"Thank you, Facebook..." 'Judith whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." Today she talks about  what almost all of us do, Facebook.  ;D) Enjoy...

THANK YOU FACEBOOK
　
I Know people use Facebook for mostly social connections and a way to get the word out on opinions, discoveries, advertising and a whole gambit of things but it has also done something very important and worthwhile in re-connecting people that would have never had the chance to talk to each other again.

Almost as soon as Facebook was invented, I was able to re connect with a friend from  high school,(Kenmore East) Sue Staley( Berg)…We went our separate ways after college and spoke now and then but because we both had moved to different ends of the United States it became difficult to keep in touch. She had some heavy family responsibilities and I had moved to California to start a new life. These last several years we were able to share our stories, feelings and life events through Facebook and we felt totally connected once again.

Last night I received  terrible news about my friend who had been battling sickness for several years; she is now in a better place amongst the angles for that is what she truly is. Her greatest accomplishment were her twin daughters who were born with cerebral palsy and she has been their advocate ever since. They are brilliant girls who have accomplished their PhD and Masters degrees and have brought her the most joy any mother could want.

If it had not been for Facebook, none of this would have been possible and for that I am truly grateful for being able to share her life with her. May she rest in peace and be pain free amongst god and the angles.


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

"Two Priests..." 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

Dakinetalk's Good friend Marvin Gross
A financial consultant from Western N.Y.
is back guest-blogging a true story
of two priests visiting the Aloha State... Enjoy. ;D)

Two priests decided to go to Hawaii on vacation.
They were determined to make this a real vacation by not wearing anything that would identify them
as clergy. As soon as the plane landed they headed for a store and bought some really outrageous shorts, shirts, sandals, sunglasses, etc.

The next morning they went to the beach dressed in their 'tourist' garb. They were sitting on beach chairs, enjoying a drink, the sunshine and the scenery when a 'drop dead gorgeous' topless blonde came walking straight towards them .............They couldn't help but stare.
As the blonde passed them she smiled and said 'Good Morning, Father ~ Good Morning, Father,'
nodding and addressing each of them individually, then she passed on by. They were both stunned. How in the world did she know they were priests? So the next day, they went back to the store and bought even more outrageous outfits.
Once again, in their new attire, they settled down in their chairs to enjoy the sunshine. After a little while, the same gorgeous topless blonde came walking toward them. Again she nodded at each of them and said 'Good morning, Father ~ Good morning, Father,' and started to walk away.

One of the priests couldn't stand it any longer and said, 'Just a minute, young lady.'  Yes, Father?'
'We are priests and proud of it, but I have to know, how in the world did you know we are priests, dressed as we are?'

She replied, 'Father, it's me, Sister Kathleen..

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A smile is a sign of joy.
A hug is a sign of love.
A laugh is a sign of happiness.
............And a friend like me?

Ah, that's a sign of good taste.
Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook....

• 

" A great story without a word..!" 'Obama da Dog (Source)

Obama  Da Dog was touched by the enclosed story, sometimes words are not needed... Here is a great story without a word being said, apart from the dialogue at the end ... .....

A GERMAN TOURIST JUMPED IN AND SAVED MY

PRECIOUS LITTLE DOG.

UPON GETTING BACK UP ON THE BRIDGE, HE CHECKED THE DOG OUT AND TOLD ME THAT,

"ZE DOG IS OK, AND VILL BE FINE."

SO I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS A VET?

HE REPLIED, "VET? I'M F***ING SOAKED!"

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

"Sorry, I Gotta Go..!" 'Michael A. Herr (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about  mother nature and the need to go!  Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

ALOHA FRIDAY-"No Work 'Til Monday" 

Sorry, I gotta go!

Aloha folks.

I have an obsession with toilets. I always need to know where the nearest one is. When we go to a museum or art gallery or a shopping mall, I try to find a map of the place first. So that I can locate the toilets.

I think my obsession began when I was about five or six years old. My mother and I were taking a walk through the neighborhood, when she stopped, as she often did, to gossip with a neighbor whose house was about three houses away from ours. And she talked. And she talked. And she talked.

