"Get A Horse..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Vintage Bettejo)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden
 Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.

Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news

 and is the author of the famed novella, "The Scam." 

 Her latest fiction"Children of extinction"

 is now  released and available on Amazon!
Bettejo has a gift of mingling
 the present, the past, and the future. 

www.bettejodux.com

www.amazon.com

Get A Horse

After  the muggy weather, we lived in a steam bath, we breathed in water-- our lungs turned to gills, our skin, and fur and feathers, unpleasantly drenched with sweat-- a new day beckoned. It was the kind of day, my husband used to say, "You pays your money for."  It do cost long green stuff--plenty long  green stuff--to live in Hawaii. Always has. Always will.

Ari and Bettejo talking story
about the Kaua'i marathon

But this day, that wonderful  Sunday--Kaua'i Marathon Day--was a gift from Mother Nature. We awoke, me and the zoo--Ari, Boots, Reba,  Rosa, and Duke--with a stretch and a yawn, a smile and eagerness to get  started. 

The rising sun makes one feel alive!

The rising sun, behind the hill, gave birth to  a  misty morning blue  and golden cool sky.  The silence on this beautiful  stretch of country road gave air space to every bird on the Island. 

Waking up in my jungle house is  waking up in an aviary. A crowing roosters-- Pavarotti with a beak and wings and long slender chicken legs-- starts it off. Joined soon enough with a chorus of trills and tweets and twitters--not the computer kind, oh joy, oh joy--but the real thing. Hope all of you reading this woke up that way, too. Wasn't it Jimmy Durante who sang, with that scratchy irresistible warble,  "Start off each day with a song."?

"Okeydokey, Jimmy baby," Duke, the macaw, screeched, "You got it." They heard him  in Metropolitan Kalaheo.

Bettejo with a member
of her zoo, Boots!

I rushed through morning chores. Fed Duke first, Ari second, Reba and Rosa and Boots third--serving their breakfast at the human end of the house--and brewed a pot of organic coffee.  Gathering some vanilla wafers , I took a front row seat on a  chair at my end of the barn. Everybody in my house loves vanilla wafers. We munch together. I  plump a cushion. Taking off my slippers, I  plop my bare feet on the long, book- strewn  table. Comfort is my style, coarse eating is my comfort. Crumbs fall and strew about. Boots, who's finished supping--she's a very tidy eater--cleans up after me and sits beside me watching the empty road. The kittens, Rosa, the  fuzzy black with red streaks, plunk themselves on a black ice chest and sit up watching the street.

At the barn end, Ari, with an arched neck and perked ears, glues his focus on the quiet, empty road.. Duke is perched in his jungle cage facing the street. Gone quiet, he's  chomping a peanut.

The first runner appears. We see only his head and shoulders.  A slight glimpse of a handsome torso. Erect, eyes forward, he seems to float by. You can't hear him breath. You can't hear his feet. Do they touch the ground? He's in the zone. He wafts up the hill. It's 7:40 AM. Soon others follow, heads and shoulders bobbing by in many different Marathon styles.

I kind'a wanted to shout, sweetly, "Get a  horse."

Ari heard me and responded, "Be a horse."

Wonder if they heard?

Bettejo a few years back playing checkers
with her nephew...

Bettejo provided the quote on 

the enclosed Kauai sunrise meme!

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...

Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Planning Ahead..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc"  is really passionate about creating a national Caregivers day.

Any help , support or ideas would be greatly appreciated...

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 
He is a retired cinematographer,
 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...
"I am PRO-CHOICE ON EVERYTHING WITH RESPONSIBILITY..."

Planning Ahead

  A middle age, white hair Chinese man walked into a Jewish jewelry store one Friday evening with a beautiful young girl at his side. He told the jeweler he wanted a special ring for his girlfriend.

The jeweler looked through his stock and found a $5,000 ring. The old man said, "No, I'd like to see something much more special." 

The jeweler went to his special stock in the safe and brought another ring back. "This one's $40,000." The young lady's eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled with excitement.

"I'll take it!" Declared the old man.

The jeweler asked how payment would be made, and the old man said, "By check, but I know you need to make sure my check is good, so I'll write it now, and you can call the bank on Monday to verify funds. I'll pick up the ring on Monday afternoon." 

Monday morning, the jeweler called the old man saying, " Sir, there's NO money in that account ! " 

The old man said, "I know I know, but let me tell you about the weekend I just had !" 

 A note to Unc from Jack Lord star of the original Hawaii Five-O,
where "Unc" worked as a cinematographer

"The ultimate way to start the day, with a Kaua'i Sunrise!

A breathtaking Kaua'i sunrise photo....

