Might've Been The First One

If you've ever had a stomach virus where puking and/or output from the other end is involved, then you will definitely sympathize with what MSO and I went through these past few days. It really might've been my first stomach virus or the first in a very long, long time. We probably got a bout of it from baby who may have gotten it from the sitter's. Don't think I puked that much when I had morning sickness. Unpleasant, violent, and wicked! Diet so far has consisted of toast, crackers, and water. Even prison inmates eat better than that...but maybe really shouldn't. But that's a whole 'nother gripe. In reality world I just wanted to curl up and say goodnight but it wouldn't be as the just cleaned bathroom kept calling to see us in agony. What made it even more challenging, so to speak, was that baby was home with us. How do two ill parents take care of their child when they can barely take care of themselves?! It was tough even with the in-laws helping out for a few hours. Beware everyone out there, beware...

How To Keep Your Pet Healthy

According to Dr. Becker, these are the "top seven things you can do to help your beloved pets live happier, healthier, fuller lives":

+ Dental care — Periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed problem in veterinary medicine and causes serious health problems. Sure, we want kissable breath, but more importantly, by taking good care of our pets' mouths (regular brushing, special dental diets, regular professional care) they'll live 15 percent longer, which is an average of two years. See www.avds-online.org.

+ Battle obesity — 50 percent of American pets are overweight or obese. We're killing them with kindness as these pudgy pets suffer from increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, cancer and skin problems. Keep your pet at its ideal body weight, and it will live 15 percent longer, amazingly, another two years of life! See www.petfit.com.

+ Socialization and behavioral training — Dogs that play well with other animals, like people, are well-behaved and are going to live a full life. Take them to socialization and basic obedience classes; consider these lifesaving classes, they're that important. See www.animalbehavior.net.

+ Feed the need and the breed — It's impossible for the average pet owner to weed through the tantalizing pet food ads and competing claims to know what to feed pets. Only your veterinarian is trained to look at your pet's age, breed, lifestyle, health status and emerging risks to determine the one food that should be in its bowl. Nothing you can do will affect your pet's longevity as much as what you feed it; and don't forget to keep pets on the slim side. Ask your veterinarian for a specific nutrition recommendation.

+ Parasite control — When I started practicing, external parasite control (for fleas and ticks) was like chemical warfare with dips, bombs, sprays, powders and collars. Treatment for internal parasites was hit and miss, and we saw many wormy dogs and dogs on death's doorstep from heartworm disease. Today, parasite control is simple, safe and effective with powerful once-a-month topical applications and pills that seemingly kill everything but the pet! Experts now recommend lifelong, year-round parasite control for all pets, regardless of geographic location, indoor vs. outdoor, etc. See www.capcvet.org.

+ Twice-yearly wellness visits — Pets age faster than humans, can't tell you when and where it hurts, and by nature hide their illnesses. I recommend people take their pets to the veterinarian for twice yearly wellness visits, during which time the veterinary healthcare team will do a complete physical, offer help with behavior problems, boost vaccines if necessary, alert you to emerging health problems and answer any questions. See www.npwm.com.

+ Let the vet run the tests — While a comprehensive physical exam is always the cornerstone of great medicine, veterinarians often recommend advanced diagnostics (blood work, urinalysis, fecal exams, radiographs, ultrasounds, skin scrapings, etc.) to identify health concerns before they become symptomatic and to provide you with a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. When your vet asks for permission to do tests, it's not a "want" it's a "need," so say yes. Because pets can't talk, veterinarians need the additional information to look past the obvious to catch things early on when they are more cost-effective to treat, in a period of grace, before they cause unnecessary pain or worse.

History Weekend

During the last weekend of 2006 at a relative's house, we were presented with these objects from the past and had to guess what they are. Most of us were dumbfounded. Even the older people. See if you can guess what they are...












































Then on New Year's Day we took my obaasan to a location from her past so that she could see what it looked like today and to see if she recalled anything. She told us that these leaves were used when steaming some food. The following are some commemorative objects that we encountered while touring the area.


Not quite as vast a memorial as the Arizona Memorial but this one is also a reminder of the devastating happenings back in 1941.






She mentioned the Clipper even before seeing this one. Wow, great memory.

Happy New Year!

As we make our way into another year, one thing we'll leave behind is a round of golf played before Christmas at Turtle Bay Resort. We played at the Arnold Palmer Course just as Wayne's World did back in April but most of us were not really as impressed with the course especially for the amount that kama`aina pay. Could it be a downward spiral of condition in just 8 months?


In any case there was a downward spiral in MSO's game partly due to both of his shoes breaking during play. At the end of the round both feet were in slippers and his head was lowered in defeat.





Both my sis and I reveled in victory while the sun set amongst the trees. Although I had a high score as usual, it was an overall somewhat great day of driving, and beating MSO can't hurt right? Sorry...





The path to a new year has arrived and I hope to have fun with family and friends, not dwell too much on the little things (including things that MSO does to rile me up), lose a bunch of weight that has become too comfortable residing on me, and other things to just try and enjoy life. Everyone take care and have a happy 2007!

