tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20949194541028780902024-02-07T20:13:22.073-08:00Ain't it funny how things turn outTitah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-87795953142975305002015-02-01T10:23:00.001-08:002015-02-01T10:27:46.373-08:00Getting into a Tizzy It seems that there are more and more occasions when people get into a buying tizzy incited by commercial promotions. Valentines' Day displays out in January. Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, Saint Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras and not to forget the biggest promotion...Christmas which begins in October.<br />
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When the store displays go up, there is a reason to pay attention to the impending holiday or event and buy, buy, buy!! The anticipation, the planning, the shopping list, the mad dash to shop in crowded stores are all part of the hype. The event comes....and goes. Then there is a quiet period of asking yourself, "Now what?" A psychological letdown....until the next event.<br />
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I find it ironically amusing that the biggest buyers are often the people who are flashing their food stamp cards throughout the year. They buy fireworks, shrimp, lobster, and things I wouldn't buy because I am trying to save my money.<br />
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I truly wonder who are the people with the smarts...those of us who are educated, working hard without taking sick leave, and generally busting their butts or those who are on the welfare program. I can understand if a family has a tough time and needs some help to get their feet on the ground but multi-generational welfare families? Some is wrong with that. Apparently, there are people who read all the governmental policies and regulations and can live a life without working.<br />
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It must be a boring lifestyle not to be able to contribute to the good of the community. But that is just me talking. Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-52096745241721205382014-10-23T11:15:00.004-07:002014-10-23T11:15:42.723-07:00Happiness is how you see things A recent tropical storm reminded me about how our happiness depends on our perspective on life. The TV and radio stations went out of their way to warn people about the impending storm by focusing on the "Worst Case Scenario" which once again sent people crowding into the supermarkets to buy bottles of water, lining up for gasoline and propane, and barreling into the hardware stores for flashlights and plywood.<br />
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Instead of promoting calm and reasonable preparation, the media whipped people into a frenzy. On social media platforms, weather forecast images appeared and reappeared on a daily, hourly basis.<br />
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The wonderful thing about living on Hawaii Island is that we have an effective Civil Defense team which involves county, state, and private entities. We are exposed to so many things: tsunami, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, torrential rains, flooding...and yet, most of the Hawaii islanders take it in stride. We have been through it. We have our supplies ready. We can weather a storm, with a peace of mind.<br />
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This past weekend, over 100 women gathered in historic Kailua for a Red Hat Convention. Many people came from the mainland and Canada. Many traveled from the outer islands. All of this despite the frightful storm warnings. Out of the number, only seven girls did not attend. A couple because of flight cancellations. Some were afraid to drive across the island. Yet the girls who kept a "cautionary optimism" per Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, arrived safely in Kailua and were greeted by intermittent shows and a whole bunch of fun, excitement, and blingitude!<br />
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Succumbing to a negative view can keep people from enjoying life and having fun! Don't be paralyzed by the worst case scenario. Prepare and go out and live life!Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-67948857329031341902014-08-17T18:38:00.000-07:002014-08-17T18:38:28.828-07:00Blessings in Disguise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The recent encounter with Hurricane Iselle has left the East Side of Hawaii Island whirling. Strong winds and heavy rains did much to batter the forests of this community. Most hard hit were the families in the Puna District, especially those communities that were built under the canopy of the tall trees such as the fast growing Albizia. Fallen trees cut travel, communication, and utility operations. Some families are still without electricity.<br />
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Despite the heavy damage, there was no loss of life. That alone is a miracle considering the falling trees, and fallen electrified poles. What is equally amazing is how people have come together to help each other...neighbors, communities, businesses, nonprofit organizations. People helping people. I was much touched by a young adult who commented, "I don't have much money to share with others but I can make ice to share." The Hawaii county administration and workers have been doing a phenomenal job. The utility companies have been working around the clock to bring some sense of normality to people. The response of the people without power has been equally gracious, people taking only what they needed. Once their electricity was turned on, they offer others ice. <br />
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There have been instances of stupidity in the midst of the chaos: The theft of the Red Cross truck, looting in the community, and the senseless vandalization of the Ali'i Ice Company during a time when ice was so needed by families. But good has overcome evil in the formula. The confounded moronic behavior of these criminals seems to be an anomaly when compared to the outpouring of love, concern, and assistance of thousands and thousands of people.<br />
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What becomes evident is that we were greatly inconvenienced by the storm. Most of us can continue to go to work and to live. We were without electricity. We had to conserve our water. We had to conserve our cellphone batteries to continue to have communication. We got to sit at home during the evenings, watch the candle flicker, and talk to each other. This was a very humbling circumstance. We were back to the basics in life.<br />
