Happy Father's Day

Obviously, I've not yet given tribute to my father for Father's Day...


I wish I had pictures from when I was younger... There are definitely many fond memories I have of my dad. I'll see if I can pen a few of them here.

I grew up travelling to various places around the world because I was blessed to be born to a United States Marine Corp Soldier. Yes, my father, a man whose blood runs deep with the spirit of the land, or the people of Hawai'i, whose own ancestors protected others including a former king of Kaua'i. My father, Kealohanui, is a wonderful man. He may not be tall in stature but a man who has a life that's been lived working for his family and doing his best to provide for us.

A fond memories I have of my father are as follows:

North Carolina:
- When I was in grade 1, I remember we lived on base at Camp Lejeune, NC and I was heading out to school. My hair was a little wet and for some reason, I don't know why my mom didn't do my hair that day, but my dad did. I remember he brushed my long hair very tenderly and even braided it. The thought of not having my hair braided tight like mom did it kind of annoyed me then, but now, it's a great memory.

- Daddy daughter Valentine's date in NC. I was in primary and my dad and me went to our church building to attend the Daddy/daughter dinner/dance. I don't remember the dinner but I remember the dance. My dad took me and put me on his toes and we danced. Don't know who else were around, except I do remember me dancing with my father.

- When my dad would come home at night, I remember that he would let my brothers and me take off his military boots and his socks as well. They were our way of helping dad and welcoming him home.

- Our first Microwave! One day, my mom bought a microwave. Dad came home and said, "Hey, what's that TV doing on the counter?"

Okinawa
- Oh, lovely Okinawa. How I miss it. I remember we were at the markets and buying things and I wanted to get something. Well, my dad told me that if I wanted it, I had to ask how much it was... in Japanese. Need-less-to-say, I picked up a bit of Japanese from my dad's example.

- A & W. A&W was the special place to go when we lived in Okinawa. I remember the winding road going downhill to this land of ice cream and root beer and breaking ever so gently as it arrived on our left. Then, there were the gentle comment of "don't tell mom".

- Stone stilt house. We lived off base in a very large stone stilt house with all our living on one level with stairs that led to the top of the roof. That was the Christmas that was always the best. The simplest, the poorest, the true meaning of Christmas. It really doesn't have to do with something specific that my dad did, but the fact that we were all together, very poor, but the happiest I think our family ever was.

Phillipines
- When we were in the Phillipines, I remember seeing my dad outside with a young boy. Come to find out, the little boy pick-pocketed and my dad caught him. I think my dad gave him some money, but taught him that steeling was wrong.

Kaua'i
- Lots of great memories here. One of my favorites, which may seem a bit twisted, was actually one that my dad ran outside with a gun. Here's the story: we were living with my Tutu Lady for a little bit, in Kilauea, and it was night. There was kalo on the stove for a late night snack we were going to have. My dad told us to get down and close the lights. He told us to be quiet.... "BANG", a shot rang out. I've never seen my father go to his room, unlock his steel case, assemble his gun, load it and go out the door as fast as I witnessed that night. You see, the neighbor shot my grandmother's cat. Of course I ran outside with my father crying after him not to shoot anyone! (Now you know where I get it from, eh?) Anyway, I thought that was a great memory. Always ready to protect and defend the family.

- Work. My dad was privileged to work at various areas that allowed me to go to work with him often. When he worked at the food bank, I loved working with him. Not to mention, the food was great during lunch. Then there was the construction job that he had at the Princeville Hotel... During the summer I got to go to work with him, again, and loved swimming in the pool for hours. THEN, for lunch, I was able to eat all the butterfly shrimp I wanted. DIVINE!

Character:
More than anything, I think the character of a person says more than the amount of money one has in a bank account, or the number of metals placed on his chest. My father is a man of sacrifice and honor. He does his best to provide and bring honor to his family and usually sacrifices much to do so. If he can help, he does.

My brothers and I are truly blessed to have a great dad, father, oba-chan, papa-san, papa monkey and all of the above.

Happy Father's Day, dad.

Chicago 2008 Reunited

Chicago 2008 Female Counselors & Grover On Thursday, 11 June 2009, Kristen, Nicole and I got together for one last hooorah before Nicole left for her mission. I must admit that it was great to get together again. We also headed down to see Grover.

