I'M BACK!

Aloha all!

I'm back from my busy vacation! I should just call it "the wedding trip" cause that's basically what it was.
I had a BLAST and both weddings were so incredible! Very happy for both couples!

However, next time I visit, I hope for it to be just for a visit rather than Weddings; so much to do, so little time! 

LAX >> PHX >> PDX... so out of the way - but I caught up on sleep!

About six hours later, we find ourselves finally home!
We are too lazy to cook anything (not having a kitchen table to eat at doesn't help also) so us and some friends decide to hit up Taco Bell! Going big!

As I'm chowing down on my crunchwrap, I am told to look out the window.

Outside are two deer (deers, deersis, *BOXEN?) They are just chillin' out there looking at everyone inside Taco Bell, ndb.

I was greeted by some deer by two deer!

To everyone, this is a normal occurrence, but I break out my iPhone cause I HAVE to post it up!

The deer passed by the door, so I followed; That caused them to run across the highway and escape big, scary, 5"1' Erin!

But I still captured the video!
Such an exciting moment for #TheNewOregonian, as neither Lahaina nor the OC have deer running around their local Taco Bells!

If you're interested in seeing how this went down, you can click this link to watch:
http://instagram.com/p/qvS8i2iOJL/?modal=true

It was a fun moment!

It doesn't take too much to excite me, just a little lightning and deer and I'm stoked!

*BOXEN is a word made up by Comedian, Brian Regan from his "Stupid in School" Routine. 
More info about it can be found here: 
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Brian_Regan 
You can also listen to the routine here (definitely recommended by me): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWzYaZDK6Is

I was the Parade.

Hey all,

So this week was quite eventful.

• During one of my "productive days" of driving around in the heat, our new/used car decided to overheat. YAY!

Of course, I had no idea what was going on. What I thought was the car in front of me blasting talk radio, was actually the car making this "rrrrwwrrr, rrrrwwrrrrr!" sound... and then came the smoke. I immediately turned into the nearest driveway that happened to be a Chevron. I semi-parked the car, almost in the middle of the lot. I figured opening the hood would be a good idea since it was smoking. Apparently there is another latch on the front of the hood to keep it from flying open, but I couldn't find it.
Luckily, I knew enough not to reach my hand under too deep while it was smoking - a burn would have been inconvenient in that moment.
Meanwhile, I'm calling the hubby, repeatedly, called his co-worker/boss/friend's cell. GEEZE LOUISE is everyone busy!?

Finally, I decide to call their office - of COURSE that one got answered! Duh Erin.
Note to self: In case of emergency, call work number before cell that is on silent in desk! I guess that makes sense, after all they ARE working!

I got through and he is on his way to save the day; progress!
Then some sweet kid on a bike handed me his monster and popped open my hood, what a champ!

I may have started crying... okay, yes I did!
I thought I broke our new/old car!

Necessary backstory!
Earlier in the day, I got gas for the first time in Oregon (OMG THEY PUMP IT FOR YOU!) I was so excited, I forgot to turn the car off!
I asked the guy "is that bad?" and he said no - but from all I had ever heard it wasn't supposed to be good for the car.
Turns out I was wrong about that - but I really thought I broke the car!
Thankfully, the car was fine (it was just a really hot day!) and hubby saved the moment :) Thank you, dear! Also, now I know more car-related type things.

• Next exciting thing of the week:
1) We spent fourth of July "camping" at Wallowa Lake - SO PRETTY!
OH and by camping, I mean I slept in the cab of a truck!
Better than in a cold tent on pinecones for #theneworegonian. Whoop whoop!

2) I got second place in a card game that I am still not sure I comprehend, not bad!

3) I have to say... fireworks, on a hill, over a lake, is by far the best! And spending the entirety with people who enjoy making up stupid names for each firework puts the cherry on top!
The Bob Marly, Flasher, and Koi Pond are some standout names for you.

It's been a fun and eventful introduction to Oregon so far.. even the cop that pulled me over was nice. Oh yeah, I got pulled over yesterday!
Taillight out. This car is not my friend right now.

The cop was so nice and then saw my Hawaii drivers license. I didn't have my insurance card with me either (It's all good now! I have it on my phone like the pig from the commercial!)
I think he let me off easy because he felt sorry for me, moving from Maui to the boonies.
"Just get that taillight fixed and keep your insurance card on you... uumm, enjoy the mountains?"
Thank you Mr. Cop - you're my favorite cop.
He was so nice.
I'd say that's a WIN for me.

• BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT of the weekend.

On our way to the 4th of July Camp Wallowa Lake Extravaganza, we drove through a small town about two minutes before their parade was going to start.
So it only made sense for me to roll down my window and see what happened!

I decided to thank everyone for coming, of course they were there to see #theneworegonian, I mean why else would they be there? (Independence? Ok, that too.)
The best part was the looks on their faces as I thanked them for coming to my parade... "Is this it? I guess I'll wave back. I don't think this is the parade?"
It was priceless.

Well enjoy your week - I'm going on my Californiacation for TEN days!

The nutshell version of my current life:

Welcome aboard everyone, hope you enjoy the ride,

So I have had the privilege of living on the island of maui for the past four years of my life.
For the first two years I lived there, it was four months at a time, because i was going home to sunny Southern California for the winter/summer seasons.
For the past two years, I was a solid resident.

Everyone still with me? I think I made it clear ;)

I have gotten to live a dream life, as most would put it.
Reasons?? Well... I met my husband on maui, at church of course!
We got to date and have our first two newlywed years together there - it was truly amazing in every way.
I definitely feel like we saturated ourselves of Maui and got to live our time there to the fullest, doing almost every activity there! It was almost like vacation except for the fact that we both had full time jobs, wah-wah-wah that's reality!

I feel like I grew up a lot on Maui - from age 19-23: A chunk of my young adult life.
The husband and I have been wanting to move back to the "mainland" as we call it, for quite some time and finally an opportunity has arrived for us.
My husband got an awesome job offer, basically the job of his dreams, in a little town (literally a LITTLE TOWN) in Oregon.

Soooo six months later, I find myself here... sitting in this Starbucks... in the middle of nowhere.... writing to you. Whoever you may be.

I find myself at a crossroad.
I'm still my fun-loving self, but Maui changed me. The interests I had didn't work out there, because there's no professional theater or performing there (other than hula), so I went into retail. Learned SO much, gained a ton of experience, and now I'm very confident as a sales person and in management positions (promoted within a month baby!)
But anyways, now I find myself in this tiny little town, wondering who I am and what I want and how that will work here - other than an eventual family that I'm not ready for at this moment. (Soon Mom, I promise!)
I am an ambitious person. I thrive on creativity and love enjoying life!
I make an effort to live to my fullest potential in every way; I want to push myself and grow, spiritually, emotionally, the whole enchilada!

I fully believe in Jesus, and I trust Him with my life. He has led me thus far, so I know that He has something for me. However, I can be impatient, and sometimes I want to know everything that is going to happen to me before it happens - Okay, ALL the times!

Anyhow, I got to drive through a wheat field today, and there was something freeing about that.
Country life is new and interesting to me! Life in general is an adventure and I want to share my fresh perspective to you. This is fun for those who do not know what it is like (shout out to my California/Maui peeps!), but also for the ones who have grown up in the country - my perspectives have to be humorous at least!

Suburb/Island girl is in the country, and she's figuring out where she fits in.
Time will tell... and blogging!

I will be posting often because things happen to me! 
I am one of those people!

Join me, my ups and downs, and my figuring out of life,
I am #theneworegonian and these are my stories.