Waiwai mai na mokupuni - Treasures from the islands.

The mountains I love. The Ko'o'laus on O'a'hu.

I hear the wind traveling down the Ko'o'laus. 

It touches my skin and makes me think of how

Much I miss you, my Hawai'i. 

I breathe the fragrance of a yellow ginger lei. 

I look inside myself and find the words to say

How much I miss you, 

My Hawai'i. 

Every time I stop to watch the moon 

Dance across the early evening sky. 

Every time I hear a country tune

I can see the shores of Wai'a'nae

Every time I listen to my heart

Telling me it longs to go back home

And it makes me want to

'Cause I miss you

My Hawa'i'i

~ Na Leo Pilimehana ~ I Miss You My Hawai'i

                If you local kine or kamaaina long time you know this. You might just love it!!!!!

The time spent in Hawai'i made a deep impression on me. It was a dream to go there, as something unfathomable. I was a shy, skinny girl from a small town in lower Michigan. The odds were very low.

In the beginning, it was where I fell in deep awe with the ocean, the music, the people, the food and yes, a local boy serving in the USAF.
Over time, the rhythms of hula, ocean tide, then, my first two sweet babies were born at Kapiolani Women's & Children's Hospital.

Hawai'i is a part of my soul, now. Maybe, Hawai'i is my soul mate?

I love my Ni'i'hau shells, love the Hawai'ian Quilts on my walls, love the priceless Diana Hansen Young painting, love the lilikoi jellies & mac nuts I bought in Stadium Swap Meet the last time I went to the islands, took my dear dear bff, Anita to show her the beauty of Hawai'i first hand. I was so happy to take her there as a beloved guest. She was so gracious, kind. Put up with me for 7 days!!!!!!

The greatest treasure carried in my heart is the feeling of ALOHA!

Wait, what?

What is it?

Aloha has many meanings!

Hello
Good bye
Welcome
Love
Care
Kindness

It's a feeling felt deeply inside the human heart
Everyone is family even when long time apart
Bumbai the ones who go mainland always return
The longing for da islands will forever burn
Heartbeat of Pele the rhythms of da kahili
Always echo in dreams so it stays with us really
The luckiest ones might get to go to Ni'ihau
Happy when you going go but sad time when pau
It's not just the scent of plumeria or huli huli chicken
It's these plus more that can make your pulse quicken
Lomi lomi salmon or papaya fresh from the tree
Free mangoes in da summah which really are not free
Da music oh da music of Na Leo and Kalapana
Stirs da buggah up and really makes da kane wanna
Everyone knows what everyone means wen talk of da kine
This connection with a glance is what makes island life fine
Swimming in the ocean or go surfing Mokapu
Aloha is the feeling that will always stay in you

Aaaaaaaloooohaaaa!
If you Samungi ~
Taaaaaaloooofaaaaa!

Who is Keanu Reeves?

Norma Jeane Mortenson became Marilyn Monroe
Leslie Towne Hope became Bob Hope
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta became Lady Gaga
Samuel Timothy McGraw became Tim McGraw
Katheryn Hudson became Katy Perry
Frederick Dierks Bentley became Dierks Bentley

Keanu Reeves was almost Chuck Spadina!

I like the name Keanu Reeves better. It would be a travesty to give him a cold canned Hollywood renaming!

There are more interesting facts about this kind natured, sweet guy, about whom people have said:

He's almost too kind hearted for this world.
He's one of the sweetest guys to ever work successfully in the movie business
He's a very down to earth guy who enjoys literature & motorcycles!
Keanu has endured more than his share of tragedy, is very humble.

Here are some interesting facts:

Keanu Charles Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon to a woman from Essex, England with an American father from Hawai'i, USA.

Some people pull off dual citizenship? Our boy has triple!
Having lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as a child, an American Father, an English mother. Yup! Triple citizenship!

Arch Motorcycle Company was started, is now owned by guess who?
Yep! The one nicknamed The Wall or The One. Keanu Reeves!

