butterfly wing flutters

Spanish Lullaby

2007-04-24T20:13:00.000+01:00

I was traveling in Spain on business last week. There is nothing more lonely than staying in a hotel room on your own.

The first time I had my hotel room for work I felt so grown up and couldn't help jumping from double bed to double bed only to fall in a fit of giggles. These days the first thing I do is check out the view from the room:

Marbella - seaview from the right angle.
Madrid - view of the farmacia across the street.
Barcelona - view of the city.

Dreams they come wildly after late nights of San Miguel - my Spanish lullaby. I think I'm missing home.

home:
when I am in Spain = London
when I am in London = the States
when I am in the States = Sandwich NH, San Francisco, Hawaii - depending on where I am.

Do you think it is tragic that home is never ever where I am standing in that moment in time?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

2006-12-27T21:22:00.000Z

The Best Moments of the Arcadia Xmas Party

The mini hamburgers.
Dancing with Jordi.
Watching the newest 5'2" catwalk model - Miss C. Jeffries strut her stuff.
Felicity's matador swish, then push-hike of the polka dot dress.
Screaming down the phone, 'I Will Survive' to poor sick Sarah.
Tang posing for her 'glamour' shots in the red leather booth.
Dorothy's ruby red shoes.
Getting a cab home with kleptomanics.

International Xmas Party

2006-12-27T20:51:00.000Z

You gotta let your Soul Glow!

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

BBC Spam

2006-12-06T21:17:00.000Z

Last night I went over to my British Born Chinese friend, Angela's flat for dinner. She has been promising me a Spam dinner ever since she learned that I too shared the love of that delicacy called, SPAM! Nothing that she is too proud to acknowledge in the work environment as she feels it will make her come across as "unprofessional."

Anyways, this was the menu:
Wild Alaskan Salmon topped with Chinese pickles
Spam Stir Fry (bell peppers and leftover mushrooms she wanted to get rid of)
Steamed Broccoli w/Oyster Sauce
Thai Fragrant Rice

At 8:45 we sat down to eat. Angela made excuses about the food being overcooked - blaming the two glasses of Reisling we had knocked back had made her extra chatty. Didn't I read somewhere in an Amy Tan book ( The Joyluck Club? The Hundred Secret Senses?) how Chinese people always put their own cooking down in order to show humility but inside are genuinely beaming inside over their culinary skills? And the polite thing to do was of course to disagree, which I promptly proceeded to do -shaking my head and insisting that everything tasted lovely. But my manners escaped me when after dinner I told her that it was not the Wild Alaskan Salmon or the Marks & Spencer's Broccoli, but the Spam dish which I had liked the best. Can't beat good processed animal parts!!

Next time I will have to introduce her to some local Hawaiian style Spam dishes. Angela, darling get ready for some Spam Musubi!!

Homesickness

2006-08-07T21:14:00.000+01:00

Can someone find me the cure?

Aloha Welcome to Hawaii

2006-07-28T22:24:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was the longest day ever. It just never ended - time just wouldn't tick its arse FORWARD! Up for 24 hours. Racked up the miles. Fed the grump machine. But after a total of 20 hours flying time not to mention the additional layover hours, I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. And it said to me in glorious rainbow colors, 'Aloha Welcome to Hawaii.'

I am home.

Not Found

2006-03-21T20:59:00.000Z

Where are you?
eclipsing
emptiness
peaceful
strength
aquamarine
loneliness

Boomerang

2006-03-14T22:27:00.000Z

I was just reading Lynn's blog post, 2 years ago. ( A reflective look back). It was so weird because I had just finished writing her a letter about the past two years of being with James and living in England. Trying to find the right words. Trying to encapsulate the lessons and challenges. Trying to express the joy and happiness. And there it came boomeranging right back to me,' We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned as to have the life that is waiting for us.'

Perfect. Synchronicity.

Milk and Honey

2006-03-14T21:28:00.000Z

Yesterday, James and I celebrated our two year anniversary. Two years may not sound like a lot to some people, but to me, it feels like quite an achievement. And this is just the beginning.

I got a bouquet of flowers sent to work. The florist apparently got too excited with his twigs and bamboo shoots as it looked more like a forest and was probably half my size, taking out everyone that came too close on the tube. We had dinner at this fabulous resturant in Covent Garden called Maggiories. It is internationally acclaimed for its modern European cuisine and was awarded, at it’s first attempt, the prestigious Wine Spectator ‘Award of Excellence’ in 2002, and has since gone on to win the “Best of Award of Excellence” for a further two consecutive years (2003 and 2004). James and I shared a Yering Pinot Noir (Australia). After James had his port, expresso and a try with his Japanese with the Japanese people sitting next to us, we headed off for a nigth cap at Milk and Honey. It is a private members club, with just one other one in NY. With membership costing £300 a year, after a few pina coladas, James was convinced we could afford it...we even progressed to discuss who we would invite to 'our' private booth. There is apparently a three year wait, so I told him to start saving now.

