What's new?!

Alright... what is new in my world?!

A couple of things, I'm quite excited about next month's monthly challenge... Stay tuned!  It is going to be one of the most challenging (if not the most challenging - monthly challenge) that I will be challenging myself with.  o_O

Other than that, school is school... presentations, readings and such... Though this semester is really interesting for me, especially my class in Medical Anthropology.  I just feel the class speaking to me and the things I want to do in the future...

Oh yeah... I took the new format of the GRE and though its slightly different than the old version, I don't think it really changes anything.  The new scores will not be released (for about 3 months) just to ensure enough scores are in the database to provide a more accurate "percentile" score.  Yes, I like knowing I am better than a few people. lol

On Tuesday, I watched Lion King 3D - and to be honest, it was great seeing the movie again, but the 3D was really an additional novelty that was NOT needed at all!  Here in Hawaii there is a $4 surcharge for all 3D movies and to be honest, I did not think the 3D effects were utilized to the maximum... or even at 50%.  The commercials in 3D prior to the movie were more interesting.

Have you guys read my research report?! CLICK HERE for 34 pages of nerdy goodness!

Next week, I will start training for the 2011 Honolulu Marathon - WOW - I can't believe this will be my 4th consecutive Honolulu Marathon.

OK, I fell off the bandwagon on posting pictures... Will post more this week!

The rest of the blog is quite a long RAMBLE about mobile plans and phones... (just to warn you!)

Virgin Mobile's monthly plans!

Thinking of also getting a new cell phone!  Yes, as you guys know, I'm quite thrifty when it comes to my mobile plan - I currently have Virgin Mobile, and my plan is grandfathered in at $25 month - before the $10 increase... and its still the best plan around if you don't talk on the mobile that much, unlimited web, SMS and 300 minutes a month... CLICK HERE for more info on Virgin Mobile.

SIMPLE Mobile's monthly plans!

However, there is a new game in town... There are many unlimited phone, SMS, web plans out there the best being Boost Mobile (at $50/month - and every 6 months you are with them, your bill decreases by $5)... Well Boost was the best... until NOW... I am a BIG FAN of a new pre-paid mobile company called SIMPLE Mobile... Why? Check out the monthly plan! CLICK HERE for more info on SIMPLE Mobile.

Ok, besides the cheap unlimited plan - the best part is UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL SMS!  WOW!  So all my friend's overseas... If it does not cost you to receive an SMS, you will be receiving a lot more from ME in the near future!  I am quite excited about this really... I'm debating on an Android phone or a Windows 7 phone.  You guys know me and my tech, I like to get my grubby hands on technology, but also dip my hands in different cookie jars.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

2011 Honolulu Century Ride

Wow... its finally over... I'm still in disbelief.  The longest I've cycled this training session was 65.54 miles (Click me for this run's stats) and with the accident last week Sunday (which is still not healed) I wasn't sure how I would do.

A special thank you for those who have supported me in this event.  Particularly the individuals who donated to my cause - Leukemia and Lymphoma affects so many people and with the rising costs of healthcare - you have helped make people's lives a lot easier.

I've been asked - aren't the events you train for hard?? - in short, they are... but having to deal with chemotherapy is a lot harder - not having control of your future.

Another special thanks to individuals who helped me carb load yesterday.  Eating a Manager's special (half Mizithra cheese and half meat sauce - the larger portion OF COURSE!) really helped me gain the fuel to help me with the race.

So... How did I do?!  The event was more than I ask for.  I went over my goal today.  I was originally only expecting to do 75 miles and I went 82ish.  =D

Please click here for the same data, but you can play around with the map and see mile per mile how I went about the race...  (You'll be able to tell when I stopped by 7.11 - and if you're familiar with the map - you can tell me which one I stopped at!)

What did I learn from the race?

I learned many things...

First, I am truly blessed to have my health, I was surprised how fast, how far I've gone today.  They said roughly 75% did the 25 and 50 miles - out of approximately 2,000 cyclists.

Group B

I learned a lot of technicalities of the race... the race was divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D)... I went to the B group because I figured I was planning to do 75 miles.  I should have done group A... I started the Runkeeper program when the shot went off - but it was only for Group A - Group B left the starting line about 15 minutes later (you'll see on the link that I took 15 minute pace for the 1st mile!)

