Special Olympics - Feeding the Volunteers

Feeding the 2,500 volunteers who supported the Special Olympics event this past weekend was no small feat. The people of Castle and Cooke did an outstanding job. 

A Hit and A Miss

Me and da sistahs went to Max's of Manila for lunch this past weekend. 

This Buko Pandan ($4.95) was a major hit . . . soooooo refreshing. It's made with young coconut mixed with pandan leaf gelatin and tapioca with coconut ice cream and rice flakes. Ono!!



This Classic Pork Sisig ($10.95) was a miss. I doubt we'd ever order "pork cheeks" again. The taste was actually good (vinegar marinated), but the texture was just too strange for us. It made a "glick" "glick" sound when you chewed on it . . . kinda creepy. 

Lizard

I was sitting at my hobby desk at about 10:00 p.m. the other night when I heard a noise on the floor to my left. I couldn't believe it when I looked down and saw one of those velociraptor lizards a few inches away from my foot.

He seemed calm and unafraid as he turned his head from side to side curiously checking out the surroundings. 

I sat there motionless and similarly, though not as calmly, started assessing the situation. The lizard was of good size . . . maybe at least a good 6 inches from tip of nose to end of tail. He had sharp claws and weird toes. The pattern on his body was strangely more snake-like than lizard-y to me. How in the world was I gonna catch him? Touching him was out of the question. 

I s-l-o-w-l-y got out of my chair, backpedaled out of the room and went looking for the men of the house. Both were already snoring. Crap.

I returned to the room.  Lizard hadn't moved. 

After a couple of failed attempts to catch it, once with a garbage bag and then another time with a box and broom, I quit trying. I had only succeeded in forcing him into hiding.  I turned out the light and went to bed. 

Knowing that there was a velociraptor in the house caused me to have a fitful night's sleep. I wondered if he was nocturnal and was roaming around the house. I wondered if he liked being next to a warm body. I wondered if I might step on him walking to the bathroom.

First thing in the morning I went into the craft room and checked it out.  Nope, nowhere in sight.

Still feeling uneasy, I went into the kitchen and started my usual morning routine. Kona went and stood in front of the sliding door as usual letting me know that he needed to go out. I unlocked and slid the door open for him, and when he came back in I slid the door shut. 

After making my coffee, feeding Kona and packing my lunch, I glanced toward the sliding door. Guess who was in front of it looking out. Lizard! For real! I kid you not!

I gingerly tiptoed my way to the door, trying not to startle Lizard, and slid the door open. It took a little coaxing. I shoo shoo'd with my hands and said, "Go. Go. You're free!!" He ran out. 

I went to get my camera, and when I returned Lizard was still lingering right outside of the door. Only when Kona bolted out did he scamper up onto the fence. 

Looking through the lens of my camera, I saw him look at me. I said, "Bye . . . have a good life . . . and don't ever come back!" And then off he ran.

$19

All these cost me $19 at the swap meet this past weekend.

The watches were $1 each. Actually one was free. My now favorite $1 watch guy said I could have it . . . it's missing one side of the band. 

The mine craft figures were 50 cents each. They're for my nephew Colin. His birthday is coming up. The Baymax tsum tsum was $1. The minions ran from $2 for the big one to 25 cents for the smaller one.

The miniature Lalaloopsy doll was $2. Geri had found three dolls for her granddaughter and I thought they were so cute that I wanted one for myself. She paid $1 each for hers. 



So cute, hah!


P.S. I'm secretly scared of button eyes, but she's still cute anyway.

Donut Bracelet

Nah . . . only kidding . . . it's not a donut bracelet. But it looks like one, right? Leslie gave it to me. She said that it's from Liliha Bakery. I liked it a lot, but I'm "trying" to diet (again) so I ate only one ball. I saved the rest for Wendell.

About a half hour later I ate another ball. 

Later, another one.

And then another one.

Wendell ended up getting three balls. 




I just couldn't resist . . . it's poi mochi . . .


Damn you, Leslie!

Hawaii Special Olympics Summer Games 2017

1,200 Special Olympics athletes competed this past Saturday at UH Manoa.  I was able to attend for a few hours in the morning. Taking pictures for this event is always a heartwarming experience for me.

Special Olympics - "Speechless"

The Summer Games of the Special Olympics was held yesterday. The short one-minute video below epitomizes what the Special Olympics is all about. 




I did spend a few hours at the event. I'll have some pictures to share soon.

Wendell's Bundt Pan Chicken

Wendell saw the recipe for this dish on Facebook. I looked online and found it on the Delish website here. 

The chicken was moist and delicious. It actually didn't come out of the oven looking like this. I took this photo after Landon cut up the chicken all nice and neat and put the pieces back into the bundt pan.


This is how it looked right outta the oven. Interesting, yah!


Potatoes, carrots, lemon, onion and herbs were under the chicken soaking up the juices.

TOTAL TIME: 1:30

PREP: 0:15

LEVEL: EASY

SERVES: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1/2 lb. yukon gold potatoes, quartered
• extra-virgin olive oil
• kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large bunch fresh thyme
• 1 large bunch fresh rosemary
• 1 3-4 lb. chicken, gizzards removed
• 1 lemon, sliced

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425° and cover the hole of the Bundt pan with foil.
2. In the bowl of a large Bundt pan, combine garlic, carrots, onion, and potatoes. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Scatter sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary on top of the vegetables.
3. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season the inside of the cavity generously with salt and pepper, then stuff it with the lemon halves, a few sprigs of thyme, and a few sprigs of rosemary. Rub olive oil all over the skin of the chicken, then season generously with salt and pepper.
4. Place the chicken in the middle of the Bundt pan, breast side up. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and skin is golden, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Let chicken rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with roasted vegetables and extra pan juices.

Honolulu Aunty on Google Maps

I will be visiting Honolulu Aunty at her home soon, and as I usually do when I plan to drive somewhere new I checked out her address on Google Maps.

I planted my yellow map-man on the street in the vicinity of the address and started searching the area in street view. 

There was no question when I found the correct house . . . because right there in the front yard was Aunty, very recognizable in her signature hat, appearing to be watering her . . . ummm . . . driveway! 




Aunty explained to me that she had seen the Google car from her kitchen window and ran outside to check it out, but unfortunately, the car was already gone. She figured that maybe he might return so she decided to water the yard . . . and sure enough, he did!!

I don't know anybody else who has managed to get themselves on Google Maps . . . only Aunty . . . who never ceases to amaze and delight me. 

Ms. Ladybug

Oh oh . . . adding to the clutter. 

I couldn't help it . . . she was only 50 cents.