Trey's Wedding

The Conversation

Hannah talks to herself. Here's how it went this morning -

Hannah 1 - "Come on - change your clothes"

Hannah 2 - "Maybe you're not my boss."

Hannah 1 - "Hey don't give me that attitude?"

Hannah 2 - "Hannah - Tell her to get ready."

Hannah 1 - "You better get ready"

Hannah 2 - "Who said you can tell me what to do?"

Hannah 1 - "You need to listen"

Hannah 2 - "You're not my boss"

Hannah 1 - "What did you say to me?"

Hannah 2 - "Hannah - Tell her not to say that"

Hannah 1 - "Don't say that"

Hannah 2 - "But I asked you a question - Is today Friday?

To which all I have to say is " Who's on first??????"

Photos from Last Saturday

'Twas a good day.

Epilogue

So my excitement about the slim chance of seeing the Northern Lights - deflated.

Gene tells me he saw them TWICE - in Utah.

Who'd have thought?

And where was I?

Decision Made

Gene and I cancelled a trip last year and the result was that we each had a $1000 American Airline voucher that we had to spend by a certain date or lose it completely.

We toyed around with lots of possibilities. Criteria for destination was:

1) Earn as many miles as possible

2) Route had to have seats we could upgrade to First

3) Once there, spend as little $ as possible.

And the winner is...

Well not all of the Baltics -

Finland & Sweden.

We leave 26 May for Helsinki - tour the city on the 28th then embark on a two day cruise to Stockholm.

I know its a little late in the season but...

if I could have my wish...

I'd like to see

The Northern Lights!

The Cure

Psycho teacher = Migraine with no end

I want both to

It's up to me to let go of the string.

Snarky Me

What A Difference 24 Hours Makes!

Today is a MUCH better day.

Susan came over to take her sisters to the beach.

Gabe only had a two hour rehearsal.

My step-mom called and gave me a needed pep talk.

Gene and I went to a conference where I received the Parent of the Year Award.

They served delicious veggie burgers for lunch at the conference.

Steve and Azeema came to the conference to give me a lei when I got the award.

Came home and Hannah is taking a nap.

And tonight I am going to see Jump! at the Hawaii Theater with my good friend Cynthia and Gabe and his friend Isaiah.

Yesterday - nasty yesterday is almost a memory.

Revealed

Secret #1 - Laura Boman is not only sweet, she is also a good driver (I guess not so secret)

Secret #2 - I am going to a luncheon today and getting a big award - Parent of the Year (don't tell the person who turned me in to CPS yesterday)

Ginny and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

The worst day of my life was April 9, 1999 - the day we lost our son Michael.

The next worst day was in 2008 when we got some bad news about a relative.

The third worst day was Feb. 28, 1996 when my mother died.

Today is the 4th worst day.

Someone told a lie about me - called CPS and reported that I neglect Hannah and don't supervise her. I know who did it and why. They did it out of pure vengeance because they were mad about a stand I had to take in regards to Hannah.

I may be bossy, pushy and demanding but I am NOT neglectful. I am a good mother.

CPS quickly closed the file when I told them who I thought made the report and why. They actually confirmed my suspicion in an unmistakeable way.

But still - to think someone hates you soooo much that they would try to hurt your family in such a terrible way!

Lots of tears today...Lots of lessons to be learned here...but still...right now - it sucks to be me.

Aloha 'Oe

Maui Bids Aloha to a True Island Treasure
“Ali‘i” Arlington Chang Passes Peacefully at his Home in Kula

KULA, Maui – Ali‘i Arlington Chang, 69, of Kula, Maui passed peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ali‘i Kula Lavender. Aliʻi is survived by his son, Forrest Koa Chang.

“Our hearts ache, yet we’re comforted and inspired by Ali‘i’s love and his everyday actions that encouraged us all to live life fully and with aloha,” said Lani Weigert, co-owner, Ali‘i Kula Lavender.

