 5am to 2pm. It was almost a free day. Not too many calls and it was nice and easy. It feels similar to a weekend but in the middle of the week. I'm SSSOOOOO close to my vacation I can taste it. Thank God that my job is busy. Time is flying for me to get home!

Walk for cancer!

This morning I had a 5K walk for cancer. It was 6 of my boss', 2 other ladies from my company in different departments and myself. We were team Princess Tours and the speaker at the end of the marathon said the top three fundraisers for individuals and teams. We were in 3rd place for teams. The first place for individuals raised over $8,000 and for the team it was over $14,000. It was amazing.

There was something that you could buy called a tribute patch. You buy one (a donation) and put a name on it of someone your walking for. Then you wear it throughout your walk/run and at the end you place it on the wall. I got one for my Auntie Lei. She died of Leukemia years ago. My very good friend (who also happens to be my boss) Carla made one for her mom Pilar and my other supervisor Shannon made one for her husband Greg.

Here's one more step towards a cure...

Life...or something reflecting it!?!?!

It's interesting how life is. I have worked a lot lately and have been BEAT by the time I get home from work. I've taken almost 100 calls today and some of those calls were long and complex problems that travel agents think that I'm some kind of miracle worker. Good thing I have lots of good friends in many different departments. I can most times make things happen. What a job I have...

God is good and put me in a job that I'm great at. Who knows, one day I might get into another department that will be better for me. Whatever God has in store for me is the path that I will take gladly.

Everthing happens for a reason and I don't look back. No regrets. God is with me every step of the way. I pray that everyone in my life is happy, heathly, and has God in their heart like me. I don't know where I'd be without him.

The Boys in my life...

Here are my nephews, Maika who will be 8 next month and Mika who was born the end of April. I can't wait for my trip home to see them again. I can't believe how many nieces and nephews I now have.

Unfortunately my nephew Mika has had a long road so far. He's not yet out of the hospital. He has a hole in his heart/heart murmur, hole in his intestines (that needed surgery with a follow-up surgery later) and now they found that he has a broken collarbone.

I'm sad for him because my poor nephew can't seem to get a break but he's strong. He can handle whatever life an throw at him.

Birthday Wishes!

I had a friend who's birthday was on June 1st. Here's a happy birthday to him... (Erik) and my niece Ki'i became 18 years old on June 2nd. She also graduated high school. A lot happened for her this weekend.

As everyone knows, my birthday was just 2 weeks ago. Gemini's all around. Another friends birthday is coming up (Molly...pic below) is on June 13.

Happy Birthday to all!

My birthday weekend!

Molly, Erin and I

This weekend I spent it with my friends. I got a hotel room at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. It was a beautiful room and on the balcony you could see the pier. The hotel gave me a bottle of wine, ice cream, flowers, and a mini box of chocolates. All for my birthday. It was very nice.

Then my friend Erin took me out to dinner at Metropolitan Grill. Very nice downtown restaurant and worth the money that is spent there. My night in Seattle was great. We met a bunch of friends and spent the night out. Didn't get back to the hotel until 3:30am. A long night out but fun. A friends Molly and her teenage daughter hung out with us at the hotel and we walked around the pier, had lunch then home sweet home.

This was a good, fun birthday. I wish that few more people could have spent it with me but that's ok. Another day.

My day!

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 25 YEARS OLD!!! OH MY GOODNESS....

A co-worker of mine sang a "singing telegram" to me. It was hilarious. And someone bought me lunch. My job always give birthday cards too so I got one of those. This weekend I'm spending a night at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. It was something I won from my company Christmas party and what a perfect occasion to use it.

For some reason I do feel that year older though. Before it didn't make a difference. A birthday was just another birthday. I can now rent a car on my own... HAHAHA! That's the last thing that anyone has to look forward to (and maybe cheaper car insurance); but after that everyone says it's only down hill. I don't see it as down hill.

I'm looking forward to what the rest of my life has to offer. Where will I be at 30, 40, of even 50? Married? Kids? None of the above? Who knows.... Here's the next phase of life....

What's new?

Well, this week I've moved into my very own first apartment. It's been an adjustment but I'm sure it'll be cool to be in my own place with my own rules. I'll tell you how things go...

Until next time...

I'm an Auntie AGAIN!!!

My sister Misty gave birth early Friday morning to a baby boy. That was April 20th. My cell phone started ringing at about 8:45am and I was thinking...HOLY CRAP!!! WHAT'S WRONG?!? It's only about 5:45am in Hawai'i. I was at work so I couldn't get to it until a little later and heard the message to get the news.

I am in charge of giving the baby a Hawaiian middle name. The clincher was that by the earlier ultrasounds we were all under the impression that is was a girl so I have been looking for a girl name this whole time. Now I had a couple of days for the birth certificate to be finalized. I have been looking for the past 2 days and came up with it. Here is the finalized name for my newest nephew and a part of the family:

Mika Na'auao Manaia Tausaga (and my last name)

He's just like my nephew Maika (his older brother) with the 5 names... Poor guys!

