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#1 Mar 14 2012 at 11:28 PM Rating: Excellent
Hullo, Zam.

I am still alive, believe it or not. My husband and I moved from the little big city to the jungle, and we had to wait two whole weeks for the internet to get hooked up. It was hell, I tell you.

One of the things we said good-bye to when we moved from city to jungle was county water. We now have what's called a water catchment system. Basically, when it rains, the water runs from our gutters into what looks like a big, tarp covered, above-ground pool to the side of our house. From there, it flows through a water pump, through a filter that gets out the sediment and other large things, and into our pipes. If you think that sounds scary and undrinkable, you're right! We are living off of bottled water, for fear of getting rat lungworm disease.

We moved away from our apartment for two reasons: 1) it is a studio apartment, and while I adore my husband, we need more than one little room to ramble around in and 2) they wouldn't let us have Akira there. We picked this... lovely... home in the jungle because it fit our budget.

However, on the second day of our move, I received a phone call from one of the places I had sent my resume. She wanted an interview and wondered how quickly I could show up. A week and a half and a second interview later, I was offered the job. I still haven't started yet, because the office is a part of the hospital here and so I have to get a round of vaccinations, they have to check me for fun diseases like Hepatitis B and TB, and they have to do a drug and background check. Since the hospital is a government owned hospital, all of this takes a little longer than it should. But I'm pleased to announce that I no longer file other people's taxes for less than minimum wage two days a week.

Of course, since I was offered and accepted this job, I received no less than four calls and/or emails regarding other resumes I sent out. Ah, well. What can you do.

Hopefully either mid-April or early May, I will send my husband back to Tennessee to visit friends and bring my puppy home to me. This has been quite an ordeal. While her quarantine period is over, she still needs to have a topical flea/tick medicine applied, and I have to get a health statement along with two rabies certificates sent to me from the vet in Tennessee, which have to be sent along with the application that I have to fill out and get notarized to the Dept. of Agriculture in Honolulu no less than ten days before she arrives along with a fee of $163 just to get her in the state. I don't even want to think about how much it's going to cost just to fly her out here... I'll just be grateful that I have a full-time semi-well paying job now and let it go at that.

Another fun thing that happened in the two weeks that we had no internet and were learning to take care of a water catchment system is that we sold our house in Tennessee. (Smiley: yippee) No more house payment AND rent payment for us. Which makes us happy.

It's amazing how much fat you can trim from your life by making a move like this. I look around our small, one room house at the furniture here, and realize that we own less than half of it. My husband's salary has doubled, mine has shrunk to a third of it's former size, and our bills are smaller, but all in all, it's pretty exciting. It's nice to be able to go to a beach and pet a sea turtle on his head as part of our normal activities. I wouldn't say that I'm in love with Hawaii and I want to live here for the rest of my life, but I do think I've made an improvement to my life moving out here. If nothing else, I can say that I did it. I miss my mom, but that's part of growing up, I suppose. And with Skype and phone calls, it's not as bad as it could be.

So, that happened. What've you guys been up to?
#2 Mar 15 2012 at 12:13 AM Rating: Excellent
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Belkira wrote:
One of the things we said good-bye to when we moved from city to jungle was county water. We now have what's called a water catchment system. Basically, when it rains, the water runs from our gutters into what looks like a big, tarp covered, above-ground pool to the side of our house. From there, it flows through a water pump, through a filter that gets out the sediment and other large things, and into our pipes. If you think that sounds scary and undrinkable, you're right! We are living off of bottled water, for fear of getting rat lungworm disease.
We promise we'll remember you like we remember that Rurode kid. Smiley: nod


But seriously, it sounds like things are generally looking pretty good, so I'm glad to hear it.


Edited, Mar 15th 2012 12:14am by Poldaran
#3 Mar 15 2012 at 4:38 AM Rating: Good
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I'm a little jealous of you for living in a jungle and petting sea turtles and whatnot, I think I'd miss winters way way too much to live in a place that has none though.
Also, gratz on the job!
#4 Mar 15 2012 at 6:37 AM Rating: Excellent
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O Hai 2u2!

I would be drinking bottled water too in that situation but grats on not dying or wanting to rush back to the mainland yet.
#5 Mar 15 2012 at 7:32 AM Rating: Good
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Hi.
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#6 Mar 15 2012 at 7:36 AM Rating: Excellent
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You're braver than me. I know they have bigger bugs in Hawaii than they do here in TN. And the ones here creep me out more than enough, so I don't know if I could live where you are now, haha.

