I forgot to mention, for my job at the coffee shop, so far, I only cook. And I LOVE it. Grandma, I finally know how to do it! To make those perfect fluffy scrambled eggs…or a panini (which is heaven on earth) or a veggie or pesto pizza…Ahi and Steak Skewers…I’m pretty dang diversed on in the ways of this thing called cooking. Who knew? I just needed a job like this all along!!
And 2 days ago I worked all day on the bar…which was SO fun. So now I can finally make all the drinks I’ve been wanting to learn for a couple of months since I started. So fun!

Thats all. The end.

xoxo

I realize it’s been awhile since I’ve written. Okay, like 3-4 months. But I’m going to try to keep up better with my communicating. I am very homesick right now. If it hadn’t hit me before, its definitely has hit me now that I live as far away as I do. I miss my family…and all my friends, very much. I know I am supposed to be here…and I really love it here so much. Its just a season in my life right now. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Besides, my family will be in here in like 4 weeks to visit for the first time…and I will be counting down the days, hours and minutes until they are here! I can’t WAIT!!!!

First off, I work in my favorite coffee shop. I LOVE this job, too. I spend all my time here, either working or hanging out. Its such a great little place. The best job for me right now. I’ve met alot of neat people and I’ve finally made alot of friends. So much fun!

Secondly, my canvas prints of my photography is going to be hung in an awesome boutique here in Kailua. My lovely friend, Ali, owns the store “Olive” (www.iheartolive.com) which is full of amazing little dresses by Ella Moss and Free People…its all cuteness…kind of like a mini Urban Outfitters…but better. So anyways, Ali is going to hang and sell my art in her store, which will be a great opportunity for me!

Thirdly, I am moving out of my current house to move into a studio. I am looking at a couple options and meeting with the landlord of one of them tomorrow. They are both a block from the beach. So I win. Oh yes.

This is my last month on Kihapai Street…its a bittersweet moment! The last few weeks, as I begin to have more and more local friends, I have been made aware that Kihapai street is the most ghetto, scariest street in Kailua. No one told me this. Apparently my local friends are even afraid to drive down it. Um…I used to walk through it…barefoot…like everyday. So its a little weird I never knew how dangerous it was. Apparently its shocking that my bike lasted 2 weeks there before it got stolen last September. So needless to say, I’m very excited about moving out now…I’m going to miss my darling roommates though…I’m sure I’ll be visiting them alot.

I start a new job this weekend at the Levis store…they offered me the visual stylist position, which is really cool…which means I wouldn’t be selling, but I would be creating the window displays and whatnot through out the store. But that won’t happen for a few more weeks, I have to interview more for that. But it pays really well.

SO I wrote all of the above about a week ago…and just finally got around to finishing it. Not too much has happened in a week.
I’ve been trying to sell my computer for the last month or so…was about an hour from having it sold when the Mac dealer store in Kailua refused to help me unless I gave them 200 bucks. Its a long story..but basically, they gave me a disc to re-install my computer…it didn’t work, now my computer is completely jacked up for the first time in the 3 years that I’ve had it…and they are saying its my fault. Well, I don’t have 200 dollars to get it fixed, so its been sitting in my room for a few weeks now completely lifeless. I miss it.

I started Levis last weekend…It was okay. They are going to continue to train me and “test” me for that other visual position. I’m excited, I’d rather do that then be on the sales floor. I’m pretty much addicted to their 501 destroyed boyfriend jeans…I’m going to have to be careful and not actually spend everything I make there.

It is pouring rain today…it is absolutely ridiculous…I love the rain, but I just long for the sun. It’ll be Summer in about 2 more weeks, I think. I miss laying on the beach, so I’ll welcome Summer anytime its ready to get here!!! When I got here last April, it was perfect almost everyday. So hot and sunny…I’m hoping as soon as April hits again, it’ll be like that. I heard March is the worst winter month here….so far thats proving to be true…ugh.

