Nothing much happening today.  That’s good.  That means there is NO DRAMA in my life – just peace and quiet, as it should be.

Drama!  I have had my share of it, especially when I was single and got pregnant.  Talk about turmoil.  My mother told me to leave home, because she was afraid my father would kill me.  I moved into a one bedroom apartment near the University of Hawaii, and found a job as a legal secretary in the attorney general’s office, supporting myself through pregnancy. 

What happened to my boyfriend?  He ran out of my life.  You would think that as a doctor, he would be more honorable, but such was not the case.  What a coward!

Anyway, my friends took me to the hospital and brought me home after I gave birth.  I decided not to return to work.  For one thing, why have a baby if I wasn’t going to take care of it?  For another, I couldn’t afford a babysitter.  So, I went on welfare.  Two years later, my best friend, David, married me and the rest is history.

My husband is my hero!

The last time David and I dined at the Cattle Company Steakhouse in Pearl City was July 4, 2007, the day that his sister, Wanda, died of internal bleeding in the ICU of Castle Medical Center.  We had witnessed her death around 4:15 that morning.  We were devastated, because it was so unexpected.  To cheer us up, we decided to have lunch at the Cattle Company, but it was depressing.  Fast forward two years.  Today, we decided to use a coupon advertising two complete meals for $40 at the same restaurant.  We were happier this time. 

We started the meal with warm molasses bread and whipped butter.  It tasted like molasses – sweet and rich.

That was followed by a platter of appetizers:  Shrimp cocktail, zucchini, potato skins, buffalo chicken, and celery sticks with ranch dip.  Delightful!

Then there was the main entrée.  From a list of beef, chicken, and fish items as well as a list of sides, we chose the rib-eye steak with baked potato and green beans/bacon bits.  We loved the charbroiled steaks, which were grilled to tender perfection.

Finally, we shared a generous serving of chocolate fudge cake and vanilla ice cream.  It was a nice punctuation to a fine dinner. 

What a bargain!  All of this for just $20 per person plus tax and tip.  Look for the special coupon in your Sunday newspaper. David wants me to mention the CLOTH napkins, which added a classy touch.

Are you a movie addict?  By that I mean:  Do you watch any and all movies regardless of content?  David does, whereas I do not.

Tonight, he watched the vampire movie, Twilight:  New Moon.  He hasn’t returned home, yet, so I don’t know how he liked it.  Since he was enthusiastic about the first installment, even saying it was “the greatest love story ever told,” I imagine he will praise New Moon, too.  However, a reviewer on television stated that if you watch New Moon, you will turn into a teenage girl, as that is who the movie appeals to.  I don’t think David will agree with that statement.

My husband does not read books; he prefers television and the movies, renting two per week from Netflix.  No matter how dull a film is, he forces himself to watch it to the bitter end.  I am not that way.  If a movie bores or upsets me, I’ll walk away from it, even when David tells me it will get better later on.  I’ve got better things to do, hello!  Things like blogging, for instance.

David is really wired into mainstream America.  He keeps up with the latest Hollywood offerings.  Unlike me, he knows every single detail of the Harry Potter movies, the Lord of the Rings, Spider Man, and all of the Clint Eastwood movies (as star and director) – none of which I have seen.  Since I am not interested, he sometimes goes to the theater alone to enjoy the special effects on the big screen. 

On the other hand, I have seen Pirates of the Caribbean, and have asked David to let me know when Julie and Julia is released, so I can watch it.  I have already read the book and am curious as to whether the movie follows it closely.

Yes, David is addicted to movies.  Maybe, it’s a good thing he is, as I would not want him to be addicted to blogging and hog the computer!

P.S.  David is back and he said the first Twilight was better, because it had “more action.”

Photos by Ted Trimmer.  Sea life in Ala Wai Harbor:

When they were alive, David and I both addressed his parents by their first names:  Glenn and Bessie.  They didn’t seem to mind.  “You can call me Bessie,” said his mother.  “David does.”  As children growing up in that household, however, David and his siblings addressed their parents as Father and Mother.

