Tank's Blog

Tank's blog is now up and running. More posts to come as I'm transferring old ones from a different source. Layout is still not finalized, so keep checking back.

See what he's up to at Tank's World.

Happy Holidays!

From my home to yours.

Ornamental Musings

My friend is hosting a holiday ornament exchange party this Friday where each guest is to bring one ornament. It makes it especially hard for me since I've seen some very pretty ones in so many stores, and I can't seem to decide which to get. Here are a few of my favorites from Pier 1 and Anthropologie:

Have a Snow Day!

Create some snow today! The more snowflakes created by the end of the year, the more donations given to The Salvation Army.

Create your snowflakes now.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I’ve been hit with the flu bug and have had it for about a week now, pretty much right after the Ho'ike. All the running around and preparation for the performance, combined with being around a flu-stricken co-worker, finally took a toll on my immunity. I stayed home from work for a few days and did absolutely nothing but curl up in a warm afghan, cuddle with my pets, and watch a few of my favorite movies: Sleepless in Seattle, Serendipity and The Wedding Planner. Somehow, watching these girly movies that have common themes of nostalgia, belief in fate and wishes, got me listing some of my most favorite pastimes, places and comfort items:

~Foggy San Francisco mornings
~Steamy kitchen windows while mother makes chicken and rice soup
~Finger drawings on said steamy kitchen windows
~Shopping in Union Square with mother
~Smell of eucalyptus while walking in Golden Gate Park
~Seeing the red glow of sunset glistening on downtown San Francisco high-rise windows while walking to bus stop after work
~Sancha ballet shoes
~Wearing said Sancha ballet shoes while dancing at Academy of Ballet School
~Mac and cheese
~Potatoes and gravy
~Spam (extra crispy, please) and rice (typical ono ono Hawaiian breakfast!)
~Cheese ravioli
~Vanilla malt
~Lindt chocolates
~Mint chocolate gelato
~Driving down the SF Peninsula and stopping at beach to make sandcastles with Josh
~Rainy, warm Maui days
~Snorkeling with sea turtles in Hawaii
~The purring and snoring sounds of my rabbits and dog
~Picking apples at an apple orchard in the Fall
~The sound/beat of the ipu heke (Hawaiian drum)

I can go on and on...

Show Time!

After 6 months of practicing for our annual Hula Ho'ike (performance), it's finally here! I'll be on my way soon to the theater for our final rehearsal before the show at 2 p.m. Two nights ago, we had our dress rehearsal and saw for the first time all 80 dancers in costume. It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time.

After rehearsal, our Kumu (hula teacher/master) reminded us what Ho'ike is all about - sharing and perpetuating the art of Hula. It's hard to believe that Hula was once almost a lost art, and what we do when we dance is preserving what has been for thousands of years. Those who truly know Hula understand that it is a spiritual art form and also a life style, one where Aloha exists everyday and in everything that you do.

King David Kalakaua once said, "Hula is the language of the heart, and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people," and that it definitely is!

Dress Rehearsal

We had our 3-hour dress rehearsal tonight for the performance this Sunday. As predicted, the atmosphere was chaotic (but fun) with keiki running around and parents trying to gather them for costume changes. Wahine were also in disarray with costumes and accessories all over.

Afterwards, I had dinner with a few of my hula sisters. Will be touching up just a couple costumes, ironing them and I'll be all done and ready.