×Fractured Fairy Tales ×

Impending doom

2009-07-15T23:08:00.002+09:00

my 27th birthday is in about 10 days, and i'm not taking it well, not sure if it's because P is leaving soon, or if i am just not ready to be 27. so i am renaming july 26th, formerly known as my birthday, will from now on be referred to as Doom Day.

maybe qarterlife crisis, maybe just boredom, but i have not only dyed my hair 4 times in the last 30 days but i have also gone and gotten another hole in my face. (just what i need right?)

2009-07-06T11:19:00.004+09:00

Paul got home last week, and between him and school I havnt had much time for blogging. But here I am, making a quick apperance. We had a great 4th with good friends and BBQing. this week Paul is un-jetlagged so I think we are going to do some exploring. Hopefully I will finally catch up in Geology, I am so close, about one and a half chapters and I am back on track.

Well I should go read now, I'll leave you with some pictures of Aiko, after she got into the mud, and Paul rinsing her off.

Summer Time

2009-06-25T16:38:00.005+09:00

It's that time again. Summer term started last week, and it's time for my life to take the back burner to my education again.

On another note Paul will be home next week, and I've made progress in some of my bad habits. I pick up after myself, I play with and/or walk the dog almost every day. I've been keeping the dishes done. I think he will be proud of me. I've also been getting up at a decent hour almost every day!!

oh and I can kill my own spiders

(this one is dying slow and painfully after being doused in spider spray)

And Aiko and Callie have been having way too much fun.

Here they are at Courtney's house, because I lack AC in my downstairs right now, and thats a recipe for dog disaster, or heat stroke (it's hotter in my downstairs than it is outside, but i wont get into that)

So much fun in fact that for the first time in an eternity she fell asleep before I did.

It's A Bugs Life

2009-06-22T23:31:00.003+09:00

While the rain stopped and the clouds parted for a few days, there have been some amazing things to be seen around my house

Butterflies (mating?)

frogs eating the yucky bugs outside my kitchen door

and a visit from a GIANT preying mantis which is commonly believed to bring good luck and fortune.

2009-06-17T12:13:00.001+09:00

I got a dinning room table the other night, it's cute and small and perfect, I hope Paul loves it too.

Bye Alex!

2009-06-15T21:07:00.004+09:00

This last two weeks Joselyn's sister was here visiting. We had alot of fun, the girls got me out of the house for dinner, shopping, running from the rain, eating pineapple, spending money and mani-pedi's! Here's some pictures from the week:

And now for your moment of Zen

2009-06-14T20:45:00.002+09:00

this sunday I present you with:

Aiko helping me with the laundry.

Update

2009-06-08T21:34:00.004+09:00

Frankie is back with his mom, I saw a poster at a local convience sign looking for him, and despite much confusion, due to my not being able to speak japanese and her not being able to speak english, 3 hours after initial contact was made Frankie was back in the loving arms of his mom, who was a little weepy, I was glad to see he was loved. Things are back to normal here at the McCawley hut
and I found a tiny blind flower pot snake in the back yard yesterday while digging a hole for my Bokashi. It's harmless but I still didnt touch it.

what was i thinking

2009-06-05T23:38:00.004+09:00

long story short, I found a dog in traffic yesterday. Normally I wouldnt stop but I did, and now I am searching for this guys home.

If my search is unsuccessful I am considering fostering him until I can find him a forever home. I hope I have better luck with that than i've had finding a new home for my car. (anyone in Oki want a new car???)

Gardening 101_Episode 1: how to make dinner almost entirely from your garden

2009-06-03T22:29:00.003+09:00

tonight I had pesto, with fresh picked basil on rice, and oven roasted eggplant, also hand picked, yesterday.

so fresh i grew it myself.

sleepy sunday

2009-05-31T11:47:00.002+09:00

Routine

2009-05-25T10:14:00.003+09:00

Today I have started my routine to help get me through this deployment. I want to have a routine so the days go by quicker and hopefully I can adopt some habits that will impress P when he gets home.

