March 27-30th

Our last few days of spring break have been fun and slow. Sisi and I have taken a lot of trips to the pool and watched a lot of "Princess" movies, ie. Princess Bride, Princess Diaries 2, and also watched the original Freaky Friday and the new "The Last Mimzy." Sierra had a play date with her good friend Emma and we had dinner at the Crowell's with the UCLA water polo team. UCLA beat UH 9-5 but it was a pretty good game. UCLA is undefeated and have won the last 3 national championships. They're good. It's Sunday afternoon and dad and Sierra are napping. He just got home. We're really lucky that he got on the flight last night. It was sketchy for awhile there. He's got his 500 photos loaded onto this (your)computer already and they're AWESOME. I can't believe Macchu Picchu. I just looks stunning. I'm so bummed that you got sick. Do you know what happened? Are you okay now? I'm really excited for you to have a great adventure in the rainforest. I'm hoping you'll get a chance to write on your blog soon and I'm REALLY hoping that you're healthy. We pick Jay up in a couple of hours and we all go back to school tomorrow. Miss you so much and it looks like you had the most amazing trip with dad!!! Loove yooooou!

March 20-26th

Took dad and Jay to the airport on my birthday and then it was a mom and Sierra girls week. You're with dad, so I didn't feel the need to write, but I'll briefly summarize our week so far. We colored Easter eggs on Saturday with Yui. We've had dinner and swimming at the Fitter's, including Easter dinner. The Easter bunny came to our house for a quick egg hunt but mostly hid tons of eggs at uncle Jimmy's and we had a big egg hunt over there with Helen and Bobbi. We've seen "Horton Hear's a Who" at the theater and "Enchanted" at home on DVD. We've swam at the Oahu club quite a bit and on Tuesday we took Izzy and Cole and went skating at Ice Palace. Sierra went to the Lost beach with the Fitter's while I got a few things ready for my girls night party on Tuesday night. We've gone to the UH vs. SJSU game and the UH vs. Stanford game... both which I announced. UH went into overtime against Stanford (for only the second time in history- the first time being 10 years ago when we lost 10-9- with me coaching.) The outcome was the same, unfortunately, a 10-9 loss. It would have been the first time in history that we'd beaten Stanford and they're currently 2nd ranked. Kim Hall was here but she didn't play. She has played in 8 games so far.... check out the Stanford web site to see some cool pictures of her in her Stanford uniform. She was great and said to tell you she missed you, etc. We've also had Punahou practice and games. Our intermediates played last weekend at Iolani and won easily and then we scrimmaged Kahuku on Monday. It was good experience for the teams. Talked to Jay and G'ma yesterday and they're having a blast in Mammoth. I love Mammoth. Jay skied with Madison Guss on Tuesday... or rather hung out with her while she tried to snowboard. G'ma says Jay's skiing really well. Sisi and I have been having fun and have talked to lots of people about your trip and your blog. I saw Chris McLaughlin at the Stanford game and he was thrilled to hear about your adventures.

March 15-19th

Soooo sorry that I haven't posted on the blog in a long time.... I've been subbing a lot and I have no internet access because I can't get a password at Punahou. With waterpolo practice in the late afternoon and evening I'm out of time and can't get to the blog. Excuses, excuses, I know. Sorry. We've been doing the school polo, games, piano, dad's gig type thing. Tuesday night V2 played LeJardin and won 5-2. Dad and Jay leave tomorrow and we have a game vs. Kamehameha at 5pm. I'll drive them straight to the airport from the game. Lots of the V2 girls are traveling during spring break but our Intermediates have games on both Saturdays. SanJose state plays UH on Saturday and I will announce the game. Stanford will play UH on Monday, and UCLA will be here on Friday. I'll announce both those games. Kim will be here with Stanford and her parents are having a party that Sisi and I will go to. I'm SO jealous that dad will be seeing you soon!! I love and miss you sosososososo much!!

March 14th

After school the V2 and V1 girls both won their games vs. Pac-5. Just getting home. Dad took Sisi on an excursion to the Humane Society to see the kitties. She love it. We love you. Hope lake Titicaca is great! Can't wait to see the photos. How's the spanish?

March 13th

Loved your photos! It's almost time for LOST so I'm putting Sisi to bed. More later.

March 11th

I just returned from coaching noon masters at the Oahu Club. It was good because I got to swim with the adults and they got a change from their regular coaches. We had a "cupcake" swim. I made cupcakes to take to OSF tonight but I brought some to the club as incentive for a swim that was kinda hard. After we finished I told them they'd just earned a cupcake and they thought it was great. You got a check from Teddy's in the mail yesterday. I'll deposit it for you into your ASB account. Tutu and Papa will pick Sierra up from school today and bring her home so she can play with Helen and Bobbi and then they'll bring all the cousins to OSF where we will celebrate Susie and my birthday.... and maybe Ingrid's too. Your hike sounds hard but awesome! Dad forwarded the email you sent to him and I forwarded the one to him that you had sent to me, so we're all in the loop. I can't wait to see pictures. How's the journal? So glad you're getting to do cool stuff. Miss you so much and now I can't make a cake without thinking of you.... I promise to make you one in June!