So, the highlight of the night was when the waiter ( he was more than a waiter though, because he wasn't wearing the waiter costume, maybe the 'host?') came over to take our orders, James ordered me a vodka martini ( three olives, remember) and then the guy asks me what kind of vodka? It casually rolls of my tongue , 'Chopin.' * pause * 'Interesting,' he says. 'Hmmm, Chopin...I am not sure we can offer you anything like that.' He proceeded to reccomment the house Russian vodka, which I considered, then said,'yes.' So once he left the table, James and I seriously start cracking up, because in the middle of this snotty private members club, I had stumped this guy. He probably looked at me and was expecting Smirnoff, Skky, maybe Grey Goose...but nope, caught him off with the Chopin. Classic.

Check out their HOUSE RULES:

http://www.mlkhny.com/houserules/

And like, OH MY GOD, what kind of bar doesn't allow 'star-fucking?'

Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys

2006-03-10T20:47:00.000Z

This is probably one of my favorite pictures. Ed lived in Guatamala for a few months helping to release baby turtles into the sea and then working at a monkey orphanage...not sure what he was actually doing with the monkeys apart from making them fall in love with him. This monkey's name is Monolu. I love the way the light catches the tip of his tongue.
Anyways, it was Ed's birthday last weekend and we all went out to a bar in Camden to celebrate. For some reason the bar reminded me of being in Vegas. Not like the bars with girls dancing on planks above the bar or bartenders doing fire breathing tricks and everyone sparkles and looks beautiful, but the bars that have no character with its checkered carpet and apolstered chairs. Everyone there was trying to pull by pulling off the lastest trend. Too many accessories, and they only things they were left with pulling was themselves. Off. It just goes to show that as long as you have good friends you can have a great time anywhere...which we did.

from left clockwise: Jude, Ed, Neil, Stu, Becs, Brendan, James, Kerenza and Matt

Travel Bug

2006-03-02T22:09:00.000Z

Once you get it, there is no getting rid of it.

Growing up in Hawaii, I always knew there was a bigger world out there that I wanted to see and experience. I started off slow, went to university in Oregon, then Massachusetts for a bit, even with that move I was already singing, " Oh my god, I can't believe, I have never been this far away from home." After I graduated, I lived and worked in San Francisco and traveled to Mexico on my own. Soon after that, I up and left a city that I love and still miss everyday, to teach eigo in Japan. My Travel Bug follows my journey from there...have a sneak peak and watch this space.

Once, over one of the best martinis (three olives, please), a wise bartender quoted Kurt Vonnegut, 'Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.' Maybe that lesson has been hula over the years, because the further I move away from home the more I appreciate the beauty of Hawaii and now no matter how much I fight it, my hips will always naturally sway to the rhythm of the islands.

Imagine All the People

2006-03-02T20:02:00.000Z

Failed rains have created massive food shortages in East Africa. Oxfam has already distributed emergency food aid to 170,000 people living in Turkana and Wajir. But the situation remains dire: fertile pastureland has dried out, mothers are struggling to provide for their children, and cattle are dying. Currently, they are trucking in 20,000 litres of water each week to people in Wajir, Kenya, who previously faced a 60-kilometre trek to find water, or were forced to drink dirty supplies. - ofxam

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/emergencies/country/eafrica/

It amazes and saddens me that in this world today there are still people that don't receive the very basic of human needs. How can I bear to turn my back now that I am aware of the suffering that is taking place? How can I not give and help in order to make a difference?

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.

Holiday

2006-02-26T12:20:00.000Z

I have been on holiday this past week...needed to use up the rest of my holiday before April and just needed a break actually. James was off on Monday and Tuesday with me and then he went snowboarding in France for the rest of the week, so I have been on my own for the past four days. I didn't do much; finished two books ( Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Kite Runner), went to the US Embassy to get extra pages in my passport and file my taxes, went to the gym, had an aromatherapy massage, caught up with friends in London and friends and family back in the States.

These are the things I learned on my holiday:

TGI Friday's London isn't as good as the one in the US.
The US Embassy has a pub underneath it...I could tell you how to get in, but would you really want to?
Grant Yuen didn't make Century Club.
My sister and I can laugh and talk for a whole hour without arguing.
I keep my stress in my neck and need to breathe more.
Harry Potter is growing up and so are my 5ft 11" and 6ft 1" baby cousins.
English Roses still do bloom in the winter in the form of Jude and Kerenza.
I have great breakdown cover in my own personal Canadian AA, Audrey and Ada.
The Koreans can be beaten, Go on Apollo Ohno!
Let love shine. And we will find a way to come together. And make things better. We ALL need a holiday!

