.:JuSaMee:.’s blog

My birthday was earlier this month...I turned 28. For me there are "big" birthdays and then regular birthdays. Of course when you're younger all birthdays are BIG...but as you get older I think there are biggies...16, 18, 21, 25, 30...and then every 5 years. Not so say you shouldn't celebrate every birthday...but for me the huge hubbubs are reserved for the biggies. So one of my oldest friends was on a trip the day of my birthday, but she still wanted to celebrate with me! So she decided we'd have dinner at Tanka of Tokyo.

What is a childhood memory that still haunts you?

This may seem weird...but when I was about 12 "wonder phone" or three way calling had just become popular. One of my friends tried to call another friend, but she wasn't home, we didn't hang up properly which meant their answering machine recorded our whole long conversation. Where I started to talk some crap about that friend...I was 12 don't judge me! LoL!! In any case her mom was pissed, confronted me, basically blackmailed me saying that if I ever step out of line again she'd share the tape with my parents. Ever since then if I use 3 way calling, I hang up like three times before I start talking again!! LoL...I'm not talking too much crap...LoL!!

Have you ever said something and didn't realize it was offensive and then the person you said it to got upset about it??? Well that happened between me and the hubby yesterday. He was telling me a story and I characterized him and the group of people he was talking about...no, it wasn't racial...and he got upset. I was annoyed and hung up with him. We then didn't talk the rest of the day...then when he came home, he didn't so much as even say hello. Made himself some dinner...even washed some of his clothes. I had already forgotten about the situation, but of course, I wasn't the one offended. So I asked him, "Whats with you?" He tells me, "nothing."

Okay...I try to go to sleep and its buggin' me that his @$$ can fall asleep no problem at all and here I am lying awake wondering what the heck did I do! So I wake him up and ask him what the hell is going on...again, he tells me, "nothing." So I press somemore and he goes back to the conversation we had about 11 hours previous.

Now I realize that what I said is offensive. Initially I looked at it as a statement of fact...which in my defense it still is a fact...but it's one of those facts that maybe you don't want to admit or have someone else admit it for you. So here we are a day later and I've decided that I'm annoyed with him too! And while I recognize that I've offended him, right now I'm not sorry. He could've dealt with this in a better way...but since he chose to act like a child I'm jumpin' on the kiddie train with him!

After all...why do I always have to be the adult! Nananana boo boo!

 

So Kamehameha Day is a holiday for me...YAY!! But this year I actually did something worthwhile. A good friend of mine and family retired from the Navy on Kamehameha Day. He chose this day because he attended Kamehameha Schools, he was stationed aboard the USS Kamehameha and so it seemed only fitting. You know how it is local style...so even though there's no blood relation, he and his wife are "Uncle" and "Aunty" and both have been huge supports in my life...during my teenage years, as a new wife, when I lost my dad...sometimes you don't realize how much people do for you until you reflect on it...

I don't think I've ever attended a servicemen retirement ceremony. It was very touching...a mixture of who he was as a Navy Man, a Hawaiian Man, and a Man of God...he made me so proud...of him, of his wife and family, of being Hawaiian, and being American. As part of the ceremony they performed a tradition where the flag is passed, very slowly and solemnly, between Sailors, with Uncle Sean (the honoree/retiree) as the last to receive the flag. Another sailor (notice my abundant use of the term "sailor" I prefer "sailor" over "seamen" I'm 28...but that word still makes me laugh!) is reading a statement as if he were the flag, reminding us of its importance, where it's been, and what it's had to endure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a navy band there to accompany the ceremony...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just look at the enthusiasm on the face of the audience...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding...those are the bros from L-R Justin, Army Guard, Mike, Active Duty Air Force, Sa, and Peter. And of course being us...we couldn't resist some kodak cheesin'!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A montage of Uncle Sean talkin' to all his kids. He told us how just a few days prior he had his official last day at work. It was a "chicken skin" moment as he took off his daily uniform and laid them out on his bed...realizing that was the last time he would do it after 20+ years of doing it. Wow...when you think of retirement its all "Woohoo...it's over!!" But thats a huge chapter in your life that is coming to an end...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterwards Uncle Sean, Aunty Jade, and their family hosted us to an AWESOME Hawaiian food lunch! The food was so good...and I was so hungry...I straight forgot to snap ANY pix of it...but trust me it was good. Imagine my plate, cafeteria style with the 5 compartments, going clockwise, starting in the top left corner...chicken long rice, lomi lomi salmon and poi, squid luau, rice & kalua pig, and sweet potato! YUM!!

