Gotcha!

If your a member of Borders rewards, you should be receiving coupons in your email on a regular basis. I love them. I Especially love the 40% coupon as that is when I buy my research books for my tours at the museum.

The trick to these coupons is to go with just that one book in mind so that you actually do save 40%. Since I usually have just enough for a book that is never a problem for me. I know what these large conglomerates are up to and I make it my mission to not get caught.

So with coupon in hand I drove over to the book store. I found this wonderful and very informative book seen above and could not wait to get home to start reading it.

My mistake was stopping in front of this Halloween display for cards. These are my favorite greeting card. They are like a gift in themselves though they are a bit pricey. I neededed to check them out to see how they worked.(Yes, I know what happened to the cat with curiosity.)

But I just love Halloween colors and the witch laughing when I pulled the tag immediately made me think of my grand kids. Hmm,$7.00 dollars x's 5. I walked away. I was getting in line to pay for my book when I realized that I was walking the wrong way. I back tracked and bam! There were those darned cards again. And once again I pulled the tag and the witch laughed.

Ok, so I left the store saving $14.00 on the book but spending $35.00 on the cards. Maybe the coupon was not such a good idea. It would have been cheaper for me to pay full price for the book at another store. Coupon be damned.

So I leave the store mad at myself for getting hooked by the money grubbing, covert, mendacious and tricky (no treat) bookstore. Ah but the looks on my grandkids when they get their cards (wont see a couple of them when they get theirs) is worth it.

The free trolly passes by as I'm headed to my car. You can ride to all the different areas of the outlet. Nico and I often ride it for the fun of it.

Hmm, It's a nice day I conclude I should ride it just for the entertainment. Then I imagine myself hoping on and a strap suddenly holds me down. A malicious voice comes over the mike and says, Sax Fifth Avenue up next, ha,ha, ha. There's no such thing as a free ride!"

Sometimes you Win

After sewing for two months straight, the day finely arrived for the craft fair. My wonderful daughter got up early with me and headed out to Haleiwa where she helped to set up my table and display. Nico was with us anticipating all kinds of adventures and meeting of new friends. Poor little guy, little did he realize that, he would be sitting in a chair playing his DS pretty much the whole time.

As I parked my car after Chris and I had unloaded everything to our assigned spot I could not but help to be impressed with the beautiful colors that lit over the tent where everyone's displays were. Even the dirt had a nice color to it.
Chris started in organizing the table, pinning the hanging Santa's up front, putting the pumpkin dolls off to one side and then hanging the angels to the tree. If you click on the photo it will give you a better look.

I had to but look as she went to work. She was on a mission and had a plan in her head and I only needed to step back and keep out of her way. I don't often do craft fairs but I must admit I really am happy that she comes along and helps me out as I am always at a total loss when it comes to setting up.

So while she worked and Nico played his DS I decided to see what was going on around the grounds.
I came upon these church members getting ready to uncover an imu. You can see the steam coming out of the underground oven that they had made to make kalua or roast pig. These were mats on top of the imu that were spread over banana leaves.
Here you can see the banana leaf up close as the steam rises out of the ground.
Once the banana leaves were removed there was a wired mesh that you can see here that was covering the pig that was wrapped in tin foil. This is more of the modern way of roasting a pig. In actuality these are pork butts that have been wrapped in tin foil unlike the traditional pig that you would see whole in the ground at this point.
And of course you know what these are but I just loved the looks of this bunch of bananas. Who does not associate the fruit with Hawaii? So I thought I would just throw that in.

After walking around I went back to my booth and got down to the business of the fair. It was held at Queen Liliuokalani church. Named for the last ruling monarch in Hawaii who used to visit the church whenever she came out to stay at the hotel in the area. The tent was set way back from the main busy road in this tourist town and though they had signs out in front very few people came into the fair.