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The thing to remember is that there are people who live like this in the world 365 days a year...water is a five mile journey from the house. Food is gathered or hunted for the day. We are so lucky to have conveniences of running water, electricity, telephone communication, and cars. This experience has been an excellent reminder of how blessed we are. That these adversities are blessings in disguise. Let's learn from the experience.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-52718025229238549622014-04-29T16:34:00.000-07:002014-04-29T16:37:40.565-07:00PHew with a capital PH In preparation for the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, I worked for days (and nights) sewing things for our booth at the Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair. Many hours were spent checking the clothes over, cutting the threads, ironing, and then hanging the clothes up. They filled the clothes rack and I was satisfied.<br />
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When we got to the fair site, we set up the frame for our "store." Once the clothes were put up, it looked like such a small supply of clothing. While the thought of "Oh, I should have sewn more," breezed through my mind...I had to take control and remark, "Nope, did the best I could with the time I had and couldn't have done more...and THAT is that!"<br />
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Sometimes we are too greedy in trying to do more than is humanly possible. The bottom line is time which sets the boundary for what is possible. Rather than trying to fight against it, accept the limitations and be happy with what was accomplished.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sample shirts for the Rocking H Ranch Wear booth. Merrie Monarch Festival 2014</span></td></tr>
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Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-88036086231494595472014-03-18T16:36:00.000-07:002014-03-18T16:36:40.991-07:00On cooking a corned beef meal: A Lesson in Living Timing is everything, whether you are cooking a corned beef meal or living a wonder-filled life. Some things require patience and a gentle simmering. Good corned beef is not to be rushed. Put your corned beef in a pot, cover it with water, add some extra bay leaves and Italian seasoning and let it gently simmer 50 minutes per pound. Know that the corned beef that you started off with will shrink but do not despair, it is part of the process.<br />
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When the interminable period of simmering is over, remove your corned beef and let it rest for at least 20 minutes. Sometimes, when you neglect to observe the rest period, things are torn asunder. Patience has a purpose.<br />
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While the corned beef is resting, add your cabbage wedges, chunks of potatoes and carrots, and a couple of Portuguese sausages in the water the corned beef was simmered in. The resultant flavors will seep into the gently simmering vegetables. The sausage will be bursting with flavors. Give things a chance to meld and metamorphasize. Just about the time the vegetables are tender, your corned beef is ready to be sliced. Knowing the character of things will help to guide when things should be added to the mix. If you put your vegetables in too early, you will end up with an overflowing pot with a pile of overcooked vegetables. Everything has a point at which it will be at its best. Know what you are dealing with and prioritize your actions.<br />
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Arrange your corned beef, sausages, and vegetables attractively on platters. Choose a variety of really tasty mustards to spice up the corned beef. Sweet and hot, coarse brown mustard with mustard seeds, sweet honey mustard, yellow mustard...flavors for every palate. Allow diversity to meet the needs of people. Challenge people to try something new. The more they grow, the more interesting they will become.<br />
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Encourage your guests to serve themselves and pass the platters of food to their seat mates. Cooperation and sharing are always important ingredients to healthy relationships. Eat slowly...enjoy the food--its pungent smells, its visual arrangements, its flavors. All these things make for a great experience for all.<br />
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Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-90033353024724955122014-02-05T09:23:00.000-08:002014-02-05T09:23:08.671-08:00We are such Media Suckers! For weeks, the newspapers, radio, and TV journalists were harping on the possible outcome of the Super Bowl 2014 game. Add in the hundreds of people who commented on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. It was obvious that people were hyped up about the game.<br />
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Add in the excitement for the game peripherals such as the $million + ads and the news that Hawaii native Bruno Mars was going to be on the half time show. People were in a frenzy. Closets were searched for football jerseys. Face paint and outrageous hair dyes were sought. The food industry made money by suggesting all the wonderful dishes to serve during the Super Bowl game. Sorry but cannot go with the lady who was on the Walmart commercial talking about serving snickers candy bars and M and Ms. That just does not meet the standards here in Hawaii...but oh...I digress.<br />
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On the day of the game, sports commentators argue, retort, debate, reminisce, recollect, and slobber over what might be in the next few hours, the next few minutes, the next few seconds. Then KaBoom!<br />
Peyton Manning misses the terrible snap and it is all down hill for the Denver Broncos.<br />
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Despite all the hype, the game was a disappointment. Even the caliber of the commercials was lacking. We were suckered in by the media vortex and ended up with nothing to show for it. Happy that the Seahawks won the Super Bowl but still. What can one do but go past the Super Bowl Buffet and wonder whether to have another delectable pork rib, a Spam-Kamaboko wonton, or a Redondo's hot dog smothered with spicy chili. Decisions, decisions, decisions.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-87687518904345311922013-12-12T07:05:00.000-08:002013-12-12T07:05:24.816-08:00The After Frenzy Let-Down Ain't it funny that we are often at a loss as to what to do after a frenzy of activities such as the meal prep for Thanksgiving, or the Christmas shopping, or preparation for a great party?
After weeks of planning and research, work on various projects....BOOM! Everything comes to a standstill when the event is over. Dealing with the empty calendar, the quiet in the house, the blank to do list is an awesome prospect.
Dealing with positive stress really has its benefits. Something to look forward to every morning. The satisfaction of getting something done during the day. The big black slash on the to do list of items which needed to be finished yesterday. There is a sense of a rush. While the measured tick-tocks of the clock cannot be stopped, forward movement is possible. There is a sense of self satisfaction.
