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| Sunday, 29-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Happy Leap Year Day! And Thank You, Jeff & Claudia!
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Hi Jeff & Claudia (and Oscar & Lucy)...
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We loved your OR treats, esp. those balls of choco-hazelberries!
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The next day, T picked one up from the floor (or so he thought).
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''We're going to Denny's for breakfast, a buffet for lunch, and a steakhouse for dinner,'' she said. ``They all give free dinners to leap year birthdays. I mean, you can't beat that.'' ~Source
There is justice in the world, after all... Today is that extra day that makes 2004 a Leap Year.
~~~
Yesterday, T brought in a package that was delivered and left on our front porch. It was from our friends, Jeff and Claudia, up in Oregon.
Do you know about Oregon's "official" nut? We were soon to learn that it's not Jeff. He's their "unofficial" nut. The "official" nut of Oregon is the hazelnut. That crunchy brown nut, also known as a filbert, with that rich, buttery, sophisticated taste.
In short order, we became very intimate with Oregonian hazelnuts. Under the brown packaging and plaid wrap was a boxful of Oregonian treats: bars of chocolate laced with hazelnuts; balls of chocolate-covered hazelnuts; hazelnut toffee; a hazelnut pancake mix with marionberry syrup; salted hazelnuts and raspberry and marionberry perserves and Oregon salmon. It felt like Christmas in February!
Well, within seconds, we downed the hazelberry chocolate bar. Yum! It was quickly followed by the uniquely delicious balls of chocolate-covered hazelnuts, accompanied by a good read of Central Oregon with lots of gorgeous scenery pictures.
We are easily tempted by pristine scenes... and Oregon's state treasure, the hazelnuts. Won't be long, I think, before we're up there visiting our friends. Their gift box was better than anything from Harry and David's in December!
Thank you, dear friends!
>> Friday 13-Feb-2004: Jeff and Claudia Arrive!
>> Saturday 14-Feb-2004: Valentine's Day Up in the Mountains & Ed's 90th Birthday
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| Saturday, 28-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Flowers from Gylene
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"Angels are students in Heaven and teachers on Earth."
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"We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another..."~ Luciano de Crescenzo
I am battle weary, having fought the symptoms, albeit waning, of the Fujian flu for going on two months now. Recovery, while steady, has been slow, and its last vestiges of fatigue, a congested chest and persistent cough, are tenaciously stubborn. And last week, allergies added insult to injury.
All of February, I was well enough to not stay at home, as there are those who depend on me being at work for their livelihoods, as well those for whom I provide direct services. I do not have the luxury of staying home full-time to nurse this flu right out of me.
Those February days never felt so long. Trudging through them, I found my biggest challenge came at day's end when I would stave off the deep exhaustion setting in by mustering and willing every bit of inner reserve to keep on doing my best.
Whining and boo-hooing is not my style, but my stoicism was fraying. My brave front was crumbling. Inwardly, I'd find myself plaintively observing: "I am soooooo tired..." These words would later find expression only to one person, T, my husband and confidante, in the privacy of our home.
Last Thursday evening was heading South for me, when Gylene came by. It has been said: "People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel."
I shall always remember how Gylene made me feel: She made me feel cherished as a friend. She made me feel blessed to have a friend as dear and thoughtful as she. Her ebullient spirit lifted my flagging spirits, and I was recharged by her galvanic presence.
We went on and on, as friends do, chatting away, remembering Beulah, getting caught up with our all-too-busy lives, and making plans for the next Read-Aloud, a reading promotion program that brings volunteer readers into our local schools.
This photo will help me remember that evening. Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat (she is a master showwoman), she surprised me with this most glorious of bouquets. The stargazers and lush ranunculus blooms brought me such cheer and a timely brightness in contrast to last week's dark and stormy days.
Forget the aspirins, antibiotics, decongestants and antihistamines, the best tonic of all was the lovingkindness of a true friend. Gylene MADE me feel better! She gave loft to my crumpled wings, and I feel like I can fly again.
"Did I ever tell you you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be, I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath wings."
~ From the song by Bette Midler, from one of my favorite movies, Beaches.
