insects invade oahu!

Think tiny insects are frightening? How about one that is 120 times it's itty-bitty normal size? It was like walking onto a movie set. "The Giant Insect Safari" exhibit at Pearl Ridge Shopping Center focus' on several different types of ginormous bugs ranging from battling beetles, the needle of a mosquito piercing a human skin and sucks its blood, a stick bug, locust and preying mantis. All the bugs are replicas of a real life insects, from the detailing of their features and their body movements. 

It takes 3 to 5 months to produce a gigantic animatronic insect. The insects mechanically operate by an air compressor that is cleverly incorporated in the bug itself and it's artificial plants and landscape. The swamp-like setting is made from recycled materials from past exhibits and the use of aqua vinyl. A small choo-choo train for the kiddies provides a more in depth look into the world of bugs.

(Giant Locust)

However, just by watching the kids, I think they're a little to young to know what's going on. One little kid was so frightened, she started screaming to get off. I'm sure if I was that kid, I'd be scared shitless too! But in all reality, it's not scary at all, but a pretty cool looking production that is set throughout two parts of the mall. 

(the ugly Stick Insect)

Probably the most intimidating of all the insects was the Preying Mantis (right). It may have been due to the low lighting and where the insect was situated in the mall. The movement of both its front legs begin to open up and moves toward you as its mouth opens. It's kind of creepy. 

storytelling:chapter 2 out of sight, not out of mind~part 3

...continued from storytelling:out of sight, not out of mind~pt.2

That's out, that one's out and so is this one. Actually, these are all out too. Marking those was pretty easy. All the northern parts of the United States are X'd out with a red sharpie. If I'm going to see any kind of white fluff falling from the heaven's, it's off the list. In fact, any state north of Interstate 40 and any state that's heading East is a definite OUT! Florida's a no, the same with Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Louisiana is a no and Texas is a big hell no. Austin's a lot fun~bbq joints, loads of great thrift shops. Music ain't too bad either, but not really my scene. Same with Nashville. Cool place to visit for a couple of days and that's about it. However, I have to mention, the folks at the Grand Ole Opry weren't very nice!

Asheville, North Carolina may a possibility, but I seriously doubt it. Land and housing is very cheap. People are friendly. Didn't see a problem with finding a job. Two summer's ago, "hubby" and I drove through the Appalachians to Virginia, Nashville and Memphis. After our 5 day excursion, we decided to head back home via New Orleans to visit friends, who recently moved back after Katrina. As we were heading in that direction, we made a call to let our friends know that we were coming in for a visit. Thank god we did. Our friends moved back to North Carolina and literally, just moved in to their new house. So we turned around and headed toward Asheville.

Driving down a 2 lane winding road with nothing but truckers speeding pass you at 70 miles an hour, in the dark no less, is a hell of a scary thing. I swear, I wished I had been sedated. I was holding on for dear life, gritting my teeth with my feet pressed to the floorboard. It was a Fourth of July night and the only lighting we had besides our headlights, was the few sporadic fireworks we saw shooting up in the sky. Then we had to deal with headlights from oncoming trucks heading in our direction. Man, it was terrifying! We were trying to call our friends to find out exactly how much longer it was going to take to get off of this winding mountain back road, but we kept getting cut off. We finally arrived to the small town of Weaverville, with a long parade of people heading back towards their parked cars, after the fireworks were finished. 

We stayed in Weaverville for a couple days. Our gracious friends had us sleeping in their bedroom, as they had just moved in that very weekend, and they ended up sleeping with their kids.  Being in Asheville for a couple days, we got a pretty good overview of the city. The way to Asheville from our friends house in Weaverville is a 10 minute ride down Weaverville Hwy, which is famous for Robert Mitchum's 1958 movie "Thunder Road". A lot of the scenes were filmed at "The Log Cabin Motor Court" on that Weaverville Hwy, known at the time as Merrimon Road. There's 18 rustic cabins in back with a restaurant in front on the highway. "Hubby" and I even tossed the idea that we would buy the motor court cabins and turn each one into a "theme" type cabin. It was a great idea at the time, but then we thought about the winters, which would be worse than where we were living at the moment. Another obstacle that might work against us was the fact that "hubby" is not an earthy, wood-chopping, eco-friendly, granola crunching kind of guy. He's a true-blooded Englishman~sometimes over-bearing without realizing it, and a hearty meat and potatoes lover. Anything healthy, he won't eat. 

