The Kalo Man

I've really gotten out of the habit of my daily blog. My bad, and one I intend to remedy. Today as I sat thinking of Thursday (Thanksgiving) friends coming to join us, menu I am going to prepare, day's activities and such; it hit me. It has really been a great year!


Brian was gone for 15 months on deployment and that was a huge challenge for our family; but one we pulled thru together. We moved to Hawaii, away from all our family and friends. A fresh new start, a new unexplored territory. A few bumps in the road later, some fantastic new friends whom we now count among family and here we are, close to the end of our year. Where has the time gone?

So much has happened during this time. We had twin grandaughters born, my son Jeremy has redeployed, NTC in California, furlough days in our school system, PTSO action packed days with Aaron and his friends. The list just goes on and on. We have climbed the top of Paui Lookout, learned to snorkel, watched the turtles up close in the water, explored the lagoons; and that's just a start. We saw Leeann Womack in concert at Schofield Barracks, witnessed an amazing 4th of July celebration, cried until we couldn't anymore on Veteran's Day and the beautiful memorial service at the USS Arizona. I'm still amazed at all that Brian and I have been blessed enough to witness, but extremely overwhelmed when I think of Aaron and all that he has been exposed too since we've moved to Hawaii. For him, it has been the opportunity of a lifetime and one he is not wasting. He has even learned to play the Ukelele in school in Hawaiian studies.

We miss our family, especially the grandbabies. We miss our friends and home; but all three of us will honestly answer that we're so glad we did not pass up this opportunity to come to Hawaii.
We've made some lifetime friends that are native to the islands and they love to share not only their cultures, but traditions, song, dance and the stories are just so beautiful. One of my favorites is of the "The Kalo Man". It is a simply beautiful story.

In closing, we are blessed, thankful, and most of all looking forward to next year.

A promise is a promise but insanity is not sane

Ok so today is my last day to smoke. I made a solemn vow to Aaron and I intend on keeping it. I apologize in advance to any animals I run over, any children I randomly smack in irration. I hereby claim no responsibilty for my actions in the next two weeks or so; or however long it takes me to regain my senses. Don't call, email, text or make any attempt to contact me as I'm likely to not be pleasant. Consider yourselves warned. Wish me luck.....


A futurist quitter!
Candice

Farewell fair lady...Bea Arthur

Today we say goodbye to one of my all time favorite comedienne's Bea Arthur. From the 70's sitcom Maude to the 80's Golden Girls, Bea's acid wit helped her achieve success in any titled character she chose to portray.As a young woman watching I had no clue what it meant to be an outspoken liberal feminist, but I knew I wanted to be one. Sociopolitical topics my own mother wouldn't address, Bea's series hit them all. Especially during times when it was considered taboo ( the big no-no's) I love my mother but she had a hard enough time addressing my menestral cycle. Here is Bea Arthur on T.V talking about divorce, alcoholism, spousal abuse and even a pregnacy late in life, while my mom reads uncomfortably from a little red book on how to explain the cycle of life. Have no misunderstandings, it's how women were taught. The subjects were not only shunned but extremely uncomfortable. Subjects better kept private, things young women didn't discuss much less knew about. In my opinion as it is, this is what made Bea's series so groundbreaking, astounding and one felt compelled to watch each week. My mother, aunts and neighborhood friends gathered around to watch Maude.I remember the first time I seen her on All in the family, matching wits with Archie Bunker. I thought wow, I'm going to be just like her one day. A woman unafraid to speak her mind, one expressing her intelligence and the best part of all; she held her own with a man. It was great, inspiring, unheard of and I watch that episode over and over still today.I absolutely loved her and always will. No award ever earned will define the magnatude of what she contributed to women of many generations. We are fearless, strong, confident and forever pioneers. Lady love Bea Arthur, you will forever be loved and missed.

Out of the corner of Candi's eye

Home Sweet Island

Ok I think we are finally getting settled in. Our feet wet at least. Would I be risking a jinx if I went so far as to say that we've had a very smooth transition in our move. You hear all these pcs horror stories, but we've been so very fortunate in each of our moves. Whom ever is to thank.....we humbly bow before thee!