Peanut butter & honey sandwiches are one of his favorite foods.

High School was not for him. He dropped out at age 16 to pursue acting, full time. At age 20, he drove to California from Canada. His acting career began to really take off, then.

Doing stunts is left to the professionals, with him. He does his own action scenes, leaves stunts to his trusted stunt man.

During the filming of the movie "Speed" he had a very strong crush on Sandra Bullock. She was also, secretly crushing on him! Neither one knew until later!

When his sister was struggling with leukemia, Keanu became her caretaker.

He has had multiple tragedies in his life. In spite of that, he continues to be positive, humble, down to earth. A great guy.

Also? He is aging very very slowly! At 54, he is healthy, fit, hot!

There is a website that has photos of people who could very easily be him, dating from centuries past up to 2017

Isn't that trippy!

https://www.keanuisimmortal.com/

It's nice to know that there are some very genuinely kind people left in this world!

Keanu Charles Reeves seems to be one of them!

Your Focus

As if it was yesterday, the memory of the sage advice I received, from my daughter, is as true, now, as it ever was.

She, in her wisdom, told me, "Shift your focus".

Oh, so very wise!!!!!!

Yes, Heather, it was you.

I named her. How very clever of me.

Standing by my truth, my conviction, it's a tenet of my personality. I can learn from everyone. Age is irrelevant. 
Distance is equally, so.

I have been messaging, off and on with Michael, since 2013.

He has given me, taught me so much, I am grateful.

Although our connection ended thrice, against my will. He has my gratitude for the lessons he taught me, the support he gave.
Although he chose that which I would never choose, he has my gratitude for the lessons I gleaned from the time we interacted.
I released him for the third as well as the final time.

Shifting my focus to a beloved flik, I watched Milo & Otis!

It was fun, childish, nostalgic. It caused me to LMOO!

As such, I was laughing for almost 2 hours!

"Gonna take a walk outside today, Gonna see what we can find, today!"

I only watched this because I no longer own The Mask or  have finished Downton Abbey, season 6!

Milo & Otis it was!

You might see, my dear readers, I refuse to be kept down for long.
Like the wee-buls of old, I may wobble at times, most often, I will bounce up. 
Happiness is a better choice as opposed to misery.

Tonight, when the guy who I had such attraction to, so much hope for, out of the blue, shut me down, I cried. Tears of disbelief, tears of shattered trust once again. I had never met him in person, yet, he was real to me...……….until he wasn't. OMFG it stung

I have been listening to as well as studying "The Body Code".

It makes sense yet, I'm still skeptical.

Dammit!

I'm going to Colorado for 2 months, during which, someone I care about will, most likely die. I love my friends. I want to help them in what they need. Coldorado (cold hearted people, cold weather).
Off I go!

It's sad to leave at this time.
It hurts like hades, for someone I care about to be so ill.

He has had a very very good life.

Still, I care about him very much.

One person enters my life, one will exit.

Who will you be?

Life in Renewal

For the second time in this beautiful life I'm living
It feels like a first time with an age of forgiving

Feeling like I'm eighteen years of age all over again
Washed free of age of insecurity of any and all sin

Starting to understand more with such a feeling of renewal
Best of both worlds with happiness as such a jewel

Maybe it's the spin class maybe it's the celery juice 
Maybe I should stop wondering after all what is the use

My eyelashes are longer & thicker my mind is more at peace
Life has taken on more color with a cool exciting ease

To question it is to be ungrateful for this newforming me
It's best to do like the Beatles said to flow just let it be

For the first time.