One particular aspect of racing that people who don't race don't exactly understand the race day preparation.  Two days before, I made sure all the equipment on my bike was up to par and also the supplemental gels, extra tube, CO2 cartridges, things to fix the bike with - etc).

The night before I lay out all of the equipment I will need - cycling gear, shoes, socks, ipod, phone, wallet...

Day off - today I woke up at 0355 - I hit the snooze once - then at 0405, I was up and ready to go... I had to make breakfast (eating breakfast at this time is not easy - my stomach no likey) - good for the road, gatorade mix... put on my gear and run out the door... I arrived at Kapiolani park around 0445 - which was perfect.  I would free parking, I had time to check my bike (make sure the tires had the proper pressure, double check the gears, the aero bars - I had to tighten those)

2011 Honolulu Century Ride Certificate

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Guatemala - Research (NGO's - ONG)

Aloha everyone!

I know I've been back for about a month sharing my experiences with my travels but I'm afraid that I haven't really shared to much about my research in Guatemala.  Until NOW!

Please click on the links below to view the research I conducted in Guatemala.

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Aloha a todos!

Yo sé que he estado yendo por un mes compartiendo mis experiencias de mis viajes, pero me temo que no he compartido mucho sobre mi investigación en Guatemala. ¡Hasta ahora!

Por favor, haga clic en los enlaces abajo para ver mi investigación en Guatemala.
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NGOs and the Surgical Referral Process
NAPA - OT - ENGLISH VERSION

Informe: ONGs y el Proceso de Refirir Pacientes para Cirugias
NAPA - OT - SPANISH VERSION

Mahalo for reading.  Gracias por leer.

Until next time.  Hasta la próxima.

More Pictures - ATE IT.

Hmmm...

Please note the pictures below maybe graphic for some...

This morning is training day... well the race is next week... The plan today was to ride for 85 miles... and unfortunately, I was a bit short of my training goal today by 20 miles... 

Excuses, excuses... right?

My here are pictures for my first injury on the bike! Yippie! lol - yes, I know I'm small kine weird but to be honest, I am happy that its only my first accident in 2.5 years - meaning I learned how to ride a bike 2.5 years ago, not that I had an injury 2.5 years ago!

so... what happened?!?!

Well, I'm on my way to riding my 85 miles and I'm somewhere past Kaneohe on my way to Kualoa ranch and beyond.  The conditions were not optimal - it was very windy, it had rained on and off... 

No, I did not get hit by a car... It was witchcraft (I'm reading a little bit of E.E Evans Pritchard) 

Actually, I had a bad case of the sniffles and the sneezes... and it was just weird actually...  My nose had been dripping for about 20 miles - luckily I've learned snot rockets... and suddenly, I could not stop sneezing... and the road had a steep drop between the road and the small sidewalk, and I ate it going about 15 miles an hour... 

The initial impact really knocked the wind out of me... then everything started to sting.  Luckily, someone on the other lane stopped - told me to lay down and make sure to catch my breath - he also diverted traffic and moved my bike to the grassy sidewalk.

He was very nice... Asked me if I needed a ride, but I could tell he was in a rush - so I said no... A couple minutes later I composed myself and a pickup truck passed by and asked if I was ok and if I needed a ride... well, I said yes! - I <3 hitchhiking!  He said he could drop me off in Kaneohe town and he would drive me to Kailua - but he needed to catch a flight, so I was dropped off at Safeway Kaneohe - I said my thanks and we parted ways...

After rechaining my bike, I decided to give it another go... I ended up riding about 4 miles until I was pretty much over it, my legs had some cramping and I'm sure the open wound did not help...

So, I started sticking my thumb out!  Lucky me! Twice in a day!  A pickup stopped and agreed to drop me off in Kailua - on Oneawa street!  I rode my bike for about 10 minutes to my friends house where I've been dog-sitting for the weekend.  I put my bike in my car and what's the first thing I do??!