Some of the funniest things that have happened to us though are the ones you would never give a second thought. Such as; those who know Brian know that he is one big ol country bumpkin. Picture this if you will. We get our truck and he's strumming thru the radio stations looking for a country one. He goes thru the dial once....twice and I swear the sweat is starting to bead on his forehead. Pretty much the only thing coming thru is Hawaiian native music, rap and some music we've never heard of: but safe to say it's not country and Brian won't listen to it. So Aaron and I realizing what's wrong with him tell him to take a deep breath and go thru them again. Just go slowly this time and listen to them all. I'm not kidding you guys Brian went thru that dial for over 20 minutes before he finally called one of the guys in his unit to ask them if they knew of a country station. Glory halluhiauh they did. You just had to enter it because it's in between stations and normally it wouldn't pick up when you just scan thru them. Oh my gosh the look of relief on his face was enough to send Aaron and I over the edge of hysterical laughter! I really think he would have been ready to move back to Ft. Bragg over the prospect of no country music on the radio in Hawaii. With Brian who woulda thunk!!!!

Another funny is Brian. I know, I know it seems I'm picking on him but he makes it so easy. We all know Brian is absolutely terrified of snakes. I mean girl shrieking, cat jumping, finger pointing and underpant changing terrified of snakes. The trees here are drop dead beautiful. You could sit in the park or zoo all day long just sitting and staring at the trees. Each one is differant and the way their trunks and limbs are just amazing. So we're walking across the field back to the hotel, and they have all these trees that line the sidewalk that leads up to the rooms in front of the hotel. All of a sudden Brian jumps back screaming and yelling at the same time.....snake, snake watch out there's a snake. Well neither Aaron or I are afraid of them, but we are respectful of them so we edge up close to what he is screaming and pointing at on the sidewalk. All of sudden Aaron just dies laughing, falls on the sidewalk right on top of Brian's snake. Brian is coming out of his skin.

"Candice are you crazy...get him before he gets bit, get him, get him. Aaron get up"; as Brian is now screaming in a fevered pitch. Aaron is just rolling on the sidewalk all over his dad's snake and I finally get a glimpse of what it is. A root! Brian's deadly terrifying snake is a freaking long tree root that has grown out along the sidewalk. OMG where are the Master Card camera crew's when you need them??? Talk about priceless. My child is rolling on the sidewalk holding his sides, my husband is jumping up and down. Screaming and pointing mind you, and the crowds are starting to gather around wondering what in the world is going on. Now how do you imagine I calm my husband down enough to let him know it's not a snake but a tree root? You don't, you just pick your kid up, dust him off , walk onto the room with him laughing all the way. Sorry but that one he's on his own! By the time Brian got to the room he was so embarassed and Aaron and I had the hicups from laughing so hard. Not only was he embarassed, he said he was mad cause we left him out there with all those people. He said that was sorry and I said I was sorry that if I had stayed I would have really and truly just fell out like Aaron. So I did him a favor. He just laughed.

It was really funny, but really our move has really been easy. Nothing has been too long in waiting. The dogs moved over smoothly. Our house was ready in quick time. Our household goods are here and being delivered tomorrow. We're excited about that. It only took two weeks for our vehicle to get here instead of the usual month or so. There are at least four other boys on our block that are in the same class as Aaron, so that's been a real bonus for him. Brian has adjusted well into his unit. He doesn't like running up Kolekoke mountain but who does. Me, I'm well also. Already volunteering up at the school and making new friends on our block as well. We're all healthy and together with our puppy doggies so what more could we ask for in a relocation move. Well we miss all our family and friends, but hey the way we look at it is we now live in the best vacation spot ever. So who wouldn't want to come see us now....right. I mean c'mon....it's Oahu, it's Hawaii.

Aloha!!!!!!

