Wow! 2008 is just around the corner!

The plane touched down at about 6:00 a.m. on the 10th of January. I had slept most of the 8 hours that we travelled from Honolulu.

I had Kukui nuts for nieces and nephews, shell lei for my grand-nieces and grand-nephews; a lei for Father, for Tina & for Dee (which my friend Kamakea gave to me upon my departure)... and books from The Ho`ulu Hou Project... and myriad other treasures for aunts, uncles and cousins...

The lei were beautiful... I proudly wore mine on the plane. I was so emotional... Kamakea and I had not been able to get much time together during my 3-week trip¹... yet, here I had with me the results of her loving work... Neither diamonds, silver, nor gold compare with the value of a lei which comes from the heart of a dear friend. A mere "Thank You" cannot capture the gratitude of such a lucky recipient as I.

I got off the plane at approximately 6 am; boarded my limo (ok, it was disguised as an airport shuttle bus! Did I mention that my Secret Service code-name is "24/7 Vocal Chords!") and ended up in Hammond... to await my father who was picking me up.

Standing there without a coat (in 20-degree weather), a stranger stopped and asked me if I were wearing plastic (lei)? "No!," I exclaimed. These are the "Real McCoys." I held up the bags (which Kamakea had so carefully put the lei in -- one slightly watered, the other, not) and he inhaled... and smiled at me and told me how lucky I was. Contrary to the image that friends have of me, I coyly replied, "it's true," as I closed my eyes and imagined the veracity of his statement.

He proceeded to get into his car... and his wife (I presume) started tugging at him, so before driving off, he rolled down his window and yells, "Aloha!" I replied "Aloha" to him... and I laughed... Here in Hammond², Indiana, how often had anyone used this expression, adopted into the English language from the Hawaiian language? <g> I have a distinct memory from about 35 years ago of one such instance³...

I spent the 10th and 11th running around the state of Indiana delivering treasures obtained during my visit... First to Tina's... then Dee's... then to Kelly's... next to Harv's... then to Dani's... On to Missy's... Heather came next... then Jeff's... and to Rachel's... I wound up leaving Jenni's treats with Tina...

On the 12th, Dad and I made our excursion onwards to our home in Missouri. I remarked to dad at the irony: My flight from Hawai`i (which took 8 hours) was actually shorter than his and my journey -- via highway -- from Lafayette, Indiana, to Thayer, Missouri (which takes 8-9 hours)... I finally got to rest in the a.m. of the 13th... and did not awaken until a.m. of the 14th, a Sunday! It's true... I was comatose! <g>

Whew! After that, it was time for a vacation! <g>

I got my computer re-connected to the internet... My latest high-tech obsession is Internet Scrabble. If you are the least-bit interested in this wonderful word game, you must check out The Internet Scrabble Club. But, be warned! You may not see friends and/or family members for days or weeks thereafter!

So, the past few days have whizzed by... as I have been stuck to my Scrabble screen... I've played with Kathy... and a player in Florida... one in Colorado... one in Texas... and one in Malta...

And, after I finish this entry, I'll return to Scrabble... so, only thing I can think of at the moment is that if the past few days are an indication... I'll being saying Happy New Year 2008 before I know it! <g>

In fact, while trying to catch up on current events, I was happy to hear that Barak Obama has (effectively) decided to run for President in 2008. His announcement caught me off guard -- I had expected it on Thursday (based on my comatose state of over-hearing a CNN report on Sunday or Monday: they must have reported Tuesday; but my comatose brain had mistaken the reporter to have said Thursday).



"Why am I happy?" you might be asking. Because I have been impressed with his podcast, his writing, and his outlook. But, more importantly, because I think that his presence in the Presidential 2008 Campaign process is bound to have a positive impact... regardless of outcome. So, for those of us who enjoy the political goings-on of American civics, sit down, buckle up and hang on! <g>

Finally I have met a cyber-associate on Scrabble. He has contemplated blogging himself... In reviewing his blog, I stumbled upon the (in?)famous site The Onion.