Play with the dogs - of course! They've been locked up for 5 hours and its not their fault I had the sniffles!  After that fed them, pet them and then I decided I needed to go to Longs to buy some essentials to patch up my injuries...

Needless to say, I am all bandaged up and besides my bum - I don't think anything else will bruise - well except my ego.. lol

Left leg

Left knee

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Hair... Hair... Hair...

Hair... yes we all have it in some shape or form... I wanted to write this particular blog because I have met many people recently and I wanted to share some pictures of the transformation from short to long...

Why do I grow out my hair?  I decided to grow out my hair one day so I can donate it.  Donating hair is not an easy task - there are many stringent requirements - almost like blood donation!  That main requirement is that you have to have virgin hair... meaning no dyeing of the hair, generally healthy, and it must be at least 10 inches from the ponytail... so you don't necessarily cut your hair from the longest place, you have to put a band on your hair and then snip... 

So... let's start the slide show!  These are the most pictures I've ever posted on 1 blog.. so just make sure you click if you want to make them bigger! 

More pictures coming soon!  

ANY PICTURE REQUESTS? POST THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

Bald in Maui...

At work... 

Bed Head o_O

Cheese from Canada!

Faux hawk in Vegas!

Purple for TNT!

Pali

Beach day...

Nicaragua... (right before the cut

Small parts to get the max hair!

Fresh cut!

My Certificate... (grow and repeat!) 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Jumping, Jumping, Jumping...

Hey gang..

I've received so many request for more pictures... so that is exactly what you will be getting this month... pics, pics and more pics!

This week... jumping pics... 

People ask me why do you jump in pictures?!  I get so overwhelmed with emotion - excitement really that a standard smiling picture is just not enough - not to mention, do you really want pictures with the same smile!?  Here are a few of my most recent and favorite jumping pictures - starting with my 30th birthday running the Alaska Marathon!

(YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO MAKE THEM LARGER!)

2010 Alaska Marathon!

On an Alaska mini-cruise...

Mimosas + Friends = happy times!

Somewhere in France... in the rurals... 

Baños, Ecuador

Porto Lopez, Ecuador

Sara and I - NAPA OT baby!

 Later this week... Favorite Travel pictures!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Lucky You Live Hawaii - Labor Day Edition...

There are many places in the world that can offer a wide variety of activities, food and culture... but none of them are like Hawaii...

This past weekend was such an awesome weekend that it epitomizes the saying - Lucky you live Hawaii...

Activities... well besides eating... I spent my weekend doing some pretty random things.  I was in Kailua dog sitting 3 energetic handsome dogs... earlier this week, I also took a friend to eat her first Pho ever (can you believe that - gasp!!) Here she is... say hi Maya!

Maya and her beef pho!!

Friday night... was great... it was a night of wine-ing, dining and great food and company... Maura and I went to Sarento's atop the "I" - I've been lucky to eat here twice this year!  We ended up at the restaurant from 1930 to 2300!  Of course, I had the double stuffed pork chops - how can you go wrong with a pork chop stuffed with prosciutto!? 

Maura and I - we need more pics together!

Oh yeah... guess what?!

What?!

I went ice skating for the first time!  Yes, seriously - ice skating... it was a celebration of Mr. Bobby's birthday and he was completely down for doing something different... he's quite a natural mover on the ice - me on the other hand needed the walker to get use to the movement with the ice skates... needless to say it was quite awesome! (more pictures coming soon!)

Michelle and Bobby

Sunday morning was just phenomenal...

I almost feel like I should write a separate blog for this... maybe I will! lol

If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be riding 55 miles on a bike and going over heartbreak hill - I would have told you that you are crazy - well mostly because I didn't know how to ride a bike.  I am so happy/surprised how far I have come... From learning how to ride my Walmart mountain bike at the Hawaii Kai Boat Parking Lot to quickly progressing to a hybrid bike to a road bike and now my first cycling event - with only 1 month to train!  Crazy... but I feel that the word no is starting to leave my vocabulary... 

What do you do on a day where you ride your bike for over 50 miles?!  Well, besides complaining that everything is sore... you go to the beach of course!

in Kailua... 

Lucky you live Hawaii...

How was your weekend!?

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.