The majority of the people in this part of North Carolina are quite young, have kids, animals and live a pretty simple lifestyle. We necessarily don't fit into this profile. It's a great place to raise kids, where you can leave all the materialistic yearnings on the back porch. So with that in mind, I guess you could say that chances are, any state south of the Interstate 40 heading west will most likely be OUT!  Can't really see us living in New Mexico or in the Arizona desert. And I don't really want to move back to California, just yet.

to be continued...

storytelling:chapter 2 out of sight, not out of mind~part 2

...continued from storytelling:out of sight, not out of mind-pt. 1

The frigid air seeps through the narrow opening of the kitchen window and the formation of dagger-like icicles hang over me. It looks as though I live in an icicle cavern. What would happen if one of the icicles broke? Could it pierce my eye out? Would I even feel it? The corroded window hand crank is worn and broken from many years of abuse, so the window can never be closed. The pain in my right shoulder, both elbows and knuckles is a constant reminder of what comes with each passing winter, besides dragging out the heating blanket, which is always set on the highest number. I tell myself, this will be the last year of this. I will head south, possibly closer to the equator, where there are no such months as winter. And, although I am miles and miles away from that reality, it is always in the back of my mind. 

January has passed and so has another birthday. Another box of cheap hair color, tossed in the trash. My sister-in-law will be here in a week with the two grandchildren, the youngest 3 years old, the eldest 14. All three will be arriving from West Midlands, England, for a weeks stay. When she heard all about Frankie and Candy Darling, she decided that she and the grandchildren would love to see the new kittens too. I love having my sister-in-law come to visit. We always have the greatest time. One would think we were blood related and not related by marriage. And this time with the two children there will be even more shenanigans, especially with the children's  "crazy" uncle. 

I will have my cup of Chocolate Macadamia Nut coffee that I brought back from Hawaii. My sister-in-law, her cup of hot water with a slice of lemon and the children will have a bit of breakfast before their morning bath. We will do our usual chit-chat about the family and what has been going on since we've last seen each other.  I tell her that "hubby" and I have decided that this will be our last year here on the East coast. She asks "Where will you go?" I respond by saying "We don't know yet, but somewhere warmer in winter, maybe Hawaii."  In a higher pinch she says "HAWAII! Oh, no! It's so far away and wot will you do there? I don't think I'll be flying to Hawaii for a visit soon. It's too far away!". I say it's only a thought, to calm her, and that we have no inclination where we will go. I jokingly mention North Carolina. "We'll see, only time will tell. You'll be the first to know", I laughed.

The family has come and gone. The house is quiet, with the exception of Frankie and Candy Darling running, playing and still getting acquainted with their new surroundings. Their new playground is a cardboard house from "Build-A Bear" which was left behind from the youngest grandchild. My spare time is now occupied by the internet in between working events. I search and research the top cities in the US to live. There are a lot of factors when one moves from one state to another. What are the best possibilities for employment, the cost of living? What are your surroundings going to be like? your neighbors? nearest market? nearest veterinarian? The list goes on and on. It is a major task at hand to figure this all out and it's a matter of elimination state by state.

to be continued...

billy the kid

kamehameha the great

King Kamehameha l, is known for uniting the Hawaiian Islands under one rule in 1795 in one of the bloodiest battles on Oahu. He was the ruling monarch of the royal dynasty for over a century.

This life-size statue was sculpted by an American artist by the name of Thomas Gould. His model was a part Hawaiian friend of King David Kalakaua. When the sculpture was finished, it was sent to Paris for bronzing. On its journey to Hawaii, the ship sank in the Faulkland Islands. 

After receiving insurance money, a replica was made and that statue made its successful arrival in Honolulu in 1883. It stands in front the Judiciary Bldg., across the street from the Iolani Palace, the only official royal residence in The United States. Soon after the new statue was unveiled, the original statue was recovered in a junkyard in Port Stanley. The statue was sold to King David Kalakaua by the sea captain who found it. This original statue of Kamehameha was shipped to the Big Island of Hawaii near his birthplace.