I got more and more restless and finally realized why. I needed to use the toilet. I started shifting from one foot to another. I started shuffling around in little circles. I began tugging on my mother's sleeve or her skirt. I started making soft little noises. Not a clue. Finally I started whining, "Mom. Mom! Gotta go! I gotta go!"
"Just a minute came her response," and she continued talking.
Finally, with tears beginning to run down my cheeks, she exasperatedly gave up on her conversation and, holding my hand, let me drag her toward our house.

Never made it. About halfway there my bladder let loose. Which wouldn't have been all that bad . . . except for the fact that I was wearing corduroy pants, with vertical ridges. Wet corduroy pants make a horrible smacking sound was you try to walk in them. And they stick to your inner thighs. I was chafed within minutes. When my mother noticed she was angry that I "couldn't just hold it another minute".

A sidelight . . . I have noticed over the years that women can hold it for hours and hours, maybe even days. Men . . . much less so.
Anyhow, from that day on I always made it a point to keep track of the nearest toilet . . . and to use that toilet even if I didn't really feel a desperate urge. In fact, I still make it a point not to get to that stage where I have a 'desperate urge'.

Another sidelight . . . because of this experience, now many years later I am a one-eyed flier. When I get on an airplane I observe everything through one eye, while with the other eye I constantly watch the toilet on the aircraft. Particularly I watch that small lighted sign that says either "Occupied" or "Vacant".
When the toilet on the aircraft that I'm on is "Vacant", it won't be for long.

So folks, here I come. Sorry, but I gotta go.
See you next week.

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



check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/ 

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could

"The Real Heaven..."(A Yom Kippur Blog) 'Chester "Unc" Lau (Source)



Master Sgt. Chester Lau, aka "Unc" is a retired cinematographer 
living his naturist  twilight years on the island of Oahu.
"Unc" shares a lesson about heaven and   mans best friend on
this holy and spiritual day of Yom Kippur, an appropriate blog
for such a spiritual day!  Enjoy...  ;D)

 A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
   
     He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead  for years.. He wondered where the road was leading them.
     After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
   
     When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.
     He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'
   
     'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked. Of course, sir.
     Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up. 'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
   
     'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveller asked.
   
     'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'
   
    The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
     After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.
   
     As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
     'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'
     'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'
     'How about my friend here?' the traveller gestured to the dog.
   
     'There should be a bowl by the pump.'
     They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it..
   
     The traveller filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
   
     When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
     'What do you call this place?' the traveller asked..
   
     'This is Heaven,' he answered.
     'Well, that's confusing,' the traveller said.. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'
   
     'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'

     'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'
   
     'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

          Soooo...
   
     Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes or posting them in their blogs without writing a word.  Maybe this will explain.
   
     When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes.
   
     When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes.
   
     When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes.
   
     Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get?
   
     A forwarded joke.
   
     So, next time if you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile..
   
    You are welcome @ my water bowl anytime!  Chester "Unc" Lau

Unc, also wants to share this amazing Youtube of a guy flying in a wing suit over New Zealand, Amazing!
Youtube- (Alexander Polli, Tracksuit, Wingsuit Flying: Reality Of Human Flight, this is amazing, please watch!) Chester "Unc" Lau, Source
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsV3bGPMTXo

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

"The Carrot song..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Guest-blogger Bettejo Dux is one of Kauai's most delightful  people, she has lived on the cosmic island of Kaua'i for over 40 years... She is an animal lover, people lover and enjoys life to the fullest.
Today she talks about our animal friends...      
 www.bettejodux.com

THE CARROT SONG

This goes along with the theory that we are all products of our past. My relationship with animals has been long and very special. I have vivid memories of my first pets, a black dog named Lady and a cat named Helen. Helen loved to curl up in a glass light fixture on the ceiling and once I dropped her in the flour bin. Remember flour bins? My mother’s face when a floured white animal jumped out of the container  when she opened it is one I’ll never forget.