Exercise Routine (elastic extends are working that body part with one of those elastic resistance bands)

Monday

walk Aiko twice
three sets of 20 pushups
three sets of 10 leg elastic extends
three sets of 10 arm elastic extends
walk/jog or cardio for 30 min

Tuesday

walk Aiko twice
three sets of 20 weights arms (curls and up's)
walk/jog 2 mile or 40 min cardio

Wednesday

walk Aiko twice
three sets of 10 leg elastics
three sets of 20 lunges
60 min cardio

Thursday

walk Aiko Twice
three sets of 20 pushups
three sets of 20 arm elastic
walk/jog 3+ miles or 60+ min cardio

Friday

walk Aiko twice
gym for 90 min- cardio, weights & stairs

Weekend

walk Aiko at least once a day
Cardio 60+ min
three sets of 20 pushups

exercise isnt set in stone (except for dog walks, that is a must), I will just do what my body lets me do, and if things start to get to easy I will add more, and change up the routine.

Chores

Daily

put shoes away
dishes done before bed
food in bokashi
downstairs bath picked up
kitchen picked up
workout stuff put away
clean my side of bed
put away dog toys

Weekly

laundry done
laundry put away
garbage out
dog poo picked up
cat box scooped
vacuum
stairs swept
drive P's car

Monthly

clean toilets
change sheets every two weeks
clean out fridge

so far today i've walked Aiko and I decided to do some yoga to boost my spirit. i'm going to do some pushups right after i finish this. all and all I think that this routine thing is going to be really good for me, and I am determined to stick to it.

Shuri Castle (few words mostly pictures)

2009-05-23T18:26:00.004+09:00

Shuri Castle was almost completely destroyed during WWII battle of Okinawa 1945 and was reconstructed in the early 90's, opened in 1992 as a tourist attraction.

(these pictures are totally out of order)

At the entrace to the actual castle

inside the castle at the tea rooms, that opened up to a beautiful garden

(we had to take our shoes off in the castle it was so cool)

at the big bell

at one of the highest viewpoints on the castle grounds

on the way out, totally pooped and so hot!

Paul sitting under a pretty parasol thing in the air conditioning

inside the castle in front of the throne

the king's chill spot he would talk to his peeps here

after the castle we walked out the the pond and lake that are adjoining the park/castle grounds

we found DUCKLINGS!!!

and really mean geese duck things

there was a really pretty island in the middle of the pond

yum

2009-05-21T17:29:00.003+09:00

I can't wait for Paul to get home so we can try these, fresh from the garden, today.

I think Taco is trying to tell me something

2009-05-18T17:17:00.004+09:00

I always have a box laying around with things tossed in it for home. When I am out I often see things that make me thing "oh Dad really needs that" or "mom would love that"

Now it may just be a cat thing but of all the half empty boxes around the house (and lately do to my online shopping addiction there have been quite a few) Taco choses to lay in the one that is marked to go to Tucson.

even though he hated my moms dog (sorry mom) I mean my sister, Dedra.... I think taco just wants to escape this creature, who taunts him relentlessly.

In a funk

2009-05-18T10:43:00.005+09:00

lately I've been in a funk, and I desperately need to find my way out. Quite a bit is going on in the Paul and Alana residence. P is training for his upcoming deployment, A has been knee deep in school. But I seem to be slowly loosing all motivation, I've stopped knitting, I dont think I've touched my needles in months, (sorry Nikki, I promise Chael will get his blanket before he's five) i've been trying to read, but with school it's been hard. I had finals last week though so I will have more time for myself. I've also stopped loosing weight, in-fact the scale has gone up a few pounds.

So i'm making my mid year resolutions:

knit at least one hour a week
no starting new knitting projects until Chael's Blankie is done
continue to make time for school (summer term doesn't start for 3 weeks so I've gont plenty of time)
read every day, something besides a text book or the internet. even if it's just a magazine article
walk Aiko twice a day weather permitting.
run/jog at least once a week, more preferably
get to the gym once a week for weight training
do dishes every day, even if it's just one plate, dishes must be done before bed.
yoga once a week, even if it's just wii fit yoga.

just to break it down more:

knitting needs to get done, I just spent a large sum of money on yarn, so I must knit, I must!

