I am rather unsure as to the reason why I was just thinking about D.H. Lawrence’s book, The Rainbow. I think I can easily say that it is one of my top ten books. I have not read it in some time but it occurs to me how rare it is to read a book that speaks to the mechanism with which I ideate. Does anyone else have a book(s) that speaks to them in the way that they envisage themselves?

Popularity: 85% [?]

While driving home from the post office, it occurred to me (as it has numerous times) that Hilo really is a special place - the whole Big Island is, really. I saw the older retired man on his bicycle that picks up trash everyday without fail in Hilo with his “Drive with Aloha” sign and his bulging bags of trash. He does a lot for the Hamakua coastline by picking up any and all roadside trash that he sees. A person like him would never be seen in LA, Atlanta, or New York and even if they did exist they would be labeled as crazy. However, here in Hilo, everyone smiles and waves at him - he’s a fixture around here. Many other people in Hilo do something to help make it what it is, however, that particular individual does something unique.

In large cities, people tend to be fearful of the homeless and worry that they might harm them. Here, however, I feel very comfortable about rolling down the window and giving away food without worrying about something bad happening. People here seem to be genuinely kind and good. However, they are trying to pass a panhandling ban for the whole island (like they did in San Francisco) but it leaves me wondering how these people will get the food they desperately need.

Having previously lived in Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Columbus I can definitely say that I would never have left the doors unlocked or open for any reason unless I was entering or leaving the house. I would freak out about every little noise and worry constantly about being murdered, raped, or robbed by someone. Now, living in Hilo, we tend to leave the doors unlocked (during the day) at the house and I don’t worry about people coming in to harm me.

I really think that the sort of kindness that exists around here is special and unique - this sort of thing can only exist when conditions are right - when people are not constantly threatened by crime, hatred, and cruelty. I never actually saw this sort of kindness when I lived on the mainland or special people doing things they were not asked to do for gain.

I think you can only truly appreciate Hawaii and all it has to offer when you learn to trust and embrace humanity again.

Popularity: 91% [?]

I cannot think of a single reason that Walmart exists other than the fact that they deliver low prices. They buy products from developing nations that have few (if any) labor laws and treat employees inhumanely. If that was not bad enough, they often put smaller local businesses out of business in whatever locality they occupy. They provide low paying jobs with health insurance that the employees cannot pay for with their meager salary. Walmart is also responsible for bringing the coqui frog to the Big Island. They also use way too many plastic bags and do not encourage proper bagging procedures thus causing waste and harm to the environment.

In light of these issues (and others) the Big Island should be having a public hearing for a proposed bill to ban big box retailers. Kauai has already banned big box retailers. It should be interesting to see how this issue unfolds…

Popularity: 17% [?]

Because of the earthquake in Peru we are under a tsunami alert which may hit at as early as 2 AM. We shall see.

At least we are prepared for a disaster because of the hurricane. The hurricane ended up being a non-event. The crazy part was that the radar showed that we were being hit really hard but in actuality we had very little rain. It has been completely overcast because of the hurricane and we haven’t seen the sun but other than that the wind was not bad nor was the rain. It was odd. I did see on Konaweb that a person (Peter A) who lives at South Point posted a photograph of the hurricane from the coast - it is really amazing. Here it is:

The only other exciting thing going on is that our housekeeper quit but she has a replacement for us so that is fortunate since we do not clean. The REAL secret to a happy marriage without strife is hiring someone to keep your house clean.

Popularity: 9% [?]

It is really quite odd living in Hawaii.  When I lived on the mainland I was very interested in politics and was very concerned about domestic and foreign issues.  I have found that living in Hawaii has really changed my level of interest in world politics.  We really do live in our own little isolated world here.  Brian reads the news more often than I do so he tends to keep me abreast of world politics.  Occasionally, something he mentions piques my interest and I look into it more.  But frankly, security here is relaxed and our way of living is just not bothered by terrorism and all of the other things that people worry about living on the mainland.  We are so far removed from living like that - it’s like living in a pre-911 society, really.  I think I am done rambling…

Popularity: 12% [?]

Work is going well and it is quite plentiful. I’m developing a diaper bag, a new clutch, and a new bag with bamboo handles this week.

Sleep is not going so well and it is not plentiful. Exhaustion ensues!

I am trying to sell an industrial sewing machine and an industrial serger that one of my seamstresses has stored here. She was going to use it but then decided not to so I am trying to get rid of them, besides, I get to keep 50% of the proceeds.

I hate the shipping costs to Hawaii so I am taking steps to remedy that. I had been planning a trek to San Francisco for the annual fabric buying show for the trade later in the year to get my fabric for the year. I figured that would save me time and money but a new opportunity has presented itself. A Hawaii manufacturer of aloha/Hawaiian fabric will actually bring ALL the fabric to my house so I never have to go anywhere and I get wholesale prices. I cannot beat that and I do not pay any shipping costs.

