Mele Malikimaka (A Day Late)

You'll be happy to know that I survived my first Christmas away from home and boy, it was a Christmas like no other.

On Christmas Eve, we all went to a luau which was quite fun. My correspondent and his kids made it up on stage and there was some cool dancing (by his daughter and the hula dancers, not him!) I'm still not quite on Hawaii time so staying up to 10p local has been somewhat of a struggle for me. But the guys dancing with fire really woke me up. The final set of songs were Christmas songs with the Hawaiian lady in a Christmas moo-moo and the Polynesian dancers in Christmas shorts and grass skirts. Somehow, it didn't really put me in the Christmas mood too much.

On Christmas Day, I spent the first hour or so on the phone with my family really missing them. REALLY missing them. I almost decided to stay in my room and watch Christmas movies on cable all day just so I would feel like Christmas. Then I decided I would regret that later. So I went with my colleagues to the Halona Blow Hole which was absolutely beautiful. It was near the same place that PEOTUS had gone to spread his grandmother's ashes a couple of days ago. After that, we went in search of a beach on the North Shore, just to switch things up a bit since Christmas Day was the only day that we didn't have liveshots and could leave our little section of the beach. I know- you're still not feeling sorry for me but it didn't feel like Christmas one iota. While driving around and trying to find a good beach, I listened to Christmas carols on a local radio station. I must have heard Mele Malikimaka about fifteen times and The Hawaiian Twelve Days of Christmas about three times. Nothing mentioned Jesus and it was really beginning to wear on me. I had never had to search that much for Jesus on Christmas day and I really didn't like it too much. At one point about three hours into our driving journey, I heard the First Noel and I nearly cried. Then it hit me. While I wasn't thinking I'd celebrated Jesus's birth aptly, I realized that I was completely surrounded by God's beautiful creation. That thought changed my perception only a little bit!

Later in the evening after talking to my family a couple of more times, I still hadn't really felt like it had been Christmas and I still missed my family. But last night, that changed. I was invited over to my friend Julie's house for Christmas dinner. Julie used to go to my church in Alexandria and got married and moved here several years ago. Her husband James is a pastor of a local church in Milliani and she seems to be completely thriving here. Anyway, they invited me to join some of their family and friends from church for Christmas dinner! It was awesome! They had a real Christmas tree and their house was decorated so festively! For dinner, we had pot roast, sweet potatoes, and green beans. As you probably have noticed, my life seems to revolve around food and that food immediately made me think of home. Julie's brother-in-law was even wearing a Virginia Tech T-shirt. I nearly had tears in my eyes! I enjoyed my evening meeting their family and friends (and the first time being away from my coworkers in a week. I love my co-workers but it's never a bad thing to get some time away from each other.) I heard stories from people who were here during Pearl Harbor and others who had moved here from the Philippines. The best part of the evening was after dinner when we all gathered in the living room and the 20 of us or so sat around and told the Christmas story through songs. Julie had organized the order of singing carols to tell the story of Jesus's birth. It was the first time all day that I had really celebrated the fact that Jesus was born! All day I had been trying to really feel like Christmas and I ended the day on a perfect note! I was having church right there in James and Julie's living room!

Now it's back to doing liveshots on the beach all day. I know, you still don't feel sorry for me. But I only have about a week left of beach duty!

Christmas Eve in Hawaii

I know you're still not feeling too sorry for me but I admit, I am a bit homesick. I've never been away from home for Christmas before (a remarkable feat I must admit!) so this year is a first. In some ways, it's great that I'm in Hawaii because it's soooo different here that I almost forget that I'm missing everything.

I saw this onion-snow man at a restaurant the other day. There's a Christmas tree made out of Hawaiian plants in the lobby of my hotel. And we've seen a few Santa hats on beachgoers today but other than that, I have no concept that tomorrow is Christmas. I missed the hustle and bustle of last minute Christmas shopping which I can't say that I missed. But I am missing being with my family right now. I know that they are getting ready for dinner and probably going to at least two church services and then of course tracking where Santa is and hanging the stockings and all that. I'll miss our family time together tonight where we play the piano, oboe, violin, etc. and sing Christmas carols and then recite the Night Before Christmas and read the Christmas story. I have always loved our Christmas traditions and it's very hard to be away from it all tonight. Beyond that, what are they going to do without an oboe in the family singalong? I'm planning on calling in for it but I didn't bring my oboe so it just won't be the same.

