IT'S BEEN AWHILE.....

I haven't blogged for almost two weeks now. I've been meaning to post up a review of our War Theme Movie Night but I'm still waiting on my other two comrades to let me know their thoughts of Kill Gen. I haven't had any family news to report, but I thought I could let you all know what I'm starting on Monday.

Tonight I pretty much had my last whatever 'I can eat meal' before I start my long months of training. My brother in law, as you all may know as my sister Lucy's husband Taani, is a black belt in Judo and was trained in Japan. His taken the job as our personal trainer - putting Lucy, Boi and myself through six months of fitness program. Each of our program is specifically designed for each of us. Boi's program is to improve his agility for Gridiron aka American Football for this Season and Lucy & I have a program to obviously loose weight and be fit.

My reasons for loosing weight has nothing to do with self consciences, rather I want to have a more healthier lifestyle and live longer. I'm hoping that my smoking would cut down to a ZERO, but I have to play mind games to make myself believe that I don't need it. This week I've been waking up at 5am (a struggle let me tell you!) and walk for 40Min's hitting the hills before I start work. Starting Monday though I have a fitness program and here's how it follows:

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY
5am
Walk/Jog which involves 1min walking then 100m light jog rotating through out for 30Min's. By the end of two weeks I should be able to jog the whole 30Min's.
Then it's 3 sets of 5 sit ups, 5 push ups and 5 squats - 30secs rest between sit ups, push ups and squats. By the end of the month my reps would of increased and I should be able to do men's push ups when I build more strength in my arms as well as loose the weight.

Afternoon
I walk to Lucy's place and Taani trains me for an hour which involves, steps, boxing and Judo self defense moves.

TUESDAY & THURSDAY
Afternoon
Training with Taani

SATURDAY
5am
Boi, Lucy, Taani and myself hit the beach. Sand Dunes and Swimming

SUNDAY
Rest Day

WHAT I HAVE TO EAT FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS....
Breakfast
Piece of Toast - Vegemite
Piece of Fruit

Lunch
Salad with only a small amount of meat

Dinner
Is after training @ Lucy & Taani's place - Mainly Vegetable Soup

During the two weeks I'm NOT allowed to have any Butter, Oil, Full Cream Milk, Juice, Soft Drinks or Carbohydrates. Went early this morning to the fruit market where you buy in bulks and I can honestly say that my fridge is got nothing but fruit, vegi's and a lot of water. I also have to keep a diary of my work outs done, what I ate, how much sleep I had and be very honest. Taani reads my journals and works out my program for the following week and see allowances for other food I can eat and whether to increase my program or change it. Boi's eating plan involves meat and vegetables, so he can eat a lot of that but no carbohydrates.

Also NO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION FOR THREE MONTHS! Which means I won't be drinking when I go to the KINGS OF LEON Concert in March!!! :(

I guess my sudden determination to be more healthy was the scary reality that heart problems run in the family (The Tohi Family) and Diabetes Type 2 runs in my mum's family, which you see gives me a higher risk of having both these later on the track. So in order to prevent it, I have to change what I do. It also gives me the chance to spend a lot of time with my siblings and do this as a family - helping to push and encourage each other. Plus this is going to help me with something I'm planning to do in September. But I'll let you know about this WHEN I get accepted. :)(It's make or break time now)

So get in it guys! Get Fit, Live Longer and Enjoy the great things that Life has to offer!!! :)

DINNER QUESTIONS

The most interesting concept came to mind when I was engrossed watching an NCIS behind the scenes of Season 4. As you may have gathered from little inserts in a few of my blogs. I'm an avid fan of the TV Series. The cast of NCIS were gathered at a resturant called Smoke House in California. The backdrop was pretty intimate. Deep red leather booths were aligned against the wall - obviously the resturant was roped off for the cast to enjoy their dinner and answer questions that fan's had sent in.

This concept lead to a hypothetical situation, if all of us cousin were gathered together for dinner. Probably not the same place, obviously there's no way we'll get the resturant roped off because we arrived (well unless you found enough family to actually book out the entire restruant - lol).

The entire family is gathered at the table. We decided all to learn ASL (Sign Language) for family on the other side of the table that can't hear the conversation that has started on one end. It was pointless practising the art of chinese whispers because we would of figured out that the question that we'd asked orignally had somehow changed after passing through six people.

So this is my thought. What if we all decided to write two questions each. It could be directed to the entire family or one individual - What would your question be? It would be a very interesting topic of conversation and the best part is that you wouldn't have time to construct an intelligent answer. It would be bluntly honest and would reveal more of your character to the family.