My father raised exotic poultry, I was not allowed to play with these. He kept them in big beautiful cages which always fascinated a wide-eyed kid. These were not song birds. They crowed and clucked and peeped. Once my father cut the head off a rooster  and warm red blood spurted. I watched it run around with its head chopped off and thought it an interesting phenomenon. I can’t remember his name but, roasted, he made a tasty dish.

As a young adult with four little kids visiting my father’s farm was always an interesting experience for me and the kids. He raised exotic birds, African Greys, peafowl, macaws and, once, a pair of turkeys named Arabella and Rudolph. Arabella was always an invited guest who joined us on his spacious deck in the evenings after dinner.  She would lie under my mother’s chaise and purr like a cat. Rudolph ended up on a savoury platter  one  Thanksgiving. He had a habit of always attacking my mother. She wasn't much bigger than he was so we decided  love not hate motivated him.  Either way my poor mother couldn't stroll the garden without carrying a stick and checking behind every tall bush.

One day she put down the law. “Either he goes. Or I go,” she said and I think she had Arabella on her side. Neither the kids nor I could watch that head chop and at the dinner table the kids pled in snuffy voices, “Please pass some more Rudolph.”  He dressed out at 22 pounds. Best tasting turkey I ever ate.

My father also had a cat who ‘raised’ mice. She kept them in a feed bin in the storage house. Fat and healthy little critters, she would select one, pick it up like a mother cat picks up a fragile kitten, take one in the grass,  play with it ,and then put it back. It seemed a happy arrangement.

The most interesting animals, I always thought, were the  American Show Shetlands. They lived in the Pony House. My oldest daughter drove them in Fine Harness in  many Honolulu Horse Shows. Flash the Grand National Champion stud lived to be 41, a ripe old age. He had a good life. He’s buried here with my Leopard Appaloosa, Beauregard,  which get us finally to the Carrot Song part of this animal digression.

My father taught me never to chase boys or horses. I didn't have to worry about the boys, boys chased me. But he taught me the carrot song. “Who wants a carrot? Who wants a carrot?” Which I sang in a low sexy, whispery voice. No matter how far away, they heard me. They always came. it never failed.

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

Bettejo  also  publishes her own blog column.
You can check it out at ;  http://www.bettejo.wordpress.com .   Besides her blog she recently published and authored the humorous fiction book, "The Scam," check it out at(www.bettejodux.com) or  on Amazon.

http://www.bettejodux.com/

"Are You Better Off Today..?" 'Douglas Dunn'

Guest blogger Douglas Dunn  is a regular commenter and guest-blogger on dakinetalk... Doug runs a small publishing consulting business in San Diego county and is a  certified American sign language (ASL) interpreter (for Deaf people),  last but not least he has been a Democratic Party media spokesperson and has had  the good fortune to work with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Doug also drives a Nissan Leaf !
Doug purchased a Nissan Leaf electric car last year doing his part to help save the planet along with
saving quite a few dollars by never ever having to purchase gas.

Doug with President Obama back in
2007 at the California Democratic Convention

Are you better off today than you were on January 20, 2009?

• If you have stocks, bonds IRAs or a 401(k) ---- you are better off.
• If you were laid off, but have one of the 4 million jobs created to replace the Bush job losses ---- you are better off.
• If you have a child with pre-existing conditions ---- you are better off.
• If you had nothing to do with the decision to come here, to the only country you have ever known, as an infant ---- you are better off.
• If you were going to be redeployed to Iraq ---- you are better off.
• If you work in any business related to the automotive industry ---- you are better off.
• If you are a woman who wants equal pay for equal work and the right to control your own medical choices ---- you are better off.

The job is not finished and much work remains ahead, but we, as a nation, are better off than we were four years ago.
However, if you are Osama bin Laden or a terrorist or Somali pirate, then no, you are not better off.

This blog recently appeared an an opinion article in the "North County Times," serving N. San Diego, and S. Riverside counties...
http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/are-you-better-off-today/article_eadaa114-e317-5bf1-b9ab-49f722feb6ad.html

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

Hana Hou #2 the Mission Impossible Squirrel! Check it out, it's pretty cool! ;D)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsuVLsDyln4 

" Women & Heart Attacks..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." Today she talks about  some warning signs of heart of attack that  everyone needs to be aware of! ;D) Enjoy...