But glad to hear you're doing ok!
#7 Mar 15 2012 at 7:58 AM Rating: Good
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We'll be doing our wedding in Hawaii (likely around November-ish), so I'll swing on by and say aloha.
#8 Mar 15 2012 at 8:21 AM Rating: Good
Gaming forums actually just unwebsensed at work so I can finally post here. I'm glad to hear that everything is slowly settling down for you Belkira with your new life. I'm sure this has asked before, but what are the chances of a Belkira/Pikko lunch date?
#9 Mar 15 2012 at 8:43 AM Rating: Good
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Nadenu wrote:
You're braver than me. I know they have bigger bugs in Hawaii than they do here in TN.
The giant airborne roaches are hilarious.
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
#10 Mar 15 2012 at 10:23 AM Rating: Good
lolgaxe wrote:
Nadenu wrote:
You're braver than me. I know they have bigger bugs in Hawaii than they do here in TN.
The giant airborne roaches are hilarious.


We have those in GA... I still have nightmares...
#11 Mar 15 2012 at 11:01 AM Rating: Good
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So glad you're doing well! Smiley: yippee It's nice when life starts to pare down and you truly realize that less really is more.

Same old same old over here. Husband's good. Kids are good. Pets are good. Same job, same mortgage and bills. Can't really complain.
#12 Mar 15 2012 at 11:26 AM Rating: Excellent
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catwho wrote:
lolgaxe wrote:
Nadenu wrote:
You're braver than me. I know they have bigger bugs in Hawaii than they do here in TN.
The giant airborne roaches are hilarious.


We have those in GA... I still have nightmares...

Those came north into TN one year. I thought I was going to die.
#13 Mar 15 2012 at 11:33 AM Rating: Excellent
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Oooo have you seen any of the 10 inch long centipedes? I'm told those are awesome. Smiley: grin

Not much has changed here, just a few more diapers, and another gray hair or two, but all is good. Smiley: smile
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#14 Mar 15 2012 at 1:19 PM Rating: Excellent
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
I'm a little jealous of you for living in a jungle and petting sea turtles and whatnot, I think I'd miss winters way way too much to live in a place that has none though.
Also, gratz on the job!


It's funny you say that. Sunday, we were at the beach frolicking with sea turtles, and we could see the snow atop Mauna Kea. If you really just need a taste of winter, it's not that far. Smiley: lol

As for the bugs, I have not seen any bugs that are any different than TN. The centipedes, I am told, like to live under the large banana leaves that fall to the ground, so I am content to steer clear of those. Our first apartment had a small roach problem, but my husband was able to clear that up with some combat. And when I say "small roach," I mean we didn't get any of the B52's there. Yes, they call those huge flying roaches B52's. And there is even a children's book dedicated to one of the creatures, and they have no fear of man and will dive bomb you at a moments notice. I know all of this in theory only, as I have not seen any of them.

Part of the reason my Hawaiian adventures have thus far been ugly bug free might be in due in part to this being "winter" and maybe they're playing least-in-sight right now. But I won't think about that.

What I have seen a lot of are geckos. They are all over the outside of our house, mostly sticking close to the windows at night to snatch up some unsuspecting moths that have fluttered too close to their hungry mouths. We've even seen a few inside. I have always loved lizards, and the geckos have quickly found a place in my heart. Even so, I was still amazed when my only problem with seeing any of the geckos inside the house was that I didn't want them to die from lack of food. The few times I've seen one in the house, two thoughts run through my head. The first is that I've been told that geckos are good luck. The second is that if any bugs are in the house, the geckos will eat them.
#15 Mar 15 2012 at 1:25 PM Rating: Good
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Belkira wrote:
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
I'm a little jealous of you for living in a jungle and petting sea turtles and whatnot, I think I'd miss winters way way too much to live in a place that has none though.
Also, gratz on the job!


It's funny you say that. Sunday, we were at the beach frolicking with sea turtles, and we could see the snow atop Mauna Kea. If you really just need a taste of winter, it's not that far. Smiley: lol
But I need stuff like this to survive.


Edited, Mar 15th 2012 9:26pm by Aethien
#16 Mar 15 2012 at 1:28 PM Rating: Good
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
Belkira wrote:
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
I'm a little jealous of you for living in a jungle and petting sea turtles and whatnot, I think I'd miss winters way way too much to live in a place that has none though.
Also, gratz on the job!


It's funny you say that. Sunday, we were at the beach frolicking with sea turtles, and we could see the snow atop Mauna Kea. If you really just need a taste of winter, it's not that far. Smiley: lol
But I need stuff like this to survive.


All I can say is you can ski in Hawaii, if that helps?

But, personally, I don't miss the snow one whit, so I'm good. Smiley: lol
#17 Mar 15 2012 at 1:36 PM Rating: Good
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Huh, well, learned something new today.
Still, skiiing is no skating.
#18 Mar 15 2012 at 1:46 PM Rating: Excellent
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His Excellency Aethien wrote:
But I need stuff like this to survive.


