Christmas in Hawaii

I don't think I could ask for a better view while writing this post. I am sitting on my balcony looking out at the ocean with a drink in my hand. I am spending my Christmas and New Years in Hawaii with my family. We spent all Christmas Day travelling. My sister, brother in law and I left from Vancouver airport, while my mom, dad and brother left from Calgary. We all met up in Seattle and flew to Maui together. After flights being delayed in the morning we didn't have much of a layover in Seattle. 
Today was our first full day in Lahaina where we are staying. It's been a little cloudy and rainy which is alright with me since I got a cold the day before we left. It's been nice to have a day to rest and not be missing the sunshine. But this beats the weather back home in Vancouver where it has been snowing for the last couple weeks. Friends have said that they got even more snow today. There's no way I can complain about a little rain when it's still 24°C out and the rain is like a mist then anything. 
I am hoping that it is sunny tomorrow so I can go out snorkeling and not freeze my butt off when I come out of the water. Also I don't want to make my cold worse by swimming when it's a little chilly out. Resting today helped so much. I am definitely feeling better. Eating a ton of food probable helped too since I didn't eat much yesterday except airplane and airport food. As much as I love travelling spending hours in the airport is not that much fun. Especially when the gate you are at is in the tiniest area of the airport away from anything. But we made it safe and sound and I am extremely excited to see what adventures are to come in the next 2 weeks!!
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!

Song of the Day: Sydney (I'll Come Running) by Brett Dennen

Snow, Snow, and More Snow

So I love snow, but I don't love how much snow we've gotten here in Vancouver. I am used to living in a place that knows what to do and how to deal with snow. Where as Vancouver has no clue, which makes it a disaster to get anywhere. The first day it snowed I got my car stuck at work in the parking lot and decided I wasn't going to drive until the snow went away a bit. It did for a few days and then it just keeps coming back. For the last 2 weeks I have been taking transit everywhere. It's sort of hard to take transit when you are so used to just hopping in your car and driving. With the snow we got today it is even worse. The whole bus system shut down. One great thing about it snowing here is that it is not incredibly cold. It hasn't gotten much colder then -10. Talking to my family back home it has been -30 there. I will take -10 over that any day. 

I think the funniest thing about the snow here is that people use their umbrellas when it is snowing. I was born and raised in Alberta I don't think I ever saw anyone ever use an umbrella. We wear a toque or a hood. I use an umbrella almost every day here because of the rain but I never thought about using one in the snow. I don't think I'll ever start using one in the snow, but it's just funny to see. 

One of the worst things about not being able to drive in the snow, was having to catch the bus at 6 am to get to work. I'm so happy that it's Christmas Break and I am working a later shift and don't have to wake up as early. I keep thinking I may have to just get some winter tires so that I can drive. I would be pretty much okay driving if only I had them. All seasons are not really for all seasons. If it continues to snow I may have to!!

Song of the Day: Earthquake Weather by Matt Nathanson