The Holidays passed by like a Tazmanian Devil-esque blur. I spent Christmas Eve hanging out with 3 different families before jet setting to St Louis for an amazing dinner and great seats to a 49er smack down by the Rams. Next year, Frisco!
New Years was even more of a haze. I munched on Bongos while watching re-runs of my favorite tv shows before being persuaded to hit up a downtown spot. We only just arrived at the entrance of Club Hotel when bright fireworks lit up the snowy sky indicating the arrival of 2011. Fast-forward a couple hours and I'm peeling a sick girl off of my bathroom floor and cursing her intoxicated male friend for accidentally breaking the handle of my screen door. Great times...
One day later, I'm headed to Miami for the Orange bowl and spend invaluable time getting to know my cousin, Kassie and her family. I'm most inspired by this couple's incredible drive. Kassie recently launched her own photography business and is intent on forging a self-sustaining career. Her husband is doing the same in sports.
I started 2010 (and this blog) with the idea of better understanding myself. What I have come to learn is that I spent a significant amount of time waiting for something great to happen to me. For something (or someone) to somehow reposition me in this new fabulous life that I was meant to live - perhaps an even better career opportunity or an unbelievably attractive family of my own. I recently learned two crucial lessons in 2010: 1) I must earn a trip to Oz 2) The yellow brick road is a difficult undertaking. Somehow, I've been unfairly blessed/lucky with fortunate incidents thus far. It's time I roll up my sleeves and really begin toiling.
And as my (27th) birthday begins, I just want to thank my parents for their infinite love. Kassie's husband asked me what I would buy if I won Florida's $34 million lottery jackpot. My first thought was to spoil my parents with outlandish gifts. Unfortunately, even that wouldn't compare to what they've given me and my siblings. Alofa atu Mom and Dad.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The One About the 2 W's...
Greetings from America's windy city - Seattle!
After a full day of wandering the hilly streets of the University of Washington area, I'm back in my sister's cozy apartment incredibly full and slightly congested... I'm in need of a great weekend and nothing reenergizes me like family. Two things have been on my mind lately: 1) Work 2) Weight
1) The firm recently announced annual promotions and I decided to work my tail off so I'm the lucky recipient of a new title and pay raise next year. And while I'm willing to put in the 60+ hours/week to get ahead, I'm anxious about the significant opportunity cost: social/active life. Sounds trivial, right? I thought so too... Except I was free last weekend and could only think of two friends (not related to me) that I still somewhat keep in touch with. I ended up catching up on tv shows on hulu/DVR instead... My dvr never complains about my lack of attentiveness... haha. But the question remains, how important is work-life balance at this stage of my life?
2) I started going to the gym last week. It's fairly obvious that I gained 20+ lbs... And while I've been relying on my broad shoulders and great height to hide this weight, I really need to eat better and incorporate Uli's exercise regimen. He's in great shape (good) but knows it (not good haha).... But I am more resolved after weighing myself on the gym scale - a balance beam type medical scale I've used at various hospitals. I stepped on and exhaled as much air as possible hoping to lose a pound or so. As I set the bottom notch to 250 (TMI, I know...) and began pushing the top notch to my usual weight area (without breathing...), the balance did not move. So I nudged the top notch another 5 lbs, and the balance remained still. Beginning to panic (still without new oxygen), I finally nudged it another 10 lbs before the balance began evening out. As I gasped for air, I recalled every over-indulgent meal this summer including the large Papa Johns pizza I polished off the night before...
So that's what I'm dealing with... (awkward transition, I know...) But I'm excited for the holidays. Not entirely sure about my plans yet. But I am definitely going to Miami on Jan 1st for the Orange Bowl on Jan 3rd. Until then, you can find me at work and Planet Fitness until the gym scale, new indicator of my life, balances out.
After a full day of wandering the hilly streets of the University of Washington area, I'm back in my sister's cozy apartment incredibly full and slightly congested... I'm in need of a great weekend and nothing reenergizes me like family. Two things have been on my mind lately: 1) Work 2) Weight
1) The firm recently announced annual promotions and I decided to work my tail off so I'm the lucky recipient of a new title and pay raise next year. And while I'm willing to put in the 60+ hours/week to get ahead, I'm anxious about the significant opportunity cost: social/active life. Sounds trivial, right? I thought so too... Except I was free last weekend and could only think of two friends (not related to me) that I still somewhat keep in touch with. I ended up catching up on tv shows on hulu/DVR instead... My dvr never complains about my lack of attentiveness... haha. But the question remains, how important is work-life balance at this stage of my life?