Anyone who knew Ali‘i recognized one thing – he was truly a steward of aloha. “He was an old-school, strong-minded, often stubborn Chinese-Hawaiian farmer,” said Weigert. “Yet he was a gentleman committed to an impeccable work ethic who was in-tune with nature, a magnificent storyteller, and unbeknownst to him, a comedian who was a hoot to be around. Above all, he was wise and gifted,” said Weigert.

Folks who knew Ali‘i would agree that everything he touched flourished and turned to gold. “Maui has lost one of its treasures. We’ll miss him very much, but thankfully, his spirit will live on here at Ali‘i Kula Lavender,” Weigert stated.

The staff of Ali‘i Kula Lavender gathered at Ali‘i’s home on Tuesday night for a crew meeting. “He cooked the most delicious and delectable roast with locally-grown vegetables. We all had such an enjoyable evening together,” Weigert shared. It would be the last time the AKL staff would share an evening with him.

Ali‘i came by his green thumb naturally. He grew up on a 20-acre farm in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu. He watched and learned from his grandmother who could grow anything placed before her and had a recipe for every crop. Ali‘i would often say, “she made me express art in whatever I did.” The beauty of his work can be seen across the farm’s 13-acre stretch. On any given day, Ali‘i could be found nurturing lavender fields with attention to detail and robust charm. Though his lavender beauties are not native to Maui, they have settled on the majestic Kula mountain under Ali‘i’s care, with style and grace.

Back in March 1976, he opened Ali‘i Gardens Nahiku, an isolated community along the winding Hana Highway on the rainy eastern coast of Maui where Ali‘i grew tropical exotic plants with Hana farmer Howard Cooper of Helani Gardens. In 1992, Ali‘i purchased a protea farm in Kula.
In 2001, Ali‘i was given a single lavender plant by his dear friend Emma Veary. One of Hawai‘i’s most respected vocalists of all time, Veary to this day is affectionately known as “Hawai‘i’s Golden Throat.” Ali‘i planted the herb with the best of intentions and it truly took off! He transformed that farm into his own lavender wonderland – a true work of art that Ali‘i Kula Lavender is today.

“Ali‘i prided himself on having an impeccable and ever-changing canvas for all eyes to see and enjoy,” said Weigert. “He took considerable pride in his work and the work of his staff. Of his many traits, Ali‘i was a true perfectionist.”
Ali‘i’s vision was to create Ali‘i Kula Lavender as the premier purveyor of “Sustainable Aloha” through educational stewardship that nurtured the well-being of our island community while contributing to the well-being of the planet for future generations.

At Ali‘i’s request, no services will be held. A celebration of his life will be held on July 9, a day when Ali‘i, Weigert and their staff plan to hold their First Annual Sustainable Aloha Summer Festival.

Further, the Ali‘i Chang Foundation will be established to provide scholarships for Native Hawaiians pursuing skills training in agriculture and for agricultural education in our local schools. Scholarship recipients should embody the very qualities Ali‘i possessed including a strong work ethic, as well as innate and natural skills in growing plants, flowers, trees and food crops. Applicants should also have an eye for design, a commitment to aloha, hospitality and “aloha ʻāina” or “love for the land.” More information will be posted at www.aklmaui.com

For more information or to make a donation to the Ali‘i Chang Foundation, please contact Lanim@aklmaui.com

Still Holding My Breath

Haven't gotten Jacob's email yet :(

The Hulk

The "new" car's license plate reads PWG---

So we will call it THE HULK.

Why?

PWG=Pro Wrestling Guy=Hulk Hogan=The Hulk

Of course pretty and smart people would have figured it out on their own.

In Demand

Every year I attend a meeting/conference sponsored by the federal government (SAMHSA) about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The meeting is held in various locations around the country and they cover all expenses. I spoke at one of the meetings several years ago.