Little pig, little pig

That is definetly the title for today's update. Everywhere you go on post, your hoofing it. Can we say the Cartwright's are out of HIBERNATION!!!!. I've never walked so much in my entire life, not even when I was in school. All of our little piggies are pooped. Man I can't wait until the truck get's here.

Not to mention all the dangers we've exposed our little piggies too. I mean after all we are now wearing sandals 24/7. No misunderstanding, but hazards we're just not used to. For example; day before yesterday Aaron and I were walking to school and it's a pretty hefty hike. Especially for the two of us since during the winter we're the couch potato's number one fan's. It's about a 2 1/2 mile walk, we were pumped to go. La, la, la we're walking, we're looking and bam out of nowhere comes this huge drain cover and smacks my piggie baby on my right foot. Down I go, reaching, grabbing and dragging Aaron down with me. What the hell!!! We get up and I'm ticked. I'm thinking ok I'm sober, relatively mobile I mean I realize I'm getting old but c'mon here. We look down and there is this huge cut on my foot and bleeding like crazy. So ok setting all that aside we look to find what knocked me down and it's this huge drain port cover. It's also says on this sign and I quote "No trash or garbage, drainage flows straight to the ocean".

NEVER SAW THAT ONE COMING. So our first little piggie incident and lesson to look out for drain hole covers.

2nd piggie incident: Dad

ok so now it's a couple of days later and Brian along with Aaron are playing around in the hotel. They are mighty Hawaiian hunters in search of the man eating lizard. Picture them running around this little room with plastic forks in their hands, wearing Brian's new and old beret's on their heads and searching for all of Aaron's plastic lizards I've hidden all over. Now quickly the story on Aaron having all these lizards is before we left Ft. Bragg we bought him all these lizards. He and Cameron Jr placed them all over the house, garage and yard. The plan according to Aaron was we had to get used to seeing them around. Good idea I thought. So now they are in Hawaii with us and all over our hotel room. Ok so back to the story.....lizards hunters and defenders of women. As our hunters are stalking the prey they tend to backtrack each other. Well in the course of backtracking Aaron is setting combat boots and such in the path as to block the lizards. You know in case they decide to come that way as a means of escape. Well being that our mightly hunters have no means of communication other than hand signals I don't even think they get.....Dad comes rushing out of the bathroom to attack of course the monsterous leader lizard. Trips over all the boots and bam.....poor little piggie baby slams right into the bed frame. Omg who would thought a grown man could scream so loud or so long. That was the end of that hunting expediton.

Final little piggie: Aaron:

So today we're at the pool as we've been going every day. Working out as a family you know and strengthing up Aaron's swimming strokes and all. After playing around in the pool for a few minutes Dad and Aaron decide to go off the diving board for a while. Ok they've grown tired of that real quick saying diving boards are for sissys. Their tuff guys you know. So they move over to the swimming lanes where the real guys hang out.

Aaron: bet I can swim faster than you Dad

Brian: I don't remember you eating any Wheaties today Jr.

I don't know about you, but where I grew up that's called the magic button. Slicing thru the water like a lumber jack in a tree cutting contest. Legs, arms and water just a flying. All of a sudden you hear a scream and Brian cuts over to Aaron. He is tangled in the plastic things that divide the lanes. His left little piggie baby somehow and don't ask how because only Aaron could manage that. That or he just beat Brian to the punch. But it cut his little toe and was bleeding so out the pool he had to come. He come the lifeguards, the girls, the momma's and anyone else who was at the pool. Talk about a little ham just soaking up all the attention and lord the limp show he put on.

Well long story short it's been pretty harrowing all our little piggie baby incidents. We're definetly going to have to start taking better care of them since they are fully exposed. If your not careful there is a big bad wolf lurking around every sidewalk, jungle and swimming pool.

