Today was a supremely awesome day.  The first so totally awesome day that I've had in a long, long while. ^_^

For starters, saw 300 finally today.  This has jumped to not only a must buy on DVD immediately list, but as my top movie of the year.  Seriously, S3 and POTC3 are going to have to fight for that spot on my list right now. 

The movie was just amazing, it's so visual and melodic and many of the scenes look like pieces of artwork (or a comic book pane) they were that loyal to the look of Miller's piece.  The music was awesome, from the beautiful vocals of Azam Ali to the almost metal beats of the score (like a rock album in a couple of spots), and helped to meld the movie into a fully enjoyable experience. 

While it is indeed a bit bloody (though in a more stylized fashion) and may  not be for everyone, I highly, highly recommend this film.  
300 is not to be missed.

Part 2 of my happy go lucky day can not be expressed in words.  So instead I'll leave you with these photos of Vera.

^Faster than a speeding bullet.

Still getting over the sickness that held me over Christmas.  Rented Superman Returns and Gears of War, so I have those for a bit. :)

Cheers and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

I just had to post this to my Myspace page.  Yes I know how evil the site is and how petty things can be.  Never did I think one of my longtime friends from College would become part of it though.  Hurt me deep to the bone and I wanted to make a point of it here as well to help clarify things.

<quote> Update/Changes
Due to some recent circumstances, I've done a major culling of my friends list as well as some major changes in privacy settings to my profile. I know those reading this are not really needing of this information, but I decided to let you know anyway. Comments are now approved through me. Friend requests are on a know based standard only.

A friend of mine recently decided to play the child and deleted his 'online friendship' because he did not feel 'comfortable with some of the comments posted on my page.' This is bullcrap. If he had a problem with it, he could have done one of two things: 1) Emailed me/Called me on the phone/Messaged me stating his unease or 2) just not read *my* comments on *my* page.

I'm sorry if this offends anyone or seems knee-jerk in reaction, but it's something that had to be done and I already know I'm preaching to the wrong crowd. Just had to get it out there and off of my chest.

**Nothing in this world is so hurtful as the lack of communicating between friends.** I'm deeply hurt that Karl felt the need to do this after 5 years of friendship, but if that is his choice, so be it.

Please, don't let a day go by where you forget to tell someone how much you appreciate having them around or being able to call them friend. If problems arise, then talk about it. Don't take the childish way out of things.

/soapbox.

Hope everyone's having a good Christmas.

-Matt </quote>

The entire purpose of quoting this bulletin is my desire to ask of all of you - if you EVER have ANY problem with something that I post or with a comment that someone else posts either on my journals/page or on yours, Please, PLEASE...Tell me first.  Email me, Messege me, whatever.  Send a damn pigeon if you have to, but please try and talk it out first.  I have no problem with changing the wording of a journal or deleting a rude comment.  Just let me know!  I won't be mad, I'll respect your views. 

I am NOT here to force my life or beliefs on anyone! 

Most of you already know that and I figure I'm preaching to the wrong crowd, but if it can happen to a close friend who I knew personally from college, than that tells me a point has to be made.

I apologize for going on and on, especially on Christmas.  This one has still been hard.  With this drama; with being sick and missing my Mum.  I do know that you friends here have given me a helluva lot of support over the past months and I am forever grateful to you all.

So on to more Cheerful events in the next entry - Christmas Update!

As always, I'm be posting lots of pictures in my [link=http://picasaweb.google.com/trekker2001]Picasa page[/link] until it gets filled up to the brim.  Others will be posted randomly here :)

Day 3 was by far the best day I had on the island.  The sunrise in the morning, as the pictures can show a bit, was the most breathtaking I experienced during our stay.

We started the day by heading back to the North Shore after hearing about a high surf warning with waves up to 15 feet possible.  While the day turned out better than our first full day on the island, it wasn't near what we had hoped. Still, the mighty ocean put on a good show for us; Dad and I being able to grab a ton of new photos.

To begin, I'll be posting lots of pictures in my Picasa page until it gets filled up to the brim.  Others will be posted randomly here :)

Day 2 started early as always for me, picked up a few sunrise photos, then it was back to the room to wait for Dad to get up. 

I'm completely stealing a friends tenacity for sound effect titles for this one.  That's a dentist office buzz, by the way.

Back from the dentist after having a tooth chip on me this past Saturday (day we got back from Kauai) and now the entire right side of my mouth is numb. >.<

I'm holding off on my Day 2 Adventure journal, giving more people time to catch the first one and also giving me time to do my civic duty and fill out my Absentee Ballot as Dad and I will be in California on the 7th.