 

 

 

Congratulations Uncle Sean!!

 

 

 

 

Afterwards we (meaning the girls) hit up the movie I've been dying to see...

It was SOOO good!! Exactly what I had hoped for...I laughed...I cried...I've been completed! It's one of those movies I could've watched for 2 1/2 more hours!! Well it wasn't that long, but still pretty lengthy!! I can't wait for the DVD to come out!! Plus I think I'm gonna go and watch it again with my sister...this time at the $1 theatre!!

All in all a great way to spend my Kamehameha Day holiday!!

Okay...I've been waiting to see Kung Fu Panda for MONTHS!! I mean it, I think I saw the first preview waaaaay back...like late last year or something like that. So when I heard it was finally coming out I was stoked!!

We decided to watch it a couple of weekends ago. We went to the 9:45 pm showing at the Ward Consolidated Theatres. I'll have to admit the its far from home and the only reason why we chose this theatre is because I had just worked at the Home & Garden Show at the Blaisdell, but I do LOVE this theatre. The seats are softer and spacious. You can recline back and left up your armrest for some extra cuddle action!! LoL!! But I wasn't too knocked out by Kung Fu Panda. I was bummed...maybe because I had been anticipating its arrival for months or maybe because it was nearly 10 pm, I had just worked a 6 hour shift at the expo and I was tired...but it just didn't do it for me! In fact I fell asleep for a few minutes!! But Taei LOVED it...he laughed so hard and said he couldn't wait to get the DVD...so I'll get the DVD, I'll give Panda another try. But my initial review...ehh.

Today Taei and I decided to have some Vietnamese Pho for lunch. There was a point where we were eating it EVERY Saturday after hula practice. But people got busy, hula practice moved to Tuesday evenings, and we were a bit Pho'd out...but since it had been awhile we decided to head out. The pho place is right next to the Kapolei Consolidated Theatres and after we had eaten lunch we walked over just to see what the times looked like. So we had narrowed it down to Get Smart and Don't Mess with Zohan. Get Smart would've started in 10 minutes, Zohan 35 minutes...we went with Get Smart.

Kapolei Theatres is a far cry from Ward. Standard size seats, no reclining, arm rest that don't move...no extra cuddling...lol! But its right down the street and we got the bargain matinee price, so we went with it. Get Smart is HILARIOUS!! Seriously...I was never a huge Steve Carell fan, but I'm starting to appreciate his humor. While the plot was simple and to the point, there were some whoa action and fight scenes, but honestly the reason why you watch this movie is for the humor...oh and if you think the Rock is hot...he is!! LoL!!

So in an unexpected twist...I had seen the previews to Panda and anticipated its arrival and was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. But along comes Get Smart, which I had only seen a few tv commercials and LOVED it!

Between being busy and feelin' like I have nothing to blog about I haven't updated much!! Sorry!! I've got some stuff and I'll be updating shortly!! Have a happy weekend!!

Today some very nice person brought in mangoes to our office. I'm not entirely sure why, but I've been cravin' me some mango!! The bag had a nice mix of ripe-ready-to-eat and some a little on the greener side. I peeled and ate a small ripe one and man it took me back...