When thinking about the lack of direction, what is a person to do? Why plan a new project and get cracking! Admit it...we all live for positive stress! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifybkFNv74j84pNbhRTWMEQj3arxl8lbn96f8kO7Jt7LTxqZSiUZHmNliCVp_vO5xISjy3Qkqok7JCTctyxmZiiCSm_N_SW8zmi1VNxPZ_ggrJGuNBu4hd_I2qki4i6WnlIVltwfZE5dsR/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifybkFNv74j84pNbhRTWMEQj3arxl8lbn96f8kO7Jt7LTxqZSiUZHmNliCVp_vO5xISjy3Qkqok7JCTctyxmZiiCSm_N_SW8zmi1VNxPZ_ggrJGuNBu4hd_I2qki4i6WnlIVltwfZE5dsR/s400/IMG_2876.JPG" /></a></div>Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-16089978509940765482013-10-25T10:38:00.002-07:002013-10-25T10:38:30.007-07:00Time is More Valuable than Money Now that I am retired, I am thinking that I have more time to do stuff. More time to read. More time to sew. More time to write. More time to work on my two renshi groups. More time to exercise. More, more, more time...but not!<br />
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I am so busy. I am just hoping that I am busy doing productive things. One of my goals is to write in my blog at least once a month. Okay...today is October 25th and I am just starting to write for my blog on life's ironies. I really don't know how I had time to work between the years of 1971 and 2008!!<br />
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Now that I am retired, I am realizing that TIME is more valuable than money. We can survive with little money but we cannot make up for time lost. I remember my mom harping on this concept that "Time does not wait..." "<i>shun-shun, </i>hurry up and get things done." Now I see the wisdom of her words. I guess this is the reason why I really appreciate handmade, homemade things. I know that the person who made the item put in time and thought to make the sweet something whether it is one of Pua O'Mahoney's chocolate banana breads, my grandsons' action pictures, a little bag sewn by my quilter friend Polly Hiltibrand, or a note scribbled by my favorite sister, the Rose of Kawela.<br />
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In this days of rushing from place to place, it is nice to just sit down with a cup of coffee and just drink up the beauty outside the window. This short respite from doing things can fill one's soul with peace and tranquility and these are treasures to cherish. Although this discussion seems to be contradictory, the emphasis is on creating a quality time of life. Life is indeed to be lived.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-64786188014194978812013-09-25T16:30:00.000-07:002013-09-25T16:34:35.017-07:00Island People Should Try a Mainland Road Trip! In Hawaii, we are always crabbing about how much gas costs. Just the other day, a gallon of gas cost $4.79 in Hilo. Yet, if we were in Europe, gas or petrol is so much more expense and they sell the gas by liters and not gallons.<br />
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In September, we took a trip to the mainland and traveled by car from Indianapolis, Indiana to Kentucky and ended up in Columbus, Ohio. We filled up the car gas tank three times for a total of $73 for all the miles we traveled!! We rented a Toyota Yaris which was a gas saver. The rental company employee asked us if we wanted an upgrade which meant a bigger car with a bigger appetite for fuel. Nope...the Yaris was just fine with us. Driving on the Interstate Highways of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio can be somewhat hairy since people do not seem to observe the speed limits. Then there are those huge Mac trucks and we were quite uncomfortable about being the filling in a semi-truck sandwich. But as a whole, we found that the professional truck drivers know their stuff and we've been in situations when we have tailed these humongous trucks for miles, and miles and miles.<br />
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A big factor for our courage (and success) is the printout of Goggle maps from one destination to the next. Once you get the hang of using these directions, driving is so easy. We did the printouts as sometimes glitches on the phone can get us in trouble. Being old codgers, holding onto the map and directions provided a sense of security.<br />
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Driving through these states enabled us to eat at the restaurants we see advertised on TV but not available in Hawaii. We also got to see the countryside. It is wondrous to see sites what we might only see on TV such as Riverside Stadium in Cincinnati, the beginning of the fall colors, wildflowers, and animals.<br />
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By the way, the cheapest price for gas we saw was in Indiana for $3.22. Whoooo hoooo!<br />
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It is a joy indeed. You should try it sometime.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-46197320152839438632013-08-07T09:10:00.001-07:002013-08-07T09:10:43.017-07:00Battle for the BuckOn a recent trip to Oahu, I learned that it would cost a minimum of $92 for a car rental and more since we would be needing the car a few hours beyond the 24 hour period. So let's say that the cost is about $125 for the time on Oahu. Then the hotel charges $20 for parking, tip for the valet, and street parking charges say $5. This brings the total to $150 for the convenience of having a car. Add to this amount, the stress of trying to remember which off and onramps are the best for getting where you want to go...the total is a whole lot of money and stress.<br />
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We ended up settling for some alternatives. Upon our arrival, we decided to catch the speedishuttle to our hotel. To catch a shuttle bus, check the SpeediShuttle kiosk by the baggage claim area. For the two of us, it cost $29.10 and we were the first to be dropped off at the Ala Moana Hotel. We gave the driver a $2 tip. We walked to the Ala Moana Shopping Center so it was convenient for whatever shopping we wanted to do. We could have purchased a round trip on the shuttle bus but wanted to keep our return trip flexible so only purchased a one way ticket.<br />
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On the ride back to the airport, we decided to catch a cab from the Ala Moana Hotel. Since we had some slack time between checkout and our flight time, we checked our bags at the bell desk and walked back to the shopping mall and took our time looking around, watching people, having a cup of coffee, and meandering. Before we knew it, it was time to <em>hele</em> on. We walked back to the hotel and caught the cab. We rode on TheCab which hasn't raised its prices like Charley's and Independent. Drop off at the Hawaiian Airlines curb cost $31.10 plus a $5 tip.<br />