Are you feeling sorry for me yet? The way I will cope with all of this is to go to a luau with my colleagues tonight. Nothing says Christmas and celebrating Christ's birth by roasting a pig and hula dancing! Actually, I'm just looking at it as a fun experience that will get my mind off of wanting to be home. I do feel a bit silly for complaining but heck, it's my blog and I can cry if I want to, right?? :) Seriously, I feel completely blessed for being able to be here and enjoying God's beautiful creation and not have to pay a penny!! I'll be over this slight bout of homesickness just as soon as the hula dancing starts!

Suffering in the Sun

So I don't have a lot of time to blog. I know you won't believe me but we've been incredibly busy today. Granted, we are logged into our laptops while sitting on the beach but it's been a TON of work today. I hear it's really cold back in the continental states but it's nicer than nice here. I seriously have to constantly remind myself that it's almost Christmas (and today is Laura's birthday!). I really do miss my family but I'll be a big girl and survive. There's so much to share but seriously, I have to get back to work. Believe me. It's true. In the meantime, enjoy some pictures from today.

This is the sunrise this morning. We actually started doing liveshots in the dark so the sunrise was a perk of being up so early.

This is proof that my correspondent and I worked. A lot. It just so happened to be on the beach.

The media scene on the beach. We are right next to Fox and NBC and occaisionally CBS and ABC show up to do some work. We clearly work more than anyone else. :)

Spam Musubi. I don't know what it is but Obama ate it yesterday and I spent some of my free time (which didn't exist) trying to track it down for reporting purposes. Tomorrow I have to eat it.

The other side of our liveshot. I have to say this is the prettiest place I've ever been to for work and even if I don't leave the beach and explore the island, I'll still be okay.

Aloha! Aloha!!

I know in the past that most of you haven't felt too sorry for me for my job and the things I must endure. Like working weird hours. And flying commercial. If you didn't feel sorry for me for that, then you definitely won't feel sorry for me and my assignment for the next two weeks. I'm suffering by having to work in Hawaii for two weeks while Obama is here!

I really have no idea how I got assigned to this trip but I am counting my lucky stars. I was planning on working in DC and then going home the weekend after Christmas to spend time with my family. But when they sent me an e-mail about a week ago and said book your trip to Hawaii, I didn't fight back too much. So I am spending Christmas and New Years on the beach in Honolulu. I know. It's rough. But someone has to do it and it might as well be me.

We had to fly commercially (in coach) to Hawaii the other day and boy is it a long trip!! We changed planes in Phoenix and it was a 14 hour trip in total! But knowing that I would spend the next 14 days on the beach somehow made it doable. (I will have to say I was not a happy camper when they ran out of food to sell about 20 rows in front of me! I didn't want to pay $7 for nasty food anyway but I was starving!) And now we're here, staying a really nice hotel right on the beach in the middle of all the nightlife. Did I mention how rough it is??

The fact is that we are here to work. So I haven't had time yet to do the full tourist thing and today was actually quite busy and I really did do a ton of work. I just happened to be sitting by the pool or on the veranda or on the beach. I'm hoping to spend a few hours of free time this afternoon actually on the beach and not working but we'll see. I have to keep reminding myself that I am working and not on vacation. I'm also reminding myself that it's Christmas because there is no other indication here except that I did see a nasty old very tan man in a speedo wearing a Santa hat.

I'll of course blog more as the days go on but I have to run now... the term "pool chair" is back to its original meaning in my life... it actually involves water! :)

A Presidential Kiss

Last night was my fifth annual trip to the White House Christmas Party and I had such a great time! I took my friend Katie with me and we had a blast. I tried explaining to her that it was basically my office Christmas party that just so happened to take place at the White House and part of the festivities is getting your picture with the President. Last year as you'll recall, I took my parents which was awesome because people feel obligated to say all kinds of nice things about you, true or untrue. I have to admit there was not nearly as much of that going on this year but it was still fun! And Katie was quite the trooper having to endure meeting all my co-workers! :)

The decorations were of course beautiful as ever. The theme this year was red, white, and blue. Katie wore a red dress and I wore a blue dress. I was hoping FLOTUS would be in white to round out the trio but she was in green instead. I guess green works for Christmas! Haha! The trees were incredibly beautiful and the food was wonderful, especially the cheese grits and the beef tenderloin. Oh and the bread pudding!! I love that stuff as you'll recall.

