A New Kind of Addiction

Well, this past week, I got to white water rafting for work. I must say, that I'm totally hooked! I am definitely looking forward to the next time I get to go. If anyone wants to, let me know when and where, I'm pretty sure I'll be there! I don't have a lot of pictures from the trip, but when I get them downloaded, I'll put them on here.

Here's to new adventures and new addictions!

ROTC, Ropes Course & Addiction

Well, let's just start with the addiction since I know everyone is wondering... "what the heck is she talking about?". Sugar. My friends... it's sugar. Yes, I, Ms. Pilialoha Baclayon, have a freakin' sugar addiction. Not just any old sugar but "Bit-O-Honey" candy kind of sugar. BLAH!!!! With any addiction, too much of a substance or a particular "something" is not good. Thus, I have identified my problem and will be working on sugar detoxing these next two weeks. Meaning?

Hi, my name is Pili. And I'm a Bit-O-Honey addict.

Now that we've established my weakness... ROTC. Yesterday we had lab for ROTC and well... I rocked! It was a lot of fun. I learned quite a bit about myself and also about those in my squad. First, I must say that I am out of shape... AGAIN! You know, having an injury really stinks! You never know just how far backwards you've gone until you try to do something that was easy for you almost 2 months ago. (Sad day.) For example, we formed up and headed up a hill to the ropes course area where we were to conduct our lab. We walked pretty fast to get there, and for the most part, I kept up with my squad leader. (I was third in line.) When we had to "double-time", I started huffing and puffing, and feeling like I was going to blow MYSELF over. (pun intended.) Needless-to-say, I don't think my squad leader was really impressed. So... I now have a goal to start running/jogging hills to increase my endurance and lung capacity. It should be good.

The ropes course was fantastic. I wish I had pictures to post on here, but ONCE AGAIN, I'm a dork and forgot to take my camera with me. However, we did a lot of team building exercises, and also did an individual event... the Giant Swing. May I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Giant Swing. Granted, my heart started pounding and all senses started to go numb as I ascended and was pulled by my teammates, however, when I let go it was the best feeling in the world. I loved that I could fly and just "be free". If that's what bungee jumping or sky diving feels like, I'M HOOKED! That event was all about me overcoming my fear of 1. trusting others, 2. trusting myself & 3. trusting that when I let go it's about using my senses to overcome those fears and push past them. Exhilarating!

We had three other events, however, the other one worth mentioning would have to be "The Wall". We had to get everyone over the wall within 3 minutes and no talking was allowed. It was a great event. At the end, when our facilitator would ask the group if we feel like we contributed to the group to step forward, stay in our same spot if we felt we did "okay", or step back if we didn't feel like we did anything at all or didn't like the event. We all stepped forward. Each person had to share why he/she felt like they contributed. When it came to me, I kind of have a complex to the affect that I don't like to draw attention in the "I did this..." sort of way. But, I did state that when I saw my squad leader hurting, I stepped in and took his spot to hoist the rest of our team up. It truly was a great time.

Okay. Now, do you remember me talking about combatives last semester? Well! My dear friends... my squad leader is Onken... the person I took combatives from. He is starting to implement and teach another person about the program. I get to join him and a few of the other people to pilot test it. He said that it was going to be different that just the regular combatives that he's taught, but that it'll be more intense than the last.

Honestly, I'm totally excited! Tomorrow will be another great day!

P.S. Sunday I leave for my Moab trip with work. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. =) YEAH FOR ME! I get to go on another adventure! (About bloody time, eh!?!)

"B"

I got a "B" on my take-home test. Who does that!?! Blah... oh well. I just need to work harder to make sure I do my best on the assignments, projects, and outside "extras".

"A" or bust!...

A Mother's Day Tribute to Doreen Pilialoha Baclayon

I have been blessed with great motherly influences in my life. But none with compensate for my birth mother, Doreen Pilialoha Baclayon.

May I briefly share a memorable experience that has touched my life these many years.

I was a Senior at Kamehameha Schools on O'ahu, Hawai'i. At this specific time in my life, I really wanted to be home with my family on Kaua'i, and not go to school on another island. I was dealing with mid-terms, the death of one of my dear friends and teacher from the Cook Islands, was in couseling because of Maine Tutai's death and just in a bad space.