An iPod Kind Of Holiday

CC Bowls!

Bet you never thought you'd see this name hanging under the crappy, grungy lights of LB? She apparently bowled a 711 series - a great feat. Now if you're still reading this and thinking that this is "The" Cindy, mole on her face Cindy, then I'll put your mind at ease by saying that it isn't. Someone actually has the same name in The Aloha State. But I want to also add that this woman does not look at all like "The" Cindy. 'Nuff said.

What's Going On At...

The Town Center of Mililani? More parking?































Alright, based on further investigation, read that The Bus is building a transit center along Mehe'ula Parkway and they are loaning a small portion of their parking lot while the construction is underway. Will post anyway for non-Mililanians or even Mililanians.

The Ascent Of An iPod

To: AAG
Merry Christmas!
From: AAG












Got it while the after Thanksgiving sale was going on (with free laser engraving) and it has been fun. Would've posted sooner but I been spending so much time transferring music from my CDs and even buy, buy, buying new music! Like I said before, it can be dangerous by just clicking away. I'm even more tempted to take MSO's loose change to get iTunes credit. Beware of your change y'all! ([sic] Britney-esque) Even watched this show and not unexpected but can I just say 'raunchy'? I did find myself wanting to see what happens in the next show though. =S So guys, what happened in the next show?

Bottom Feeder

NOUN: 1. A fish or other animal that feeds on the bottom of a body of water. 2. One that feeds low on the food chain; a scavenger. 3. Slang a. An opportunist who profits from the misfortunes of others: “The frazzled, adrenaline-pumped tabloid newshounds [in the movie] are the bottom feeders of contemporary journalism” (Entertainment Weekly, May 18, 1994). b. A low or despicable person.

That's me. I remembered to make my picks this past week late Thursday morning after deciding earlier in the week that I still had time to do them. However, with no capability to access sports-related sites, I scrambled to make it home during lunch to do them, not knowing whether or not it was still too late (is it?). Just my luck to find that our Internet connection is down. S4!7!!! No time to troubleshoot and no time to go somewhere else. Oh the stupid dedication to just not be last place. What a damn sinking feeling. I'll be bringing my money to buy the appetizers along with Wayne's World for you blokes in spite of my tremendous disappointment.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was looking through a magazine and saw an ad for Nestle Toll House Swirled Morsels and thought that would be something I'd like to try, either by making cookies with or by a taste test. Okay maybe not the taste test as the fat AAG doesn't need it. So I decided to share this discovery with MSO and in turn discovered that he did not know what morsels are! He is the ultimate representative of a non-baker but I thought at least he'd know what morsels are and he loves chocolate chip cookies (i.e., Chips Ahoy). What happened to Home Economics at RHS?! Oh so sad...

Great Tips

Now the title for the section with this link says 'Pro' but that could be perceived many ways. I am definitely not a 'Pro' when it comes to Apple products (or anything for that matter), and I don't think I'll ever be a 'Pro' when it comes to Apple products, but I almost feel like a 'Pro' stumbling upon this Mac OS X Tips Archive. I found the tips that I've read thus far to be very entertaining and at the same time very useful. In fact, other articles and commentary that I've read on their site has made me smile or give a quiet giggle. So you don't always need yearbook pictures for laughter 'cause you can go to Apple to get some. Or rather you can just go to the iTunes store and buy your laughter. MSO has got an arare container and milk carton full of coins. Where are those Coinstar machines?

Spoken By A Man

Now this guy says men have a bigger problem with cheating and provides insight as to why men do what they do. So ladies (or guys), here are the excuses explanations:

* To Fulfill His Biology: You know the old anthropological tale. A man's main job, besides killing the saber-tooth, is to spread his seed in order to ensure the survival of his genetic legacy. It's a man's biology to want to wander. Does that mean he should, or that he can't help it? Of course not. But it does mean that a man is going to have strong-extremely strong-biological urges to knock on the doors of neighboring huts. I have had this argument/discussion/conversation with dozens of men and women: Are men predestined to cheat? My answer is no, they're not-despite their biology. But often times, they do have to fight it. Especially after a pitcher and two shots of Jack.

* To Get the Attention: News flash: Sure, some guys cheat because, well, maybe the sexual frequency has slowed a bit, and maybe hot-and-heavy happens at home about as often as Rob Schneider gets nominated for an Oscar. But the truth is that plenty of men who are having regular sex with their partner are also having sex with someone else. Why? Because cheating isn't just about the sex. Just as a woman who cheats may be seeking more affection than what she's getting at home, a man often cheats because he's seeking the attention that he no longer gets at home. Part of the allure of the mysterious woman isn't just to find out what she looks like naked; it's that the woman showers the man with flirtations, with seduction, with advances that make him feel like he's worthy of more than just fixing dents in the drywall.

* To Get Out: I know lots of guys who simply don't have the strength to end it. They may try ("I'm just not happy"), or they may take other tactics to drive a woman away. A lot of guys simply have trouble breaking off relationships because they don't want to be perceived as that bad guy, the jerk, the insensitive lout who ended something good. So they tiptoe around the issue in hopes that she'll get so frustrated that she'll back out first. Well, if that doesn't work, then a man knows that the only way out is to commit the relationship sin that drives a woman away for good. It's not right, but it's what happens.

* To Change Up His Play List: Think about what's on your iPod. You have your favorite songs you play over and over, but every once in a while, you're in the mood to hear something you haven't played in a long time. You don't need to hear it but once every month or so, but still, you appreciate the changeup. Relationships need to be like good iPods lists. You're comfortable with your routine and you like your routine, but it's always nice to change things up. What men really want in relationships (and what I suspect women also want) is to be able to take comfort in the routine of a long-term commitment, as long as there are some surprises that make it feel like a new relationship every once in a while. In order to keep the relationship strong, you've got to change the songs every once in a while. That goes for in the bedroom and out.

Wow, even an article about cheating can incorporate an iPod. Nice.

What Trends Are You Ready To See Gone?

I was reading a blog post about trends from 2006 that people would like to leave behind as we head into the New Year, and thought...Well, I'm still thinking about what I'd like to see gone. I'm not exactly a trendsetter, but one trend I do want to see gone is the trend of being at the bottom of the Pick'em contest. Another would probably be too much exposed muffin top, and too much exposed celebrities and their private parts. We see trends come, go, and come back again, but what trends are you bored with and don't want to see in 2007?

Invisible Student

, unpopular, and fat girl. That was (and still is kind of) me. I hated the elementary through high school years because of stupid things like this. I probably hated preschool too but my unconscious repressed memory won't allow me to remember. Unlike MSO who has fond childhood memories of not so smart hilarious shenanigans at school and then some, I have, for the most part, disgust for school day memories. And like the article says, "Girls can be brutal"! But the shameless, malicious, and barbaric boys were just as bad. I remember getting teased even in intermediate school by this one guy loser who I did see later in high school and had ballooned in weight. So now the goal is to instill as much good morals and values in our child who I hope has a very limited exposure to the type of negativity that can arise in the school environment. Here we go...

Crisp Attire

The line below was seen on a holiday party invitation. Never seen it before. Can anyone shed some light?

Dress: Aloha Crisp

Chronic Candy

Candy is already something that's not good for you but now there's Chronic Candy! Guess such kind has been around awhile but I've heard it contains essential hemp oil and is illegal for military personnel to ingest as products made with hemp seed and hemp seed oil may contain an active ingredient of marijuana that is detectable under drug testing programs. Now don't give in to peer pressure when your friend gives you a lollipop. Sheesh.

Much Anticipated Music

Latest Gadgets For Baby (Or Parents?)

Bob Revolution - Sweet comfy ride for baby...Sometimes we wish we were sitting there

Boon's Flo - Mom loves this as it protects baby from the hard shower spout

Fisher-Price Workin' Town Railway with a bonus of a water tower, steam engine, and train car - Dad enjoying it more than baby, and dog playing Godzilla

Some Initial Discoveries

Actually spent more than half an hour on the iMac yesterday and discovered that iPhoto is not very flexible when it comes to creating your own custom photo card (or at least it appears so based on my inexperience using the software). They do give you some nice templates and you can even order some with the click of a button (or several), but I could not create dimensions of any sort and I could not find a way to use more than one photo, etc. So I made my way to CompUSA 'cause I had this pretty old gift card that may or may not expire and decided to buy what I sort of know already. But before I did (and it must have been kind of funny), I was circling the PC software area looking for the dang thing. A person had asked me if I needed help before I had started circling but I made like a man and said I didn't need his help. (Haha) Little did I realize that the Mac software was in the area where the music, playing from multiple iPod nano, was blasting. Decided to forgo the Parallels software for now as I don't want MSO hogging the computer using his Windows apps would like to experience the iMac without Windows apps.

I also came to a realization that I probably won't be able to use the fonts on the font CDs that I had for my PC. So I picked up a couple of Mac font CDs. I can be a font freak and love this one particular font that you may have noticed I use on things. I know you can download them but they were staring at me, pleading for me to buy them, and I figure I'll make good use of them like the other CDs I've had and used for years now.

And just a side note: CompUSA has got to get a better way of checking a gift card balance. I called a 1-800 number and pressed some numbers before speaking to a live person. That wouldn't be so bad if a person was available 24/7 but no(!) you have to call at certain times. WTF?! For a computer store to not have an automated way to check a card balance is very surprising to me.

Plug For Shortgirl Cookies

Doing anything on Saturday, November 4? If not (or even if you are), how about making some time to head out to Aliiolani Elementary School's Season's Best Craft & Gift Fair. Our friend has started a new business baking hand-crafted, designer cookies. (She's working on her Web site though.) She'll be selling her edible creations at the Fair from 0900 to 1430. Admission is free and she'll be just one of 200 vendors selling various crafts and gift items.



Aliiolani Elementary School is located on the corner of 6th & Waialae Avenue across from Kaimuki Toyota. Parking is available on the school grounds and on the streets around the area.

Some samples of what this talented designer can do follows. Doesn't the Short Dogs look familiar?