So I come to my coffee shop that I work at to use internet…they have computers set up for costumers and thats what I’ve resorted to. Its fun though, I’ve actually met alot of people by sitting here. Like right now, I was sitting next to a gentleman who striked up some conversation with me…and turns out, he’s a landscape photographer from Omaha…he was pretty surprised to be sitting next to a Hastings girl. That was a fun little conversation. He is here to take a photo of the full moon tomorrow. Hopefully it’ll clear up for him.

A bit of big news, Tom and Rachel, Ryan’s sister and her husband, are moving here on the 27th and getting a house with Ryan and their 2 adorable children, Eden and Michael. We’re pretty excited for them to get here, it’ll be so wonderful. I just can’t wait to babysit! Well, and of course to have the company. So excited!

I hope everyone is doing well…please email me at info at alyssaanders dot com and fill me in on your guys’ lives, too. I need to hear from you all as well–I miss you guys so much. I’ll try to get better at writing…I’m going to try and make it a habit again.

Oh, as far as LOST news… the blond chick, Juliette, was standing behind me in line at Lankai Juice the other day. She’s just as beautiful and peaceful looking in person.

Love you.
xoxo

Two weeks from tomorrow I will be in the State of Nebraska!! I’ve never been so excited to go home before. It’ll be wonderful. I called my mother the other day to tell her my specifications for my arrival. And my rather large and non-negotiable guest list of those who I expect to be there when I fly in (you may be on the list, be expecting a notice of your appearance in the postal soon). This day will include balloons, cake/kool-aid, the head of a pig, a live band (I requested Donnie Osmund, hopefully my mom will pull some strings to get him there) and corn. Yes, corn. Okay, so I’m not really serious. Don’t take me seriously.

So I came down with a wretched fever yesterday. I’m still fighting that off. I’ve been filling myself with medicine. I should be taking vitamins, but thus, they are far too expensive for my post-job state that I am in. I was supposed to have my last day of work yesterday, but due to my sickness, I couldn’t make it. They probably think I flaked on them on purpose. Oh well. I’m done with car dealerships.

So they are playing Christmas music in the coffee shop now, and I’ve decided that it doesn’t matter how you feel, Christmas always makes you feel better. At least in my experience. It’s got that magical effect. I really wanted to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning. It’s probably overrated. But I haven’t seen it since I was a kid. Its just one of those nice reminiscing things.

Even though I’m going to try my hardest at getting a job, Ryan is really encouraging me to just step up with my photography. So in the next couple of months, I’m going to do that. I don’t know how yet. But thats what I want to do with my life, so why not? Um, duh.
Actually, I’ve decided that I’m going to open up a boutique. More about that later though.

I’ve met some truly beautiful people the last few weeks, I’ll miss them when I’m gone. I think when I go back home, it’ll give me a refreshed and more content outlook on my situation here. It’ll probably be really hard to leave my family again, but I think it’ll be even better this time around. I’m excited for the next few months. Lots of things to look forward to. Life! is something to look forward to! I’m happy! And I hope you are, too.

I better go wake up my man so we can have Thanksgiving now. We’re flying to the Big Island to spend the next several days with Tom, Rachel and the kids. It’ll be very nice. I love holidays!

I love you all.
–Alyssa
xoxo

I took a walk on the beach this morning at sunrise. It was nice.

I need new books and music.
Pronto!
Help!
Please!
I’ve been out of the loop completely for 3 months!

At midnight last night, Ryan pulled out of his bag a 50mm lens, which is my favorite lens, which I sold over a year ago during low fundage times. I’m so excited to shoot with it again! He also got a me a couple other camera accessories…a sensor cleaner and a lens hood. I’m so excited! My boyfriend is the best boyfriend. I like him.

Today is a bit rainy, otherwise I would go to the beach right now. It’s so nice not getting up 5am for once during the week. It feels like the weekend! Errr, back to work tomorrow though, already dreading it! But its only 9am…lots to be done!

Unfortunately, Ryan and I seem to both be getting sick, starting last night. We made a little midnight run to Safeway for some cereal, milk and medicine. Well, airborne. We’re hoping it goes away before it starts…I’ve had a terrible earache the last 12 hours…it doesn’t seem to be getting much better, but hopefully as the day continues it will.