Here's the picture of us. Don't we look grand? Ha ha ha!










Here's a nicer picture:

Birthday with Friends...

Here are some fun pictures from my birthday gathering that friends did for me... yeah for nice friends...

Katie had some friends put something they remembered me by. It was fun. Here's how it was played. Each person played "Memory" and when they got a match, they got to answer a question that was already picked out and answered by myself. Katie was our facilitator. Anyway... Have fun reading it.

RE: Questions‏

1. If Pili had to choose from the following options to go on a 1st date, what would she choose?

a. Dinner at a nice restaurant and a long walk on the beach

b. Tandem Skydiving

c. Dancing w/ friends and driving the long way to go home

d. Paintball

2. read a good book or listen to gossip?

3. What was Pili's most embarrassing moment?

I'm going to leave this one off...

4. What is my full name? Hope Pilialoha Baclayon

5. What is Pili's favorite flower? Plumeria

6. T.J. Max or Dillards?

7. Would Pili rather live in:

a. Canada

b. Australia

c. Germany

d. Japan

8. Would Pili rather hold hands or kiss?

9. big knife or little knife?

10. bare feet or slippers

11. cupcake with frosting or brownie?

12. What song best describes Pili?

a. This is a Story of a Girl - Nine Days (This is a story of a girl, who cried a river and drowned the whole world)

b. Better Together - Jack Johnson (There's no combination of words I can write on the back of a post-card.)

c. No One - Alicia Keys

d. Who Wouldn't Want to be Me - Keith Urban

13. What is one thing that Pili has done that's surprised you? (up to personal interpretation)

14. Favorite holiday?

a. Independence Day

b. Christmas

c. Thanksgiving

d. Valentine's Day

15. Toes in:

a. Sand

b. Mud (I really like to feel mud between my toes, but not all the time.) =)

c. Grass

d. shoes

16. ?????

17. Who would Pili rather see live?

a. Madonna

b. India.Arie

c. No Doubt

d. Shakira

18. Lightning or Thunder?

19. Pixie tails or side ponytail?

20. Mechanical Bull or Whitewater rafting?

Would you rather....
1. always take a cold shower or sleep an hour less than you need to be fully rested?

sleep an hour less

2. always have to say everything on your mind or never speak again?

depends on what it is. I usually talk crap, but when it really comes down to it, I sometimes don't speak my mind. (Unless I'm with close friends, who actually value my opinion or let me look like an idiot speaking my mind anyway.)

3. be able to stop time or fly? FLY - How cool would that be to get a bird-eyes view of everything.

4. be stranded on an island alone or with someone you hate? ALONE! (Not unless I wouldn't have any meat and the fish were extinct, then I guess I could kill the other person and use it for food! I'm totally kidding.)

5. make $100,000 per year digging holes with a shovel or $30,000 per year doing your favorite hobby? $30,000 doing my favorite hobby

6. know it all or have it all?

Know it all

7. not be able to use your phone or your email?

Not be able to use my phone. At least I could have copies of the e-mails to refer back to when I get lonely.

8. only be able to whisper or only be able to shout? Only be able to whisper
9. live the life of a cat or a dog? dog
10. have the ability to fly or to become invisible? INVISIBLE

Old Landlords Suck

Just got a bill... a substantial bill for stupidity and suckiness (is that even a word or how to spell it?)...

Money-sucking people are ridiculous and should be shot in the foot!

I'd be most obliged to do it myself!

Idiots... and pains in the behinds!!!!
BLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a while...

Well, it's been a while since I've written... obviously.

Life has been great... some days better than others, and then some days not so much as others.

Mid-terms were two weeks ago. So far I have all A's in my classes and 1 A-. (Blah.) I'm trying to shoot for a 4.0 again this semester. I'm hoping to pull my GPA up as high as I can to get into the nursing program for the Spring semester 2010. If that doesn't pan out, then I'm going to China from the end of April until September. (We'll see how things pan out.)

Let's see... what fun things have I been up to since May 23? Well... lots! I just haven't had time to post it all on here. I've had my 28th B-day... yes friends that's a 2 and an 8... honestly, so far, I really love being 28! I think it will be the best year yet!

Okay... well, I'm off to work. I'll post more when I have the time.