"Rocks and Roses on Kaua'i..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesdays)

Bettejo Dux a few years back...

Guest-blogger Bettejo Dux is one of Kauai's most colorful 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 guest blogs about  a party a few years back, enjoy... She 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.

Tonight in Hanapepe was all roses. I must admit I loved it. I do seem to be the kind of person you either like or you hate-for who knows what reasons-and while I often say I don't know which role I prefer, in truth I do love  the roses. But I'm lucky, most of the rock throwers have lousy aim.

In Manila I was the brash young American everybody loved to love. I simply could do no wrong. When I returned to America-suburbia USA, at least for most of my years back on the home turf-I was the one 'they' loved to hate. One of the first things Bill said when he landed the job as Engineering Department Head at McBryde Sugar, was "...and I'm going to have to keep you on a plantation." That was certainly prophetic and profound.

Kauai, which I immediately fell in love with, was my spot. I felt I'd been born to live here; but it was a feudal state. Benevolent. but the 'high' society  into which I'd been tossed was not my cup of tea. Plantation managers, at that time, were kings and department heads and their wives lords and ladies of the court with a much higher rank and station than the common ordinary working bloke. And field hands?  Well, my dear, like true aristocracy it was best to ignore their existence.  My egalitarian blood and up-bringing did not sit  well with that one. Besides, I rode my horse in those fields. I was out there with the field hands and felt quite comfortable with them. The mule handlers and I were on a first name bases.

The very first incident was one I could easily have avoided but stirred my sassy bone and tickled my tendency to tail tweak.

It was a call from the manager's wife. Not a social call, more an order. A company party had been arranged  to welcome us into the elite fold. There was no human concern. No interest in my  adaptation. Just a curt, "We do not wear mini skirts..." and goodbye.

Okay, I'll admit, the little hairs at the back of my neck began twitching. What was this? Was this a kid's party? Should I bring a balloon? Anyway, I wasn't defiant. I searched and found the perfect dress. Long in the hem. It dragged on the floor. But the neckline was low enough to make a baby cry. Okay, I'll admit, it was a wrong move. But me? Make a wrong move? Never.

At any rate, this sealed my fate. I, obviously, did not belong.  Well, all newcomers were gifted with gorgeous red carnation leis. But not this night. I got them all. They covered up the view. I looked like I'd just won the Kentucky Derby. I took them off and passed them around to other newcomers.

This gracious gesture didn't go over, either.

Until just a few months before Bill died, I was the one never invited to the party's the ladies went to. but since I didn't even know about them I wasn't bother by them. Even  if I had known about them I'd not have been bothered by them.

 Bettejo has a blog of her own you can check out at ; http://www.bettejo.wordpress.com  

www.bettejodux.com

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, Publisher.

http://www.bettejodux.com/

 



"A well planned retirement..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Chester "Unc" Lau  is a retired cinematographer living his retirement years on the island of Oahu. "Unc" is a former army master sergeant of the Korean war and  is fond of the naturist lifestyle. Welcome "Unc" back as the source of today's guest blog," A true story from the London Times, " A well planned retirement."

This one is one of the best. From The London Times:

A Well-Planned Retirement
Outside England 's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were for cars, about $1.40, for buses about $7.

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent..

The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility. The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee. The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain (or some such scenario), is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own; and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day -- for 25 years.
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars!
......
And no one even knows his name.

Uncs" added commentary on da story!

 I Knew his name,but I won't tell,he his the Rabbi with the black dog name Lady Obama now having fun living in the prettiest island in Hawaii call Kauai surrounded by good cyber friends around da world with a huge taro farm to make Kosher POI for gentiles :-D

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, Publisher.

"A Day to Look Forward to…." '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..." She talks about  showers and how one should have a shower every few years..."

A Day to Look Forward to….

Now that my children and my friends children are reaching the age of marriage I am returning to the events that I enjoyed when I was their age…a Wedding Shower. 

It seems like only yesterday that I was enjoying the festivities prior to my own wedding; all those useful gifts that a new bride needs to set up housekeeping.   

There are a few differences today though in shower giving.  In my invitation were cards from stores with website address on them to browse through on the computer to choose a gift for the bride. 