The Church had put a lot into the fair, having The Royal Hawaiian Band play, singing and hula. But it was not enough. Maybe if the fair had been in the large area in front of the church where they had an antique car display it would have been visible from the road and perhaps there would have been more walk in traffic.

The two venders that I spoke to did not do well. Nor did I. But I will say, the venders who did do well were the ones with the food. And I think that I spent most of my money in their booths. I did sell a few dolls in the end but not enough to make a dent in the mass that I had sewn.

All was not lost. Again I was able to take photos, such as this one, of this adorable little girl waiting for her turn to go on stage and do her dance. They start training very young and are impressive to watch.

And the older ones are just as impressive and graceful. So I went home with just about as much as I had come with. But I have other orders that I can fill from this stock and the rest will go on to the children at Kapiolani Hospital. As always when I do a craft fair I do it with these children in mind. If I don't sew for the fair I sew for them. It's a win, win situation.

Mary Really Did Have A Little Lamb

I've never been bored. I love being at home. And if I did not leave the house for a year I would never need to buy anything to add to my collections. All my time would be taken up as they are so neglected. I'm in the process of making dolls for a craft fair and trying to finish a calendar of Cross stitch for the year. I started a year ago and I've only made it up to April.

Now I'm trying to learn a new script for the docent program at the museum which is so daunting to me I've decided to work on my stamp collection.

That is what I was doing this morning. I've not touched my collection for 5 years. It was hard to find albums, stock books and other material when the only stamp store that I knew of closed.

So the other day I decided I will start small. I've been soaking stamps for a few days now but had no idea what I was going to do with all of them as I don't have a place to put them. Two nice things appeared while going through the boxes of my stock.

I found a letter dated October 22, 1991 from the Sterling Historical Society, Inc. They were apologizing for the fact that they had run out of the postal cover Of "Mary and her Lamb."

but they had attached a pamphlet by way of a consolation.

The pamphlet contained the story of Mary and her Lamb! What fun I thought.

The poem as you all know, goes;

Mary had a little lamb;

Its fleece was white as snow;

And everywhere that Mary went,

The lamb was sure to go

The pamphlet explains that in 1918 Mary and her dad had found two newborn twin sheep in their sheep pen. One had been rejected by it's mother and was nearly dead. Mary asked if she could take care of it and was granted permission.

The lamb grew strong and attached. He followed Mary every where as the poem goes.

It followed her to school one day,

Which was against the rule;

It made the children laugh and play,

To see the lamb at school.

As Mary and her brother headed for school one day it followed her. Her brother thought it would be funny to sneak him into the class. The lamb sat under Mary's seat covered with with her shawl. It worked great until Mary was called up to the front of the class to recite something. Of course the lam followed her up their.

The kids got a kick out of it and were all laughing as was the teacher. She must have been a wonderful teacher to not get upset or was just thankful it wasn't a frog I guess.

And so the teacher turned it out,

But still it lingered near,

And waited patiently about

Till Mary did appear

I guess the laughter was too much or the bleating of the lamb to loud as the teacher suggested to Mary to put the lamb in the nearby shed until noon. So yes the lamb was put out but was nearby and then Mary did take it home.

I love it when I find these little trivial pieces of nursery rhymes and their connection to history.

Oh, and the second good thing I found today is a web site that offers free pages for US stamps. Now I will be able to start organizing for sure. At least until I come across another neglected hobby or get down to the serious business of the dolls and museum script.

It's Ice not snow in Hawaii

Nico and I are headed to Haleiwa. I want to photograph Liliuokalani's clock at the church named for her, the last reigning monarch in Hawaii.(more in another blog) and take Nico to the little library hidden away in Wailua. (Hmm. Another blog?) Nico has been very, very patient with me while I've taken every photo I could with my two cameras, and talked and questioned the very patient secretary, Kuulei. He's even taken photos too. Mostly of the church door.

