Brett and I have been on our own most of this weekend while YaYu has been at a Key Club retreat up in Koke’e State Park in Waimea Canyon – she’s due home in a little while. It rained all day yesterday over the whole island, so we’re wondering how her weekend went because the group had several outdoor activities planned, things like trail maintenance and such. Brett and I didn’t go anywhere or do anything more than food shopping, but it was still nice not having to work our whole schedule around YaYu’s. Her being away reminded us though of how soon she will be leaving the nest, so while we enjoyed not having to bend to her timing, it was also slightly tinged with bittersweet.
It’s been nearly two weeks since I ordered my recumbent bicycle from Amazon, and it is FINALLY arriving tomorrow. While we always allow things to take a few extra days to get over here to the island, two weeks was a bit much, and when I checked the status of the order last Thursday it said the item hadn’t even been shipped! I called Amazon, explained the situation, and apparently something had accidentally stalled at the shipping step. The representative apologized, and immediately changed the shipment to express status for no additional charge. I’ve gotten confirmation that the bike is on its way, and tracking says it will arrive tomorrow. We’ve never had any problems before with Amazon shipping things over here, and I was impressed by how quickly they admitted an error and rectified the problem when one occurred.
This afternoon I am:
- Reading: I’ve put down Truevine for a while and right now am reading It Can’t Happen Here, written in 1935 by Sinclair Lewis, about the arrival of fascism in America. Although the book is fiction, it’s chilling how it closely parallels in many ways what’s happening in our country now.
- Listening to: We’re enjoying another cool, quiet morning here. Once again there’s one rooster out there screaming his lungs out, but otherwise it’s very peaceful. The noise will pick up soon when YaYu arrives home and the laundry gets started.
- Watching: Brett and I watched the Netflix series The Crown last week and can’t recommend it enough. Wonderful acting, and it was interesting to watch how the male establishment reacted to serving a young female monarch, and how she found her voice. We’re watching The Americans now, about Russian communist spies living in the U.S. in the early 1980s. It’s frightening, and not in a good way.
- Cooking/baking: Brett made us french toast this morning for our breakfast to use up the last of a loaf of sourdough bread. A pork roast is cooking in the slow cooker for barbecue pulled pork sandwiches tonight (I’m having a vegan barbecued “pork” sandwich). I’m going to make a pan of brownies later this afternoon because YaYu has been wanting something chocolate.
- Happy I accomplished this past week: Once again it’s been another week of mostly resting my back. I did some of the cooking this past week, or at least helped out more, and was able to help out more with other chores. Sounds boring, but it means I really am getting better. Brett and I worked on our shopping list together and got most of that done Friday and yesterday. We’re making good progress on getting the freezer cleaned out.
- Looking forward to next week: Besides getting my new exercise bike, I’m also greatly looking forward to enjoying Thanksgiving with Brett and YaYu at the Hukilau, and our annual holiday viewing of The Decendants. And, my highschool friend and her companion arrive for their visit next Sunday.
- Thinking of good things that happened: Amazon’s quick response to fixing the shipping for the exercise bike offer was very impressive. The weather has been cooler this past week, wonderful for sleeping. Brett and I tried out a local supermarket that’s closer to our home and were impressed with both their selection and prices, so it looks like the Kapaa Big Save will be our new market from here on out. Costco finally got the Japanese cakes in – we bought three boxes of dorayaki, and two of the imagawayaki. Brett and I made and ate pancakes for our Friday dinner while YaYu was away. She doesn’t like them, so we haven’t fixed them for a long while (and they were delicious!). We had no food waste, and put $2.90 into the change/$1 bill jar.
- Grateful for: I am so thankful to be living in Hawai’i right now with its spirit of aloha. Diversity and acceptance is infused into every aspect of life here, and kindness rules the day.
- Bonus question: What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving? Besides being together and sharing food with family and friends, the best part of Thanksgiving for me has always been the leftovers! While I love the holiday meal, I especially love the hot turkey sandwiches, turkey pot pie, turkey divan casserole, turkey soup and other dishes that we enjoy for several days afterwards. This year though I’ll be fixing our turkey dinner when the girls are home for Christmas, so the leftovers will have to wait until then.
