Llama Sighting

There's a chocolate brown llama in Wailuku Heights.

My mom thinks it's an over-fed goat...but I know better. Now, this picture is a little Loch Ness-ish...but this is the closest I could get. I made my mom pull over on the side of the hill so I could climb down a bit to get this photo. I had to hike through the wet overgrown grass...which made it difficult to see the the hill I was climbing down. I almost had a collision with the cement truck on the way back to the car...all for this crappy picture.



Soooo...direct your attention to the red thing in the background...and look down and to the left. See that brown/black dot? That's the llama. Further down are small goats and two cows to clear the grass. I'm really not sure why the llama is there. But I enjoy him.

Because the weather was not happy today, we gave up on the beach, and instead went to Paia for lunch. Paia is an old plantation town that has recently become popular with tourists over the past couple years. I like the plethora of little foodie boutiques and shops.



Today we sampled Flatbread, which is basically thin crust pizza. We ordered the veggie flatbread, with locally grown eggplant, tomato, basil with a balsamic drizzle and the kalua pig flatbread with mango bbq sauce and fresh goat cheese. The crust was crispy and light, and the tomatoes were so sweet and juicy.

Here are some other random pictures:



Rainbow in Hailemaile.



Rain over Molokini...looking from Maalaea. Poor snorkelers.



Nicole and me. It was her birthday yesterday...and being the fish snobs that we are, we would only go a restaurant that had opakapaka or onaga on the menu.

The only thing that would make all this food/beach even better would be if I could watch more basketball. My parents don't have/want/need digital cable...and our cable is a little messed up since last Christmas. Sooo...this means that I've been missing a lot of quality sports time. I really wanted to watch the Celtics/Blazers game...but I could only find the Clippers/Queens game. Hurten. However, I have been staying current via Yahoo! Sports...which is where I stumbled upon these videos for the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

Rudy Fernandez
Russell Westbrook
Joe Alexander

I think they're all pretty boring and toast-ish. But if I had to pick one...I'd go with Joe Alexander because we share similar ears...and!! He likes oreos!

Mochi Pounding

Every Saturday or Sunday before New Year's, some Japanese families in Hawaii partake in mochitsuki, or traditional mochi pounding.

We are not one of those few families. Except for this year.

My Aunty decided to host the mochi pounding at her house in Makawao, in the "upcountry" section of east Maui. And it's country for a reason. Houses are more few and far between here, and there's horses/cows/goats/wild chickens in many of the open spaces.

This is actually only the third time I've actually seen/participated in mochi pounding...and probably the last time for quite a while because it's just so much work. You have to soak the rice overnight and wake up early in the morning to start the fire. And not to mention the pounding.



Some of the mochi pounding tools.



The mochi rice cooking over the fire. The pot on the right is boiling water, and our starter fire for the rice. I originally thought my uncle was smoking meat in the box...I was briefly excited.



We had to collect the firewood as well. Keawe, in this case...the good stuff.



My dad pounding mochi. When you get to this stage of the pounding, someone has to flip the mochi with their hand after each pound. I called my dad the Kobe Bryant of mochi pounding because he wouldn't pass the mallet. But, in his defense, he's has 30 years of experience, and he as probably the best one there. So I guess I wouldn't pass the mallet either.

The women and children were ushered indoors for mochi making. I was fired in my last term because for eating too much. This year, my aunty bought donuts and poke (marinated ahi or octopus) for breakfast, so I was well fed. I only ate 3 mochi this year...1 of which people knew about.



Potato starch is key to prevent sticking. I was tempted to do a chalk toss.



Cutting the mochi to be formed.



Ready for filling! You have to pull the edges of the mochi to flatten it...kinda like pizza dough.



The red/brown stuff is the sweetened azuki bean filling. You need to pinch the sides up and twist and rotate in your palm to smooth out the top.



My first mochi of the day. I got better with practice.

Overall, a good time. But of course, my favorite part was the lunch. We had noodles, warabi (fern shoots), teriyaki pork, won ton, portugese bean soup, chicken soup...and!!! Pineapple chiffon cake! I wish I had two pieces.

Take THAT, Celtics!!!

And I mean that in the most Christmas-y way, of course.

I like to think my note to Santa asking for a Laker win had something to do with it. Maybe. Just a little.

Or maybe it was the papaya I left for his reindeer? He didn't take it, though.



Papaya or not...the Celtics 19 game streak is officially over! Yay! I think Sheshe aka Sasha aka The Machine said it best, "I don't like them at all." Or perhaps commentator Jeff Van Gundy had a point when he suggested that the kids at the game shouldn't even accept gifts from the Celtics.

