Dave & Busters

 Trevor and I were invited to Dave & Busters for another Christmas party.  I had to ask for the evening off from work to attend.  I'm glad we got to go, because I enjoy socializing sometimes, though I am an introvert.  I also bought myself a curling iron for the first time in over 20 years, and did something different to my hair.

I had fried pickles for the first time, and they are to die for.  We ended up leaving early because, Trevor had to be at work at 1am, leaving little room for sleep.  

No mistletoe, but always an XoXo 

The dinner party.

Trevor and Jose

The Bungalow

“The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.” ― George Carlin 

 I was invited to a Christmas party at The Bungalow in Long Beach, California with my "plus one," who is my husband.  Having been constantly caring for my mom, or constantly working, we haven't had much time to go and have fun on our own.  I asked my son Kalib to watch Grandma so we could go out.  I'm so glad he was able to cover us.  We had so much fun.  

The Bungalow is an intimate bar and restaurant, with beautiful and contemporary decor and many rooms to hang out in.  We got the room with the lit Christmas Tree and Snow man.  There was a full bar, and a fireplace, overlooking the marina.  

Trevor and Me - this became our Christmas card picture.

Me and the fashionable Jamie

Me and sweet Gilbert

Me and Trevor - Christmas card picture #2

Trevor and the stylish Jaylin

Me, A'driana, Gisselle, and Jordan

The party before the late birds got there.

Gift for Trevor

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” ― Calvin Coolidge

Trevor saw this teeshirt on a Facebook ad and thought it was funny.  He reshared the advertisement and said, "Want."  I didn't think anything of it.  

Well, our friend, Daniel, came by our apartment and bought two, one for him and one for Trevor.  

Of course, Trevor had to put it on to be twinsies with Daniel.

Kittens and Trees

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” ― Peg Bracken

Our friend Danny invited us over to his home.  While we were there he said his wife Tanya got a kitten.  They live in Keizer, OR (but are moving to Independence, Oregon soon).  They also got a Christmas tree, but couldn't put ornaments up because the kitten kept climbing the tree.  She certainly is a cute cat!

Christmas 2018

“The nutcracker sits under the holiday tree, a guardian of childhood stories. Feed him walnuts and he will crack open a tale...” ― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Trevor and I had been living in Salem, Oregon, although this picture was taken at a friend's house in Keizer, Oregon.  Their names are Danny and Tanya.  

They were very kind people we met during the toxic water crisis coming from Detroit Lake that was in our drinking water.  Danny and Tanya gave us water and we became instant friends.

I always love going to Danny and Tanya's home.  They have 3 awesome kids and Danny is actually from southern California and also Polynesian.  So, he can relate to me from California and Trevor from the Islands.

Their tree smelled delicious.

Mele Kalikimaka

“I stood for almost an hour in a line of shuffling, bitter-eyed late mailers (Christmas is such a carefree, low - pressure time - that's one of the things I love about it),...” ― Stephen King

Trevor, received a tiny, decorated bag at work from his Filipino co-workers.  The bag is kind of feminine, so he passed it on to me.

The contents were two boxes of whitening soap, by a company called Magical!  I was like, "What are you trying to tell me?"  He said, "Nothing.  I just saw two little soaps with a chick on it and thought I would give it to you."

What a sweetie pie for thinking of me.

What baffles me about this soap is the precedence of self-hate that darker completed Asians feel the need to lighten their skin.  Having grown up in beach cities of southern California, I loved a tan or "healthy glow" from having some sun light.  Lightening my skin has never been a thought that crossed my mind.

I love my freckles and beauty marks.  It makes me unique.  As the song goes..."A face without freckles is like a sky without stars."  Needless to say, that was an interesting gift.