As a reward I tell him I am going to take him for a Shave Ice. Not Shaved Ice, as some say who don't live here. I look across the street at Matsumoto's. It is in direct line with the Church where I am currently photographing the clock. As you can see there are people siting and standing and they are eating Shave Ice. If you look closely, (click on the photo to enlarge it) you can see, there is a line in front of the store. I wonder if Nico will be patient again, this time to wait for his treat? We enter the line.

This is a photo of the inside of the store at the head of the line looking out. As we entered the store Nico was amused. It was as though we had gone back in time. There were glass cases cramed with odds and ends, enough to fill any tourist suit case. Old photos of celebrities, arm around owners, workers etc. There were towels, books, post cards and of course tee shirts.
As I stood in line I looked up at the menu. Mainly this store sold shaved ice. I've read that they sell on a good day maybe 1000. Now you do the math. Average sale $2.50? and that's on the inexpensive side. Not to mention all of the tourist gobbledy goop. That's not bad for a treat that used to be something that the Japanese immigrants made with a machete to quench their thirst while working on the plantations. This ice cone was a part of their culture as far back as the 1500's. Now it is a staple in the Hawaiian community thanks to these first immigrants.

I made my choice. The Matsumoto Special and Nico, whom I had to interrupt as he looked longingly at all the merchandise (no problem entertaining him in this line) said he wanted a cherry snow cone because "that's my favorite color".)
With flavor decided I turned back to look at all the tchotchkes. There was something about these pleasant beige keychains that I found attractive. I almost stepped out of line to get one for myself. But I was not going to loose my place now as the line was even longer then when I first got into it. Meaning it had gone out the door and turned down the street.
The old advertisements on the wall were amazing. Can you imagine how many years they had been up there. I think as long as the store has been there. I believe it originally opened in the early 1950's.

Now were up to the front. Notice the big block of ice on the machine. She churns out the ice and then someone else puts the flavor. Unless you want the black bean and ice cream.

This is the way you order your Shave Ice. Number of Shave Ice you want, size and if you want the beans and or ice cream that would be next, then flavor last. Oh and if you want the fancy plastic cup you bring that up to them and they add the finished product to that. There's an extra charge for the cup but I eat mine to fast I don't need it. (it keeps juices from flowing onto your hands which can be a problem.)
Here is a finished product. This would have been a rainbow as it has more then one flavor.
And last but not least, here is Nico, enjoying his red cherry cone with his red shirt in front of a red sign. It was a red letter day for him. Oh and mine was just delicious.

Today Is Not The First Day of The Rest Of My Life

After crunching down on decrepid knees, clawing my way through the weeds and chives I was almost finished with the weeding of a very small patch of dirt on the side of the house.

The Night Blooming Jasmine had been inundated with strange bed fellows. The pineapple was camouflaged, spikes peaking out between tufts of green aliens growing in front of them. The only clear color in the patch was Nico's plastic trucks intwined with some kind of vine that had leaves in the shape of a heart. But the garden was not showing me any heart as I tried to stand and un-kink my back.

As I walked towards the patio I looked back at what I had just done. Despite all the work and sore knees and back I could not wait until I could get down to the garden shop and pick up plants to once again dig, compost and plant.

I was quite happy with the bit of work behind me as I headed into the house. Then I smelled the brownies baking. I wanted to grab them all and stuff them in my mouth. Fill that Sugar craving that I've been fighting forever. My feet were sore, my knees ached, and I had told myself "your a blob."

Then I thought of the mangoes, papaya, and watermelon that I could enjoy instead. If I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor a little longer I had best start with eating some Fruit. I want a healthier life ahead of me. Why heck I thought, if I can beat this sugar thing, then today can be the first day of the BEST of my life.

Red is my favorite color

Who's the early bird in my neighborhood? Before the sun is up, before the sounds of tires and the beams of lights speed down the road to join the bumper to bumper mass of worker bees, Max & I quietly pad through the Stepford community.

