Rant about Corporate America

So, this is a rant, hope it is not too chaotic.

Boise Cascade.... a few things come to mind when I hear that name...

paper, timber, pulp, chemicals, long hours, money, hard work, stench, river, college money, selfish, life support, community, and much more.

Yesterday my father called me up and told me that the St. Helens paper mill was closing and I instantly felt sick to my stomach. How do you talk to your dad about losing his job? We had always talked about it in passing, but nothing major. I mean, my dad was in school, learning a new trade, trying to make it out before it happened...

And look what occured... the mill closes, leaving over 300 workers laid off and a vast majority of the mill shut down...forever..a community that has grown to over 12,000 in the last 20 years is now on the verge of collapse..the mill was the town....the "commuters" from portland are not the lifeblood...the locals are the ones keeping the town afloat....but now, what jobs are available?

I know that we just got a new president and that his economic policies will not take affect for a while, but how will the jobless benefit from the tax cuts, if they do not have a job? It's time to take some action, put jobs back in america, and quit padding CEO's bank accounts... the working class need a chance to survive..

I was spared a life of working at the mill, from the hard work of my parents and the importance of education that they instilled within me...the sacrifices have not been in vain, and I am glad to not be working at the mill, but I can only think of those less fortunate than me....

Timber is not the safe, fishing is not the same, the northwest corner of oregon is in peril, much more a downward spiral...what will it take to let it survive? I am at a loss...

To those who lost their jobs, I wish you luck and hopefully the community will not slowly implode....

You can never go home again...so true..........

I'mmmmmmmmm BACK!!!!

After a 3 month layoff, I am finally back.

I apologize as I started to write so many times, but never actually did. So much to catch up on.

Had my best friend come for almost 2 weeks, had lots of fun! 2 friends from college are here in a week with their 1 year old. Excited!!

New President...GObama!

Tried Stand up Paddleboarding....not for me...my knee could not handle it..

Lots of pics on my facebook and my myspace...

Did a Haunted House for Charity where we raised $1500...way to go Hale Aloha!

That's it for now.... more on the chica situation soon...i promise!

Mahalo

RIP Grandpa Ron

It it with great sadness that I write of my loving Grandfather's passing....

August 10th, 2008, 71 years old, my mother's father succumbed to cancer after a 5 year battle with it...

Wish I could be back home to be with family....

more to come...after I figure out how to cope with this..... :(

Will write soon...RA training all day and into the night and my friend Ben from Fort Lewis is here...so busy, busy, busy....

But I will catch you all up soon! I promise!

Patience is a Virtue

That pretty much sums up today...hurry up and wait.... I guess I better get used to this lifestyle..

Jellyfish in the Water

So, no swimming for 3 days as the jellyfish have found their way to the leeward beaches near Honolulu. Sadness, but a nice break from the sun was probably needed for my irish skin. Which is turning a nice brown as the freckles are doing a nice connect the dots to make a tan for me :)

Saw a beautiful sunset tonight from my apartment. Wish my camera charger was here and not in LA right now. Oh well, more of a chance for me to go get a waterproof camera once I get paid!

Went snorkeling at 3 tables on the North Shore last Friday for work. How many places can say that you did that as a teambuilder on a workday? Saw lots of fish, got to try out my new flippers, snorkel and mask, which worked great!! Delicious malasadas and matsumoto's shave ice were had and my belly was full and happy. Lilikoi makes me happy as well and BBQ pork chops from a program rounded out the weekend.

Also, a friend is turning 21 and he went into a shark cage today, which looked awesome! Don't know if it is for me, but wow, it looked interesting.

Sad news though. My grandfather on my mom's side is now doing home hospice, which saddens me. His fight with cancer is entering 6 years and he has fought valiently, but I just hope that he is not in pain. Might be making a trip home in the near future, which saddens me, but also gives me hope that he will be in a better place.......

Sorry to be a downer, but if I am going to be honest in my blogs, I am going to print it all...

Back to work in the morning, trying to create an FYE program for Hale Aloha and create some new RA training topics to keep them interested in the coming weeks....It's a labor of love people....a labor of love

Sweeeeet Dreams

Samoan Kindness

Today was a good day. I have felt the kindness of the UH staff and the Samoan men who have taken the time to help me acclimate to living in Hawaii. Not only have they given me friendship, they have taken the time to help this haole learn about customs, traditions, and the amazing food that they have over here on the islands. I am truly grateful for their kind words, their patience, and there curiosity about me as well.

I can get used to this lifestyle, this island living is tremendous. Warm rain is something new, the stickyness of humidity is gross at times, and the geckos that I live with are interesting, but useful.

Off to bed, will start to write more when I get the time to do this properly. Apologies to those who are looking for more...only time will tell.....

Relocation

So for those of you who do not know, I recently moved to Oahu after living in Los Angeles for two long years.

I am now living in Honolulu, working as a Residence Director for Hale Aloha Lokelani at the University of Hawaii-Manoa.

I am loving island life and have spent the last 10 days watching the sunset from the Waikiki beaches and swimming in the Pacific Ocean. What a life!

Well, I need to get to bed as we have training in the morning, but I wanted to at least attempt to get some words down, so this becomes a habit.

P.S. watched Weeds online tonight...love that show!!

I'm the brightest crayon in the box

Ok, that might be an overstatement, but I wanted to get your attention!

I will be attempting to write on here consistently to update you all on the happening and whereabouts of my life.

What better place that to start a journal than Oahu? I will chronicle my times here in Manoa and from time to time reflect upon events from the past that shaped me.

Feel free to comment, make suggestions, and or visit me in Oahu!!!

Mahalo