And just when I couldn't be any happier...I saw these new commercials. I'm all about celebrity endorsements...but these are just toooo funny. It took me a couple watches to realize this was an insurance commercial. I was too distracted by the dancing. And this one...well...I'll let you decide. I hope there was a lot of money and an obnoxiously expensive car involved in this deal for Chris Paul.

In keeping with usual Christmas traditions, we packed up and headed over to Aunty Colleen's for dinner. She's not my real aunty or anything...but in Hawaii, you call everyone aunty/uncle. We brought the dessert: a passion fruit lime bavarian, which Nicole frosted once again.



The frosting master at work.



From left: Passion fruit lime bavarian, Chocolate-peppermint cake, Broken glass jello (my personal fav) and assorted Italian candies.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Swimming with the Fishies...

Not to be mistaken with sleeping with the fishes.

Look how cute they are! (Top left corner)



The day started off a little cloudy in Makena...



Sooo we packed up and tried Wailea...best decision all day.



The water was so clear and slightly warm...but extra salty.



In honor of my dad's birthday tonight, Nicole (sistah) and I are making him dinner. The menu includes crab and ricotta cannelloni, sauteed swiss chard and chocolate cake with raspberry whipped cream. We went shopping for the ingredients...and Maui is just not conducive to cooking. Everything is soooo super pricey! This totally explains why I ate so much spam/vienna sausage/corned beef hash and string beans as a child. $130 later...(I saved $31.08 according to the checker), we are busy cooking, baking and washing dishes.



$6.19 for swiss chard...basically overgrown lettuce???

But luckily everything turned out yummy! Nicole's friend even stopped by to help with the crab leg cracking. And Nicole herself very skillfully deconstructed and lumped the crab meat and frosted cake.



Crab and ricotta stuffed shells with tomato-cream sauce. It was supposed to be cannelloni...but Maui no more cannelloni pasta.



The Birthday Boy and his cake. It's devil's food, courtesy of the Tartine cookbook with raspberry whipped cream and Kula strawberries.

My dad really enjoys King James...but I'm just not sure how he feels about his latest endeavor...a tv show, a "Friday Night Lights-meets-Entourage" type show. Hmm...I can't see Drama and Turtle lasting for more than 5 seconds in Dillon, Texas...but we'll see.

If it was up to me, I would open the show with this clip. Or maybe this one.

Well actually...definitely this one.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...Flannel?

Everywhere you go...

Emphasis on the everywhere. Today's flannel count surpassed 25.

It's almost as if flannel is the new argyle...but not as cute? I wondered where everyone was getting all their flannel apparel from...perhaps this was a result of the cold weather. But then, I saw this...



And this...



Then this...



And finally this...



I even had a brief convo about this new merchandise with a sales associate.

me: Sooo...you guys are selling flannel now, huh?

sales associate: (giggles) Yeah...

me: How's that going for you?

sales associate: (more giggles)

Wasn't really the answer I was looking for.

Shopping Actually

And it's about time, too!

Tonight's shopping session with Jeannie was pleasantly productive and can be summed up in four categories:

1. The Good: Jo Malone Fragrance

This stuff is amazing. Everything here is alcohol free and made from natural essential oils, which makes the store smell like a botanical garden.

The Purchase: Nectarine Blossom and Honey. It even sounds yummy!



The packaging portion of my shopping experience was by far the most entertaining. It was like tissue, box, ribbon, bow, more tissue, a couple sprays of fragrance, bag, another bow. Sort of reminded me of a certain scene in a certain movie. If you're a fan of Love Actually, I'm sure you'll recall this scene.

2. The Bad: Benefit Cosmetic's "The Overnighter"



So this little kit contains a pair of underwear (lacy, according to the box) and some lip gloss. Who gives this sort of gift? And to who? And why?

3. The Ugly: Kiss of Death boots

Leave it to Ed Hardy.




4. The Misunderstood: The Proliferation of Flannel

Flannel count: 5. 2 chicks, 3 dudes. The girls were by far the most misunderstood...flannel jackets with fur-lined hoodies. I stared. Unapologetically.

The one downside to shopping was that I missed basketball. Not that the Lakers played...but apparently Paul Pierce had yet another near-Emmy award winning performance.



You know...seeing this gives me this strange sense of de ja vu. As if, I have perhaps seen this before. Let me think...where have I seen this....hmm....ohhhh yeah...Game 1 of the playoffs! How bout that.



