My Ears Are Still Ringing...

...and it was soooooo worth it!! Last night, Randi and I went to the No Doubt concert (with The Sounds and Paramore opening). No Doubt is quite possibly my favorite band of all time - needless to say, I felt like I was witnessing a small glimpse of heaven. Rock n roll heaven, that is.


We had GA tickets, so we went early to get as close to the front as possible (this is a picture of us waiting in line), and we ended up right in front!! We got smushed up against the fence a few times, but it was so worth it. It may have been pure luck that got me in front at the Britney concert, but being in front at No Doubt was just a result of us being awesome-hardcore-dedicated fans! SHA!!

Amazing!!!!

I didn't think it possible, but Gwen Stefani is even more gorgeous in person. Can you believe she is turning 40 this year?!

So many cool things happened at this show, but two in particular were super sweet. Numero uno: Gwen jumped down from the stage during one song and reached her arms out right where Randi and I were standing, and I totally grabbed her arm!! Numero dos: Tom (the guitarist) threw out a few guitar picks into the audience, and Randi and I got one!!

I've been lucky enough to have gone to some really great shows, but I truly think this was by far the best concert I've ever been to. There is NO DOUBT about it! awww shoot!

Interesting (and a little disturbing) video!

Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip from Leo Murray on Vimeo.


So if you're like me, the specifics and the technical terms of climate change and anything biology/chemistry-related go way over your head. But I saw this video today in a presentation up at the U, and I actually understood it! Animation always works well to keep my attention. And British accents. So I just thought I'd share it with whomever finds it interesting. For more information on how you can help Momma Earth out, visit adifferentkindofmore.org This website is still a WIP, but it should be up by the end of this month. It has a lot of suggestions for simple things you can do to be more eco-friendly, and it's main target audience is residents of Salt Lake which is also super excellent. Have a great day!! :)


(Stay tuned for my next blog where I talk about the best night of my life!!)

2009 so far...

So I've been wanting to write a new blog for a while with new pictures, but I couldn't find the little cord thingy that hooks up my camera to my laptop, but alas! It has been found! I have some good ol' essay writing to get to, so I will make this quick.

Here's my friend Josh and I at a New Years party! We're pretending to be tipsy...with our hot chocolate.

Me and Mandy poo. Precious. :)


Me & Lexi at the annual Malmrose new years bowling extravaganza!!! (Why do I keep making that face?)

After bowling, we all went to the Pie and Will was exploring under the table.

"I'm so sneaky!"

Can't forget Chinese New Year! This was at a festival at Cottonwood High. Super cool.

Well, that about sums up January! (uh...it's April, you fool.) I have many more pictures from this year, so stay tuned! In the meantime, hope you are all having a lovely week!

Grandma Kamauoha

Lueen Kirkland Kamauoha

1929~2009
Lueen and Grandpa Charles Maniau Make'elani Kamauoha, Jr.Auntie Ululani Teramoto, Great-Grandma Afoon Ah-Nin, Lueen and Charles
Lueen, Charles, and their five kids (Janalee, John, Ginger, Kaylani, Spencer)

Lueen and Grandpa Ken
Lueen and Auntie PamGrandma with Randi, me, and Suzy

I love you, Grandma! Aloha!

Finals are over!! Time to start bloggin'!

As you can infer from the title of this blog, I have at last been released from the suffocating kung fu grip of finals week. I was one of the "lucky" ones to have to take a final on the very last day, which was two days ago. I decided to take a couple days to catch up on sleep, but now I am ready to blog again! woo!

While I was trying to think of what I was going to write about, I thought I could just give everyone an update on my life since it's been a while since I blogged. (Blogged...is that a word?) I don't want to ramble on too long though, so I'm going to put everything in list form and try to make it as succinct as possible. ahem...

• Thanksgiving was fun! And delicious! I had dinner with cousins on my mom's side of the family whom I just love. I wish I could spend more time with them.
• I stood in a line outside Capitol Theatre from 6:30am to 12:30pm to get tickets to the musical Wicked...and they sold out!!! That wasn't a very fun morning...
• School was pretty tough this semester, but I think I did well enough to keep my scholarship. Barely.
  
