Angels Really Do Exist . . .

And they talk to me through my two year old daughter.


I’m not sure if any of you are familiar with the phenomenon of child clairvoyance? It is something only small children experience because they have not developed control over their five senses. Some children have past life experiences and others simply channel multiple “spirits.” At either rate they can recall things out of the ordinary that no other person could know besides the deceased. It’s pretty freaky!

So, here’s the story, the other day Nadia and I went out to lunch at one of my favorite places, Kealani's, a Hawaiian Barbeque restaurant. We are eating our spare ribs and rice and along comes an adorable older couple and sits at the table next to us. The woman starts exclaiming how amazing Nadia is and implying that she is and old soul. She said that she will be someone very important in life she could tell.

Nadia is very sweet to sweet people and she is just listing to this woman go on about her. She starts mumbling a little in very quiet voice. Then she get’s a little louder looks straight at me and says, “Jennifer, that’s my Jennifer!” I almost fell off my seat and started balling. Luckily I was having a conversation with the older couple and I held myself together.

I explained to them that no one calls me Jennifer. No one but my Grandfather that is. And he passed away while I was pregnant with Nadia. His favorite line to me was, “Jennifer, that’s my Jennifer!” When Nadia said it she even said it in the same sweet nasaly tone that he did. I just felt like his Angel was sitting right beside her whispering in her ear letting me know he is still a part of our lives.


How amazing, thanks Granpa!


We'll never forget you!!!

Meet Hitomi

This is our last student from Osaka, Japan. She was only here for one week but she’s left an impact that will last a lifetime. Hitomi, who's name translates to eye (specifically the pupil), is a traditional Japanese Dancer by trade. It is called Nihon (meaning Japan) Buyou (meaning dance). She has been to several destinations around the world performing her dance. Her stage name is Satotsuya and is listed here in kanji on her business card.


We have done so much and she has taught us so much in one short week. We have seen a DVD of her dancing at a festival in Japan. We shared a wonderful beach bonfire together for Rich’s birthday. She taught us several games and songs including a game named "janken" (or stone-scissors-paper) and a song called, "Konpira Fune Fune" which goes along with various games. You have to see this video.


She also showed us how to make Okonomiyaki it is kind of like the Japanese version of Italian pizza meets German potato pancake meets American pot pie. It’s kind of hard to describe but once you’ve had it you’ll never forget it. This food is delicious or as the Japanese say, “oishii” and is native to Osaka. It’s so good that I couldn’t resist sharing it with you. This is one variation of many just like our Pizza in the states. Hitomi and her friend Yumiko were gracious enough to show us the art of making these wonderful little niblets.



OKONOMIYAKI
"Okonomi" means "as you like". This refers to the ingredients.



INGREDIANTS
2 cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
¼ tsp Salt
1 cup Water or Chicken Broth
½ Head Green Cabbage
1 Egg + 1 for each pie
1 lbs Chopped Pork + 1 lbs thin patty Pork
Cooking Spray or Vegetable Oil


1. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt and mix in a large bowl. Gradually add a cup or more of water or chicken broth as needed until the dough is fairly wet. Mix until smooth.
2. Cut cabbage into thin slices and chop pork into small bite sized pieces.
3. Add egg, meat, and cabbage to batter and mix.
4. Heat oil in a pan or spray cooking spray on a skillet. Fry a couple pieces of pork on both sides. Spoon batter over pork and spread circular and flat. After one side is browned flip over and cook other side. Once fully browned crack an egg on skillet and place pie on top. Let cook until egg is done. Brush with sauce of choice or serve on the side.


SAUCES
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Barbeque Sauce
Tonkatsu Sauce (Asian Pork Sauce)
You can mix any of these sauces for a different flare. My personal favorite is Tonkatsu Sauce and Mayonnaise. The beauty of this dish is you can be as creative as you like and add whatever suits your taste buds.


Enjoy!!!

Happy Birthday Rich!!!

This weekend we celebrated Rich's birthday at Moonlight Beach with a great big bonfire and monster mia tais made by my pseudo bartender sista-in-law Rey. They really bit me in the you know what! This was the perfect place to rejoice over an amazing individual. We missed out on sharing Rich’s BIG 30 last year while he was in Japan so we wanted to party hearty this year with him.


