A Concert In the Park

Alana'ia Ohana Benefit Concert
Sunday, April 6th
1:00pm-4:00pm
$5.00
Proceeds will be given to the medical referral funds of Bonny Cruz and Kalei Greenman
Refreshments and crafts available for purchase.

Including my crafts. And maybe Missy's. Interested? Drop me a note...the address is in the sidebar.

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wednesday What Is It?

Vacuum cleaner!

5 points to Tamara!
2 points each to Boni, Marianas Eye, and Sheila.

Great guesses Kirida and Bruce!

I much prefer potato salad without the potatoes.

I mean, you need the potatoes to make the salad, but then once it's made, just take out the potatoes. Now that's my kind of potato salad.

Now, doesn't this look good? It was!

So was this....it's banana bread with a chocolatey middle. Compliments of Missy's husband. Yes! Missy's husband!
Also from Missy's husband...that tasty quacamole below. Missy and her man introduced me to a peach preserve based dip (yum) and I, in turn, introduced them to salt. See below. No, not regular salt. Saipan salt! We even had cucumbers for dippin', but I much prefer to eat it the old fashioned way....with my finger!

And now I leave you with peace from green tea.

Saipanisms

Steer - see definition
'Steer' when used by a person from Saipan: "Steer fan da soup so it won't boyo over."

He's - see definition
Tow- see definition
'He's' and 'tow' when used by a person from Saipan: "I tow him to give da camera back to Shirley cause it's not he's own."

Ear - see definition
'Ear' when used by a person from Saipan: "Next ear we're going to Sheattu (Seattle)."

Itchy - see definition
When - see definition
'Itchy' and 'when' when used by a person from Saipan: "Da itchy bitchy spider when up da water spout...."

HANMI - Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands
'HANMI' when used by a person from Saipan: "Hanmi fan da machete."
~~

p.orgot s.ometing: I was going to move deece.net from Blogger to Wordpress, but I changed my mind. Expect some changes around here.

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wednesday What Is It?

Guitar!5 points to Tamara!
2 points each to Kirida, Missy, The Saipan Blogger, Kadukunlahi, Marianas Eye, Bruce, and Boni.
And an extra point each to Kirida, Missy, Kadukunlahi, Bruce, and Boni for getting it right the first time.

Remember I post a picture of a small part of an object. You tell me what the object is (it's in the rules). I can understand your confusion with the bridge, as the part of the guitar in play was, in fact, a portion of the bridge. However, there was more in the photo than just the bridge, and really the bridge is already a small part of a larger object (please do not argue that a bunch of bananas is a small part of a larger object - there was no indication that those bananas were connected to the tree...anyhoo...).

If your friend told you to jump off a bridge, would you?

Boy-o

In celebration of St. Patty's Day yesterday I did not dance a jig nor drink a pint of guiness. I did not celebrate my Irish heritage by singing along to the Wild Rover, Whiskey in the Jar, !@#$ the British Army, No Nay Never, or other fine ale splashing songs (although I may later tonight).

Instead I wore a green blouse and laughed every time I called my son "boy-o" and my daughter responded with "boyo eggs!"

(For those of you who don't get it, that's "boiled eggs" said with a Chamorro accent. And if you are from Saipan "boyo eggs" takes on a whole new meaning.)

I'm not pregnant! I'm just hungry.

I forgot my guyuria, I forgot my chocolate, and I can't find my cell phone. At least I have my rootbeer - all 160 calories of it.

~~~

Would you like to see some food pics? Yes? OK!

Tamara's Coconut Curry Ribs
Yummmm.....

Grape nuts with berries and soy milk.
Yeah, it's that good.

Aloo gobi and warm bhatura bread from Taste of India.

Get some!

And now I leave you with a quote from one of the world's greatest lyricists:

"Little in the middle, but she got much back!"
~Sir Mix-a-lot

University

When a British person says to you, "...during my time at university...", do you get really irritated and want to yell, "which university?!"

I do.

Saying that you "spent time at university" is like saying you "buy paper at store".

There is a reason why the language is called English, is there not? Then why can't the English get it right?

Throwdown the drain

Please start winning your throwdowns, Chef Bobby Flay. I don't care for your grilling shows, but I enjoy watching you do your thang on Iron Chef; I know you're talented. So why do you lose every throwdown? Throwdown the Drain. That's what I call it.