I've got a few weeks before summer term starts but i'd like to take some time to go through my text books before classes start.

I also have a problem with ordering books online, I have about 20 books I need to read.

Aiko is crazy, she needs to release some energy, I think walking her twice a day for atleast a mile can really help her not be a crazy beast.

though my weight loss has stalled, I am not too concerned, what does concern me is, despite the fact I have lost over 20 pounds, my body still doesnt look good, I'm not expecting supermodel (yet) but since I was loosing with pretty much diet alone, I feel I really need to focus on the exercise part of weight loss, I need to tone, to build muscle. I think if I could do that, it would certainly help some of my body issues.

and the dishes is a given, I suck and housework, I suck even more at dishes, but it's bug season and we live 15 feet from the jungle so bugs are going to be a serious issue if I dont get my shit in gear.

I am determined to find my motivation while P is in cali. All will be well, as long as I keep my positive outlook.

It's Gone!

2009-05-13T11:29:00.005+09:00

Cut it off even more

Paul and the dog-doo

Paul getting ready for the field this week, in his barracks room

this is sad

2009-05-06T19:17:00.002+09:00

how messed up is it that THIS makes me hungry.

sometimes I wonder how I've been loosing weight.

I guess it's not giving in to those urges.

Coming Soon

2009-05-05T20:56:00.006+09:00

I've infused some olive oils.

They will take about two weeks to set, but I am really excited.

but tonight I need to sleep, I am seriously lacking on sleep. It's been close to three weeks since I have slept more than three consecutive hours. I was blaming Paul but I don't think it's his fault. It's really starting to take a toll on me, today I was so physically and emotionally drained by the time I got out of school at 2:30 pm I was ready to cry, just because I was so exhausted. Now it's 9 pm and I've got my second wind.

I just finished cleaning most of the kitchen because, well because despite the fact that Paul just cleaned it yesterday we have a minor ant infestation. I'm attempting to deal with it on my own, but they are coming from the island between the Living room and Kitchen so I'm not sure if I can stop them, I may have to call the housing agency. Who are already gonna hate me when I get done with school next week and call them with the list of things that needs to get done, that I've been putting off because I don't want them alone in the house with the animals, not that I think they would hurt them or anything, I just worry about them getting out. Now that I'll be out of school for the summer (online classes) they can take their time completing my list of demands :)

And that's all I've got.

Have a lovely day. and comment, it's good for you :)

It Came From Outer Space

2009-05-01T11:59:00.005+09:00

this is my conjoined twin cucumber!

WEIRD!!!

and the rest of my pretty garden

A Banana with a plan

2009-04-29T23:29:00.004+09:00

(I'm the Banana... get it.... Alana Banana... yeah I know I'm dangerous)

Not that anyone else but me cares, but I want to just put this out there, because I am going to try to accomplish something amazing.

So I'm in college, and I'm double majoring in History and Environmental Management, with a minor in English.

My school does 8 week terms instead of semesters, so we cram a whole 3 credit course into 8 weeks! 5 terms a year (including summer) yeah!!!

My plan is for me to get 30-37 credits out of the next year (that's alot)

here goes

Summer (starting June)

ENGL 312 (3) British Lit
BIOL 120 (3) botany

Fall (Term I)

NSCI 100 (3) Natural Science
HIST 115 (3) World History I
MATH 012 (3) not quite stupid but not ready for college math, math

Fall (Term II) *this term Andrea (sister) will be here so I'll take it easy

ENMT 301 (3) Environment and Ecosystems Management
MATH 112 (3) College Algebra (I think i'm gonna need Andrea for this one)

Spring (Term I)

ENGL 303 (3) Critical approach to lit
GEOL 100 (3) Physical Geology
GEOL 110 (1) Geology Lab
HIST ??? (3) American History (not sure which # yet)

Spring (Term II) (P should come home around end of this term)

HIST 116 (3) World History II
ENGL 294 (3) Intro to Creative Writing

now this is all subject to change, if i cant handle it i'll of course drop but i'm doing two 3 credit classes this term and I've got an A in my History and a C in Math (but it's math a C is good for me) at this rate I could (if we extend for 3 more years) leave island with my BA in History and BS in EM

okay now that I got that out i need to study for my History exam tomorrow.