Paradise Achieved

ok so today is going to be short and sweet, basically a quick catch up if you will as I have limited access to the computer for a short being. Long story short......we made it safe and sound to Schofield Barracks Hawaii. After a very long day, even longer flights with tons of turbulence, connecting flights and all. We made it to Honolulu with a short stop at the USO, and stop over at the quarantine center to get the dogs signed out. I don't know who had the bad experiences with getting their pets into Hawaii, because we had none. It just goes to show a little research and work before hand definetly does pay off. Our pets were released directly at the airport and moved straight into the MWR kennels. And the people at both locations were as friendly and helpful as they could be. Footwork people, footwork! It helps!

Now we're at the Inn at Schofield and it's also turning out to be another pleasant experience. They have a shuttle to cart you off to and from all your appointments which is great. Otherwise your options would be to rent a car or hoofing it as we say back home. Brian is processing in this week and that's another great thing as we've already been assigned housing. It will be available on the 23rd of March. Another payoff to research early and tip......get on the waiting list as soon as you have your orders. We did and bada bing bada bam. We were assigned housing two days after we got here. The delay is coming in that they are preparing the home because they timed it to our report date to someone moving out here to corrulate together and they are painting and making it ready for move in. So we've waiting approx. 10 days. Which according to all we've heard from EVERYONE here that is a wonderful time frame. There are families here that have been waiting over 60 days and some have just moved onto privatized renting which by looking at the classifieds here. Expensive to say the least. So we're counting ourselves very fortunate.

Your alloted $132.00 per diem daily for food expenses. My advice as we have learned since you have a small kitchnette in your room. Walk across the road to the commissary and buy food items to keep in your room, save your receipts for reimbursements and save as much of that per diem as possible. Go shopping as close to payday as possible. What you don't use on your daily perdiem you can daly at the end of your housing allotment to use for your first months move in. Oh yes I said it....you've got to pay a first months rent and such until your BAH kicks in and you can use your per diem to offset that cost. You will need it. So utilize the commissary...not only is it cheaper but it will pay off in the long run.

Ok folks I've run out of time. But it's beautiful here, the people are nice and very friendly. The cost are only high if you hit the little shoppettes and such. The weather is to die for....bring your shorts, sunscreen and swimsuits. We absolutely love it here. Oh and one more thing we have found and we've ignore it big time. Those that have been here for a while will tell you after a week of being here you've seen and done it all. NOT TRUE, NOT TRUE. OMG there is so much to see and do every single day. Tropics and the MWR constantly have something going on. The ITR (travel and rec center) every single day have something posted. So don't believe that statement for one minute. Take the time to research and your exploration options will never run out and there will always be new people to meet.

Aloha, all of us

One step closer

So after a long week of dealing with transportation we are now in a sense homeless. Our household goods have been shipped off. Today we drove to South Carolina to drop off our truck at the POV port for shipment to Hawaii. Now they have guidelines that have to be followed and I'm sure they are in place for the safe transport of your vehicle. One of them is that you must have a 1/4 tank of less of gas before they will accept your car. Ok so my husband fills our truck up at Ft. Bragg figuring that we'd use a full truck of gas in the three hour drive from here to there. So off we go.

Pretty uneventful trip. We talk all the way down about all the new things we'll be doing and experiencing at our new duty station. We get there and we have exactly a 1/4 tank of gas left. Brian is feeling pretty proud of himself and strutting like a peacock singing I'm the man. So they have these guys that come and inspect your cars before you can even start your paperwork and they tell Brian he has to drain or run out some more gas. He's like...."what", I have a 1/4 tank of gas and that's what your lady said to have. The guy tells him again he has to get rid of some gas and that there is a gas station up the road that will siffon it out for him. Okay if you know Brian you know he's pissed by now cause his bubble is busted, he's no longer singing, but cursing instead. He hollars at me to get in the truck and c'mon. He slams his door and he's hollaring at the guy the whole time that a 1/4 tank of gas is a 1/4 tank of gas. He's pretty worked up at this point. So I tell him to just c'mon that it's no big deal.