The first time I felt my innocence slip
Was a time I was too young to even grip
The wrongful actions which were taken
Against me as a child

After being a patriot serving my country later on
The faith I had in humanity was then gone
The males who were supposed to be decent
Most of them turned out to be cruel

As a faithful wife being a mother on my own
From their birth to when they were all grown
Enduring the misery & being taken for granted
Until I found a way to leave

Being a single girl again with new freedom awaiting
Entering the hall of horrors in the new rules of dating
Married males who acted more single than single ones
It was a nightmare

Setting myself free I made sweet promises to my heart
To never again let her be abused nor shattered apart
Life became beautiful once again as I embraced freedom
From all that hurt me as well as held me back

With the help of one who counsels troubled souls like me
For the first time in many years the innocence has come to be
Feeling whole again with the happiness it brings 
Peace, love, joy, rest

Pride of Texas

In 2012 I moved house from the state of  Colorado to Texas (USA for my international readers ~ Haayyy!) it was partly out of necessity, part love, part desire.

I spent almost 6 months in Texas during my military training, had the feeling I would come back.

Abracadabra ~ here I be.  

I'm originally from the state of Michigan, born in West by god Virginia (long story) ! Got back to Texas as quick as I could. 
That's a Texas quip!

Something I noticed immediately was that Texas people are quite friendly. A pleasant surprise. Many will be surface friendly, as in, they will smile, hold your door for you, chat you up in Walmart.
Yet, most, not all, most will leave it there.
Most Texans will offer an invitation to come to their church within 5 minutes of meting their time. That was not a typo. *smile*

Most Texans will stop on the roadside if they see someone having car trouble. I was the recipient of that help at least twice since 2012. It's the Texas way. Help your fellow beings.

Something else that has been very pleasant was that, the places I have lived in since moving to Texas, had large yards & the landlords have kept & still keep the yard up for me. It was a bonus, a surprise, a relief!
I KNOW how to start a lawn mower, I know how to keep a yard looking beautiful. Why would I do it if someone else will!

When I was a substitute teacher in the local schools, I was impressed with the students show of respect for the USA flag...….as well as the Texas flag.
There was a great deal of pride as the students recited the Pledge of Allegiance as well as the Texas Pledge. Every student stood up, on their own with their hand on their chests, to recite together.
It amazed & impressed me.

God blessed Texas with his own hand, brought down angels from the promised land, gave 'em a place where they could dance. If you wanna see heaven, brother, here's your chance! I've been sent to spread the message. God blessed Texas!
~ Brady Seals/ Peter Howell ~ sang by Little Texas (oxymoron!)

In wrapping up this blog, I hope all Texans love their very own super hero!
Many people think he stands for America, we, Texans know better!

                                    Hook 'em horns rule!

Life's Work

Here I rest and work with my linens, silks and my cotton
Weaving beauty to behold in gentle ways almost forgotten

Working the colors with nimble fingers as the design appears
It comforts my soul anew while the rhythm quietens my fears

Solitude can be put to use when a happy focus is now shifted
Plying such art with a grateful heart to that which I am gifted

It's a form of meditation as I reside inside such deep thought
Striving to bend away from what I wish to instead do as I ought

Life is a curious menagerie of so much of which is duty
To choose to do the right thing is to create a life of beauty

The Haves vs The Have Nots

There are distinctions between those who have "it" as well as those who don't. Those who have it are obvious. Sometimes it's obvious that someone is lacking in this area, sometimes they are in, fake it 'til you make it, mode. 
Most people cruise in  & out staying in it, letting up then giving it another go! 

What is "IT"?

Umm, nope, it's not a sexy scary clown, lol!

Motivation, peeps!

Motivation.

Mostly, I am self motivated. I have bought & sold a few times, worked out hard core, let up, paid the price, back at it again. I'm a few steps short of a super toned: skinny: fit: muscular fit guru. 

When I have visited other people or they have visited me, they know that fitness is a big part of my life. They will go to my workouts with me, remark that they feel motivated.
Then
My visit ends, they stop exercising, working out. The peeps will remark that they lost between 10 - 25 lbs from the lasting effects of working out with me. Then, they go back to prior life habits they had before I visited them.

The major probb, here? Relying on external motivation.