On the other hand, my husband still refers to my mother as Mrs. Chung, the only one to do so.  To everyone else in my family, she is Mom.

Why do I bring this up?  Because I want my son-in-law to call me Mom, but David would prefer to be called Mr. Hinchey.  I think that’s too formal.  “Dad” would be more affectionate and endearing.

What do you think?  How do you and your in-laws want to be addressed?

November 20 marks the 3rd anniversary of this blog.  Wow, unbelievable!  How time flies!  Just for fun, here are the stats as of 5:39 a.m. today, as cited by WordPress:

Total Views: 194,480
Busiest Day: 1,185 (Friday, July 27, 2007)
Posts:  1,114
Comments: 4,919

(My own visits to my blog are not counted.)

Through blogging, I have made many friends – some of whom have dined in my home.  I have even blogged about these get-togethers:

http://gigihawaii.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/lunch-with-quilly/

http://gigihawaii.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/bloggers-party-on-sunday/

http://gigihawaii.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/lunch-with-kay-musings/

http://gigihawaii.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/liz-kekoa-and-suzanne/

Since I am retired and no longer deal with the public on a daily basis, blogging is my window to the world.  Just by reading their words online, I know which friends I want to mingle with.

So, mahalo for visiting, folks!

This is a photo of my brother, Dathan, taken on February 27, 1967 when he was 19 years old.  He is standing next to his beloved Yamaha motorcycle.  The photo was emailed to me today by his long-lost friend, who found me via my blog.  Small world, indeed!

Who would have predicted that Dathan would wind up in prison for ten years and then die of Hepatitis C at the age of 55, one month shy of his 56th birthday and six months after his release from prison?  He was such a talented artist and musician.  I grieve every time I think of my brother. 

Prison is a hard place to be.  After Dathan was diagnosed, he was not medicated for the disease, apparently because the medicine was too expensive and prisoners had little clout or value.  The medicine would have lengthened his life.  Instead, he died two years after diagnosis.

These days, his widow, Pat, and I spend quite a bit of time together.  We attend Weight Watchers and have lunch every week, plus we share an interest in astronomy.  We plan to tour the observatories on Haleakala and Mauna Kea in the near future.  Through her, I recall my brother’s happiest moments, when he was being creative as an artist and musician.  She has many amusing stories to tell.

If Dathan were alive today, we all would have so much fun!

Quilly and me at Kincaid’s.

Some of you might remember my party in October, to which I had invited some blogger friends (http://gigihawaii.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/bloggers-party-on-sunday/).  Two of them, Quilly and Amoeba, called to say that they had car trouble and therefore could not attend.  Well, it’s November and Quilly and I finally got to meet each other for lunch today at my favorite haunt, Kincaid’s in Ward Warehouse.  I chose Kincaid’s because it not only has a great view of Kakaako harbor and pretty good grinds, but it also is very quiet, even with a full house.  We could carry on a decent conversation.

Quilly should write a memoir.  Nothing about her is shallow; she is incredibly deep.  Read her blog (http://quilldancer.com/) and you will learn about her months as a homeless person on the mainland, about her close brush with death when a speeding truck almost hit her car broadside, and about her wonderful relationship with Amoeba, who is a scientist.  You will shed a tear, but, yes, chuckle, too. 

Sadly, she and Amoeba will bid Hawaii farewell in mid-January.  They are moving to Washington state, where Amoeba has accepted a position at the University of Washington.  I hope they leave with fond memories of our island state and will keep in touch with us. 

Aloha and mahalo, Quilly!

It’s time to reminisce about our helicopter tour of Na Pali (the cliffs) of the island of Kauai in 2007.  So many people fear helicopter crashes, but, really, it’s quite safe.