I don't want to sound jaded at all and I realize that what I say is going to be jaded just as soon as my fingers stop typing it but every year the party is pretty much the same. So I have to look for "the moment" that stands out. This year's moment came at the photo-op with POTUS and FLOTUS. I think I may have explained the way things work last year but here it is again. When you walk in to the WH, they give you a card for when to get your picture taken. But if you are some of the first people there, you don't have to wait in line. I believe it's always a good idea to get the picture out of the way. That way there is less pressure when you're eating not to spill anything on you. So we headed straight to the bathroom first to fix our hair (after standing in the rain for 20 minutes waiting to get in!) and then straight to the line for the pictures. You line up in the Map Room (which has, you guessed it, a lot of maps and it's where they planned WW2 back in the day!) and they take your purses and make sure you're not too drunk to meet POTUS. We passed that test with flying colors. Then you get paired with a military escort who introduces/announces you to POTUS/FLOTUS. I was in line behind a couple of friends of mine and told them to tell POTUS it was my birthday after they got their picture taken. I didn't think they'd do it but they did so when it was our turn to have the picture taken, POTUS said Happy Birthday and GAVE ME A HUGE KISS ON THE CHEEK! He said, "There's a birthday kiss from the President." I said, "Thank you, I've never gotten one of those before." FLOTUS then told me Happy Birthday and then the picture was taken. I have to admit, I felt a little special at that moment. They stand there for night after night of Christmas parties and it's amazing how they make each person's 45 seconds completely special. I don't know if my birthday kiss was captured by the WH photographer but I'm just hoping that our picture of the four of us turned out okay. I'll definitely post it when I get it (which this year will likely be after the 1st of the year!)

The rest of the evening was spent seeing my co-workers and colleagues from other networks. And I have to say, I enjoy these parties more and more each year. Not for the WH or POTUS but just because I enjoy being with my friends from work outside of work. Or kind of outside of work since technically we were in the building where we work! Next year's Christmas party promises to be different in at least the hosts. I'm already worried because the Obamas are sooo much taller than the Bushes and I'm worried about the picture already!

Today, the day after the official WH party is the unofficial WH Basement party where it's potluck and thrown by those of us who are WH basement dwellers! I think we should be allowed to have leftovers from the previous night's party but today's food will be just as good!! I was in charge of bringing desserts and since it is my birthday, I picked out something I knew I would like!! I'm trying to take too much of the attention away from the whole 'Holiday' theme but it's supposed to be all about me today, right?? Or am I a little too old for that sentiment? :)

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

You thought I had forgotten about my blog again, didn't you? I just haven't had much going on blog-worthy! Actually, I've been busier than ever trying to get ready for Christmas and all that hustle and bustle that comes with the season. Plus I was taking a class last week which required some homework so I was pretty much over the edge and couldn't blog.

But yesterday I did something somewhat exciting. I took another trip on Air Force One. I know I keep saying that I've taken my last trip of the Bush administration but then they decide to go somewhere and it just so happens to by my network's travel pool day and since I know of the trips before anyone else, I volunteer to go if needed. So yesterday I was aboard the "Big Bird" as POTUS calls it, for a quick trip to West Point.


My day did not start out in the best way. As I was in the parking lot of the terminal at Andrews AFB, I was taking my drugs for my ears with some chocolate milk. I don't know what happened but when I opened the milk, it exploded all over me. I basically looked like I had peed in my pants. And it was too late to go home so I just had to do my travel pool duty with wet pants and a wet coat. I was just hoping not too many people noticed. Luckily half way through the day my clothes and coat had dried and I just smelled ever so slightly like chocolate milk. My new nickname became Coco!

Anyway, we flew up to West Point for a POTUS speech on defending against terrorism. I had been to West Point with my family a long long time ago but I had forgotten how beautiful it was. Especially in the winter with the frozen lakes. This time I took a helicopter from the airport to the campus and boy, was that the way to go. It was soooo beautiful flying over the Hudson River. The speech itself was fairly routine but being around those 6000 cadets was inspiring! I feel safe with them serving in the military! I also realized that I was never cut out to be a soldier. Actually I realized that a long time ago but I was just definitely reminded!

Most of my day was spent hanging out in the pool holding space (with food, thank you very much to the WH folks!) and then a little bit of hang-out time on the van (nothing compared to the 18 hours with Obama!) I've gotten to know the WH staffers quite well and have a fun time hanging with them. I really will miss them when they have moved on to bigger and better things. This transition will actually be personally felt!!

You'll be happy to know that I was on my best behavior yesterday and still added an agent to the Becky Protective Detail! I also didn't screw anything up too badly so I think all in all it was a good day!

Happy December!

