Kona Visits Grandpa

We did it!!!  Kona was on his best behavior and Grandpa was so happy!

Grandpa and Aunty

"Grandpa" is Wendell's dad.  "Aunty" is Wendell's sister.  Grandpa is in his 90's and Aunty is small-kine challenged.  They make a really good team . . . they help each other out . . . what one cannot do, the other can.

Grandpa unexpectedly ended up in the hospital last weekend. He's okay, but now needs some rehabilitation to improve his mobility. 


So, now he's at the Care Center of Honolulu where he's receiving therapy.  He's anxious to get home, but otherwise seems to be in good spirits.  He asked for a Big Mac yesterday.  That was an easy request to fulfill.  But guess what he keeps asking for now.  He wants to see KONA!!!


I can't imagine leading Kona through here and to Grandpa's room. I did ask for permission and two of the nurses said that it would be okay . . . although it's never been done before.


And so, I gave Kona a bath yesterday . . . we're good to go . . . but I'm nervous.

A Salad and a Sunset

Stuff's been happening lately.  So I haven't been taking too much pictures.  That's why all the YouTube videos.  Sorry. But they're cool, right?

I bought a Costco chicken the other day.  Landon added it to this salad that he made.  He used Pietro original dressing on it.  Yummy!!!!


The thing about noticing a beautiful sky while you're in the house . . . by the time you get your camera, put on the right lens, make sure you got a card in it and then get outside, it could be all gone.  This photo is from yesterday.  I tried to use a technique of another new favorite photographer of mine - Dallas Nagata White.  She is an extremely skilled photographer, is very young (early 20's) and is hapa-beautiful.  Ahem . . . I'm sooo J, BTW.  She recently gave a talk at an Eyes of Hawaii meeting and explained that she likes to underexpose her shots and then tweak them in Lightroom.  Well, the method didn't really work this time, but I'll keep trying.  I wish there was a way that I could become young and hapa-beautiful too.

Kesz Valdez

Winner of the 2012 International Children's Peace Prize




Thanks for sharing Rand!

More Gangnam Style

Thanks Linda!!

Just Stuff

Nothing much is happening.  Kinked my back again, so no swap meet this weekend.  Here are just odds and ends I found on my computer.

My coworker and her family have been going to the swap meet lately.  Her son looks for toys.  So I've been finding myself looking at toys too.  I found this Mario Bros. mushroom. Isn't he too cute??!  He can be detached from the base so I'm gonna turn him into a hanging thing like I did to the Hello Kitty I got from Ailey's mom.


Here's the Hello Kitty in case you didn't see it before. I drilled a tiny hole on the top and crazy-glued a looped pin into it.


This is a mango fruit roll-up I got from the Aloha Swap Meet.  A woman named Sue makes them using Hayden mangoes. She explained how she did it, but I only remember that one of the steps was to bake it. There is no added sugar. 


This is how you get half the calories from a drumstick ice cream cone.  There is a funny-related story about me asking CQ if she wanted half a drumstick and she thinking I was talking about chicken and me wondering whydahell she talking about cartilage . . . 


Anybody else's husband sleeps with a baseball bat nearby so that he can clobber any intruders that might sneak into the house at night?


This dry-line thing amazes me.


This is some-ono frozen lasagna from Costco.


Anybody know what this is for? 


CQ shared another one of her amazing dishes last week.


She baked won ton pi in muffin tins and then added filling into them.

CQ's Chicken Salad Sandwich

CQ made this sandwich one day last week.  It was DA BEST chicken salad sandwich that I ever ate. 

She said that she bought a roasted chicken and shredded it and cut it up. Then she tossed it with some Meyer lemon oil to moisten.  Then added honey, mayo, mustard (pineapple-flavored), walnuts, cranberries, raisins, corn, cilantro, and green onions. She seasoned it with hawaiian salt, pepper, paprika and cinnamon. No wonda was ono yah!


Here's CQ's sandwich shop.


On another day she shared this salad.  It has corn, avocado, mushrooms, onions, tomato, nuts and lettuce topped with some balsamic vinegar. WINNAHS!

Gangnam Style Wedding Video

By Lightbulb Videography





Thanks for sharing Rand!

Wendell's Kim Chee Stew

Wendell made this last night.  He said it was really easy to do.  He got the recipe from Kimchi Chronicles and changed it a little bit.



2 tbs. sesame oil
2 lbs. ground pork
1/2 large onion, coarsely chopped
3 cups coarsely chopped kim chee with a bit of liquid
1 tbs. fish sauce
1 block tofu
salt and pepper
nori for garnish

Heat sesame oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add ground pork, season with salt and pepper and cook until brown. 

