Saturday, August 23, 2008

I Fixed the Blender

I ordered the replacement part online last week. It arrived yesterday along with my Amazon order. I was so excited! It was like Christmas! I love getting packages, even ones I send to myself.

The piece I have in my hand is the old coupling and the new one, is on the blender base. You can easily see what the problem was.

I celebrated the event by making myself an excellent smoothie. Sorry you weren't here, or I would have shared.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

New Theme

Blogger needs more theme templates, or I need to learn HTML. I used to like the look of my blog. I thought it was pretty, and unique. Then I started seeing that template everywhere. It wasn't unique at all. I tried changing around some of the colors, but it just ended up looking messy.

So, now it is basic black. I am not sure I like this all that much. At least it is uniform, and clean.

Please tell me if you know of a place where I can find more template choices for Blogger.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Assortment

My mom asked me the other day if I had been reading much lately. I was surprised by the question. It seems like that is what I have been doing the most the last month or so. I started reading those crazy vampire love stories, and have been on a reading adventure ever since.

This week I read "To Have and Have Not" by Hemmingway. Awesome, amazing book - no wonder it is a classic. Now I am listening to "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". Not a classic, but it was a best seller and made into a movie.

The memorable reads from this summer have been -

1. The Three Musketeers (earned a spot in my top 10, all time favorites)
2. The Secret Life of Bees (excellent characters, good story, but kinda sad)
3. Atlas Shrugged (maintained it's spot in my top 10, all time favorites)
4. A Prisoner of Birth (something I would not have normally chosen, but very, very enjoyable)
5. A Summer in Tuscany (an American in Italy love story - off my usual path, but fun)
6. To Have and Have Not (adventure and deep thinking - no light weight author could pull that off)
7. Twilight (and the rest of that addictive series)

I ordered "Breaking Dawn", the last in the "Twilight" series from Amazon. I was looking for "The Silent Gondoliers" and "The Princess Bride". Neither one are available on Audible or at our public library. I ordered them on Amazon and to get the free shipping I needed to buy one more book. They are supposed to arrive on Friday. I can't decide which one I will read first. I think the vampires might win.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Birthday Time Again


Time is just flying by. It seems like just yesterday Ryker and Quincie were having birthday parties at Chuckie Cheese. Q was 15 on July 15!



Ryker turned 17 on the 3rd. He had a party at the pool with some friends this Saturday.I am not really sure why the pool has any attraction here in the land of beaches. I'm pretty ok with the hot tub option the pool affords. The teenage crowd seemed to enjoy themselves.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Primary Activity

This week our ward has been celebrating the 10th anniversary of it's creation. We have had an activity nearly every night for the past week. On Friday evening the Primary was in charge of planning an activity for the entire ward to attend. Members of the ward were invited to set up tables displaying items from the different cultures that have come together to make up our ward. The displays were terrific! Many of them brought a craft, game, or treat from the culture they were representing. We learned a little something about Japan, China, Samoa, Traditional Hawaii, the Philippines, South America, the history of the Church in Hawaii and the history of our chapel and ward.


One of the favorites with the children was the bamboo pole game from the Philippines. Brother and Sister Juntilia did a great job! They also shared art, music and a treat with everyone.














Sister Walker presented an excellent Japanese display. She even dressed the part! The kids, including the teenagers, thoroughly enjoyed playing the game she taught them.










Traditional Hawaiian Arts and Crafts from Auntie Mayta and the History of the Church in the Islands by Brother Bachleon.
Vanessa Malupo shared many handmade items from Samoa. She also made a delicious watermelon drink.


Uncle Kimo shared family photos and a scrap book from the dedication of our chapel in 1985.


Caro and Kati brought many interesting things from all over South America. It was a real classroom in their corner.



Sister Ichimura brought all kinds of fun stuff to see and do. The kids enjoyed the craft and well as the noisy hand drums.




The Kamauu's brought us a one of kind, original. Their candy sushi was a big hit! Isn't it beautiful?