I'm just getting to know Ben really well. It's weird because I've known Ben all my life - But I didn't really KNOW him. For example how he interacts with others, what annoys him, what he enjoys etc. I would honestly say I got to know Bec before I did my own cousin. Then there's family that I automatically fuse with and feel I've KNOWN them all my life. That would have to be Deb (and Glo too, to an extent - we'll I know what she likes and dislikes. Glo loves Techology with a CAPITAL "T". I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Boi is more in sync with her in that department). Deb we exchanged a few emails two years ago and then I meet her in the flesh in July of 2008. When I walked into our cousin George's apartment and Deb jumps up with opens arms with a huge smile on her face and says to me; "Cousin!!!". It just felt like I only saw her yesterday. It's like I didn't wait twenty-one years to meet her face to face.

I'm not saying that I didn't get along with Ben. It just painted a clearer picture that each one of us are different - that depending on our upbringing and how often we saw each other. I took for granted my cousins in New Castle. I saw them every school holidays when I was growing up. But as adults now - a whole new light has dawned. Ben is the most loving, most caring cousin and I've even started to call him my brother now. His just there for me. It's funny when I look at it now because I'm like five years his senior - but I'm so comfortable to call him when something is bothering me. I love that. His just a great listener and I've told you this before Ben - but you remind me so much of my dad (and I absolutely LOVE that about you!! :). "Bene qui latuit, bene vixit" latin for One who lives well, lives unnoticed. (This latin phrase refers to how proud I am of you!!!)

I don't want to leave anyone out. Each one of my cousin's have a quality about them that I admire or aspire to. Miya - his just one of those guys that pushed for family time. His a natural born leader and encourager - "Semper Fidelis" also known as Semper Fi latin word for Always Faithful. Seti - undying love and honor for the family. I see it when he helps out the family. Marven - lol is a great storyteller and knows the family connections pretty well. That when he talks about family and tells you stories. It's like you've met them before. He lives for the moment.

There's other cousins as well - that I'd love to have one on one time with, to find out what makes you - YOU. But for now I leave you with this....

Concordia res parvae crescent - Work together to accomplish more.

MILITARY ALPHABET

Three days has passed since our 24hour Random Mission, so I decided to called Ben tonight and we had a few good laughs, planned what movies we're going to watch for our War Movie Night next week and even started learning our Military Alphabet. I've got it packed down now after an hour of practicing and it was even fun feeding Ben three to five letter words and having him spell it back to me with the Military Alphabet.

Here's what Ben and I went through:

Ben's DOB = TOO.FOWER.AIT.WUN.NINER.AIT.SIKS
Lil's DOB = TOO.FOWER.NINER.WUN.NINER.AIT.WUN

Ben = BRAVO.ECHO.NOVEMBER
Bec = BRAVO.ECHO.CHARLIE
Lil = LIMA.INDIA.LIMA
Boi = BRAVO.OSCAR.INDIA
Sou = SIERRA.OSCAR.UNIFORM
Hal = HOTEL.ALPHA.LIMA
Mia = MIKE.INDIA.ALPHA

I'm going to ask the rest of you to post your military radio names on the comments area below (Three Letters though - easier to spell lol). Here is the alphabet

A = ALPHA
B = BRAVO
C = CHARLIE
D = DELTA
E = ECHO
F = FOXTROT
G = GOLF
H = HOTEL
I = INDIA
J = JULIET
K = KILO
L = LIMA
M = MIKE
N = NOVEMBER
O = OSCAR
P = PAPA
Q = QUEBEC
R = ROMEO
S = SIERRA
T = TANGO
U = UNIFORM
V = VICTOR
W = WHISKEY
X = X-RAY
Y = YANKEE
Z = ZULU

MISSION - 24 HOUR'S OF RANDOMNESS

Last week I had our Aunty Heena and her boyfriend Erin stay over for a couple of days before she headed off to New Zealand on Saturday. Aunty Heena prefers that we call her cousin instead, considering that she is younger than me (lol). Heena is Eliki King's daughter and Eliki King is actually Grandma Tuki's brother from New Zealand. Which makes Heena - Uncle George, Vaha, Voi, Villi, Maka and Aunty Lile, Betsy, Iula and Sela their first cousin.

I worked on New Year's Night and Henna came over in the morning. So we decided to head up to New Castle. We left home at midnight and arrived at Central Station at 12.50am, but had to wait for the train to New Castle to leave the station at 1.45am. Heena nodded off to sleep before our trained moved and I was entertained for three hours watching NCIS Season 4 on my new portable dvd player. Who ever invented that is a life saver. The trip didn't hurt as bad this time. We arrived 5.30am in Telarah and poor Bec had to wake up and pick us up from the station. As soon as we got in I decided that I'll wake our cousin Ben up. I had missed the crew from New Castle heaps.

