A New Life: Great Expectations! 2023 – 23

Presentation Preparation 

Checking information in my books to talk about on August 14, I came across this book review of Anguished, the only book that has nothing to do with WWII in the Pacific. Did you read it?

Book Review on 11/22/2020 by Steve Daws, Cary NC

I read Anguished in one sitting.  The suspense overwhelmed me.  Here is a lovely story about a devoted daughter, living in America, and sorting out how to be engaged with her aging mother who was a resident of a senior living home in the Netherlands.  For more about the author and her mother’s life relationship and sheer survival,  one must read Herman de Jong’s Rising from the Shadow of the Sun depicting this family’s horrendous experience stranded in Java when the Japanese invaded during WWII.  Her mother was quite the hero and thanks to her wise, sometimes risky decisions, she kept her two daughters alive somehow, against great odds… The author is pure as pure can be, her intentions to be part of her mother’s final months.  But the plot thickens when another family member sabotages the author.  I am glad to report a happy ending, but I was on the edge of my seat throughout.

In these modern times, families are often scattered geographically.  In this case, scattered across two continents.  The reader may well relate to the struggles many families  dealing with distance, imperfect technology, aging parents and other relatives, and maintaining relationships.  These are emotional struggles, full of complexity, expense, time, travel, and  not to mention managing relationships with siblings who may or may not concur one’s belief systems about what is best for our aging parents.   This author has demonstrated throughout her life, depicted in her books,  persistence, courage, wisdom, and striving to do the right thing.

August 14: Power Point Presentation in Orchard Villas

I captured the full attention of my audience, mostly neighbors and friends, for the hour long presentation. It felt so good to share information about my early years in the concentration camps and historical events, including the Bersiap, that nobody had heard of before. It was one of my best presentations. The two books that I donated to the Club’s library were checked out before we had cleaned up.

Kona Village restored!

This was the resort on the west coast of the Big Island that was our favorite destination for celebrations when we lived in Onomea on the east coast. We stayed in several “hales” over the years, and payed “kama’aina” rates, special low rates for people who lived there. How we enjoyed that place! So many memories! It was destroyed by an underwater earthquake nearby, and just now reopened, with many new amenities: only affordable by the rich and famous. I hope you will read the article, and any reviews you can find, to agree with us that it

Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort

On the Kona Coast, new life has been given to an old favorite. The long-closed Kona Village Resort has reopened as the Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, following reconstruction of the property after the devastating under water earthquake. The 82-acre resort is the first Hawaii hotel for the Rosewood brand, which is known for its one-of-a-kind luxury hotels.

The resort features four outdoor pools, a state-of the-art fitness center and the Asaya Spa. Guests can also visit the on-site cultural center to learn more about the land’s history or book ocean activities, such as sunrise canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.

On the Kona Coast, new life has been given to an old favorite. The long-closed Kona Village Resort has reopened as the Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, following reconstruction of the property. The 82-acre resort is the first Hawaii hotel for the Rosewood brand, which is known for its one-of-a-kind luxury hotels.
The resort features four outdoor pools, a state-of the-art fitness center and the Asaya Spa. Guests can also visit the on-site cultural center to learn more about the land’s history or book ocean activities, such as sunrise canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And with these two gorgeous pictures, I say: Until next time!

Ronny

A New Life: Great Expectations! 2023 – 22

It’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

…said our daughter-in-law when she walked in this morning with a bowl of cookie dough and proceeded to bake cookies in our oven. At the same time, Dennis took me to the Club, where we had a final meeting with the two techies to prepare for my presentation on Monday, August 14. The Club has a TV screen, but no internet. After two sessions with laptops and cords, and no good results last week, Dennis brought his laptop and made it all work – after he had uploaded (or downloaded) my Power Point presentation to his laptop. He took out the trailer, which I am going to show separately on YouTube. Great to know that Dennis will be there to set things up, after which he will sit down with Mike to watch the show.