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Caring for the homeless, still a huge problem in our country today..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspirational Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York

( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology
 field of medicine for over 30 years.
James "Kimo" Rosen recently visited Judith and her family!

Judith and SteveWhitehead recently
fed  many friends at their home
for the breaking of the fast for the
Jeiwsh holiday of Yom Kippur....

Caring for the homeless, still a huge problem in our country today

Every year we make an effort to attend the fund raiser in Los Angeles to help the homeless. It is called the Midnight Mission Fundraiser and it reaches out to hundreds of people living in the L.A vicinity for its support and efforts.

Every city has its share of needy, homeless, hungry people.  We see it every day from all walks of life.  It becomes very easy to become homeless even in American, the land of opportunity.

How many in our country are only a pay check away from losing everything.  There seems to be an abundant amount of needy people on the West coast; maybe because the weather is always warm and therefore many are outside in the parks, on the streets and walking amongst us every day.  The city mission and shelter is many blocks long and serves the purpose of not only housing and feeding the people but also leading them on a 12 step recovery program in the community to get them back on their feet. It is an amazing effort and with the help of its many volunteers and benefactors, they are successful in doing just that.

Los Angeles is the home of many wealthy people as well; many actors and famous people along with many philanthropic people live there, among them is my son’s boss who is the proud owner of Norman’s Rare Guitars.  Every year he donates his efforts, time and money to help make this fund raiser a successful one.  I feel lucky that we can join in as a part of this fund raiser  and contribute in a small way.

Homelessness has been around us for many decades and is not a problem that can be easily extinguished.    It takes a village to raise awareness and takes great efforts to   reach  as many people that can be reached, asking them  to give a little  bit of their time and money.  No one chooses to be homeless, to live on the streets,  and to take hand outs.  A city mission is meant to support, train and educate those that need to get back on track.  It takes a lot of bodies and money to make that happen.

Our countries population is growing in leaps, we see other countries  that are filled with poverty, homelessness and hunger.   I do live by the mantra, “it is better to give than receive”,  and we need to start with taking care of our own first.  Our country of “promise and hope” still has many starving and homeless people.    We have driven across the country several times and have seen some of the conditions people still live in this day and age.

There are many ways to contribute that are not monitory.   There are plenty of local food drives, volunteering options,  clothing  drives etc.  Working in the fruit belt region of Buffalo, I see the homeless every day.  It grounds me daily to never take for granted what our family has and reminds me how lucky we are.

Hana Hou, (Encore) more photos from the break the fast!!
All photos taken with my new iphone from cousin Ron!

Lox and all the fixins!

Judith's son Jacob enjoying
a bagel with corned beef and lox...

"My last hurrah, life going full circle..." (Kimo's world special edition from Buffalo, N.Y.)

James "Kimo"Rosen is a retired Professional Photographer

 living on the Garden Island of Kaua'i

 with his best friend Obama Da Dog.

Rosen is currently on a sojourn

in Western N.Y.

This blog also appeared in the forum section
 of the Buffalo news 'Everybody's column'on 09-19-15;

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-changes-in-buffalo-are-incredible-to-see-20150919

Because of this Letter my high school photography teacher and mentor saw my letter
and sent me a friend request on Facebook. I accepted with tears in my eyes, 
chicken skin and goose bunks. 

Kimo's world #89
My last hurrah, life going full circle

Cousin takes me to Niagara falls
after not seeing her in over 23 years.

The expression goes, Life is short, if nothing else it sure goes by quick.

Rosh Hashanah 5776
(Jewish New Year)celebration
at my sisters

I left Buffalo back in 1976 at age 20 and have not returned for a casual visit since, only for funerals and one Bar Mitzvah.

I wanted nothing more to get out of Buffalo in my youth. I went to college in California, had a career as a professional photographer and publisher in Alaska along with odds jobs as a fisherman and cannery worker.

My mom on the left
with her sister's Mary,
Evelyn and my
Grandmother (Bubby)
back in 1929...

I moved in 1999 from Alaska to Hawaii for many reasons--one being life is short  and I wanted to experience as much as possible in life, which goes so quick, like a blink of the eye.

Like many getting older I developed a few health issues and thought Hawaii would be the perfect place to retire and call it the winter of my life.

Reunited with my nephew
 Jason after many years.

Fast forward to now, visiting the remaining family and friends I have not seen in 30-40 years. I am calling this sojourn, 'my last hurrah."

Buffalo has changed, I have changed and now see why so many call Buffalo home. 
 Life it seems has just come  fill circle, It sure feels good coming home!

Go Bills!

