Happy New Year

"...Recognize that even right now, this period in your life is also an era that will pass as well. Are you going to spend it, lamenting on who wronged you and why? Are you going to carry the bad and the ugly forward? If you do you only create a block to recall in the future. This era of your life belongs to you. No one else. In 10 or 20 years what senses will fill you when you recall this time in your life? I say recall this era as so many more beginnings.The only constant in all the years of your life, will be YOU."

Scott Abel

Oh really.

“The United States expended its carrots, including delisting North Korea from the terrorist list, in exchange for a verbal promise that Pyongyang would sign on to these verifications,” he said. “We now know the North Koreans tricked us.”

Somebody give this guy a medal.

In Setback for Bush, North Korea Talks Collapse.

"One of the main reasons I train my body is so that my mind works effectively." - Paul Chek

That's Paul Chek with a 160# db over his head. This man is 47. I think we should listen to him. He has some really interesting thoughts on training in this T-Nation article. Enjoy!

Our Wedding Website

Oh my gosh, you guys have to go check out our AWESOME wedding website that my sister has been putting together!! It's still a work in progress so check back again soon!

THANKS KATIE!! :D

Adam and Michelle

Kaneohe Condo

Hey y'all! Sorry I've been neglecting to post! I'm just really trying HARD to stay balanced with all the stress going on in my life. I will be happy when this weekend comes and I get a big break! I've had days off from work since I got here, but we've been running around trying to get stuff done for the wedding and the condo and have barely had time to catch our breaths. It's taking a toll on my mental and spiritual well being!

I'm going to have an acupuncture session on Saturday! It's something I've been wanting to try for a while now and I can definitely use it. The woman said I will see results right away and she will do a lifestyle interview with me to see where any imbalances might be and if there are any herbal remedies that can help.

Also! I met Misty May-Treanor today! She and her husband and father came to the PACOM headquarters to do a professional development forum - it was way cool! She is totally nice and sweet and soft spoken and down to earth. She was just a regular girl! Definitely a role model.

You can go to my mom's Picasa album and view the pics of our condo. Thanks for taking and posting all those, Mom!!

Kaneohe condo!

There was a little girl who had a little curl... right in the middle of her forehead.

I have officially broken up with my blow dryer and my flat iron. Bye bye. Hasta.... or as the Italians say, basta (finished). One of my first tasks after getting on the island, after finding a decent place to get a pedicure, was finding a hair stylist. I asked the wives in Adam's squadron - no luck. They all just rolled their eyes and clucked about their bad haircuts at all the salons on the windward side. I pretty much knew I'd have to go downtown to Honolulu to find an acceptable stylist - but you always want to get a word of mouth recommendation. Except that I have no friends here... and all the females I work with wear their hair slicked back in buns so I can't tell which of them has good hair! I resolved to ask the first girl I saw whose hair I liked for a recommendation, which happened to be in line at the Navy Services Center while I was waiting on my ID card for work. The stylist, Katie, works at the W Salon in the Ala Moana Center. She took one look at my fro, listened to my sad tale about spending hours straightening my hair only to have it poofy by lunchtime, and told me to stop fighting my texture. She gave me a layered cut that actually ACCENTUATES my natural curls and body and sent me off with some curl enhancing hair products. I can actually let it air dry and it looks fantastic. The End.

My plate is full

We have been busy! My parents flew in on Wednesday evening and we spent Thanksgiving downtown in Waikiki. We went to a sports bar to watch the Cowboy's game and then over to one of the hotels on Waikiki beach to eat at their traditional turkey/stuffing/pie buffet. We got to sit out on the balcony RIGHT on the beach while eating our turkey!

THEN! Black Friday was neverending. We have been planning to get a big screen TV for Christmas and Adam had researched all the brands and models and had one picked out that he wanted. He called around all the shops on the island and the only place that had it on sale on Black Friday was Best Buy in Honolulu and they only had 3 left on Wednesday! So we planned to go there at 5 am to get one on Friday morning. We were also planning to look a couple other places for furniture we need (living room, dining table, outdoor furniture).

We woke up at 4:00 and were downtown by quarter to 5. When we pulled up to Best Buy, the first thing we saw was that the parking lot was full and there were cars leaving to find other parking spots. Then we saw the line! OMG, there were seriously at least 1,000 people lined up to get inside before 5 am! It was insane. We weren't sure how long we were going to have to wait to get in the store, but they pretty much let everyone in right away and we went straight to the TV section and got the LAST TV on the island in the brand we wanted!

We left there by 5:30 and headed over to Home Depot where we got the LAST patio furniture set on sale, plus a pre-lit Christmas tree for $50 and a bunch of plants. We headed over to Macy's around 8:00 to look for the comforter I wanted, which they didn't have. We were on our way to the Navy Exchange furniture store when my mom called and said she saw some interesting couches on craigslist, so we drove all the way to the other side of the island to look at them. They were just ok and we wanted to check out the NEX furniture store, so we went over there and were there for HOURS deciding what to buy... we ended up getting an entire living room (couch, loveseat, coffee table, end tables, lamps, tv stand), a dining room table, and a bedroom set... all of it 20-25% off.

On Saturday we rented a truck and went back to get everything and spent the day unloading the stuff and the carting all the packing material back to the store. Yesterday we thought we deserved a break so we took my parents to hike Kuliou'ou - one of the best views on the island at about 2,000 ft elevation, but also a brutal, steep and slippery climb to the summit. They made the trip like champs, although we were all tired and sore afterwards! Then we went to run errands and church!

Man, I need a vacation after our holiday! Today it's back to the grind.

I'm working with the Precision Nutrition coaching program online (more on that later) and I start my new workout program today, so I'm excited to go to the gym this afternoon! My parents are in town for the rest of the week.

I will be really glad when all of the stress of moving, getting settled and planning this wedding subside - Adam and I both feel like we have way too much on our plates at the moment. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!