Leaving the beige houses and turning the corner on to the avenue, Max finds his spot. After dumping his mess in the trash can, we head up the road. The left side of the neighborhood opens up to a large field with the mountains looming in the background. All is quiet. I'm thrilled that I've finely managed to get out before the traffic.

Then I hear it. Only one chirping bird. At first I don't realize that it is doing a solo as so many birds sing as I pass this area that I don't pay attention. But then I realize that none of the birds are singing but this one. As I walk on he is still the only one singing. I recognize his chirps as he is such a colorful character that I always run to the window to check his palls out when ever they call in the neighborhood.

It is the Northern Cardinal. His bright red plumage certainly is something to sing about and I don't blame him for being so ecstatic in the morning. I wished I could wake up and look that great, dressed and ready to go.I love red the best. And if I had his voice I would wake the whole neighborhood too. Well that is if I was going to move away and didn't care if I made enemies with everyone on my block.

But his calls are beautiful and assorted. If you would like to hear what he sounds like you can go to this site http://www.learnbirdsongs.com/birdsong.php?id=3

An Endangered Species

Kids seem to have more rights in their high school then I do when I travel. OK, I don't want to beat this air travel thing into the ground but when I saw this letter to the editor in our Sunday Honolulu Advertiser I got all riled up again.

A Kilauea, Kaua'i reader wrote to the editor about the changes to Chapter 19 concerning student rights to privacy. She stated that if they were to allow for searches in lockers, drug sniffing dogs etc. the students would have to surrender their dignity on demand.

My sentiments exactly as I'm standing in the middle of the airport having air blown up my dress. And believe me I'm no Marlyn Monroe. But surrender my dignity I had to0 or I would not have been able to fly home.

Drug sniffing dogs? I ask you , how many of us have been seated waiting to get on a plane when someone lets the dogs out and he is sniffing what ever you may have in or on you? My right to privacy? Out the door.

Then she goes on to say bad outcomes will present themselves if we... "indoctrinate our youth to accept personal space violation from figures of authority." Have I been indoctrinated?

And last but not least, the statement that had me hitting the paper with the back of my hand and ranting to Max as he sat at my feet. "Unreasonable searches of students' bodies and property undermines our country's core civic values."!!!

So when do kids in school who may have drugs in their lockers or guns or both deserve more privacy then I do when I am boarding a plane? They are not even subjected to body searches. Unlike me just because some old lady with a uniform doesn't like the way I look and pulls me over. Is it because I am taking a flight and she's at work? or she has to wear a mans uniform and I'm in a dress and she would like to see me look miserable rather then look like I'm going to enjoy a trip to Hawaii?

I thought after 9/11 our core civic values were done away with. I did not realize we had rights anymore. Well at least someone has rights, just not adults. I don't fly free from harassment, someone listening to my phone calls or reading what I search on line.

All I can say is, better watch out kids, your days are numbered. Your an endangered species. Beware when you see some little squat woman speaking with an accent descend upon your locker. Don't say a word or you may end up in detention and never go home again.

Trip of a Lifetime

Here you can drive around the island in a couple of hours and that is that. Of course it is a different type of beauty and so even though it is a short distance I always enjoy it. No, here if I want to visit my family I have to board a plane. And I won't do that anymore. In the past when I took trips, standing in line with other passengers, checking in was amusing not grueling. Where were these people going where were they from? I wondered who was filthy rich and who might be going on a trip for the first time. Then sitting and waiting to board I would start a new book or brows through the gift shop. On the flight I was always wonderd who I would sit next to or what was going to be served, was my book better then the movie or would I rather sit and watch what was being shown.

Now there are lines for lines. Figuring out how you print out your boarding pass, going from a check in line to another line to check your luggage, then another line through security and then another line for security again because some imbecile agent who can barely speak English picks you out to be double checked. You are sat in a chair where everyone in the security line can see you and wonder why you were singled out. Then you are stood in some kind of device while they blow air all over you to entertain again, those passengers standing in line.

