U.S.S. Utah Memorial

On Sunday, my husband took Crickles and I to see the U.S.S. Utah memorial on Ford Island. When we got home, I vowed to go back and take pictures . . . so I went back with my older two yesterday and took some pictures. I have to say, I went to a website USSUtah and read more about this ship and crew. You can go there, too, if the fancy strikes you. The sad truth is: if I did not live here, I never would have known this memorial existed. My life is richer for the knowing - people died here (even if the Japanese during the time did not want to target this training ship to begin with . . . ) defending our freedom. In the years since the war, how many of us truly hold dear the meaning of the word "freedom"?

Teenie with some of the rusted ship behind her. Click on pictures to enlarge, if you like.

The dock with the plaques.
This is the plaque my kids are reading in the prior picture.
Flag pole plaque.
Rest in peace, those who died here.
The U.S.S. Utah was a battleship built in 1909 in New Jersey. During her time in Pearl Harbor, she was a training ship. An interesting fact, sadly, is that there is also the remains of a twin child here. Apparently, the father was going to have a burial at sea for her, but when the ship was struck, her ashes went down with the ship.
These pictures don't do it justice, to tell the truth. I'm not angry about this. Disgusted and sad. As a mother, it really tears at my heart.

Spam - It Hits the Spot

First a nice shot of the waves at the beach yesterday.


Spam - It hits the spot.

Well, not my spot, but plenty of people out there are supporting Hormel's product of gelatinous meat product. Apparently it is a BIG deal here in Hawaii.

I would like to buy a can of the innocuous stuff, but I'm quite frankly afraid to. Even in the name of science. Why? When I was a child, I vaguely remember someone opening a can of Spam and it making that sickening vacuumed sucking sound as it - and what looked like clear to mildly yellow jell-o - plopped out onto a plate. Yuck! I am a visual person. Back then, I could hear fairly well, too, so I was an audio person as well. The two together created a deep-seated fear of Spam.

Irrational as it is, it is.

Until I went to a cabin owned by my SIL and her husband, gracious folks that they are. Her MIL made some delicious Japanese fare . . . with Spam! I ate it. I knew what it was before I ate it. I did not want to offend anyone and also, it did not look like it did "way back when". It was pretty good. A nice, salty, hammy taste and texture.

I found in the commissary the other day that they even sell the stuff in vacuum-sealed packets in single, fully cooked slices. I almost caved.

I'm just that afraid of the glop and liquid that may surround this product. I have heard that it is not like that any more . . . but still . . .

So, the kind of Spam I've been buying does come in a Spam can . . . but its contents are 130 pieces of puzzle. We have all four of the puzzles currently offered. Here's a group picture. I'm sure if we decided to eat the puzzles with a little salt, it might come close to what Spam tastes like. I'm kidding!



When I finally do "cave" to the crave . . . or mere curiosity, I will definitely blog about it.

This is what we do when we live in Hawaii and it's threatening Tropical Storm Felicia. Puzzles, sew, and wait. I do not know what we are waiting for. I do hope it is absolutely nothing. We can have a lot of fun with nothing going on.

Some Pictures Worth Seeing

Tonight's evening sky:


This is a rainbow shower tree. The pinkish yellow one. It's fun to just stand beneath one and gaze upward into the branches. It's a colourful swirl of delight.
Here's a yellow-white rainbow shower tree:
Now, aren't you glad you came by?

Pretty Pictures to Share with You

I have no idea what many of these trees are called, but they are beautiful. These pictures were taken by Moi at Punchbowl. I hope you'll let me know if you enjoyed them. To see them in more detail, click on them to enlarge. More pictures and commentary are on my other blog:
http://cuppajoe2go.blogspot.com .




Okay, I didn't take this one. Teenie did. She's so good. Daddy so bad!
Here's Crickles, feeling all better after a bout with his body dealing with immunizations. He is fascinated by coconuts.
I do know this one: umbrella tree.

Busy Bees

That's one thing I see rarely here: bees. When I finally saw one near the Queen Lillies the other day, I stopped to watch it a while. They usually make me flee, because I have this strange notion that if I stand by they'll come and sting me. I hate being stung. It's very irrational of me.

Anyhow, this morning I am driving (for the second time) the kids to the base clinic to check their tuberculosis tests and then popping over to my youngest son's school to register him. I think they are having a uniform sale today as well. I'll check that out. If I read correctly on line, it's buy five shirts and get one free. Six shirts? Before I judge on that, I'll find out what he needs.

After that, we are going to come back to the condo and "play" tennis at the courts here. We will actually be banging the ball back and forth, no real scoring and not really playing as we haven't a clue, but the kids want to try it in real life as opposed to on the Wii. We bought rackets and balls last night . . .

. . . should be fun.

Lovely Mass

We attended Mass at the lovely St. Augustine by-the-sea in Waikiki yesterday morning. Parking was a bit difficult, but Mass was good. The homily was poignant and timely (at least for this gel). Apparently the priest is leaving next week for Rome . . . finishing up the canonisation stuff of Fr. Damien, if I heard correctly.

I'm almost finished reading "Hawaii". Except for all the whoring and meanness of some of the male characters, which included the constant use of "g-d d---" (I abhor the use of it, frankly), it's a good book. Not much was said about Father Damien's role in the leper colony (a main character dies there and there is mention of his landing there and then later his death), but I have his story in another book on my shelf to read later. Thanks be to God! What a fine servant of the Lord Damien was to those people (who were forgotten).

I have a busy week ahead with physical appointments for kids so we can register them for school; and, registering them for school. There is much coffee to be consumed as well.

Spending Time with Aloha

Reading this (it will take me days upon days . . . it's thick, not that I read slow). But, I am savouring it as well.


Koi. They are so pretty.
This was taken at the Fort Meade Commissary before we moved. I happened to have my camera with me when we went it . . . they were just finished setting this "summer" display up and my girl lamented that she didn't have her camera. I said, "I do, for once!"
A palm by the condos pool. The breeze felt when poolside is just a gift from a God Who loves us in every way.
Happy 4th of July to you all. Pray for our country and our leaders. Thank someone for serving our country by praying for them.