Time keeps on ticking .....

Time doesn't seem to fit precisely right. It's like wearing someone else's shoes, or a shirt that was sewn a little skewed in the seams. Time is an arbitrary, mortal construct, forced over the head and shoulders of infinite, immortal beings. We need some way of measuring, but it isn't our natural state. Our minds play tricks with it sometimes, and are the precise masters of it at others.

Have you ever had the experience of waking up 1 minute before your alarm goes off? I went for years without ever setting an external alarm. I would look at the clock before bed, tell myself what time I needed to wake up, and then like magic I would! I never over slept, not once! The internal clock is perfection!

Marking the passage of time is an odd thing. It is especially odd here in Hawaii. Everyday is pretty much the same, like Ground Hog Day. It could be yesterday, or 6 months ago, it looks like the same dang day. It would be an 85 degree and sunny day, but the same as any other, none the less. There is no external sensory input to help you place an event on a reliable time table in your memory. Here in Hawaii the stage setting and back drop are pretty much identical from day to day. You can't say, "Oh yes, I remember, that happened some time in spring, before the snow melted, so it was early spring, March I think." It just doesn't work. The last three years are a blur. Lots of memories, but it would be hard to tell you what happened when, or even what happened before what.

As of sometime this morning, it has been 40 years since I arrived here on the earth's surface. I know that the BIG 4 O is supposed to be a milestone of sorts, but I pretty much feel the same. It would have been a great excuse to do something extraordinary. I had several good ideas, but I didn't do any of them. It was pretty much a day like any other. I worked some, played some, spent time with family and friends. It was a nice slice of what my life has become, and I like that.

The Sound of Music

If you were to ask me if I have seen "The Sound of Music" I would say, "of course"! I could even sing you a song or two. It's one of those essentials to being a well cultured American.

Well, last night I sat down with Quincie to watch it. We soon discovered that neither of us had ever actual watched the entire movie, start to finish, in one sitting. We had seen most parts, many times, but never the film in it's entirety. Pathetic! So, we settled in with popcorn and soda to watch.

I now know WHY I never saw the entire movie in one shot. It's L O N G! Oh my gosh! We started around 7pm and didn't finish until after 11pm. Granted, we paused it to go take care of Jordyn's kitties, but still!

Made me Laugh

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?