"Funeral Expenses..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (www.)

Mahalos once again to dakinetalk's friend,  and retired cinematographer from Oahu Chester Lau (Unc) for sharing with us another  anonymous forwarded message...

A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation in Jerusalem. While they were there, the wife passed away.

 

The undertaker told the husband, "You can have her buried here in the Holy Land for $150 or we can have her shipped back home for $5,000.

 

The husband thought about it and told the undertaker he would have her shipped back home.

 

The undertaker asked him, "why would you spend $5,000 to have her shipped home when you could have a beautiful burial here, and it would only cost $150????"

 

The husband replied, "Long ago, a man died here, was buried here, and three days later, rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance!"

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)

"What goes around comes around." 'Anonymous' (From the Internet)

"Clouds are surreal to me and many times I see images of what I believe is G-d and just get the feeling of chicken skin and for no reason feel elated..."

What Goes Around Comes Around

He almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help.
So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so ..... was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.
He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold.
He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.
He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.
Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid.
This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life helping others, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, "And think of me."
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase.
The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.
After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be.
Then she noticed something written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: "You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."
Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard.
She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Every-thing's gonna be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."
There is an old saying "What goes around comes around."

This was shared with us from http://www.truthbook.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)

"Burp..." 'Michael Herr' (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday about the top 9 list of the naughty things you can only say on Thanksgiving and get away with...  Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

This turkey was cooked in a Hawaiian earth oven called an Imu. The taste is somewhat smoked and it is 'Ono.' (delicious) As they say in Hawaiian Pidgin, "wop da Jaw,"  and "broke da mout!" Which translates to delicious and orgasmic...

ALOHA FRIDAY

November 25

It's Aloha Friday.

"Burp!"

Did you all have a very filling Happy Turkey Day? I hate to be a killjoy, but Thanksgiving has changed so much since I was a kid. For one thing, way back then we didn't have Christmas decorations up until after Thanksgiving. And Thanksgiving was a holiday then, not the prelude to a gigantic shopping day.

Did you get enough to eat on Turkey Day? How much food did you scrape off the plates and throw into the garbage? Probably enough to feed a Third-World family. Whatever happened to "Take all you want. Eat all you take."

There are so many things wrong in the world these days that I find it hard to be thankful, though I know I should. So I will tell myself to be thankful . . . thankful for my healthy grandchildren . . . thankful for my wife's health (such as it is) . . . and thankful that things aren't worse than they are.

Now, to lighten things up a bit, let's finish with the following (cribbed, I admit it):

Naughty Things You Can Only Say On Thanksgiving . . . and get away with saying.
1. Talk about a huge breast!

2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.

3. It's Cool Whip time!

4. If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!

5. That's one terrific spread!

6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.

7. Are you ready for seconds yet?

8. It's a little dry, do you still want to eat it?

9. I'd like to get some when you're finished.

Much aloha.

There's still time to order a complete set of Michael's Books for the Holiday's. Buy all 6 books for only 18.00 including P&H. The books make great stocking stuffers...
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)

"What I have..." 'Shirili Green' (www.adn.com/whatihave)

Shirili, Mia and Derrick Green

Please note that  that Shirili passed away on June 17,2013.

What a beautiful soul and spirit. She will be sorely missed.

From Shirli's  Facebook page on June 17,2013, her husband posted the following: https://www.facebook.com/shirili.green?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

"This message is from Derrick. I would like to thank all who have supported us and been amazing friends during this extremely difficult last few years. Shir lost her battle with cancer today but I am happy that she no longer has to suffer, either from cancer or the treatments. I appreciate all the love and well wishes. Mia and I look forward to you all being a part of our lives for years to come."

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope everyone realizes all they have to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving day. Enclosed is an essay that ran in the Anchorage Daily News this past week. The essay is written by Shirli Green who is currently living with stage 4 terminal cancer.  Many of my good friends from Alaska where I lived for twenty years are friends with Shirili and her family, my friend Shani Green brought this heartfelt story to my attention and I really felt driven to share this with as many people as possible. I am also glad to say that this week Shirili accepted  my friend invitation on Facebook! Many Thanks to Shirili Green, The Anchorage Daily News and Marc Lester for sharing...

Thank you to Anchorage Daily News and Marc Lester the photographer who documented Shirili's moving essay with his moving photos as well...
http://community.adn.com/node/158745 (Please watch this slide show) I am not allowed to publish the pictures but am allowed to link you to this, it's powerful,www.adn.com/whatihave

 Shirili, daughter Mia and friends rally for  a cure for cancer...