• I went to the Christmas concert at the conference center with the Tabernacle Choir and Brian Stokes Mitchell. It was fabulous! I sometimes take for granted how blessed I am to have family in the choir who can get me tickets to these events... thanks Jeannie! =)
• I got to hang out and catch up with my good friend Kandace last night! Since high school, we don't see each other much, but when we do hang out it's totally effortless. I love it. We went to Salt City Slam downtown, which is like an open-mic poetry thing. It was so cool! And interesting! And hilarious! People actually snap their fingers when they like a poem...it's not just in the movies!
• I'm finished with Christmas shopping! hooray!
• Sorority is over til next January...I miss my girls!
• I made an amazing snowman a couple days ago. Or...snowhuman. Snowperson..? Ughh being politically correct can be exhausting.
  
• For my LDS institute class next semester, I signed up for the missionary prep class. Yep..I think I'm gonna go!

I think that's about all, folks. I'll hopefully be writing more now that I have the time. And I promise the future posts will be much more interesting and creative than this one. Merry Christmas, and drive safely!!

P.S. I made a new Christmas-y playlist! You should take a gander if you'd like. I think it's on this side somewhere...---------------------------->>

Tagalicious Taggity Tagness...8 facts!

Another tag game! Woo hoo! I love these tag games... perhaps it's because I don't have to be creative and think of something to write on my own, I just write what I'm told to write! :) So here are 8 facts about me. Actually, more like 48 facts since there are 6 categories...

8 shows I love to watch

1. Friends
2. The Office
3. Utah Jazz games
4. Wimbledon
5. So you think you can dance, dance, dance...
6. history channel stuff
7. the Olympics!
8. The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Hong Kong Tea House and Restaurant
2. Moki's (Hawaiian food, and live Hawaiian music on Friday & Saturday nights!)
3. Olive Garden
4. Happy Sumo
5. Iggy's (especially on game night!)
6. Bombay House
7. The Mayan (like Suzy said, ONLY for the atmosphere)
8. The Pie (again, mostly for the atmosphere... and it's close to my school!)

8 Things that happened yesterday

1. bought more floss...I'm obsessed with floss! and toothpicks!
2. played Lord of the Rings Scene It
3. ate half a bag of marshmallows (with Jake's help)
4. attempted to play soccer, but got schooled by Jessica
5. tried to learn an old Coldplay song on the guitar
6. played Rock Band!
7. went jogging at 10pm...yeah, that didn't last long
8. reminisced about the amazing game the night before

8 Things I'm looking forward to

1. the end of this semester
2. Hawaii in December!
3. ski season
4. seeing my niece again...she lives so far away!
5. Jan. 20th 2009...Bush will be gone! (and it's Jessica's birthday! haha)
6. seeing family on Thanksgiving
7. learning how to make Chinese food in my Chinese class next week! mmm...
8. Christmas!

8 Things I love about fall

1. the beautiful scenery - the colors, the smell, the crunchy leaves - i love it all.
2. Halloween
3. wearing warm clothes
4. NBA basketball!
5. playing in the leaves
6. bundling up with lots of blankies
7. hot chocolate
8. the anticipation of snow!

8 Things on my wish list

1. a new acoustic-electric guitar
2. to move out! (if I can just survive one more year...)
3. the ability to solve that darn rubik's cube
4. better time-management skills
5. to go on a mission
6. to be a good teacher
7. eternal happiness for my family and friends
8. a magic carpet!

And now I'm going to tag....YOU!! :)

Just some thoughts of gratitude...

As this election day comes to an end, I just had some thoughts I felt I should sort out, and share with others.  It has been a long day, but an amazing and historic one nonetheless.  Barack Obama has been elected as our next President.  I believe this man is a wonderful, humble, and honorable human being who will be a great leader, and I am so happy to see that the people of the United States have come far enough to be able to elect a black president.  It was only a few decades ago that segregation in public places was finally abolished; only a generation ago was a Civil Rights act finally implemented.  In the short time since then, we have come a long way.  Of course, we still have a lot to work on.  But it truly warms my heart to see Obama be elected President, and to see the diversity of the people in the crowd as he gave his victory speech.  

Today was my first time voting in the U.S. presidential election.  I've taken time to reflect on what my vote means and what it represents, and by doing so I have become increasingly grateful and humbled when I think of those who allowed me the privilege to vote - to have a voice.  I'm grateful for the way our government was set up to be one "by the people and for the people."  For Abigail Adams, who asked John to "remember the ladies".  For Mary Wollstonecraft and her progressive ideas about the rights of women.  For Elizabeth Cady Stanton who held the First Women's Rights convention, and was president of the NWSA.  For Susan B Anthony and her amazing courage, endurance, and determination.  For many other women who recognized their natural right to vote and fought for it in the midst of opposition.  

This country is truly unique, and truly inspiring.  What a privilege it is to be a part of it.