FLU CRAZY

"So far so good we still living today

But we don't know what tomorrow brings
In this crazy world"
-Lucky Dube

I haven't been blogging much because I've been sick for 3 weeks. I only went to the doctor after 2 weeks of coughing and a night of fever & body aches, and was told last week that I'd feel better in 2 days. (Uh, yah, still waiting.) The diagnosis was strep throat, something I get at least once EVERY year, but with the current SWINE FLU outbreak, it's scary to think that our regular flu season could take a turn for the worst because so many in our community are getting sick.

In the Honolulu Advertiser, there's an article about "possible" swine flu cases that are currently awaiting test results on our islands. Govt officials are talking about screening airline passengers coming into Hawaii as a means of prevention, and urging people not to stock-pile anti-viral flu medications. Supposedly, we are well prepared (compared to other states) with our airport "surveillance" system, briefly described as a "system that relies on airline crews to identify potentially ill passengers." (Wow, GENIUS!) Lingle is urging people not to panic, but to be ready just in case, but really, if that's all Hawaii has PLANNED for a possible pandemic, we are SCREWED. (Not that it would get this bad, but can anyone envision another KALAUPAPA?)

In response to the above mentioned Honolulu Advertiser article, one reader suggested that the virus was created by the govt to wipe out the elderly and the "weak", thus easing the economy by reducing the burden on Social Security & Health Care. (LOL)

This morning, a friend posted this article on Facebook, that connects the Swine Flu virus to American owned pig factories in Xaltepec, Mexico, a very possible "Ground Zero" along with these VERY TELLING pictures. ("For the love of money is the root of all evil..." 1 Tim 6:10)

While in town at the Social Security Office today (no I wasn't trying to claim early benefits), I saw one oriental lady with a mask on and it reminded me of the SARS scare from a few years ago. Also in that same office, there was a young mother with her infant, and an elderly woman who looked to be her mom. When a man coughed behind them, the younger woman and her mom exchanged looks, and grandma quickly swooped up baby and took him outside. I guess I should've done that too, seeing as my child was sitting right in my lap, but I didn't. I mean hello, I've been coughing around my infant for 3 weeks already, so what good would that have done?!

I don't know about you, but all this hysteria and the conspiracy theories that surround it are so CRAZY I have to laugh, and NOT because people are falling ill/dying everyday, but because if I don't I WILL GO (FLU)CRAZY, paranoid and panicky! Personally, I don't think that closing our American borders is the answer(seeing as the virus is already IN the US AND because we've been so unsuccessful in attempting this throughout our history). Apparently, neither is the FLU vaccine, because in some cases it's been known to have worse affects on people than the actual virus. Even if we did have one for this particular strain, viruses MUTATE, da buggahs! Education and prevention is the key, but what is your take? Propaganda...Conspiracy...Coincidence...Signs of the Times? I mean, what else can we do but wash our hands religiously and pray even more vigorously!?

We are living in....living in....THIS CRAZY WORLD!

You're Still the One

PRESS PLAY

Listening to "You're Still the One" has just brought back a ton of memories. It was one of our favorite songs my girls and I used to sing when I lived in Utah, and eventually became my wedding song a few years later. I met my husband in 1997 and you could say that from the get-go we were oddly matched, or dare I say, ill-fated. The story of our love is enough to write a novel, maybe a few volumes even, and that I will save for a later time...like when I actually HAVE time. We've been together for 12 years, 8 of them just living solely for each other. {"Looks like we made it; Look how far we've come my baby.We mighta took the long way. We knew we'd get there someday"} For years we suffered the want for children, and yet at the same time, we weren't submissive enough to give up our worldly behaviors. Eventually, through our faith and the gift of modern medicine, our cries were heard and we were granted Lole, and most recently, Laila. Looking at the product of our relationship, my girls, {"Ain't nothin' better, we beat the odds together. I'm glad we didn't listen, look at what we would be missin"} I cannot speak any regret for the man I have chosen and for the life that we now live, even though he can drive me CRAZY! Yes, we've had many, many, many (did I say many?) hard times and are still "under construction", but all the good times are worth fighting...for our marriage, our family, and our love. {"They said, 'I bet they'll never make it' But just look at us holding on. We're still together still going strong."} You're still the one.