The girls I live with had an explosive Christmas.  Their living room was so full of gift wrap when they were done, it looked like Christmas threw up all over.  I enjoyed watching the kids open their gifts.  It's the first Christmas without my children.  It warmed my heart a little to hear the squeals of grateful children on Christmas morning.  They call Trevor "Uncle Trevor" even though he's not biologically their uncle or even married into their family.  It's called "hanai" family, meaning an unofficial adoptive family member.

He got them a Mickey Mouse popcorn maker to share.  I love to see genuinely grateful children.

I didn't think I'd get a gift for Christmas, because to some, I was bad in 2016.  I just had a break-up from my kids father, and we were together for 21 years.  It will come to fruition, the blessing it was that we separated because in the end, good things will come for both of us.  We just don't know it, yet.

I live in Makaha Valley.  It's a small town on the far west side of O'ahu, Hawaii.  The neighbor girl across the street received a goat for Christmas.  It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen, yet.  

But, I did receive gifts.  I received a handmade quilt by Trevor's mom, Jodie.  Valerie gave us a personalized glass Christmas ornament.  Trevor bought me a my first Mele Kalikimaka ornament as is tradition in his family (giving an ornament every year).  He also gave me a rose, after driving an hour to come see me.  It certainly made a bittersweet Christmas a bit better.

Popcorn and Christmas Movies

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” ― Harlan Miller

 

I have been away from my family for 4 months.  I live in Makaha Valley, Hawaii, and live with a family that has 3 daughter.  The eldes is in middle school, the middle child in elementary, and the youngest is a toddler.  Her name is Leilani. 

Leilani wasn't sure about me in the beginning.  She would stop my bedroom and peer in.  She would hide and peek.  But, the more I would wave at her or let her walk into my room, we became fast buddies.  

Being away from my family makes me crave family interaction.  Leilani gives me comfort.  She's my little pal.  Her mom, Valerie, made popcorn tonight.

We sat around to watch the original cartoon "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  Leilani wouldn't share her popcorn, though.

Hawaiian Style Tree

“A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small.” ― Eva K. Logue

Ok, so the Hawaiian tree is weird compared to the type of fir tree I am used to, which is typically a Douglas Fir.  Anyway, this is the finishing touch.  I took pictures of the children I live with, Hekla, Athena, and Leilani and their cat, Kalia.  Kalia wouldn't leave the tree alone.  

Axel, the man of the house, did a great job stringing the lights on.  I was wondering how that was going to happen, because the tree branches are so sparse compared to ones that I am used to.  He had to use string to keep the lights from hanging all over the place.

The kids were so excited and the lady of the house, Valerie, pulled her decorations out and let her daughters add the ornaments.  I told the girls to try and get some of the ornaments inside the branches to fill the tree in.  

It was fun watching the kids parttake in family tradition, Hawaiian style.

I miss my kids so much and my cat Dusty.

x

Hawaiian Fir Tree

“Christmas is the keeping-place for memories of our innocence.” ― Joan Mills

My first Hawai'ian fir tree. I'm used to California-grown trees, and this was certainly interesting to watch Axel string lights on the tree. Literally, he had to use string to keep the lights from dangling. It took him a couple hours. He did a great job. Tomorrow, they will add decorations to the tree.

This is the first Christmastime that I have been away from my family in California.  Hawaii is an experience and new chapter in my life.  

Christmas Music Concert

“When purchasing gifts becomes the focal point of the season, we lose focus on what's truly important.” ― Joshua Fields Millburn

 

For the Christmas season, the children from Waianae Intermediate's school band got to perform at Ala Moana Mall.  Hekla was performing on her trumpet for the Christmas concert.  It was my first time seeing her play.  She did well and she had her whole entourage to cheer her on from the balcony.

BC Company Christmas Party

 

There are 3 locations of the particular company I work for.  All 3 locations got together at the owner's house for a Christmas party.  I won a tower (the largest gift) of desserts.  Santa Claus was there.  Everybody was having a good time.  We all were forced to take off whatever socks we had on to put on festive socks that waited for us upon entering the door.