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We saved money and saved ourselves a whole lot of stress in driving!! We also walked a lot to and from the hotel and the various stores in the shopping center and that is a good thing. I think that the rent a car businesses may be pricing themselves out of business if they don't wise up. Consider alternatives while in Honolulu...you might learn something!!Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-45164664719357241112013-05-04T10:18:00.000-07:002013-05-04T10:18:21.294-07:00Overstuffed Plate? One Spoonful at a Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u6M09oWp62dLSCK8ljfvfDJXqKAQSr5TsjpIXXmxoOON711Ei9EqQ9fePx7phOtAmEnuPCRFaP_08r2yYjRr0PMFxJzpyCoLedYYXgUSRCAZ4b0mQ4fiqPcZKYf8EXaATwQ4Q2DGjHfG/s1600/mililani+chatlii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u6M09oWp62dLSCK8ljfvfDJXqKAQSr5TsjpIXXmxoOON711Ei9EqQ9fePx7phOtAmEnuPCRFaP_08r2yYjRr0PMFxJzpyCoLedYYXgUSRCAZ4b0mQ4fiqPcZKYf8EXaATwQ4Q2DGjHfG/s1600/mililani+chatlii.jpg" /></a> Ain't it funny how sometimes you might feel like a SuperPower ready to take on the World!! It is a delusion, a hallucination to be sure because you cannot do everything for everybody! Yet there are times when you fail to listen to reason and obey the prodding of Pride.<br />
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And what does that get you? A whole lot of stress...that's what!<br />
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Having survived a semester with nine credits in art, an internship for 126 hours, and sewing my 'elemu off for the 50th Merrie Monarch Festival...I'll have to say that I am a maniac for taking on all of that in the first place! But things are winding down and I now can comment on the three things I learned this semester.<br />
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1. Tackle one thing at a time and when it is completed, mark it off the list with a wide marking pen.<br />
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2. Work forward rather than working to catch up.<br />
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3. Take time to relax, even if it is only for 10-15 minutes. (Sharpen your ax, you can cut a whole lot of wood with a sharp ax!)<br />
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If ever, you hear me talking like a lunatic again, remind me that I am a crazy fool and hopefully, I'll listen to you.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-22247238985937557652013-01-14T09:17:00.000-08:002013-01-14T09:19:55.173-08:00Planning for one's demise It is often a burden, thinking about the end of one's life. We all don't want to do it. We all don't want to think about it...for ourselves and our loved ones. But it has to be done, some time.<br />
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Not wanting to burden our children, we made up our minds to take care of the situation by going to a mortuary to purchase a funeral plan. I thought that the funeral cost would be exorbitant judging from what I knew about other people's experiences...$500 for a cardboard casket for cremation?<br />
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So we talked things over and opted for a simple process - cremation, services at our church, and scattering of our ashes. The cost was $1500 to be paid over 10 years at $12 a month. Now is that a deal or what?<br />
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Since we were on the train of thought, we decided to document our Demise Party Plans. We both wanted to have the gathering a celebration rather than a sorrowful event marking our demise. We jotted down our thoughts, listed the hymns to be sung, noted the specific details we wanted done. We emailed our plans to our kids and that was that.<br />
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After all of that, it is amazing how liberated we feel. Just one more thing done on our endless checklist of things.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-76191062762080677352012-11-02T11:47:00.002-07:002012-11-02T11:47:50.361-07:00The Grass is Always Greener We have about 22 acres of pastureland on our property. My husband Don fenced off about a quarter of an acre since we have a couple of fruit trees in that area. He put an electric fence to keep the cows out. Well, the calves found this place where the grass is chest high. Then, their mothers followed them into the fenced area.<br />
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I am always wondering why they need to get into this area when they have acres and acres to forage in on the ranch. Perhaps it says a little about how we too often want what is fenced off and inaccessible to us. There is no difference in the grass between the various locations and I suspect what is offlimits to us is also the same as what we can get our hands on. Yet we are driven by desire and yearning.<br />
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Then once we get what was offlimits, we learn that it's not such a big deal after all. People are sometimes, crazy stupid. The most important lesson to learn is to realize that we can be stupid and so should try to wise up to avoid total obtuseness.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-82595456810999337292012-09-09T19:17:00.000-07:002012-09-09T19:17:57.905-07:00Gingery Ironies It is ginger season in Puna Ma Uka. As one travels the Volcano Highway, the scent of wild white and yellow ginger drifts into the car. Other varieties of ginger can be seen in bloom such as the shampoo ginger and the blue ginger. Up in Volcano, the kahili ginger and coral ginger are also blossoming.<br />
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I remember my childhood in Lahaina. In the back of our house, there was a concrete basin which we used to wash our feet before going into the house. The muddy water from our dirty feet flowed into a patch of white ginger, an anomaly in hot and dry Lahaina. We had gone to Hana which in childhood days seemed hundreds of miles away and dug up the ginger roots. My mom planted the ginger near our wash feet sink and made sure that the plants received a lot of water. The mango tree gave the perfect amount of shade to help the ginger to flourish. I loved picking the blossoms and putting them in my hair, waiting for the breezes to blow the fragrance past my face.<br />
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Living in Glenwood means we are living in ground zero for ginger. The yellow ginger plants along the highway grow to over 10 feet tall. If you want to pick ginger in the ditches outside of our yard, you need a second person who is standing on the road or a tree stump to direct you to where the flowers are. When we first moved to our ranch property, our yard was choked with ginger. Using much physical labor, we dug the ginger out, corm by corm. We mowed the lawn, bit by bit, encouraging the grass to grow. We pulled out the keiki or young plants. Finally grass triumphed and our lawn was complete. Yet right outside of our heavy fence strong enough to keep out marauding wild pigs, ginger plants crowd around trying to get back into the yard.<br />