Look familiar? I knew I've seen that feigned wince of pain just 6 months earlier. Unlike AI, it seems that Paul Pierce knows the value of practice. In fact, he'll have you believe he's so G that he shows up to the press conference with no ice on the knee, saying he should be "alright". Hmm...what a surprise.

Goodbye to You...

You being school, that is.

As of Saturday at 12:00pm, school is nothing more than a distant memory.

Here's a quick recap of the half quarter:

1. Statistics - It's all in the... what? What are we looking for? ... (Pause, Nod, Stare, Repeat 1x)
.....Eeeevidence.

2. Ok look/ Now look/ But look (Repeat as many times as desired)

3. Pearls of wisdom from guest speakers...

- When laying people off, be sure to stay near the door. Protect yourself. Especially if they're bigger than you.

- For some people, layoffs are for the better, for others it's...(pause)...different.

With all my new found free time, I'll be able to enjoy the finer things in life...cooking and the Lakers. I found this blog post on good old Yahoo! sports to be particularly amusing. Mainly for the hilarious Walton pic.

Do the Lakers have marshmallow inside?

Getty Images

A contributor to the Lakers blog in the Los Angeles Times is convinced the Lakers are soft? Are they?

The Lakers are still softer than a Johnny Mathis love song. They're "Chances Are" in sneakers.

The Lakers are still softer than the baby powder Kevin Garnett claps into the faces of the Celtics' courtside timekeepers.

The Celtics have the eye of the tiger, the Lakers have the eye of the pussycat.

For instance: When Paul Pierce goes out at night, he gets stabbed. When Sasha goes out, he gets his tips colored. Or buys a new headband.

Do you know what happened at a Celtics game the other night? Garnett screamed and berated Glen Davis, making him actually cry. Davis is as big as your house and the Big Ticket is so mean, he made the kid cry like, well, a Big Baby.

Lamar Odom throws a pass to no one except Sasha Vujacic standing in front of the bench, they both have a good giggle over it. The Lakers are just cute.

There's no crying in Laker basketball, just giggling.

The Lakers have 3 soft Euros, a guy (Luke Walton) who lives at the beach and a guy who can tell you which is a better product, Nivea or Neutrogena.

Source: Los Angeles Times

I'm pretty sure this article is one fat complement in disguise. I mean, who doesn't like a good marshmallow? Or Kobe's new shoes? They get my approval. And clapping in the face of timekeepers? That's just childish. But not as much as crying...ahem, Davis. But giggling? That's healthy...some might even say positive reinforcement. And cute? Who doesn't like cute? Sure sounds like jealousy to me. And Walton? Well, I've never been a fan of that one.

If you want to see the big baby in action...you can check it out here

If there's anyone/anything I depise more than Paul Pierce it's gotta be the Phoenix Suns. It warms my heart to know I'm not alone. Yahoo! Sports hosted a "Suns Collage Photoshop Contest". Here are some of my favs.

"Let's Talk It Out"



Sumo Time

And! At this exact time next week, I'll be back home! Probably spending my days lying around the beach, looking up at this...



Is it next Sunday yet? Is it?

GSE Pharmaceutical Update

This just in from the Almost Pharmacist.

As we all know, the efficacy of these alternative potions is the subject of debate. Some even argue that GSE is not at all natural...whatever that means. Grapefruit is natural enough for me.

Anyway, the Almost Pharmacist say if not placebo, GSE's effects are the result of negative reinforcement. (Who knew this term existed outside of motivational theory voodoo??) Apparently, GSE tastes soooo horribly that your body makes itself better so you'll stop drinking the stuff. I mean, she may be on to something. It is awful...and she knows first hand. She drank a rather strong brew of it a few days ago. Such a trooper.

Whatever works!

Motivate Me

Because right now there is nothing more unmotivating than studying motivational theory.

Seriously. Nothing.

There's just too many theories to memorize/study/remember. Aunty's (my professor) study guide reads like the menu at The Cheesecake Factory. Way too many choices, with non-indicative names and all sort of similar. Like, how you can order mashed potatoes with just about anything and everything. What the heck is "Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp"? And "Pasta Da Vinci"? "Luau Salad" always gets me. The only salads we have at luaus is of the mac variety.

If only motivational theory read as interestingly as that menu. But we do have some rather umm...interesting reading.

- "Administer rewards with valence - carrot must be tasty".

Hmm...carrot must be tasty...can I reference that on the midterm as a theory?

- "If you hear people saying things like, 'I hate this place,' you don't have to look any further to know that negative reinforcement in present."

Amazingly profound.

- "And sometimes, there is nothing to positively reinforce. If the best you can come up with is, 'You have a neat, clean desk', you may have a performer in serious need of negative reinforcement."

