Hometown Stories on NHK

I sent this email to my siblings. After sending I thought, hey I should share with you guys too. 

This is for-real-kine stories . . . not like da-kine Korean dramas.

i love to watch Hometown Stories on NHK.  if you can, try watch:

misako's all-night diner

three grannies cookie challenge

grandma's picture cards

sharing life together: 81-year old caregiver

"misako's all-night diner" is about a 91-year-old lady who runs a diner. her shift is 9 pm to 9 am.  unfortunately, at the very end of the program, they say that the diner closed last month. not sure if she passed.  sad 'cause the people who went there felt like it was home to them. for one girl in particular . . . 

"three grannies cookie challenge" is about three over-86-year-olds who bake cookies in a tiny hamlet.

"grandma's picture cards" is about an 80-year-old who paints water color greeting cards and writes inspirational sayings on them. three days a week she puts a blanket on the grounds of some castle and she calls out to people to come look. she lets them choose one to have for free.

"sharing life together" is about an 81-year-old caregiver.  need i say more?  

NHK World Hometown Stories

P.S. It looks like you can only watch "Misako's Diner" video online on On Demand right now. I guess we have to wait for the reruns of the other programs that I liked.

MAC Eyeshadow

This MAC eyeshadow was expensive ($16) so I'm making sure I use every last bit of it. 

Didi when I'm pau with this one, I'll be using the one you gave me. Thanks!

Current Project - Rubber Stamping

I noticed that my greeting card stash is getting low, so I decided to make some more. 

I loved loved loved how this came out so I wanted to share. So pretty, yah. This will end up making around 20-something individual cards.


These are the stamps that I used. It came in a set.


I'm not sure if I paid full price for the set or if I got it at the swap meet. If you're interested, it's on eBay right now here for $9.95 plus shipping. It's made by Stampin' Up and the set is called Spring Garden.


I used this ink pad for the flowers. I got mine from Fisher Hawaii awhile back. Actually, this is my second one. My first one is so old that it's falling apart. It's my absolute favorite. In fact, I like it so much that I bought inks for the five different colors so that I can re-ink it when it gets too dry.

Here's the finished card. 


I also stamped these to make more cards. 

Blast from the Past

I'm kinda behind on gathering blog posts for you, so for today here's me again from seven years ago on Leslie's blog:  Jalna

Greek Marina

This was my birthday dinner . . . from last year . . . September. I found the photos in a neglected folder on my computer.

Wendell was in Vegas at the time, and Lan asked if I wanted to go out for dinner. I said nah, I'd prefer eating at home.  I chose Greek. 

Landon went overboard. All the food below is for just the two of us. It's from Greek Marina in Hawaii Kai. I enjoyed it . . . for several days.

Fried Kalamari ($8.95)


Chicken Gyros ($14.95)


Gyros ($14.95)


Spanakopita ($5.95) 


Baba Ganouj ($7.95)


Dolmades ($7.95)




Baklava ($4.95)


Basbosa ($4.95)

Free Lunch

We got treated to lunch from Side Street Inn yesterday at work. Yeehaw!!

We had two choices . . .  the unhealthy cheeseburger and fries . . .


or the less unhealthy teriyaki chicken burger and fries.  Guess which one I picked. 


Cheeseburger!!!

McDonalds Lobster Roll

Me and Landon shared this Lobster Roll ($9.99) from McDonalds. It was good, but I probably wouldn't buy it again.



P.S. If you do Facebook, check out Kalin's Mommy's comment and go to the link. Soooo funny dat gal!! I'm crying, I'm laughing so hard. 

Swap Meet Stuff

I met Harri on a Japan tour to Hokkaido that me and my sistahs went on a few years ago. We really clicked and so still keep in touch. 

The other day we were emailing back and forth and she asked what kinds of stuff I look for at the swap meet. As an example, I shared with her what I had bought on the previous weekend. 

I thought it might interest you too.

dog treat (guy there makes jerky - ahi, pork, beef) $7

ream of card stock to make gift cards $3

swiffer sweeper (i neva really need but was good deal. $3 brand new. gave to Geri to give to her son)

winnie the pooh watch (coworker liked it) $1

minnie mouse watch (another coworker gonna take) $1

banana bread and carrot cake (lady there makes ono kine. small loaf for only $2). she sells small bags of various kine cookies too.

book for nephew colin (golden compass) 50 cents; i always look for minecraft toys for him but couldn't find this time

bag of yarn for my mom $1

set of Chinese calligraphy brushes for my nephew's wife $3

i like DVD movies for cheap, usually $1.  a lot of the movies i give away after i watch. 

i look for $1 jewelry to take apart for the beads. i like swarovski crystal beads.

i used to like to buy japanese plates and bowls,  but i no more room anymore so if i buy gotta be special, and then i gotta get rid of a old one to make room.

Congratulations Marc and Marvin!

One of my favorite people, Marvin (Yosh to me), got married this past weekend. Yosh (on the right) used to work with me but moved to the mainland around 4 years ago. I miss him a lot. Mostly I miss the Meyer lemons he used to give me.  Nah, nah, nah . . . Yosh . . . I miss you too. 



And here's another one of my favorite people. 


Happy 4th of July peoples. Don't pop too many fireworks . . . gonna scare Kona. 

Swiss Army Knife - continuation

I got one for myself! My favorite watch guy had it in his showcase. I never noticed it before because I tend to not look in showcases. I like to look at stuff that are tossed haphazardly on tables or in boxes or baskets. Stuff that are displayed in showcases tend to be out of my price range.

I really liked the yellow color so I asked to see it. 


It looked good.


It was just like the one I just gave to Wendell . . .


but better.  The two pull-out pins were still intact on this one.


One is a pick.


The other one is a tweezer. The Watch Guy said he was selling it for $5.


Then I saw this one in the showcase. It was missing my favorite tool . . . the scissors.


But I really liked it because it's made by Wenger, the other maker of Swiss Army Knives.  If I bought it then I would have one from each maker. This one was selling for $8. 


This Pierre Cardin watch was also in the showcase. It was $5. I decided to try and do a bundle deal.


In the end, because I'm a "regular customer" of his he let me have all three for $13. Yippee!!