It Was A Strange Time in My Life....

More things have happened since last updates! Wow, almost too many to count. In terms of my work at Hawaii State Hospital, it has been an amazing experience for me. I have met such wonderful people, my boss has been compared to an 'angel' by more than one person, and my friend James listens to my show every week. The clients are even more incredible. I have the best rapport with a Native Hawaiian gentleman with a mild learning disability and possible Schizophreniform Disorder. All we do is tell stories all day, like about Pele and jumping into the volcano on Maui! He calls himself "Hawaiian Superman." We pull taro together down in the lo'i, which is hard work but incredibly rewarding.

School is hectic as usual, and next week I have to start child assesment. I have no doubt it will be difficult, but I also have faith in myself as a caring person who most will trust and speak to.

I have had about 10 billion DJ gigs all over town, most of them paid! This is a pleasant change for the 'working for drinks' ethics I used to see in San Diego and Edinburgh. I'm quite pleased with how this aspect of my life is working out. I do need to work more on my music, however. My friend Tracy and I are currently reworking the lyrics to 'Running In Circles,' so we'll see how that goes. I also feel that I should be trying to play live, even with old material. I would love to contribute something to the small but burgeoning indie music scene here in Oahu. Just writing that sounds super patronizing, but the truth is I really do love it!

My personal life has been a bit of a mess. Ever since Glenn broke up with me it seems I've been trying to fill this void that he's left by dating people that are, frankly, beneath me. I think I'm finally pau with that now. I want to actually try to be single (first time in four years). I think it will allow me to really take stock of who I am and what I want, instead of focusing on someone else. This time I'm really going to try to take it one solitary day at a time.

The final blessing in this has been my friends. I have made so many new friends here in Oahu. It seems I am never without something to do. Only last week I jumped into the cove next to China Walls with an old friend and two new ones, the sun dancing off our backs (and burning us to a crisp.) Directly after this I went to Kareoke with some different people, and the next day I had a beach party with someone else. The amount of friends I have made makes me feel truly loved, and in fact was sorely lacking in my life in San Francisco.

So the old cliches of "up and downs", and "never a dull moment" fairly accurately describes this year thus far. I will endeavour to balance it all a bit better in the coming months.

Aloha For Now,

Rach