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I still love the fragrance of ginger. I love the feathery ginger leis made by my friend, Eva. I love the paradox of the plant: fragile and wispy blossoms which grow on aggressive and sturdy stalks. But I don't like ginger in my yard. Let them grow freely along the highway, they don't take well to captive environments.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-67353596298151536122012-08-14T12:58:00.001-07:002012-08-14T13:08:16.416-07:00Who'd a thunk I'd be a Mathematician? In August, 2012, there was a huge hula event called an 'uniki or graduation for one of the students. Part of the ceremony called for a luau or feast with traditional Hawaiian foods like laulau, lomi salmon, poke, squid luau, chicken long rice, poi, sweet potatoes, pineapples, desserts, fruit breads and sweet potato pudding. About 110 people were expected but food was prepared for 150 people.<br />
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Throughout the preparation period, the continual question was...what portion should each person get? What is the necessary total amount needed to feed everyone and have some extra? Some people measured by ounces per person. Some people measured by cups or parts of a cup. And then some people measured by the gallon. In the end, the discussion kept going on and on and a calculator was put into service.<br />
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What did we learn from it? We prepared way too much food. We could have served at least 200 people. One cannot be too stingy when serving Hawaiian food!!<br />
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Glossary<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<strong>laulau</strong> - bundles of food wrapped with ti leaves and steamed.<br />
<ul>
<li>packets of seasoned beef, pork, codfish wrapped with taro leaves </li>
<li>packets of taro, sweet potato, onion, carrots wrapped with taro leaves </li>
<li>cubes of corned beef wrapped with taro leaves</li>
</ul>
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<strong>lomi salmon</strong> - salad made of salted salmon, tomatoes, sweet onions, and green onions<br />
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<strong>poke</strong> - cubes of raw fish (ahi) seasoned with limu kohu (a seaweed), Hawaiian salt, and inamona<br />
or roasted kukui nuts. Seasoning and ingredients are varied<br />
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<strong>squid luau</strong> - taro leaves, coconut milk, and squid simmered<br />
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<strong>chicken long rice</strong> - chicken with rice noodles, garlic, lots of ginger and green onions<br />
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<strong>poi</strong> - cooked taro that is mashed into a thin pasteTitah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-82989477645991031492012-07-16T12:41:00.000-07:002012-07-16T12:41:46.604-07:00Gratitude from Adversity Our daughter Sunny and her husband are hard working parents of three little boys, 7, 6, and 1. Byron works two jobs and Sunny works full time and is taking courses to improve her work options. Last Monday, a fire in their condominium in Wailuku, Maui turned their world upside down. But instead of cursing their predicament, Sunny is filled with gratitude and is praising God for his presence in their lives. What? Gratitude and Praise for a fire?<br />
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There are no random coincidences in life. Things happen as part of God's plan for our lives. The fire flared up after Sunny and Byron were at work. The two older boys were at their summer program. The baby was at the sitter's house. Their downstairs neighbor noticed the fire and called the fire department. By 8:30 am when Sunny got a call, the fire and police departments were already at the house.<br />
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Had the fire occurred in the evening or early morning hours, this family might have been trapped as the fire was in the kitchen which is next to the front door. They live on the second floor and did not have ladders to safely transport all three boys down. His timing was impeccable and the safety of the family was assured.<br />
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Now what is left is for the family to go through the rubble to salvage whatever is possible. Loving family members, and friends have offered help to this family. Many people are praying that the aftermath of the fire with the insurance and paperwork will be favorable to them. What else can one do but be grateful. It is funny how things in life do turn out. E mililani kakou! Let's all give thanks and praise to God.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-77173107966841069672012-06-22T10:08:00.001-07:002012-06-22T10:08:40.003-07:00Another Bright Idea Bright ideas, I'm full of them. I like the process of figuring out how to plan something. The most fun is planning monkey business. Doing something crazy or unusual is fun. I am always amazed that some people are resistant to participating in monkey business. What do you lose by having fun, making a fool of yourself, laughing until your face hurts? Even when doing some serious, one can have a blast learning and interacting.<br />
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I planned a really rich learning experience and had only three nibbles of interest. "Oh, the timing is not right," couple people said. But then when is the timing ever perfect? "Oh, people don't have money these days," others mentioned. But have you ever looked at the restaurant parking lots on Friday nights...they are packed. In order to make money, one needs to spend money. So I cancelled the event only to have someone express interest in signing up the day before the event.<br />
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What did I learn from this experience? 1) Never be afraid to chance 'em. Give it a try. I found that a number of people were intrigued by the possibilities. 2) Minimize pre-event costs when possible. Don't go out a buy a laptop for a workshop that never happened. 3)Try a different time of the year just in case the naysayers are right about timing. It was lucky that I kept my expenditures down so did not suffer a loss. The outcome is that now I have a free weekend to myself. There is a positive ending to this scheme.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-29715991380435979422012-05-06T16:47:00.000-07:002012-05-06T16:47:36.129-07:00Private Property, Public Spaces Being raised in the country where a hedge or a line of ti leaf plants might mark the boundary, I cannot get accustomed to people fencing off their properties. I can understand if one is a farmer or rancher and the fencing is necessary to keep out packs of wild dogs or marauding wild pigs. But to have a house built in a subdivision sparsely settled, then erecting a chain link fence with a gate and then putting a big sign "PRIVATE PROPERTY" seems to be an overstatement. What public property would go to such measures.<br />
