Things I didn’t realize I missed about the mainland
Some of these things will be about the mainland, and some are Georgia specific:
- Parking spots are huge! I can park and hardly worry about opening my door and dinging the car next to me. Space is so precious in Hawaii that they put very little space between parking spots.
- I can drive and drive forever. I visited with Russ (Märia’s dad) yesterday. We met in Augusta, which was roughly halfway. He bought dinner and we saw Pirates of the Caribbean, and we had a very nice visit. I actually drove down using all back roads and drove through a national forrest and it was quite pretty.
- The trees are taller and greener here than in Hawaii, although there is far less botanical diversity. As I mentioned, driving through the forrest was very fun.
- You can drive fast! Ok, I don’t mean that fast… The highest speed limit on O’ahu is 55mph and I can drive 63mph reliably without getting pulled over. The speed limit towards Russ was 70 and I was doing 80 and getting passed!
- They sing like angels in church here. I think this might just be Georgia because the singing wasn’t as nice in Washington or Texas. Seriously, you have to visit Georgia just to here the singing in church. Today they focused on seminary graduates and graduation (basically just the end of high school for you non Mormon folk =) today, so lots of youth speakers. When the congregation joined the organ, it was more than worthy of the organ. The singing in Hawaii (and most other places I have been) is really kind of sad. You have 1% of the congregation who are showing off (whether they have something to show off or not) and maybe 10% who are singing from their heart and then just a lot of mumblers (thats me!). Today it seemed as if everyone was singing from their heart and everyone had a voice worthy of showcasing. The difference was stark. And then it got better when the youth choir sang.
- Waffle House, Huddle House, The Olive Garden, Sonic, late-night Chinese delivery, etc. There are so many restaurants here that haven’t made the jump over the pond.
- The stars! There are no stars to see on O’ahu because of the incredible night pollution. I can go out any night, drive 10 minutes out of town and see the clear band that is the Milky Way. It makes me wonder and a little sad because my telescope is at home.
So yeah, there are probably a few more that I am just not remembering right now. I miss my wonderful wife and little ones at home. I get to video chat with them, and sometimes it is great but today it was a bad picture and that makes me a little sad too.
Off to work tomorrow though! I hope to head off to Kuwait in a week. More on that next time.
May 22, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

Please Lord, Don’t Blame Me For Rewriting the Scriptures so I Could Get a Little More Sleep
Let’s be realistic. The scriptures can be not very entertaining sometimes and other times they can be down right boring. Especially when you’re a young child. As a parent you’ve really got to amp these stories up to help get your children’s attention. Last night Felicity was far more interested in anything else, to include the carpet hairs. We were at a chapter that discusses Jerusalem being destroyed. In desperation to get Felicity to listen I used some major sound effects, if I had a strobe light, I would have used that too. And if I had 7 or 8 year boys I’m sure they would have loved it. But my 3 year old girl was not impressed. Seporah on the other hand was apparently listening very intently.
I tucked them into bed afterwards, and I proceeded to crawl into mine. I hear Seporah sobbing, “Mommy! Mommy!” Of course I crawl back out to go see what the problem was. She’s shaking in her bed and said, “I close my eyes and see pictures of Jerusalem being destroyed.” …Whoops… Let’s retract that last story. I then retold the story to include a VERY happy ending with rainbows and butterflies. “Is that how it really happen?” “Yes Seporah, exactly like that. Now it’s time for bed.” And then tucked Jessie, Rapunzel, Bunny Rushing, Curious George, and Blankie Bear in with her, gave her a hug and kiss and said good night. Crossing my fingers that that would work. No such luck. About 2 minutes later I open my eyes again to see Seporah standing next to my bed. “I still close my eyes and see pictures of Jerusalem being destroyed.” She ended up sleeping with me last night.
May 21, 2011
Posted in: Märia's Moments

Medical and Training
Tuesday was immunizations and dental. I received 5 immunizations and the PPD test. One guy who just came back from Iraq had lost his records and got 12 shots and the PPD. I got a clean bill of health at dental, but some of the other guys have to have major work done before they head off.
Wednesday was “training”.
Today I got my physical and was again given a clean bill of health. Fasting blood draws, exam and turn and cough, the whole deal.
Can you tell I am tired and don’t care to write much or well? =)
May 19, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