I headed to Hale Ola, our infermary on campus, and was laying down on one of the beds in the back. I was there just a few minutes when the thought came to mind, "I wish my mom was here." No sooner had I thought those words, my mom walks through the door to where I was. "Mommy? Is that really you?" I was crying. My mom said she had a feeling that she needed to come to see me, so she hopped on the next flight to see me.

Even though my teen years were spent at a boarding school, away from my family, that moment will forever help me understand the principle of "Listening to the Spirit", and to act on our impressions. They call it "Mother's Inuition", I call it "Divine Intervention". The Lord couldn't be there to help me through that tough time, but He knew my Mother could.

Thanks mom for nearly 28 great years.

Much love,
Pili girl~

Service

I realized I've not put many pictures on here as of late. Hm... I'll have to remedy that. Anyway, here's a few pictures of some friends who did service last week for FHE.

Chris cutting grass with scissors. Yes, you read that right, with scissors!









Beth Walker cuttin' it up with scissors as well!












Bro. Bair trimming the trees:












Sharon and another young man moving the trimmin's to the burn pile:









A cute robin's egg we found:

Major Esplin & a hula hoop...

Today I was playing with two of Major Esplin's children here at work, and guess what happened? Major Esplin decided to join in! I know, I know... he's going to kill me, but whatever. Enjoy!

The Heart

So, question. Well, not really, but I just wanted to write a little something and kind of hope none of the family is reading this one. If you are... please don't bring this up.

When does anyone really realize when they've started to fall for someone? I had a talk with a friend of mine last night and she and I came to the conclusion, that sometimes we don't realize that somehow... people just sometimes crawl into your heart. Then when we notice that person is there... the question then turns to... how and when did he/she get in there? Sometimes that realization becomes shocking and then the wondering if you should take that person out or keep that person in. For me... it's the fear of the unknown. Thus my rambling.

The heart is funny.

ROTC back in action!!!

Yesterday was our first lab of the semester. I must say, it was quite fun.

This semester, since most of the other contracted cadets are off-track, the highest level of cadets around are the MS II's. Thus the squad leaders are Onken, Paz, Anderson and Sorenson. I don't remember what squad leader is assigned to the 2nd - 4th squads... however, I do know that Onken is SL for squad 1. (Obviously I know because I'm in his squad.) YEAH!

I've noticed that we have A LOT of females this semester. Honestly, I'm kind of excited. Us females won't be that out numbered and I'm sure we will strongly represent! ha ha ha... (We have three females in our squad: Maurer, Smith and me.)

Well, after learning Drill and Ceremony, we had a competition: Battleship. Oh my heck, it was hilarious and fun! Our squad rocked! Granted, we're not perfect, but at least killed everyone else. (I have to admit that winning sometimes is very very sweet.) =) When a squad was killed they had to report to the stage and do either: "front, back, go's", flutter-kicks, push-ups or squats, then we could return to our corner and try to go for another kill.

Then we played the D and C game in the respect that we all fell into our Platoon and Ngyuen conducted it. I was the last female standing with four other guys. =) What killed me and two of the guys, was doing an about face and then presenting arms. I totally forgot that I had to wait to go to "Attention" in order to present arms. DUH! Oh well. I still rocked it!

After the D and C games we did tactical movements. Onken put me as Alpha team leader and Kadie Smith as Bravo team leader. It was neat to see the new MS I's pick up really quick on what to do, what not to do, what the hand movements are, and what the abbreviations mean. Our 360 degree security was pretty amazing too. Our squad picked up really quick on things. A lot of fast learners.

Anyway, at the next lab, I'm going to see if I can get a picture of our squad and post it on here. I'm looking forward to another great semester.

P.S. Johnson came to lab - that was fun to see him. Carter came into our office... it's ALWAYS a pleasure to see Carter. Fahlmann came into the office too, right before lab. Seems like he's been really busy with work. Poor guy, I hope he can find a better job.

Here's to squad 1 kicking trash this semester! =) (I really shouldn't talk trash, but it's fun once in a while.)