Motivation, if it's to be effective, has to be personal. It must come from within. Every person must have their own motivation. When someone relies on others to motivate them, it's a temp fix. 
Fitness heroin, lol.
Unless you have the finances to pay someone to train you every time you train, you must develop then, maintain your own reasons to do anything. In this case, working out.

If you have a gym/health club membership or access to one, check out the classes. Group fitness is the next best thing to having a personal trainer. Group fitness can help with developing personal motivation. The teachers are very encouraging, forming friendships with the other people in the class can help.

Different classes for all size...……..lasses!

Having recently fallen off the fitness wagon, I got back on a month ago. A month ago, I dusted off my juicer, fired it up. Going back to Spin Class is painful. Pushing through the pain is essential. Spin Class can torch calories, gives a great sweat. Hurts the lady bits.
No worries!
I want this, want it bad.
Perseverance is essential.
Not faking it at all.
Making it! 

                                               Get to it!

Mistress of my Universe

It's late into the night as I ponder the hims and the hers
Being the mistress divine of my own little universe

Listening to forbidden music of which I know so well
Watching the "O" face of Prince as he rose then fell

Knowing I am different than is the average Jane Doe
As off into the full moon night where I delight to go

It's late as well as getting later into this good life I'm living
Fulfilling the mission I was endowed with to keep on giving

I'm a helper, a teacher, a lover as well as a mentor in some way
Though people misunderstand my intent and the words I say

I am more than I appear in the flesh than what I am perceived
Many will deem me as another like the one who them deceived

Now I ponder my life direction and which way I am to go
With prayers and nay sayers which the former will only know

Release, Connect, Suh-weet!

Release yourself from self loathing self doubt
Release yourself from wondering what life's about

Release yourself from all the ideas of all of those
Who doubt you with their ideas in such selfish throes

Release yourself from all that you thought you would be
Let yourself wander life's path to be wantonly so free

Connect with who you truly are in your own beautiful soul
Let it make you who you are being happy and finally whole

Connect with yourself in nature in any natural setting
There is the place to heal then heal is what you do I'm betting

Connect with God or whomever you see as your power divine

Your God may be very different than that which I call mine

Sub par treatment of a substitute teacher

                                                     

When I was working in the school system, it was challenging as well as enjoyable. The students were mostly respectful, smart, funny! The other teachers were nice. I never went to PEP rally's when I was in JrH or HS. It was all new to me, when I went to the PEP rally's in the schools.

The challenging part was that the male students in the High School as well as sometimes the Junior High were bold, at times. I am not, was not, that type of girl. I can understand how some female teachers get inappropriately involved with a male student. The attention is nice. It's flattering mixed with a bit of innocence. It's totally wrong in so many ways. Nothing I would ever do.

I had to stay alert, nip it when I could see it happening. I, also, had to keep my phone where the students couldn't get it. They sometimes got ahold of my phone, texted to themselves, to have my number or took selfies with my phone, sent it to themselves. 

If it had not been so against the rules, it would have been more cute & funny.

I wanted to continue as a substitute teacher.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. There was no conversation, there was no asking me what happened.

One day, I stopped getting jobs.

This is why the schools are hurting so badly for substitute teachers in this town. There was a very brief orientation, that was it.There's no training, they just send ya out there. Then, if some gossip reaches the person in charge of hiring & firing, about the sub, that's it! Unprofessional ghosting.

It IS HS & JrH, so, apparently the mentality extends to the people who are supposed to be running the schools. It's akin to playground bullying, "I don't like you, I have the strength to force you out, so, I'm going to force you out." The exact opposite of the mature, adult way. Sit down, have a conversation. Can't have that, can we?

The area I live in has many small towns. There is only a finite number of people who will work as a sub teacher. When the schools treat so many people badly, they run out of people. Then, they cry out that they need substitute teachers.

What the powers that be, REALLY need is a course in manners & professional courtesy. 

As the school year begins again, the cry for substitute teachers resumes. Small town, small minds. 

Someday, it may change.

One may hope!

Yup. It's that time of year......again.  :)