How about that. You mean, it isn't enough to have a neat desk?

- "Whether dealing with monkeys, rats or human beings..."

I don't know what the rest of the article is about. I stopped reading at this point.

GSE: More Than Your Ordinary Citrus

GSE = Grapefruit Seed Extract.

And from organically grown grapefruit. Nothing but the best.


Oh, unfiltered as well! So, if you've never heard of/tried this supposed cure all, you absolutely must. It tastes AWFUL. Terribly bitter, and with a major after taste, so a chase is necessary. But perhaps even more unsettling than the taste, are its varied uses.

CAUTION: Do not put in eyes. Do not use full strength in ears, mouth, nose, or any sensitive areas. If contact occurs, flush with water for at least 10 minutes. Irritation is temporary and could last 48 hours.

Internal Use: (Never use full strength)

Orally. 5-15 drops mixed in 5 oz. of water or juice, 2-3 times daily, with or without meals (or take 1 NutriBiotic CapsulesPlus or Tablet 3 times daily). Children (5 years and older): 1-6 drops mixed in 5 oz. juice, 2-3 times daily. Do not use full strength in mouth.

Throat Gargle. Stir 3 drops of NutriBiotic GSE into a small (3 oz. or more) glass of water. Gargle several times. Use as often as needed. Always dilute.

Ear Rinse. Thoroughly mix 3-5 drops of NutriBiotic GSE with 1 oz. of glycerin or alcohol. Apply 1-2 drops of this solution in affected ear 1-2 times daily. Use as often as needed. Do not use full strength in ears.

Nasal Rinse. (adults only) Mix 1 drop of NutriBiotic GSE with 2 oz. of water. Use one full eye dropper of the mixed solution per nostril. Tilt your head backward and release the solution from the dropper into your nose. Swing head forward and down (head is now upside down) to force solution up into nasal passages. Return head to the normal upright position and allow nasal passages to drain. Do not inhale through the nose during this process. Always dilute.

Vaginal Rinse. Mix 5-10 drops of NutriBiotic GSE in 6-8 oz. of water. Douche once daily for one week. Douche more often if desired. Always dilute.

External Use: (Never use full strength)

Facial Cleanser. Thoroughly moisten (splash) face with warm or cool water. With hands still wet, apply 2-3 drops of NutriBiotic GSE to fingertips and gently massage facial area with circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with cool water and pat dry. A tingling sensation may follow. This is an indication of the deep cleansing properties of NutriBiotic GSE. Always dilute.

Skin Rinse. (minor skin irritations) Dilute NutriBiotic GSE with water (5-10 drops/tablespoon). Apply this solution directly to affected area twice daily. Do not use full strength on skin.

Nail Treatment. Dilute NutriBiotic GSE with water or alcohol (5-10 drops/tablespoon). Apply this solution directly on surface of nail along the cuticle and underneath the front of nail, or soak nails, twice daily for as long as desired. Do not use full strength on nails.

Scalp Treatment. Add 5-10 drops of NutriBiotic GSE to each shampooing (mix in hand or on head with shampoo). Massage into scalp and leave on for at least 2 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly with water.

Household Use:

Toothbrush Cleaner. Stir 5-10 drops of NutriBiotic GSE into a glass of water. Submerge toothbrush for 15 minutes (or leave in between uses). Rinse toothbrush before using. Change water and remix every few days.

Vegetable/Fruit or Meat/Poultry Wash.
Sink washing - Add 30 drops of NutriBiotic GSE to a sink full of cold water. Briefly soak any vegetables, fruit, meat, or poultry. Rinse if desired.
Spray washing - Add 20 or more drops of NutriBiotic GSE to a 32 oz. pump sprayer filled with water. Spray on any vegetables, fruit, meat, or poultry. Rinse if desired.

Dish and Utensil Cleaning Additive. Add 15-30 drops of NutriBiotic GSE to sink dish washing water or to final rinse. Add 15-30 drops to automatic dishwasher with detergent or to final rinse.

Cutting Board Cleaner. Apply 10-20 drops of NutriBiotic GSE to cutting board and work into entire board with a wet sponge or dish cloth. Leave on for at least 30 minutes. Rinse with water.

All Purpose Cleaner. Add 30-60 drops of NutriBiotic GSE to any 32 oz. pump sprayer filled with water or cleanser. Use on all surfaces around the house.

I am somewhat concerned that you can ingest it and use it as a nail treatment and a disinfectant and an all purpose cleaner. Who knew.

