Game Day

 I think it's time to address the "Buckeye" aspect of this blog:

It pains me not to be able to watch Ohio State football this week. Unfortunately we do not get Big 10 network in our cable package here, so consequently I have spent my Saturday morning (I am up entirely too early) regularly checking ESPN's college football score page. Yikes. Who does that? Me apparently. An addict...

Being a Buckeye fan is like a disease, something from which you never recover. For me it onset early in life. As a baby, I was dressed in OSU onesies and every time I stretched both hands into the air my parents would say, "Touchdown Buckeyes!" Yep, I was indoctrinated.

But I loved it. We watched every game, every Saturday. You might say that my dad's "passion" (read: screaming, yelling, cheering, throwing things, etc) rubbed off on me quite a bit. I was hooked for life. I loved sports anyway as a tomboy growing up, but football always seemed to reign supreme.

You better believe that was an Ohio State football birthday cake. 4th grade, I believe.

As I got older though, things got rough every November during the OSU vs. Michigan game. Always intense. Always a battle. Always believing that the Bucks would pull through. This was particularly stressful to me as my best friend ever was...*gasp*...a Michigan fan!

Now, an uninformed onlooker might ask, 

"How in the world does that work?"

"Did you not speak that day?" 

"Did your friendship survive?!" 

Let me just say that we were very creative about our love each other/hate your team relationship. We trash talked, we joked, we even watched the game together at her uncle's house almost every year. I even lost a bet our Freshman year of high school that since OSU lost to Michigan, I couldn't speak for an entire day. Kind as she was, she even made a sign for me to wear that day explaining my predicament. Thanks Arika. But most importantly we knew that our friendship was more powerful than a rivalry that had lasted over a century.

Possibly one of my favorite pictures of all time.

I'm glad to tell you that this story has a very happy ending. My bestest finally saw the light and has converted from her heathen ways! She now enjoys attending Ohio State games with her husband.

Here in Hawaii especially, being an Ohio state fan is something that defines part of who I am. My love and passion for Buckeye football does not change simply because I live on an island where University of Hawaii is king. I am not a chameleon who changes dependent upon the environment (well, at least not in this case). I am a Buckeye by birth, coming from the great state of Ohio. And I intended to leave that mark on wherever I go.

OHIO on the Great Wall of China

Go Bucks!

An Outlet

I had been thinking about starting a blog for a while now, but never seemed to have the time, motivation and frankly encouragement that anyone would read my disjointed thoughts. However, there are a few people apparently who are curious about my adventures in "paradise." Since I moved to Hawaii from Ohio at the end of July, my life has changed dramatically. I had recently become a military wife, moved over 5,000 miles away from home and moved into a studio apartment in Honolulu, about a block from Waikiki beach. I live in a tourist spot.

"Great," I thought, "Lots of apparently clueless people squeezed into one spot right where I live." Quite a change from the formerly rural (but increasingly suburban) area of Ohio where I've lived all my life. No backyard to walk out into barefoot. No woods to disappear into when I need some alone time. (Can you say downtown claustrophobia?) Grandma's house isn't right next door to make me feel secure, warm and rooted. No changing seasons, causing me to miss out on my favorite season: Fall. No snowy winters or visiting the Columbus Zoo Wildlights. Horribly awful traffic all day, every day. Crappy coin laundry. Ok, I really need to stop complaining...

On the other hand, I've already had several experiences I never really imagined that I would:
Swam in the Pacific Ocean.
Watched an incredibly fast, but beautiful sunset.
Kayaked out to a small volcanic rock island.
Snorkeled coral formations with my husband.
Saw a freakin sea turtle up close (don't worry, I plan to see more and swim with them)!
Snuck into a neighboring hotel pool (it taunted me outside of our window for a looong time).
Shared one car and used public transportation.
Successfully cooked in what cannot legally be called a kitchen.
Saw my first hippo at the zoo (I love them).

Although Hawaii may not be what I am used to, I would not trade this incredible experience for anything. God has taught me to be content and thankful for all of His blessings, in whatever form they come. We are fortunate that sometime within the next few weeks, we should be moving onto base into our first house! I am so, so, so excited!!! It will be great to live in something that is not like a dorm room and for Brian to be so much closer to work. Even though we only live 12 miles from the base, it generally takes him nearly 45 minutes to get home. Living on base will also relieve some of our transportation issues and possibly enable me to look for a job. Yay! Even though we will have housing, we are still waiting to receive our household goods shipment (including all of our shower and wedding gifts) and probably won't receive the shipment until the end of October. *Sigh* But an empty house is still an incredible blessing.

I hope to keep updating regularly and share my adventures with anyone who cares to read. But you can also expect a good dose of ranting, reflection, and a touch of homesickness from time to time.