2) I started going to the gym last week. It's fairly obvious that I gained 20+ lbs... And while I've been relying on my broad shoulders and great height to hide this weight, I really need to eat better and incorporate Uli's exercise regimen. He's in great shape (good) but knows it (not good haha).... But I am more resolved after weighing myself on the gym scale - a balance beam type medical scale I've used at various hospitals. I stepped on and exhaled as much air as possible hoping to lose a pound or so. As I set the bottom notch to 250 (TMI, I know...) and began pushing the top notch to my usual weight area (without breathing...), the balance did not move. So I nudged the top notch another 5 lbs, and the balance remained still. Beginning to panic (still without new oxygen), I finally nudged it another 10 lbs before the balance began evening out. As I gasped for air, I recalled every over-indulgent meal this summer including the large Papa Johns pizza I polished off the night before...
So that's what I'm dealing with... (awkward transition, I know...) But I'm excited for the holidays. Not entirely sure about my plans yet. But I am definitely going to Miami on Jan 1st for the Orange Bowl on Jan 3rd. Until then, you can find me at work and Planet Fitness until the gym scale, new indicator of my life, balances out.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The One About Thankgiving...
Thanksgiving is over. Halleluia!!! Since I moved to Salt Lake City two years ago, Thanksgiving has been more about surviving than celebrating. In ‘08, my sleep deprived self had no choice but to dominate other Black Friday shoppers (reminiscent of Shaq circa 1999 when everyone joined the ‘Fakers’ bandwagon…) in order to walk/run away with a 48-inch Samsung LCD flat-screen tv. I still feel bad for the littered bodies leading to the Walmart cash register... haha.
Last year, I came home from a Thanksgiving dinner only to discover the front door wide open. My Wii, Apple laptop and hard earned Samsung tv were stolen. Damn you, Karma! To make matters worse, SLC police and I were bested by a mastermind thief. After dusting my living room for an hour, the police could not discern a single print or clue. Ugh - even my own detective skills developed after reading the entire Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew series as a child failed me. I thought we'd at least find a shoe print or hair follicle... haha.
This year, my mom and sister Rochelle flew in for the holiday. Along with both brothers (and Uli's family) we almost had the entire family together - a rare feat for a family of seven living in four different cities. And boy did we relish every second of this past weekend. Highlights include:
FOOD - Thanksgiving Lunch! Cocoa Rice (Samoan dessert) for midnight snack! Trifle! With my sister's cooking on point, I need to get on a(nother) diet asap.
BONDING - We talked and laughed about everything. And nothing brings people together like shopping in Park City till 4:30am. That includes an hour spent looking for my sister...
I truly enjoyed this Thanksgiving weekend and am extremely grateful for my family. We have such a deep-rooted history that has bound us to each other. And we're learning about each as adults now. This is a new experience for us. As my mom and sister return back to Samoa and Seattle, I can't wait to see them again in February.
Until then, I still have a large bowl of leftover potato salad to eat - reminder of a thanksgiving I survived and thoroughly enjoyed. Take care, fam.
Last year, I came home from a Thanksgiving dinner only to discover the front door wide open. My Wii, Apple laptop and hard earned Samsung tv were stolen. Damn you, Karma! To make matters worse, SLC police and I were bested by a mastermind thief. After dusting my living room for an hour, the police could not discern a single print or clue. Ugh - even my own detective skills developed after reading the entire Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew series as a child failed me. I thought we'd at least find a shoe print or hair follicle... haha.
This year, my mom and sister Rochelle flew in for the holiday. Along with both brothers (and Uli's family) we almost had the entire family together - a rare feat for a family of seven living in four different cities. And boy did we relish every second of this past weekend. Highlights include:
FOOD - Thanksgiving Lunch! Cocoa Rice (Samoan dessert) for midnight snack! Trifle! With my sister's cooking on point, I need to get on a(nother) diet asap.
BONDING - We talked and laughed about everything. And nothing brings people together like shopping in Park City till 4:30am. That includes an hour spent looking for my sister...
I truly enjoyed this Thanksgiving weekend and am extremely grateful for my family. We have such a deep-rooted history that has bound us to each other. And we're learning about each as adults now. This is a new experience for us. As my mom and sister return back to Samoa and Seattle, I can't wait to see them again in February.
Until then, I still have a large bowl of leftover potato salad to eat - reminder of a thanksgiving I survived and thoroughly enjoyed. Take care, fam.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The One About the Over Protective Cousin...