Ryan has asked that I use the bike the I just bought him…so I’m going to try to not be paranoid and go ahead and accept his offer…plus, I miss riding a bike so much. Its such a relaxing freedom. I think that is what I’ll spend alot of my day doing. Hopefully it won’t rain too much! I want to be on the outside!

Alright, so thats it for now. I’ll try to write again later…

I love you all!

For the first time in 21 years, I am not experiencing Fall and it seems so weird. I cannot get out of the mindset that its still Summer. Everyday feels like Summer and wearing shorts and flip flops have become my staple and it doesn’t seem to be getting any cooler. Yesterday I laid on the beach for an hour, which scorched me like you wouldn’t believe. I ran for an hour before and after, too…I didn’t realize I was getting as burnt as I was. I normally don’t get that, but then again, the last few weeks I’ve spent more time behind a desk than I have in the sun. 

Tonight I bought Ryan a brand new bike, exactly like his old one.

The best part is that I’m surprising him and he is working late tonight, so I’m just going to ride it to his house. I christened it by riding it around about 5 miles tonight. And once I give it to him, I’m never touching it again. I have it completely secured and locked right now as I type, but I’m so paranoid, so I’m sitting near a window so I can have a clear view of it. If anyone even so much looks at it, I will rip them apart. Ha! Just kidding…

My birthday is on Wednsday. I will finally be 22. 21 has felt like such a long year for some reason. I’m ready for the change of age. I took the day off, so I’ve decided to spend it with my favorite person on my favorite beach. I can’t wait! 

Funny thing about flirting. There’s a couple students sitting near me here at the coffee shop doing a whole lot more of nervous giggling and flirting than they are studying. Its almost embarrassing listening to them converse and attempt at being witty and “calm, cool, collected” while trying to impress the other person. I mean, they just had an entire nervous energetic completely giggle filled conversation about a highlighter. The yellow kind. I’m not purposely trying to listen to them, its just hard not to. People amuse me. And really, they’re just being cute. Oh, young kids…haha. I can say that now, I’m almost 22.

For those who live in Nebraska, I’m coming home for Christmas. Thanks to my amazing parents promoting my artwork by selling canvas printings of them at their recent festival, they raised enough money for a ticket. And I couldn’t be more excited! It will be incredible to come home and see everyone…as happy as I here right now, I really can’t wait to go home. So mark your calendars for the 3 weeks in December! I will be splitting my time between Colorado and Nebraska.

I miss you all very much. I have an early morning tomorrow. 5am comes pretty dang fast these days. I love you all so much and can’t wait to sit down face to face to chat. 

Until that day, 

peace –lyss

I have officially been online for 30 minutes, thus marking the longest amount of time I’ve spent on the internet in 2 weeks. What a crazy, hectic, stressful, scary, exciting 2 weeks its been. The exciting part due to my dear Heidi Koleto coming to visit me from Los Angeles. The rest of the adjectives pertain to my new job for the most part.

Not going to lie, the first week of it was hell and I was ready to walk out on the first day and never go back. It took me about the first week to figure out the transportation situation. The first couple of days Ryan took me and normally to get to where I work, it takes 20-30 minutes. Well, little did we know that its bumper to bumper traffic at 6:45 in the morning…so the first 2 days I was late. And then I started taking the bus. Well, little did I know that the 56 bus is always late. So for the next 3 days I was late everyday as well. I would be at the bus stop at 6am (I have to be at work at 7:30)…and I would still be late to work. And I really didn’t want to start getting up at 4am just to make the bus in time. I would literally have no life.

The job itself is slightly insane at times. Now that I have the hang of it, I don’t mind it AS much…but it is crazy hectic. I’ve never had a receptionist job like this one. Its been a strange transition for me to go from riding my bike all the time to sitting behind a desk for 8 hours everyday. I’ve felt very lazy since I started working. But I guess thats what happens, huh?

