Blast from the Past! November 13, 2011

I attended my — wait for it — my 30th class reunion last night. There, I said it. Now all of my 16 readers know how young I am. I don’t know why some people get uptight about attending reunions. I suppose the argument can be made that one should never return to high school because supposedly you’ve “moved on.” Or why should I bother to see my classmates when I see my high school group regularly? You know what? I still hang with my childhood peeps but I don’t mind catching up with classmates every few years.

The past two reunions have been relaxing and incredibly hilarious. I think when you get to my age, you’ve embraced who you are and don’t really give a *#**! about what people might say or think about you (and if you haven’t, then you’re wasting precious time worrying about stupid issues). So we gained some weight or lost some hair. For the most part, I think my classmates look younger than our true age. Several of my classmates are grandparents many times over. Some of us are just getting started. It’s just nice to share pictures via our iPhones and swap stories about our lives after graduation.

I think what amazes me about my classmates is our ability to enjoy each other’s company. We may not have been true friends in high school but on reunion night, it’s so much fun to talk story, crack up as we look at our old prom photos and play crazy trivia games like how much did Spam cost in 1981 or “Name that 80′s song.” My personal favorite is laughing at our awful 80′s fashion faux pas and the big hair. Truly awful, I tell ya.

In true class of 1981 fashion, we had to be asked several times by hotel management to vacate the premises. Not because we were drunk (okay, some classmates who shall remain unnamed were a tad tipsy) but because we were having too much fun to say goodbye for another few years. The stragglers moved down to the main floor and about 20 minutes later, we made it into our cars and drove home.

As with past reunions, a few classmates continued the party elsewhere and I’m sure there will be some funny stories to share next time around. Speaking of which, our next reunion will not be celebrating an anniversary but rather our big “5-0.” Gotta admit I cringed writing that statement but I’m looking forward to a fun girls only weekend in Vegas in two years! Congratulations to the reunion committee for a fantastic evening!

Random musings August 15, 2011

I haven’t been in the mood to blog lately mainly because I’ve been busy and of course, really tired.  What else is new?  Anyway, here are a few of my random musings that I’ve accumulated over the past few weeks.

• I had a blast this summer volunteering with ProjectFocus Hawaii (www.projectfocushawaii.com), a photography internship for children.  But then again, I always have fun with this group which is run by Laurie Callies and my sister-in-law Lisa Uesugi.  This year we worked with children from Down Syndrome Ohana of Hawaii.  These kids are beautiful and so incredibly happy.  They truly brought joy to everyone this summer.  Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/projectfocushawaii and see what “Shine:  Inspiring Joy Through Their Eyes” is all about.  Make sure you have your tissue handy because you’ll need it!
• Sometimes it’s good to let kids be kids during the summer.  Both of my sons opted out of summer “learning opportunities” and spent their entire summer fishing and diving.  It makes me happy that they get along so well now as that was not always the case and it was great that they included their cousin Jack in their ocean outings.  The weekly trips to the North Shore also meant that Grandma Linda got to see her “Eastside” grandsons a lot more this summer.  All three boys quickly figured out that Grandma will make them lunch!  To top it off, Micah and Jack finally scored, catching a pretty nice papio and oio!  
  
• Achilles tendonitis/tendinosis sucks!  It’s a chronic condition and apparently quite common for middle age women.  Thanks, doc! Fortunately it doesn’t require surgery, but the pain is constant and the physical restrictions are frustrating.  Don’t get me wrong…I LOATHE exercise but now that my options are limited, I’m really quite upset.  Go figure.
• Things that make you go “hmmm.”  We saw Planet of the Apes yesterday and yes, it’s a very good movie.  It’s also a very disturbing movie and a good reminder that medical research should done with great caution and respect, even if our intentions are good.

So now the summer has come to an end.  Micah has started high school and Matt goes back to UH in a week.  Life is slowly returning to normal.  That can only mean one thing.  TRAFFIC!

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (and I’m not talking about me) June 15, 2011

I’m on vacation this week and so I tagged along today with @melissa808 (otherwise known as Melissa Chang) and her friend Rick Nakama as she viewed several properties for sale in Waialae Nui Ridge.  One of Melissa’s many projects is a real estate blog for Honolulu Magazine so she gets to view all kinds of homes across Oahu.