As we're driving down the strip and looking for this gas station we realize it's easier to find than we thought it would be. The guy should have told us to just look for all the other military people lined up to get their tanks siffoned also. This sets Brian off all over again, but he pulls next into line. So after sitting there a few minutes this guy comes up and tells us that any and all gas they remove they get to keep and Brian says ok whatever he has no choice we need it done. So one by one we're watching all these soldiers come out of this office after turning in their gas and they are madder than hell and we can't figure out why other than they are just as angry as we are about the whole process. So it's our turn now. They hook up the hose into the tank and drain the gas. He tells Brian that they removed two gallons and he needs to come sign the release for the gas. Few minutes later Brian comes out and he to is now far madder than he was before. I ask him what the hell is wrong and he says that not only did they keep his gas but they charged him $30 dollars to remove it. That they charge a $10 a gallon removal fee. Are you kidding me? Now I know why some of those soldiers were really pissed off. A few of them had a half of tank or more to have removed. Can you imagine the cost they incurred.

What a rip off! So I made Brian go back inside and ask for a receipt and they guy wouldn't give him one. So I went in. Not only did I get my cash receipt along with the signature, store stamp, phone number and what service was rendered. I left telling that guy I was reporting them to the Better Business Bureau for pirating and operating services under the table. I was furious.

It's hard enough for military families trying to pcs on a limited income as it is. Even if you take out an advance on your base pay, take your DLE or TLA, you still have to budget to make ends meet. So it really pisses me off when someone or a business takes advantage like that or makes it that much harder on a family. Did I report them. You damn right I did. But at the time what could you do other than pay it. Nothing because you have to clear that inspection for POV. But at least I got a receipt for our taxes that we'll be able to claim on our taxes next year for moving expenses.

So word to the wise no matter how well prepared you think you are. Always watch out for those unexpected and unforeseen costs that are sure to come up somewhere.

up, up and packed away

ok so can we say Candice has left the building. For the last two days I have put up with people in and out of my house like crazy, and acting like they lived there. You want to talk about feeling invaded. Let me explain. Transportation hired a moving company to come in and pack us up for our move. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful to not have to do it myself and so is Brian. But they are crazy. Going thru your personal items, looking at your pictures. One guy even asked me who were the people in the picture and where were they at. Are you kidding me. Shall I hand you a pair of my panties to sniff while your making yourself at home???? Want me to pop the top off a beer for you?

Our plan was if we took care of our packers they would take care of us. Right.......neither one of us thought to improvise a second plan. Brian and I thought hey if we provide breakfast and lunch, they would take extra care to packing our things. I mean after all it's all we have and not that you can take it with you if the good Lord saw fit to call on ya. But c'mon now, it is ours and we worked hard for it. Nah they were chunking stuff around, dragging furniture across the tile as if they laid that shit and so forth.

Now here is the part I really took issue with. The inventory accounting. Here is where they list a description of the packed item and the condition. Anyone who knows me knows I am a clean freak. No I am a obsessive or anal as Cathleen my daughter in law says.......CLEAN FREAK. So you can imagine my horror when I'm reading this list and everything says and I mean I'm horrified. Every piece of furniture we owned they marked as soiled, damaged, dented, scratched and so forth. What the hell are you kidding me. Over half the furniture in our house is new because we've slowly replaced everything in the last year. And soiled, are you kidding me. Aaron has a brand new mattress on his bed, not even two months old. Not a single stain or even water spot and you want to tell me it's soiled. So the more I read the more pissed I'm getting. For someone to not know you and their reading this you would think man these people are just trash. So being the person I am much to my husband's demise.....I start asking what the hell.

The mover's response was that anything used, sat on, and even slept on was considered soiled. Everything that is moved in or around a house is considered scratched, scuffed and/or dented. Ok I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because they have no idea who their dealing with....I'm crazy myself after all. I graduated from the school of B.S with honors. So I asked the lady that since I sat on my ass to potty, did that label me as soiled also. Brian says the look on her face would have been fantastic on the mastercard priceless commercial. It's not that I meant to be so crass, but I did have a point to make after all. So after a tense pause the lady proceeds to explan that it's just company policy. So I in returned stated I thought the company was trying to CYA, since they had to cover any and all damages 100%. Another awkard pause. So now I'm given the opportunty to make my own comments on the inventory sheet. Imagine her surprise when I made annectoes on each item I disagreed with, and also stated "refer to video footage" See that B.S degree pays off. Prior to packing we video taped our entire household. Up, down, frontways, backways and anyway you can imagine of taping. No awkard pause this time....just a tense thankyou Ma'am.