I need to start knitting again

2009-04-27T18:47:00.004+09:00

i have this failure problem, when it comes to knitting, i try to make things for people (nikki's new baby chael) and i dont finish by the time the gift is due (in this case the day he was born) and then i give up on myself.

i am ashamed to admit this but i havnt touched my needles in (well except for two nights one where i worked on the blanket and one where i started to start another gift) in over a month. what makes all of this worse is WEBS is having their anniversary sale and well that means that i can stock up on my yarn for the year. how can i justify buying alot of yarn when i still have a ton of yarn left over from last time. the only difference is as you progress as a knitter you learn things, and your tastes change, an now i want different yarn, i dont want the stuff i have shoved around in the back, i want the different stuff. ugh. we'll i'm gonna get it, and then feel guilty.

(i still havnt even done the second mitten, or second sock to the projects i was working on LAST YEAR!!!)

i guess i better start knitting.

Earth Week Final & Garden Question

2009-04-25T09:02:00.005+09:00

First:

if so can you go over to my neighbor's garden HERE (clickable link) and offer some advice on her plants, she's got a mystery plant that looks like a cucumber but with HUGE flowers, so we were thinking zucchini.

Here is my green:

i almost always carry my own grocery bags. I went to the Commissary friday and this is what i came home with. my happy pretty polka dot bags, and the yellow one in the back has a happy monkey and says something in french.

i love my bags, maybe i'll take pictures of all of them, I have Hello Kitty bags, polka dot bags, solid color bags, green bags from the commissary, fabric bags. they are fantastic!

if anyone is interested in them you can shoot me an email at alanamccawley at mac dot com they are about 2oo yen each (the price went up! boo) that's about two dollars depending on the exchange rate, and then whatever shipping is. but i can get the plain and polka dot ones very easily, the Hello Kitty ones were a special find they usually run about 7-12 dollars each.

Thursday

2009-04-23T20:40:00.003+09:00

nothing really exciting today, today was a busy day, I took Aiko to the vet, it's looking like she will need Soft Palate surgery. basically with the short (snub) nose breeds sometimes the roof of the mouth extends back into the throat, it's really more of a birth defect. and sometimes it affects her breathing, like when she gets really excited, usually when playing with other dogs she makes this heaving snort noise, and she sometimes starts to panic and that makes it worse, I grew more concerned when she woke up a few times in the middle of the night doing it. that's what brought us to the vet, but nothing major, we were told it's pretty routine. I just worry because she is my baby, and they will have to do it while Paul is still here, because I said so.

as for my green today, i made a TON of Spinach Basil pesto with all that freaking basil i have out back, i filled a big plastic bowl with fresh basil while picking and you cant even tell by looking at my plants, i think it's the fertilizer i'm using. nothing like fresh cow shit to make your plants grow happy!

my tomatoes are slowly recovering, i dont know if i mentioned but i transplanted mature tomato plants even though my mom told me not to, it was a bad idea by the way incase you were wondering, i think if it wernt for my seemingly good soil mixture i've got going on (the one making the monstrous basil) that they surely would have died. but they are hanging on, it's been about 5 days and they still appear to be in shock, and are still droopy during the day but they perk up a bit at night, actually one is perked up most of the time, unless it gets really hot, we've had a lot of rain so i'm not watering them much, i dont want them to drown. and i have a little bit of bokashi liquid in my bokashi so i put some in the watering can a few days ago, i havnt seen much of an improvement yet but we'll see.

thats it, sorry no pictures. maybe tomorrow.

I missed Yesterday!

2009-04-23T11:22:00.002+09:00

i'm so sorry i missed yesterday's earth week post! and yesterday was actually Earth Day!

so this is all i have for you, my green cleaning stuff.

i'll make another post this afternoon i promise!