I grew tired of waiting for my cousin and stomped upstairs to my room. It was almost 1:00am and I desperately needed to sleep. It didn't help that my coworkers recently confused my bloodshot eyes and lackluster energy as symptoms of substance abuse. Sure stereotype the brown guy, mofos... But my irritation quickly subsided when I looked out of my bedroom window. Under the shadows of my Fir tree (It's not a Fir but I pretend it is...), I saw my younger female cousin making out with her "male friend". Thank goodness for the street lamp outside my window!
I honestly didn't know what to do. I considered running out of my house brandishing a shovel... But it was so cold! And I would probably have to look for my slip-on blue Chucks first... But then again, she is 22 years old and technically an adult. What right did I have to bust in on her life? I looked again and saw him maneuvering her onto the hood of his minivan (yes, minivan!?!). I didn't care anymore. I slid my rusty window open and yelled out, "Hey! That's enough! Come inside NOW."
We spent another hour discussing why she shouldn't be alone with him. She mentioned seeing him again the next night. I countered that the Devil would be joining them. Way harsh, Tai... (Clueless anyone?) But I'm looking out for her best interests. I hope this isn't indicative of the stress I'll feel as a father... Because next time, the shovel and I will be ready.
I honestly didn't know what to do. I considered running out of my house brandishing a shovel... But it was so cold! And I would probably have to look for my slip-on blue Chucks first... But then again, she is 22 years old and technically an adult. What right did I have to bust in on her life? I looked again and saw him maneuvering her onto the hood of his minivan (yes, minivan!?!). I didn't care anymore. I slid my rusty window open and yelled out, "Hey! That's enough! Come inside NOW."
We spent another hour discussing why she shouldn't be alone with him. She mentioned seeing him again the next night. I countered that the Devil would be joining them. Way harsh, Tai... (Clueless anyone?) But I'm looking out for her best interests. I hope this isn't indicative of the stress I'll feel as a father... Because next time, the shovel and I will be ready.
Monday, November 1, 2010
The One About London...
After five days in London, it's great to be back in Salt Lake City. Actually, it's not that great because I have decided to move from Salt Lake City... haha whoa spoiler alert! But my trip was truly that inspiring. As mentioned in an earlier blog, my cousin's husband plays for the 49ers - which scheduled one of their season games in London. I was asked to accompany my cousin as it was her first time to Europe. In exchange for my time, I would be compensated with my own room at the same 5-star hotel as the 49ers. Seriously, Universe!?!
After arriving to Heathrow Airport, Tumua and I ate up Central London like hungry orphans. We sampled crepes near the London Eye, studied the beautiful facade at Westminster Abbey, watched the (albeit awkward) changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, took a break at Trafalgar Square but re-energized after some shopping in Picadilly Circus. Include a late dinner with my cousin and her husband at the JW Marriott steakhouse, we readily retired to bed waking up the next day at 11:30am. Holy jet lag! And instead of painting the town red (again), Tumua and I met up and lazed around till dinner catching up on our respective lives. And I learned something new about my cousin: the inherent difficulty of being a football wife. You try raising three children while being married to an NFL player. That's one unpredictable variable.
Our remaining time in London was a blur of great laughs and a reunion with a city I am in love with. Highlights include:
"I'm having an ah-mazing time here in lahn-dohn"
- Isaac practicing his british accent at a fan rally in Trafalgar Square
"This side yell 'Kamete Kamete' and this side will yell 'Kaura Kaura'"
- Isaac teaching fans the All Blacks haka before freestyling maori-esque moves during their chant
"Troy Smith is a great guy"
- 49er rookie Mike Iupati's nervous answer to the question, how do you like blocking for Troy Smith?
"Before trying any more restaurants, we should ask if they have taste buds first"
- Tumua's response to a dining recommendation after bad initial experiences at local restaurants
Lastly, I realized that it's time to move! Unsure as to a specific destination but I'm giving myself 18 months to find a new place. And London is definitely in the mix... Any suggestions?
After arriving to Heathrow Airport, Tumua and I ate up Central London like hungry orphans. We sampled crepes near the London Eye, studied the beautiful facade at Westminster Abbey, watched the (albeit awkward) changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, took a break at Trafalgar Square but re-energized after some shopping in Picadilly Circus. Include a late dinner with my cousin and her husband at the JW Marriott steakhouse, we readily retired to bed waking up the next day at 11:30am. Holy jet lag! And instead of painting the town red (again), Tumua and I met up and lazed around till dinner catching up on our respective lives. And I learned something new about my cousin: the inherent difficulty of being a football wife. You try raising three children while being married to an NFL player. That's one unpredictable variable.
