FINALLY....the Hawaii post.

Alright....My posting habits lately have been less than ideal, BUT (and I expect zero sympathy here) coming back from the Hawaiian islands and readjusting to the Eastern time zone has been a bit of a bitch this go around. Maybe it's because Kim and I are getting older...slowly but surely. Or maybe it has something to do with a little lady named Reese that we missed very badly while we were gone. Whatever the case....on Wednesday night, I finally can manage a little time to share our vacation.

This was our third amazing trip to the Hawaiian islands and all are thanks to the terrific company that I work for. When we meet sales goals and things go right....the company awards you with time and money to take a trip. I've been fortunate enough to win this trip 4 times and 3 of the 4 times....we've hit the islands. First, Oahu...what an amazing island. Full of bustle....full of life....but AMAZING sights to see everywhere you turn. Sure...there is a sense of commercialized hokey pokey but Oahu simply amazed us and we wanted more. After taking a cruise to the Caribbean the next year...we couldn't stand it....we had to go back. The second time, Maui. The locals say "Maui No Ko Oi" which essentially means that Maui....is the best. Not very metropolitan...Great scenery....nice hotels.....Country (if Hawaii can be country) but not too removed from civilization. Think of it this way....Atlanta = Oahu. It seems that the locals literally can't stand the entire island unless that's home. Maui = Adairsville and Barnsley Gardens. You have enough conveniences to make it great...but no big cities on the water like Waikiki or Honolulu.

That was five years ago. Since that time, the economy crashed and buying boats or recreational ANYTHING took a dive and incentive trips were out the door. Until this year! Our group had been dragging in the doldrums of goals. Literally half or less than what we used to be, but finally things turned around enough, goals dropped to the reality of the day, and we hit it. Kim and I debated on what to do. We had already booked the Vail trip just by saving dollars so we didn't want to ski with this trip. We froze our tails off skiing so we didn't want to do an Alaskan cruise with this trip. And finally we knew that future vacations would be Reese centered type Disney World-ish vacations for a bit....so why not splurge one last time. These pics....are our splurge. Maui is TRULY No Ko Oi.


The grounds at the Sheraton Maui....

Our room is the first floor....the last one on the left. Closest to the beach!

 

Looking for a waterfall on the road to Hana!

All I could see was bamboo forests.

 Black sand beaches!

Shave ice....Kim says she doesn't like it.

A little tired of my sunset photo taking....to be honest, it was cool that night.

Kaanapali Beach

Cool beach access.

This will be part one....I'll load more pics shortly!!

Just a sample.....

Back home....

We've been idle for a little bit on the posting because we've been across the globe in Hawaii all of last week. Some fantastic pictures are coming so stay tuned.

Wedding update....

So, the "Event" is over.

I kid because I care but I've had a little fun with Nicole's wedding, calling it the EVENT because she had like 30 attendants or something like that. Ok, ok....it was approximately half of 30 but still....it was more folks standing in identical outfits for something than many collegiate marching bands. I don't think I know 15 people that I could convince to stand up for me so it's a testament to the likability of this couple on both sides.

The wedding seemingly went off without a hitch. If something went wrong we didn't know it - that's a good thing. No one stood up and protested the wedding. But now that I think about it, no one really had the opportunity to argue the cause. The pastor didn't offer that option....maybe those days are over or maybe society has gotten so bold that we don't need the invite to protest something, we just do it without being told that we can. Anyway...no one complained. NO one fell....I don't think. No fights. No drunken issues. No ambulances. No fainting. Success is always in the details isn't it?

The reception was very nice. A neat little food station thingy, decent music....with the typical wedding music (YMCA, Celebrate Good Times, We Are Family, Cupid Shuffle, the Sliiiiide the Left song, two hops one time...turn it up! Every-body clap your hands.......oh, sorry...I digress.) That's not necessarily anyone's fault. I think its the cheesy DJs that do weddings these days or maybe its because at some point, the drunk aunt or cousin will request those songs anyway so just play the songs and save the argument. Not that the description fits any person, place or thing from the McGivern wedding.

I think the moving moment for me was the Father/Daughter dance - seeing that it had all the makings of never happening several months back. For all practical purposes, John (Nicole's Dad) came about as close to dying as you can come without seeing the bright light at the end of the tunnel. Too many details there but John was incredibly sick and he walked his daughter down the isle, with no hip joint in one side, and then danced with her - or more importantly hugged her while a beautiful song played. Pretty moving stuff even if you don't have a heart for stuff like that.

I met Ryan and Nicole when they were probably still in preschool and now Ryan and his girlfriend come and hang out with us like we're they're age and Nicole just got married. It's pretty crazy how time flies and how things just happen right in front of your face. Kim and I wish Michael and Nicole nothing but the best and I just hope that Nicole is as good to Michael, as Kim is to me. Congratulations guys.

 Reese says Daddy....they're getting married...shhhhhhhhh.

 

Keeping little bit quiet during the wedding.

Very good pic of Lance and Celeste.

 Rick did something to piss off Aunt Nina....just saying.

Paw Paw and Reese doing Cheesy-wheezy.

 Something is on Paw Paw's face..oooooooo!

More cheesing.

Kim, Reese, and Nana.

My dancing queen.

 Best pic ever.

 

Second best pic ever.

Third best pic....EVAR!