What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving? What do you like to do with Thanksgiving leftovers? Do you have any good recipes you’d like to share?
Hope all of you had a good, or at least better, week!
The Occasional Nomads 
I read about that Sinclair Lewis book after the election, and am not sure I have the stomach for it yet. But will check it out. As for The Americans, I’ve watched all the ‘free’ seasons so far and it’s chilling. Really makes me wonder about the Russian connections in this election. I think we’re being played by Putin, but time will tell.
One of my brothers normally does Thanksgiving (we alternative holidays) but this year there is an election drama and we are waiting to see if another brother and his family show up. They apparently voted for Trump (which I find unimaginable) and they don’t want to be ridiculed. Meh. If you can’t defend your decision, you should have thought harder or abstained. I’d be embarrassed, too. Sounds like a lovely dinner, no? My hosting brother is thinking of posting a whiteboard of safe topics, which I find brilliant.
I continue to be horrified by the emboldened white supremacists, but I am heartened by the number of people I know who are outraged and beginning to take action. A friend has chartered a bus to DC for the Women’s March in January. Riding two consecutive nights on a bus at my age is probably not doable, but I’m tempted.
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I can only read It Couldn’t Happen Here in small doses. I’ve also heard of several families that have changed or cancelled their Thanksgiving plans because of the election. It’s more than a “you won, we lost” thing too – many people were caught completely off-guard and/or shocked by friends’ and family members’ support of someone who espoused and encouraged such racism, xenophobia, who mocked the disabled, etc.
Time will tell though – things do not look promising right now. Brett and I talked a lot this weekend about what might be coming, and how we can best prepare. But yes, the shock is wearing off and people are beginning to take action. We are stronger together.
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We are still debating what to make for Thanksgiving. Either grilled steak, or kebabs. The kebabs would be yummy, but somewhat of a pain to get everything we need for the trip. I’ll let M decide if he’s up for that kind of challenge. 😉 If we’re at home, I make a modified traditional meal – homemade mac & cheese, stuffing, green beans, & turkey. Plus pie. 🙂 I’m hoping to get pie from Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea, which supposedly has great cream pie. Yum!
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Kebabs sound good to me! In my opinion, it’s too hot here to roast a full turkey – we don’t like running the oven that long, and these days there would be too many leftovers (can’t believe I’m saying that, but it’s true). These days we buy one of the Costco already-roasted turkey breasts, and then make all the traditional sides. The breast is big enough for several meals, so the same or better than leftovers. We looked longingly at the pecan pies at Costco yesterday, but decided it was just too much for the three of us (two of us really, YaYu probably wouldn’t have more than a slice). I’m planning to have seafood at the Hukilau on Thursday; YaYu wants the seafood and pasta dish, and Brett is going with the traditional turkey dinner.
Have a wonderful time in Hawai’i – safe travels!
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Good choice deciding against the pecan pie at Costco. We did purchase one and both of us found it to be much too sweet (and I have a major sweet tooth). Have a great Thanksgiving!
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It was just too much. I love pecan pie, but that just would have been too much. I am going to make pecan pie bars when the girls are home – Meiling has asked for them specifically.
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We celebrated our Canadian Thanksgiving in October (2nd Monday). Besides the joy of being together with my family, I like to have pumpkin pie. I usually just have pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving in October and not at any other time of the year so it’s a holiday treat for me.
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Unfortunately, Brett and I are the only ones in our family who like pumpkin pie. I used to always make one for Thanksgiving, but the girls eventually said ‘enough.’ Costco makes a delicious pumpkin pie, but it’s way too big for just the two of us, just like that pecan pie at Costco was.
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So glad to read that your back is healing and you are able to do more.
I remember reading years ago that Jack Lord loved living on Hawaii during and after the filming of 5-0 due to the acceptance of all races, i.e., spirit of aloha…..and this was during the turbulent late 60’s and early 70’s. I think you are probably living in the best state right now.
I’m concerned about an increased danger in traveling abroad after the new administration kicks in some of their international plans. I imagine Japan will be safe, but Europe? Africa? Southeast Asia? Mexico? Not so sure.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Don’t have Netflix but would looove to see The Crown. Hope it will come to DVD eventually! Is Descendants the Disney movie from last year? It sounds as though you are getting significantly better 🙂
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