Photo below  
My friend Richard Fudeman whom I hadn't seen in 23 years took me to the New England Patriots Vs. Buffalo Bills football game at Ralph Wilson stadium. Last game I went to was 41 years ago with dad, may he rest in peace.
Thank you Richard!!!!

Final score Pats 40 Bills 32... ;-(

This same blog ran in Everybody's column in the Buffalo News on 09-19-15
http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-changes-in-buffalo-are-incredible-to-see-20150919

Sister Linda, Shark girl and
yours truly on the Erie canal

Hana Hou, (Encore) memes created by James "Kimo" Rosen

"The Trump Factor..." ~Kimo's world #88~

James "Kimo"Rosen is a retired Professional Photographer
 living on the Garden Island of Kaua'i
 with his best friend Obama Da Dog.
This blog also appeared the same day in the forum
section of the Garden Island news;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sept/article_fcf96916-5507-11e5-8f0a-c7f07fd015aa.html

Kimo's world #88
The Trump factor

Why is Donald Trump doing so well in poll after poll?

It's because the media is enamoured with his every move and broadcast his daily goings on.  It seems like the media is addicted to Trump.

Which makes it so ironic when the media constantly asks, "why  is he doing so well?"

Because publicity is publicity, good, bad or ugly, Trump's name is now a house-hold recognizable
 word.

 Many are smitten with, captivated by, enchanted by, fascinated by, bewitched by, beguiled by Donald Trump. Does this mean people like Trump?

Many  Americans including myself are sick of politicians. Trump is a business man, not a politician. Both major political parties are controlled by rich lobbyists. Donald Trump does not have to answer to anybody since he is not begging for campaign donations. He is controlled only by himself. He is financing his own campaign and refusing donations as of this writing.  whereas all other politicians are controlled by their richest big business lobbyists that contribute millions to their election.

 


Trump wears his heart on his sleeve. He  says what comes to mind, no filtering just a stream of  consciousness

Whether you agree or disagree--American's love reality TV, and this election has turned into the Donald Trump Show.

 Survivor and the Gardashians  move over, 'The Donald' may just be hired!

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sept/article_fcf96916-5507-11e5-8f0a-c7f07fd015aa.html

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Flying across the country is an adventure.." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York
( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology
 field of medicine for over 30 years

Flying across the country is an adventure

  I have flown across the country more times than I can count visiting family and friends during my entire life. Flying the airlines has not always been kind to me; many times depending on the pilot and weather conditions, I have become ill on the plane and always collect the emergency “bag” just in case.

Even though I worry about the flight and how I will react, I always cover my bases. I take my magic pill to avoid air sickness, try to fly during decent weather and plan far ahead for travel. At times it is
unavoidable to predict, especially when we have left Buffalo in a snow storm and have had to endure delays on many flights.

Judith at her favorite California restaurant,
California Pizza! 

I have found that the best way besides watching movies on my computer, to cut down on the time in the air and make the time fly by, is to talk to the people around me. Their stories over the years have given me food for thought. Hundreds of people I have met all flying to different cities for so many reasons. 

On my most recent flight this week a woman and her husband sat next to me. My husband always sits across from me because we both like the aisle seat. They were from the Buffalo area and were flying to Las Vegas. She carried with her an urn with her father’s ashes in her purse to let him enjoy one last time at his favorite slot machine before continuing to his final resting place. 

After changing planes, I sat next to a mother and daughter whose husband and father were in the service. She had moved to many cities and had flown everywhere to join her husband as he was transferred  many times. The little girl was an experienced flyer as it was evident as she perused her little I pad like a pro to watch cartoons and amused herself the entire flight; she was only 6 yrs old and I was amazed at the technology she possessed. At that age when we flew as a young family we brought small toys and
books to amuse our boys…no I pad or portable computer had even been invented yet.

I have witnessed many people who just prefer to sleep on the flight to pass the time, business men working on their next deal, and large families going on a family vacation destination with impatient
children joining them. People from all walks of life crowd on the airlines and fill the plane to its capacity. My last flight was over booked and a call out was made for people volunteering to get
“bumped” for a hefty travel voucher. Not this time, I needed this vacation too much.

I usually do fly Southwest because of the tempting low cost and travel points I have collected but I do prefer an airline that assigns seats, have larger seats to sit in, and do not herd people on the plane in a cattle like fashion. I guess that’s the price to pay for economy flight.

I do so love to take driving vacations as well, having driven across the country several times, I find it is the best way to see the country and to meet people from all walks of life.

Back to reality and work soon…I will start planning my next vacation as it always boosts my spirit to think about my next adventure and gets me through the impending winter that will unfortunately be upon us soon. 

