Tired of answering the door bell

The other day, I saw the first religious missionaries at my doorstep since the start of the pandemic. And, no, I didn’t appreciate their intrusion. One benefit of the pandemic was the scarcity of missionaries. What a blessing that was! I have to admit that I am impressed with their bravery. I know that I would not want to go door to door and have the door slammed in my face.

Grant (Maria’s husband) was a Mormon missionary in Tokyo after he graduated from high school. He still has friends there, who welcome him and Maria when they visit Japan. Grant is a good person. He never smokes or drinks and never uses foul language. He is respectful and humble. Best of all, he never tries to convert me to his faith. I wouldn’t want him to.

I really am not interested in learning more about God. As a child, I was indoctrinated in the Roman Catholic religion. “Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.” I’ll never be anything else.

These days, so many salesmen come to my door. They try to sell me solar, Spectrum, school fundraising tickets, food, and, of course, religion.

I am getting mighty tired of answering the door bell. Maybe, I should glue a “No Soliciting” sign on my door. Somehow, I don’t think it will keep these pests away.

Impact of the military on Hawaii

We do need a strong military to defend our country. Look at what is happening in Ukraine and Gaza. So many people are being killed, and so many towns are being destroyed. If we don’t have a strong military, then we will be vanquished.

And, yet, it is the military that is impacting Hawaii in a negative way. Military and war-making chemicals, like explosives, perchlorate, benzene, and other chemical weapons, seep into the soil and groundwater systems. Such is the case at Kapūkakī, or Red Hill, a military fuel storage facility built to hold up to 250 million gallons of fuel—much of which is used to support RIMPAC.

In 2021, the spillage of jet fuel at Red Hill sickened thousands of people. Due to the ensuing lawsuits and outcry, the Pentagon ordered the closure of Red Hill, which contained dozens of fuel tanks, sitting just 100 feet above our precious aquifer. The fuel has been drained from the tanks and is being stored in other areas of Oahu (aargh!!!), the Philippines, Singapore, and California. Of course, I am concerned that the fuel is still being stored on Oahu. What if it leaks again?

Meanwhile, Kahoolawe remains uninhabited, because it was once a bombing target for the Navy. Bombs destroyed the island’s sole aquifer. Without drinking water, no one can live there. Such a shame, really.

The military has a long history of pollution and environmental degradation in Hawaii. Pearl Harbor, once a pristine area for fishing and diving, is so severely contaminated that it’s an EPA-designated Superfund site.

The PFAS in Kunia’s water likely comes from five Army installations in the immediate vicinity that send their wastewater to the privately owned Schofield Barracks Wastewater Treatment Plant. The tainted  waters are re-used for agricultural purposes, likely causing groundwater and surface water contamination.

Oh, the list goes on.

Yes, we do need a strong military to defend our country.

But, why does the military have to be so stupid and irresponsible?

The pursuit of happiness

Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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It’s been a long time since I went to the beach. The last time was in November 2012, when David and I snorkeled at Hanauma Bay. Now, I have such a hard time walking (even with a stroller), so the beach is out of the question.

I am not in good health. There are so many things wrong with me. My most urgent issue right now is high blood pressure, probably due to the stress of being David’s caregiver. My BP hits 170/100. So, Dr. Ricalde has taken me off Telmisartan and has prescribed Hydralazine. Let’s see if it works. I can’t take Amlodipine (causes leg swelling) and Lysinopril (chronic coughing). He also took me off Hydrochlorothiazide, as it decreased my sodium to below normal level.

If I die of a stroke, then, too bad. Adios, amigo. Nice knowing you.

My friends are still traveling the world. How I envy them! Karen just returned from Dubai and Egypt. Suzanne returned from Japan. And Vicky will be spending a month in France. These friends are all my age (78), but they are in better health.

Meanwhile, I pursue happiness in a less aggressive way. I have my music (violin and stereo), TV (Asian dramas), computer (blogging), and luncheon guests (family and friends).

Nothing spectacular. Haha.

David: First shower in a month

David had his first shower since coming home a month ago. He no longer takes sponge baths in bed.

This is what the bathroom looked like after his first shower:

It was quite miraculous. I cannot believe how the occupational therapist managed to solve the problems inherent in giving this big man a shower. Believe it or not, numerous rehearsals had to be accomplished before the actual shower took place.

First, the wheels of the walker had to be turned inward in order to squeeze through the tight doorway.

David had to approach the shower bench, then turn the walker to the right, sit, swing his legs over the tub, and slide. Then, Julie, the bathing aide, had to remove the left leg brace. Then, she proceeded with the shower. She told David to shampoo and soap himself. She then sprayed him with water, trying not to get water on the floor.

