Curry Cookoff!

We had a curry cookoff at work yesterday.  All of the entries were so ono, it was really hard to choose a favorite. For $5 we got to eat all we wanted and then we could vote for our favorite.  The cook of the winning curry got to keep the money.



This is Lorna's Japanese style curry.


Leslie's Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice and Naan Bread. It's kinda messed up because I couldn't wait to taste it.


Susie's Thai Green Curry.


CQ's Chicken and Salmon Curry with Mandarin Orange.


Jay's Hot Pepper Curry


This is the winning dish.  Ronnie's Thai Curry with Sticky Rice.


Here's Ronnie's recipe that he put together for me last night. Thanks Ronnie!

My Beloved Teva Slipper

I spent this morning trying to upload a video that I did of rain in my backyard.  First I tried Flickr.  It failed.  The message said something like, "Oops.  Our videos are offline now.  Try again later.  You still can upload photos though."  So I tried YouTube.  YouTube is trying to get me to use my real full name instead of my fake login name.  They actually nag you and say stuff like "Come on, you're gonna like it.  See, look at this . . . click here and you're gonna see how nice it looks.  It's really important."  And then they don't let you go any further unless you "click here".  FOOOGET IT.  The video's lame anyway.  I going try Flickr again later . . . just so that you guys can see my lame one-minute video of rain.

Here's what you get instead.  A picture of what a bad dog did to my favorite slipper.

Plant Disease?

First, I must explain the formatting of this post.  Flickr "upgraded" their site.  That's where I upload my photos to share. Since the upgrade I'm not able to get to my photos.  Howzdat for an upgrade?  Imagine, I pay for this service.  Okay, so I have had to resort to using Blogger's image uploader for today's post.  I know I must be doing something wrong, but I don't have the time, energy or desire to fuss with it.  The frustration is making me very unBuddhist-like. So here, as is, is my blog post for today. The captions on the right actually belong to the picture below it. UGGGHHH!!!!!

Most of my lemon plants have this funky, waxy thing happening on some of their leaves. Not sure what's happening, but I don't think it's a good thing.

This plant was hit first.  Now the affected leaves are kinda hard and stiff.

This plant recently had a growth spurt and about a dozen new leaves appeared.  Almost all of them have the start of the waxy build-up. 

Even this small calamansi plant has it on one of its four leaves.

I sprayed all of my plants with a mild soapy water mixture.  Hope it doesn't do more damage.

Aloha Swap Meet 5/19/2013

Swap Meet Day!!!  I was actually quite excited since I hadn't been to the swap meet in awhile. Aunty came with us yesterday, and I wasn't quite sure about what time we would be leaving the house. So, as I got Aunty fed, dressed, etc. I would group text Sweetie and Geri with our progress. I didn't realize that I must've been doing it incorrectly with my new phone because Sweetie and Geri both told me later they hadn't gotten any of my texts.  The amazing thing though, is that when I got to Sweetie's house, they were both waiting outside as if they had been keeping up with our progess all along.  Howzdat yah!!

I knew before getting there that I would have trouble getting Aunty up this incline, but it turned out that I needn't have worried because ended up this guy offered to push her for me.  So nice!


Geri scooped up this bargain right away.  Cutco carving set for $5!


This scary mask was selling for $7.


Here's Aunty.  For some reason she preferred to stay all scrunched up like this.


Wood and glass, wood and glass. My sisters love wood and glass.  This vase was $20.


This guy sells chili pepper water every Sunday at Aloha.  Sweetie said that it's supa ono. She also told me that once while he was parked in Chinatown somebody stole a box of 30 bottles from his truck. When I asked him about it, he said that if they had to steal them from him, they musta really needed um, so it was okay.  Cool guy yah!


This is his chili pepper water. His attitude so amazed me that I forget how much I paid for it . . . maybe around $5. Unfortunately, he'll be paddling every Sunday for the next 3 to 4 months, so he won't be at the swap meet during this time. But he said that he might be able to deliver if you no live too far.  His number is on the bottle . . . 265-0316.


Here's another cool guy.  While he was walking pass me a mango dropped out of his cart.  I called out to him and took the mango to him.  Guess what he did?


He said that I could have it . . . and he gave me another one!!


These Bobbi Brown eye shadow were $4 each.  I bought two.


There was a crowd here.  They were giving away free samples of mochi and flavored butter. The coolest thing was that I met Brenna at this tent.  She said that she reads my blog and knows Kat of Our Adventures in Japan blog and also knows Leslie's sister in law. So small world yah!


Here's the mochi that I bought. It was selling for $5. They also had Mango Butter and Strawberry Butter, also $5 each.


This neat contraption for deep frying round stuff was $7.


Geri bought this rutilated quartz rock for $20.  The seller reluctantly brought the price down from $25 when we asked. 


She also bought this hand-made glass vase.  It was $5.  Geri said that she makes good use of these vases. She buys bunches of flowers and gives them away in the vases. She said that she just gave away two.  Okay, Geri, you can buy some more then.


Sweetie saw a similar glass globe like this one selling for $8.  The seller was willing to bring the price down to $7, but Sweetie had a price set of $5 in her mind so she refused.  A few minutes later she found this one. It was selling for $3!!  Score!


Geri bought this Christmas tree top for $1.