Today we viewed several homes on Waialae Nui Ridge.  The first house had spectacular views and a nice little rental apartment with a separate entrance.  The house had an interesting layout and while it showed well, the decor was outdated.

The second house we looked at was affordably priced considering the East Oahu zip code but I was underwhelmed.  The MLS listing made it sound like the views were spectacular.  Meh.  It was kind of a weird layout and had a definite 80′s look to it.  If I were to buy the house, I would remodel the kitchen and bathrooms to bring it up to date.  At least it didn’t have butt ugly wallpaper like my house did when we bought it in 2002. Homeowners and interior designers should ban wallpaper from their decorating tool kits.  Just saying!

The last house we looked at was fabulous in every sense of the word.  Located in a four-home gated community on top Waialae Nui Ridge, this property is on the market for $4,950,000.  That’s not a typo.  It had spectacular views of Diamond Head (you can see into the crater), Waikiki and Honolulu.  Beautiful kitchen, two Harry Potter closets (one for wine) and an infinity pool.  This house has two levels with a huge master suite and two, yes that’s right, two walk-in custom closets.  The woman’s closet was much larger, as it should be.  The lower level featured a small master suite, a recreation/home theatre room and a smaller room that could be converted to a craft room or a guest room.  The entire lower level opens to the pool area.  My first thought after viewing the lower level was “Matt would love this part of the house.”  Then I realized that if we ever had the means to buy such a property, our children would never leave us!  Melissa also mentioned that there’s another basement level that is unfinished but could be converted into another living space.

I’m not going to any more of these showings with Melissa because it makes me depressed to see how the beautiful people live.  How is it that there are so many wealthy people in Hawaii who can actually live this lifestyle?  Granted we’re not poor but I don’t think we could even afford the garage at this house.  Sigh.  Anyway, enjoy the photos and daydream a bit about what it might feel like to be rich and famous!

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Grieving for Japan March 29, 2011

You know you haven’t blogged in a while when you can’t remember your WordPress login and password!  However, I digress.  Like many people in Hawaii, I have been deeply affected by the devastation in Japan from the recent earthquake and tsunami. I still can’t believe it happened and when I see the constant barrage of videos and photos of the aftermath, I feel like I’m watching a movie.  I wish it were just a movie because it breaks my heart to hear about the growing death toll and the nuclear crisis that is now consuming everyone’s attention.

As I watch the coverage, I am amazed by the resilience of Japan and its people.  Not once have I seen or heard a report of looting.  Or rioting at stores to fight for the last ration.  When instructed to conserve electricity, people comply quietly with no complaint. Many have family in Hawaii and elsewhere who are encouraging them to evacuate to safer areas yet they refuse to leave their country.  What saddens me most though are the nuclear power plant employees who continue to work in extremely hazardous conditions in order to protect their fellow citizens.  It’s truly amazing to witness the human spirit at its best.

So did we overreact this time around?  I don’t think so.  There will be another disaster and Mother Nature may not be so kind. Having worked in my hospital’s command center that night, I was somewhat distracted by concern for my own family.  My husband also had to report to work so our kids were “home alone.”  Yes, they are older and we live on a mountain ridge but I couldn’t help but worry about what might happen if the tsunami hit East Oahu.  There’s only one road in and out of East Oahu and if it was destroyed by a tsunami, how long before the two of us could get back to our family?  I really don’t want to know the answer to that question because it would seriously freak me out.

There’s a lot to be learned from these past two and a half weeks.  Put together an emergency kit and have an evacuation plan for your family.  Stock up on canned goods and water (and don’t forget the toilet paper).  We do this every time we dodge a natural disaster yet can any of us honestly say we are really prepared to survive for a week or two after the event?

That said, please show your aloha for the numerous fundraising efforts that are taking place across our state to help Japan.  I know you don’t need another t-shirt and it’s tough right now to part with what little disposable income we have but it’s the least we can do to help a country that has always supported Hawaii.

Lunch with the ladies February 22, 2011

My tweeps @melissa808, @nonstopmari, @lenahanson and I checked out Umami, a new Japanese coffee and sandwich shop at Harbor Court.  Umami opened a few weeks ago in the space formerly occupied by Satura Cakes.  While the new owners didn’t do much to change the interior or exterior, the vibe is definitely trendy Japanese.  Think Shirokiya food court but with a Martha Stewart flair. Everything in Umami is beautifully packaged and every time I’m there, I wander aimlessly looking at all the pretty things to eat.  Although it’s a “grab and go” eatery, they have a lot to offer for breakfast and lunch with a variety of bentos, sushi, sandwiches, daily specials, coffee and tea drinks and of course, desserts.

