HIV+

I'm obsessed with showering. I seriously take probably 5 showers a day. Not saying that I'm washing my hair every time and going through that whole routine. Rather, I'm jumping in the shower, soaping off my bod, then back into clean clothes.

I wouldn't say I was a germaphobe. I have no problem double dipping or sharing sips off other people's drinks. I just hate being sweaty and grimy. Ugh. The second I feel sticky, I strip and get in the shower.

Ummm...I also have to shower every time after I go to the bathroom...number 2 that is. Don't judge me. So, I just pray that I'm at home when the urge hits. If not, I'm upset the rest of the day until I can bathe cuz I just feel...dirty...and not in the good, Christina Aguilera kinda way.

Back story out of the way...

Yesterday I took Lalea to the dollar theater to see Tangled in 3D.

Side note: Have you seen pictures of Zachary Levi, the guy who does the voice of Flynn Rider?I guess he's also on the T.V. series Chuck? Regardless, SUPER cute! Might have to add him to the boyfriend list.

ANYWAYS...

We're getting all settled into our seats. I break out the illegal contraband that I smuggled in via my big ass purse. I hand Lolli her sippy cup and she places it in the seat cup holder. Not two minutes later, I hear a thud and then a roll.

"Uh oh," says Lolli.

"Great," says I.

I go from row to row searching for the lost sippy. Meanwhile, my demon child is yelling at the top of her lungs that she needs a drink right this second cuz she's so parched from all her candy eating and goodie snacking. I'm frustrated and embarrassed, struggling to see anything in the dimly lit theater.

Lalea switches from demon child to straight up spawn of Satan, screaming hysterically because the theater seat flipped up and she got her leg stuck in it.

I sprint back to help Lucifer out of the seat and instead of expressing gratitude for saving her life, she demands to know where her sippy cup is.

DAMN THAT SIPPY CUP!!!

Just wanting to shut this child up, I do the unthinkable. I drop down on my hands and knees, right onto the disgusting concrete theater floor. After only about 2.25 seconds of exposing my bare hands and knees to such filth, I was over it. My child could die of dehydration for all I cared.

But the damage was already done. For the entire length of the movie, I stressed and fretted over the types of germs and bacteria making their way into my blood stream at that very moment. Surely I had contracted AIDS from that floor.
When the movie was over, I couldn't get home fast enough. I briefly thought of jumping into the shower fully clothed, as I'm sure my garments were now soiled from the theater's dysentery. I even considered bleaching my skin...or at least my knee caps and palms.

Think I'm exaggerating? Have you ever been to Movies 8 in Provo? Then you know what I mean.

Eff sippy cups.

Things That Warm My Heart

I'm half Hawaiian, though, I don't think I always look Hawaiian. Since I'm part white as well, I'm always told that I look so much like my mother. Not a bad thing, but I see lots of other Polynesians in our community and they look COMPLETELY Polynesian.

When I see them, I wonder if they look at me and know I'm Polynesian, too. I feel like we have some kind of kinship, both being Poly.

My sister is the most Hawaiian looking of us all. She looks exactly like my Tutu Sarah. There ain't no denying that girl's heritage. I, on the other hand, am a little more difficult to figure out.

I've got naturally dark features and generally a darker skin tone. People can usually guess that I come from some type of exotic decent but it's often been mistaken to be Hispanic. WRONG-O!!

I was at the running store a couple months ago, buying new shoes. The employee there helping me started chatting it up and joking around with me about how wide my feet were. (They are. They're probably the widest, flattest feet you'll ever come across in your life.)

He then started talking about a Polynesian friend of his that has drama buying running shoes, too, cuz his feet are so wide. He says, "You Polys need to just open up your own running store that caters to your giant feet!"

While I should have been offended for his remarks about my ginormous hooves, I was instead delighted that he could tell and knew I was Polynesian.

For once my big nose, wide feet, and massive legs aren't misunderstood!! Now if we could only do something about Lalea, the whitest Hawaiian girl I know!

1 Year Anniversary

Exactly 1 year and 3 weeks ago, I met Tanaya for the first time. Our relationship peaked back in November when we spent 4 hours and 20 miles together.

And this past weekend marked our 1 year anniversary. So how did we celebrate? By pounding out another 14 miles, of course.

That Tanaya can really be a bitch sometimes. We truly have a love/hate relationship. The first half of the run, I was feeling good, feeling invigorated really. I get down to the end of Tanaya and find this adorable park. A few laps around and I'm ready to head back.

Well, the way back wasn't nearly as invigorating. For one, Tanaya led me straight into the wind. It took a lot more effort on the return flight, plus I was getting blisters since I forgot to Body Glide my feet. (Not to worry about chaffing anywhere else, though. You'd better believe I doused the rest of my bod in "The Glide.")

The last mile was uphill over a bridge across the freeway. At the beginning of the ascent, I looked up, dreading the next few meters. It was gonna hurt. But instead of giving in to the pain, I hammered down and opened up full throttle. I ran that last mile in about 9 minutes. That may sound slow to some of you speedsters but on average I run about an 11:30 minute mile. So to whip out a 8:57 for mile 14 after I've already huffed it for 2 hours? I'm gonna brag about it, mmkay?

The best part of our anniversary run, though, was of course the finish. Not because I was finally done running and could kick off my shoes, drink some water, and relax, but because the route ended at a breakfast buffet.

I ran up and over the freeway bridge, across a parking lot, through a parking garage, and straight into the Santa Fe casino where I promptly got in line for the $7.99 breakfast buffet. That's just how we roll in Vegas.

Here's to you, Tanaya. It's been a wonderful year. I look forward to a bright future and many more buffets to come!