But you don't think I'd leave you all hanging, right?  Here's a preview, which involves a 65 foot Catamaran and an impressive view of the Kalalau Valley by Ocean view.  You will see this view again on my Day 5 journal, in which we hiked up to the Pu'u o Kila (Poo-oo oh keelah) lookout.  See you all tomorrow!

To begin, I'll be posting lots of pictures in my  Picasa Page until it gets filled up to the brim.  Others will be posted randomly here :)

Dad and I drove over to Seattle last Saturday.  It was so great to reconnect with my best friend from High School.  He and his partner both treated us to one of the all time best Italian meals of my life and showed us a number of great sights around the Greater Seattle area.  Before we left for the hotel, my friend and I both agreed to meet up again the Saturday we got back.

Sunday morning we woke up early, got the car parked at the car parky place that was part of the hotel deal (room and 7 day car storage for only $145 is a great bargain) and was at the airport ready for our 8:30a departure time.  The flight and all went superbly smooth...until we were about 45 min from Honalulu.  The pilots only then told us about the Earthquake that happened an hour after we got off the ground from Seattle.

Luckily they did let us land; one of the last planes to do so.  Then we waited.  All of Oahu was also without power (only Kauai had power, being farthest from the epicenter) and so none of the gates were working.  Honalulu also seemed to be lacking in stairs.  They had 2 and there had been other planes waiting for 3-4 hours ahead of us.  So we waiting.  3 and a half hours on the plane.  Luckily it had central A/C and they showed Cars, which was cool.  Then we walked off the plane onto the Tarmac where they had shuttle busses waiting for us.  We rode that to the terminal and proceeded to wait another 3 and a half hours, this time in stifling, hot, humid environs. 

Finally power was restored about 7:30 local time (our flight landed on time at 1p local) and things just took off.  They had crewed planes just waiting to be pulled in and just went one right after the other.  Within 30 min, 3 full planes were heading to Lihue (lee-hoo-ee), another 2-3 to Maui and another to Hilo on the Big Island which had also just restored power.

We landed easily on the island of Kauai at just a few minutes before 8pm and after getting the car, Dad and I went to the Pono Kai resort where we were staying and unpacked and quickly fell asleep.

Every morning while I was on the island, I woke up for the sunrise.  Monday morning was cloudy and misty from the rain the previous day, but the sunrise was still pretty nice.  I walked along the beach and eventually came back to the room where Dad was just getting up. 

Day 1 was orienting ourselves on the island.  Food is expensive.  Gas is expensive (or was until the Costco opened on the island on Tuesday, dropping prices from 3.34 average to 2.99 average).  We made our way along the North Shore, from Kapa'a (Kah-pah, ah) to Kiluea (Kill-oo-eh-ah) point where we stopped to see the oldest lighthouse on the Islands.

After that, we headed along past Priceville, towards Hanalei (Han-ah-lay) Bay and the valley of the same name.  Beautiful place it is too.  Once past there we went along until the roadway ended, stopping along at beaches larger than any I've seen.  The surf wasn't too impressive, it got better the longer we stayed, but the area along the North Shore is the greenest anywhere due to the large amounts of rain.  Speaking of which, it started doing so as we left the Ha'ena Beach Park (where the cave picture and huge rock wall was taken)

We travelled all the way to the end of the road where the Kalalau Trail begins at Ke'e (Key-e) Beach but alas, it was raining by then.

Then it was back to Kapa'a and dinner before retiring to store photos and write journals before hitting the sack. 

More to come tomorrow. :D

Had one helluva awesome time in Kauai and have a ton of stories and photos to share with you all.  Starting in the next couple of days, I'll be posting a few journals about my adventures there, and I'll also be trying to help with pronounciation where I can, though most of it is phoenetically pronounced.  Mahalo and Aloha!

Back with more tomorrow (hopefully!), but here's a little teaser.  Sunrise on Day 3 on the beach just outside Pono Kai in Kapa'a!

Dad and I leave tomorrow morning to Seattle where I am very super excited to finally be able to meet up with my longtime (and best high school) friend who has been living over there since we graduated.  Haven't seen him since Christmas '01.  He set up reservations for dinner at this Italian resturaunt that he lauds as being the best in the nation (and he loves him Italian food, yessir). 

Then on Sunday morning round about 6 am PST, we fly outward toward our destination of Lihue, Kauai! 

See you all in a weeks time!