WOMEN AND HEART ATTACKS

Recently my husband and myself  were out at our favorite breakfast spot on Thursday morning when our waitress who we know fairly well did not look well. We asked her what the problem was and she told us about neck pain, back pain and jaw pain. Instantly we told her she may be having a heart event and needed to be seen right away.

Not more than 10 minutes later, she was on the floor in pain. Luckily the cook was her husband and called 911 immediately.

 Women don’t present with the same symptoms for heart attack as men do. A shout out to all women out there…if you are having neck pain, jaw pain, back pain head pain or chest pain…don’t wait. Take care of it.

 This woman was lucky; she made it to the ER just in time to have her heart attack and was having heart surgery only 2 hrs later. One of her arteries were totally blocked. She was one of the lucky ones; let’s take care of ourselves ladies.

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

"Ralph and Edna..." 'Obama Da Dog' (Source)

 This is a beautiful story of love.   Please read and share with your friends...  Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool , Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna the news she said, 'Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love... I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.' Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry.. How soon can I go home?' Happy Mental Health Day!

You can do your bit by remembering to send this blog to a friend...

Done my part!!! 

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

 

"The other 47%..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

"The real abusers of free stuff are politicians themselves!"

Ironically if Mitt Romney does become President (which he won't) he would be part of the 47% he so despises, since he would be living in public housing (the white house) (all paid by taxpaying dollars!)

Aloha check out my opinion article in the Saturday October 13, 2012 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news, " Politicians abuse taxpayers?" 
 http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-october/article_efe58282-14c8-11e2-8eb5-0019bb2963f4.html

The Republican party seems to have reached an all time low with it's disconnect to the American people.

The Republicans main objective is not to repair the budget, or put America back to work or to get out of Afghanistan but rather to make life hard for a President that has a different skin color than most of them.

Willard Romney talks about the 47% that live off  some  aspect of government assistance, be it social security, HUD housing, EBT Food stamps, etc.

Everyone  in one way or another is part of the so called "47%." Who hasn't used government funded stuff with the likes of the public libraries, public schools, highways, parks, hiking trails, bike paths, calling 911, social security, unemployment. etc?

I have a question for Mr. Willard Romney. What happens Governor Romney  if you become President ( God help America if you do)
You will live in the white house, which is public housing, you will have a white house chef preparing all your meals and you will have secret service men assigned to you even after you  are no longer in office. You will fly in Air force one in lieu of commercial airlines even for family events.  All this as taxpayer expenses.

 Politicians are the biggest abusers of public taxpaying monies, so next time you hear Governor Romney or his repulbiCON  (sic)associates talk about the other 47%, know they are talking about the biggest leaches of society, 'Politicians.'
Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"Ironically if Mitt does become President (which he won't) he would be part of the 47% he so despises, since he would be living in public housing (the white house) (all paid by taxpaying dollars!)" 

 James "Kimo" Rosen

P.S.
Aloha check out my opinion article in the Saturday October 13, 2012 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news, " Politicians abuse taxpayers?"  http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-october/article_efe58282-14c8-11e2-8eb5-0019bb2963f4.html

"Who is Hawaiian..?" 'Michael A. Herr' (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about  the definition of what it is to be Hawai'iaan?  Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

ALOHA FRIDAY-"No Work 'Til Monday" 

 Who is Hawaiian ?



Aloha folks.

Who can call themselves Hawaiian? A much-discussed, much-debated question.

According to the Federal Government, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a Native Hawaiian (Kanaka Maoli) is anyone with at least one-half blood quantum . . . fifty percent Hawaiian blood. But native Hawaiian (note the small 'n') is anyone with any amount of Hawaiian blood. However, it's getting harder and harder to find Native Hawaiians (look up And Then There Were None on Amazon.com and get either/both the great book and the wonderful DVD). Now, how did the Feds and OHA arrive at that specific blood quantum? By fiat, imposed by the Federal Government over the objections of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole when he could not get the Federal Government to agree to a lower percentage (one thirty-second was what he originally wanted). The higher percentage was passed because it was hoped/thought by those in Congress at the time that in this way the Hawaiian race would fade from view.

