Asian Crawl 2010

Aloha folks! So begins my Asian Crawl 2010. I'm visiting my Sister and family in Hawaii for a few weeks, then on to the Philippines. Mom (who is my primary caregiver) is traveling with me. Since we've done the airplane thing a few times now, there really aren't very many surprises.

Hawaii is lovely. Haven't been here for 30 years. Don't know why I waited so long. The people are friendly. There really is a true Hawaiian spirit of hospitality that is inviting. Example? My temporary ramp. I bought and shipped over this temporary ramp because my Sister has a plantation style house with steep steps. The house is about 100 years old. Total Hawaiian Preservation Society and everything that comes with it.

Anyway, my ramp was unstable on the steps. Sis and Mom were outside Thursday morning discussing how to make it stable because I was freaking out when I walked up - I wobbled. Bad enough that my balance is off but it was like a rocking ship. No fun. The house next door is being renovated and one of the contractors waved at my Mom. She waved back and he walked over, asked what was going on and before we knew it, the guys were stabilizing my ramp with wood and screws. Isn't that the nicest thing?

Oh, and the Hawaiian accent is sweet. My Sis told me I'm already doing the rhythmic cadence. When we moved to the Mainland from Hawaii 30 years ago, classmates teased Sis and I about our accents. We worked hard to lose it and within one day, it's back!!

If my leg doesn't bug me too much, I plan on visiting Hong Kong, Singapore and China. Maybe Vietnam, Thailand or Malaysia. We'll see. After the Philippines, back to Hawaii for a few weeks. Sister and I will island hop for a week. Then it's home and no traveling for a few months.

More later on my travels. Have a great weekend!

Ladies who lunch and the jerks they encounter

Last Friday, after lunch with the Missy's, we decided to go to the local mall for some frozen yogurt (it's this year's bobalicious, you know, the drink with the tapioca balls that was everywhere a few years ago? Now it's frozen yogurt. Go to your local malls, you'll find them sprouting up)...uh, where was I? Right, the mall. So, we've pulled into the handicap space and the hatch marked spot is on the passenger side so I can open my door and wait for the wheelchair. This stupid man in a "I have a small penis so look at my big muscle car" which, by the way, was a f*ckin' HONDA, tries to cut through the parking lot by driving thru the handicap space. And can't because I'm standing there with my car door open. Clearly, it's an Asian stand-off. I can't move because, well, I can't. He won't move because he's an asshole. So what does he do? He gives me the stink-eye. I merely shrug but now the Missy's have noticed him and it's ON. Missy R. is looking at him with that glare while Missy P. is gearing up to shoot him one of her non-combative insults (you a-hole!!) when the douchebag driver drives right past me in a reverse C formation. So he can go the wrong way up the down aisle (one of my biggest parking lot annoyances is that some drivers insist on ignoring the arrows painted on the ground) - but the little butthole does something even more heinous - he shoots me the nastiest look! Imagine - he's in a car and I'M the one that has to move for him. Oh, and he continues to look backwards while he walks to the ATM. Missy R. said (and I'm paraphrasing), "Did that f*cking asshole just shoot us a dirty look?" I was all for rolling over and keying his car.

Today I saw a woman pull her huge red truck into a handicap parking space and sprint towards the mall. Because I always check for handicap placards (hey, you'd be surprised at how many people park in handicap spaces without a placard and it's become a weird obsession thingy for me. I think it's some kind of self-righteous issue and for now it amuses me), it was easy to see she didn't have a handicap placard or license. It's the same thing when someone parks in the "Fifteen Minutes" parking spot and is there for hours. It's marked for a reason, bozo. I asked the security guard at the mall what the policy was for cars parking in the handicap space without a placard and he said that they couldn't issue tickets, only call the police.

Really. Did you know the minimum fine for parking illegally in a handicap space starts at $350 and goes as high as $3500? If you can walk, why risk the fine? I don't get it. Sigh. Again I ask, when did we become a nation of "Me firsts?" More and more I notice the slow decline of consideration and courtesy. The biggest offenders? People my own age, the mid-30's to early 50's age group. Great example we're setting for the younger set, aren't we? Does anyone know what happened to our generation? My parents raised me to be considerate and respectful of others but it's hard to mind your manners when you come across, more and more, people with none. I'm not saying that there's a lack of considerate and kind people, I'm saying that it's easier to spot the rude people. That's why when someone holds a door open, or offers to reach an item on a shelf for me, I appreciate it. Nice gestures are lovely.

By the end of our yogurt treat, the small penis man and his muscle car had left the parking lot. The Missy's and I were able to laugh at the whole situation and our reactions. Still, my urge to key his car or roll over his toes remained strong...I'll get him next time!!

Happy day after Halloween...

This has been a great week. I haven't spent more time with Missy's R. and P. since our Shameless Tourist Trip to San Francisco in May. Missy P's birthday on Wednesday started our time together. Again, sharing a meal and drinks with really good friends elevates my mood so much. Laughing, rehashing old stories, eating from each other's plate - that was a wonderful lunch. After stuffing ourselves, we still felt the urge to be gluttons because everyone knows that calories don't count when you are celebrating a close friend's bday. So off we went to a dessert shop and a box of goodies later...we decided to head south to buy coconut bread. Yes, it was a day of good eats.

After all that food, clearly the next thing to do was shop. So we did.

We decided to meet for lunch on Friday and then dinner on Saturday to celebrate the anniversary of one of the Missy's. That was an interesting meal. It was like speed dating. We were done with our meal and outta the restaurant in about 75 minutes. Amazing. We stood in the parking lot laughing. When did we get so old? Gotta get home to the dogs, we've got a 35 minute drive home, my leg hurts, I'm tired....

I love my friends. I can't and probably won't say that enough in my lifetime. Hope you all had a great Halloween!!