Since Melissa and Mari were there to do “research” for their NonStopHonolulu website, we ordered a lot of items to share (it was a tad embarrassing).  On today’s menu: kalbi fried rice, lobster sandwich, lobster inari, salmon BLT, char siu pizza and a Reuben sandwich.  I think we all agreed that the lobster sandwich was the hands down winner.  Delicate lobster salad on fluffy white bread, ’nuff said.  The lobster inari was also good however the lobster was a bit overpowered by the sushi rice and aburage but if you like cone sushi, you’ll like this item.  We also liked the kalbi fried rice which was your basic fried rice with sliced kalbi.  If there was a side of kim chee, it would have been perfect!  Lena also ordered soup and Mari ordered a sushi hand roll and a couple of bentos to go.

As for dessert, we tried the strawberry shortcake and the red velvet cake.  I had a piece of the red velvet cake last week and thought it was dry so I was very surprised when it was actually pretty good today.  Don’t worry mom, your red velvet cake reigns supreme and you could probably make a fortune if you sold your recipe to Umami.  I was disappointed with the strawberry shortcake which consisted of both chocolate and vanilla sponge cake.

Overall, I think it’s a great place for breakfast or lunch.  It’s nice to have a eatery that doesn’t require me traipsing through downtown in three-inch heels. Business appears to be brisk so I’m hopeful that it will continue to thrive. They also cater so it’s perfect for a downtown lunch meeting.  Thanks to my tweeps for a great lunch!

Tasty pizza with generous portions of char siu but the sauce was a bit spicy.

I liked this version of cone sushi. A side of karaage or garlic chicken would have been great.

Lobster sandwich…yum! I think this is my new favorite sandwich!

Kalbi fried rice. I would eat this again!

Happy Valentine’s Day February 13, 2011

If I think about it too much, I start to feel my age but being married for a long time has it benefits!  We can now go out on dates without worrying about the kids.  We decided to celebrate V-Day today to avoid the crazy rush on the real day.  As usual I made the reservation for four and told the kids we were going out to dinner tonight.  Imagine my surprise when they said no.  Granted, the oldest boy had to work but #2 son’s response was, “I don’t want to go on a date with you guys!” Hilarious.

We ate at BLT Steakhouse in the Trump Tower.  It was good but we both agreed that there are better steakhouses here and on the Mainland.  I think the best thing I ate tonight was the donuts.  They were divine!  Hubby was impressed with the free valet parking (tip not included) at the Trump Tower.  Overall, a good dinner and a nice night out for the two of us.  Enjoy the photos!

Check out the lights in the Trump Tower lobby!

Complimentary crostini with chicken liver pate.

Mmm…popovers. We each got one but ended up eating just one. Too much!

Cute! They give you the popover recipe. Too bad they don’t give you a popover pan too.

Barry’s hamachi appetizer. So-so, he said.

Caesar salad. More than enough for two people.

My 8 oz filet with red wine sauce.

Barry ordered the prix fixe menu for $60 which included appetizer, entree, side and dessert. He had the locally raised NY strip steak with hash browns and hamachi appetizer.

The donuts are to die for! Must order this dessert! Lilikoi souffle is great but a bit tart for my taste.

48 Hours on the Strip January 24, 2011

I took a quick trip to Sin City this weekend, sans children. My husband has a conference this week so we took advantage of some really low fares to enjoy the weekend.

This trip was mostly about eating and then shopping but not necessarily in that order. We stayed at T.I. (Treasure Island) and I forgot just how much I prefer staying on the Strip. So much cleaner, less smoky and way more stuff to do.

Some of my favorites this trip:
In-N-Out
Max Brenner (think chocolate everything)
Delmonico’s (this is an Emeril Lagasse restaurant and there are no photos as I was too embarrassed to be like Melissa)
Hash House A Go-Go (definitely on my list for the next trip)

Shopping was outstanding as usual at the Las Vegas Premium Outlet in downtown. Big scores include a Coach wallet to match the purse I bought in November, two pairs of high heels and a whole bunch of stuff from Ann Taylor. And my boys scored big at O’Neill and Quiksilver. Too bad the slot machines were so tight. It would have been nice to win some shopping money!  Enjoy the pics!