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| Friday, 27-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Photo Challenge 13: Food
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A Mickey Tart
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Brennan's Red Velvet Cake -- Yum!
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My favorite dinner: T's best-ever, home-made spaghetti!
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The photo challenge is on here.
The subject is food, one of my all-time favorite subjects.
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| Thursday, 26-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Silky Voices: A-smooth-as-silk way to start my day...
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Teresa Bright: With a silky voice that soothes and caresses.
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Margo Timmons: "With the voice like silk" ~Juli
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This morning, on The Desktop thread in the Community forum, I was reminded by fellow fotopager, Juli, how much I love silky voices. Describing one of her desktop fotos, Juli wrote, "Margo Timmins with the voice like silk." This piqued my interest and I commented:
I too was curious about the voice as smooth as silk (that Juli mentioned)...and indeed, after I searched for a clip of her voice on Amazon, Margo Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies has it! Most distinctive. Thanks for sharing.
There is a marvelous Hawaiian singer, ALSO with a voice of silk. Her name is Teresa Bright. Click here and listen to Nani Kaua`i for a visceral reaction (or as we say in Hawai`i, chiiiiiiicken skin!). A different genre from Margo's, perhaps, but silky and heavenly, nonetheless.
For a Teresa sampler with incredible treats for silky-voice lovers, click here. Hard to imagine, but Teresa even makes the Hawaiian War Chant sound silky!
Such gifts bestowed upon these women, and now to our ears.
* Photos above are from TB's album cover and from MT press. I do not claim authorship of either.
>> Another interesting site that Juli's entry pointed me to: http://terraserver-usa.com/
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| Wednesday, 25-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Namaste!
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"I honor the place in you
where the whole universe resides.
I honor the place in you
of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place in you, where,
if you are in that place in you,
and I am in that place in me,
there is only one of us."
Namaste is a beautiful word, so simple and meaningful. It means "The divinity in me greets (or salutes) the divinity in you!" The meaning of Aloha and Namaste are virtually identical. Click here for the true meaning of Aloha.
Namaste is not only a word, it is also a gesture of greeting or acknowledgement, expressed by pressing two hands together and holding them near the the heart with the head gently bowed as one says, "Namaste."
Fortunate to work in a multicultural area, I serve people of every race, of myriad ethnicities, and from all walks of life. My life has been greatly enriched by this diversity.
I rarely shake hands with those I serve. Although I have never refused a handshake, with small, delicate hands, I sometimes find a large hand thrust in front of me, Western style, ominous. Powerful handshakes can be darn painful. In Hawaiian fashion, I prefer to "honi" them. I gently "hug" with my face close to theirs in a kind of sharing of "ha" (cosmic breath), which is mana, prana, or qi, depending on your culture.
Sometimes, if they are older than me and from the old country (from Japan, Korea, or China), I bow deeply and respectfully, eyes turned to the ground.
Yesterday, a Thai greeted me in her country's tradition with palms pressed together in a graceful prayerlike gesture known as a wai accompanied with the bowing of the head. Bowing back, I returned the wai. Later in the day, a Hindu namaste'd me. Putting my hands together and slightly bowed my head and shoulders, I namaste'd back.
Each was such a simple and elegant gesture that honors the sacred in each person. A day later, the beauty of their gestures linger, and I find myself learning more about them and writing about them here to remember and acknowledge them...and you: <wai><namaste>
>> Learn about Wai here.
>> Learn more about Namaste here.
Addendum: Tippy is my co-worker and she added to my knowledge of wai. She is Thai, born and raised in Thailand for her most of her early childhood before coming to America. She briefed me on the finer points of wai. An older person of one generation does not wai back a younger person of another generation, as doing so "shortens the older person's life." As examples, children wai their parents, but parents do not wai their children. It is very okay for contemporaries of the same generation to wai one another.
Since Tippy could be my daughter, she wai'd me. Such a graceful wai it was!
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| Tuesday, 24-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Questionnaire 2
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Favorite Feature of the Opposite Sex: His Kind Eyes
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Favorite Meal: Sushi with Sake or Sapporo Beer
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Favorite Color: Purple
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I received this e-mail from my dear friend, Kalena, who lives in Washington State. She's right, I responded, although I may not be the first to do so. (Busy week!) She sent me Questionnaire 1, earlier in the summer. I enjoy doing these questionnaires, as they make me think and clarify my values. They help to sift out the chaff from the grain in my life.