 In 2007, Shirili Green was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was just 33 years old. After years of treatment, including a double mastectomy, she discovered the cancer had returned in 2011. It  spread to her liver and bones. The cancer, stage IV, is terminal. Shiri writes about the experience of living with the knowledge that she's dying...  May G-d Bless Shrili and her family... Shiri also narrates the enclosed video documentary of her situation; http://community.adn.com/node/158745

It's been nearly eight months since my breast cancer made its return. Eight months ago, I was -- or so I thought -- a healthy survivor. Life was somewhat normal, occasionally interrupted by routine checkups and doctor visits. Though I was aware of the chances of recurrence, I was miserably unprepared for its vigorous come back. Just as my body and psyche were recovering from my first bout with this invasive disease, the cancer was silently spreading over my bones and nesting in my liver. It's a very elusive enemy, I've come to find out.

Four years earlier, I fought cancer for the first time. At 33, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). My breasts were removed and I went through an aggressive chemotherapy treatment to eradicate an unequivocally aggressive cancer. The invasion of cancer derailed my life, together with the lives of my family and friends. It sent a shock through my physical self, but it didn't stop there. It took everyone for a ride. Our lives would never be the same.

My daughter, Mia, who was just shy of her fourth birthday at the time, learned about cancer and its implications at that very tender age. Of course, at the time, we had one plan and one plan only: to fight and to win. My dear daughter inevitably became an integral part of the effort to rid mommy's body of cancer, and though we did all we could to protect her and provide a stable, normal routine, the cancer was fighting back, and it was insisting on making its vicious appearance. It took several forms, but most were expressed through the ugly side effects of chemotherapy.

In addition to frequent vomiting, there was the endless nausea and fatigue. Soon after I started chemotherapy, my hair fell out. My young daughter who used to play with my long, thick hair now had to get used to mom's bald, shiny skull. Derrick, my husband, who loved my hair, had to watch the woman he loves lose the physical attributes of her femininity. My father's face was filled with agony. My mother and sister put on a brave front for my sake. My friends kept saying I looked great, and though they clearly lied, it was a fib I was happy to hear.

In the next few months, my parents and sister cared for Mia as Derrick and I focused on treating and healing. For a while, the cancer made us think we had won, but we hadn't.

Nearly four years later, the cancer viciously came back. The diagnosis was shocking. Cancer on every bone from pelvis to skull. Cancer in the liver and cancer in the eye. Stage IV. Terminal. Just when I thought I had my life back, the heavenly jurors changed the verdict. Recovery is no longer an option. It's the death penalty this time around. I started to spin, but then I decided to fight.

I was outraged. This can't be! I've done everything I could! It wasn't supposed to come back. But it did, and I had to start living the rest of my life. I had no idea how to do so. How do I move on? How do I find the strength to wake up? But the next day, I woke up. And from there, life took control. I started chemotherapy for the second time, only this time, there wasn't as much hope. There was my indescribably strong will to live, but living seemed less likely and dying inevitable.

About a month after diagnosis, things took a devastating turn. My lungs and the sac around my heart were filling with fluid. It seemed like the end, but it wasn't. After cardiac surgery and a procedure to remove the fluid from my lungs, I began to see some light, and the chemotherapy began to work. Systematically, my body started responding to the chemotherapy, and hope began to rise. Then, four months later, another devastating blow. The cancer found its way to my brain. It spread so fast through my cranium that in four months, I went from no brain metastasis to having too many lesions to count. My brain was literally infested. Once again, we thought it was the end, but, thank God, and thanks to Whole Brain Radiation, it wasn't.

Life must be lived regardless of the cards we are dealt. I never thought I would have to deal with dying in my 30s, but I do. Every morning that I get to wake up, I have to remind myself that it may be my last day. And I want to live each day to its fullest -- I really do! But just as always, life dictates the pace. I've been dealt a death sentence, but for now, the show must go on! Yes, I am fighting cancer, and yes, I will eventually die. For now, however, I get to take my darling daughter to school almost every day. I get to sleep in the arms of my loving husband at night. I get to spend more time with my aging parents, and celebrate life with all those who are dear to me. Can I ask for more? I think so, but I must also be satisfied and fulfilled. The only alternative is to be miserable, and I refuse to go there. I'm determined to enjoy the rest of my life.

I'm still here, and I get to write, and read, and see the leaves turn. I get to change my tires to snow tires. I can go out to lunch and joke with friends (who continue to graciously compliment my appearance). I get to correspond with my daughter's teachers, and sign permission slips for days of fun. I get to see my dogs run in the yard, enjoying the golden falling leaves.

I get to snuggle with my daughter as I put her in bed at night, and sing with her and listen to her sing. I get to play board games with her, and watch her growing up. One day at the time. One day and another and another . . . I get to choose clothes at the store with her, and do homework every night.

I also get to be upset at times, and I even get to be disappointed and sad.