Has anyone ever eaten TastyBite Indian food?  It is already cooked and ready to eat and it comes in a little pouch.  I had it when I visited my parents because they don’t allow any real cooking in their kitchen - only microwave pouch cooking.  Anyway, I thought they were really quite good (which is very surprising) but they were really healthy (low-fat, not high in calories, and the sodium is not bad either).  They also have Thai food as well.  I ordered some online and had it shipped to my parents so they could send it to us.  I was not paying $150 to have it shipped to Hawaii overnight when I could pay just $9 and my parents could send it in a flat-rate box.

Now, I am waiting for an email that has not come that I need for a meeting. Joyous.

Popularity: 9% [?]

I am trying to create my business WordPress theme and I am not having very much fun with it.  It is probably because I am exhausted and too busy with other things to give this small project my full attention.  I shall have to allot more time to this…

Popularity: 8% [?]

…That’s all I ever do.  At least I enjoy it!  I have been working with a new PR & Marketing firm in Atlanta instead of the terrible PR/Marketing people I had spoken with in LA.  I was unable to find a Hawaii based PR firm that worked with people in fashion.  I have promised to drag Brian to fabric buying shows open only to the trade.  I think he is just happier about the location of these shows as opposed to actually going with me.  I have a lot of bags being sewn right now and a ton more in development.  I need an assistant desperately.  It will be rather hard to find one here on the Big Island but we will see…  My migraines are picking up - it is probably directly correlated with my workload.

Brian and I have been spending more time in the ocean.  He has actually been having fun snorkeling but he has yet to try bodyboarding.  Maybe next time around he will give it a try…  Brian’s parents are coming in July for his birthday - hopefully we should be able to all go snorkeling and maybe I can catch a few waves at some point.

Too many thoughts are currently going through my head - more later!

Popularity: 9% [?]

I don’t really use recipes.  I am one of those people that says I use a recipe until someone asks for the recipe and then I realize that I did not in fact follow the recipe at all but instead made up something entirely different.  It makes me wonder why I continue to think that I actually follow recipes.

At any rate…  I was looking online for some new recipes to inspire me.  Specifically, I was looking for recipes that have blackbeans in them.  I always seem to be rather shocked at the horrific things people put in their mouths.  I saw way too many recipes that included Cheese Whiz (is that even a food?) and many many processed cheese products, random canned foods, and a myriad of unhealthy items with unforseeable quantities of unnatural colors and additives.  Why do people eat that crap?  Do they really believe it is healthy?  Or am I delusional for thinking people want to be healthy?  In a world of McDonalds and fast food am I weird for eating a healthy vegetarian diet?

In other news, my doctor is presenting *me* or more specifically my case at a medical conference to get other opinions on what is wrong with me.  I have been referred to an endocrinologist for further study.  I will have to fly to Oahu to see one in Honolulu which is fine…

In other news, I am going to the mainland in May - it should be a fun little trip.  Brian wants to head to Alaska during the summer…

Popularity: 16% [?]

Post of randomness…

Given that our hot water heater is fried, we are getting a new one, yay! The new one will definitely be more energy efficient so we will not have a $175 electric bill, thank goodness. Our old hot water heater is currently being drained and the guy who is installing the new one is off buying a new hot water heater.

I am sleepy - we only got 6.5 hours of sleep last night and I generally need 9 hours to function properly and build muscle. I must work on this!

We have books all over our apartment - they are thrown hither and thither and are definite trip hazards.

I am finally in contact with a good nutritionist to help me make the most of my diet - with 5000 or so calories per day I need help!

Brian found out this morning that you can get cheap almonds at Cost-U-Less and we don’t even have to pay a membership fee like at Costco.

We need to start scoping out potential places to buy a new house next year we are thinking of looking in Papa’ikou down to Hilo or somewhere in the vicinity - maybe even close to here on a little street with interesting and unique older plantation (sugar) homes. They are really funky…

Popularity: 10% [?]

I am pretty sure that a better way to spend $200 billion would have been to save it rather than waste it on Iraq. I think a natural disaster is a more worthy cause than Saddam Hussein. It probably makes him happy to know that so many Americans are dead. …and we spent $200 billion just to put him in prison? What a waste, set him free, I’m pretty sure he would never make it very far anyway. Just put Pat Robertson on him, he seems to be open to assassination.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Brian and I were just discussing how interesting it is that most couples (married or not) tend to become more “normal” while in their relationship - meaning more social, more in tune with societal standards, becoming more “suburbany” and trying to blend in with others. It is almost as though relationships are used by many as a means of social lubrication, even by those that dislike social lubrication. It is so odd… Brian and I have done just the opposite. We have both become far stranger, less social with others, less in tune with societal standards and norms, and have no intention to be suburbany. Brian also interjects that dealing with people in a goal directed manner has become easier since we have been together. He just cannot tolerate non-goal oriented conversation with people, but this is nothing new.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Life would be so much easier for everyone if the limbic region was after the neo-cortex rather than before. And yes people, that’s the cause of irrational thought.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Life would be so much easier for everyone if the limbic region was after the neo-cortex rather than before. And yes people, that’s the cause of irrational thought.

Popularity: 3% [?]

I hate uncertainty.

Popularity: 4% [?]