Oh well, welcome to the family little one.

FYI: Na'auao in Hawaiian means intelligent/knowledge and Manaia in Samoan means Handsome. (I don't know if I spelled Manaia write...I'll get back on that!)

Happy Easter!!!

It's been quite a long time since I've wrote a blog. I've been busy, lot's of changes so I'm taking a chance to stop and take a breath.

Today I'm teaching my friends 14 year old daughter how to bake my strawberry cupcakes. It's my day to rest. Everyone needs one. They of course came out good. It's a good relaxing day.

Thank God for everything that He's done for us. I think that I'd be lost.

What a weekend....

What a weekend this has started out to be. Well, let's start out to the beginning of this week. My office has moved buildings. I'm now on the 27th floor of a building that if I go to my window I can see our pier. Our first day there was monday. It's a beautiful place to work. Much nicer and bigger than the previous digs that we occupied. Anyway, with all the business and that nasty flu bug that's been going around...(my house not excluded) I FINALLY got it. I had no choice but to stay home from work yesterday and I literally couldn't get out of bed. YUCK! I hate being sick but the flu bites even more. Hope you all stay happy and HEALTHY!!!

Until the next one...

Another Year...

My oldest nephew Cody turns 14 years old today. Man I feel old. They are all getting so big. My first niece is graduating high school and is already a mom this year. Before you know it the next 2 will be right there. They graduate one year apart so that's 2 visit's back home...one after the other. God, where does the time go?!?

My weekend

This weekend was the first time that I saw my friend Abbey's baby. His name is Kamea and I named him. He's already 6 months old but he's SSSOOOOO cute and so adorable. Kamea is a very happy baby and took to everyone. He loved playing with Cori. That's Edith's 14 year old daughter. He kept laughing at her. He thought she was funny. And she is...

I'll post pictures soon. I just have to download them from my camera. Until next time...

The outside world!

Well, the white stuff has finally melted. I couldn't go to work if I stayed at home because my street was solid ice for many days so I stayed at a friends house for about 4 nights. I finally attempted and was successful in coming home and making it to the Transit Center the next day to catch the bus. I'm so glad that this season will be over soon.

I'm going home for a visit this summer. The ticket is purchased, some more clothes will have to be bought to accommodate the warmer climate and my much smaller body for my my 10 DAY VACATION! All I have are winter type clothes and a lot of jeans. You can wear that stuff all year here. It'll be a shock for a lot of people. They might not recognize me, like my mom barely did when she came here for her visit. I can't wait. :-)

I'll be home for my nephew Maika's 8th birthday. He doesn't know that yet. It's a secret from him. He'll be very surprised when he sees me. I can't believe how old they're getting. By the time I get there I'll be an Auntie 6 times. My niece will be giving birth any day now and my sister is due in mid-May sometime. I can't wait to see the new addition.

I better get going. I think I've said before that I get to name this baby. My sisters that is. I'm giving her one of her middle names. When it's a completed name I'll let you all know. Until then...

Another bunch O' Snow!

Well, we have another dump of snow. About 6 inches as a matter of fact. When it snows like that I can't get out of the house because the street we live on is a complete sheet of ice and we live on a hill. It's been like this for about 3 days. It snowed with big flakes for hours. It was supposed to stop snowing at around 8pm...it actually stopped at around 3am. The snow was so thick you could barely see the color of my car anymore. The snow was almost 1/2 way up my tires and I saw car after car slide back down the start of the hill after a few failed attempts to get up it.

God gave us another bunch of snow days. But I need to get out of this house. I was first sick, and now snow days. I haven't left the house other than my doctors appt since saturday so I've been cooped up for 1 solid week. I'm actually ready to go back to work. LET THE SNOW MELT!!!

Sick!

Well, this weekend totally blows! I'm sick!! I've been sick for the past few days. I have every weekend off and I've had absolutely NO ENERGY what-so-ever to do anything this weekend. I've literally been in bed ALL WEEKEND!!! Well, between the bed and the couch watching movies. I can't count how many I've gone through already.

Oh well, I hope that everyone is well. This will soon pass. I've been taking med's and I know that it'll be gone in a matter of days.

Until next time...

Happy New Years!

Well, it's official....IT'S 2007! What a quick year this has been. A lot of good and bad, up's and down's.... and oh the changes that have happened throughout 2006. Friendship that have been made and those that fell apart, people who have been diagnosed with illnesses and those have died, a friends pending divorce is no longer going to happen (yah!). I have made my 2nd full year here on the 13th of December and I don't regret any part of my decision still. I am teaching someone lessons that I've learned in life. Both lesson's about people and also how to bake. It's nice to do these things together. We have a lot of girls nights. Those are the most fun. I haven't lived as much as I have since I've been here. It's been a great 2006. Let's see what 2007 has to hold!