I walk in and jump on the bed and lifted Ben's arm up. He squints and takes a double look, realising that I was there and turns over mumbling; "I was dreaming about Guitar Heroes". And dozes back to sleep. Bec and I talked for a few hours, while we went through pictures from her birthday and of the girls, while catching up with family news. Boi had woken up from the recliner and headed straight to the garage to have his fix of Guitar Heroes. By 8am I decided to steal Boi's bed in the garage and catch up on sleep. Only this was short lived when Ben started sweeping the garage around 10am. I could hear that Ben had finished cleaning and the room was silent. I decided to open one eye slightly to see where he had gone. The last thing I needed was for him to play a prank on me. As I slightly opened my eyes, I caught Ben's little smirk just in time when he wrenched the garage door open flooding the dark garage with the early morning light. "I knew you were going to do that!" I said laughing. Ben can be sneeky at times and I regret now that I didn't jump on him and draw on his face with Bec's makeup that morning.

Our 24hours in New Castle was unplanned, but I'm sure Heena and Erin enjoyed themselves as we played Guitar Heroes for 24hours, played pool, rode Ben's Dirt Bike and cracked a few beers and spirits.

Just being all together - Sou, Boi, Bec, Ben, Heena, Erin and myself having a great laugh, rockin' on Guitar Heroes and even Heena stealing a win on the pool table that shocked us all. Especially when Ben's team had only the black ball to sink and Heena with her Yellow Cruisers and six balls behind, including the black - took the game and had the spectators jumping up at her unbelievable win. Even Uncle Voi's kids came down for a few hours - Eden, Wesley and Josh. And as usual Wes likes to play the smart alec to the older male cousins. Let's just say Wes ended up with a huge wet wedgy and a painful helicopter swing by the undies from Boi (lmao). We even witness Sou with his ten metre stack on the dirt bike and he even has a swollen ankle to prove it (lmao). But that is another blog to tell all together. (lol - sorry Sou, I had to tell).

I'll be sure to post up some pictures when I get a hold of our Aunty Heena...lol and give everyone our detail night chatting till 3am (4am for the boys) and getting up at 6.45am to catch the train to get Heena back to Sydney in time for her flight (lol).

HOW I SPENT MY NEW YEARS VS HOW MY FAMILY SPENT THEIRS...

So I worked on New Year's Eve, arriving home an hour and half prior to midnight. So I decided I'll have my last shower for 2008, clean the house, chuck a hissy fit at the person who didn't refill the cordial bottle and blog on my KOL profile. It was ten minutes till midnight, the house was clean and I was at home alone with five cats. All of them whinging to be let out, but due to past experiences all of them had to be lock down with me till after the fireworks had finished or I would be greeted with a four thousand dollar vet bill if one of them decided to run across the street to hide because they were scarred of the crackling lights.

"Three minutes till midnight and I'm drinking vodka alone." I said sighing when I checked the time on my laptop. I slam the laptop shut and nurtured my fifth glass of vodka and headed to the lounge, switching the TV on. My laptop must of been slow because the fireworks were blinding blarring me into shock. I'd missed the count down and tipsyly sat on the couch watching the fireworks pop and sprout into to rainbow coloured lights. Leo crawled onto my lap and curled into a ball purring. I gently pat his head and whisper "Happy New Year Silly Cat."

The fireworks were as boring as my night alone on New Year's Eve. Hearing people's geniunely fake comments on how great they were made me realise I was a little bitter on how my night turned out. "Bull!" I said sacastically scoffing the screen footage of people being interviewed by host asking what they thought, so I killed the power and head to the room. I decided to start watching NCIS Season 4. I'd become addicted to the show four days ago and had managed to watch one season of NCIS a day. Not episodes, but SEASONS.

By 2am the phone rang and I relunctantly had to pause Gibbs in the middle of his dialogue. I decided to answer the phone as if I had just woken up. "HAPPY NEW YEAR LILLIAS!" The mystery caller wished me. I could tell it was a long distances call and it dawned on me that my favourite Aunty Betsy from the States had called to wish me a Happy New Year! I immediately smile and wish her the same in return. Apparently while I was surfing the net on New Year's Eve, I had gone on Aunty Betsy's Bebo page and SOS her how I was spending my NYE. My SOS comment on her page must of triggered Aunty-C's motherly instinct of sympathy for me (lol), but regardless of the reason I was just glad she called me. So we talked till 5.30am - I love my Aunty C to bits.

Meanwhile......

Up the coast in a place called New Castle, Maitland. My brother Boi and cousins - Sou, Si'i, Kat, Ben and his beautiful fiance Bec were partying like it was 2009 at the club. And here are the pictures to prove it.


Sou, Boi & Bec



Boi & Bec struttin' their Blue Steel Poses



Kat & Bec hanging at the Bar



Sou, Boi, Kat & Bec on the dance floor



Boi, Sou's body & Ben trying to show 'some' muscles...lol



Sibling Photo - Ben & Kat



Sou & Ben (Still trying to figure out what Sou's doing????)



Bec & Sou (You can tell Sou has had a few because his smiling lol)



Boi & Ben

I don't think I need to explain what they got up to for NYE - the pictures speak for themselves, compared to my night *signals one thumbs down (I missed the count down and I was drinking by myself) and one thumbs up (because Aunty C called! :D)*