The best part was that Heidi came to visit me last week. She just moved to LA, infact she lives in an apartment on the corner of Sunset & Vine. So she’s about as Hollywood as you can get at the moment. She is about to start school at LA Film, so she had been a residence of LA about 4 days before coming over here to visit. It was a huge blessing having her here. It’s been pretty lonely over here on this little Island. I have learned ALOT about myself since moving here, one thing being I’m way too shy and reclusive for my own good. I guess when I think about it, Colorado is the only other place I have moved to. And when I moved there, it was for an internship, so I was immediately forced to make friends with 10 people my age (Heidi being one of them!). And whenever I’ve moved back home, I always have my hometown friends. So this is really the first time I’ve moved away and haven’t had any friends. All the work is up to me now. I actually have to be outgoing. Not an easy task for me most of the time.

My roommates are absolutely lovely. I am SO incredibly happy to be living where I am at. I absolutely love the house and my room and the wonderful people I live with. I’m finally overcoming my shyness with them, after like 4 weeks! I’m so happy to be there, though. Its such a great place!

I guess I should mention the biggest bummer of the week. The bicycle that Ryan lent to me to use was stolen from my driveway the other day. I’m filing a police report and just hoping and praying that by some miracle it shows up. Please pray about that situation if you think about it. It was a very nice bike that he was so gracious to let me borrow, I feel awful that it got stolen. I’m hoping I can save up enough money soon enough to buy him a new one. I talked to the guys down at the Bike Shop where Ryan bought it from and they are going to be on the lookout for it. The guy I talked to mentioned how he’s had to chase people down when he noticed they were riding a friends stolen bike. Guess its a common occurrence… oh, how I live and learn.

And now for the more exciting part of the week…Ryan bought a 2 Door 1986 Jeep Cherokee for me to use! It’s perfect!!! Its in extremely good condition, only had one owner. The man that owned it took really good care of it and it only has 50,000 miles on it. He passed away and left it to his grandson, who traded it into the dealership I work for and 24 hours later Ryan bought it. Its been a BLAST to drive. Heidi and I drove it to the North Shore while she was here…there’s nothing like driving a sweet Jeep along the coast with the windows rolled down and listening to Miles Davis. It was a perfect day.

I had to go do a drug test today. 2nd time this year I’ve been forced to pee in a cup. Not something I enjoy doing. Its embarrassing handing over your pee. There’s got to be a better way to do that. At least something that doesn’t strip away your dignity and pride.

I got a 2nd degree muffler burn on my leg about a week and a half ago. Its so big! About 3 inches wide and 2 inches tall. Finally today the skin has actually started to heal and it isn’t raw anymore. I cheated and while I was getting a physical done during the drug test, I showed them the burn and asked what to do, what to use, got my doctors opinion. Cheap way of getting it looked at professionally. The doctor said it looked really good for how long I’ve had it. So that was encouraging, I thought it was doing horribly. It itches something awful though! Not fun–the one time I ride Ryan’s bike without jeans on is the time I get burnt. Figures!

Ryan and I went to the North Shore yesterday. He is teaching me how to REALLY use my camera and get the most out of it. It was alot of fun, I learned alot. I’ll be going through those photos soon and I’ll post them soon. We also ate at an incredible Thai place. If you’ve ever been to Shugas in Colorado Springs, picture that as a Thai restaurant…very cool atmosphere. It was quite lovely.

Its taking me about 2 days to write this blog…I keep coming and going, I’m surprisingly alot busier than you all might think–especially compared to just a few weeks ago! I just got back from the Police Station filing my report. I was about to get out of my car when 2 guys, one in handcuffs, came outside and stood right by my car. The guy in handcuffs was staring at me, so I just decided to stay in my locked car until they got into the cop car and drove away. There was a jail cell right by the office, too. Actually I guess it was probably just a holding cell. But nevertheless there was a man behind it and a woman crying on the bench next to me. And then she went to the bubble gum machine and started chewing gum extremely loud. Probably to take away the tears.

Well, I think I’ll leave this update at that. And I’ll end it with a photo. I’ll try to keep y’all more updated…I’ve hardly been online these days. I miss you guys so much. I wish I could see you all right now. Someday.

I want to know how you guys are doing, too! Write me!

xoxo

More here.