My Ramen

Me and Geri went to Nijiya Market this past weekend.  I found this "chashu cooked pork block" for $5.85, and decided to use it to make my own ramen.  We had the ramen for dinner the other night, and it was a hit.

I chose the "Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen" from Nijiya because a lady in front of me walked straight to it and put one in her shopping basket. There was no question . . . that's the one she wanted. So that's the one I got too.  In the lower right corner of  my picture is some menma (bamboo shoots), upper left corner is some bean sprouts that I quickly parboiled and in the lower left corner are some shoyu boiled eggs that I made following the recipe from here.


Here's da ramen.  Looks good, hah?! WAS!

Eco Solar Photovoltaic!

At around 8:30 this morning, THEY CAAAAAAME!!!  Eco Solar, our photovoltaic people!!  Hoo hoo!




They were very efficient . . . setting up and getting to work right away.














This is the last shot that I took before leaving for work.


This is what the roof looked like when I got home. 40 panels. $44,700.00 . . . plenny money.


But there was no way we could continue to pay this amount every month. That's nuts. 

Aunty's Prize

Look at what Aunty won for playing Table Golf at Leahi Day Care today!!  Landon asked her what she had to do to win.  She said, "Hole!"  So coooool, yah!

Aunty's First Day at Day Care

We were very fortunate that the social worker who helps us with Wendell's sister's care started the paperwork regarding day care for her awhile back when Grandpa's health started to decline.  We were able to get Joel Ann's TB and other health clearances done ahead of time, and today she was able to start her first day at Leahi Adult Day Health Center. 

Wendell and Aunty had visited the Center last week for an interview so Joel Ann was already familiar with the facility and didn't seem nervous at all.


From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. staff members greet their clients at the door . . .


and then walk them down the hall to the day-care area. It was very comforting and made me feel that she would be in good hands.


When we went to pick up Aunty we saw that she was given a lei and some flowers as welcome gifts.  They said that she did well today and seemed to enjoy herself.  They said that she didn't appear to be sad or distressed at any time. When we got back home, I asked Aunty if she had fun today.  She laughed and said, "Yes."  I asked her if she wanted to go back again and she said, "Yes."

Joseph Sue Amoy, Jr.

April 1, 1921 to January 11, 2013




Grandpa passed away yesterday morning with Wendell and Kona at his side and Landon nearby.  He went peacefully.  We already miss him terribly.

Grandpa is Home

Wendell arranged for his dad to come home today. His condition is such that all we can do now is to try and make sure that he is as pain-free as possible. From the day that Grandpa was hospitalized about a month ago, all he's ever wanted was to come home. He would ask daily, sometimes more than once, "Can go home yet?"

Wendell decided that at this time in Grandpa's life, it would be best for him to be with the people . . . and the pet . . . that he loves. So today, Wendell was able to reply, "Yeah dad, we can go home."

Osaka Station Water Display

Me and Leslie didn't get to see this.  I actually forgot about it until the other day while looking in my Favorites folder.  Shucks.

Wendell's Panko-Crusted Salmon

This recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That? cookbook that CQ gave me for Christmas.  It was very moist and very ono.  Notice the beautiful plate . . . the one that I made in the ceramics class that me and CQ took.

4 salmon fillets, skin on
2/3 c. panko
2 tbs. minced fresh parsley
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tbs. olive oil
2 tbs. Dijon mustard
2 tbs. vegetable oil



Mix together panko, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and stir until crumbs are evenly coated.  Generously brush top of salmon fillets with mustard, sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Press panko mixture thickly on top of the mustard on each salmon fillet.  Brown salmon fillets in heated vegetable oil, skin side down, for 3 to 4 minutes without turning.


Transfer the pan to the oven and broil for a few minutes.  (The cookbook says to bake for 5 to 7 minutes, but Wendell just broiled instead.)

Saturday with Geri

Since it was raining this past Saturday me and Geri decided to skip going to the swap meet.  We decided to check out a bead show that was being held at the Blaisdell instead.

The admission was free, and I was surprised that there were a lot of vendors there.  There were lots and lots of beads and beading items to pick from . .  . at discounted rates.  It was so tempting . . . you could end up spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars . . . but I didn't.  I spent a total of 5 bucks. These were in a basket labeled "20 pieces for $10".  Geri picked 10 pieces and I picked 10.  I'm gonna add them to my rock collection.


I thought this bead was especially interesting.  Geri knew exactly what it was and said that it was a Tibetan dzi bead.  You can find out more about the beads here.  I'm sure that this particular one is an inexpensive modern-day replica, but the real ones are very, very old and worth a lot of money.


After we were done checking out the beads we went over to Shirokiya. We were both surprised to see this Kulu Kulu place.  The girl there said that they just opened up in October. 


This is their Soft Souffle Cheesecake.  It was very, very oishiiiii.  Soft, light and airy.  Sorry, I can't remember how much it cost . . . $2 something or $3 something, I think.


This was also very good. It was denser than the cheesecake . . . maybe a chocolate brownie?  I might as well tell you that I don't remember how much this one costs too.   This review sucks yah! 


Since we were already sitting down cruising, we decided to bust out the musubis we had just bought.  We had them with some Yuzu Honey Tea . . .  something like that. 


I opened up this mochi set that I had bought too.  I didn't really care for it.  The mochi was bumpy . . . like they neva pound um enough.  I guess it's supposed to be like that but . . . eh, not so good to me.


You know how I normally don't really care for ume . . . I think it's too sowah . . . but since Les' and my ume search in Japan, I've been on a quest to find some good ones here in Hawaii.  Well, I found this at Shirokiya, and if you paid attention to my previous Ume 101 post, you'd know that Hachimitsu means "honey", Kishu ume are made with the finest Nanko plums and 8% reflects the amount of salt (fairly low). Everything looked good to me so I decided to risk the $8 something cost and bought it.


It is a WINNAH!!!  Very, very nice with some rice.  I have to force myself to eat just one.


Shirokiya has changed a lot and is not so much a "market" anymore.  So after our snack(s) we went to Marukai to do some marketing and made sure we stocked up on some rayu.  Then we headed to Andy's Kahuku Shrimp to pick up some soondubu (Korean soft tofu stew) to take home.  

That was a fun day.

Bento Box

CQ gave me this bento box for Christmas. I really like it . . . mostly 'cause it looks so cool.



She got it from Marukai . . . she thinks.


This past weekend was kinda a bust swap-meet-wise because of the weather.  Sweetie and Didi had to work on Saturday so me and Geri just holo-holo'd around indoors. I didn't take too many pictures, but I'll share with you the little that I did . . . next time.