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But on second thought, there are schools that fence people out during the nonschool hours. Consider Mountain View Elementary with its maze of chain link fences and many gates. How much does it cost to fabricate and install these gates? In a district with so few public parks in Upper Puna, we need to work on creating public spaces where people can come and enjoy recreational pursuits such as picnics, sporting activities, or open areas when the children are allowed to run around in the sun. Being on the Windward side, picnic pavillions would be great. Is it too much to dream of a swimming pool heated by photo voltaic panels? Dreams are the inspiration for action. With community support, we can do something about this issue.<br />Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-87393608216077862362012-04-10T12:42:00.000-07:002012-04-10T12:42:08.266-07:00Holiday HatredI am beginning to hate holidays. On Valentine's Day, one should look forward to chocolates, flowers, and sweet, sweet kisses, not surgical procedures, days in the hospital, and pain. So, let's check of Valentine's Day 2012 as an unromantic holiday although I did fall in love with my orthopedic surgeon, the nursing staff at Queen's Hospital, and the support staff. I must also admit that my love affair with my husband was renewed as he took such good and thoughtful care of me during my recovery. So maybe this holiday was not a total washout.<br />
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Then as we began to look toward Easter, the Sunday services, the Easter luncheon at church, the Easter dinner at our friends, our outcome was stymied by a pain in the lower right quadrant of my abdomen on Saturday. Things were not quite right as I lay in bed trying to sleep off the pain. We went to the Emergency Room to find out that I had appendicitus. So I had an appendectomy and spent the night at the hospital. Easter morning came and the blessing was that I was able to go home. We did not make the Easter Sunday service, the Easter luncheon at church (which I heard was simply fantabulous), or the Easter dinner at our friends. (I was going to make Ina Garten's panzanella - bread salad, pickled beets with pickled eggs, and deviled eggs.) Instead we went home and had some quiet time.<br />
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If Easter is the marking of a new day, I would say that it is the marking of a new understanding that things happen and that we cannot control all the circumstances. There is a plan that defies human understanding and there is no such thing as a coincidence. Everything happens for a reason and our challenge is to discern the reason and take action that is prescribed by our Heavenly Father. We often jam things up by trying to do OUR own will. That is when we get in trouble. We have to surrender to do HIS will. When we humble ourselves and Follow THE Plan, the outcome is always good. When we try to do OUR own will too often, we get humbled by circumstances. When this happens, we should not lament but rather accept that perhaps we thought too much of ourselves and our roles in life. Surrender to the will of God and blessings will follow. <br />
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This is what I have learned. But just in case, when I have my second knee replacement surgery, I hope that it will not fall on a holiday.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-27410810239935430242012-03-06T11:39:00.001-08:002012-03-06T11:40:35.644-08:00The Titah Ain't What She Thought She was For the last year, I have been suffering because of achy knees which the othropedic surgeons suggested needed replacement. At first, I tried to do the stop gap method by cleaning out the left knee. Brief relief from the pain which came roaring back. Finally, I decided to have the knee replacement surgery done. For months, I went to water aerobics to strengthen my muscles and exercise my knees. Then in weeks before the surgery, I added a core and crunch class to the exercise regime.<br />
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I thought that I was ready. Guarantee, the day after the surgery, I would be walking, albeit slowly, on the treadmill.<br />
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Ha!!! Not!!! I was flat on my back enjoying the pain meds. Going to the bathroom on the second day was a triumph. But then the physical therapist wanted me to walk to the exercise room on my crutches...I darn near fainted. You must understand that I am not a dainty, fragile girlie girl. Back in the day, I earned a black belt in Aikido and practiced mainly with men. The thought of fainting or puking from pain is not on my list of behavioral responses. But there I was in the hallway with my head swirling, my face pasty white and my skin a clammy wet reptilian imitation. I had to get on the wheel chair for the rest of the way.<br />
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I learned that although the mind is strong, the body is weak! Weak! Weak! A little exertion and I was out like a light. Physical Therapy is another seque to the story which reiterates the chasm between the mind and the body. "Suck it up," my PT cheerfully encouraged at the more difficult and torturous exercises like straightening my knee or bending it in a lunge. Easy for you to say, I shouted in my mind and I gritted my teeth and refused to let the drop of salty water out of my eyes.<br />
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"Things are going to get better," everyone who had any experience personally or second hand reminded me. My question is simple...."When?"<br />
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I now see why my orthopedic surgeon looked at me with disbelief when I told him that I was planning to do my second knee replacement in three months. "Are you crazy?" he said. This is major surgery. And indeed it is.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-34360158371462413342011-12-27T16:49:00.000-08:002011-12-27T16:49:40.210-08:00Hawaii, Island of DiversityIf you are a resident of the east side of Hawaii island, you know that it has been raining steadily for the last three weeks. If you are a resident of Glenwood, Hawaii, you know that it has been raining buckets over the last three weeks. While it is lovely to see snow on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, these sights also mean that if you live on the east side of Hawaii island, it has also been very cold. If you are a resident of Glenwood, Hawaii, you know that it has been very wet and cold. So wet that the gutters are overflowing and there is a river flowing down the pasture, under the stable and ranch garage, and then down to the highway.
Welcome to the Big Island.