1997

A Family Friday

This past week I've been so sick and therefore, stuck in the house every...single...day. But I couldn't stay in any longer when I saw how PERFECT yesterday's weather was for the BEACH. More than just warm and sunny, having little to no wind outside was what won me over. (So I don't cough all over the place.) We hit up Kakelas across the street as soon as Bo got home from work, and we were stoked to watch Laila's reaction to her first feel of ocean water and sand. I had been promising Lole to go swimming for days, so it was nice to finally let her have fun too. The only annoyance for me were the MOSQUITOES! I mean, since when did THEY hang out at the beach too?

Later on, Bo and I went on a much needed date once the kids were asleep. We wanted to go eat in town, but got lazy and (since we ate before we left) we went to a movie instead. I won't say what we watched (yes, it was that dumb) but we got there over an hour early. Due to the wait, I could tell my husband was getting tempted to pass the time in a nearby bar, but I didn't give in and we sat around talking instead. (Thank goodness!) We laughed and laughed outside our theater and were surprised to find we were the lone attendees (another hint that we should've watched something else!) We weren't hungry so we just bought candy and water. I almost cursed when I asked for a cup of ice and got an infant size cup instead. Then I asked for a bigger cup of ice and the cashier charged me $4.75 for it, so I told her she might as well just put soda in it too. And I know times are hard, but $4 for a $1 bottle of water? Ugh, next time I'll take an empty bottle and fill it up at the water fountain. Once in the theater, we got bored and took pics, then when the movie started, Bo's snoring (or ROARING) began! I was so tired I couldn't sit still so I laid Bo's shirt across the seats (I know, yuk!) and knocked out too! But even with all the wasted money on gas, a movie we never watched, and expensive snacks, I gotta say it was worth the time spent in each other's company. That night I watched my husband and kids sleep until I couldn't open my eyes anymore. It was such an awesome day!

Bloggin my Blues

"There are three kinds of people: Those that make things happen, those that watch things happen and those that wonder what happened." -Unknown

Lately I've been feeling like I'm somewhere in between "watching" and "wondering", so blogging has been pushed back to the bottom of my list of "to-do's" (if I even had a list). On top of being physically sick, I feel mentally absent and emotionally withdrawn, and from what I don't know. I think the appropriate word to describe me right now is SLUGGISH and I am totally in need of a PICKER-UPPER of sorts. I know most of this low-energy has a lot to do with the combination of no exercise and my super increased apetite, so if anyone has some good home workout videos, please help a sistah out. My mind at the moment feels so CLUTTERED with all the things that can sometimes overwhelm people on the daily; husband, kids, finances, bills, chores, etc etc...and then to have to manage all the ONLINE FRIENDSHIP SITES....uh,it's overwhelming! LOL. I feel like there is so much more I can do, but by habit I tend to DO NOTHING when I feel like life is coming at me from all angles, at the same time! If anyone has any suggestions/helpful hints on how I can better manage my day to fit in caring for my family, cleaning, cooking, laundry, balancing books, exercising (physically & mentally), I would love to hear it. Better yet, I NEED TO HEAR IT!

HE LIVES

"And now after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony last of all...that HE LIVES." (D&C 76:22)

First Presidency Message:
"At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend."

Lole & cousins @ Dole Plantation

L to R: Jaz, Nalu, Hepua, Lole, Sinalei, Juju

In all my years living in Hawaii, I have never been to the maze at the Dole Plantation in Wahiawa. This afternoon, Lole was lucky enough to tag along with her 2nd family, my sister Fia and her 3 kids. There they met a cousin of ours, who happens to have 2 cute little girls that I'm sure Lole was more than happy to play with. (She doesn't get to play with very many girls her age.) Here is the recap my sister sent to me along with some pictures:

"Thanks for letting us have Lole today. She had a blast. The maze was too confusing and we got lost very easily. We didn't even try to do the whole maze after only attempting two sections of the maze. We gave up and hit the ice cream stands! Jaz was the navigator, thankfully, she had the most sense of direction (NSEW) and helped get us all out. She (Lole) was the only one who DIDN'T want anything pineapple to eat at the Pineapple Plantation! So luckily at their snack bar they did have Ted's Bakery Chocolate mousse for her to eat. They went rolling down the hill after we ate ice cream...."

Don't they look like a fun group? Fa'afetai sis!