Let's Talk About Hawaii!

Well, the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 started the countdown to Miguel finding a real job. Unfortunately, as with many industries, the job market is slow and we were starting to get a little concerned. I don't know if it is so much that there weren't any available jobs, it's just that Miguel and I had some pretty strict policies on where we would live - no more snow or ice, only coastal living, hopefully warm weather most of the year and good surf for Miguel. The search found us jobs in Florida, Southern California and Hawaii. I gotta tell you, Hawaii was NOT my first choice. I was pretty hesitant about it - it's so far and I am still really not big on flying even though I go back and forth to Cali twice a month. However, that being said, the other jobs were in less than desirable areas of Florida and So Cal. We decided to go to Hawaii for the interview. I was sold the minute I walked out of the airport - WOW! How can you pass up the opportunity to live on a tropical island where the weather is never less than 65 degrees and rarely over 85? Geez people - this is a no brainer!

Anyhow, the interview went well, Miguel liked them and they liked him and so - we are off to Hawaii in August. We'll be living on Oahu - not sure what area yet - that is to be decided hopefully closer to July. Here are some pics from our trip to Hawaii:

This is along the main drag in Waikiki. On the opposite side of the street are shops and restaurants.
This is me stopping to enjoy a little waterfall along the main drag in Waikiki.

Here's Miguel - we were looking to see if there were any surfable waves for him in Waikiki.

I went on a one day bus tour while Miguel was at his interviews - here is Hanauma Bay - on the beach below is where Elvis's movie Blue Hawaii was filmed.

This is the view leaving the entrance to Diamond Head.

It's been a LONG TIME! Here's the recap of January

Hi Everyone! Well, I realize it's been 5 months since I posted anything and I apologize but I have been traveling so much it's hard to find time to update the blog. Most of you know I'll be moving to Hawaii in August so I'll probably start a new Hawaii blog when I get there so if anyone has any ideas for a great website name, let me know.

Now let's get down to the haps in the Pitts:

January was pretty exciting (if you are a burgher!) as the Steelers won the Super Bowl - I was thankful to actually not be in town that week. I called Miguel that night and I could hear people yelling from the street after they won - yikes! Miguel did get to go to 2 playoff games and here's a pic from the field of the game:

Okay so that was January - I know not all that much to tell unfortunately I can't remember back that far (does that mean I'm getting old?). We did actually find though a place that serves pretty decent Mexican Food in Pittsburgh - it's called Mexico City Tacos and Burritos. Here's some pics of us enjoying our first trip there:

And lastly for January, I have to include the picture of my girlfriends in Pittsburgh - we formed a knitting club - it's been a lot of fun, we only wish we could get together more often. I think this picture might have actually been taken before January - can't remember when our first meeting was.

There is a funny story that goes along with this though and I guess now would be as good a time as any to share it. The night we planned to mee for knitting club it was COLD! I'm talking lots of snow and icy roads. I don't know if I mentioned this before but I live on a little hill and most of the surrounding Pittsburgh neighborhoods are up and down hills. We had our meeting at Julie's house - where I had been before but not in the ice. She lives in a neighborhood that has some VERY steep hills and narrow streets made from cobblestone. I didn't have any other option than to drive there so I decided "geez, if all these other people can do it, so can I!".

I got in my car, drove very slowly and when I got to the bottom of the first steep hill, I was terrified - I looked up and saw there was a stop sign at the top of the hill and I honestly wasn't sure if I had to stop, I'd be able to get my car to keep going without sliding backward. Not only that, another car was heading down just as I was heading up and the streets are not wide enough for 2 cars at once. Luckily, he must have seen either the terror in my eyes or my California license plates and he let me take the right of way. I headed up the hill, eyed the cross street, made just the slightest stop at the sign but kept going up the hill. I made it! Believe me, I was relieved to not have to make a complete stop.

So, you're probably all thinking - great so that's it right? NOPE! I got to the top of the hill and as they say, what goes up, must come down. I now had to head down a steep hill, cobblestone, that had not been well maintained. I literally called Miguel on my cell phone at the top of the hill to find out how I was going to do this, because the street ended at the bottom of the hill and I was going to have to either turn left or right or end up with my front end in someone's living room. He gave me the best advice he could and when I hung up I figured, I have to just go for it. I put the car in first gear and headed down. And SUCCESS! I made it down the hill and safely to Julie's house. Luckily we mapped out a less treacherous route home after knitting club. Anyhow, here is a pic of the group:

Here's the rundown - from left to right: Clarinda, Ami and Julie. Julie is our knitting "guru" and we were at her house enjoying our first lesson.