 Everything can be ordered on line now with a quick click of the mouse, no more schlepping from store to store to look for the items on the couples wish list to buy. 

Years ago we used to play games at the shower to warm up the crowd; I wonder if those traditions are still going  on today. 

Wedding, showers and engagement parties are such joyous festivities to attend once again; in a way it makes me feel young again.  It also makes me think….after being married for so many years, I think we should devise a repeat shower every so many years to replenish those worn out things from many years ago.

You've heard of vows being renewed…how about a shower to go along with them??

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, Publisher

"Where is your chicken..?" 'Obama Da Dog'

"Check for yourself, I look nothing like the guy with the chicken..!"

Bicycling  is my main form of transportation on the island where I reside. My dog "Obama" is my constant companion, she runs along side my bike as I cruise about my daily activities. 

There is another man on the cosmic hamlet of an island that rides a bicycle with a wild Kaua'i chicken on the handlebars. This man and myself look nothing alike, yet on a daily basis people will consistently  ask me "where's your chicken?"

I look nothing like this guy, the only thing we have in common is we are both of the same color of skin. I believe people mix this man and myself up because to them, all the people of my skin color look alike?

I try explaining this guy is someone else, but for some reason they do not believe me.  

 I came to the conclusion that  "where is your chicken," is a metaphorical way of asking, are you Haole, and my response as always is, " Why, what I did?(sic) After all is said and done we end a fowl situation  with a hen (sic) shake.

"Truthful comebacks in lieu of your in a meeting.... 'Obama Da Dog'

Don't you just hate being brushed off by some receptionist telling you the person you wish to speak with is in a meeting? Read what is really happening through the eyes of Obama Da dog!

Don't you hate it when you call a business person, politician or someone who thinks there important with a secretary and switchboard and  are told, 'I'm sorry they are  in a meeting."


It's 2012, I always say, " come on, can't you think of something more original than the old  he or she is a meeting excuse?" Granted there are times when they are actually in meetings but how often is that in reality?


Here are some better comebacks for all you VI P's, politicians and business people.


Have your secretary or switchboard tell the truth with the likes of;  your busy commenting to the Letters to editor section in the Garden island news,  or that you are currently in an affair with an intern, or  you are making friends with people you don't know on Facebook as you try and look busy.


However don't insult my intelligence and tell me they are in a meeting.


How about saying, "look  bruddah, they said if you called, "get rid of him."

Funny thing, everyone I called this morning was in a meeting.  Don't worry, promise, I'll call  back!

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)

If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!

"The IRS..." 'Marvin Gross' (Aloha Friday)

 Guest blogger for this Aloha Friday  is Marvin Gross  a financial consultant from Western New York, Marvin after this blog get ready for an audit!  ;D) 

The IRS sent my Tax Return back! AGAIN!!!

I guess it was because of my response to the question : "List all dependents?"

I replied -

"3 million crack heads;
"42 million unemployable people on food stamps,
"2 million people in over 243 prisons;
and
"535 fools in the U.S. House and Senate.

Apparently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.

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, Publisher.

"Tinted windshield need to go..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

"Tinted windows on motor vehicles most go before more people are killed and injured..."This blog also appeared as an  opinion article in today's (04-12-12) Kaua'i Garden Island News,"Tinted windows."

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-thursday-april/article_0c1cfdae-8478-11e1-9424-0019bb2963f4.html

 Motor vehicles are a major obstacle to pedestrians and bicyclists on Kaua'i. There's minimum shoulder and sidewalk area's where bicyclists and pedestrians can feel safe, therefore it is most important to maintain eye contact with drivers, especially crossing intersections with no signals or crosswalks.

Most cars and pick-up trucks on Kaua'i  these days have tinted windows and are running AC, with all windows rolled up, making it impossible to establish eye contact for a right of way from a bicyclists or pedestrians vantage point.

The reason many have tinted windshields is so law enforcement cannot see them texting, talking on cell phones, no seat-belts, or at times  smoking pot and alcohol consumption while driving.

Those with tinted windows as a common courtesy should at least drive with windows open in populated bicycle and pedestrian areas.

Tinted windshields are as much a problem as any other traffic violation. It's imperative that law enforcement start ticketing for windshields that are to dark to see the driver, otherwise we are sure to see future injury and deaths.