let's get PHYSICAL...

As a YSA ward, they set up a 500 lbs challenge where we all seperated in teams and we weigh in every week and the goal in 3 months to go lose 500 lbs as a ward. Everyone took this and RAN with it. It's been 2 weeks and I LOVE how dedicated everyone is. I just hope it sticks. LOL!

We've been meeting up every morning at 6am and head to what we call da "Dykes" growing up. But it's a Bay Trail right behind my house that runs through Ryders Park & Seal Pointe Park. And on that trail you'll find a monsterous hill where they have these stairs!! Damn dem stairs!! LOL! Basically them stairs are a workout but I love it. It's just beautiful. Running along the bay waters, San Mateo bridge to you right, Bay Bridge to your left, East Bay facing you, and if you look carefully, you can spot a bright white triangular point in middle of the hill when looking across the bay... and there it is the Oakland Temple. I usually leave when the sun is just peaking up over the hill and I usually say my a.m. prayer at a bench before heading home to get ready for work.

After work, everyone meets up in their lil individual groups and do their seperate workouts. One of the EQ Toke Kefu works at San Mateo High in the Physical Education dept and coaches. So he'll take us to Mateo High's football field and do all these drills I've never heard of. it's hilarious.

Another friend of mine, Moana, loves to go hiking so I told her I'd go the next time she does. So we meet up one Saturday morning and went to da San Bruno Mountains. HOOIII that damn mountain! LOL! It was challenging, but i loved it at the end. What was worst, was that one of the girls dropped her key when we were already on the bottom. So poor Moana had to go and do the trail again to find the key. Luckily she did!! We didnt go to the top of the mountain that day because another girl was scared of heights so we figured we'd warm her up to it and hopefully reach the top the next weekend.

Next weekend arrives and we go. OMG, the trail we did the first time was small kine compared to what we did this time. It was way more steep, more rocks, yet they had plants up that way that gave up a sweet aroma that was just divine. Moana kept saying the view from the top is worth it so we kept pushing! And what do you know... we made it to the top and it was BEAUTIFUL!!! It was a panoramic view..just breathtaking. You can see the skyscrapers & bridges in San Francisco, the whole East Bay, Bay waters, down the Peninsula and then the Pacific Ocean. To end a challenging hike with that view... priceless!

So 2nite is weigh in... and if I dont lose anything, I'm lose my mind cause I dont know how many salads and fiber i can stand anymore! LOL! This weekend is also our one mile even with Koli Palu from Biggest Loser last season. Exciting!!

BTW::: I'm in da RED TEAM baby!! Let's Get It!

*dont stop BELIEVING*

We goin WORLD SERIES BAAABBBYYY!!! wooohoooo!!!! I like baseball... barely follow it... but i LOVE the SF GIANTS!! I did follow this season and I lalalaloved it! So proud of myself for following them early on so I actually get to celebrate the whole way thru! LOL! From winning NL West, beating the Braves, and now defeating Phillies... aahhhh TORTURE NEVER FELT SOOOO GOOD!! Let's go GIANTS... beat them (Power) Rangers!

Best Places 2 Work

The past 7 yrs, my work has won an award for Best Places to Work in the Bay Area. In honor of this, "the bank" hosts a party to give appreciation to it's employees for their hard work. Every year is FUN but this year was different cause our current CEO just announced his retirement that morning! It was a bittersweet day because we all LOVED our president. You cant really understand until you worked here. So the day of the party, we all decided to do it up since it would be our last hooo-rah with John.

We had such a good time, eating, dancing, drinking. It was held at Sparky's Hot Rod Garage in San Carlos, CA. That place is flipped out 50's-60's style from head to toe! Cars, Boy Boy diner statue, Betty Boop, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Happy Days, etc. They served different foods like egg rolls, chili, baked potato, etc. They had a lil diner set up with was so cool. It had actual tables with juke boxes on em. And in there they served burgers. They also had 2 bars set up, a DJ and a photo booth. OOOH MAN the photo booth! They had a table of props outside the booth so it was hilarious seeing adults act like children again! On top of that, the outside of the booth had a screen. So whatever you were doing inside, everyone on the outside can see as well.

