Elf Fun, Blue Stop Signs, and Chevelle.

So you ever have those days when you are driving and the perfect song comes on and you realize that everything in that moment is perfect and you wouldn't change a thing?
 ::The song is Ho Hey by The Lumineers it's the video below.

You should definitely listen to it as you read this blog post. It's going to make you smile and raise your spirits, and maybe make you think of me jamming out in my car like a dork to this song and make you grin a little more. 
:-D Sneaky Aj.::
 I had that moment a couple of days ago, and things have just kept getting better.  I am LOVING Hawaii. Believe it or not, there are some people who don't like living here. I'm confused by that, but that's their prerogative I suppose. :-)
So!!! We have a bunch of fintastic things to discuss! (I'm finding more and more Mermaidy sayings every day, especially with living near the ocean, it's been a whale of a good time).
Went to my first concert in quite some time, Dawn had an extra ticket, and it was to Chevelle. Now if any of you know me, you know that this is not usually the type of music I listen to, (although, when I'm not spewing glitter and happiness from every orifice and need to listen to something a little less happy, I have a playlist on my ipod that is labeled "Angey" it was supposed to be "Angry" but I was so upset when I wrote it that I mispelled it and never corrected it out of spite. So now I suppose it's just 'ridiculous' spelled incorrectly. awesome.)  The concert was FANTASTIC. Oh my word I had so much fun, I markered on some tattoos I'm thinking about, put on my cute pants and dancing shoes, and my red lipstick and I was ready to go. We tore it up, but not like the guy did in the almost-mosh-pit fight next to us, that was a little nerve wracking. But the openers were "The White Jackets" who were quite good as well. Someone asked us what we were doing there, and when they found out we were having a girls night out they just laughed.  I guess the average girl's night does not include going to a rock concert. Either way I came home slightly hard of hearing, and totally happy.

Amanda and I with our prizes

My other "I need to make friends here" adventure was to the Hickam Community Enlisted Spouses event on Tuesday night. The theme was Hell's Kitchen.  No lies, I like meeting people, but I was super nervous. Anyways, I walk in,  after getting lost a few times in my car and going to three different wrong places, finding the place on my first try, and everyone was super welcoming. I got put on the Sundae Challenge with Amanda.  We rocked it out and made a "Hawaiian Love Sundae". With pinapple, nuts, and chocolate, and strawberries. We made second which was exciting and I got a free chocolate mint sauce (my two favorite things in food). I was a happy camper, not to mention there was TONS of food. Yum.
I made some solid friends and we ended up working out the next day, 4 mile power walk, and then an 'athletic core conditioning' class. "Hell and Back in an Hour" is what they should really call it. It was NUTS. I hurt so bad afterwards, I was waddling, heck, I'm still half waddling and it's three days later. :-) Then yesterday we went on a hike (Beth, Jen, and me) up to Diamond Head and that was fantastic.  I'm really glad that I made friends here who like to work out, it's gonna keep me on my toes, that's for darn sure. :-)

There is this building called "The Airman's Attic" everything is free. 

Everything. You can't resell it, but it's like a goodwill but it's free and for enlisted family members, which is great, because we need things, like end tables, and random shelves. I also found this beauty there yesterday. Yes, that is a Buddy the Elf costume from Elf in case you were wondering. I now know what I am going to be for Halloween. An epic elf that's what. :-) It's a little big on me, so I'm going to get out my sewing machine once we move in and take it in I don't know, like 10 inches. It's an XL, and I'm a S/M. It's pretty funny, but there are even elf booties, I could NOT pass this up.
 I'm not quite sure how big of a deal Halloween is here, but I know the Enlisted Wives group is doing a halloween event, so I figured I needed something fun. Last year I went as a Blue Crayola Crayon, so I figure I needed up to up my game a bit. 

Check mate Crayola. Check mate.

 Driving here is not near as bad as I thought it would be. Not by a long shot, so long as you are not stupid and talking on your phone (which is illegal here anyways, at least on base) then you are good to go.
I've gotten lost a good deal many times, but now I know where tons of stuff is...including the nearest place I can buy a shake at (need to know the important things in life in case of emergencies). 
 So I was driving the other day, and saw this, what do you do with a blue stop sign?  Stop and take a picture obviously. Do not fret, I was the passenger in this situation.  Pretty awesome though I know. Only in Hawaii.
Also, here is a picture of the newest lady in our family, our Chrysler Siebring. Gosh, I love her. She drives beautifully. Love love love it. Just great, and lots of trunk space! And she's this blue/purple color. There was a dent in the back but this guy in a car the other day asks if we wanted to get it fixed for $250, we say sure and pull over and park in a parking lot, (during the day, lots of people around, so not near as creepy as you think) and I talked him down to $150, due to my mad-bargaining skills I learned in China.

Saphira :-)

We got the dent out, and I was stoked, because we got $500 off of the price because of that dent, so we got a pretty grand deal. I just need to figure out a name for her, I'm thinking Saphira.

 On Sunday we went to a new church, and it was really great, the people were crazy welcoming, and they were all on-fire for God. I think we'll go back sometime, but we will see. We're going to try out a church on base that is closer (the other one is 30 minutes away). Some of the new ladies I met on Tuesday night are Christians, and so that's been cool to talk to them about, and their thoughts about things. 
I'm making friends, and that's really cool. Branching out works. I think people are just surprised I'm on top of things so fast from coming from Iowa and for my first base. I just don't like sitting around doing nothing.
 I also have my first flocking tonight. Where we go and put flamingos in peoples yards for a donation towards the HCES club. I joined the right group.  

Finally, it is official, we have a BEAUTIFUL home. So stoked. Long story short we were going to get a Historic Home (which is fancy words for, was here during the Pearl Harbor Attack), and then I talked to a few wives and they said that we could get a different home due to different things, and so I asked and the leasing lady offered us a new home, it's two level, 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath, and a lovely lawn. We also have a solar panel on the roof (yay renewable energy!)
It's in a great part of base (the whole base is a great part of base because the whole thing looks like a resort, gorgeous), and it's near my first friend's Dawn's house which is great that she is just a walk down the street. I'm so in love with this house, and there is  HUGE tree that is blossoming in my front yard with what looks like stargazer lilies mixed with cherry blossoms, so pretty. We move in October 1st, which is also my first day of work. We'll make it work somehow. So many flowers and pretty things around it, I think I'm allowed to plant some flowers, we'll see. I'm beyond stoked about this house.

I know it may sound lame, but I feel like I'm where I belong. Sometimes in the past, I feel like I've been stuck in a weird time thing, or that I just felt out of place. But God's watching over us, and we are making roots and friends, and it's such a good feeling.  If you ever want to chat, know that I am 5 hours behind Iowa. 

So happy.
Love you all,
The very contented adventurer,
Aj
Also: Important prayer request. I entered a raffle for a tail. (The fact that this is even a raffle is mind-blowingly awesome)  Pray that I would have favor with the online randomizer. ;-D Results are posted Sept. 30th. That's all on the mermaid front, still haven't decided on a name...