Then you go to the waiting area where you wait and wait because you've had to show up at the airport 3 hours early to make sure you get through all those lines in time to make it to the line to board the plane. Finely you board the plane and you are placed in your seat with a shoe horn. you can put one arm on the arm rest. If you put two that means that the person sitting next to you won't have room for his arm. You don't put your table down for your drink because if the person in front of you puts his seat back your drink could end up in your lap. And heaven forbid if you try to stand up to get to the bathroom. You have just enough room to get by the person next to you without wiping his face with your ass.

So here you sit in your seat not eating or drinking because your not about to pay those exorbitant prices and the food choices in the snack bar were limp salads or dry white bread sandwiches and they were overpriced too. No, I don't travel anymore. It's just not worth it. And I must say modesty does not permit me to stand in one of those xray machines while some idiot rent a guard scans my body and has a laugh at my silhouette . You know I don't think it makes us more secure it just makes us seem guilty until proven innocent. The terrorist probably aren't even going to use the airlines again, there thinking about our water system or spraying our crops and any number of things that are out there for the taking. Oh and why do they take away knives from passengers when first class passengers get silver wear to eat with that includes knives? Don't they think a terrorist can book a first class passage? Hmm

I guess I'm stuck here on the islands until such day our freedom to travel will really be free. Or North Korea decides to experiment with a real target. Then I guess I will really be taking a long trip. Can you say Oblivion?

I Pledge Allegiance

On 9/11 our Nation was in distress. We had been attacked without even being aware that we were under siege. A total surprise. But our flag was still standing. 

Hawaii awoke in the early morning to the news and like the rest of the world we watched as the events played out live on our televisions. As the week wore on Flags began to appear on the back windows of trucks, waving from antennas and pinned to clothing. Though the United States flag was not upside down our nation was, indeed, in distress.

 I am reminded during Hawaii's 50th statehood celebration of a time when Hawaiians too started to display their flag as a nation under siege. Store bought flags and little pins created to take advantage of ones patriotism during 9/11 were easy enough to attain. But I am not sure how many quilts were created in display of one's love for their country.

The quilt that is shown above is one of the treasures of "The Bishop Museum." It once belonged to Hawaii's last Queen, Liliuokalani, who was dethroned by US big business. In the late 1800's Hawaiians realized that their islands were slipping out of their hands. Quilts, such as the one above started to appear. 

 People started hanging quilts on four posters above beds so that they could say they  slept and awoke under their flag. 

If you notice on the quilt, the four outer flags display an intact canton. But the inside flags show the canton upside down. This particular quilt was sewn during a time when the queen had been imprisoned and the Hawaiian flag was forbidden to fly by the Provisional Government that had taken over the islands. 

Now if you were one of the flag waving Americans that appeared as the Towers went down you well know the feeling of someone trying to take away your country. This is exactly what the Hawaiian people felt as they stood powerless against a crafty, cunning and scheming group of men who had successfully managed to overthrow their Queen. 

The Hawaiian people never wanted to be annexed but for the wishes of their Queen they did not rebel. They remained peaceful and ever hopeful that the islands would be returned back to their Queen. But President McKinley  signed the Annexation Treaty and  although ordered to revert to her married name of Lydia Dominis, she was still the Queen to her people and together they protested the Annexation.

In this day of sound bites, and spinning the news, when you see people of Hawaii talking about the delightfulness of becoming part of the United States,  ask yourself just who are these people and would the Hawaiians rather be pledging their allegiance to their own flag as  their quilts indicated or did they truly want to become americans as the spin doctors of the provisional government contested?

If you would like to read more check out http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Queen_Liliuokalani#Republic_of_Hawaii_is_established

An Ugly American

I was a dumb Mexican. A Wet Back and not good enough to play with the red headed girl across the street. I was not allowed to join the Blue Birds an off shoot of the Girl Scouts. Nor was I invited in to many of my friends houses.  

