Friday, April 21, 2017

Honolulu: cross posted from G+

We are in Honolulu (PG has a conference, and was lucky enough to find dirt cheap tickets). Without the kiddo. He's with grandma and his Aunt, keeping them awake longer than either expected. It's very indulgent, and also very nice.

 - I know so little about Hawaii. Never mind how much Magnum PI one has consumed. But.. I wasn't pumped to be in a city while in Hawaii (which is a very privileged thing to say). Because nature is what Hawaii has in mind-popping ways, and a city can be a city.

But - - Honolulu is neat. I had no idea.

 - A mix mix mix. It would be very hard to be here if you were expecting a place where everyone looks like you. Or wanted an IHOP without hanji translation. You're a one one one ratio with tourists (and locals) from all over the Pacific.

 - Which means it's not hard to find noodle shops and matcha ice cream and korean cafes and McDonalds that serve Portuguese sausage and spam for breakfast..

 - I love Hawaii grocery stores with all of my tiny little heart. Mix mix mix.

 - There's also British or Australian people here. If they're actually British, I tip my hat at their perseverance through a hell of a plane trip. If they're actually Australian, they move very slow while shopping and don't say much. Which doesn't seem very Australian. (I'm judging them all.)

 - I have eaten spam every day and I will not stop. If you offer me Musubi (spam on rice wrapped in seaweed for under $3 a 'sandwich'), I'm gonna eat it with a joy verging on desperation.

 - More rice sandwiches!

 - The beautiful surfers, male and female, young and old, who's bodies are shaped by ocean daily. They're all relaxed lean and muscle, who have very comfortable relationships with their swimsuits. (My relationship with my swimsuit is fine. Maybe a little humorous. I only caught one man eyeing my belly button in strange ways... My belly button is on it's own particular journey through this pregnancy.)

 - We are staying by Waikiki beach (fancy!). Today we drive to the North Shore (fancy!) to watch more surfers and see if PG can find a sea turtle. I'm hoping for some duck diving and more spam.

 - I get back Tuesday morning on a red eye. BWAHAHAHAHAHAH. Let's see how that works. It's five hours behind Mpls. Crossing all fingers and toes.

Onward.

Sunday, April 09, 2017

My mom swears

My mom swears.

It's now a mark of intelligence (and my mom is very intelligent. Even though she would down play this instantly. Which is probably also a sign of intelligence.)

But, I don't swear around my four year old. I really don't swear much lately, as much of my time is spent around kids.

I pride myself in the code-switch, for better or worse.

But I don't necessarily know if it's a good thing.

So... we don't use swear words. And my mom does. And I twiddle over every well-placed swear word Grandma utters in the presence of the four year old. Probably unnecessarily. As worry may not be a sign of intelligence.