Aloha Monday Everyone
Before I get started with
anything, let me give some props where props are due. Congratulations to one of our
mainstays and most valued instructors Keala O'sullivan and the entire Long Beach State Women's Water Polo team. With a tough 2009 schedule they managed to finish the season with a comeback win. We all know how tough she is but for those of you that don't, she broker her finger blocking a shot and days before the game had pins taken out so that she could play in the Big West Tournament this weekend. Great job Keala and we will look forward to seeing you down at the beach this summer! Check out her article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin at:
I Hope it was a great weekend for everybody. As usual we were blessed with perfect weather and some of the nicest conditions yet down at Barber's Point. It just keeps getting nicer and nicer
down there. That outer reef that protects us from the big waves rolling through put some work the past few days and there's supposed to be a nice south swell holding all week. Anytime
there is a South Swell in Town it resonates through the city and everyone seems to be a bit happier and lighter on their feet. Hmm...I wonder if there is any correlation between surfing and happiness? I'm sure those of you that have surfed can relate. If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about then get your butts out to Hawaii and come surf with us! Sorry to be so demanding but you can tell that I kind of enjoy teaching people to surf...mostly because of how stoked everyone is once they get out of the water at our beach. Seriously though, you should come surf with us!
Prior to this last week I had a chance to play "Goin'Back to Cali"on my Ipod and actually be going back to Cali at the same time. I had a some time to meet with some old friends, spend time with new friends, and of course the familiar faces of the majority of the Miller Family that resides in SD. If I could have imagined a perfect weekend away to
San Diego it
couldn't have panned out any better unless the Padres and the Chargers
could have played on the same weekend. (Wow, just the thought of that was amazing) Except for a few kinks in the plans all went smoothly and some good times were had by some amazing people. (Matt D, Me, Matt B, Brian, Dusty,
all high school friends pictured here) It's always great to get a reminder of how much the people in your life that you Love and that Love you, really do matter and should matter every day you're here. I almost had to attach some deep thought music with that sentence right there. I do have those from time to time. So anyways on to the trip...
The weekend started with a night in the Gas Lamp district
where I would end spending most of my time. If you visit San Diego you have to check this place out. Ever since Petco Park where the Padres play has been around things are super nice down there and makes for a good night out at any of the various clubs and bars all within walking distance of each other. (My nephew Nick, my brother Chris, and I pictured here) My friends and I had some VIP service at the Ivy Hotel which is a pretty big deal for me. It's not too often I get a table at a night club so you can imagine I savored every moment. The place was really well designed and was a lot of fun. Its a great hotel to stay at if
you're think thinking about a visit to San Diego anytime soon. The club was great and we all had a lot of fun. Yes for any of my friends that are
reading yes there was a minor miscommunication and almost meltdown but that was
soon forgotten and everything worked out fine. Good friends can always get over pretty much anything.
I basically called Downtown home base since my brother Chris and my Nephew Nick (thanks Chris for not having him older than me) and I had a room at the Omni Hotel. (Sunrise view of Coronado Bridge from the Omni Hotel and ball park view above) This is another unreal place to stay that is actually connected to the Ball Park. If you're a baseball fan you can't
go wrong with rooms that actually look down onto the field. The first of the two games I was treated to some Press Box
and refreshing adult beverages that were as cold as the Rockies not to mention a great view from the Third Base line, life was good. The next game was from a bit further away but still was pretty cool. In the Upper View area they have a nice lanai with a bar where you can stand and watch the action and have a bit more room to move around. 
My sister Kim and brother Brad made it to this game so it was pretty cool to have four of the six Miller's in one place having some fun. Even if the fourth was watching the game from his room in the hotel. With 2 games attended and 2 games won that put the stamp on a sweep of the San Francisco Giants and a great time in Downtown San Diego. I love living in Hawaii but I also will never forget my roots and what helped me to become who I am today. Much of it Mexican food and In n Out Burger. Hawaii is great but so is San Diego and the people that reside there. Like I said before
we need to be thankful for those people that we have in our life whether they are geographically close or not. Life is all about the connections we have with each other. Some are brief and some stick around for the entire ride. Those that stick around are the ones that are special and make life worth living. The more positive energy you exude in the Universe and amongst others, the more good things will happen as a result. I was fortunate to have received a text message while in San Diego from the Finch family that knows all to well what it means to be thankful to have the people we love still around us now. They came surfing with us last year and were lucky enough to make it back for a second round. This is where I'm done and I will let Mama Finch tell the story for you. A huge mahalo to Mrs. Finch for writing this and to the entire family for allowing us to share surfing with you all. This time around Justin had it down and Mom was right there with him along wth his cousin (I'm pretty sure it was a cousin). Aloha to the Finch Family and everyone else out in the world that takes the time to read these
even if you do just look at the pictures...(Come on seriously read one I know I'm a bit verbose at times but I try to make it worth your while) Aloha from the entire Hawaiian Fire Crew and see you next Monday. You stay classy San Diego!
Our first trip was last year when the Make A Wish foundation sent us to Oahu. My son had
a disease called Severe Aplastic Anemia. The Make A Wish foundation asked Justin what he would want for his wish. He had two wishes. He wanted to meet Will Smith or go surfing in Hawaii. Fortunately his wish came true to learn how to surf. His brother Jeremy (who is in the Army National Guard now) was his perfect match to save his life. We have continued to be blessed by God by the miracles that he has given to our family. One cherished Miracle was our trip to Hawaii. We met Ryan and the other dedicated instructors a year ago when our family learned how to surf. We had such a wonderful time that we had to come back again this year. You guys are so awesome and patient. We visited Ryan, Erica, and Kuazoo last week when we visited Oahu for our Spring Break. They have taught my son Jeremy not to give up. Last year he had a hard time getting up and staying up on the surf board and this year he tried it again and really accomplished his challenge. They also taught me that a 40 year old woman can learn how to surf. It was so fun. I am going to show my surfing video to the students in my classroom. They will get a kick out of this. My husband Steve enjoyed watching, video taping and taking pictures of our family as we surfed. We will never forget you guys and we will see you in the future. My son is completely healed and you guys have helped him have very good memories of his childhood. If you would like to visit Justin's site. Here it is and we would like to thank Ryan personally for signing Justin's site. www.caringbridge.org/visit/justinfinch
Love,
Jennie Finch from Alabama
CONGRATULATIONS to former Hawaiian Fire surf instructor Kira and her husband Ryan! While at their annual family Easter get-together on the North Shore, Kira started getting contractions and put it off because she (1) has never had a baby before and didn't know if she was hungry or if it was actually "time" and (2) because she was having so much fun with her family at this party. Shortly after that, she sent a text to her friends at 2pm saying that her water broke! Another text followed only about an hour or two later saying that she gave birth to a baby boy and was in labor for just 21 minutes! For those who know Kira, this doesn't sound too surprising. Kira said that she started pushing at the stoplight right before Queen's Hospital while Ryan was driving like a madman trying to get her to the front door of the hospital. Shortly after that, I arrived to see the new baby and to bring her ice cream cake per her request. She didn't even seem tired even though she had already told the story a ton of times before we got there. I guess that baby Roberts really wanted to go Easter Egg Hunting! They still haven't decided on his name yet so I'll Twitter that when she decides on it.
We brought new life to the Hawaiian Fire store the other day. Sometimes it gets difficult juggling the surf school with finding time for friends and family, but we squeezed in some time to bring new life to the store. It was actually the first time I've ever painted something like this but Kevin knew what he was doing. Do you like it? Too bad Ryan wasn't here to help but he is still in San Diego hanging out with the family for a few more days. 