After the shower, David was dried with a towel. Then, 2 bath mats were placed on the floor. He then slid along the bench and swung his legs over the tub while leaning his right hand on the vanity. Then, his brace was placed on his left leg. Then, he stood up, holding the walker. The bench and David’s butt were dried with a towel. Then, he sat down and was dressed by the aide. Then, he leaned on his walker, stood up and walked out of the bathroom.

Whew! All of this took an hour. David was absolutely thrilled with this amazing feat.

Door lock with lighted keypad

One of our biggest fears is being incapacitated at home and unable to open the door for the paramedics. Yes, we are in our seventies and not in good health, so we do worry about such things.

We decided to order a Kwikset door lock with lighted keypad from Amazon. It cost $120.

Lisa was in town recently, so she installed it for us, using 4 AA batteries. (Sorry for the blurry photo):

Voila! This is the door lock on the inside:

And here it is on the outside:

We press the lock icon on the keypad to lock the door, and we press the passcode to unlock it.

To see it at night, we press the check mark to illuminate the numbers.

We do have a key to manually unlock it if we choose to use it.

We must remember to keep the lock on the door knob unlocked, or we would have to use a different key to unlock it.

If we want to change the passcode, we can do so.

Overall, it’s a great lock and very convenient for us and for the paramedics.

“Poor Things” or “Orange Days”?

David and I have different tastes when it comes to movies. Recently, he watched “Poor Things,” which won an Oscar and Golden Globe award this year. It’s a raunchy porn film, in my opinion. The female lead (Emma Stone) is a nymphomaniac, who engages in wild sex with a guy she is not engaged or married to. The sex scenes in this movie are so graphic that they leave nothing to the imagination. To me, it’s disgusting. But, David loved it. The whole premise of the story is crazy, i.e., a goat’s brain can be surgically implanted in a human, and when the human awakens, he immediately behaves like a goat. Yes, “Poor Things” is supposed to be a comedy. You’ll need a weird sense of humor to appreciate it.

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Meanwhile, I watch Asian dramas on Netflix.

“Orange Days” is a Japanese movie about a young violinist, who goes deaf. She tries to play the violin in an orchestra, but is kicked out, because she is “dissonant,” being unable to hear the pitch of the notes she is playing. She has more success playing solo piano in a hotel. She imagines the music in her head as her fingers stroke the keys, but, sadly, she cannot hear a single note. Eventually, she has surgery. Some hearing is restored, and she is able to function better in society. I loved the music she played in this movie. Beautifully done.

As you know, I am a violinist, who studied music in New York and Hawaii. I can’t imagine going deaf. What an ordeal that would be. It got me thinking about how I take my ability to hear as well as see for granted. It would be dreadful to lose either sense.

However, if I had to choose, I would want to keep my ability to see. I am more dependent on my eyes than on my ears. I cannot imagine the hardship I would have to endure if I could no longer read, write, cook, drive, or find things in my house. Blindness would be devastating and intolerable. More so than deafness.

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“Orange Days” is a much better drama to watch than “Poor Things.” I recommend it highly.

I’m truly an early bird

Hotels along Waikiki Beach on Oahu, Hawaii. (National Geographic)

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I am truly an early bird. I go to bed at 8 pm and wake up at 1 or 2 am. Yes, that’s only 5-6 hours of sleep, but I function okay. I try not to nap during the day, as it makes me groggy.

I like this sleep cycle, because I relish the peace and quiet of the early morning, when David and the neighbors are all fast asleep. This is when I collect my thoughts and give thanks for having such a beautiful place to live, a brand new car to drive, and enough money to live on. I am so blessed! You can’t believe how grateful I am to have these material possessions. Thank God I am not homeless.

I also love to remember beautiful people, who brightened my life. My beautiful Aunty Bobbie, for instance, had such a beautiful face and figure, and wore such beautiful clothing and jewelry. She also had a beautiful voice and personality. How I loved Aunty Bobbie!

I also love to reminisce about my adventures around the world, having been an intrepid traveler when I was healthy and well. Not to mention all those wonderful restaurants, concerts and shows, as well as art exhibits that enhanced my daily existence.

Oh, there are so many ways to start my day. Why not begin with positive, happy thoughts? Never start your day by thinking about evil politicians and ugly wars.