Our remaining time in London was a blur of great laughs and a reunion with a city I am in love with. Highlights include:
"I'm having an ah-mazing time here in lahn-dohn"
- Isaac practicing his british accent at a fan rally in Trafalgar Square
"This side yell 'Kamete Kamete' and this side will yell 'Kaura Kaura'"
- Isaac teaching fans the All Blacks haka before freestyling maori-esque moves during their chant
"Troy Smith is a great guy"
- 49er rookie Mike Iupati's nervous answer to the question, how do you like blocking for Troy Smith?
"Before trying any more restaurants, we should ask if they have taste buds first"
- Tumua's response to a dining recommendation after bad initial experiences at local restaurants
Lastly, I realized that it's time to move! Unsure as to a specific destination but I'm giving myself 18 months to find a new place. And London is definitely in the mix... Any suggestions?
Monday, October 25, 2010
The One About A Grocery Checker...
Last night, I planned every second until my trip to London tomorrow night: Up this morning at 6am. Caught the 6:40am bus to work. Hustled till 5:30pm. Hit the gym at 5:45pm. Picked up my dry cleaning at 7:15pm... What I hadn't planned on was a detour to Fresh Market - the local grocery store I've been shopping at since moving to Rose Park two and a half years ago. Technically, I should shop at Super Savers - only three blocks away but the store makes me nervous. It's slightly too ethnic (read: ghetto) for me... haha. I swear their merchandise is from the 90's...
Anyways, as I walk into Fresh Market I immediately notice how bare the store looks. After being welcomed to the store (by what seemed like the manager), I ask if the store is being renovated. The manger responds that Fresh Market is going out of business. Crazy! Except my cheap self realizes: LIQUIDATION SALE! So I literally snatch the closest basket and hustle through the store quickly checking out discounted price tags. And I was not disappointed! 5 frozen pizzas for $5? 6 boxes of cereal for $10? Large frozen pumpkin pie for $3? I don't even like pumpkin pie but in my basket it went!
As the cashier rang up my loot, I eyed the register to ensure all of the discounts applied correctly. During this intense moment of concentration, I managed to ask when the store was closing.
"Friday night at 8pm", she responded.
"Will there be more discounts on Friday?", I asked. Sometimes I even surprise myself with how smart/cheap I am. Because I was already trying to decide which of my two brothers would be here Friday morning... And how I would be able to monitor their shopping from London...
"No - this is it.", she said while scanning more frozen pizzas. My plan to talk to Toniu tonight suddenly fizzled...
"So, will they move you to another location?", I asked still sad that there wouldn't be another sale.
"No, we're out of a job after friday. That'll be $26.55.", she said looking directly at me.
I quickly swiped my credit card and wished her luck but I couldn't stop thinking about her situation on my way home. I can definitely empathize having lost two jobs last year. But what if she can't recover from this? I saw financial analysts discussing the recent upswing of our economy on CSPAN today, but they failed to determine when these increased profit margins would eventually trickle down to my soon-to-be-unemployed cashier. Of course, I should be grateful for the recent jobs I've found since. Yet I can't help but wonder how I can avoid being laid off in the future. What do I need to do to ensure that my particular skill set and developed expertise are not expendable in today's volatile market?
Great, something else to think about. But at least I have my frozen pizza and pumpkin pie to help me figure it out... haha. Lastly, G'luck Cashier 4! Neither of us planned on this happening and yet we are presented with an opportunity to create something bold and new.
Trip across the pond starts in 21 hours... Hopefully, I don't come back with a bri-ish accent... haha.
Anyways, as I walk into Fresh Market I immediately notice how bare the store looks. After being welcomed to the store (by what seemed like the manager), I ask if the store is being renovated. The manger responds that Fresh Market is going out of business. Crazy! Except my cheap self realizes: LIQUIDATION SALE! So I literally snatch the closest basket and hustle through the store quickly checking out discounted price tags. And I was not disappointed! 5 frozen pizzas for $5? 6 boxes of cereal for $10? Large frozen pumpkin pie for $3? I don't even like pumpkin pie but in my basket it went!
As the cashier rang up my loot, I eyed the register to ensure all of the discounts applied correctly. During this intense moment of concentration, I managed to ask when the store was closing.
"Friday night at 8pm", she responded.
"Will there be more discounts on Friday?", I asked. Sometimes I even surprise myself with how smart/cheap I am. Because I was already trying to decide which of my two brothers would be here Friday morning... And how I would be able to monitor their shopping from London...
"No - this is it.", she said while scanning more frozen pizzas. My plan to talk to Toniu tonight suddenly fizzled...
"So, will they move you to another location?", I asked still sad that there wouldn't be another sale.