Sick of the cold, wet weather, we decided to drive over to Kona for some sunshine on Dec. 22. The morning was gray and dreary and it was raining. We decided to take the southern route through Ka'u to avoid the Hamakua landslides. When we passed Namakani Paio Park, we could see blue skies over Ka'u. As we drove through Ka'u, we noticed that the pasture land had some green grass which meant that the rains did reach Ka'u. Heading toward Kona, we began to take off our sweatshirts as it got warmer and warmer. When we finally got to Kona, the air was clear and the skies were blue. Sweat glands which have been dormant for several weeks began to do their thing.
While it was 46 degrees in Volcano the next morning, it was 72 degrees in Kona. This is the beauty of this island. You can see snow and surf. Hot weather and cold climates. The eastsiders look for sunshine. The westsiders look for rain. On our return home, we decided to drive on the Saddle Road. From the Kona side, we could see gray clouds on the mountain tops. We drove up and saw a bunch of sunshine on the highway although we still did see the gray clouds on Mauna Kea. Near Pohakuloa, we saw Mauna Loa with a mantle of snow, glittering in the sunshine. After we left Mauna Kea State Park, we began to drive into the rain clouds. It was socked in with fog and rain all the way down to Hilo. What happened to the sunshine? We could see it in our rear view mirrors. Returning to Glenwood, we were greeted by the status quo...gray skies and rain.
Hawaii has something for everyone if you have the fuel to travel from one place to another.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-90128767304901736662011-11-01T15:16:00.000-07:002011-11-01T15:16:21.174-07:00Losing Weight is CostlySince my daughter and son-in-law were on the Eat to Live vegan diet, the issue of losing weight is heavy on my mind.
So I went to the super market to look for foods that will help me to lose weight. It is hilarious to notice how many things which are attractive contribute to weight gain...colorful juices, bags of chips in fluffy bags, butter, cheese, huge bags of candy, colorful boxes of cereal, ice cold soda, exotic wines with gnarly names, and cartons of beer selling the cool relaxation under the palm trees. Don't forget that when you want to go to the reefer that stores the low fat yogurt in KTA, you have to pass the bakery department with cream filled croissants, donuts, cakes, and pies. This is torture!!
The other consideration is that going on a diet is costly. Buying fruits and fresh vegetables can add up to a pretty penny. Regular fruits and vegetables versus ORGANIC fruits and vegetables. The sign says, "Try it and taste the difference!" For 75 cents less, I will settle for good old non-organic fruits. What is the problem with us??!! If we are so fat, why don't we eat less? People are starving in Africa for goodness sake!! They don't have much money and they don't have to worry about obesity. What is our hangup? Do we have to pay Jenny Craig to lose weight? Just eat less. But it seems that this common sense answer is not working. Look at the weight loss industry in America. The companies must make millions off of the jiggling fat of millions of people who just won't eat less.
I am going to solve this problem for myself...I am going to use a smaller dinner plate. Do you think I will be successful?Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-70267080623230486082011-10-11T12:30:00.000-07:002011-10-11T12:31:00.967-07:00A Quick Decision - A Lengthy RepercussionOne weekend in February on the way to Kona, my husband and I came upon a spontaneous decision..."Let's convert our BIG house into a vacation rental" in time for the Merrie Monarch Festival to follow in March, 2011. We talked it over and decided that we would not do a bed and breakfast but rather just a rental for vacations, meetings, gatherings, and retreats.
"WooooHoooo!!" we can do it we exclaimed. And so our trip to Kona became a shopping trip. At Costco, we loaded the truck with pillows, sheet sets, and numerous other things.
Then the hard work began. Suddenly, everything in the house looked so old, so dirty, so worn. Paint the house...inside and out. A huge task since a complete paint job had not taken place since 1986. A huge task since the house is three stories tall with cathedral ceilings in the living room. A huge task my husband and I knew better than to tackle. Okay...get a painter. Know a parent in Mountain View who has a painting business AND he is Portuguese so we knew that he would do a neat job!!
OMG...the metal roofing suddenly got so rusted!! When did that transformation happen? This is another job we were not going to do so we got a nonJapanese roofer who chose a Japanese name for his business. Great! We've had work done by him and we knew that his crew would do a great job!! Okay!!
My husband suggested that we replace the floor covering. "Nah," I pooh-poohed. "No need!" That is until I went up to the house and REALLY looked at the flooring. The aging linoleum flooring was cracked and curling around the edges. The carpet, though still thick and luxurious, was faded and stained. "Okay, okay," I finally conceded, "we need to change the flooring." We drove to Kona to a Big Box Store with lowe prices only to find that the salespeople weren't really into helping us nor were they willing to sell their stuff to a couple of scruffy looking people in shorts, t-shirts, and rubber slippers. We were devastated since we had such good service from them the last time we had work done.
Okay...back to Hilo and to another Big Box Store. We picked out the flooring. When it was time to schedule the flooring, the store said they had assigned expediters. Don't believe them. My husband became the expediter, calling back and forth between the installers to schedule the carpet and vinyl flooring. And wouldn't you know it...the installers scuffed the newly painted walls to the tune of $200 to repair. We called the Big Box Store which supposedly has TRAINed employees and to this day have not resolved the problem. This is only a six week wait. So much for this store!!
Now our newly painted walls look so bare!! The pictures I had barely fit the quota. We are not going back to the local framers who charged us hundreds of dollars to frame a signed poster...don't care if it was Pegge Hopper or Jane Chao or Phan Nguyen Barker.