I occasionally visit that site; but an article that I discovered there today really captured my attention. With all the brouhaha in our society about the "institution of marriage," The Onion had an excellent perspective in this article, about gays demanding library cards! It was an entertaining look at what has become an absurd discussion in the media, generally, and among the anti-religious, specifically.

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¹Kamakea had been in Vegas for much of the time that I was in Hawai`i... and (on the day prior to my departure) the weather had not co-operated with us getting together at Aku Bone Lounge...
<sup>2</sup>My dreams of Hawai'i were deepened when, at the age of about 9, I joined the First Baptist Church of Hammond... And I remember how diligent I was to attend in order to get my charm for my Ten-Commandments bracelet... and to bring friends so that I could be entered to win... you guessed it!... a trip to Hawai`i! Every Sunday, I lusted in my heart to be the one who would score points to have my name move up on the board towards the award of Grand Prize... Every Sunday the clowns would be on the buses entertaining us kids... Every Sunday the Hula girls would be down on the stage as the contest was re-enforced in all our minds...
³ditto

Celebrating Birthdays according to Hobbit Tradition

On January 8, 2007, Kathy & I had the great privilege to join Rebekah & Pete; Pi'i & Irma; and, Pat & Karen; for the purpose of celebrating Rebekah's Birthday (which, in 2007, falls on January 9)! According to my calculations, Rebekah was a toddler when (in 1951) the U.N. opened its HQ in New York City on her birthday... Interestingly, Professor Severus Snape (of Harry Potter fiction) was born on her 9th Birthday.

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We met at Aku Bone Lounge to listen to the music of Holunape...

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What we didn't know before arriving, however, was that the celebration was to be in the spirit of a Hobbit Birthday Party... whereby the celebrant presents gifts to the guests! Now, this is my kind of party!

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While Holunape blessed our ears with their beautiful sounds, friends from the audience were invited to perform hula accompaniment... Pi'i made sure that we snapped a foto of this beautiful dancer...

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Irma was amazed to find this special T-Shirt! "What is special?" you may be asking... Irma's surname appears at the bottom of this shirt. Irma lives in Paris and Tahiti depending on the time of year... She spent the holidays in Hawai'i this year...

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Without fail, Pi'i and Pat enliven any event with their presence! Here they are making us belly-laugh... I remember something about the Aku Belly which were among the many dishes on which we feasted... others included cabbage and corn beef, tai (a type of fish -- very ono!), lamb (decadent!), and poi...

We washed all the kaukau down with Beer, Wine, and other delightfully fruity drinks!

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Everyone enjoyed the celebration as can be determined by the looks of these beautiful people! <g>

Here's a brainteaser:

Can you determine the differences and similarities between these two photos which were snapped seconds apart from each other?

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Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Well, I'm a little slow to make this entry... but it's only because I have been having so much fun! Today is the 2nd day of 2007... and I am cigarette-free... Each day will be a notch on my belt of walking away from that disgusting habit. Enough about bad habits...

I have been taking many fotos... On New Year's Eve, Kathy's neighbors had a ho'olaulea -- or party -- to celebrate... Of course, I managed to get some fotos of the event. On Thursday, I enjoyed spending some time with my friends: Rebekah on the windward side of the island.... and Max over in Waikiki... I especially liked the time I got to spend with Mayan, Max's toddler son... Max describes himself as a single-parent father...

Friday took me to the Leeward Coast... where I met up with Nova, Aloha, and Kawika... I joined the 'Ohana at the 'Olelo Holiday party... One of the highlights was Ben's catching squid... I have pictures of the squid...


After the New Year passed, I went to Sandy Beach to capture the beginning of the new year... and then went back to the Leeward Coast where I got to see Maile, Lihualani, and Lihua's papa. Then Louise, Rosie and I went playing tourist. I got some fotos of Brada Iz's special place... some nice pics of the coast... and more pics of da coast...

Kathy and I did a tour of the north shore on the 2nd, where we got some nice photos of that drive...

Through all of that driving, I was able to visit my Hawai'i abodes and capture them as well... this event brought forth many memories... fond ones...

It's only a week more before I return home... but I hope that another 4 years do not pass before I come back here.

Oh, yes... a reminder that all of my photos can be viewed as a slideshow...