The dispute over blood quantum goes on to this day. Many opponents hold that there should be no blood quantum at all. That insistence on the use of blood quantum to define Native Hawaiians reduces Hawaiians to a racial minority. For further background, look into the "one-drop rule" for blacks and also check out the various blood quantum numbers for different Native American tribes.

I prefer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's definition (given as a preface to a song he sang one night). I paraphrase - - - "A Hawaiian is anyone who holds Hawaii within their heart". According to Iz, I am Hawaiian. And I must say that I generally feel Hawaiian. Does this mean that tourists are Hawaiians? Not necessarily, but it does mean that they could be Hawaiians. It also means that when someone moves from Hawaii to some state (such as Nevada) they don't have to forsake their Hawaiian identity.

Forget the question of who can call themselves Hawaiian. Let's return to the topic question, Who is Hawaiian? My answer, like Iz's, is that besides those born in Hawaii, besides those who move to Hawaii to live and work and play, besides those whose parents were Hawaiian but who moved far away . . . in addition to all those I believe that a Hawaiian is anyone who loves the islands, who longs for the islands, and who carries within them at all times the spirit of Aloha. The spirit of love, charity, caring, sympathy, compassion, grace and mercy. If these are within you, if you show these and act on these, and if you love the islands, then you are Hawaiian.

So, are you Hawaiian?

Okay folks, see you next week.

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




check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/ 

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

"RIP" Mr. Stoessel..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

I did not personally know Mr. Stoessell however I would like to acknowledge his many Letters to the editor which frequented the editorial pages of the Kaua'i Garden Island news.

Aloha, check out my opinion article in the 09-28-12 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news,"RIP Mr. Stoessel."
 http://thegardenisland.com/promo/homepage/letters-to-the-editor-for-friday-september/article_5136147a-0952-11e2-8472-001a4bcf887a.html

"RIP"  Mr. Stoessel..."

I read  with sadness and dismay in the obituaries that Horace Stoessel had passed away.http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/obituaries/obituaries-for-wednesday-september/article_d9c978cc-022c-11e2-ab74-0019bb2963f4.html

I did not personally know Mr. Stoessell however I would like to acknowledge his many Letters to the editor which frequented the editorial pages of the Kaua'i Garden Island news.  Most  of
his letters were factual accounts of county government.

Horace  made me have a better understanding of many political actions that took place in our local island government.

Whether you agreed or dis-agreed  he cared about his community and voiced his opinions many times on how he felt we could better our Cosmic Island.  I remember one letter in particular  about how the salary commission raised  nearly every local politicians salary  during the brink  and peak of the current economic crisis. The salary increase would  immediately take effect unless of course our county council  nullified it in whole or part, which never happened since nobody  wanted to vote down a salary increase for themselves.http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-february/article_80a44d0e-2c18-5ddc-a4fe-49c1948c2da0.html

Mr Stoessel, I will miss your frequent opinion articles  which opened  my eyes to  many local issues.

From one frequent Letter writer to another, mahalo Nui Loa Mr. Stoessel and may you rest in peace.


Aloha, check out my opinion article in the 09-28-12 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news,"RIP Mr. Stoessel."
http://thegardenisland.com/promo/homepage/letters-to-the-editor-for-friday-september/article_5136147a-0952-11e2-8472-001a4bcf887a.html

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

Check out the photo of my dog 'Obama' and myself in this weeks, Midweek Kaua'i magazine!
http://www.midweekkauai.com/2012/09/focus-on-kauai-10/

"Birds on Kaua'i..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Guest-blogger Bettejo Dux is one of Kauai's most delightful  people, she has lived on the cosmic island of Kaua'i for over 40 years... She is an animal lover, people lover and enjoys life to the fullest. Today she talks about birds on Kaua'i in memory of hurricane Iniki which shattered the island of Kauai on September 11, 1992 while  September 11, 2001 shattered our nation  www.bettejodux.com

BIRDS ON KAUAI

I’m not going to describe them, I’m not a bird watcher, but I am a bird listener. My jungle house is an aviary. I’m awakened and put to sleep by the songs of these incredible creatures. They love it here. My land is bird friendly.