So I went online and found a poster website what was willing to frame the images for such a low price. I was looking for images with coconut trees and as things happen...I found an image of a coconut grove from my hometown of Lahaina from 1910. I knew that that image was waiting for me!! I can see my beloved West Maui Mountains...I can be home without leaving Volcano. Scrounging around, I found images in the most unlikely places...Kilauea Kreations - I found native bird pictures and postcards which I framed using Wallymart frames. I went to a local gallery and found photos of more native birds...hurray...back to Wallymart for more frames.
In my quest for signs to remind people to remove their shoes, more bizarre places to find things. Don't go to the places on Kamehameha Avenue which charge $32 for a tile sign. Walmart had little tiles for $13. KTA supermarket had big tiles for $13. But Dolly's Handcrafts near the Hilo Farmers' market had a slew of different shoe signs including ones made with carved bamboo. Well, I am surprised. I learned that one should shop around to find the thing that is really needed.
So eight months and tens of thousands of dollars later, our Maluhia Guest House is ready for guests. We learned a ton of stuff and in a weird sort of way, we enjoyed the process. We hope that this facility will be a place that brings joys to others. I am certain when our bills are paid, it will bring joy to us too.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_305XSufKacsoDhWUL4yM8bdBrQznIvRYp2jY05DfuUmE1j_SfQy2Y37F71idArVXJ3RdNmylO8x1yr1yN70l-oHkzQoliFbr_bF_fdPv2giGig1CslieYpvWHHR_EQqaJI38ya4ooefR/s1600/5th_LRMuka2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_305XSufKacsoDhWUL4yM8bdBrQznIvRYp2jY05DfuUmE1j_SfQy2Y37F71idArVXJ3RdNmylO8x1yr1yN70l-oHkzQoliFbr_bF_fdPv2giGig1CslieYpvWHHR_EQqaJI38ya4ooefR/s320/5th_LRMuka2.jpg" /></a></div>Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-7018605151969851732011-09-20T13:00:00.000-07:002011-09-20T13:06:26.573-07:00Vegan Diet...New word for the food of the poorOur daughter and her husband are on a vegan diet in a process to build a healthier lifestyle. For six weeks, they will eat no meat or animal byproducts, no oil, little salt and a whole load of vegetables.
Since our families get together on Sunday evenings for supper, I really had to think about what I would cook for this past Sunday. Moussaka? Tagine? Bean casserole? Exotic, foreign food in our book. But then I was not secure since I usually don't cook those foods nor use those spices. What to cook? what to cook?
Then it hit me!
I can cook the food from my childhood. We were pretty poor and my mom made the most of the dollar a day she earned teaching sewing. Very little processed meat, very little protein as a whole and a lot of vegetables. Although my parents did not have a garden, we had a lot of neighbors who shared with us pumpkins, beans, and other vegetables.
In thinking back to what we used to eat, I decided that our vegan Sunday dinner would be an old fashioned Japanese meal.
Nishime - vegetable stew made with aburage (fried tofu), potatoes, carrots, onions, kombu (seaweed), hasu (lotus root), daikon (Japanese turnip), and konnyaku.
Wakame and cucumber salad with lemon-miso dressing.
Broccoli and cauliflower with peanut butter dressing.
Brown Rice.
Miso soup with tofu.
The irony of this meal is that by the time I finished purchasing all the ingredients, it cost over $100 to feed six people. Of course, I had a lot for people to take home. One cannot make stew or nishime using stingy portions.
However, what was cheap then is no longer. It is cheaper to eat $1 McDonald's McChicken or McDouble burgers full of fat and calories than it is to buy broccoli and cauliflower. No wonder America's people are suffering from obesity. The former diet of the poor is no longer accessible for the poor of today.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094919454102878090.post-16030316409303172482011-07-08T18:34:00.000-07:002011-07-08T18:48:54.858-07:00Novel Japanese AmericansIt seems that I am reading a number of novels retelling the stories of Japanese Americans. First, I read Juliet Kono's book, <em>Anshu</em>. Then I followed it up with John Hamamura's book, <em>Color of the Sea.</em> Yesterday on our Costco run, I found a book by Gail Tsuchiyama, <em>Street of a Thousand Blossoms.</em><br /><br />Although I have just started Tsuchiyama's novel, what I have observed about the Japanese is their willingness to sacrifice for the better good of the family. To suffer and to make the best of the situation. The sense of duty seems to obliterate the lighthearted sense of frivolity and joy. Instead, joy is experienced in quiet and subtle way. The way a petal from a cherry blossom floats to the ground.<br /><br />Unlike the Koreans in the Korean soap operas, one rarely sees Japanese in literature express themselves is loud ranting and raging. Hide your suffering behind a stoic face. To make a scene means to lose face, to show weakness.<br /><br />Watching old samurai movies will acquaint the audience with the solemn nodding of the head and the watchful eyes that speak volumes. "You are dearly loved. You are forgiven. I understand." Only in the fight scenes do we see emotion and energy released through the kyat...the sound that comes from the core of the stomache filled with ki or energy. "You are an evil enemy. You will die. Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!"<br /><br />I am waiting to read more books about modern Japanese Americans. Have they changed their core values? Have their modes of expression changed? Has Americanization whitewashed their cultural selves? While I would like to see more joy in the families, I also don't want to lose the willingness to sacrifice for the greater good or to suffer through gaman (patience and endurance). These attributes are the backbone of the culture.Titah Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07980878929495814569noreply@blogger.com0