"No, we're out of a job after friday. That'll be $26.55.", she said looking directly at me.
I quickly swiped my credit card and wished her luck but I couldn't stop thinking about her situation on my way home. I can definitely empathize having lost two jobs last year. But what if she can't recover from this? I saw financial analysts discussing the recent upswing of our economy on CSPAN today, but they failed to determine when these increased profit margins would eventually trickle down to my soon-to-be-unemployed cashier. Of course, I should be grateful for the recent jobs I've found since. Yet I can't help but wonder how I can avoid being laid off in the future. What do I need to do to ensure that my particular skill set and developed expertise are not expendable in today's volatile market?
Great, something else to think about. But at least I have my frozen pizza and pumpkin pie to help me figure it out... haha. Lastly, G'luck Cashier 4! Neither of us planned on this happening and yet we are presented with an opportunity to create something bold and new.
Trip across the pond starts in 21 hours... Hopefully, I don't come back with a bri-ish accent... haha.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The One That Took So Long...
Hey-yo!
Slept over at my cousin's house last night and am the first to wake up this morning. Wish I could sleep in like everyone else but I struggle sleeping anywhere else but my bed... After checking my gmail, facebook, slickdeals.net (do it!), I realize I haven't blogged in almost two months. Whoa... How did that happen?!
But after reading the last couple blog entries, thought I'd update on some of them.
It didn't work out with Lolita and Lloyd (read here). Lloyd didn't respond well to my fb msg. I think he thought I was crazy. No homie, you're the crazy one for not liking Lolita. And is it really that random? Has he never seen a Hollywood romance movie/lifetime made-for-tv movie? I probably burnt that bridge... but oh well, flame on! hahaha.
My cousin Elder Lehi Kakiva is in town before beginning his LDS Mission on weds. It blows my mind that he's about to leave for two years. I can tell he's def ready. Still debating on a present for him...
My younger brother and his fam slept over friday night. It was great to see them including my sister-in-law. I had dvr'd the first two episodes of Glee so we watched it together with my brothers over McDonald's 50-piece chicken mcnuggets. I swear, McDonalds really brings families together. We could have easily looked like a commercial for the golden arches... haha. Prob better than the urban direction their ads have been going lately...
It's been 3 months since I've traveled internationally. It's a personal goal of mine to explore a new country every 3-4 months. I think it's a result of watching Carmen San Diego (animation and game show) as a child. I spoke with my cousin Tumua - who's husband plays for the San Francisco 49ers. The team has an exhibition game in London against the Broncos on Halloween. So guess who's going??? ME! Very exciting because I can visit Oxford - where I spent 4 months attending Oxford University.
This month's goals:
MORE: sleep, exercise, housework, church
LESS: eating, spending $$$, tv
Until next time, gumshoe! (Anyone get the reference?)
Slept over at my cousin's house last night and am the first to wake up this morning. Wish I could sleep in like everyone else but I struggle sleeping anywhere else but my bed... After checking my gmail, facebook, slickdeals.net (do it!), I realize I haven't blogged in almost two months. Whoa... How did that happen?!
But after reading the last couple blog entries, thought I'd update on some of them.
It didn't work out with Lolita and Lloyd (read here). Lloyd didn't respond well to my fb msg. I think he thought I was crazy. No homie, you're the crazy one for not liking Lolita. And is it really that random? Has he never seen a Hollywood romance movie/lifetime made-for-tv movie? I probably burnt that bridge... but oh well, flame on! hahaha.
My cousin Elder Lehi Kakiva is in town before beginning his LDS Mission on weds. It blows my mind that he's about to leave for two years. I can tell he's def ready. Still debating on a present for him...
My younger brother and his fam slept over friday night. It was great to see them including my sister-in-law. I had dvr'd the first two episodes of Glee so we watched it together with my brothers over McDonald's 50-piece chicken mcnuggets. I swear, McDonalds really brings families together. We could have easily looked like a commercial for the golden arches... haha. Prob better than the urban direction their ads have been going lately...
It's been 3 months since I've traveled internationally. It's a personal goal of mine to explore a new country every 3-4 months. I think it's a result of watching Carmen San Diego (animation and game show) as a child. I spoke with my cousin Tumua - who's husband plays for the San Francisco 49ers. The team has an exhibition game in London against the Broncos on Halloween. So guess who's going??? ME! Very exciting because I can visit Oxford - where I spent 4 months attending Oxford University.
This month's goals:
MORE: sleep, exercise, housework, church
LESS: eating, spending $$$, tv
Until next time, gumshoe! (Anyone get the reference?)
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