This year the meeting is in Phoenix in May. Attached to that meeting is another FASD meeting for the Native Expert Panel on FASD, which I sit on. Again, expenses covered plus a very nice honorarium.

Well last week Gene was asked to speak at the big conference! He will speak about FASD from a father's perspective. He'll get his expenses paid AND get a speaker's fee!!!

Thanks Obama (never thought I'd say that in a non-sarcastic way) for a nice getaway for us!!!

I leave on May 9 because my meeting starts on May 10. Gene leaves May 10. Our meetings are over on the 13th and we are flying to Utah for the weekend (it was cheaper for the feds to fly us back with stopover in Utah than coming straight back from Phoenix).

That weekend also happens to be Gene's birthday - so --- what a deal!

What Gene Did Today

Bought a new car to replace SHRED.

Well - actually bought a 1991 Toyota Camry (53,000 miles).

Later we'll use the rest of the insurance $$ to buy another car when Jacob gets home.

We've had excellent luck with craigslist AND 1991 Toyota Camrys. This is our 3rd.

Almost Pau

Today's the last day of Brigadoon. I am sure Gabe is exhausted.

Then on Monday I know he's full swing into Dance Concert rehearsal.

Oh to be young again.

Busy Saturday

Well no horseback riding today so I thought it would be relaxing Saturday - but we went to my cousin's 16th birthday party - had Hawaiian food (drool Stephanie) and swam - came home and I'm pooped!

Tonight its off to Gabe's play again. I think I can sing every song!

Apple

Michelle got one of these for Christmas. An Apple Ipad.

She loves it and uses it constantly - for school work, to listed to music, watch videos, play games - just everything.

The other day she told me it would no longer take a charge. So I took it into the Apple Store. The guy at the genius bar took it out of the case to look at it and test it. He discovered dents in the back and near where the charger link is - probably the cause of the problem.

The unit had obviously been dropped...which nullifies the warranty. Replacement would be $269.

I didn't put up a fuss because I'm sure Michelle had dropped it. I told the guy I would pay the $269 and explained that Michelle was disabled so I'm sure was not as careful with it as she should have been. I told him she loved it and used it all the time and she is such a good girl so it was worth the $269 to get it replaced.

He went to get the replacement - brought it to me and said, "We are going to make an exception because of your daughter's condition - we are replacing the damaged one with this brand new one - at no charge".

I cried, gave him a big hug and walked out feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Apple rocks!

Scenes from Brigadoon

There are other people in the show but I'm not posting pictures of them.

I don't care about them.

April 8

Happy Birthday to Jacob!

21 years old today.

I Have A Secret

To be revealed on April 16.

The Countdown Begins!!!

It's official

105

That's how many days til Jacob comes home.

July 20!

At the Play

Sorrelle, Cheyenne & Gabe at the back stage door

Best Day of the Week

Hands down - TUESDAY...when I get Jacob's email.

GREAT Weekend

A busy Saturday -

Film Festival movie was - 7 Murders - an Indian film that was "meh"

But my brother Steve and wife Azeema sat in front of us so that was fun!

Sat. night Gene and I went to Gabe's play again.

A WONDERFUL Sunday -

Watched General Conference over the internet - LOVED hearing our leaders!

Went to Gabe's play with friends and family

After play the Hoveys came over for dinner as did Jason, Cheyenne & Sorrell

I had cooked before I left - salad, lasagna, chicken enchilada, and 2 pies - blueberry and cherry.

Now to start what's sure to be a great week. My mantra this week will be a question "Have I done any good in the world today?"

Last Saturday I Made

This

Which is a Steampunk Journal

and

This

Which is a Handmade Book - altered book style.

Today (Saturday) I will continue to explore the visual arts at the

Hawaii International Film Festival Spring Showcase

Today's feature is an Indian Film

"7 Murders Forgiven"

I am so thankful to have a dear friend who enjoys going to foreign films with me.