First Day of Work
So I got up at 7am, shaved and showered and came on down to Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Once I was sure I knew where I was, I stopped at a local Waffle House to eat some breakfast. I miss the Waffle House; Denny’s is the closest we have to it in Hawaii.
Not much has happened so far, just lots of paperwork for benefits and such. Here are some pictures.
May 16, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

On the ground in Phoenix
And I have a 3 hour layover. I am totally paranoid about being late, so I always have to be way early, pretty much everywhere. This drives Märia nuts, but she mostly puts up with me. =) I remember when my dad dropped me off for my ski trip at the church when I was in high school, I had to be over an hour early, and this was oh-dark-thirty in the morning. Dad put up with me too.
One nice thing about planes is that you get way up above the clouds and air/light pollution to really see the stars. I miss seeing the stars in Hawaii, as the light pollution is horrible. I think you can count the stars you can see from my house and not hit 100, it really is that bad. Märia and I and the girls were out the other day though and Märia and I saw a satellite shooting through the sky. I never looked it up, but it was too high over the horizon to have been the ISS. It was nice.
A picture of the Phoenix air traffic control tower, shamelessly stolen from the internet. I just thought it looked nice. Futuristic and representative of the “valley of the sun”.
May 15, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

On the plane, headed to Phoenix
The girls are almost certainly asleep as it is now 10:49 their time. I guess that means I have been on this plane for an hour. The plane is packed. Somehow I managed to get the seat that has the only empty seat next to it. When I get there I will need to find my flight to Atlanta and wait around. From there I pick up my rental and drive to my hotel. I am going to be quite tired I think, as I am not sleeping this flight… I am sick and my throat hurts and water is hard to come by. I hate to bug flight attendants. The guy sitting in front of me has Rastafarian dreads, probably 3.5 feet long, or thereabouts. They are hanging out the back of his seat all over my right leg. I asked him to move them, and they aren’t quite as bad as they were, but I just don’t know where he would put them, except maybe over his own shoulder, and that would be very uncomfortable for him. Anyway, they aren’t bugging me now, not like they were when it was really bad. One of the Narnia movies is playing. I haven’t paid enough attention to know which it is, and haven’t plugged my earphones into the seat to listen, so no biggie. I am already missing my little girls. Seporah was in a bit of a funk. She was swapping between being grumpy with me because I was leaving, and being clingy, which I appreciate, but don’t really like. She just wasn’t very normal. Felicity was oblivious, to be expected I guess. I remember my dad left for Korea when I was 5 and Jason was 2. It didn’t bug me much, that I remember. He called and sent me back a great red backpack with my name embroidered on it and a scarf and a hat. I had my grandparents, so it was ok. The girls will have Märia, and she is really great with them. Best mom in the world, really! Best wife too! I miss you guys!
I just finished reading the first 5 chapters of Everfound. It is a fun teen urban fantasy. I don’t know if I am using that term correctly, but I call all “modern” fantasy urban fantasy, as opposed to medieval fantasy (merlin and hobbits and dragons). I guess I will sign off and try to get some sleep. Hopefully I can upload this for you guys when I land!
May 14, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

I have been waiting for so many years
April 7, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

Seporah with a cucumber
From her garden. She takes such good care of her garden.
March 25, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

Least efficient phonecall ever
22000 miles up, 22000 miles down for a phonecall between dudes 20 feet apart
March 6, 2011
Posted in: Steven's Lalala

Real Life Text Messages from the last 24 hours
Sarah> I am praying 4 you now on my break. And thank you for hte drink it is a special treat. I have your green card. Love you
Jason> Crap. Hope I don’t get pulled over… might get deported.
(my extraco bank card is solid green.. Sarah and I constantly call it ‘your green card’ or ‘my green card’)
Holly> Hey, I need help looking for books or legit info that isn’t hollywood crap about vampires. Do you know a book that I can find that could help me?
Jason> You want me to find legit info on a mythical race?
Holly> thanks for the txt. I hadn’t realized what I was asking for. I’d settle for nonhollywood information on vampires.
Jason> I’m sure if I found any legit info on Vampires… they’d make me join the ranks.
Holly> If you start ordering your steaks rare our friendship is over.
February 22, 2011
Posted in: Jason's Jabber

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