So again while I'm thankful for not having to pack myself. But again I am glad that's over with..

on the road again

Ok so tomorrow is the big day. Transportation comes in to pack us up to head to Hawaii. Finally, finally, did I mention Finally. So being that I'm exhausted, ready to kick dogs, get divorced and put my kid up for adoption. I'm keeping it short today, calling it a night and tomorrow is a brand new day.

PEACE

So your taking your pets to Hawaii

Ok when we received our orders to go to Hawaii, somehow the information regarding our pets was not mentioned. Seems the Army doesn't believe that pets are a necessity. Thankfully while I was speaking to a lady in Hawaii about housing, she brought it to my attention. Hawaii is a rabies free state with a strict quideline that must be met before you dogs can be released into your custody. One that can be very expensive if you are unaware of this and you could show up in Hawaii with your pets to only have them quarantined for 120 days for 1200.00 of your hard earned dollars. So here's the information. We did it and it's really easy to follow to ensure you dogs are eligible for DIRECT AIRPORT RELEASE. Now one thing that is not mention anywhere is that when you make your reservations at the Inn of Schofield your pets are not allowed to stay with you. On direct airport release you must have prior reservations at the Hawaii MWR kennel which is located next to the Hawaii Animal Quaratine Station. The cost is $14 per one pet or $25 for two. Also before I forget, the kennel wants you to try and make your pets reservation as much as 30 days before your projected arrival date or as soon as possible. Hopefully the link included on the post below will work and if not here is there direct line (808) 368-3456 Your pet's clearing process must be conducted thru your current duty stations VTF. Your pet's OLE-FAVN (rabies antibodies level ) testing must also be thru a authorized DOD unit. Your VTF will have this information and send off your dog's sample themselves. Also your dog and cat import form must be notorized when you send it off to Hawaii. When you receive your flight information you must contact the airline's to make arrangements for your pets to fly on the same flight with you. Here is where the Army thinks pets aren't necessary. You have to make your own travel plans for your pets and pay for their flight. I found that most pets based on their size will fly as cargo at the rate of $250 in the US. If you pet is small enough to take as carry on then the rate is $150. International rates are differant so call as soon as you receive your flight information. If your pets kennel doesn't have the large green Live Animal Sticker on it (or you threw it away like I did) you can buy the packet at any pet store for approx $5-$7. It includes the snap on food and water tray along with the live animal checklist that goes on top of your pet's kennel. You will have to conduct this inspection with the airline personnel before they accept your pet for boarded cargo. Footnote....if your pet is small and you can carry their kennel then great. But if your like us and have a big pet here's a little tip. You will need a little kennel cart of your own. Most airports have them on a first come first serve basis. This is very frustrating when moving your pet from point A to point B. Again most pet center carry for reasonable pricing a doggie dolley if you will. Trust me it's a investment that will pay for itself. Ok so long story short it's a lot of work but it can be done. The best advice I received from Ms Barbara from Ft Bragg turned out to be the best I had ever heard. She said keep a separate file for each dog. I went and bought one of those file keepers with the separate dividers in them so each dog had their own spot but all information was still in one spot. All paperwork going to Hawaii must have your pet's microchip number on it. They must be microchipped before the rabies test (OLE-FAVN) is done. Each rabies shot must be more than 90 older than the previous one. If you have more than one pet entering Hawaii send their paperwork together in one mailing but in separate manilla envelopes and with separate money orders for each. Send it in enough time that Hawaii receives it 10 days before you get there. Since you have to send originals of everything, make copies to carry with you. Make your last dog vet visit no more than 1-2 before you flight to Hawaii. Your pet's health certificate has very specific information that MUST be listed on it. They also have to be treated with frontline by your VTF. Most VTF's will let you bring your own frontline to avoid high cost, but they have to be the one to administer it to your pet. Also don't forget on that last pet visit to bring a stool sample as your pet is tested one last time for heartworms and such. Hope all this helps and good luck. Animal QuarantineHawaii is a rabies free state. Hawaii's quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the presence and spread of rabies. Success of the quarantine program is dependent on maintaining isolation of your pet from other animals for the required quarantine period.Importation of dogs, cats and other carnivores into Hawaii is governed by Chapter 4-29 of the State of Hawaii, Department of Agriculture Administrative Rules. This law says that these animals are required to complete a 120-day confinement in the State Animal Quarantine Station. If specific pre-arrival and post-arrival requirements are met, animals may qualify for a 30-day quarantine or a new 5-day-or-less quarantine that became effective on June 30, 2003. Qualifications for Hawaii residents with pets and reduced "re-entry" fees became effective on February 12, 2004.Animal Quarantine Station Rabies Information Brochure [aqsbrochure.pdf, Rev. 10/21/04] This brochure contains important information about pre-arrival requirements, quarantine station procedures, policies, rules, operations and fees.Hawaii Resident Pets: Owners wishing to leave the State of Hawaii with their pets, and return, must meet all requirements on the "Checklist for Hawaii Resident Pets" to return without extended quarantine. The 120 day "pre-arrival" waiting period after a successful rabies blood test is modified prior to leaving the State or can be in combination with time spent out-of-state before re-entry depending on circumstances. See Checklist for Hawaii Resident Pets for details.MWR Pet KennelsThe USAG-HI Morale, Welfare and Recreation Pet Kennel is available for your cats and dogs. The kennel is is located at the Halawa State Quarantine site in Halawa Valley. Look for the sign "MWR Pet Kennel." For more information, click here.
Re-Entry Fee Requirements: For pets re-entering Hawaii after completing a Hawaii animal quarantine program, click here for requirements to qualify for the reduced "Re-entry" fee for Direct Airport Release or 5-day or-less quarantine.