We drove to Princeville Airport for a 30 minute tour of  Na Pali by helicopter.  The clerk at Heli-USA told me she charges by the girth not by the pounds.  If you take up 1-1/2 seats, you will be charged 50% more.  We were charged the regular fare for 2 people:  $258 or $129 each.  We also were weighed to determine placement on the helicopter.  Two Danish men and I sat on the left side of the aircraft, while David and the pilot sat on the right side.

The Heli-USA helicopter we flew in cost $1.3 million and was air-conditioned.

The pilot and two men from Denmark sat in front.  We wore headphones so we could hear the pilot speak.

Above the clouds at 2,000 feet.  The helicopter then swooped downward and slanted sideways, managing to make me feel queasy.  But, I’m proud to say, I did not throw up!

Na Pali Coast

River.  We also saw the area where The Bachelor was filmed.

Waterfalls

David and I would love to tour the volcanoes on the Big Island by helicopter.  Imagine flying over the pits and over the molten lava as it flows into the sea!  Fascinating views!

Photos by Ted Trimmer.  Surfing at Rockpile:

The Honolulu Marathon is coming up.  The magical date is Sunday, December 13, and the start time is 5:00 a.m.  I can just feel the excitement, and I wish I could run it. 

If you have been reading the comments on my blog, you probably already know Kay (Musings).  Well, her husband, Art, has been keeping an online journal of his marathon training:

http://artthemarathonmaniac.blogspot.com/

This will be his first marathon.  Yesterday, while training, he hit the proverbial WALL after jogging 20 miles.  He had to walk back home.  The entire trip lasted over five hours, and Kay was frantic with worry.  When he arrived home, he could barely down a smoothie before crashing on his bed for a nap.  I am glad it was nothing more than runner’s fatigue.

Back in 1982, six months after I gave birth to Lisa, I joined hundreds of people at the Marathon Clinic, which met every Sunday morning at Kapiolani Park to prepare for the Honolulu Marathon. I ran with the Beginners Group.

We started by running around the circumference of the park, first once, then four times.  Then, we graduated from that beginner’s run to jogging through Kahala.  Problems ensued.  Like Art, I, too, needed to make a BM.  While he used the restrooms in the parks along his path, however, I had no choice but to eliminate in someone’s front lawn behind shrubbery.  I often wonder what the homeowner thought when he saw toilet paper in his yard!  Ew!

After several weeks of jogging through Kahala, we all piled into chartered buses, which took us to Makapuu Point, where we embarked on a 14+ mile run back to Kapiolani Park.  While leading the pack downhill, I had to toilet myself in the bushes.  That was expected.  When I reached Lunalilo Home Road, however, I began to experience severe chest pain, radiating from my neck down my right arm.  Long story short, I had to slowly walk the rest of the distance, which took more than two hours. 

Following that excruciating experience, I decided not to continue with the Marathon Clinic nor enter the Honolulu Marathon.  Today, I truly wish I were in better physical condition and could participate in such an exhilarating and exciting race! 

Happily, Art has not had problems with his heart.  I HOPE HE WINS HIS AGE DIVISION!  Yay!!!!  But, more than likely, he’ll be glad to just finish.

Photos by Ted Trimmer:

Hibiscus

Plumeria

The Institute for Astronomy presents a free lecture:

“The Magic of a Disappearing Sun”
With
Dr. Shadia Habbal

7:30 pm
Wed., November 18, 2009
At the UH Art Auditorium

For a few fleeting minutes, once every year or so, the Moon intercepts the light from the Sun, creating a shadow band a few hundred kilometers wide on Earth.  It is during this event, known as a total solar eclipse, that stars appear in broad daylight and the intricate beauty of the outer atmosphere of the Sun, or its corona, is revealed.  These are precious moments to witness but also precious for making unique observations of the corona.  This presentation will highlight the human and scientific achievements that accompany the advent of a total solar eclipse.