On September 11, 1992, I was awakened by a clatter. Early morning jangles make me nervous. I scurried to the kitchen. I had one phone.  It stood there staunchly, red lights flashing. When I put the receiver to my ear, I could hear Billy’s voice.
“Mom,” his voice crackled thick with urgency. I thought there was a problem in Honolulu, but before I could speak he  did, “Know you don’t listen to the news. Storm’s coming. Big. Turn the radio on.”
I’m not a cool-head. My first response to disaster is panic. Standing in silent stillness I  screamed and yelled and tore my hair.
“Mom…”
“Yeah. When?”
“We’re going to shelter now.”
“Not a breath of air here.”
“There will be.”
“Okay.”
“Check out the nearest shelter.”
“Can I take the horses?”
“Call first thing tomorrow,” the line went dead.

Billy had helped me with the horses before hurricane Ewa. We’d chased them to hell and gone, trees crashing down around us as they raced for open country.  They sense stuff. We were living up the Alexander Dam Road in a big tough lava rock house. My husband  helped us get Flash and Beau in the barn and he and  Billy went to bed. I stayed in the rickety barn. All I can remember about that night was the noise. The sound of that storm was the roaring thundering thump beat of a thousand over-heated hearts.

This time I had three horses and not a Bill or a Billy in sight. Once I settled down I got to work. My house had survived Ewa with nary a scratch and I clung to that. I battened down the hatches. Secured everything I could. My idea was to lock the horses in the their stalls, get the cats and the dogs and- eventually-me in the car and ride it out. The horses were edgy under roof. I tried to calm them.

The first thing I noticed were the birds. It seemed like hundreds of them were feather- scrunching in the pasture and  the cattle in the hills  were lumping together across the street. I put three pans of food in the car, nibbles for the dogs and the cats, carrots for the horses, a bottle of wine for me and stood my ground. When a swirling gust threw me into the wrought iron, I checked into  my shelter and huddled down. Before the night was over the dogs were eating carrot, the horses nibbles, but I had the wine all to myself.

The next morning when the birds took off with a joyous whirr it was a celestial event. When a lost peahen in a tree let out a shriek all of us knew we’d made it.

It was a glorious golden morning on Kauai.

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

Bettejo  also  publishes her own blog column.
You can check it out at ;  http://www.bettejo.wordpress.com .   Besides her blog she recently published and authored the humorous fiction book, "The Scam," check it out at(www.bettejodux.com) or  on Amazon.

http://www.bettejodux.com/

"The Dumbing Down of America..." 'Obama Da Dog'

"Obama Da dog taking a break from Reality TV and Facebook..."

People may look smarter these days, toting their laptops, Ipods, Ipads and cell phones everywhere they go, but are they?

People no longer make small talk with strangers in the grocery store, the bus, malls and coffee shops.  Everyone is in their own little narcissistic world talking or texting  someone miles away while they ignore the beautiful girl or handsome guy sitting  at the next table or shopping alongside them in the produce aisle of the super market.
Even while driving people have the need to talk, text, talk, causing accidents by not concentrating on the road.
On top of all this so called technology which is making people social outcasts since they do not learn how to conduct themselves in social environments  such as the cocktail party of the past. Nowadays everyone is posting what they ate for dinner on facebook, who cares?
The one good thing with all this, teenage pregnancy is down since people have very little human contact.  Everything is live-streamed on the Internet form religious services to  weddings and funerals, even intimacy, nobody needs to go anywhere anymore. People judge each other by how many friends they have on Facebook.
The icing on the cake is the most popular form of entertainment is Reality TV where real life people with no talent try to  entertain us doing nothing.
People seem dumber with all the technology than they did before the computer age? I long for the days where there was no Snooki, Paris Hilton, Honey Boo Boo and Big brother.
Charles Dickens sums this up best with his famous quote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..."
  Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook...