Buffalo is a fund raising and giving city..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday) '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

Buffalo is a fund raising and giving city

 I have lived in Buffalo most of my life and am forever and always astounded how giving and fund raising a town it is. Especially in the warmer months, you can find a race or fundraiser to participate in
and donate to, every weekend. This past  weekend was no exception. 

I am not an athletic type and I make no excuses but I do enjoy participating in fundraisers for the needy as well as those in need of support for their families or health reasons. 

We are lucky to have Roswell Cancer Institute at our doorstep who
treat and take care of so many not only in our area but from all over the world.  https://www.roswellpark.org/

Judith's daughter-in-law
Audrey and son Jacob
at River walk fund  raiser
for cancer.

This year cancer came to roost in our family as my young healthy daughter-in-law discovered and was diagnosed with cancer. Her year has been a rocky one enduring surgery and treatment. She has
persevered with the help of many supporters, friends and family along the way that helped her cope.

Today we attended the Susan Komen fund raiser at River Walk along with her family, friends and coworkers. 
https://www.facebook.com/events/498763383641284/
We all have had someone we know who has been through the fight against cancer weather it has been our friends, family or acquaintances. Cancer seems to touch every one's life in some way. It is an emotional roller coaster for all involved.

I am sorry to say I had never participated with the well known Susan Komen race for life and to day was a first for our family. I was amazed and delighted to see how many people were participating and donating their time, efforts and money to make this a great success. So many brave men and women participated, many forming their teams with personal names they gave their groups, each more original than the other. My daughter in laws' group name was “The Breast Team Ever” and she was able to raise several thousand dollars to fund the cause.

Audrey Whitehead's team;
“The Breast Team Ever”
We wish Audrey a complete and full recovery!
God bless Audrey Whitehead!

 

Many sponsors gave away bandannas, bags, water bottles etc. with live music playing in the background. Each team had their own assigned table and all seemed to put their worries and concerns aside for the day and just enjoyed the friendships they had made. The spirit in the room ran high; all attending thinking of the same common cause, trying to stamp out cancer, sharing their stories and forging ahead into their unknown futures. Never a more
brave, and determined group I had seen and I felt privileged to have been a part of their lives and their
fight for the cause.

Treatment, research and determination to find a cure are never ending and donations are needed more than ever. What a worthy cause that touches so many of us, what a battle we will continue to fight and endure until each type of cancer is cured.

Audrey with her parents;
Father Tito and Mother Monsue

I know we are making great strides in treatment and research at Roswell  and around the world. My admiration for those who are in a fight for their lives will continue; their bravery and determination
is to be commended as life is precious for so many as they realize the gift more than most.

Hana Hou, (Encore)

"Taste of Hawaii-2016, Each picture is worth a thousand words..."" 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Kimo's world #133-Blog #1800

Taste of Hawai'i-2016

Each picture is worth a thousand words!

The Bistro in Kilauea on
Kauai's North shore featured
Blackened ono fish with spicy mayo 
and sweet soy served on a
bed of Nori seaweed.
This dish in my 
opinion was the best in show.
You can see a close up below!

Grill master Jared Diaz and  his brother Art of Recessions
Original Santa Maria style BBQ. 
Grilling and featuring for the Taste, "Tri-Tip, Chili Fresh Salsa and French bread. 
Kauai's signature event and ultimate Sunday brunch--
never disappoints! 

Blackened ono fish with spicy mayo and
 sweet soy served on abed of nori seaweed
served by the Bistro Restaurant in Kilauea.
This was exceptional!!!

.

Chef Ken Morikawa of Plantation Gardens
created an alternative dish
of Blue crab ravioli after running out of their
featured dish of Crab rangoon with spicy djon sauce.
I must say, glad I came late, Yowzers! 


                                                                                    

                   

 The Seaside Restaurant from Hilo
featured Chef Colin Nakagawa's creation;
Grilled Shrimp with umi wasabi aioli
and wasabi served on mesclun greens.
This dish had long lines, 
I think that means it was GREAT!

Chef  Lucas Sautter of the
Kauai Marriott Courtyard
has my personal reward for creative genius
with is Lobster ceviche in a
miniature sized ice cream cone!
Bon Appétit!

Lobster ceviche in a
miniature sized ice cream cone!

KCC Jazz Band is a must see 
if you ever have the chance.
They have  performances periodically 
throughout the year at the 
Kaua'i community college and are always
free. One of the best kept secrets on the Garden Isle!

Hanging loose at The Taste
 is Grill master Jared Diaz
 of Recessions
Original Santa Maria style BBQ. 
Grilling and featuring;
 "Tri-Tip, Chili Fresh Salsa and French bread. 
"Wop Da Jaw, Brah!"

Chef Timmy of the Green Pig
prepares Braised pork belly.
You've never had anything like this!
Onolicious!

Jordan Weaver and Beau Hannafious
of Rainbeau Jo's make a 
Kale salad that even people 
who don't like Kale will enjoy and
shout, 'Broke Da Mout!"

KCC Jazz band at The 28th annual Taste of Hawaii
 at Smiths Tropical Paradise.
 The singer is Michael Kobayashi! 
He was very reminiscent of the late
 great Jimmy Borges. Gave me chicken skin

Hana Hou, Please listen to the link!

https://www.facebook.com/james.rosen1/videos/10209895369125139/

Watch  Rumba De Fuego Kauai " at the Taste of Hawaii..... The annual Kapaa Rotary Club fund raiser that raises money for our local charities. Very well attended this year, with special thanks to Steve Dubey on Horn, drummer extrodinaire Ron Margolis , Percussionist Cary Valentine , our favorite singing Deva Mrs Cindy Labrador aka Cindy Jackson Music, with bassist Mike Latif, Trombone ace Dennis Mcgraw, Alben Rivera, Guitar/Vocalist Manuel "fito" Mendez, and of course our MC Ron Wiley!!!

check it out;

https://www.facebook.com/james.rosen1/videos/10209895369125139/

Double Hana Hou!!!

Watch KCC  Jazz band at The 28th annual Taste of Hawaii at Smiths Tropical Paradise. The singer is named Mike and was very reminiscent of the late great Jimmy Borges. Gave me chicken skin. Does anyone know Mikes last name? Enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/james.rosen1/videos/10209909201790947/

...And Finally---Triple Hana Hou!

" Now That I Have My Master’s Degree, What in Heck Am I Supposed to Do with It..?" 'Bonnie Brenton' (Special edition)

Guest-blogger Bonnie Brenton grew up in Portland, Maine and
 obtained a Masters in counseling from the University of Mass. at Amherst.

Editors note;
Guest blogger  and long time friend Bonnie Brenton lives a very non traditional life.
She is the ultimate free spirit in every sense of the way and lives a very interesting life.
The enclosed blog is a true story and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  ;-)

Now That I Have My Master’s Degree, What in Heck Am I Supposed to
 Do with It? 

                                                           
By the time I received my Master’s degree, I had reached the age
when many of my contemporaries were already retiring. That option
began to look attractive when I faced the dilemma of what should I do!

Before grad school, I had worked as a massage therapist at a fancy
hotel. One day I asked myself, “Is that all there is? Maybe, I should
attend graduate school.” I had a bachelor’s in psychology. Now, I
decided to pursue a Masters in mental health counseling because the
subject interested me. I loved school. I wish I could make a living as a
professional student. I greatly enjoy expressing myself through writing
and speaking. I consider research papers and oral presentations to be
fun activities. I even looked forward to multiple choice exams. I got
almost all A’s. In spite of that, I had to apply to five different schools
before I was accepted. But once I got in, attending classes and turning
in assignments felt like a recreational activity.

Things changed when it was time for my internship. Now, that
was challenging. I finally got through it after a few false starts, a forced,
year long leave of absence, and then having to find a new agency. The
problems were always with the politics of the organization; never with
my clients. I couldn’t wait to graduate and be done with the long hours
required of my internship.

The long awaited day finally arrived! People used to ask me,
“What are you going to do now that you graduated?” I would reply,
“First, I will celebrate. Then, I will take break. Next, I will figure out
what I want to do, and then finally, I will look for a job.” Celebrating and
taking a break were easy steps, but I got stuck on the part about
figuring out what I want to do.

I had worked with children in one of my internships. I experienced
the most success at that placement. I decided since I worked well with
kids, I would take a year long, post-graduate course in play therapy.
Now, I found myself back in school, and I could put off the job search for
another year. The problem was that the other students enrolled in the
class were already working with children, and I began to feel inferior
and depressed. I wasn’t sure why.

As the year drew to a close, I applied for a volunteer job
practicing play therapy with children who had lost a parent. That meant
I could have yet another year figuring out what I want to do. Volunteer
jobs are easy with no pressure. I could set my own hours. I did well
with the children, and my work was/is much appreciated. However, I
recently realized I don’t like working with kids all that much. Just
because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should do it.
I have known for quite sometime that I was born to express myself
through various art forms such as drawing, acting, singing, dancing, and
writing. The problem is I could never earn enough money to support
myself doing what I love. I still do it and find much fulfillment. I just
don’t get paid.

My depression was getting worse. I began to figure out why as I
realized how much I love my massage job. In the interim years, while
attending school, I had continued with massage, but I no longer worked
for a posh hotel. Now, I had become an independent contractor with
my own clients while renting space at a massage clinic.

My massage job spoiled me. I only had to work one day a week. I
had a couple customers whose company I much enjoyed, and I made
enough money to get by if I budgeted carefully. I realized I was already
living the life I want to live! I could not imagine working full time for a
mental health agency. The thought of doing that made me feel anxious
and depressed. Nor, could I become licensed for private practise unless I
worked full time for an agency, for two years.

I do have an anxiety disorder, and some of my friends thought
that it was my anxiety that was stopping me from looking for a job, but
really it was the other way around. I realized getting a job in the
counseling field is not what I want to do, and the thought of doing that
made me feel even more anxious and depressed that I already was. If it
was what I really wanted, no amount of anxiety would stop me!

There is a deeper layer to this story that I hesitate to mention. My
two massage clients get more than just a massage. I admit it. I have
sex with both of them. One of them pays me enough money to live on.
The other one pays me next to nothing, but in turn gives me such an
excellent massage that I allow it. The one who pays more gives me the
most fantastic orgasm I have ever experienced in my life! And to think I
get paid for that. Perhaps now you understand why I love my job and
don’t want to leave it.

In the year since I completed my post graduate, play therapy course, I realized my depression was fueled by an identity crisis. I asked myself if after 10 years of grad school (including the years it took to get accepted), do I want to be a counselor, or do I want to be a sex worker?

My depression eased as I came to grips with the fact that I am indeed a sex worker who enjoys my work with only two customers. I don’t want
anymore customers. The two I have are enough.

My sense of well being and identity were enhanced when I joined
an online support group for sex workers to see if there were others out
there like me. I learned there are others who are similar, but they all
agreed that I am very fortunate to be in the situation I have described.

It has been a long road. I enjoyed my schooling for its own sake
even if I never used it for a career. There is one perk of graduating that I
continue to use. My school allows alumnae to work out at the fitness
center for free. I can do that for the rest of my life!

Now, I am enjoying just being me by doing massage and
expressing myself artistically. (This blog is an example of artistic
expression. Mahalo Kimo!) I might even enjoy counseling other sex workers.

Hana Hou, (Encore)

"Around the corner I have a friend..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

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

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 

He is a retired cinematographer,

 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...

Around the corner I have a friend

 Around the corner I have a friend,
   
   In this great city that has no end,
   Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
   And before I know it, a year is gone.
   And I never see my old friends face,
   For life is a swift and terrible race,
   He knows I like him just as well,
   As in the days when I rang his bell.
   And he rang mine but we were younger then,
   And now we are busy, tired men.
   Tired of playing a foolish game,
   Tired of trying to make a name.
   "Tomorrow" I say ! "I will call on Jim
   Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
   But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
   And distance between us grows and grows.
   Around the corner, yet miles away,
   "Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today.."
   And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
   Around the corner, a vanished friend.
   Remember to always say what you mean.
   If you love someone, tell them.
   Don't be afraid to express yourself.
   Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.
   Because when you decide that it is the right time it might
   be too late.
   Seize the day. Never have regrets.
   And most importantly, stay close to your friends
   and family, for they have helped
   make you the person that you are today.

A Friend .

L'oncle Ammusant  AKA~ Chester "Unc" Lau

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

"Whose willing to abandon their vehicle...? 'Glenn Mickens' (Kaua'i County Watchdog)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kaua'i give the county manager style of Government a chance.

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs
and Nitpickers...
Mahalos Glenn!

Whose willing to abandon their vehicle

For every biker or walker who use the Kauai multi use trail for "travel" there are a thousand vehicle users who will never abandon that car or truck for any other means of travel. 

There was a  Garden Island poll taken on 3/18 that asked "What's the best way to ease Kauai's traffic troubles?" 688 people responded and 339 said to build more roads whereas 32 want to add more bike/pedestrian paths. Even if you expand this poll to the masses the results are going to be the same. 

And to try and make the case that the multi-use path will ever alleviate traffic is also a dream. In fact, most people have to take their vehicle to get to the path and thus increase traffic
congestion.

If we live with the fact that the vehicle is here to stay and we have to plan and accommodate for their use--wider and more alternate roads, we will improve the traffic congestion that now plagues us. And, again get us a County Manager who will go after problems like this with solutions being his/her only goal--not politics!!

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---

P.S.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens

With all the stress of the world, don't forget to
watch the sunrise or sunset, it's free! 

Photo, James "Kimo" Rosen

Hana Hou, (Encore) 

"No more Aloha spirit in Pro bowl..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #132)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer
 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.
Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i
with his best friend and spiritual adviser Obama Da Dog!

Kimo's world #128
Editors note;
Hawaii tourism leaders lament loss of Pro Bowl to Florida; Read how Hawaii lost the Pro Bowl
http://www.staradvertiser.com/business/business-breaking/hawaii-tourism-leaders-lament-loss-of-pro-bowl-to-florida/

No more Aloha spirit in Pro bowl

The Pro bowl started becoming less of a game when they started playing  a week before the Super bowl making any Super bowl team players ineligible--thus making players give up their Pro bowl status to substitutions. 

The game is no longer played with a competitive edge since players do not want to risk careers to possible injury.

Football has become a monetary business and the good ole days of team spirit and players being rewarded with a trip to Hawaii  as a way to say thanks for their above average play amongst peers are long gone. 

These days players are paid well enough to afford Hawaiian vacations any time of the off season. It's all about the money and even though Hawaii is where most of us would a prefer it, the buck stops here and proceeds to  Orlando with all the bells and whistles, except  the Aloha spirit. 

Editors note, 

This blog appeared as an opinion article in the June 6, 2016 edition of the Honolulu Staradvertiser;

The Staradvertiser has a paywall, so for those without a subscription I have copy and pasted below along with the link;

http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Pro Bowl in Florida will lack aloha spirit

Hana Hou, (Encore)  

"One Day off can make a difference..." '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

One Day off can make a difference

When you approach your 60's in the working world you begin to reflect on your past working years and ponder how much longer you can or want to work a full-time job.

 My career in my field started about 40 years ago and I have never lost the interest or enjoyment in performing my profession at any of the positions I have held . 

Over the last year or two, as the 60's have crept into my age bracket, it has begun to get a little harder to get up at 5AM and work a full day. The bones make a strange sound in the am as I get out of bed and use the stairs, the body takes a few minutes to wake up and the will wains a little in the am hours. Since I am not ready to retire just yet, I found a solution that seems to do the trick.

After convincing my boss over several months of cajoling and convincing, I now have off my Mondays! What a difference it makes to have a three day weekend every weekend.No more Sunday grumbles. The week somehow seems to fly by with only a short week. “Hump” day comes quickly and even though each day is a little bit longer – it is so worth it.

Arranging my schedule was a great way to give me a little break until I take the big step some day and really cut back. I have been working at some capacity since my teen years and am looking forward some day to “slowing” down a bit. So until then.....I am greatly enjoying my Mondays!!! 

"Judy, Judy, Judy!"

Hana Hou, (Encore)