Welcome to the next edition of getting to know your friends and family. What you're supposed to do is copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste it onto a new e-mail that you'll send. Change all of the answers so they apply to you. Then, send this to a whole bunch of people you know *INCLUDING* the person who sent it to you.
The theory is that you'll learn many little known facts about your friends. It's fun and easy. You might be surprised with some of the things you learn about people you think you know...
1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
Big Bear, CA: We're doing exactly that right now, building a house, that is: http://ah.fotopages.com/
2. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?
Sweatshirt, especially a well-worn, soft and baggy one like the one I am wearing right now.
3. FAVORITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?
His eyes. (Very kind)
4. THE LAST CD THAT YOU BOUGHT?
Josh Groban's. Keali`i Reichelâ??s latest releaseâ?¦KE'ALAOKAMAILE was a gift, and it is now my most listened to CD. My review is here (Aunty D).
5. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
In a deep, steaming hot bubble bath, up in Big Bear, with a good book, great winter wonderland view out of the window, a glass of merlot, soft music (preferably Keali'i, IZ, Moe, Kenny Rankin, Bach, or Josh), and lots of candles.
6. WHERE'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
Downtown LA. Or in a dense crowd. Or in a line.
7. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGED?
Shoulders and feet, but I'll never complain if I got a full-body lomilomi (Hawaiian massage) as I got at Aunty Margaret Machado's house in Kona.
8. WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, STRONG IN MIND OR STRONG IN BODY?
Both are equally important, but since the mind leads...
9. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE IN THE MORNING?
Whenever T wakes up. Right now at 5:30, since he's teaching an 8 AM class. Aaargghh! Once I'm up, I'm up. I would prefer to wake up at 7:30!
10. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
The refrigerator, specifically the water dispenser. I love water. Plain, unadulterated water.
11. WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY?
Broken promises. Let your "yes" be "yes", and your "no" be "no". Yes and No does not mean "maybe" or "when I finally get around to it." I am no Bible thumper, but this scripture is right on: â??But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.â?? ~ Matthew 5:37
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12. IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A great voice, like Oprah's pop star challenge winner's (LaShell). Very portable.
If a great voice is not to be, then a lap harp.
13. FAVORITE COLOR?
Purple (Obvious, isn't it?)
14. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV?
Neither. A hybrid or an electric car would be my ideal. Both are much kinder to the environment.
15. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE?
Not a matter of belief. I know. I am Heaven's reject. Been there, done that.
16. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK?
(Books were and still are my passions; impossible to pick one)
* Golden Books
* Horton Hatches the Egg
* Little House on the Prairie books
* The Secret Garden
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
* Summer in Big Bear
* Winter in Hawai`i
* Spring in Italy
* Fall in New England
18. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
God's omniscience -- and the wherewithal to deal with all that knowledge.
19. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
I have none. Life changes. Interests shift. Tastes mature. I'm glad I never got one, because if I did, I'd be stuck with something etched into my skin that I had outgrown. And tattoo removal is not only expensive, it hurts!
20. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
Yes, three hacky sacks at a time, but very slowly and with a severe lack of grace. Not a skill I aspire to master anytime soon.
These are the stupid human tricks that I can do (and more info than you need to know):
- turn a plastic straw inside-out with my teeth
- wiggle my left ear, arch my left eyebrow, and flare my nostrils
- tie a knot in a maraschino cherry stem with my tongue
- write upside-down
- read upside-down, almost as fast as I can rightside-up
- curl my tongue into an "O" and twist it to the right (but not to the left)
- hula hoop for hours
- blow a bubble on the tip of my tongue, and with the right spit viscosity (a glass of milk prior to performing the trick helps), blow it gently off my tongue and let it float off.
Huuuuu......
Try this stupid human trick: While sitting, make clockwise circles with your right foot. While doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. Your foot will likely change direction. Interesting!
21. THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO?
My grandmother. She was the most influential person in my life.
22. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
Sunday, sweet Sunday, with nothing to do. Hazy and happy, I'll drift through the day, counting the hours away!
And Thanksgiving Day, my favorite holiday.
23. WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR?
Spare tire and jack, first aid/emergency kit, and not much else.
24. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
Sushi by Abe-san at Sushi Ichiban in Big Bear, although an In-and-Out double-double really hits the spot, every once in awhile.
25. FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WILL E-MAIL THIS TO, WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
? (Surprise me)
26. WHO'S LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
?
27. WHO DID YOU RECEIVE THIS FROM?
My friend, Kalena from Washington State
28. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CARTOON?
Fantasia
29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL?
Sushi with Sapporo beer. Sometimes with hot sake in the winter.
30. WHAT IS YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE?
(I love movies; to pick one is impossible)
* The Enchanted April
* Life is Beautiful
* Like Water for Chocolate
* Jerry Maguire (script)
* The Last Samurai
>> More of my favorites here and here.
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| Monday, 23-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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The Desktop
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Hawaiian Eye's Desktop
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Home is Where the Heart Is
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| Quote: | | Liz wrote at http://discuss.fotopages.com/viewtopic.php?t=206: your desktop says a lot about you. from what picture you have it set to, to the icons you use. take a screenshot of your desktop and share them with us, if you aren't too shy |
I am shy, but, as you can see, not too shy...
Home is Where the Heart Is.
Weekdays, I work in the suburbs of the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles.
I am a displaced islander.
Most weekends and for part of the summer, I escape to my island in the sky,
Big Bear, where my heart dwells full-time, where:
I unwind, savor, renew, invigorate, connect, refresh, and return time and time again...
There,
I find peace in nature and lift my spirits in the garden;
I seek the solitude of the forest;
I comfort my soul.
I escape to the mountains;
where I seek the serenity of the lake;
and refresh my spirit.
As I write this, a fresh blanket of snow now covers Big Bear:
Live Mountain Cam ~ Live Lake Cam
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| Sunday, 22-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Amavelis Meets Her Grandson, Austin Kai
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Paternal grandmother, Amavelis, flew down from San Francisco...
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to meet her grandson, Austin Kai. Sheer joy!
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3 generations: Samara, Jonathan, Austin Kai and his grandmother.
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The last time we saw Amavelis was at her son Jonathan's wedding to our goddaughter, Samara, five years ago. Once again, Amavelis flew down from San Francisco for a happy occasion, this time to meet her grandson, Austin Kai, and spend two precious days bonding with him.
This morning, we made a quick run over to Jonathan's and Samara's to drop off Sue's delicious artichoke dip with Jonathan's favorite, a baguette; have a quick visit with Austin Kai (how he's grown!); and personally congratulate Amavelis. The tremendous joy of grandparenthood was written all over her face. Such beauty! 
I asked her if she's going to be known as "Grandma" or "Abuella" (Spanish for grandmother) or Abuellita (the endearing form of abuella). She says she wants to be called whatever is Austin Kai's first spoken word!
Now THAT's original!
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| Saturday, 21-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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Happy Birthday, Sue!
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Happy Birthday, Sue!
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Smooches for the birthday girl from Alana & Jeremy.
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Sue's kitchen:the gathering place of chefs;the rest, stay out...
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We were hoping to get together with Sue, Samara, Jonathan and Austin Kai to celebrate Sue's February 16th birthday this weekend...
This is what a wonderful and sensitive person my friend and sister-of-the-heart is: Amavelis, Austin Kai's paternal grandmother, was down for the weekend from up North. This was her first meeting with her new grandson, and Sue, Austin Kai's maternal grandmother, wanted to make sure that Amavelis had exclusive time to bond with him.
Ooooooh! Okaaaaaay, so we moved on to Plan B: Make dinner for Sue anyway!
Then, we learned Alana was going to be up from San Diego. She had sprained her ankle doing a gymnastic maneuver, and Jeremy would be driving her up. It worked out great, as the birthday dinner also served as a planning session for the "Meet and Greet Austin Kai'" brunch with the extended 'ohana, hosted by Aunty Alana, herself.
It was a delightful dinner. And the brunch is now planned.
>> A memorable past celebration of Sue's birthday. We had so much fun!
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| Friday, 20-Feb-2004 00:00 |
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A Stroll Down Memory Lane
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Boy's Day, 1957: Our little house with three bedrooms
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Our 1958 Ford Station Wagon
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Fifties' aluminum tumblers
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My friend, Jill, e-mailed me this stroll down memory lane. The Fifties...those were the days. As for my home state, Hawai'i, its first television station began broadcasting in 1952. Television reception to our island, however, did not arrive until 1960, as one of the first broadcasts I watched on our then brand-new Zenith television in Pahoa Hawaii was President Kennedy's funeral. We had only one station. Channel 9 (CBS).
Some of you were very young , maybe just a baby or weren't even born yet, but these were simpler times.
A little house with two bedrooms and one car on the street,
A mower that you had to push, to make the grass look neat.
In the kitchen on the wall, we only had one phone,
And no need for recording things - someone was always home.
We only had a living room, where we would congregate,
Unless it was at meal time, in the kitchen where we ate.
We had no need for family rooms or extra rooms to dine,
When meeting as a family, those two rooms would work out fine.
We only had one TV set and channels - maybe two,
But always there was one of them, with something worth the view.
For snacks we had potato chips, that tasted like a chip,
And if you wanted flavor, you made Lipton's onion dip.
Store bought snacks were rare, because my mother liked to cook,
And nothing can compare to snacks in Betty Crocker's book.
The snacks were even healthy - with the best ingredients,
There was no label, with a hundred things that made no sense.
Weekends were for family trips, or staying home to play,
We all did things together, even go to church to pray.
When we did our weekend trips, depending on the weather,
No one stayed at home because, we liked to be together.
Sometimes we would separate, to do things on our own,
But we knew where the others were, without our own cell phone.
Then there were the movies, with your favorite movie star,
And nothing can compare to watching, movies in your car.
Then there were the picnics, at the peak of summer season,
Pack a lunch and find some trees - and never need a reason.
Get a baseball game together, with the friends you know,
Have real action playing ball - and no game video.
Remember when the doctor used to be the family friend,
And didn't need insurance - or a lawyer to defend
The way that he took care of you, or what he had to do,
Because he took an oath, and strived to do the best for you.
Remember when the country, was united under God,
And prayer in schools and public places, was not deemed as odd.
Remember when the church was used for, worshipping The Lord,
And not used for commercial use, or for some business board.
Remember going to the store - and shopping casually,
And when you went to pay for it, you used your own money?
Nothing that you had to swipe or - punch in some amount,
Remember when the cashier person, had to really count?
Remember when we breathed the air, it smelled so fresh and clean,
And chemicals were not used on the grass, to keep it green.
The milkman and the bread man used to go from door to door,
And it was just a few cents more, than going to the store.
There was a time when mailed letters, came right to your door,
Without a lot of junk mail ads, sent out by every store.
The mailman knew each house, by name and knew where it was sent,
There were not loads of mail addressed to: "Present Occupant".
Remember when the words "I do" meant, that you really did?
And not just temporally, till someone blows their lid.
There was nothing as "no one's fault;" we just made a mistake,
There was a time when married life, was built on give and take.
There was a time when just one glance, was all that it would take,
And you would know the kind of car, the model and the make.
They didn't look like turtles, trying to squeeze every mile,
They were streamlined, white walls and fins - and really had some style.
One time the music that you played, whenever you would jive,
Was from a vinyl, big holed record called a forty-five.
The record player had a post, to keep them all in line,
And then the records would drop down, and play one at a time.
O sure we had our problems then - just like we do today,
And always we were striving - trying for a better way.
And every year that passed us by, brought new and greater things,
We now can even program phones, with music or with rings.
Oh the simple life we lived, still seems like so much fun,
How can you explain a game - just kick the can and run.
And why would boys put baseball cards, between bicycle spokes?
And for a nickel, red machines had little bottled cokes.
This life seemed so much easier - and slower in some ways,
I love the new technology but I sure miss those days.
So time moves on and so do we - and nothing stays the same,
But I sure love to reminisce, and walk down memory lane.
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