Rich was in his element on the shores of Southern California under a million twinkling stars, although it was a bit too overcast to enjoy them in all their glory. Rich, Pete, and the kids played a favorite game of volley circle in the sand, where you stand in a circle and “whatever you do don’t let the ball hit the sand!” We sat around a huge campfire in the sand, roasted marshmallows, and once again tried to solve quantum physics theories with questions such as “If God exists could he build a boulder so big that he in all his omnipotence could not lift it?” Christopher did his usual fire walking routine which he’s getting quite good at.


All in all it was a fabulous night filled with wonderful company and enthralling conversations. We are so happy to have Rich back on land with us again! Happy Birthday!!!


If you would like to see more pictures of this event please clink on this link.

Happy Birthday Michellene!!!

Believing hear, what you deserve to hear: Your birthday as my own to me is dear...
But yours gives most; for mine did only lend Me to the world; yours gave to me a friend.
~Martial

Today is a very special day! It is the day that one of my very best friends was born! Michellene and I have been friends for about 5 years. We meet at work and become fast friends shortly after. Rumor has it I was the one who got her pregnant with her second little boy. I found out that I was pregnant and I didn't want to go it alone so I willed it on her. I am very persuasive. How I ever got pregnancy to sound attractive and appealing is beyond me.


Our birthday girl is at home today nursing her oldest son back to good health after a small operation. Troi is doing very well and we hope to see him back to his old lively self in a few weeks. Michellene is celebrating her big day next weekend and I hope to have some pix to share with everyone from that wild and crazy event! Happy birthday Girl! We Love You!


Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. ~Chili Davis


Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time. ~Jean Paul Richter

Lost In The Middle of The Desert

This weekend we camped out in Borrego Springs at Blair Valley campground. For those of you not familiar with the names, we camped out in the low desert of California. Everything started off great . . . sunny skies, family, and margaritas. It was the perfect day.

Brenda tells me she wants to go on a hike and maybe leave the girls with the boys so we aren’t slowed down. After talking it over and figuring how much time we might have later for a kiddie hike we decided to take Nadia and Emily with us anyway. I asked Pete to join us because my backpack was going to be really heavy and I wanted some help. He suggested I leave Nadia there with him and he would take her exploring. I decided against that because I wanted Nadia to experience “Real Desert Hiking.” My backpack was so heavy because I have been watching Man vs. Wild and I wasn’t about to risk getting lost in the desert without some essential survival items. I made sure I packed a compass, a whistle with thermometer, flashlight with extra batteries, Beyer aspirin, a first aid kit with Neosporin, ace bandage wraps, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, a knife, a flint, a lighter, rope, 45 sunscreen, and extra food and water. If we did get lost we were set but what are the chances of that?

We drive over to the trailheads in Jason’s truck. The hiking party included Brenda, Barb, Phil, Emily, Nadia, and myself. Our mission . . . “To find the Mortreros.” We hiked about a ¼ mile in and Emily got bit by a cactus Cholo. She had needles in her foot and shoe. She was crying pretty badly but Brenda and Phil fixed her all up. It was at this time while Emily was screaming that Barb decided we should go back. “The trail ends here anyway, there is no more dirt path.” With that she turned around and headed back for the truck. We forged on, wounded and all, over the boulders and rocks until we did see a dirt trail. Phil followed us in about a ½ mile and decided to go back and check on Barb.

Nadia led us most of the way climbing up and over huge rocks. She loves rock climbing and she’s darned good at it too even at two years old. I was so glad I brought her along for the experience. We reached a valley and some rather large boulders and decided to turn around. The sun was starting to get low in the wind was beginning to pick up. It probably dropped about 10 degrees since we started. I guess I could have checked my thermometer but we weren’t lost so why would I need that thing anyway?

I decided to put Nadia in the backpack for our trek back to the truck. This made my backpack weigh close to 50 or 60lbs. On our way back we ran into Phil who was sent back to check on us by Barb. We headed up the trail into the rock village that marked the beginning of the trail. It should only be a short hike back to the truck from this point. We began walking around trying to follow a defined path but there didn’t seem to be one. Every perceived path would run you straight into a cactus or a yucca plant.


We tried several directions but were unsuccessful in locating the truck that should have been so close. Soon we were in a field of yucca plants witch didn’t look at all familiar. There were mountains all around us and I had a hunch that just behind the mountain on the right we would find the truck below. Phil, being the Sherpa he is, trudged up to the top only to find more desert. No sign of life anywhere!

This is right about the time my brain went into panic mode. I start looking over at my niece Emily who has no jacket on and think “what is going on, what are we doing? Why didn’t I leave my poor little girl at the campsite safe and sound with her Daddy. What kind of a mother am I bringing her into such danger? How selfish! WTF Mate!”

Just then we see a campsite ahead and my thoughts shift first to joy and then to fear. “What about the countless ghost stories I’ve heard on camping trips or the numerous horror films I’ve subjected myself to over the years. What if this was going to be similar to the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” story? What if we go to them for help and they invite us into their trailer where the skin us alive, prop us up on poles, and roast us like pigs. Who would ever know? No way! We were going back into the desert and finding shelter in a Coyote cave for the night. My backpack would come in handy after all.”

“Okay, focus here, I do have cell phone reception so I should be able to just call Pete and tell him to come and save us.” Just then my phone rings, “It’s my Mother!” Of all people to have call you when you are about to become a vultures feast in the middle of the desert! “Uh yeah?” I couldn’t hide my fear, “we’re kinda lost in the desert right now we can’t seem to find the truck.” I filled her in on some more details and told her I would call her back in an hour to let her know on our status.

CLICK, I hang up the phone and I hear, “Phil” in the distance. I look up and see Barb through the brush. Was this a mirage? I’m thinking, “Wow, I’ve heard of people going crazy in the desert but I didn’t think it would happen this quick.” “Wait a minute, it is Barb!” Hooray! Thank GOD for those fluorescent pink pants and neon blue jacket! I guess when it comes to survival you don’t need much, just wear bright cloths! Thanks for saving us Barb!


We actually did have a great camping trip, if you'd like to see more pictures from our wild desert adventure please click on this link.

The Star Of India

The other day Nadia and I dropped “Daddy” off at the airport so we decided to take advantage of our location and visit the San Diego Maritime Harbor. First up on our tour was the Star Of India. I forgot my camera in the car so this was the only picture I have of our little maritime stroll. We walked passed several big yachts and sailboats and enjoyed the art sculptures along the way. We had a very nice morning. I think Nadia's highlight was chasing all the pigeons. She still believes she's gonna catch em one of these days. Who knows maybe she will.

Girl Fun!

This week was Spring Break for my nieces Hannah and Emily. I got to take them for the day and even got to enjoy them for a slumber party! It was great. These girls are growing up so fast! I remember when they were Nadia’s size and now they tower over her like giants. But that’s not all they do. Now they are the teachers teaching my daughter how to do things like how to feed the ducks, the proper way to climb a rock, and even which path to take while hiking through the brush. My, how they have grown. I don’t know where the time goes. It’s crazy!


We had a great time on our girl day. Our catch phrase for the day . . . "Shockie!" (It's a kid thing you probably wouldn't understand.) We painted our nails and fixed our hair. Then it was off to the park to feed the ducks. We played on the playground and with the ride on hydraulic fire engine. We hiked around the lake up to a beautiful gazebo and down through a campground where mouthwatering smells of burgers and hotdogs wafted through the air. We drove around to the other end of the park and counted horses along the way. I lost track after the first 10 but I did manage to count 3 steer (MOOOO). We found another playground with a couple large rocks to climb.


After this we were pooped. I was in no shape to cook after such an exciting day so we headed to Burger King for some chicken fries and some Sponge Bob toys. They had an indoor playground that the girls played in as well. We all grabbed our crowns and headed home for a little R & R. Once home it was time to veg in front of the boob tube, snuggle under the covers, and eat popcorn.


We had a great day, just us girls and I’m so grateful for the time I have with them. Before I know it they’ll be teenagers and I might not be as much fun for them to hang with. For now, I’m takin all I can get. I love these girls!