Add the onion, tofu, kim chee and fish sauce. Add enough water to cover the pork mixture (about 10 cups) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve with a sprinkling of nori.

Kam on Saturday and Aloha on Sunday

Ummm, what can I say except that some people are just die hards when it comes to bargain hunting.  And SOME people go to the swap meet two days in a row!   Sheese SOME PEOPLE.

Me and Geri were just laughing as we walked from my parked car to Kam Swap Meet on Saturday 'cause we knew we must've looked ridiculous in the pouring rain, umbrella in one hand and dragging our carts with the other, clearly out of our minds if we thought that we were gonna have a successful shopping experience.

But we weren't alone . . . . because as you probably know by now . . . us swap meet shoppers cannot pass up bargains . . . no matter what.


Guess what happened though . . . it cleared up!  And actually turned into a nice, pleasant morning. One of the first things that caught my eye was this "Antivirus" puzzle/game.   I felt somehow drawn to it and bought it for $3.


This is a make-da-puka-in-da-bead-bigger tool set.  It was 3/$2.00.


I bought this cute pouch for 50 cents.  It has a snap so you can hang it onto your belt loop or purse strap.


I also got these speakers for my computer for $3.


These guys are usually at Aloha Swap Meet (row 7C), but were at Kam on Saturday because there was no swap meet at Aloha due to the UH football game.   They have the best taegu.  If you hang around long enough this lady will make you a roll with taegu, kim chee, korean nori and rice . . . for free!


I bought these.  They're $6.50 each or 2/$12.00


I also got this.  It's $7.  It has 20 sheets in all . . . very ono.  And like I said, if you hang around long enough, you'll get a sample.


Geri bought this for $1. LOL!


Rice orchid!


This stamp pad was $1.


This was also $1.


I bought this for $15.  I just checked online . . . looks like it normally goes for $30.   Good deal yah.  The guy had one more, and he's always there.


I found out that this is my nephew Charles' favorite movie . . . and I found it!  It was $2.  Hope it works.


Isn't this adorable?  It's an award-winning Wheely Bug made by Australian designers. They sell for $60 at Walmart and Amazon. Guess how much Geri paid for it?  5 BUCKS!! And she didn't know the value of it then.  Score!


She also bought this plate from the same seller.  50 cents.  Another bargain!!!


I always strive to just enjoy the moment and not fret about the past or worry about the future. But it's hard.  Maybe this book will help me.  It was $1.


These were $3 . . . I think . . . not sure.


These cookbooks were selling for $2 each.  I did a bundle deal and asked if I could have all 3 for $5. The guy said, "Sure."


I love the pictures.


Today we went to the Aloha Swap Meet.  All four of us made it this time, which has been kinda rare lately due to church and work. So we took full advantage of the companionship and ended up staying a whoppin' 5 HOURS!!   5 HOURS!!  Which is why I'm icing my knee right now . . .

I think this UH #1 glove was selling for $3.  My note taking was kinda lacking today.


Dunno if this is a gas mask or diving gear.


Isn't this guy's setup awesome!


I think this is jasper. It was $1.


Cool yah!


Dunno how much these were.


These oranges look green, but were sweet.  The guy let us sample some. They were 5/$2.00.  Both me and Sweetie bought 5 each.


I bought this pin for $5.


Didi looked at but didn't buy this spam slicer.  It was kinda worn and not worth the $4 price.


Remember the lady with the ono banana bread and carrot cake from last week?  These are her cookies.  And remember the energy bar story from last week?   Well, I was looking forward to buying more today, but by the time we found the seller, she had sold out. Boo . . .


Geri bought this silk obi for $2.  She had bought a kimono awhile back, but I never took a picture of it.  It's hanging on her wall at her home right now.  I'll try and get a picture of it one day.


Here she is looking at some fishing lure heads for her husband.


She chose this one.


I bought this for $7.  The guy said that they're also available at Don Quijote and someplace else . . . I forget.


Sweetie bought this cute glass "aquarium" for $3.  Her son asked if he could have it for his room.


Used Coach stuff!   The two small ones in the front were selling for $25.


Here's Margaret with a painting she just got. She has some really cool stuff.


Today is my dad's birthday, so after the swap meet we took flowers to his grave.


Then we went to Legends Restaurant for some dim sum.  It was already 1:15 when we got there, but the place was still packed!!
















Everything was yummy!!!!  


THE END.