When we came home from the Club an hour later, the cookies were ready, and there are so many, that I have prepared two little plates for our two neighbors, who often share things with us. One neighbor bakes scones, the other one brings a delicious white chocolate cinnamon swirl loaf whenever she goes to her hairdresser in Raleigh. There is a bakery that bakes these loaves only on Fridays, and a warm slice with butter for breakfast is a treat.

Skechers Slip-ins!

I had seen the wonderful commercials on TV so many times, that I decided those would be wonderful for me, to use as house shoes, more supportive than slippers or sandals, and no shoe laces to tie. To find them on Amazon was too complicated, because I did not really know what I was looking for, but I found a Sketchers store in Cary, and selected a pair from hundreds of others, not all slip-ins though. What a find these are! They are so comfortable in fact, that I forget to take them off when I go outside. Our granddaughter, when she was here two weeks ago, brought me another pair, ones that she had outgrown, so I can wear those in bad weather outside. Since I now know what to look for on Amazon, I ordered a pair for Mike, to replace his moccasins. Three pairs came two days ago (try-before-you-buy for one week) and Mike made a choice at first sight. To get them on, after wearing only moccasins, was difficult at first, but to my delight it’s getting better. His feet are better supported, which makes for better balance, no more using his (or mine) middle finger to put the heel in, no laces to tie, and they look great. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Mike will get to like them as much as I do.

Amazing Facts about Bees

I did not know this. I have local honey in my tea and am always using a metal spoon 🥄 🫣😬😱🐝🍯
Did you know that honey contains live enzymes?
Did you know that in contact with a metal spoon, these enzymes die? The best way to eat honey is with a wooden spoon; if you can’t find one, use a plastic spoon.
Did you know that one of the world’s first coins had a bee symbol?
Did you know that honey contains a substance that helps the brain work better?
Did you know that honey is one of the few foods on earth that alone can sustain human life?
Did you know that bees saved people from starvation in Africa?
That a spoonful of honey is enough to keep a man alive for 24 hours?
Did you know that propolis produced by bees is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics?
Did you know that honey has no expiration date because it’s already been digested?
Did you know that the bodies of the world’s greatest emperors were buried in gold coffins, then covered in honey to prevent putrefaction?
Did you know that the term “Honeymoon” (honeymoon) comes from the fact that the bride and groom consumed honey for fertility after their marriage?
Did you know that a bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey, but for her it is the work of a lifetime.
Thank you precious bees!

Because of the lack of bees visiting our patio, and the extreme heat, over 90 degrees, for days on end, our beautiful tomato plant, showing many flowers, did not get pollinated. The flowers dried up and we had not a single tomato.

Physical Therapy

Finished the second week (of six) of PT and am feeling very happy! With only two Advils in the morning, I can walk all day without pain, and I only use my new walker for convenience, to carry multiple things from here to there. Just before Labor Day, the surgeon will see me again and I am confident that he will decide I do not need surgery. At that time, I will keep my dog walker for a while for the early morning walks, because there is so much to do in the morning, and I will take back the evening walks with Lani, leisurely, building up to full length walks. Where a month ago my Fitbit showed a total of about 800 steps a day, the last two days I made 2000 steps, and that is almost a mile. Getting there, one step at a time!

Downsizing= Finding a good home for my treasures.

The ipu that I made when I was dancing with Halau Hula Napuaokalei’ilima (Arizonahula.com) in Prescott, had been sitting in the closet ever since my last hula performances at Waltonwood. I realized that, after a torn meniscus, I should really not dance anymore. And so I offered my ipu on the Hawaiian Club on Facebook. Two people responded, and one of them, hailing from Oahu some nine years ago, came to pick it up. He also happily accepted three heavy seed leis, and to thank me he sent me a bottle of his Chili Pepper Water (Hawaiian Hot Sauce) he is specializing in. I already used it on a spinach quiche and on a fried rice dinner, and it is delicious. Thank you Kimo!

And that’s a wrap!

Until next time,

Ronny