Hawaiian Holidays!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....White Sandy beaches that is!
While my friends and family are bundled up, enjoying the snow and sipping hot cocoa, I thought I'd post some images of what the holidays look like around here.


Mele Kalikimaka!

Winter is the big wave season on the North Shore. Pipeline is a favorite place to watch the pros get crazy.


Pipeline throws one of the best barrels in the world during this time of year.


There is something fundamentally wrong with a barefoot Santa, showing his bare chest.


Santa wen go for Surf brah!

That ain't no etch-a-sketch. This is one doodle that can't be un-did, homeskillet.

While all of my friends were on the mainland for Christmas, I was stuck in Hawaii over the holidays.....and worst of all with no surf.

Therefore, I treated myself to a movie on Christmas day. I went to see Juno. While at times it was a bit off-color for a PG-13, I fell in love with this movie and cant wait to see it again. Ellen Page plays Juno MacGuff, a smart-aleck 16 year old who struggles with her new teen pregnancy. It was fantastic and reminded me why I love to see a good movie. Hysterical and extremely witty with a great soundtrack with songs from the likes of Kimya Dawson.

It brought a smile to my face on an otherwise lonely day.

Failure in the home?!

I recently wrote a research paper on gang identifiers. Schools across the nation have decided to institute clothing bans. Calumet High School in Chicago has banned black, white, and red clothing. Apparently, these colors are being linked to gangs. Are you serious? Black, White and Red? In Chicago? So much for the joys of childhood and supporting your local professional sports team. Now I for one support taking action to stamp out crime and protect our children, but do these people really think that banning clothing is the answer? Our society is becoming such a sucker for the "quick fix". We even repair the problems that this mentality creates with the same "quick fix" approach. Banning clothing in my opinion is a mere "band-aid" on the problem.

My personal opinion is that these restrictions on clothing are a violation of the rights of our beloved constitution. Adolescence is a complicated time in a young person’s life. I think that children need to express themselves as they struggle to find out where they fit in the “grand scheme of things.” Children should be able to wear whatever they wish so long as it is not blatantly offensive to others (i.e. curse words or sexually explicit material). It is healthy; it creates identity and can even lead to friendships and a sense of belonging.

Banning clothing is not the answer to the issues facing children today. So, what is the answer? If you ask me, more needs to be done in the home. We are failing in our duties as parents. We are failing in the home. "No success can compensate for failure in the home". Is banning clothing in school more important than parents taking an active role in their children’s lives? Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the two teens that terrorized Columbine High School, had guns and explosives in their parent’s home without the parents being even slightly aware. I hardly believe that taking away their trench coats would have saved any lives, however, I would bet that more parental involvement in their lives would have. We are missing the mark and need to reevaluate where to focus our energies. Step up and be a parent. Teach your children correct principles and get involved in their lives.

Portrait of an ENFP - (Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving)

Throughout my years in sales, I have taken the MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) test numerous times. Every time, the results are the same. I am an ENFP. Recently I took a course on Managing the MBTI types. It explained SO much about who I am. Here is a small description of who I am based on the MBTI. It is eerily accurate.
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The Inspirer

ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.

ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their lifetime. To onlookers, the ENFP may seem directionless and without purpose, but ENFPs are actually quite consistent, in that they have a strong sense of values which they live with throughout their lives. Everything that they do must be in line with their values. An ENFP needs to feel that they are living their lives as their true Self, walking in step with what they believe is right. They see meaning in everything, and are on a continuous quest to adapt their lives and values to achieve inner peace. They're constantly aware and somewhat fearful of losing touch with themselves. Since emotional excitement is usually an important part of the ENFP's life, and because they are focused on keeping "centered", the ENFP is usually an intense individual, with highly evolved values.

ENFPs need time alone to center themselves, and make sure they are moving in a direction which is in sync with their values. ENFPs who remain centered will usually be quite successful at their endeavors.

Most ENFPs have great people skills. They are genuinely warm and interested in people, and place great importance on their inter-personal relationships. ENFPs almost always have a strong need to be liked. They excel at bringing out the best in others, and are typically well-liked. They have an exceptional ability to intuitively understand a person after a very short period of time, and use their intuition and flexibility to relate to others on their own level.

Because ENFPs live in the world of exciting possibilities, the details of everyday life are seen as trivial drudgery. They place no importance on detailed, maintenance-type tasks, and will frequently remain oblivous to these types of concerns. When they do have to perform these tasks, they do not enjoy themselves. This is a challenging area of life for most ENFPs, and can be frustrating for ENFP's family members.

The strong sense of values will keep many ENFPs dedicated to their relationships. However, ENFPs like a little excitement in their lives, and are best matched with individuals who are comfortable with change and new experiences.

ENFPs are always consistent in their value systems, which they will impress on their children above all else, along with a basic joy of living.

ENFPs are basically happy people. They may become unhappy when they are confined to strict schedules or mundane tasks. Consequently, ENFPs work best in situations where they have a lot of flexibility, and where they can work with people and ideas. Many go into business for themselves. They have the ability to be quite productive with little supervision, as long as they are excited about what they're doing.

Because they are so alert and sensitive, constantly scanning their environments, ENFPs often suffer from muscle tension. They have a strong need to be independent, and resist being controlled or labelled. They need to maintain control over themselves, but they do not believe in controlling others. Their dislike of dependence and suppression extends to others as well as to themselves.

ENFPs are charming, ingenuous, risk-taking, sensitive, people-oriented individuals with capabilities ranging across a broad spectrum. They have many gifts which they will use to fulfill themselves and those near them, if they are able to remain centered and master the ability of following through.