Forgetter be Forgotten

My forgetter's getting better , But my rememberer is broke To you that may seem funny But , to me , that is no jokeFor when I'm 'here' I'm wondering If I really should be 'there' And , when I try to think it through , I haven't got a prayer! Oft times I walk into a room , Say 'what am I here for?' I wrack my brain , but all in vain! A zero , is my score. At times I put something away Where it is safe , but , Gee! The person it is safest fromIs , generally , me! When shopping I may see someone , Say 'Hi' and have a chat , Then , when the person walks away I ask myself , 'who the hell was that?' Yes , my forgetter's getting better While my rememberer is broke , And it's driving me plumb crazy And that isn't any joke.

Ha, this seems to be the nursery rhyme of the day where Aaron is concerned. Let me tell you at my age I would seem to have a ready excuse when forgetful. But at nine??????? Day in and day out our son when questioned about his chores just seems to go blank as if not understanding the question. It's almost comical to watch. Eyes goes blank, you can see the wheels spinning in his mind. Beads of sweat are pooling as if the answer determined the differance between the million dollar or thousand dollar prize. Shifting of the feet, squirming around then finally the requestion....what? Hello, I am speaking english here right. Perhaps I need to learn to speak pokemon. Act like the high commander who issues a charge to the hero.

I don't get it because he remembers to eat, he has the Disney Channel guide memorized better than the ABC's. But let it come around to feeding the dogs and he loves his dogs dearly. Just not at breakfast or dinner. And it's not just chores, it's his daily rountine in general.

Maybe it's the age I need to ask Dr. Spock about that. But omg you let me forget soccer practice and fall one minute behind my normal routine of starting dinner. Watch out universe.....the enemy has attacked. All is not well in Kansas. I think I'll go on strike!