This is me, a little girl at a birthday party sitting next to Tommy, the Birthday boy who was my best friend. You could say the seat of honor. And yet his mother thought nothing of picking me up at my house to go and visit him one evening and then leaving me in her car in the dark while she went into her friends house for hours to perm her hair. I was probably not good enough to be invited in. And their I sat, obediently, looking longingly for her to return so that we could continue on, so that I could play with Tommy.

I show my childish grinning photo to make a point. As far back as I can trace, my family came from Spain and settled in New Mexico by way of Mexico. Not recent immigrants they had been in New Mexico when it was a territory, then a state. As far as I know they had been there from the 1600’s. 

From New Mexico they moved to Colorado where my parents moved to California. I am surely an American. I pledged the flag every day, stood no matter when the National Anthem played even on the TV. I was taught to hate the Indians. I always wanted to be a blue blooded Cowboy. Davy Crocket was my hero because he fought at the Alamo. I  even believed that the Hawaiians were lucky to become part of the United States, after all they would be able to have all the modern conveniences  that All Americans had.

But as this grinning little girl, I endured much. Name Calling, rejection and hatred. I wanted to be like the little red headed girl or the blond with ringlets. Surely I would have been a much better person had I been. I held it against my father for having brown eyes even though his half brothers and mother had blue. I surly was defective. And because of this I never really felt like a true American.

Here I am today, still trying to come to terms with who I am and having much empathy for those who are the underdog. My eyes are wide open now. My mind has expanded, and though there are many things I don’t like about America, I am an American, through and through. Through all these experiences it is my responsibility to make sure that I can take my past and make it work for the future. Change the ugly in The Ugly American to The Beautiful, the kind and The Non Judging One.

I’m not dumb, my family never snuck across the Rio Grand and though I would never deny it if I was, I am not Mexican. I am an American of Spanish decent. And for those of you who don’t know the difference then the pot is calling the kettle black. Dumb indeed.

The American Way

It was about 8 years ago when the housing market took a nose dive. Prices were dropping like needles from an old tree. Our whole town house complex took a nose dive. But within two years people who could not afford the over inflated prices were able to pick up a house at a reasonable price. Those who had to move but did not want to loose money rented out their place until the prices came back up. No one came in to bail them out and even my daughter was able to find a house at a decent price as a first time home buyer. 

Within 3 years the value of her house doubled. And not one bailout loan had been given to anyone. Now the houses are so over inflated once again that it would be good if houses were to drop in value. I understand that there are people woh move because of their job situations but when are people going to  buy a home like they used to? Homes were an investment in their family. This was where they were going to raise their children and grow old.

I'm sorry but I just don't feel sorry for the people who are loosing their home to ARM loans.Who in their right mind would gamble like that?  I don't feel sorry for Car manufacturers who due to greed built humongous trucks and Hum-vies even though they were guzzling up vanishing resources. If they go out of business there will be another company to come along and learn from their past mistakes. Those people who worked in the automotive industry made huge pay checks. But like the rest of the nation, myself included, decided to live beyond their means because they thought their jobs were secure. 

Now I am trying to live without using my credit card. Cash only. I've never been so poor and have never realized that I am actually poverty stricken. Those damn cards have ruined our whole economy and yet not one thing has been done to stop them. Credit card companies  are no better then the banks that issued loans to people who could not afford to pay for the house that they were buying. So if the banks are being blasted for it why aren't the Credit card companies too?

Wow, I did not realize how upset and mean I've become. It's just that I am sick and tired of the news, politics and the American way. 

"Being able to charge to your hearts content? Debt for life. Owing no charge card company? Priceless.

Children, You must Learn to Get Along

Something bothered me today about a B movie I saw yesterday. It lingers now, affecting how I think about people. The movie itself is not memorable. A 17 year old kid enters a 500 mile sled dog race to save his parents farm and get money for college. You know the kind of movie and most likely can predict the ending. 