Unfortunately, the things I didn't learn on my holiday, were how to calculate time zone differences in order to get in touch with Lynn and how to bloody link new blogs to this original one! So the quest continues.

What kind of candy are you?

2006-02-09T22:34:00.000Z

Lately, I have been getting really impatient with the fact that I can't read, understand, smoke and inhale HTML, CCS, GHD, KYX etc...so to pass the time away I have been walking through the wardrobe of 'next blog' and seeing where it takes me. This is my latest treasure...

Gummy Bears

You may be smooshie and taste unnatural, but you're so darn cute.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

You Spin Me Right Round

2006-01-31T21:21:00.000Z

So one of my other New Year's Resolutions is to get back into shape and gain a bit of weight. And I have fallen in love with the Spin RPM class at my gym.

Me and my friend, Byrnesy, went a couple weeks ago and HATED it! We got there late and had to jump on and quickly adjust the seats of our bikes while the disco/black lights were already bouncing crazy patterns around the room. I walked out with a sore butt and a bruised knee as I had my seat too far forward and banged my knee on the brake lever everytime I sat back down from 'riding high'.

The following week though, we decided to give it another shot. Byrnesy had her very hot biker shorts on ( which I think made all the difference) and we got there with enough time to get some guidance from the instructor. And then, we were off, right round baby right round like a record baby right round round round. It was amazing! There was one point when I was peddling to the beat, as hard and as fast as my little legs could go and I found it...that place where your mind is drowned out by the beating of every cell in your body. You aren't thinking 'Move your legs...push harder,' you just ARE.

I will be honest and say that I didn't up the resistance everytime she said 'Give me more!' in that Australian accent of hers...or maybe it is South African, but anyways, I was sweating by the end of it and felt so awesome. I LOVE it! Eat your heart out Pete Burns!!

Lynn: For your New Year's Resolution

2006-01-30T23:28:00.000Z

Dave's Mozzarella Tomato Basil Pasta Salad

Fresh mozzarella

Fresh basil

Sun-dried tomatoes (I like the ones that are already in a olive oil marinade)

Fresh tomatoes

Olive oil

Penne pasta

( I like to add roasted pine nuts to it too)

Boil and then drain pasta.
Cut up mozzarella, tomatoes and basil.
Drizzle pasta with olive oil and then toss in all other ingredients.
Season with salt and little pepper to taste.
Enjoy with a nice red wine...Chianti perhaps?

nihon ga natsukashii

2006-01-28T17:16:00.000Z

I went to see Memoirs of a Geisha last weekend and although I heard that if you had ever been to Japan you wouldn't like it...and yes, I did know the three main actresses were Chinese, I still enjoyed it. The cinematography was beautiful and because I had read the book so long ago there were only bits and parts that I remembered about the story. My favorite scene is after she first meets the Chairman, when she is running through the red toriis and offers up her prayer to make her a geisha so she could meet him again. I have been to Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto and have offered up my own prayers there as well. I also love the scene where she is under the cherry blossom tree with the Chairman. I never got a chance to experience Hanami while I was there. I would love to go back and get drunk off sake and clouds of pink sakura.

I enjoyed Memoirs mostly because it made me miss Japan very much. It took me back to a place that part of me will always call home. I miss all my wonderful friends that embraced me into their lives while I tumbled through nihon no seekatsu. I miss the way beauty in everything is appreciated, from the luminous neon lights of Tokyo to the frothy bubbles of a bowl of tea. Being in London where the greyness permeates every part of living, I miss the bold strokes and soft flow of color that constanly inspired me to paint and ponder the brillance of a simple life.

A brand new notebook

2006-01-28T00:15:00.000Z

I realized that I have been very hesitant to create any new entries. It's like writing in a new notebook for the first time. Fresh blank pages. Only my very best handwriting. No mistakes. Everything perfect. Isn't it time to get a bit messy?

2006 Res-EYE-lutions

2006-01-23T22:58:00.000Z

It's a new year and I love being able to start anew. A blank canvas. It is probably the one time in the year that everything seems exceptionally dreamable and achieveable. I am so focused on what's in front of me rather than what is behind me...and let me tell you the view is beautifully terrifiying.

James took me to the London Eye at the start of the year so that we could share our New Year's Resolutions with each other at the very top. He has been wanting to take me since we first came to visit London. And four years later, thirty minutes confined in a capsule 135 metres above the London skyline...still didn't sound like my idea of fun. I refused to move from my seat in the middle of the capsule, as I was too afraid I was going to faint or go crazy with an anxiety attack. But I continued to breathe and survived.

One of my resolutions was to be better at keeping in touch with the people I love...and so I started this blog. I am still a bit of a novice at the whole html thing and if I waited until I actually had time to teach myself html so that I could create my own website, it would never happen. So, going to start slow and use this for a bit until I can move on to creating my own website.

We'll see where it takes me.