March 6th-10th

Wow, I've gotten so far behind on this blog but I feel like I've been sort of keeping in touch with the text messaging. Highlights from the last few days: Girls water polo beat Iolani in V1 and Intermediate. V2 will not play Iolani because they didn't have enough players to field a team. Really ashame. Sisi and I saw the movie Penelope with Isabel. (Funny and cute.) Jay, Sisi and I went to the Fitter's for pizza and swimming (and wine) while dad had a gig at the Hilton. I've been coaching morning master's workouts at the O.club and Jay and I have finished the most recent water polo clinics at UH. Misty had another bath and dad's been working on the backyard hillside. Dad and Sierra went to ceramics and did some glazing. Dad is getting ready to travel and I ordered you some meds for dad to bring to you. Dad saw cousin John on the N.Shore many days this week, including getting him on Sunday and bringing him to our house where we all had dinner together at Thai Valley Cuisine in Kalama Valley. I'm making cupcakes to take to OSF tomorrow night so we can celebrate Susie and Ingrid's birthday (and mine too.) Love you so much and hope you're doing great. I'm about to look up some of the places you're visiting on the web. I want to have a vision of where you are and what you're doing.

March 5th

I started my day coaching masters swimming at the O.club from 6-7am and then played in the traffic to get to Punahou. Dad and Sierra went to breakfast while Jay slept in the car because his first class was 9:30am. After school I went back to O.club to coach while Jay went to the weight room and Sisi had Elements and then after school care. Dad went to the N.Shore to see John and catch some waves. We've just come home and we're having chili and rice for dinner. I talked to Cathy Goto and she said to say hi. Where are you? Where are you going? How long will you be there? Miss you and I'm a worried mom. I want you to have adventures, but I want you to avoid danger and stay safe.

March 4th

Great post on your blog. Love those Nasca lines. Today Tutu and I went to yoga early and then had an acai cup at Jamba. I worked in the yard and did some stuff around the house before heading to the Oahu Club to coach noon masters swim. Then some banking, including withdrawing from your account the project fees for both VV and PA, so we could pay back our visa. You still have plenty to have a great rest of your trip, but don't freak out if you see your balance has been depleted significantly. It has. Dad took Sisi and Jay to Sandy's and then to the club for hot tubbing after school. We watched a little of the election stuff but not that much. The race has tightened. Go Obama!

Keep your valuables in your pouch and on your body while you travel. Especially your passport and money cards. Do not leave those things in a hotel room, they are vulnerable there, unless there's a safe or something. Keep your camera safe too. Have a good time but remember you're obviously a tourist so you don't want to let your guard down too much because you're a target simply because you're a tourist. Any good food adventures? How's the journal? Keep that thing safe because I'm very excited to see it. Can you give us any contact info for Haydee's family- just in case. Also, I'd like a detailed summary of your itinerary. For example, where do you go first, how long will you be there and then what's next? It would be prudent for us to have an idea of what cities you'll be in for how long and how you intend to get to the next place. Please just write a summary. It's okay if it's not exact, but approximate. Make sure we get an email and/or text when you arrive and leave each place. And your expected arrival at the new destination. Can you do that for me? I trust you, I just want to cover our bases, plus I like to have a visual of where you are in the world. Remember, "where in the world is Carmen San Diego?" That's the game I play about you. BE SAFE AND KNOW THAT WE LOVE YOU!

March 3rd

Happy Girls Day! It's Kiley Neushul's birthday and girls day. School/work and piano and water polo after school. I made a deposit of $118 into your Am.Svs. Bank account. That's your refund from the Federal govt. and the state for your tax returns. Speaking of money, GET CASH BEFORE you leave Pisco and of course carry your ATM card with you (safely in the pouch on your body.) What's your itinerary for your trip? Have you booked places to stay? Use your intuition and DON't do anything that's dangerous or in a dangerous areas. Will you be traveling until you see dad?

February 28 & 29th and March 1st

Busy work/school days. Friday night I had our pre-season V2 water polo season up at Kamehameha. Dad worked late at school on his report cards.

Saturday, March 1st we got to talk to you in the a.m.!!! Yipee. Your weekend sounds great. I hope you had enough money to do the fun stuff you wanted to do. How were the mummies (sp?) Get yourself some cash and carry your ATM card and plan ahead on any travel. March 1st is Kehau's birthday. We had a busy day that included water polo practice in the a.m. at Punahou while dad worked in the yard. Jay rode his bike part way and took the bus part way to ward to see the movie Semi-pro with a couple of his buddies. I took Sierra to ceramics while dad did report cards. Then Sisi and I went to Iolani for our first intermediate water polo game vs. Pac-5. We won easily and everybody got to play lots. Jay got himself to Iolani and we loaded his bike in van and we came home briefly to wrap a present for Zachary's birthday party. We gave his the book "Great Expectations" since now that he's a man there's great expectations for his life. I also got and wrapped a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts for midnight snacks (he's having a sleep-over.) The three of us went over there for an afternoon at the pool, the bowling alley and then back to the Guss house for ice cream sundae party to celebrate Zach's 18th. Dad joined us after picking up John Smart at the airport and taking him to the n.shore and having some beach time. John will be here for a few weeks. Dad's coming in 3 short weeks! Miss you much! Write on your blog asap. I want to see your face!!