When I wake up at 1 or 2 am, I make myself a cup of iced Americano and put a blueberry muffin on my plate. After that small breakfast, I sit at my computer and do some blogging. The tap tap tap of the keys wakes up no one. It’s so peaceful to be alone with my thoughts, as I express myself through writing. I have been writing since I was a little girl. Writing for me is as easy and necessary as breathing in and out.

So, there you have it. I have now finished my blog post for the day.

Ciao. Adios. Aloha.

I love you. I love my life.

Door Dash is super convenient!

David is improving daily, but very slowly. It is highly unlikely that he will be able to dine in a restaurant any time soon. He would need a wheelchair, which would be difficult for me to haul out of the car.

So, how can we enjoy restaurant food, when we tire of Gigi’s cooking, without having to drive to a restaurant?

Door Dash is the answer. Have you heard of it? I added the app to my iPhone and was offered a 40% discount off my first order and 30% off subsequent orders (up to $7 each) for the next 30 days.

So, I decided to order Chinese food. The subtotal for 4 dishes was $54. Plus a service fee. Plus tax. Plus Dasher (Driver) tip. Then, minus the $7 discount. The grand total was $64. Yes, it was quite expensive. However, this meal was enough to feed 4 people. Since there were only 2 of us, David and I split the meal over 2 days. It was great to eat delicious Chinese cuisine twice.

This is what I ordered.

Food was delivered to my doorstep:

Egg Drop Soup:

Crab Rangoon:

Beef with Ginger and Green Onions:

Mixed Vegetables Chow Mein:

It was delicious!

P.S. Door Dash delivers more than restaurant food. They also deliver flowers, alcohol, desserts, pet food, etc. Their list of participating local stores is awesome!

Ever heard of “Shipt”?

The worst part of my life is hauling the groceries up the ramp and into the house. It really hurts my back to carry a case of bottled water up that steep ramp. I always dread grocery days.

So, it made sense to sign up for Shipt, a home delivery service from Target. I called up Target, and they gave me the number for Shipt. Shipt charged me $99 plus tax for an annual membership. It was a great investment!

Shipt will deliver your items on any day as early as 8:00 am. You can schedule days in advance. The only requirement is that your order must exceed $35.

I ordered my items online, using the Target app. I indicated that I wanted home delivery and gave the time I wanted delivery. In my case, it was 8:00-9:00 am the same day.

I had my smart phone nearby, as the shopper texted me regarding items that had to be substituted. She also got my items from the back storage room, when they were not on the shelves in the store.

After check out, the shopper arrived in her car and brought the bagged groceries to my door step. I was glad that the groceries were in plastic disposable bags and not in boxes, as bags are easier to carry to the kitchen. It was such a pleasant experience:

Later, I was emailed my receipt and asked to tip and rate the shopper. I usually tip 10% (although 20% is recommended) and indicate what I liked or disliked about the shopper. This tip is charged to my credit card. I am then emailed a receipt for the tip. By the way, 100% of the tip goes to the shopper. Yes, the tip does add to the cost of groceries, but we are physically handicapped and have no choice but to pay these shoppers to shop for us.

Oh, what a blessing Shipt is! Shopping is now a breeze!

Suzanne, another good friend and artist

My friend Suzanne was my high school and college classmate. She majored in Psychology at the University of Hawaii and received her Master’s of Education from the University of Oregon. She is now married with 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

After retiring from the federal government, she took art lessons from an artist, who taught her how to use the palette knife. She used the knife when she painted her landscapes. Now that she focuses solely on abstracts, she uses brushes, markers, trowels, and rarely the knife. Her abstracts now employ mixed media such as acrylic, water soluble paint, ink, crayon, and paper — all on canvas or boards.

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Over the years, I have purchased five paintings from Suzanne.

“Autumn in Japan”:

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“Golden Gate Bridge”:

Suzanne and her painting at the Honolulu Country Club art show (2014):

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“Party Time.” Can you see the glass of pink champagne, the confetti and the pom-pom?

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“Calypso.” To me, this looks like a wedding bouquet. Or Big Bird (“Sesame Street”) looking down at Little Bird:

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“When Words Fall Away” won a monetary award this year (2024). I fell in love with it and immediately purchased it. It’s my newest, and perhaps final, acquisition:

This is Suzanne, posing with her painting at The Arts At Mark’s Garage exhibit in downtown Honolulu:

Suzanne excels in both genres: Landscape Art and Abstract Art. I love all of her work.

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David, Suzanne and Mike (her husband) having dinner in my home:

Suzanne, David and my other friend, Karen, having lunch in my home:

With friends at Lynette’s home:

So, cheers to my good friend, Suzanne, a very talented artist!