I'm sorry I've been away from my blog for so long once again. Since I've last blogged, I did eventually get off that bus while waiting for Obama. And then I headed straight home for a few hours before heading for some time off!! So that's why you haven't heard from me. I was in South Carolina all last week soaking up the sun (okay that is a complete stretch and pretty much a lie) and just enjoying quality time with my wonderful family (that is the absolute truth!) I was so thankful to have time off for Thanksgiving and it was great to see everyone!

I know Thanksgiving is technically over and most of us have moved on to the start of celebrating Christmas (I do admit I have already put up my Christmas tree and written my Christmas letter!) but I want to take a few moments to give you my top ten Thankful list! Allow me to be slightly more on the serious side for this post (and thanks to Darla for the idea....):

1. Family: This is an obvious first but I am so grateful for my family! We're not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I couldn't ask for a better group of kin! My parents are absolutely wonderful people who have sacrificed so much for us through the years. My siblings are fun and great people and I count it a total blessing to consider my sisters as friends. I have two great brothers-in-law and two great nieces and a nephew to round out this special group of people.
2. Friends: This goes without saying too but I am grateful for all my friends and that includes many of you reading this! God has blessed me with exceptional friends at every point in my life and I try to stay in touch with as many as possible. On a lighter note, I am grateful for Facebook who makes it just a little bit easier to do so! :) In addition to my family, my friends have always been there for me whenever I've needed them and they love me no matter what. My hope is that I just don't annoy my friends too much and that I can be as good a friend to you/them that you/they have been to me.
3. Church: I am absolutely grateful for the group of people who make up my church- FBC of Alexandria. They are my family away from home in every sense! Not only do I learn a ton from them but I can always count on them any time I need them. I have had to miss church many times this year due to travel for work and fun and I always look forward to getting back to be serve along side of them.
4. Job: This one goes without saying because I doubt very many of you would be reading my blog if I didn't have the job I have. I know I am where I'm supposed to be for this point in my life and I'm only here because it's where God wants me. He's provided every opportunity to get me to this place in life and I'm extraordinarily grateful. I'm thankful for all the cool events I get to see and the exciting places I get to go- even sitting on the bus for 18 hours outside PEOTUS's house last week. Well I had to convince myself I was grateful for that but it's true! As I've said before, I realize that I am in a very unique place and most people won't get to experience a sliver of what I've already seen/done and I thank God for the job that allows me every exciting experience (and the rather boring ones too!)
5. Provisions: Those of you who know me well know that I'm not the best cook. Ok, I don't cook. It's not because I can't, I just choose not to. But God is always good about providing my basic needs like food and shelter and transportation, good health, etc. Over the years, I've never made gobs and gobs of money but I've always had enough (an overabundance in comparison to most places in the world) and for that I'm absolutely grateful.
6. New niece: This may or may not be the appropriate place to share but I am grateful that I will become an aunt once again in April. My older sister is pregnant and I know my new niece is an answer to prayer. I'm also grateful that once-scary test results have now come back negative and it appears that she is one healthy baby girl who I will get to meet in April.
7. Education: I am grateful that my parents sacrificed to send me to college and that I received a great education at Virginia Tech. But I'm even more grateful for the day to day opportunities that I've had to learn more and to see things first hand. I'm also grateful that my formal school-type education is in the past and I don't have to worry any more about writing papers and taking exams! :)
8. Vacation/Travels: As much as I love my job, I love days off even more. I look forward to those chances of just chilling out at home or taking a trip to see friends/family or going on a mission trip or whatever. I am grateful for the opportunities to see the country and the world and to be able to just recharge while enjoying time with others and/or seeing new things.
9. Stability: As soon as I write this, I'll probably jinx myself and everything could change at the drop of a hat but I feel like I'm financially and even more in-general stable. I've lived in the same house for 7 years and had the same job for four and life just doesn't really ever stress me out that much! I'm grateful that I don't have to constantly worry about things in general. God has been watching out for me and even as I watch the market tank almost 700 points, I'm confident that God will continue to watch out for me in the long run too!!
10. Christ: I saved this for last but He's certainly not on the bottom of my list! It's actually the top answer! Without Him, I would be nothing, have nothing. He's the reason I have so much to be grateful for and He's the Great Provider. I am so very thankful for my salvation and faith and that He cares enough about me to have a special plan for my life. I don't want to get to churchy on you but He really is what makes me tick and provides so much joy for my life!

Ok, so there you have it. I can now fully move into the Christmas mode without regretting to stop and consider all I have to be thankful for. I'm also very thankful for the few of you who kept reading all the way to the bottom of this long blog post!! I'm in a training class all week- with HOMEWORK!- so the chances of me having something exciting to blog about are pretty slim. Maybe I'll come up with something!!