I can't remember if Jeremy and Cameron were as such although Aaron has himself convinced they were. I think that's his defense. So here is where mom goes into the meltdown that things he's been doing for a while now aren't chores, but it's routine, it repetitive. And of course being my child and I can't fault him for this but he pops off in response " you say that mom cause your not picking up doggie poo".

Ok now can we say the Exorcist. Now who's eyes are rolling into the back of their head. Steam blowing out of places, burning the skin off my faces as my head rotates in a full 360 and just when the demon is about to come out; it's dad to the rescue.

Honey, honey calm down. Calm down did you hear that. The law says we can't beat our kids, but it doesn't say anything about me sending him to school dressed like Steve Urkel, taking his T.V and feeding him inmate rations for the rest of his life. I start scrubbing the laminate off the kitchen counter because right now it's the safest thing to do and I can hear Brian telling Aaron how poor of a choice that he made. You know that same ol speech that I probably heard a thousand times myself as a kid. All the while my conversation is running thru my mind like an old movie reel on a Saturday night. Then it hits me just how funny it did sound coming from my child. He can't remember to do his chores, but he can firmly stand his ground in his expression of dislike of doggie chore.

So little man comes to apologize, we have our calm and rational speech of how I'm teaching him to be responsible and such. These are things that are really teaching him how to be a better adult and we finish our night watching a movie on T.V. Later as Aaron is now asleep Brian and I are in the kitchen just laughing over the situation when I look out the back door into the yard. Bada bing, bada boom what do I see but several right there in your face little piles of proof that we have dogs and once again.........Aaron has not done his chore.



UUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHH, I silently scream as the steam engines start to chug.

Shoulda, Gotta.....Notta

Brrrrg, Brrrrg, Brrrg constantly going off in my ear. Another sleepless night with no where enough sleep to get me out of bed to start off the morning. But it falls under gotta. Reluctantly I reach over and slam the alarm off. If my alarm was suddenly blessed with the ability to speak, I imagine I'd have more than ringing to hear. Off to Aaron's room who no more wants to slide out from his warm bed than I did mine. ( another gotta). I shoulda set the coffee pot last night to autobrew but who has the energy at bedtime. Something I've really got to work on. I bet I could make that chore fall under Brian's honey do list. Hmn note to self!

Mom-Aaron wake up honey, it's time to get ready for school
Aaron-no response
Mom- get up and get ready for school
Aaron(grumbling)-five more minutes

Ah to be a kid again begging for five more minutes. Flashback to beating on the alarm begging for a nine minute snooze. So off I go to give my son his much needed five more minutes to let out the dogs. Ok imagine with me if you will. We have two dogs Bishop and Boudin. Now Bishop other than he loves to argue with you all the day; when it's time to go outside for the first morning pee. He is beating a path down the hall way. No proscrasinating on his part. Boudin is another day. Picture a miniature dasuachand that is 10 pounds overweight and in no hurry to get it all going in one direction. Bad enough I don't want to be out of bed, Aaron has begged off for five more minutes. Now I have a dog who can barely get off the bed, not hurry to do so (it's cold outside). But he has to take 5 minutes to stretch not only his legs in every direction, but his body as well. If I said it once, I've said it 100 times that Boudin should be a circus dog with all the ways he can twist and turn himself. But finally he waddles on down the hallway to the back door. Of course I get that "Are you kidding me look" as the wind hits him, but out he goes anyway.

Back to Aaron because by now I'm fully awake, his five minutes are gone and I fully intend in letting him know. Out of bed he pops with his every day cheerful "Good morning mom" as if no memory of our previous converations. Rush, rush, rush cause the bus is coming, dogs need to be fed and let's not forget Aaron's very animated ritual of brushing his teeth and pouring on his bo-boo juice. (Cologne) Says the ladies love it.

Finally out the door and off to the bus. Bye, have a good day and see you after school; back home again. Grab that cup of coffee, turn on the news and settle down into my favorite cushion on the couch for my morning rituals.

Brrrg, brrrg, brrrg. Telephone. Brian with his lists of honey don't forget to do's. So much for working on my hiney spreading technique today for another day has started at the Cartwright house.