Hawai'i calls......

I reside in Hawai'i. 

For how long? That's the same question I ask myself; and folks, I do not h ave an answer. 

The beauty here is mesmerizing. 

The vast ocean waters seem to beckon to me.

Begging me to run..

asking me to come and disappear within the horizon. 

 I find I'm still lost and directionless. 

I'm stuck in this whirl wind of where I am, and where I want to be. 

Lost in the battle of feigning an identity. 

Yet, I want to be there; in that invisible void where I'm left to my own solidarity. 

Alone long enough to find an introspection worth acting upon. 

A 'me' someone could fall for. 

The warm and humid heat of Hawai'i seems to forgive my directionless path, 

abounding me in friendships and the loyal Hawaiian beaches paving a path towards play, that for now I won't regret following. 

This summer is going to be one of learning. Of that I am sure- as my sister, whom is 5 years younger than I, has already shown me a course of fearless action and bold circumstance in grasping onto what life offers and riding the waves. 

For today.. Hawai'i is my home. 

Tomorrow.. may be my turn to ride those waves.. 

But for now.. who knows. 

A World Wonder.... Hilo's wifi.

Aloha! From Hilo Hawai'i.

Meagan and I have had an adventure- and we are going to be starting a travel blog together. 

but until we get that up and running.. I'll be posting our updates here. 

Unfortunatly- the free wi-fi around town is the worst wifi known to man kind. 

It's like pulling teeth trying to get google to load.. or blogspot. 

No worries friendly readers ( thanks mom. ), Post's will be up shortly.. hopefully. 

Give me a couple days to find a connection. 

Mahalo!

Mackinac who?

I smell Chocolate as the wind lightly blows the aroma of 'Ryabas Fudge' shops throughout town.

I observe the straight legs of a seagull as he stand almost placid above the docks or the bay. 

I hear Rhythmic music in the dancing hooves of Clydesdale horses, and the rickety spinning of the wheels on the wagons they pull. 

About half the sun I begged for with at least a fourth of the heart, beats down upon my neck, sending warm chills through my spine. It'll do.. for now. 

A seagull i've named Tommy and his side kick Jim-bob touch down just in front of me; unison in their belly acheing, in search of food. 

And I wonder... what would it be like to fly... 

I'm reminded that I can't remember the last time I thought of.. ___... and in remembering, am quickly reminded why I havent.

My attention is turned to the screaming seagull overheard and I ponder what anyone would care if i began such a phase just now.. ?

I hear a screw drop from a working bike mechanics hands, a broom sweeping the walk paths, screaming, chirping and begging birds, And the sound of their wings as they swoop near the water. Tourists clammering from store to store, friendly hellos and familiar exclamations. 

Clompering hooves, Thriller coming from a near by window and an overly loud Air conditioning unit. 

All sounds of Mackinac Island. All sounds I sit and say Adieu to, so that I can greet a new day and a new adventure. 

Adieu Mackinac... adieu.

Oh the Joy of the first day......

Meagan and I arrive 7 hours early. 

I venture off for my flight before she gets to leave for hers. 

Both of us leaving behind the only friend we ever truly knew....

....For the summer. :p

Chicago- 2 hour layover

Detriot- 3 hour layover.. and I met a new friend. 

This is Patrick. 

He is sensational. And we had a blast making banter of all sorts. 

p.s. My head looks big. I'm convinced it's the hair. 

Pellston- shuttle to Mackinac City where I saw this amazing sign.. and it's a great misfortune that we were driving to fast to take a picture of it.. that said - and I do not lie!

"Injure Or Kill A Worker $75000 Fine."

Hilarious no?

Since when did such punishment constitute the crime?

Fyi... 

Don't step off the plan in Pellston and straight into the bathrooms to change your clothes and get clean and spiffy enough to meet your new employers. 

-You'll miss the shuttle. the same shuttle that closes at a certain time. 

And look like a fool when you beg for it to come back for you, everyone in a shuffle trying to accommodate you. 

Silly Shaina.  I did just this. How foooolish I felt. Getting pretty is soo over rated. 

So. I make it to Mackinac Island after taking the Arnold Ferry to such a destination and.. 

Behold. The staircase that awaits me. 

Luggage in hand, I convinced myself not to cry for atleast... 1.. 2 flights of stairs. 

What's at the top of those grand stairs.. awaiting me you may ask?

I shall show you.

My storage unit bedroom!

With almost all the furniture I could ask for.

And!!!..... 

My vomit looking carpet with hairballs included. :)

See my elated emotion.

So the day tarries on.. along with the next 5.. and I, take pictures. 

