North Shore Actual Sunday

Sunday February 27th.  Today, despite a small amount of rain as we drove to the North Shore, was sunny. Fields that were barren two months ago have small pineapples propagating and the ones that were small are now large and ready to be harvested.  The weather was generous with us and we were able to go to the beach yesterday and today.  The lines were long to get shave ice, so rather than wait for Matsumoto's we opted to go to Aoki's with the shorter line.  We should have waited in line for Matsumoto's.  On the way home we listened to A Prairie Home Companion, something that is becoming a bit of a Sunday tradition.  Garrison was recording in San Diego and told us about the "winter storm" that has set in and I was reminded that it is actually winter in much of the northern hemisphere.  Joe took some photos this week of our "winter storm", and I love them.  They are on his flickr.  

Cherry, orange, raspberry and banana, lilikoi, mango

A shack on the river where I would like to have a party and some other photos from today

San Diego Sunday

Thursday February 17th - Monday February 21st.  Two thousand five hundred sixty miles is far enough to keep us missing lots of things.  Shows, parties, dinners and favorite places are an ocean away.  Two thousand five hundred sixty miles is not too far to travel for something important though, and this weekend was an important one, Joe's 30th birthday (also my dad's birthday weekend).  This trip started with shave ice but not from the North Shore.  This time it had to be from town so we went to Shimazu Store to get some before leaving for the airport.  Joe got what I can only imagine was an awful combination that I refused to try.  The owner of the store was super nice and we will definitely be going back.

Watermelon, raspberry, peach and red velvet, key lime and cherry coke

I thought a red eye flight would be a great idea and free up a day.  Not so much.  When we landed at five in the morning at LAX Becca picked us up and drove us to Bonita, where we all slept a good part of the day.  We slept in a real bed for the first time in over a month and giggled for a solid ten minutes because it was so comfortable.  Red velvet and lime is one bad combo.  Another one is hot chocolate and burritos which sounded like a good first thing to eat upon being back in San Diego but wasn't.  We spent what was left of the day visiting friends and family, then went to The Station for dinner followed by Brit Pop.  

Saturday meant haircuts, something we both desperately needed but Amy spoils us and we refuse to get our hairs cut by anybody else.  I hope that we can hold out until December.  After haircuts I baked a chocolate birthday cake that became an upside-down cake, an unfortunate consequence of my attempt to shield it from the rain.  A birthday party ensued and I reveled in being around people again.  

Mariposa Ice Cream was a substitution for  Sunday shave ice before having pho for dinner.  San Diego was cold and rainy, so rather than the normal Sunday attire we donned beanies, sweaters and long sleeves.  

Mexican chocolate and cookies and cream

Part of Joe's birthday present was tickets to see Lucero, who never disappoint.  They played "All Sewn Up" a couple of minutes after midnight in recognition of Joe's birthday.  Joe may or may not have taken off his pants in the middle of the Casbah to show Ben Nichols his tattoos.  

Monday meant a trip back up to LAX to fly two thousand five hundred sixty miles that I would fly again and again to make birthday wishes happen.  Two thousand five hundred sixty miles isn't really all that far at all.   

North Shore Seventh Sunday

Sunday February 13th.  Today started off with breakfast at Liliha Bakery where Joe indulged in loco moco.  In case you aren't familiar, loco moco is a popular any-time-of-the-day meal which generally has rice, a hamburger patty, egg and gravy, all smashed on top of each other.  Every restaurant serves it and most will have their own spin on it.  The only question that could possibly be asked about this concoction is "why no spam?"  After breakfast we made a quick stop to process some mystery film that was found and then headed to the North Shore for shave ice at Matsumoto's.

Watermelon Lime and Root Beer Strawberry

We were quick to leave the North Shore because we had visitors.  Joe's brother Michael, his wife Jessica, her parents (Joe's brother's in-law's) were in town on their own accord but none the less had time to have dinner with us.  We dined at a bistro where we had pyramid shaped mousse for dessert and then walked along the beach in Waikiki.