I use it as a cold medication...so I can't really speak to these rest of its uses. Of course, GSE's actual effectiveness is up for debate...but it works for me...even if in placebo form.

A final caveat: If you feel adventurous and give this a try, be sure to have a cookie or something nearby.

Thanksgiving in Seattle

Who needs turkey?

Especially for the ethnic Thanksgiving that Nicole (sister) and I partake in almost every year.

And so was our dinner this year. This was our very first trip to Seattle, and we had no idea Thanksgiving was such a big to-do in this city...because everything (and I mean everything, including the Asian places) were closed. We attempted to sample some Trinidadian fare...but as you may have guessed...yup, closed. Even after I called them the day before!

Luckily...across the street, there was a little Mediterranean/Middle Eastern/Indian place with a nice "open" sign. Hmm...3 cuisines...1 restaurant. That combo always makes me nervous...especially after Nicole and Kara (Nicole's friend) sampled some Italian/Mexican fare (don't ask) with mixed reviews. But thankfully, Cedars did not suffer from this same identity crisis. The food was yummy, and our waiter was extremely helpful, especially since he "loved to make recommendations".



Here is what he ordered for us. I can't remember everything...but it was all very tasty and ethnic Thanksgiving fare. Just the way we like it.

The next day, we ventured to the famed Pike's Place Market in the cold, rain and wind. Umbrella-less (the hotel provided an umbrella, but no one wanted to carry it), we stayed mostly in the indoor area, and perused the fresh produce and plethora of assorted sea creatures. And then I see this...



I couldn't help but giggle.

After a quick walk through, we took the bus to the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle in search of some brunch/lunch. I had planned on visiting acclaimed brunch spot, The Dish...so we took a cab to hide from the drizzle. What a mistake.

Cabbie: "Oh good. You need a ride. I need work."
me: "Ha...umm...so we're trying to get to Leary/8th."
Cabbie: "I'm waiting for a job so...if I get called..."
me: (thinking...are you gonna kick us out if you get called???) "Umm...so the place is called The Dish."
Cabbie: "The Dish...you put food on the dish..."
me/Nicole/Kara: (stifled laughter)
Cabbie: "Hey...if you girls aren't in a rush...I hope you don't mind if..."
me: (thinking) Holy Sh*t. I just got us all killed.
Cabbie: "I'm not really sure how to get there..."
me: "Uhh..."

So we finally get there. Keep in mind Cabbie did not turn on the meter and creepy jazz music is playing in the car. The place is closed.

me: "Umm...take us to the troll."

We have more awkward convo. We arrive at the troll and we can't peel out quick enough.



The troll on Troll Ave. That's a real Beetle in his left hand.

We were pretty hungry and traumatized from the cab, so we decided to walk to our lunch spot. It was a mile away...up hill in the rain...but trust me, it was worth it. And, we needed the walk in preparation for these delicious Cuban sandwiches at Paseo.



OMG. So yummy. Please note the Chinese plates it came on. Perhaps the messiest sandwich ever...but something about the seasoned shrimp, super carmelized onions and aioli made this one of my fav meals in Seattle.

After lunch, we trekked down to Theo Chocolates, whose claim to fame is being the first all organic and free-trade chocolatier in the nation. Sounds legit. iPhone takes us on a little journey through some intense residential area, but we soon find our way there. Copious sampling ensues.



Clockwise from top: Pear balsamic, 'smore and lavendar, jalapeno caramel with salted lavendar on top. The chocolate was smooth and delicious. Yum.

What better way to enjoy chocolate than with a nice cup of coffee? And Seattle coffee, no less. We were referred to the Fremont Coffee Company...seriously good coffee. And I don't drink coffee. Really nice foam.

We bussed it back to the hotel and to our dinner location in the International District. Friday was our Vietnamese night, especially since Kara has never had pho!



Our dinner at Green Leaf. Dinner...or forest on a plate? You decide.

And what's dinner without dessert?



Chocolate explosion and banana creme tart from Ruth Chris at the Hyatt.

Saturday. The Dish has to be open today. We take the bus (no more cabs, remember) back to Fremont, and...



Eggs benedict with tomato, mushrooms and spinach. Mmm...hollandaise!

And...a little cupcake trip to Trophy Cupcakes and Party in Wallingford.



I had the lemon because it looked like a cute flower.

Overall, such a fun place...very cold...but definitely an adventure. The protests and bums definitely added to the good times.



If this doesn't say Happy Thanksgiving...then I'm not sure what does.



Yup...that's King Kong...on a house...as a window...



Kara and umm..."Santa". What a great use of $2. I'm sure he appreciated it.



Nicole and me at The Dish.