P.S.
This Youtube shows  chef Gordon Ramsey teaching how to cook the perfect steak! Wow, looks Ono!(Ono means delicious in Hawaiian)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmC9SmCBUj4

Judy, Judy, Judy!  ;-)

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

" Football in bed..." 'Robert Bitos Gandia' (Source)

Guest-blogger,Robert Bitos Gandia

.Robert is an avid cook (ono gandule rice) and always laughing!!
Robert lives in Kekaha on Kauai's west-side and loves football!!

Bitos is an avid Cheeseburger connoisseur!

Football in Bed 

An old married couple no sooner hit the pillows when the old man passes gas and says, 'Seven Points.'

His wife rolls over and says, 'What in the world was that?' The old man replied, 'its fart football.'

A few minutes later his wife lets one go and says, 'Touchdown, tie score...'

After about five minutes the old man lets another one go and says, 'Aha. I'm ahead 14 to 7.'

Not to be outdone the wife rips out another one and says, 'Touchdown, tie score.'

Five seconds go by and she lets out a little squeaker and says, 'Field goal, I lead 17 to 14.' Now the pressure is on for the old man.

He refuses to get beaten by a woman, so he strains real hard.
Since defeat is totally unacceptable, he gives it everything he's got, and accidentally poops in the bed.

The wife says, 'What the hell was that?'
The old man says, 'Half time, switch sides'.

P.S. 
A great short YouTube on making 'Cheese-Stuffed Burger Dogs!'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SL1ahZtjz0

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Eighty Freakin’ Five..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Vintage Bettejo)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden
 Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.

Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news

 and is the author of the famed novella, "The Scam." 

 Her latest fiction"Children of extinction"

 is now  released and available on Amazon!
Bettejo has a gift of mingling
 the present, the past, and the future. 

www.bettejodux.com

www.amazon.com

Eighty Freakin’ Five

As a writer– and a Mick– I don’t think I’ve ever suffered from writer’s block. I’m filled with words to put on paper or shout or whisper to the wind. But I’m often at a loss as to what to write about.

I’m told I have a tendency to lecture. More truth than fiction. I’m sort of a half assed philosopher. Don’t get me started, we’ll be here ’til rapture. Speaking of which…

…Okay, I’ll steer clear of another religious harangue.Boy oh boy do I love to give the fundamentalists hell. A great guy said, “Fundamentalism is Christianity gone berserk,” and ain’t that the truth? I love to tweak its nose and pull its tail. I love to get ’em so hot under the collar it melts the baloney they spout, utter, and preach. I love to remind ‘them’ that to spend all eternity with them would be the hell they sell to the sinner they send there.  Us guys got that place air-conditioned and spend all eternity playing strip poker with Marilyn Monroe and May West,  if you’re a guy. With any good looking’ young hunk, if you’re a girl–which I will be again when I get there.

Bettejo and her favorite Editor!

Anyhow, I got orders from my Editor, ‘Write something funny about yourself.’ That’s not hard to do. Essentially I’m  a kind of funny character. Funny looking. Eccentric as all get out, always was and always will be. There’s something funny about eccentricity and eccentricity in public is a hoot and holler. To wear tennis shoes with a tux will earn you a giggle or two. Howard Hughes did it and got away with it. If you’re rich you can be as eccentric as the dickens and get away with it. But most of us aren’t Howard Hughes.

Bettejo has a gift of mingling

 the present, the past, and the future...

It used to be eccentrically outrageous  to dye your hair green but that’s not so eccentric anymore. Few heads  turn when you wear it to the mall, or  charity ball, or down the red carpet, either. Red carpets? Hey, buddy, get a load of that. Funny is funny, and humor is humor, but that stuff’s just plain silly.

Okay, I’m a chicken– a scrawny old hen, if the truth were know–but I choose to be eccentric at home.  Out in public I pretend I’m normal. Normal’s not funny. Fact is, normal is dull.

To be dull at eighty freakin’ five–which I am, in years–is a crime against posterity or prosperity or persnickety wicket.

"Happy 80~Freakin Five!"

As a writer, I love to make up words like brillig and the slithy toves.  I jabberwacky. I’m jealous of Lewis Carrol.

I must admit my sense of humor has aged a bit, but I love to laugh. Make people laugh. I wanna die laughing with a glass of Chardonnay in one hand, a magic wand in the other, wearing tennis shoes made in China dappled with red sequins. The  Lion, the Tin Woodman,  the  Scarecrow and my dumb Editor will escort me.

Now that’s funny.

Bettejo a few years back playing checkers
with her nephew...

Bettejo provided the quote on 

the enclosed Kauai sunrise meme!

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...

Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...