Taiga in a bumble 

Taiga found his toes! 

A sunset view from the lanai 

As is customary for good luck, people feed the lion money. 

My dad takes a look at the view from the lanai...one he hasn't seen in almost two years since he got sick. 

Our dog Kaliko and Dad on the lanai of our house on Maunalani Heights. 

And finally...up the stairs, to the driveway, and into the van! 

Uncle Gary walks behind to brace Dad on Jay's back so that he doesn't fall as they walk up the 80 plus stairs from our house to the driveway. 

The beginning of the acsent up the stairs 

Jay making sure he's ready to stand up and piggyback  

My uncles help to tie my dad to my brother before they attempt the climb up the stairs. 

One of the joyous things was seeing Dad and Kaliko visiting with each other on our lanai. 

Dad is happy to see Kaliko. 

Kaliko is happy to see Dad. 

Kaliko licks the water off Dad's feet as we give him a bath on the lanai. 

Doing the splits after the show 

Joel blows out the candle at his birthday dinner at Buca di Beppo's. 

Yummy tiramisu birthday dessert 

We had the kitchen table, and thus a view, of the kitchen 

Joel and his meatballs 

Tanya and Joel with some Cirque Hawai'i actors at the old IMAX theatre after the show 

Appreciating the Day

Sunday, 4 June 2006

Went to Dad's by 9 am and got him out of bed. It's been awhile since I did this routine, but it went well now that I am confident in my lifting and transferring skills. Made him breakfast, flipped the pages of the newspaper for him, and then watched some golf on TV. We decided to go to a 1 pm matinee at the Restaurant Row 50 cent theatres. We watched "The Benchwarmers," not our first pick of a movie, but for 50 cents, you can't go wrong. At least we were in air-condition on this hot, humid day. I left his house at 3:30 pm when Bernice and Lindsey got home from the all-day basketball clinic they were at today.

Just in time to consider going to yoga. Rarely do I go to the 4:30 pm yoga class because it's so darn hot out, so why would I want to enter a 100 degree room? But, since I missed the 7 am class this morning, I knew my body would regret it if I didn't go, so I had a great class. Good thing there were only about ten people in class because it was 104 degrees, with the windows open!

Had a nice chat with a regular Eliza afterwards about our lives, yoga, business ventures, adopting children, and considering going through teacher training when Bikram comes this September. Turns out she lives at the bottom of my street too! Funny how you see the same people for weeks and months in a row, only to find out you're practically neighbors! She offered her support for my dad. It's so nice to make new friends!

While watching TV tonight, I was surprised to hear some booming outside. Went out on the lanai and noticed a beautiful display of fireworks in Waikiki. Probably from the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel or something. How nice it is to just look out the door from the couch, step out onto the lanai, and watch a ten minute fireworks display. Took some pictures to add to my collection, and just appreciated what a wonderful place I live. What a splendid day!

Went with Kelly and Emily to the 50th State Fair, held at Aloha Stadium. We rode on lots of rides, ate food, and caught a little of Raven Symone in concert. 

The Freak Out ride spins round and round and nearly upside down! 

Kelly and Emily on the swings at the fair. 

Let's Get Dizzy on the Freak Out!

Saturday, 3 June 2006

After an energetic 7 am yoga class, I ran a bunch of errands, then went to Saver's (a Value Village thriftshop) and found two great finds, a Manuheali'i blouse for $4 and a Banana Republic silk dress for 99 cents. Gotta love good deals! Met Miya and Junji and baby Taiga at Costco for lunch and some grocery shopping, then went home to make my carrot/apple juice with my juicer (which I later regretted, as I think I drank too much.)

Went with Kelly and Emily, two teacher friends from school, to the 50th State Fair held at the Aloha Stadium. I used to love roller coasters and fast spinning rides, like the Zipper and the Tilt-A-Whirl, but perhaps it's old age, because I felt so sick afterwards and a bit intoxicated from dizziness. It was fun to hang out though and be a kid again!

The Weekend of Fun Has Just Begun

Friday, 2 June 2006

Time to celebrate now that school is pretty much over for me. I turned in my report cards today, gave the kids back their work and will spend next week cleaning (school doesn't officially end until June 8th), organizing, and purging things in preparation for summer and the next school year.

Went to the gallery art walk for First Friday with Joel. We walked around downtown for this once a month event, where art galleries open their doors to display artists' work and trendy bars also open their doors to attract patrons. It's a great people watching event, and tonight, we ran into some classmates I haven't seen since high school. One is now married to a politician and thinking of sending her daughter to Kahala for school next year, and the other is now an artist selling her oil canvas abstract paintings for $5,000 a piece. Saw friends of my brother's, had a drink at my new favorite place, Bar 35, and then Joel and I went to eat late night dim sum at Panda's.

The purpose of the Lantern Festival, held Memorial Day weekend at Ala Moana Beach Park