The Iditarod happens to be an interest of mine and, though this was nowhere near that, I wanted to watch just for the race. As in all movies you either have the bad guys or a seemingly insurmountable object.  In this one you had both. 

The frost biting weather, the frozen or not so frozen lakes and the unforgiving tundra divides the men from the boys or the soul from the body as the case may be. A 17 year old boy entering and thinking that he has a chance especially when he's never raced gives the movie it's suspense. 

Then there are the bad guys. The stereo types that Hollywood can't seem to make a movie without. And this is what bothered me. There were the noble Indians, the kind American and, here we go, the evil German who kicks dogs and threatens the young boy. The German's sponsor  is a Scottish  tight wad who will stop at nothing to win his money.

The German was the one who bothered me the most. Now I have friends in Germany. Rainer, whom I've corresponded with for 18 years is the kindest, happiest man I know. 

It was on a train ride through Germany where a bunch of young athletic girls came to my rescue, tossing my luggage hand over head to move it for me when I had unknowingly put it all in the wrong place. And just recently I've come to know a couple of more young Germans through my Twitter site who are just adorable. 

Movies like these in the past had influenced my way of thinking about Germans. The movie always portrayed them as harsh, cruel and evil thinking. It wasn't until I made contact with Rainer that I actually got to know about Germans and Germany. This is a shame. Our society today is so easily swayed. Even with the news we seem to only get the negative side. The more negative it seems the more sensational it is and the more they shove it down our throats until we can only see the bad side of people. 

That German in the race could have been an American that had tried to harm the boy in the movie. Kicking dogs is not unknown here. Can you say  Michael Vick? Look at the puppy mills. Just look down the street at dogs who are chained and never leave the yard. 

Talk about cruelty to children we now have on trial a woman who killed her own little girl and dumped her in a plastic bag. This is not an isolated incident there are many. You can go on and on about the atrocities that have been performed  by Americans. 

 What I'm trying to say is, we are no different then any other race. We've tried to exterminate the Native Indians, we've experimented on a race of black men, (Tuskegee) we've even experimented on children (http://tech.mit.edu/V115/N49/radiation.49n.html) So why do we persist on stereotyping other nations? 

And my god, obsession with money. Why do we still paint the Scots as the proverbial cheapskate who will stop at nothing to get his hand on a dollar? Why we have Bernard Madof. He has bilked and ruined thousands of innocent people. 

All's I know is that I've got to start taking the news, movies, and "informed" opinions with a grain of salt. If the Pakistani man that I met at the museum is representative of his race, a person who listened attentively, had wonderful insights to offer and some very interesting statistics to share,  I'd truly like to meet more of them. His concern about his children's colds and the illnesses in his family only spoke to me of a person I seem to have talked to over the fence, at the store, or the office water cooler. 

I only hope to meet more people from other parts of the world. I hope that we all get to meet one another. I hope that we can come to an understanding, an appreciation and a love. 

Let's take our own advise that we give to kids when they are playing in the park. "Now, children can we all just play nicely.

Madeline Awong's Mango Bread

Whistling from the kitchen a tuneless song, my mother in law would happily cook and bake. I remember the Portuguese soup with lots of kale, baking with large chunks of fruit inside her upside down pineapple cake and brown mango bread with large pieces of orange mango to contrast. 

In her memory I would like to share this recipe for Mango Bread. I believe the secret to its greatness was the fact that she never diced the mangoes but crushed them so that with each bite you would get a wonderful taste of the fruit. 

Mango Bread

2 C flour sifted

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup sugar

Mix and form a well in center

add

3 well beaten eggs

3/4 Cup oil

2 Cup Mangos mashed

1 tsp vanilla

Nuts and raisins are optional

Mix and pour into greased pan and Bake at 325 for 1 hour