Saturday, April 30, 2005

Kona Anticipation

Tom, Dwane and I will be heading out to Kona to enjoy the ocean breezes (different from O`ahu, somehow) and drive around the island to hopefully stop off at The Paniolo Cafe at Parker Ranch, a nice little place with a great breakfast on May 6th, the day after Cinco De Mayo.

Dwane and I went there some years ago with another friend, Mel, and sample their rustic cuisine. Ho man! I loved it. Really hated the fact that we didn't make it back sooner.

Tom is really looking forward to it as well.

We owe this trip to April and Paul for letting us borrow their condo in Kona. Otherwise, Paniolo Cafe would have to wait even more! Hopefully, there will be pictures on the way.

I had to rearrange for an extra day off from work to deal with some important things on the island. Sorry, I can't say what.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Pics From Lasagna Nite


What a fun night that was at Dorota's and Steve's. We especially enjoyed Bobby Chin, their five-month old Japanese Chin. I couldn't play with Bobby enough. I would love to have a dog like Bobby, but who can afford $2,000.00 for a tiny dog? I'd have to work two jobs.



Just another collage of pics taken at Steve and Dorota's place, including some from the Sand Bar. Posted by Hello

Monday, April 18, 2005

Is He, Like, Cute, Or What?

This is Bobby Chin. When I first entered Steve's and Derota's place, Bobby yipped just a couple of times because he was so happy to see me, then he was quiet for the rest of the time. A very affectionate dog. I suppose timid would best describe Bobby's demeanor. Every time I see Bobby, the more I want to have a dog like him. But where would I get the cash? I hear a Japanese Chin costs around 2 grand. Yikes! Posted by Hello

Lasagna Nite

I'm still recovering from the lasagna fest. Carbed out like crazy, but no regrets here. Tom out did himself on the lasagna, not to mention the fantastic New York cheesecake he made (with strawberrys yet).

Steve and Derota's place is on the mauka side of the Ala Wai in a quiet part of the neighborhood, a humble abode with Japanese panels to separate the living room from the bedroom. I liked their place a lot. Very simple and clean and perfect for housekeeping.

Bob Chin, their dog, yipped me a greeting the moment I came into the apartment. He made no other sounds after that. A very quiet dog, and very affectionate too. The perfect lap dog. If I could afford one and had the time a pet is due, I'd get a Japanese chin too. What an animal!

To get the evening started, we went into making our famed Vuccas, shaking the container full of limes and lemons, sugar and a fifth of Vodka for nearly a half hour. The first batch was fabulously sweet and gave us a mild buzz (just like I like it). I don't care to get blitheringly drunk, so the drink was just fine. After the pre-dinner cocktail, we attacked the lasagna in a frenzy. I'm glad Derota (gosh I hope I'm spelling her name right) and Steve enjoyed it.

After that we tackled the cheesecake and I nearly passed out. Ugh. I loved it. My pants are now, officially, a tourniquette and my hips on down turn blue for lack of blood.

We went to the Sand Bar after that and enjoyed a long evening (closing down the bar, though I don't recall much of it).

A perfect Saturday festivity.

Saturday, April 16, 2005

Spring In Full Swing

Well, if you haven't already, you better get your taxes completed. Luckily for me, I did mine a long time ago to avoid the hassles and heartaches of preparing them late.

I love Spring time in Hawai`i. The weather has improved a hundred fold and I can comfortably wear shorts again. This past winter was too much, even for me! It must have averaged about 75 degrees most of the time . . . brrrrrr.

Today, Dwane and I will be joining the rest of the gang at Steve and Rota's house near the University of Hawai`i for some lasagna and New York cheese cake ( made the Italian sausage). I can't praise Tom's lasagna enough. Never had one like it. Tom was blessed with Sicilian roots and boy can he cook! Mmmmmmm. And his cheesecake! Atkins can go on hold for this one day!

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

When I was a kid, I lived in Aliamanu, a little piece from Pearl Harbor (Sorry that's my mother's southern way of talking) and I always wanted to live in Waikiki. Aliamanu seemed so country back in the 20th century. Dwane (sitting next to me) and I got a condo in Waikiki and we met a lot of folks like Gail, Marc and of course, Tom. Posted by Hello

Saturday, April 02, 2005

Doodling In Hawai`i

Designs Posted by Hello

Doodling = drawing stuff. I have a ton of subjects here on the island and if not, well, I can go to the net and draw a photo. I much prefer something three dimensional. For the seahorses, I had to look at photos. They aren't the easiest subjects.

Friday, April 01, 2005

At Kilauea in May 1999


At Kilauea
Originally uploaded by SkipAlidon.

Standing on the edge of a caldera doesn't make me feel all that comfortable, not to mention the slight scent of sulfur reaching from the bowels of Heck.

We've been to the Volcano House before. The lush countryside is a sharp difference from the landscape down inside the caldera. I understand Mark Twain visited the old hotel back in the late 19th century.

Marco took this of us. From the right, Tom, Bob, Susan, me and Dwane. I was about 289 lbs back then. Oink.