Doing or Being

[originally written 2/6]
"Should you be taking your foot off the accelerator for a spell? If you sense that your best strategy is to lay low, don't talk yourself out of it." I always wonder how "they" know ... but time's winged chariot will whisk this precious time away before I know it (Week 1-and-a-half is gone!! at this posting, 3 weeks left) and I don't want to regret any lost chances to do things! Of course I am here to BE something, but it seems the two will never co-exist. It's the worse choice, but I give up the BEING part and just stay in the DOING part -- it doesn't feel OK, it feels like more of the same. But the whole situation is too overwhelming to give up the doing of things and seeing of people when there is a chance ... endless conflict.

But, like my good friend and Blog-Guru, Badaunt, I "do not normally write about my feelings here." I don't know what to do with my feelings, which keep threatening to bubble over somewhere. Maybe I can go to Pali Lookout and scream them into the wind as I toss a coin?

In the new book from the library, Paris Hangover, fluff after the dense, beautiful and powerful The Echo Maker, there are some insights via an American in living in Paris. Page 307. "[Here] it's not so important what you do, especially what you do for a living. It's just important that you be. Be in the moment, be who you are, be consistent in your rituals and habits instead of always chasing the trendy and new."

The other day, sitting on the outdoor balcony of the cafe at Borders, watching people with notebooks, computers, etc., realizing that in the Big City one drives to a place with a parking garage in order to hang out, the City Girl and the Country Girl had a bit of a face-off.

Sunday (2/10), after wallowing in the newspapers with Kona cafe au lait, I recycled, got gas, checked out the Farmers' Market at Manoa Marketplace, did the big sale at Longs (all this within 5 minutes of the house, so convenient), swung by Walmart downtown and easily was back in time for leftover Egyptian curry for lunch. In the afternoon I cooked the beets, and made Edamame Salad from a recipe in the paper and goodies from the Farmers' Market -- dried cranberries instead of currants. So delicious for dinner (2/22: I haven't cooked anything since)! But I was barely able to stand up by 4, though not so really tired. Had to lie down the rest of the day, except for dinner. Stronger, but still not able to make it through a whole day (2/22: still not; 2/23: did not get out of pajamas all day). Maybe more Being is in the cards?

Hanging out with Don

This photo, taken on the quick, doesn't do justice to my charming friend, Don--sorry, Don (who was about to tell me something!) He's my good (translator) friend from Kitano-cho, in town now, and we went for brunch to Eggs 'n Things where he's been a regular for 20 years. Their photo page shows non-Japanese tourists, but it was almost exclusively Japanese tourist clientele when we were there (and a lot of the time). Super good (cheap--this is Waikiki!) food. Kona coffee is their "regular"--lucky me. We hung out the rest of the afternoon cruising Ala Moana Beach and then swung over to his condo on the 42nd floor with the killer views of Honolulu from Tantalus Mountain to Diamond Head. It was a really fun day!

Don's gift: Punahou Carnival Mango Chutney! Something like 10,000 jars sell out in the first 2 hours! Burleigh's daughter Linda had lamented that she was a little too late to get any (having come from Santa Fe!) and Don had no idea mango chutney is in my top-5 food favorites. I'll hand-carry this with me! Thanks so much, Don!!

Early Morning Lights Out
4:16 a.m., something wasn't right. Aha, no air...the CPAP mask wasn't working. Aha, again, the electric clock was out, the lamp wouldn't turn on....lots of clues for an outtage. No lights around the neighborhood--whew, it wasn't just here. Got up later and it is amazing how dark it is in Hawaii at 7 a.m. Down to the street to get the paper and sure enough, the traffic light wasn't working. To make a long story short, a bit after 7 I opened the fridge to get Piha's food and the fridge suddenly turned on. I jumped a foot, then relief set in. Much more relief when everything worked, the Internet connection, etc. So nice to have a little scare that turned out to be a non-event.

Who Knew? #2

Medicare on the Bus
To get the half-price Senior Discount on the bus, one must show one's Medicare card (yes, the one with the social security number on it!). Guess who paid full fare?

iGoogle is Way Cool
What's my favorite feature? My Paris WebCam? My Twitter map for the primaries and caucuses? How To of the Day? YouTube Recent Features? My To Do list? Or...

