Blessings in Disguise

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PHew 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.

      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!"

     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.

Sample shirts for the Rocking H Ranch Wear booth.  Merrie Monarch Festival 2014

On 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.

     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.

     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.

     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.

     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.

   

We 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.

     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.

      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!
Peyton Manning misses the terrible snap and it is all down hill for the Denver Broncos.

      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.

The 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!

Time 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!
 
     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!!

     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..." "shun-shun, 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.

     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.

Island 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.

     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.

     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.

     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.

     By the way, the cheapest price for gas we saw was in Indiana for $3.22.  Whoooo hoooo!

      It is a joy indeed.  You should try it sometime.