I got this bracelet for Aunty for $1.  I think she likes it. After we got home, she kept showing it off to everybody she could.  She wore it to Daycare today.  I think she's gonna be proud. LOL.


Geri bought this beautiful glass ball for $5. I think we can safely say that I-Not-Buying-No-More-Glass-Stuff Geri has fallen off the wagon.


I paid $10 for all three of these rhinestone pins.


I was actually only really interested in this one. 


I love it when these pieces have the makers names etched on um.  This one says "Barclay". Some research showed me that Barclay produced jewelry in Providence, Rhode Island from 1946 to 1957.


I also bought these.  They were $1 each. The seller said that he and his wife bought them in 1940 in West Virginia.  That made total sense to me because West Virginia is where the first machine-made marbles were produced.  I wish he had more colors.  I woulda bought more.


Margaret's artwork is progressing into the color realm now.


My final picture, taken as we were leaving.  I think coworker Runa could use this when she goes to Zumba class.

Navann's Outing

So, so, so, so cuuute!  Thanks for sharing Didi.



You can find out more here. 

Mother's Day Yummies

Here are just a few of the foods that Didi and Glenn prepared for us for Mother's Day. I guess I was too busy eating.  I didn't catch everything.  Thank you Didi and Glenn for all of your hard work.









This beetle came to visit us on Mother's Day.   It has a metallic sheen that I couldn't quite capture.  Click here to find out why I just love these guys and think they're so special.

Kona's Toy

Sorry, kinda lame post today.  Been studying up on Buddhism. Hard for understand some stuff.  I think it's gonna take me several lifetimes to get it.

This is Kona's favorite toy lately.  Well . . . actually it's his only toy lately.  I cut up an old t-shirt into strips and wrap several layers around a squeaky ball.  He tears it apart and then I wrap um up again.  It's not the snazziest-looking toy, but it's cheap.

Swap Meet and Aunty Update

I haven't been able to join my sisters swap meet shopping for awhile, but I am hoping to go again this Sunday. Here are a few pictures from a couple of months ago.

This is how the sky looked the last time I went to Kam. I love it when it's overcast like this.  Helps to keep things cool. 


I got this for $1.  I use it a lot to squeeze the liquid from a can of tuna. It works good.


Geri got her Jester Hat for $1.


This plant cost Sweetie $7.


I just love these type of Bath and Body body washes.  They smell so good. I got these for $3 each.


These microwavable Tupperware were $1 each. There was another bigger one that was $2. I didn't get it at first.  But on our way out we passed the seller again and Sweetie noticed that it hadn't been sold so she asked the seller how much it was.  The seller said $1!  I bought it then.  Hoo hoo!


Geri bought this top of a meat grinder for her husband to use to make fish chum for when he goes fishing.  It was $3. There was no bottom or handle even, but Geri figured they could improvise.  I forgot to ask her if they were successful.


I bought this Bop It for $1.  I owned it for around 1 minute.  There was a kid there who marveled at my good deal, so I gave it to him. I'm pretty sure I can find another one again.


!!!!!!!!!! 


Sweetie bought this Asian Cookbook.  I think it was $2.




I bought this three-hole hole puncher for $1.  I don't even need it.  I already got one.  Anybody want it?


This was a score!  It's a turntable.  Geri got it for 50 cents!!!


I'm not sure which one of my sisters bought this and how much it was.  I think might've been around $3.


Geri got this timer for $1.  Soooo cute yah!!


Dunno why nobody snatched up these shoes.


A family scored this stroller for $5!  We were so happy for them that we almost clapped!  Hahahaha.


This kid was in his best outfit. Colin would be so J.


After shopping we went to Waiola Shave Ice on Waiola Street.  Geri got this Li Hing Lilikoi.  It was good.


Sweetie got this Vanilla/Strawberry.  It was bad. It was flavorless . . .  as if there was no syrup on it at all.  Mine was like that too. 


I plan to go to Aloha Swap Meet this Sunday . . . with Aunty.  Wish me luck.  Aunty cannot walk far, so I'm gonna wheelchair it.  Plus there's the bathroom issue.  She still cannot pull down her pants by herself.  I hope she goes dodo before we leave the house.  I know, I know . . . sorry . . .  TMI.

About Aunty . . . cannot fix her shoulder.  We switched ortho doctor.  I never met the first one (Dr. Richard K.), but from what Wendell would tell me, I never liked him (or his staff) at all . . . from the beginning.  They no care.  After Aunty's MRI, they never even contact us . . . until this day, even though results showed that all four of her rotator cuff muscles were completely torn. We had already decided that we weren't gonna go back to him anyway, so neva really matter, but that just shows you how uncaring he is. No go to him.  You can email me at JalnaA@aol.com and I'll give you his full name if you like.

We switched to Dr. Darryl Kan.  Dr. Kan did arthroscopic repair on Landon's elbow over 15 years ago, and we really liked him. Would you believe Wendell said that Dr. Kan remembered Landon?!

Anyway, Dr. Kan said that Aunty's shoulder cannot be repaired. The muscles and tendons are too badly damaged to be re-attached.  The best we can do for Aunty is to have her do some rehab and hope that she can regain at least limited use of her right arm. 

I wanna thank all of you who sent prayers and good wishes to Aunty.  It really helps.  I think you folks are da-bomb-diggity.