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Let there be hope January 11, 2011

One of the few subjects I vowed never to write about is politics. Mainly because it’s so divisive and I’m likely to insult someone. However the recent shooting of a Federal judge and Congresswoman Gifford has left me feeling angry, sad and scared all at the same time. I have to vent.

I’m angry because extremists like Sarah Palin and the Tea Party have contributed to this incident. While this killing spree may not have been their intended outcome, their flagrant use of hateful, violent references give insane, gun-toting idiots like Jared Loughner a reason to assassinate anyone who doesn’t agree with their politics.

I’m sad for the victims and their families who have suffered a loss so horrifying and utterly senseless. Their pain is unimaginable and my heart breaks for these people. I am mostly sad about the death of 9-year old Christina Green who was at the rally to meet her congresswoman.  A beautiful child, born on 9/11 with aspirations for a career, was taken away from her family much too soon.

I’m scared that our society is on a slippery slope to self-destruction. Both the extreme right and liberal left need to do some serious soul-searching and find a path toward neutrality.  Political rhetoric is a given and the freedom to express one’s views makes our democracy great but we must use caution in what we say.  No one can predict what a mentally disturbed individual will do but carelessly throwing out references to violence against innocent Americans is irresponsible.  Extreme right media pundits such as Beck, Limbaugh and O’Reilly need to think long and hard about their influence on impressionable minds. How naive of Palin and her followers, including some members of the GOP, to think that unstable individuals would never view their statements as a call to action.

I believe that Americans are better than this and that this horrific act is not reflective of our society as a whole.  I believe that Americans are smart enough to deny the election of candidates who pander to the irrational minority.  I believe there is still good in my country.  I have to believe.

No Resolutions, Just Aspirations January 9, 2011

New Year’s resolutions are so yesterday.  I’m not making any for 2011 but I do have a list of aspirations, meaning “whoo hoo” for me if I make it, but no biggie if I don’t!

I aspire to (in no particular order):

• File all the paperwork in my home office, eventually.  Perhaps before the end of 2011.
• Bake my mom’s red velvet cake.
• Go to the gym at least twice a week versus twice a month.
• Lose 10 pounds before my next doctor appointment.  Hmm, maybe I should make that five pounds since that appointment is in February.
• Blog more often.
• Read more books.
• Play more golf.

So what do you aspire to in 2011?  Whatever it is, I wish you success!

Process Improvements for Mochi Day December 27, 2010

Yesterday, our Uesugi ‘ohana cooked roughly 100 pounds of sweet rice to make our yearly stash of mochi to celebrate New Year’s.  It seems that as the years pass, more and more of the responsibilities are starting to be passed down to my generation.  I think that’s good but at the same time, the child in me says “NO!”

For example, the pounders and machinists (teen boys) hardly had any supervision yesterday from Uncle Stan.  He peeked in once or twice at the start and then let the boys take over at that point.  It was hilarious to hear the boys tell each other what not to do and Micah took great pride in explaining how you mist the cooked rice with the water spray bottle!

We set a record this year by finishing around 11-ish and that was due to having two burners going at the same time.  Huge time saver!  I also finally got around to developing an order sheet so we know exactly what kind and how many mochi each family requires.  Of course, there were immediate comments about how to improve the order sheet and I think we settled on something electronic that can be projected on a big monitor so the cutters can see the order.  Hmm…sounds a bit complicated.

Uncle Walter, master cutter (the guy who cuts the hot mochi dough for the shapers), also made a change.  He announced that every family must provide their own cutter.  This year, my nephew Jack, my husband Barry and my cousin Todd made their debut at the cutting board.  Our family has no mercy for these rookies.  We were yelling at them to “cut faster,” “make the cuts bigger,” “throw it down to the end of the table.”  Sheesh!  So my engineer husband said we need to make templates for the cutting board so they know exactly where to cut.

All in all, it was a great day.  The cousins have decided to get together on New Year’s Day and write down these various “process improvements” so we can create a mochi instruction book.  Even my brother, who is missing the OCD gene, got organized this year and had an order form for next year’s t-shirts.

Here are some pictures from yesterday.  Wishing you a Happy New Year and don’t forget to eat your mochi!

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