Some photos from the day

Film

Saturday February 12th.  While we were packing up or apartment before leaving San Diego we found a lot of film.  All different kinds: cheap color film, good color film, Tri-X, color slide film and a few exposed roles of each, which all had one thing in common, they were expired.  Not just a little expired, a lot expired.  We found film that I remember taking to Costa Rica five years ago and it was expired then.  Our apartment was in shambles, we had sold most of our furniture the week prior during a garage sale.  Much like now we were without a couch (actually, bought one today!) or many of the comforts of a modern home.  Late one evening while we were taking a break from packing we got the sweetest text from Sam and Aaron saying something along the lines of "thought that you might need a place to sit, we put our key in your mail slot."  Super nice, right?  Super dumb considering they had just put every fallen leaf in Kensington into the bed of Joe's truck.  They left us their keys?  This is what happened to their apartment.

Sam and Aaron's Apartment

We used every sticky note that we had and tried to get the most density possible along with hiding as may as we could so they they could find them for months.  Before leaving, we utilized Sam's Polaroid collection to leave some evidence and a memory of us.  Back to the film now, at some point they got a hold of the N80 and, as an homage to the Polaroid that we left for them, gave us this to find.

Sam and Aaron 

Notice the sticky notes in the background?  The ancient nature of the film is making it look like most of the photos were taken with a plastic body camera.  Here are a couple more photos that I took.  I'm sure that Joe will be sharing all of them on his flickr tonight or tomorrow. 

Manoa

Tacos

Pieces of Home

Wednesday February 4th.  Lately I've been seeing little glimpses that lead me to believe that this apartment is turning into a home.  

A first house guest

A place to work

And a kitchen that can bake bread

North Shore Rainday

Sunday February 6th.  Today is Sunday which means rain and shave ice.  Joe had to work today so our Sunday was short.  I will spare the analysis of shave ice for today and instead extend to anybody who would like to join us the opportunity to come out, have shave ice, and share their examination.  We had breakfast at Kono's in Hale'iwa and watched extreme skiing on the television as the rain fell in the background.  At that moment, I wished for hot mexican mocha and a warm ski lodge.  I'm sure if I were there though I would be wishing to be here, eating shave ice at the beach.

Raspberry Cherry and Cherry Orange

A Place To Sit

Saturday February 5th.  Something that struck me as odd when driving around Honolulu was the vast amount of household objects sitting on the curb outside of houses and apartments.  Mattresses, broken televisions and toilets dot the landscape of each neighborhood.  Bulky Items is the proper term for these eyesores.  The trash people pick all of this up each week in their olde timey trash trucks but the refuse quickly amasses again.  The point of this is perhaps a confession: we've been shopping in the Bulky Item section of the island. The other day we found a chair, an ugly but free chair which we quickly and slyly loaded into the back of the car.

The original chair

This chair you see, I believed to have potential.  Yesterday I went to Kaimuki Dry Goods which, despite its name and the visions of beautiful apothecary jars filled with magical trinkets that it conjured up in my mind, is a fabric store.  They had every fabric that I could ever want, even pizza fabric (that might end up being kitchen curtains, but I really liked the carrots too).  After an hour and a half of trying to decide between three fabrics for the chair cushion I chose a Japanese print by Etsuko Furuya for Echino.

The fabric

The fabric is a thick and sturdy block print which went right along with my plans for the chair.  After picking the fabric, I went over to the hardware store to get some paint.  A few words about driving in Honolulu.  It's terrible.  First, the freeway speed limit is 55 and people really stick to that.  Second, the street names are all very unfamiliar to me and three a's in a row in any noun makes me uncomfortable.  The street signs not are reflective, and I'm not real sure that there is a street sign at each intersection.  Maggie, my GPS unit who I have a dysfunctional relationship with, just cant seem to pull herself together quickly enough to figure out what side of the street my final destination is on.  Sadly, I spend more time talking at Maggie than actual human beings on some days.

The cushion 

The completed chair

I improved the chair.  A little bit of wood filler, some sanding, a can of paint and a beautiful fabric fixed it right up for under $30 and in very little time.  Three more and a table to go, I'll have to keep my eyes open for some more potential tomorrow.