Your world, it's so flat...
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That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
#19 Mar 15 2012 at 1:53 PM Rating: Excellent
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Nadenu wrote:
catwho wrote:
lolgaxe wrote:
Nadenu wrote:
You're braver than me. I know they have bigger bugs in Hawaii than they do here in TN.
The giant airborne roaches are hilarious.
We have those in GA... I still have nightmares...
Those came north into TN one year. I thought I was going to die.
Fun story. When I was still considered additional baggage for my father, we moved to Hawaii. I'm sitting on the couch playing Super Nintendo, and suddenly my little sister runs out of the bathroom half naked screaming her head off and straight out the door. Turns out she was about to take a shower when she pulled the curtain open and there was one of those fist sized volatilis periplaneta americana who decided that was the moment to become a hunter and chased her out.

Me? I peed myself laughing.

Edited, Mar 15th 2012 3:54pm by lolgaxe
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George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
#20 Mar 15 2012 at 1:53 PM Rating: Good
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Flat!? Don't you see those hills in the background!? Also trees, totally not flat.








But in all seriousness, that's a lake so it's bound to be flat, even by the skewed standards of my country. (I cycled down a street that had the name .... mountain, I doubt it was more than 20 meters high).
#21 Mar 15 2012 at 1:56 PM Rating: Excellent
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Smiley: oyvey

Hills... That ain't even a speed bump...
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That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
#22 Mar 15 2012 at 1:58 PM Rating: Excellent
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Speed bumps? You mean road hills?
#23 Mar 15 2012 at 2:04 PM Rating: Excellent
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Smiley: lol
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That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
#24 Mar 15 2012 at 2:13 PM Rating: Decent
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GorgeousMsBelikira wrote:
I wouldn't say that I'm in love with Hawaii and I want to live here for the rest of my life, but I do think I've made an improvement to my life moving out here

I'm betting the quality of living is wonderful (nature, peace, waves, flowers etc)

My hubby has transitioned from going "bang bang" for the government (contracting) to oil & gas. The work is reliable (unlike contracts), pay equals out and there are wonderful benefits. Contracting tends to pay you in 1099's, there are no benefits and you're on your own with taxes (I've learned so much about filing taxes that I'm on friendly terms with the IRS; I think they are extremely nice... O.o)

I'm in grad school for a Masters program in counseling. We are moving due to his (hubbys) job so I have had to reapply at a different school that is more research oriented than clinical. My current grad program is taught by clinicians. They require their professors to have worked in the industry for a minimum of 10 years. It's ok though because my family will finally be geographically complete. =)

Kiddos are getting big and are truly wonderful little people. I'm impressed by how caring they are and how polite. They are currently in a Jewish preschool but when we move they will be going to an Abeka Christian Preschool (if I don't end up homeschooling them. I'm more concerned about their moral and ethical development. How they treat people and interact with their environment is important to me.) Suki has discovered a love for the piano and Tyler likes to cook.

#25 Mar 15 2012 at 2:42 PM Rating: Good
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someproteinguy wrote:
Smiley: lol
Yeah, laugh. I've probably still stood on higher ground than you have! 6500 meters and a bit, beat that!
#26 Mar 15 2012 at 5:00 PM Rating: Excellent
Gurue
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lolgaxe wrote:
Nadenu wrote:
catwho wrote:
lolgaxe wrote:
Nadenu wrote:
You're braver than me. I know they have bigger bugs in Hawaii than they do here in TN.
The giant airborne roaches are hilarious.
We have those in GA... I still have nightmares...
Those came north into TN one year. I thought I was going to die.
Fun story. When I was still considered additional baggage for my father, we moved to Hawaii. I'm sitting on the couch playing Super Nintendo, and suddenly my little sister runs out of the bathroom half naked screaming her head off and straight out the door. Turns out she was about to take a shower when she pulled the curtain open and there was one of those fist sized volatilis periplaneta americana who decided that was the moment to become a hunter and chased her out.

Me? I peed myself laughing.

Edited, Mar 15th 2012 3:54pm by lolgaxe

Kind of sounds like me the first time I saw one.

I was sitting in a chair, watching TV. I lived in a really old house at the time and there was no weatherstripping under the front door. So this ROACH just walked in under the front door. He was 4 feet tall, I swear, and carrying luggage because he meant to stay for a while. I'm sure my neighbors heard me scream as I jumped up on the chair, launched myself across the room and out the door. Later I was able to throw a pretty heavy shoe at it and smoosh it (not a good sound, btw.) Then a few nights later, I was sleeping and felt something on my hand. I woke up, and one of those things was just hanging out in the palm of my hand. It didn't last long since as soon as I realized what it was, I slung it into the wall. It left a stain.

Now I need a drink.

/shudder
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