The party was only serving beers & wines along with soft drinks so we had a bottle of Patron in the parking lot! LOL! yeah, nuff said! haha I ended up not eating and just taking advantage of the open bar. They also served ice cream bars as the night was getting late and we just danced and danced the night away! It was soooo much fun and a wonderful way 2 say farewell 2 such a great man!

next time...i'm just gonna keep my mouth shut!

It's almost routine 2 take a nap after work on Friday! LOL! It's like, for me to get energized for what the rest of the night has in store for me! hehe
WELL...my parents went to Dallas for the weekend so my older sister Isa had to work for her. Which meant Mata had 2 babysit. She had prior engagements and begged & begged & begged for me to babysit. I kept saying NO...but then gave in and offered my services.

Boy do I regret it right now. Dont get me wrong, I LOOOOOOVE all my nieces & nephews but they sure can drive me up with wall. Which is what they are doing right now. I love babies and well mannered children, but these kids are RUGRATS!!!! hahaha They are all sitting behind me watching TV. I put on one of my favorites as a kid (THE SANDLOT) and they're actually enjoying it. I like to believe they dont make good movies like this anymore. Even as an adult and I still <3 this movie. 

Luckily, I only got a couple hours left... den it's grown folks business! hehe Enjoy da rest of your weekend yall. It's General Conference weekend, didnt plan to head out to SLC this time but still cant wait to hear the prophet's message. It's funny how they always speak on something that triggers you! And if it does, then you're doing something wrong!! LOL! Happy OCTOBER to you all!

 LOOOOOOVE these crazy FAAUMU grandbabies!! all 18 of my brother & sister's children <3

~wind beneath my wing~



'Eseta & Lihati 'UNGA



i just wrote the longest blog ever, and I realized, i wasnt nearly half way done! And so I deleted it cause I had so so so much more to say.



It was a blog talking about how much i MISS my grandparents!!!! Back in 2002-3, they both retired and moved back to their hometown in Vava'u. They would come back & forth for their dr appts and I went out there once in '05 but it's not the same. My grandma is so humble and has such a huge heart. I'm so fortunate to be blessed with her name. She compliments my papa so well. My grandfather is a Rydah!!! In every sense of the word. This man has taught me so much at such a young age. Everything had a  lil lesson to it. I always loved sitting and talking with him cause he always had these lil analogies that I wish to carry on when I'm older. haha Telling the kids... "like my granddaddy always told me..... "

Everytime I go back to Washington St, i always think IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK! Every inch of that house has a memory. I miss going to work with my grandma during her graveyard shift to keep her company. I miss massaging my grandpa's back/legs/arms and getting rewarded with fun size snickers. I miss driving my grandparents to the temple early Saturday morning with my cousins. Watching the sunrise with our cocoa and waiting for them to get out. I miss ordering his fave meals... Whopper @ BK, Jumbo Jack @ Jack and hot dogs from Costco. I miss going with my grandpa to the old Montgomery Ward when Fashion Island mall still existed (now Bridgepointe) I remember when he got into a fight with his neigbor Joe. He took off his Aviators, put it in his shirt pocket, and called him out! haha What a G! I remember running all his errands with him. Had to go to the hardware store, Big 5, Costco, Marina Market, etc. EVERYTHING in his house had a lock to it. Very possesive man. Whenever one of his brothers came to visit, he would convince them to stay. When they had the excuse that they had no clothes, he would unlock one of his cabinets and it would be filled with all new clothes, still had tags on em. Oh how he loved his brothers! I cherrished the memories when him & his brothers got 2gether. Loved that bond! I remember my grandma picking me up everyday from Kindegarden and walking back home hand in hand. *tears... ok, let me stop*

I love them and miss them terribly!!! I wish they knew about Skype cause I would bother them everyday!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3