Next post... Pictures of Mackinac Island!

Sticky sucky sucker......

For this short story I dont have any pictures.. but hold your shirt tails- pics will be on the next post. 

So;

I reach the air train that will take me to the D gates- Finally! after 6 long waiting hours. 

The doors open and I shuffle in with the smallest of masses, smiling at the first human beign that catches my eye. 

"You have a stick stuck to your dress." he says, pointing with one hand as the other juggles luggage. 

"What?" I wonder, as my eyes dart toward his pointing finger. 

"A stick." he repeats again. " I don't think you wanted that there, 

"Uh, no."  I say, no urge in masking the fatigue in my voice and midnights lack of humor. 

A blow pop stick. stuck to the seam of my skirt, held on by the last of it's bubble gum residue. Pointing straight out and due west. Clearly he could not have been the first to see it. 

I catch a glimpse of myself in the window above his head and realize its no secret i'm blushing in embarrassment.

Ciao Belle

I'm chowing on a cookie that came from a bag which states... "Those who love cookies, love life." Otis wins my love with that one.



New York is alive and riveting somewhere in the heart of Manhattan, but alas- I sit in a JFK Hotel, with an hour to kill before picking up my little sister/best friend. I cannot wait to see her face tomorrow when she see's how lovely New York is.

I've spent the last week in Italy amongest friends and strangers, finding common ground, learning a new culture, taking way too many pictures, flirting with Italians, fearing for my life in Napoli traffic, Breaking out dance moves in Pompeii, and loving the travel.

The observations I've made in the last Two hours of being back in the states:
America has:
Outlets on every wall
Power running through those outlets
Free public restrooms
Free water
Giant elevators
Grocery Stores with food
I can speak English.

And my observations of Italy:
I love their crazy driving- even though it scares me.
You can say Beautiful randomly and it sounds better in Italian.
Ciao is so much better than goodbye.
They have Panini's.
Italians are super friendly.
Ruins are exceptional.
Gelato still holds a monumental standard that Ice-cream just can't touch.


I'll update on adventures in the last week Later on. :)

Ciao!

New York, New York.

So this is New York.

What energy it holds! What excitement! The streets are lively as people go to and fro. There is no pattern in there walk, no left or right, so I dodge the onslaught of people finding my arms up, instinctively protecting my face as my shoulder catches another's and I'm spun around so briskly I lose my balance.

The hostel is small and cozy. New arrival's every hour and departures every other. "Want to grab a coffee together" a new comer asks this very morning. He's older but sincere and I smile at his courtesy declining sweetly as I am waiting for Ma to finish her hair in room 204.

I spend My birthday at Serendipity where the cute guy two tables across silently whispers "Happy Birthday" after my cherrfully adorable gay waiters sing to me as im brought our Cake and ice cream fudge desert in a tall cup with three candles lighted on top.
He whispers again "have a good birthday" as we leave and I'm wishing I could have ate at his table.

Cookie Monster and Elmo walk the streets of Town Square and I kick myself for not taking out my camera.
Mother was approached by two Obama haters last night selling "Obama Condoms"
"Ma'am, will you be ready for change when it's ready for you? We're selling the Ultimate Stimulus package right here!"
I laughed so hard I almost ingested my gum.

30th is easier to find when you know the cross street and 8th is easier to find when you remember that 30th is what you were looking for.

I made a friend at Starbucks when hot chocolate was just the thing to warm us up. "Do you want Mocha, Chocolate, a little dark, a little Hershey's." He was accenting his face with his hands and laughing at his own joke. "I like mine dark." I say flirtatiously. Now he was laughing at mine.

Mom says's I have a gift as every other guy smile's in my direction, winks, compliments me or insists on buying me coffee. I say I'm Medusa and they should steer clear. But the flattery makes me chuckle.

I meet Charley and Chris in the kitchen and learn they are traveling the world, California after this, than Fiji and Australia. It's my 22nd Birthday and they want to take me clubbing. The temptation is definitely not absent, but I won't leave mom as It's our first night in New York together. They offer me a beer after my rejection. "I don't drink" I state. And conversation dies. How silly I think.

I don't have a map, my feet hurt, my stomach grumbles. Were short on funds and the night approaches. It's rush hour and the subway is packed. I accidentally brush hands with an older man on the metro, eat hot dogs from a stand outside Central Park, take pictures of the lighted buildings and here, in the center of Manhattan, I fall in Love with New York and the magnificence it has to offer.

Mom says I'm so indecisive when it comes to my life and that I can never make up my mind. It hurts my feelings but I decide I'm moving here.