Military Housing

It was an unspoken agreement between Ticklebug and I that we would live in base housing while we were stationed in Hawaii. In the three years we've been together this will be the third time we've used base housing.  I'm just going to be a brat and say that this is the worst military housing we've ever been in.

The layout is awful.  It would be fine if the bathroom wasn't randomly put in the middle of the downstairs.  It makes the downstairs like a circle.  If the bathroom had been put in a corner then it could have been a somewhat open concept. 

All the toilets have issues.  Downstairs to make a complete flush you have to push down on the handle twice.  For all the toilets if you don't lift up the handle the toilet continues to run.  If I were a jerk I would just leave it running to say a big "eff you" to housing, since we don't pay a water bill, but I sadly care about the environment.  I have to constantly tell everyone (including my husband) to make sure the handle is down. 

Thankfully, there are things that I'm able to fix up.  For instance a nasty cream tone was the standard color throughout the house.  It gave off a really dreary feeling.  I fixed that thee night before we got our household goods.

1. Is our entry wall.  The color is a pretty blue.
2. The color on the right is more of a white/blue/gray tint.
3. Blue cocktails are what motivated me to get the painting done in just a few hours.  Since we didn't have our household goods I improvised and used a coffee cup. 

The kitchen has/had a random open empty nook.  It may have once been for a refrigerator, but yea, it's nothing now.  Since storage is nonexistent we converted it into a pantry (there isn't even a pantry!).

So glad Ticklebug took care of this.  It may not be much but at least it's something!

To make it feel more like home I've taken on some small home decorating projects.  I don't decorate so this is a big thing for me.  One of the first things I fixed was the ugly oven back drop.

Just some contact paper from Wal-Mart (yes, there is Wal-Mart in Hawaii.)  I actually fixed the backdrop after the picture was taken.  I extended the paper so that it went past the oven.

The serious lack of storage has forced us to downsize a lot.  We've honestly gotten rid of about 30 bags of things.  The majority of things are random times, old clothes, and bedding.  There is just no room.  It was a little heartbreaking to let go a few things because I'm a sentimental fool (maybe a little bit of a hoarder) but it was done.  I'm expecting around ten more bags to go before I'm completely satisfied. 

Even though I'm complaining hard core about this house I will have to admit that it's worth being here because of the awesome school the girls get to go to.  The teachers have been willing to work with them and give them extra attention to catch up.  Also, I'm willing to make some sacrifices to live in paradise. :) I hope to be spending a lot of time exploring, adventuring, and having so much fun that I will just be happy to have a home to come home to. :) <3 

First time paddleboarding

One of the first times I went to Hickam Beach S and I asked the lifeguard about renting paddleboards.  He inquired on if we had paddleboarded before and we said no.  He chuckled and said that he strongly recommended lessons before going out.  S and I thought nothing of it, how hard could it be, right?  A week later (when it was a different lifeguard) Ticklebug, S, and I went and rented the paddleboards.

Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the event.  I keep going back and forth on if I want a waterproof camera or a waterproof case for my phone.  To make up for the lack of actual pictures I shall grace everyone with my paint drawings.  Don't worry, they are awesome.
  
The lifeguard told us that we could paddleboard to the left as close to the Honolulu Airport flight line as we liked, just make sure we don't go to the right towards Ahua Reef.  We thought we would be safe just going out straight.  We were wrong.  

Maneuvering the paddleboard was more challenging than we anticipated. S had never done any type of paddling before so she was pretty much learning on the spot.  At least she had an excuse though.  I had paddled before and would still go the opposite direction.  Of course Ticklebug got the hang of it the quickest.  

S and I had gotten the hang of paddling boarding on our knees (how you start off) so Ticklebug encouraged us to try it standing up, like him.  He fell a few times so S and I were both timid at trying it. We both tried it once but were too scared and went back to our knees.  Coming back down S couldn't manage the direction of her board at all.  I paddled over to her to try and help.  However, before I could get to her another paddleboarder started laughing.  I yelled to him, "Stop judging us!"  Then he pointed out that S was backwards on her board.  As in she was facing the tail end of it. 

That little fin means it's the back of the board.

When she had come down from standing she turned the wrong way.  LOL!  I was laughing so hard I almost fell off my board. 

In our attempts to get control of the paddleboard we had drifted out towards the right.  We heard over the loud speaker "Paddleboarders, you are too far to the right.  Please move to the left."  Ticklebug came over to help us and at one point we decided it would be easier if he just pulled S along behind him. 

Ticklebug pulling S by his ankle leash thingie.

 Again, I couldn't stop laughing and was doing it so hard that I almost lost my balance on the board.

We had gotten so far out that the waves were much higher and harder.  I started to panic at this point thinking things like, "There are sharks in this water.  They are going to come out and eat me." and "These waves are going to knock me over, I'm going to get knocked over and hit my head on the board.  Then a shark is going to eat me."  We must have looked pretty ridiculous because the rescue boat came out and asked us if we needed a ride back.  S was quick to jump in and I followed right after her.  Ticklebug had too much pride and said he would be paddling back. 

While we were in the boat the rescue lifeguard told us that we were his second rescue of the day and that a group before us had drifted towards the reef as well. We also heard the lifeguard that rented to us say over the radio, "I told them to stay to the left?  Why didn't they listen?"  Oops!

We all made it back to the beach safe and sound.  S and I hanging our heads a little bit in embarrassment lol.  Even though we had to be rescued we still have every intention to attempt paddleboarding again. 

Special thanks to S for letting me tell everyone how much I laughed at her.  Love you, S!

Hickam Beach

Less than ten minutes away from our hotel is Hickam Beach.  I'm already in love with this little stretch of water and sand.

Both times we've gone it's been beautiful and peaceful.  *COUGH* With the exception of my demons ladies throwing sand at each other and inciting the rage of some woman. *COUGH*

It's neat because to the right there is a view of Honolulu Airport and can see the flights take off.  I thought it would be unbearably loud but it's not at all.

Kayaks and paddle boards can be rented from a little MWR shack.  S and I went tried to rent paddle boards but the clerk chuckled when we said we had never taken a class and said the water was too rough for a first time.  I wanna call bullshit on all of that.  I think he just didn't want to rent us the boards because he thought he would have to come in and save us.

Something to watch out for is to the left of the beach are some restricted buildings.  So I won't be letting my ladies wander around without adult supervision.  I love them and for the most part I trust them, but I can't let their kiddo curiosity get the best of them.

To the right of the beach is a restaurant/bar.  I haven't been yet but I hope to go soon.  Cross your fingers for yummy blue cocktails!  If they aren't good the best thing about the beach is that it's a wet beach, meaning alcoholic beverages are allowed as long as they aren't in glass containers.  Yay!

I foresee many days, afternoons, and evenings here in my future.