Most importantly, I get to be alive!

For now, I get to live my life.

~ Shirili Green
All photos courtesy of Shirili Green...

Afterthought, If everyone can say a prayer or some special thoughts for Shirili, doesn't matter what religion you are or are not, miracles do at times happen! 

FYI, back in 1980 I served as a photo lab tech for the Anchorage daily news,  as well as a  weekend photographer. 

G-d Bless and Happy Thanksgiving, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher-Dakinetalk

This essay recently ran in the Anchorage daily news; http://community.adn.com/?q=adn%2Fnode%2F158736

Shir also has her own blog at; http://www.thejoysofcancer.blogspot.com/ http://community.adn.com/node/158745

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)

"A sardonic way of thankfulness..."‏ 'Obama Da dog'



Obama Da Dog  wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

There are many things to be thankful for on Kaua'i  this time of year and I would like to lighten things up in a somewhat sardonic way  and share what I am thankful for on our awesome cosmic island.

(This blog also ran as an opinion article on 11-24-11(Thanksgiving day) in the Kaua'i Garden Island News with the title, "Thankfulness..."
 http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_8b12d75a-166e-11e1-8f80-001cc4c03286.html)

1- We have a Mayor that can sing and dance, which of course  is a priority when deciding who to cast your vote for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfaVmieipV0

 2- We have a bus service that eliminated the most popular bus-stop at Walmart giving us the opportunity to stretch our legs while getting off at Wilcox hospital, the closest  bus stop to Walmart.

3-We have no Ferry  service even though we are an  island community in the middle of the  Pacific. The airlines now  have an monopoly on flying and it feels wonderful spending in excess of  $160.00 on a round-trip to Oahu,(Approximately 60 miles one way) the approximate  same price to fly cross country on the mainland with Southwest airlines special holiday fares.

4-We have time to relax waiting in traffic almost everyday therefore allowing us time to burn excess gas and catch up on texting and phone calls.

5- Last but not least on a serious note, the main thing we have to be thankful for is freedom of speech and locally on Kauai being able to express ourselves in Letters to the editor in The Garden Island News.

I believe everyday is Thanksgiving, but it's still nice to have a holiday to give thanks and give! May G-d, Darwin or whoever and  whatever you believe in bless America and bring our country out of the worst recession in our remarkable nations history! Happy Thanksgiving.

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)

"To avoid Uncle, Uncle Sam that is..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

It used to be religion and politics were businesses of tax deductible donations, now everyone seems part of the tax deductible gifting scheme... This blog also appeared as an opinion article in the Kaua'i Garden Island News on 11-21-11,  titled, "Who is left to pay taxes." http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_55e10884-13ff-11e1-867a-001cc4c03286.html  

Everything is geared towards a donation,it used to be religion and politics were the businesses of tax deductible donations, now everyone seems part of the tax deductible gifting scheme. A recent advertised concert was advertised as free with  a $20.00 recommended donation, a local play was advertised the same way  and  suggested a donation  of $28.00.

 I would think most people pay since it's a small town, people talk and you don't want to be gossiped about as the cheapskate, the person who doesn't pay to get in.

With this said, I am sure some go for free, but my guess is most pay the suggested donation. The question remains are these events actually charitable or are they scams to avoid 'Uncle,' (Uncle Sam that is?)

With all these events being offered for suggested donations,  it  becomes apparent  that many avoid paying taxes by calling their cause non-profit and or charitable making it legal to not  pay income tax, sales tax or any tax by those sponsoring the events.

I know hairstylists who operate out of their homes and it's the unwritten law you give them $10-$15 gift for a haircut, they like to call the cash you give them a gift to  get away without paying taxes. Shall our courts also need to define gift?

 The question remains, who is left to pay the taxes as our economy sinks lower and lower..?

 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)

"How to Grow a family" 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspirational Monday)

Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this Inspirational Monday about her new found family member! Mazol Tov, Congratulations Jacob Whitehead and Audrey Irizarry.  Judith lives in Amherst N.Y. has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for almost 30 years...

How to Grow a family

We have been a family of four for about thirty years ; back in the 80’s we decided to grow our family and add two children to the mix. My husband and I were from a 2 child family, each having a boy and a girl. It just wasn't in the cards for us and we were blessed with two wonderful boys of which we have stayed close with all their years. I always had a little piece of me that, once in a while, would day dream of having a girl in the family; well, my wishes were answered this week. There are many ways to add a girl to a family, adopt, birth and when those don’t work out….daughter-in-law. Our son surprised us this week and decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him. We are filled with a million emotions and can’t wait for all the new adventures that a girl will bring to the family. The first of my sons to get married, Mazel Tov to us!!!\

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)