Every May Day and King Kamehameha Day the statue is adorned with fresh hand-made leis over 13 ft. long, in memory of the monarch. 

what's new pussycat?

I was just at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the "Pink Palace" of the Pacific, relaxing and enjoying the scenery when I noticed this girl walking up from the beach. She had on huge designer sunglasses, the type celebrities wear when they want to be incognito, a red printed bikini with a sheer zebra print sarong tied around her small hips. Her physically fit body was well toned, with the flattest tummy I've yet to see on the beaches of Waikiki. As she was walking closer I thought that maybe I knew her. "Robin? Robin?" I loudly whispered. She didn't hear me at first as she was walking up a short flight of stairs and around the pillar that blocked her view. "Robin? Robin Antin?" I asked. She turned and acknowledged the question but didn't recognize who I was. "Robin, it's me" I said. "Oh my god....!". And the beat goes on.....

Well, all I can say is Robin Antin is the last person I thought I would EVER see, in Waikiki of all places. The last time I saw Robin Antin was over 6 years ago, before I moved to New York. She had her office/studio across the hall from my office. For those of you not familiar with Robin Antin, she is the creator and founding Mama Cat of "The Pussycat Dolls". It was the beginnings of her burlesque troupe with the PCD. I remember the girls lined up down the hall for auditions or rehearsals in the 10x20 office space. Robin's not only a choreographer, but a music video director, actress, clothing designer and opened the first Pussycat Dolls Lounge in Vegas.

She's in Honolulu this weekend with "The Pussycat Dolls" who are performing a "sold out" show at the Blaisdell Arena. They are promoting their second album "Doll Domination", lead by Hawaii-born Nicole Scherzinger. It is their first performance in Hawaii. The only song of the PCD I'm familiar with is "Don't Cha"...."don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? don't cha......" Aw, c'mon, you've sung it yourself a time or two, don't lie!

Robin Antin has come a long way. She "big time" now. She's worked mighty damn hard to get to where she is and I'm so happy for her. It was good to see her again. She's the same Robin I knew back when. And NO, I'm not going to the show! Now, if I can only stop singing that song!

storytelling:chapter 2 out of sight, not out of mind~part 1

...continued from storytelling:land of aloha~pt.3

The New Year always starts out promising. A clean slate, like going to confession. There's the "New Year's Resolution(s)", a fishbowl of them. By the end of January, it's downhill for the next eleven months because you and I know, you've totally fucked up......ALREADY! I don't make resolutions anymore. If I make them or break them, it's not going to make a damn bit of difference whether I go to heaven or hell. I just think they're silly. Plus, I don't have any real "personal issues" which I need to address, like smoking, boozing or gambling. I only have an agendas!

The first and foremost on my list is to make sure "hubby", Frankie & Candy Darling are healthy, happy and well looked after. That's a piece of cake. The second agenda is to "clean house" and get rid of "attachments". That may take some doing, as I have ALOT of attachments. I've been trying to get rid of that "blankie" my whole life! The third agenda is to make it to thru the next four seasons.

January is when I start preparing for the twice yearly Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. As a Production Coordinator, you are one of many persons responsible for bringing together the sum of its many entities to make an event successful. It's actually my favorite time(s) of the year at work. It gets hectic and crazy and it's a challenge dealing with all the "beautiful" people. I love it! 

However, Fashion Week is always over in a blink of an eye. Then there's all the in between events throughout the year. And in between those events I'm making a plan of action which will completely consume me in 2008.

...to be continued

storytelling:chapter 1 land of aloha~part 3

...continued from storytelling:land of aloha~pt.2

I spent the last 2 weeks in a bikini and wearing my vintage Hawaiian print dresses. It was a great holiday with the most splendid weather I've had in an especially long time. The temperature in Hawaii was a consistent 80*. Every waking minute was hot and sunny, without a cloud in the sky. It was now a miserable cold and snowy morning. I'm back to wearing my heavy knitted neck scarf, flannel pajamas and thick socks. My morning breakfast is two cold tablets with a cup of coffee. No more half cut papaya with a slice of lime and freshly brewed cups of 100% Kona coffee. Gone is the sweet scent the of the Hawaiian white jasmine and the warm tropical breeze flowing through our rental car. No more sitting on the "lanai" (balcony) and watching the birds hopping on the railing surrounding our condo or watching the sun setting on the calm Pacific Ocean. I'm back to reality, back to the real world. 

"Hubby", trying his best to cheer me up, reminded me we had something great to look forward to this afternoon. Had I forgotten about our adoption? "Oh....yes, no, I didn't forget!" as I straightened my posture. "We're having not one, but two permanent guests coming to live with us today", I commented.  How horrible that I could forget such a happy occasion. And w only a 6 weeks waiting period. I don't know how this occurred, but it was "hubby's" decision on adopting not one, but two "babies"! And it all began with an email my boss forwarded me mid-December: 

Subject: Holiday Kitty Extravaganza!

"I recently fell in love with a sweet little pregnant homeless house cat, named her Cindy Crawford and brought her in as night-time temps dipped close to freezing. Within a day of her arrival, the relieved Cindy Crawford set up shop in the dresser's bottom drawer and went to work... having five beautiful kittens! All were born healthy and now, after almost six weeks, they're getting ready for new homes....Here's a link to photos of them all.  Enjoy, and if you know anyone who might be interested in a kitten, please forward.  They'll all be ready for new homes right around Christmas (they're perfect stocking stuffers!)and/or New Years, so if you or a friend fancies one (or two!), please let me know.  There's been some interest so far, but we only have one of the tigers spoken for, and it's down to crunch time.  I'd like to see them go to good people/families and would like to avoid using Craig's List if at all possible. Here they are!"

It hadn't crossed my mind, one way or the other, about getting another feline, two for that matter. It was almost 11 months since "Baby Girl" died of feline leukemia. She was 5 years old and healthier than ever. I'm still not convinced she died of leukemia, but of "tainted cat food". There was a huge pandemic going on about all these domestic pets dying from tainted cat food made in China. I had also lost my other cat, "Bar" aka "Fatty Boy", just 3 months prior to that. I adopted "Bar" when he was 1 year old. He was 22 years old when he died of cancer. It was all too devastating having lost two cats. I just wasn't convinced, til I saw the photos! What suckers!

They were the cutest kitties...two tigers, one black (the one I wanted, at first) and two white ones that had dark grey crowns that looked like mohawks. Identical sisters, who looked like their mother, Cindy Crawford, with the exception that the one had one brown eye and one blue eye, like David Bowie! "Tell her we'll take the two white kittens!". "What? Two? Are you nuts?", I exclaimed. "Yeah, call her up and tell her we'll take the two white ones. Go on!"

And so I did. And that's how we came to adopt "Frankie" and "Candy Darling".

to be continued...

into the labyrinth

                                                           

"bitch is the new black"

Lela Lee, creator of "Angry Little Asian Girls" and I have 3 things in common: we're both from California, we're both Asian American and we're both angry! Although much younger than myself, Lee felt some of the same stigma I had while growing up in an all "white ignoramus world": racism. I didn't know how to vent my frustrations because in Asian culture, you're brought up to keep quiet and not make trouble. It was a painful journey into puberty, full of doubt and self-loathing. I was the "token" Asian growing up in a Southern California beach town. I just wanted to be one of the "cool, tuff chics". That was never to be. I was constantly at center stage for ridicule. A shy, scared and introverted girl. If anyone spoke to me, I thought I'd shit my panties, teachers included. Every day I tolerated the shoutings of "hey chink, why don't you go back to Pearl Harbor!" or "your a pirate's treasure sunken chest" or "hey slant eyes, blah, blah, blah.....". One day, some jerk threw a kotex in my face. If only I was quick enough to throw it back at him and rant some verbally explicit assault. It was so humiliating. All I wanted to do was kill that "mf*#@" and then myself! I was so angry at my parents for bringing me into the world. I hated being a "Jap"....if only I was "white"!

Thanks to the ever funny Lela Lee, her cartoon characters have brought comic relief to a continual mocking and cynical world of prejudice and racism. She fueled all her anger and began to draw, whereby, creating the cartoon character of Kim, who's witty snide and cutting remarks tells it like it she sees it, in clever "one liners". My friend and fellow Asian, Louisa, is the incarnate of Kim, also a big fan of "Angry Little Asian Girls". She's a "quick draw" on the sarcasm and can fire rounds of unstoppable utterances, better than anyone I know!

Today, I'm happy to say that I'm a well adjusted "angry little Asian girl". I am no longer shy, scared and introverted. I'm just a little bit crazy, thanks to all you "dumb, stupid, moronic self-absorbed, all deserving free-loaders of the world!" I know how to blurt out snarkly one liners, just like the cartoon character, Kim. Go on, give me a try, cause "bitch is the new black"!

target national bank

I've been a Target credit card holder since 2003. I have never been late on a payment and have always paid my bill in full. Banks don't like that, but I don't like the idea of paying up to a 22% finance charge, either! I call it an "extortion" charge. My total credit limit is a double digit number. My available credit and my cash limit just about matches that, until recently. 

I opened my monthly Target bill and found that my available credit is now higher, however, I have NO cash limit? What's up with that? Am I being penalized for paying my bill in full each month? I never got a letter in the mail from Target National Bank to let me know that there are changes to my account. I will call Target Credit Services to find out. Better yet, I'll have my "hubby" call them. He has no self control and loves to "stick it to them", better than I can, because I'm too nice. It's true! It's really a matter of psyching myself up to call them. You know, it's same old thing, time and time again, "Press one for English , enter your credit card number and hit #, enter the last four digits of your social security number and hit # "... blah, blah, blah...you know the routine. Then a customer service representative comes on the line and tells you her name, which you can't understand, and she asks you the very same questions you were asked by the recording. What's the recording for? Security purposes? Are they going to go back to that recording EVER to verify anything? Hello! It's them I can't understand because they are not ee-nun-cee-a-ting clearly. 

Anyway, if any of you Target credit card holders have experienced the same injustice and know what's going on, can you get back to me. It will save me the hassle of calling and I won't have to hear my "hubby" verbally abusing the customer service rep! 

most powerful

Angelina Jolie or Oprah Winfrey? Angelina Jolie has bumped out Oprah Winfrey from her number one spot as Forbes Magazine "Most Powerful Celebrity In The World". I wonder what Oprah thinks? She probably doesn't care, but I have a feeling she does, in the privacy in her own home. Poor Stedman! It's debatable, considering Winfrey makes 100 x's more than Jolie. Last year, Winfrey made an estimated $275 million in comparison to Jolie's $27 million. It's still not chump change. But, its power ranking is based on media exposure and career earnings. Hell, there's plenty of exposure. Six kids in tow, Brad Pitt (a big celebrity himself), Jolie's humanitarian work as Goodwill Ambassador for The UN Refugee Agency and the her box off hits: "Wanted" and "Kung Fu Panda". She was also nominated for an oscar for her role in "The Changling". Whew! She's one busy lady! I love Angelina Jolie. She's hot! And those lips are to die for. And I love Oprah Winfrey. Especially her money and more of it! BUT, who would I vote for?

Now, you're probably wondering why I have this photo of Cha Rosa's one-piece Swarovski bathing suit, which ONLY cost $3200. It's not for swimming, but for "lounging" poolside, while gossiping as to whom the most powerful woman in the world is?

I think whoever fits the swimsuit wins!

...it only took a second

It's been a long, long time since I stepped foot into the open-air club at "Hula's Bar & Lei Stand". It was the early 80's and "Hula's" was Waikiki's first disco. It's followers were and still are a multi-cultural mix of gays and straights where they played the best damn dance music in town! The former location was on Kuhio Ave. and Kalaimoku St. for 25 years. I can still hear the disco music blaring out from behind a head high white lattice fence. It was the good ole days of Sylvester, Donna Summer, Chic and Thelma Huston, to name a few. Keith, the resident DJ at the time, would spin any one of his records and everyone would start screaming, waving their hands in the air and rush to the large square dance floor with it's mirrored disco ball. Then out came the goodies...amyl, "poppers", little brown viles of powder in the open air club. A dance floor full of sweaty bodies, dancing the night away. It was always a fun and crazy scene with loads of "trannys", straights, a handful of pretty gals and the most gorgeous men, "gay" men! I was a regular there. A big "fag hag", friend of the bartenders and Keith (who was straight). Keith and I latter became roommates after he moved to NYC and became the DJ at "Private Eyes", another disco with a gay following.

.....but it only took a second to realize that this wasn't the old "Hula's Bar and Lei Stand" that I had just walked into. It is a bigger, better version for a new generation. The new location is the second floor of the Waikiki Grand Hotel on Kapahulu Ave. The open air balcony has seating that stretches across the length of the club with a beautiful view of the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Beach. The bar itself is in the center of the club. It still has a DJ (but not when I was there-it was only 2pm), food menu, billiard table and a larger dance floor. The bartenders have changed and so has the crowd. And there isn't that big old Banyan tree in the middle of the club. But what still remains, is the best dance music and that mirrored disco ball.

every picture tells a story:gabrielle "coco" chanel

Who would have ever thought that the first Chanel boutique to open in the United States is on an island in the Pacific? The Hawaiian Islands, no less, where foreigners conjure up images of its inhabitants walking around bare-footed and wearing grass skirts, in the 100 degree blistering heat? To be honest with you, I was quite shocked myself. One would immediately think New York. It's closer to Paris, France. New York is home to the apparel industry, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Fifth Avenue, headquarters to every major fashion publication and notable fashion designers in America. For whatever reasons, which I have not yet found an answer to, the first USA Chanel boutique is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary in Honolulu, Hawaii.

It is a beautifully un-choreographed look into the life and work of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. The black and white exhibition was photographed by a then 27 year old Douglas Kirkland in I962. At the time, Douglas Kirkland worked for Look magazine and was assigned to photograph Chanel in Paris, France over a 3 week period. It was a daunting task at first, as she didn't like people and was a very reclusive person, with the exception of her workplace. She presumed Kirkland could not do a decent job. His assignment from her was to use mannequins as his subjects with her clothing and see what he came up with. And to her liking, Kirkland proved himself fit for the job. "Coco" Chanel was 70 years old.

Here's a little bit of history. Chanel was born into the "poorhouse", the second eldest of six children. Her father was a traveling salesman and when "Coco" was 12 years old her mother died of tuberculosis. Because her father could not care for her, she was sent to an orphanage. That would be the last time she ever saw her father. At the Roman Catholic monastery, she learned how to sew. When she turn 17, she left the orphanage and went to work for a local tailor, where what began as hobby of making hats, lead to her first millinery shop.

From the early beginnings of her career, until she died, Chanel took on many lovers, most of whom showered her with riches of jewelry, fashion and pearls. She even had short-lived career as a cabaret singer to which she would sing about a dog named "Coco". Whenever she would come on stage to sing, the audience would always shout out "Coco, Coco!" for her to sing about the dog, hence the nickname "Coco" Chanel.

Chanel lived at the Hotel Ritz Paris until the day she died. She wore her infamous Chanel Suit to work every day and ALWAYS wore a hat, even while working. She was also a chain smoker. At times Chanel would have a lit cigarette hanging by the lips of her mouth while draping fabric on her models. Chanel's belief in fashion was that simplicity was the key to elegance. Her revolutionary designs gave women a new sense independence and freedom. The iconic Chanel jacket and the accessible "little black dress". She was also the first designer to create a perfume with her own name. It is not sure where the name Chanel No. 5 derived, but it is said that it may have been the fifth bottle she chose. Chanel died in 1971 from a heart attack. In 1983, Karl Lagerfeld became chief designer. Today, the great grandsons of Wertheimer family remain the CEO's in The House Of Chanel.

I'd like to be "Coco" Chanel for a day. I'd walk down Waikiki in my beautiful Chanel hat, bare-footed and wearing a grass skirt, adorned with pearls and a splash of Chanel No. 5.

I'd like to thank Beverly, who is the docent for this exhibition. She graciously explained in explicit detail each of over 30 photographs. Douglas Kirkland lives in California and continues his work as a photographer. He is 89 years old. Ironically, a day after viewing the Chanel exhibition, I received an email from Herman Leonard. He was recently photographed by his friend and fellow photographer, Douglas Kirkland.