~~~

I'm getting really tired of blogs by women with uber-expensive cameras and irritatingly fuzzy photos.

~~~

Mr. Magoruim's Wonder Emporium - fun movie.

Bee Movie - Angelo didn't think too highly of this. So I wasn't expecting much. But, actually, I found that I enjoyed it.

I'm pretty sure I've watched more movies recently, but for the life of me I can't recall a single one.

First grade is a magical time.

First grade is a magical time. It's a time when homework is fun and full of color and glue. It's a time when boys don't get in the way of friendships. It's a time when minds are expanded and imaginations grow as children learn to make choices.

"Choose one: green, blue, pink, or white?"

"Blue!"

"B-L-U-E!"

Hafa?

Notice how my son is not smiling.

He rips toys out of the hands of other children. Older children. I'm not proud of this, I'm just saying is all...we have some issues to work through. We're just waiting for a spot to open in the community course "Anger Management for 10-Month Olds". We're on the waiting list.

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wednesday What Is It?

Bananas!

5 points to Boni!
2 points each to Tamara, Sheila, The Saipan Blogger, Kirida, Missy, Bruce, and Bigsoxfan.

Who ARE you!?

I have this friend, her name is Mona. She lives in Seattle. She has an almost-two-year-old son, Nathan, who is not a twin. Mona is the youngest of several children and is not a twin.

Imagine my surprise to see Mona and Nathan at church two weeks ago. At church! Wait! There's no way that's Mona...it must be her twin. Wait! Mona doesn't have a twin. Could this be her sister from another mister? And what about that boy? Why does he look like Nathan? Whatever, it's raining and my kids are unruly, we're going to the nursery.

And about 10 minutes later who walked into the nursery? Mona! And Nathan! Except their names were not Mona and Nathan, their names were Hae Joong and Tyler. And they didn't sound like Mona or Nathan...they spoke Korean and Baby.

I would have snapped a picture and done a side-by-side for you. But my batteries were dead. And, really, I don't think I would have snapped a picture of a woman and her toddler that I just barely met (at church) and post it on the internet along with their first names.

I wonder if one day Mona will walk into a library in Seattle and see me. Me? In a library?

Memorandum

DATE: March 7, 2008
TO: Valued Readers of Great Expectations
FROM: Deece
SUBJECT: Closure of Great Expections

Allow me to express my sincere appreciation for all of the support you have shown Great Expectations over the years. Your readership is highly valued and your comments give more meaning to my blogging endeavor.

After much consideration and a little bit of research, I have decided to shut down Great Expectations. This was not an easy decision to make. However, after consulting with the management of Kirida.com the choice was clear - act now before it is too late. In a few days Great Expectations will be redirected to Deece.net.

I, and the entire Great Expectations team, consider this a momentus occasion and look forward to the upcoming transition. With Deece.net you will still be able to enjoy the family-friendly humor and heartache you have come to know and love at Great Expectations, only now it will be under a new succinct easy to pronounce domain name.

Your continued readership and support of Great Expectations at Deece.net is greatly appreciated. Please update your links and subscriptions lists once the transition is complete. For direct inquiries about the transition, you may continue to contact me at Chamolinaole (at) gmail (dot) com until such time that the transition is complete. Upon total transition, you will be provided with a different email address at which to contact me.

Again, on behalf of the entire Great Expectations team I would like to say thank you for your readership. I look forward to more good times together.

You know what I really wanted this morning?

A bagel with cream cheese and a mocha. Like the ones I used to get from Noah's Bagels at Cal Poly Pomona every Tuesday morning with Margot on our way to ENV 115 (History of Art and Environmental Design) back when I was an Urban and Regional Planning major. Winter 1999 was my first quarter at Cal Poly and Margot was my first roommate. She had a pink GAP parka and I had a gray one (thanks to my awesome friends Seiji and Chris). Margot liked to make margaritas and I liked to drink them. It ended up turning into an odd friendship and the next quarter I moved in with my new friend Jenni. That didn't last too long either and I ended up moving in with Marissa. Marissa had been best friends with Margot for years. It worked out, she was the best roommate anyone could ask for. I miss Marissa, I miss Jenni, and I miss Margot. I googled them all to no avail.

I suspect that you will learn more about me and my roommates in the future. But for now, I shall drink rootbeer.

Cheerio!

Go ahead, make my day

Bigsoxfan tagged me and Missy claims I make her day, but really she makes mine. No seriously, she totally made my day. Look at all the goodies she gave me when she got back from Japan!

An Interweave Knits winter issue, a crochet pattern booklet, a set of bamboo circular needles, a kit to knit a little Japanese frog thing, and Noro yarn! Isn't she awesome?! Technically she had already given me the set of needles before she left for Japan, but I didn't realize it at the time - you know, cause I'm smart like dat. And technically I bought the Interweave Knits magazine. And technically I think the crochet book was free for her, but it's no less special to me. But the Noro yarn and the cute little Japanese frog thing kit was a total surprise!

Missy and Bigsoxfan, you make my day!

Missy - I am so glad you invited me to knit with you that first day (even if it was at the place that shall not be mentioned:). You've been knitting for a much shorter time than I have, but you inspire me so much. I don't think I would have picked up the needles again with such ferver if it weren't for you. I just wish we could have gotten to know each other sooner because you're frickin' awesome to hang with.

Big - I really enjoy your writing. I love blogs that have nothing to do with politics, that are about family without being mushy, and that showcase daily life in a non-boring fashion. I get all of this from your blog. And I get a glimpse of life in Monglolia - a place that is as unknown to me as Pluto. And I really appreciate all of the heartfelt comments you leave me. I feel like we're long lost cousins or something (except that I'm Irish, Chamorro, and Carolinian - are you Irish, by chance?).

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last last week's Wednesday What Is It?

A Doorknob!

5 points to Sheila!
2 points each to Tamara, The Saipan Blogger, Glend558, Bruce, Bigsoxfan, Marianas Eye, and Bradinthesand.
Kirida - I'm sad now.

Note to self: don't use an object twice.

Cold Lunch

On any given weekend on Saipan you can get yourself a Hot Lunch. Hot lunch typically consists of some type of meat (bbq chicken or ribs, fried chicken or fish, bisteak, etc.), some type of salad (koko, potato, macaroni, etc. - even sukiyaki), rice (white or red), and a drink (usually a can of soda or a bottle of water). Hot lunch is sold as fundraisers - for school trips, for medical procedures, for whatever. You know when a hot lunch is done right because you get plenty food.

But has anyone ever thought of selling Cold Lunch? A brown paper bag stuffed with:

• your choice of sandwich - turkey and cranberry sauce, ham and cheese croissant, avocado and tomato, grilled cheese with fresh basil...
• fruit cup - cut pieces of fresh local seasonal fruit
  
• slice of pie - Deece's no sugar added coconut, banana, or mango cream; lemon meringue; or Deece's no sugar added Tiramisu even
  
• drink - water or iced tea with lemon and mint

How much would you pay if I offered you a Deece's Cold Lunch?