Just the aroma of a ripe mango reminds me of trips to Kona to visit my grandma or running around my friends house up the street from mine!! Ahhh...those were the days!! It also got me thinkin' of different ways I like to eat mango. I definitely love COLD ripe mango and I do prefer to peel and slice it so I can enjoy the mango without all its juices running down my chin! But I also like to make "shoyu mango." Not sure if that's a correct culinary term, but shoyu mango is a slightly green mango marinated in a shoyu, sugar, vinegar, and black pepper mixture. I normally throw in a bit of water to settle it down a bit! This is my second favoritest way to eat mango! This might also have been the first real "dish" I made as a child! LoL!! The sweet and sour flavor reminds me of the days when I could actually climb a mango tree! LoL!!

So do you have any favorite childhood snacks? What about something that you eat and it automatically jets you back 5, 10, *gulp* 20 years??

I had a lot to deal with this week. I turned 28 and I celebrated my 10 year high school reunion...good thing I'm not one of those people that fear losing my youth! LoL!! I didn't end up going to our "class night" at Dave & Busters on Friday, which I'm a bit bummed out because it sounded like alot of fun...and they had a huge turnout! I heard nearly 300 of our fellow '98ers showed up! The party ended at D&B's but then they headed over to PipeLine Cafe...oh well...in another 5 years I can try again.

So the Luau was held Saturday, June 7th on campus. It included classes as far back as 1933!! Can  you believe it?? But they still had alums from '33 on up!! This year they were celebrating the 3's and 8's! It was an interesting night. The luau started at 2:30 with a no-host bar and free pupus. Entertainment included all alumni of Kamehameha. There was two booths a lei stand and Tutu's Pantry. Both were to raise funds for the class of 1979, for their 30 year class reunion next year. I learned that when you're at year 29, your class is in charge of the luau and that any money generated is a fundraiser for the 30th year.

 

Here's a picture of "Tutu's Pantry"...they were selling specialties from each island. Molokai sweet bread, Maui's manju, etc...they also had Chinese Pretzels, guava bread, banana loaves, and orchids.

 

 

 

Another fundraiser...these were our table cloths...yes, Manuhealii table cloths. But they were thicker than your average table cloth. You could bid on these and all the proceeds would go to the class of '79 for their reunion next year!

 

Also on the tables was a basket of treats to munch on...I'm guessing before dinner, but if it were meant for afterwards, it didn't make it!! LoL!! The basket included, kulolo, haupia, and Kamehameha's FAMOUS haole brownies! I am a HARDCORE choco-holic, but these haole brownies are something special. If you are even remotely associated with Kamehameha than you know what I'm talkin' about!!

 

 

By far...the biggest tent I've ever been under. Maybe if the circus comes to Hawaii they could rent it from Kamehameha! LoL!! You can't really see, but in the middle of the tent, near the stage, they had this cirque du solei, type apparatus. Performers would move to the music on this ring and do all kind of acrobatic. It wasn't exactly Las Vegas strip worthy, but still kinda cool!

 

Here's our dinner...starting from the top left and working clockwise...a piece of sweet potato and poke (raw fish), chicken long rice, squid luau, kalua pig and rice, and I threw the haupia on my plate from the goody basket! LoL! Not pictured we had a bowl of poi and a smaller serving of lomilomi salmon! It was okay, Taei was expecting laulau, but I explained it's a lot more expensive and difficult to either prep or buy laulau for a few hundred people!

 

 

 

So the luau was a bit uneventful. Meaning besides the lei stand, Tutu's pantry, and the musical entertainment (which we weren't paying too much attention to, since they seat the classes in order of age and we were the second to the youngest, we were REALLY far!), it really was a night of just socializing. We did take a class picture...that being part of the myspace age, only one person paid for and is going to post it for the rest of us cheapos! LoL!! Here's some of the Class of '98...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was interesting to see so many of our classmates...many of the cliques are still the same. I don't hold a grudge or anything; many of those people have been friends since 12 or 13 or 14, some as far back as kindergarten. You stick with those who've you been with for years. But for the most part everyone was polite and friendly...after 10 years...it was a nice evening.