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.

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: