Advents Corner

Gulf oysters have always been available for my enjoyment, even as a kid.  My first experience with gulf oysters was when my Grandfather and uncles were sitting on the front porch shucking them.  I was about 8 or so and had never had a raw oyster before.  My Uncle Tiny popped one open, turned the shell up to his mouth, and opened wide.  I could not believe he did that so I had to try.  Let’s just say I never developed a taste for them raw but I will knock you down to get some fried.  With new post-harvest processes being developed such as IQF, HCP, and HPP having raw oysters is becoming safer every year. 

Jeff Healey the blind artist who sang the wonderful song Angel Eyes has passed away at the age of 41 after a very long battle with cancer.  Diagnosed with cancer at the age of 1 which claimed his site, Jeff was self taught on the guitar.   Please enjoy the video, it is a beautiful song.

Matt is off and traveling again.  He goes to Miami, then Canada, then Phoenix, then back to Las Vegas.  I want to go with him to Canada or Vegas.  When Mom and Dad move down maybe we can talk them into watching Lani for a day or two and I can fly out with Matt and get a cool Vegas hotel or something and get some alone time.  I wish Lani was a little bit older then we could just pick her up and go to but she is still a little too young to be flying all over the place.  Don’t get me wrong I don’t want her to grow up any faster than she is already.

This video is courtesy of two boys from the Big Island.  They are the number one subscribed comedians  on You Tube.  They have about 40 videos uploaded.  Everything from How to be a Ninja to How to be Emo.  Ryan Higa age 17 and Sean Fujiyoshi age 16 are students at Waiakea High School and according to them they produce the videos because the Big Island is one of the most boring places ever.  LOL 

Listed below is the consumer reports top 11 worst cars to own.  These are not listed in a particular order. 

JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED

HUMMER H3

JEEP LIBERTY SPORT

CEVROLET AVEO5

DODGE NITRO SLT

TOYOTA FJ CRUISE (Matt and I were actually looking at one of these at one point)

TOYOTA YARIS

SUZUKI FORENZA

JEEP PATRIOT LIMITED

CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER LT

MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS

It is really no surprise to me that a Mercury has made the list.  I had a Mercury Sable once and it stayed in the shop more than it did in my driveway.  I hated that car so much.  It does surprise me that Jeep has so many on the list and Toyota has a couple.

At some point in our lives we all have to think about term life insurance and do we have enough. Do not wait until something bad happens to think about this. In times of sorrow is not the time to be worried about insurance and expenses. We are thinking about it now that we have a trip to Asia planned. We are also writing up a will for our family just to be prepared in case of the unthinkable.

We are off the aquarium today.  Lani loved it so much last time that we thought we would go back today.  We are also going to pass by two houses in Valrico that Mom and Dad are looking at on line and we want to see if they look as good in real life.  Michaela has a couple of character parties today and tonight her and I are going to go see The Best of Momix at the performing arts center, it should be a lot of fun.

I had the chance to try a new shampoo and conditioner called naked naturals. One of the first things that got my attention was that this hair care product is all natural. Now wait before you flip the screen, I am not here to tell you that you should wash your hair with this stuff because it is a natural shampoo and you could save the environment and all of that stuff, which by the way would be a good reason, but I am not talking about that.

Naked Naturals for color treated hair is made with awapuhi and lavender. The first thing you notice when you pour the shampoo in your hand is that it is clear, perfectly clear then you smell the aroma of lavender. The lavender just fills the shower and you start to relax for those few moments of quite time.The next step is the conditioner. I dye my hair from time to time and my favorite part of the entire process is the conditioner. It just always makes my hair so soft, I call it super conditioner. To my surprise Naked Naturals has a “super conditioner”. After I let the conditioner set in my hair for 3 minutes and started to rinse it out, my hair was instantly soft. Combing my hair out after my shower is usually a task but tonight it was so soft and smelled so nice.

Give it a try and you will not be disappointed.

This is how desperate people are for change. This hit my email box today and I thought it was my civic duty to share it with you.

WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANYU.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete. This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq this action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning. Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict.

This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there. The other list contains every one not on the first list. Most of the world’s nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening. Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.

THEN EVERY YEAR THERE AFTER IT GOES TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SO IT WON’T GO BROKE IN 20 YEARS. The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption. Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France. In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home.

On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France or maybe China. I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bonne chance, mez amies. I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded, and crushed. I don’t care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch you’re precious Benzes, Beamers, and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.

A special note to our neighbors.

Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.  Mexico is also on List 2 its president and his entire corrupt government really needs an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra thousand tanks and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put ‘em? Yep, border security. Oh, by the way, theUnited States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway.

Immediately, we’ll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country’s oil needs for decades to come. If you’re an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, “darn tootin.” Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America it is time to eliminate homelessness in America

To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won’t forget.

To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.

God bless America Thank you and good night.

Last night just shortly after midnight Jennifer Lopez gave birth to their twins.  The girl weighed 5 lbs 7 ozs and the boy weighed 6 pounds.  No news yet on their names but I am sure it will not be long before we find out. 

I found this documentary about the Hawaiian Islands highlighting the plastic pollution that is going on.  It is not just a problem in Hawai’i but all over the world.  I have attached the trailer but please visit the Message in the Waves website and you can download a pal version of the film.  I think the islands are the most beautiful places on earth, please help keep them that way.

When Lani was born she would sit with Matt at the computer desk and he would play Jack Johnson all the time.  Because she was a preemie we felt it was necessary to have her as close to us as possible and her bonding time with Daddy was spent at the computer listening to “Do you remember” She loved his cd so much that for 2 months when we were in the car that was the only cd we could play.  Thank goodness we all like Jack.  Now he is on the cover of Rolling Stone. 

His music is simple yet thought provoking.  If you don’t believe me have a listen to Good People or The News.  I often wonder also how news casters can make it through the news without crying.  I can’t, really.  Matt does not like it when I watch the news because I can not make it through a cast without crying. Thanks Jack for giving us good quality music the whole family can listen too.

I love being a Mom.  I think I am better at it now that I am older but I have always loved it.  Lani gets the benefits of more patience that I wish I had when the older girls were little.  My oldest is 17 years old and last week she asked me to get the tangles out of her hair.  It is little things like that that make me happy.  Just knowing that she would ask me to brush her hair means the world to me.  Here are 21 things you can do to help you enjoy being a Mom.  One of my favorites is number 3.  I loved taking a bath with Lani.  Now that she is older and can stand we take showers together.  It is nice to just bring her in there with with me after a long day of work and she thinks it is so much fun to be in there with Mommy.

1. When you’re tired, hand your kids a brush, point to your head, and tell them to play beauty parlor. When you’re really tired, pretend that you’re Sleeping Beauty.
2. Take your mother to a spa. While you’re both getting seaweed wraps, tell her all your favorite memories of growing up.
3. Take a bath with your infant. Make sure your husband is around for the handoff, so you can relax until the last minute. (Don’t forget to smell your baby right afterward. Heaven!)
4. At the end of every summer, take a family photo for the holiday card (you’ll be happy to have this accomplished once December comes). Every year, add a framed 11-by-14-inch print to your front hall. Your kids will be proud now and laugh later at the funny styles.
5. On St. Patrick’s Day, dye the milk and eggs green and turn the furniture upside down so your home looks like total chaos. When your little ones wake up, tell them that the leprechauns came.
6. The next time you have to go to a boring kiddie activity, invite another mom-friend along. Hide wine in sippy cups for the two of you to nurse undercover.
7. Play Freaky Friday with your husband and switch roles for a day. Enjoy his renewed appreciation for his Super Mom wife.
8. . In the dead of winter, fix some snacks, get under warm quilts, and watch Happy Feet on DVD. Tell your kids you love them even more than the penguins love their chicks.
9. Go to the beach in the off-season. Throw rocks in the water and collect shells. Put them in a vase and use it as shelf decor in your living room.
10. Skip the Raffi and Barney. Turn your kids on to Bob Marley, They Might Be Giants, and Gwen Stefani.
11. Take your baby out to the movies at night. (Infants love the dark, and loud trailers make them snooze immediately.) Then you can sip your soda and munch your popcorn in peace.
12. Buy yourself that fancy watch, strand of pearls, or whatever piece of expensive jewelry you’ve been lusting after. Justify your purchase by rationalizing that you’ll pass it down to your daughter (or son’s wife) eventually.
13. Take your kids to live music performances from very early ages. Cheap ones outdoors are great to start with in case you need to make a hasty exit (like when a diaper explodes).
14. Use your kids as an excuse to do the things you want to do, like going to silly feel-good movies, eating mac and cheese for dinner, and jumping in the moonbounce. Use your kids as an excuse to get out of things you don’t want to do, like going to a wedding or office party.
15. Every Mother’s Day, have a picture taken with your kids. Keep the photos all together - along with special cards, ticket stubs, mementos, and anything else that makes you feel good about being a mom - in a shoe box. (Of course, you must get those new shoes you love in order to do this correctly.) Every year, look through your Goddess Mom box and see how much your kids have grown.
16. Give your kids quiet time every day. Let them learn to be by themselves with books, crayons, or blocks.
17. Let your whole family take a day off and hang out in pj’s all day long.
18. Rent Sex and the City on DVD, and reminisce about the days when you were single and the biggest problem you had was whether the “He” of the moment was going to call. Let the romance of your youth seduce you. Then remember that, despite your freedom, all you really wanted was to fall in love and have beautiful babies.
19. Pitch a tent in the backyard. Use it as your outdoor reading room. Or when there’s a full moon, plan a family campout with sleeping bags, a transistor radio, and s’mores, of course.
20. Invent a house fairy. Give her a name, and tell your kids that she is always watching them and counting up their good deeds.
21. Listen for the deep, happy sighs that come after your kids play or laugh really hard. Tuck them away in your heart.

The FAA is investigating the pilot and co-pilot of the Go! airline that were flying from Honolulu to Hilo.  The pilots flew past the island and were unreachable by radio for a full 25 minutes.  After heading 15 miles out to sea the plane was turned around and landed safely. 

This is pretty scary.  We took an interisland flight while we were there and believe me they are very short flights.  You go up and you go down and it is over.  I can not image not only the pilot but the co-pilot as well falling asleep during such a short flight.  Thank God no one was hurt.

Jason Tagle was crowned the Musubi eating contest winner by L & L Hawaiian Barbecue company on Saturday.  Jason was able to eat 10 1/2 musubi in 5 minutes breaking the previous record of 9.

I seem to be putting on a little weight again.  I don’t know what it is.  I am still watching my portion sizes and I am really not a fan of junk food.  I guess it is time I start walking or something to insure I keep the weight off.  I don’t think I am ready for diet pills just yet. 

Here are six signs that your job sucks

1. You ask your new boss for supplies and she hands you a No. 2 pencil and legal pad — and nothing else.

2. You were shown to a cubicle your first day of work, given a company manual and haven’t spoken to anyone since.

3. You get the same reaction every time you tell someone about your new job and employer: Raised eyebrows and “Really? … Good luck with that.”

4. After two weeks on the job, you are already halfway to becoming the employee with the most seniority.

5. You answer the phone while the company’s secretary is away from her desk and find that the voice at the other end is a collection agency calling for the third time that week.6. You notice that every day for the last week, at least one person has run crying from your boss’s office.

Does any of this sound familar?  If so, maybe you need to start looking for a new job.  To read the entire article click here.  You should always try to be happy where you work because it affects you entire life not just your work life.

This goes to show you that you can make musubi with anything.  L & L Hawaiian Barbecue needs contestants for its Musubi Eating Contest.  Let me just say if you have a chance to get some food from L & L do it.  They catered Lani’s luau and the food was amazing.  Can’t get there for the contest, make your own.  Check out this quick recipe you can make at home.  If you don’t like spam you can put just about any meat or veggie on it you want.  Have fun with it.

We are getting so excited about Mom and Dad moving down.  I hope they get a yard big enough at the new house that maybe we can ask them if we could put up a swing set for Lani.  Our yard is junk so we can not put a swing sets back there, not to mention the dogs would bother her when she would go back there to play.  Maybe we can convince Grandma and Grandpa to let us put one up in their yard because they always have such pretty landscaping.  Then again if Lani has a swing there that would be just one more reason for her not to come home.  LOL

This was sent by one of my aunty’s and I liked it so much I thought I would post it.  I hope you enjoy it.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson.  The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.  The family ate together at the table.But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult.  Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.  When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.  ‘We must do something about father, said the son.  ‘I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.  There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden
bowl!

When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.  Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.  He asked the child sweetly, ‘What are you making?  Just as sweetly, the boy responded, ‘Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.’  The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless.  Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.  Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.  For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family.  And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.