Behind Every Great Chef There's a Mom
Well, some of us know there's always a Mom in there somewhere. . . . check out chefs' Moms (by Christopher Styler, who also did The Desperate Housewives Cookbook: Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits. (Alibris says: "From Bree's ber-gourmet repasts to Susan's what's-a-spatula simple suppers, and from Lynette's meals in a hurry to Edie's food for seduction and Gabrielle's epicurean delights, 125 recipes inspired by the Ladies of Wisteria Lane. Color photos throughout.")

Why
did I buy an apron (because I forgot mine)
with a pocket yet!--only to never wear it,
leading to multiple sessions with
Stain Remover? What's with me
and aprons anyway?







Jimmy Buffet's Waikiki 'Margaritaville'
There's to be a new Margaritaville, in Honolulu, before Christmas this year. Toasts all around! One can then spend an afternoon buying a cute bathing suit at Macy's and round off the day upstairs at Jimmy's.

No Walking on Campus
A security blocked my way this morning to tell me no walking on campus! Crimps my style for sure. The alternatives are not very attractive, but I could always masquerade as someone with business on campus (in the land of flip-flops, my running shoes and sox would inevitably give me away, though!).

Yoga and Beach Day

Headed to Waikiki Community Center for 1 1/2 hour ($3!) Gentle Yoga class. 21 people! Mostly floor work, eyes closed the whole time, positions and breathing--really nice. At noon, when yoga was over, hit the beach at Sans Souci and Waikiki (yes there are parking spaces at noon!) for the afternoon and another fabulous ice cream cone before the little store at New Otani closes for good. My new lunch bag is a dream; the Cool Ice kept the cottage-cheese-and-mango lunch cool, and nearly 6 hours later the ice was not all melted and the inside of the bag was still cool. On the beach(es) I sat in the little chair and read my book when I was not eating or in the ocean.

Kailua Simply Beautiful

Today I went to Kailua, directly north from Honolulu on the Windward coast for an appointment there. To my surprise, the drive took only 20 minutes through a cool rainforesty canopy of green. Passing through two tunnels, the vista opened on a distant view of Kailua and the blue ocean. After my appointment, I went to Kailua Beach, said perhaps the best in the world with its powdery white sand, its immensity, its crystal blue ocean. And lots of shade! May be worth the quick drive to go the beach there! Plenty of easy parking, non-clogged highway, small town feel.....and, yes, the bumper-to-bumper return from work in Honolulu traffic I saw on the way back showed how many people were willing to drive for the simple beauty of Kailua.

As for my "Mamasan Curry" at Mekong last night, it turns out that's a typo; it's Massaman curry, a "Muslim" curry with a Middle Eastern rather than Thai flair. Dark brownish red, spices so unfamiliar in curry, not Indian or Thai, it had chicken, carrots, onions and sweet potatoes! First ever sweet potatoes in curry! But it did have coconut milk (lite). The Bangkok Wings were deboned chicken wings stuffed with mushrooms, pork, carrots, long rice and spices and served with a thick peanut satay sauce. My leftovers tonight were just as delicious as the originals last night!

Pihalani, the Huntress

Went to early morning yoga class in the park next to the Aquarium on Waikiki.
Having forgotten to water the cat, then forgotten my purse, my third re-departure was the charm and I was just a bit late. Joined in and stretched out. Only Mondays from 8-9 a.m. View of palm trees from yoga position was restful! Walked down Waikiki to get a coffee, and caught a few rays on the beach along the way. Holiday today so lots of groups and grills, even at 9 in the morning!

Piha seemed glad I got back around lunchtime with various supplies for her gleaned from one end of Honolulu to the other. While putting things where they were needed for her, I did glimpse a lizard like the ones always on the walk outside sprinting across the back room and sure enough, a few minutes later here came Piha with her prize. No, she did not want to relinquish it. And yes, dear readers, I didn't post the photo with the full prize on display, but if there is demand to see it......can do! To give her a treat after having her prize taken from her, she got to go outdoors for as long as she wanted. I dogged her steps, if one dogs the steps of a cat, since if she ever got out of my sight I'd faint.

During my lucky Walmart stop (downtown/has parking garage!) for Piha's supplies that were not in stock the last four times I tried, I found what she needed and also got myself a cool little lunch bag for beach days (it looks huge here, but it can hold a sandwich and a drink). Now, I can stay and stay and stay on the beach of my choice! Discovered there is lots of shade on Waikiki, so may add some more beaches. Beautiful day but I am oomph-less, so taking it easy in the house.

Did manage some needed sleep in the afternoon, so went out for dinner for the first time--to Mekong II Thai just down the street (no Web site). Details tomorrow with leftovers.