Pineapple & Macadamia Breeze

A Year in the Life


December 31. Any year can be improved upon - especially one with a war going on. When I was a teenager in the '90's, Dad would say I was lucky not to have gone through the 1960's, with the Vietnam war, riots in the cities, and the assassinations of three of our most prominent leaders. Then came September, 2001. You can make your own rankings as to degree of horrors of events or eras but there are not many Americans who go through a day that they don't revisit, in mind or media, 9/11. May there never be another year with a day like that.

I'm looking forward to tonight. There will be a trio playing, dinner seatings all evening, and plenty of bubbly ready for the pouring. Brian says we can, with discretion, of course, enjoy a drink or two as the celebration builds. When the clock strikes 12, I will raise my glass to you all - friends, family, and the 4 bloggers who read this site and 4 million who don't.

Indulging the mind

My visit to the book store was successful. I found "Carrie Pilby" and from the sale table, selected "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons" by Lorna Landvik. I'm proud of myself as I stayed within my standard of keeping the "impulse buy" portion of the expenditure at under 50%. I make every effort to adhere to this rule, whether shopping for food, clothes, books or CD's.

I will, of course, offer my opinion on each of these novels but not until I have finished them.

If there's such a thing as an Auld Lang Syne syndrome, it may have struck me but I'll get through it. I have a cute apartment but my only companions - anthropomorphic at that - are my bunny slippers and my snowball. The bar has become more my home-away-from home than the apartment, thanks to Brian and a nice group of waitpersons. For a couple of them, they may have a place where they sleep but home is the bar and co-workers are their only family.

Young and the Restless

Getting my morning exercise jumping around the blog world and went from Val's site to a reference she made to Caren Lissner - who, it seems, is a novelist. In exploring further, I have decided I will see if I can find her novel, Carrie Pilby. It sounds interesting and I could use something to stimulate my mind a little more than the soaps do.

I served a new (to me) drink last night, called a Mistletoe Martini:

4 parts vodka
1/2 oz. melon liqueur
splash of grenadine

The green and red make a very festive drink, but maybe it looks better than it tastes.

Now to find a book store ..........

Lost in Cyberspace

As is probably the case with anyone who would happen to be reading this (other than maybe two people who know me personally), I read a number of daily blogs. This morning as I was reading, I found myself thinking about this community that is forming here in cyberspace. (Thank you, Mr. Gibson, for adding that word to the language.)

Does it feel like a community to anyone else, or is that just me? Maybe my need to feel connected is affecting my perception.

I was on the fringes of a discussion last night at the bar about how age affects a person’s enjoyment of the holidays. They were discussing the question of the age at which our feelings on January 2nd change from Post-Holiday-Letdown to Sigh-of-Relief. I’m thinking it might be less a question of chronological age than of circumstances.

I have always loved the holidays, and since my responsibilities are limited, I can continue to enjoy them without the hectic pace that some people experience. I realize that some people, especially if they are alone, suffer depression at this time of year, but despite being alone, that has not been a problem for me. Not that it wouldn’t be nice to have someone to share life with, but there’s something to be said for independence.

Reading blogs this morning in my bunny slippers, and ran across the Friday Five questions, so I decided to join in.

1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

Passing Decanting.

2. What was your biggest disappointment?

Failure to take the world by storm with my brilliance as a photo-journalist

3. What do you hope the new year brings?

A wealthy beachcomber

4. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? If yes, what will they be?

Improve my skills as court jester. Often-called-upon, little-appreciated skills that should be taught in college. Will see one safely through many a crisis.

5. What are your plans for New Year's Eve?

Attend a very large party, behind the bar, followed by breakfast at a diner with Brian, Kim, Artie, Colleen and Theresa.


Note to Valerie: I had to think about it, but "liberating" is pretty accurate. Thanks.

Bar Trivia

A patron recited this to me last night:

"I had a little bird,
its name was Enza.
I opened a window,
and influenza."

You are asked to identify its source:

(a) one of the tracks from "Britney Does Rap"
(b) a public service announcement by the Center for Disease Control
(c) a 1918 Top 40 song
(d) a winning entry in the Poetry Contest that we constantly encounter in spam and pop-ups.

While (d) is the logical choice - any entry deemed sincere will be a winner - the correct answer is (c). This little ditty was sung by schoolchildren during the 1918 flu outbreak which killed about 540,000 Americans.

Guess I'd better blow out Amy's candles and hurry off to work.

Shrine On

Being alone on Christmas morning for the first time in my life made me a little anxious, but it’s been okay. Had a phone call from The Family and laughed and felt like they were not so far away after all.

My favorite gift is from Amy. It was in a big box containing a very pretty glass plate, an assortment of large scented candles, and three small, framed pictures of herself, along with the following hand-written page:

Do It Yourself Shrine to Amy

1) Take a deep breath and think thoughts of me.

2) Now that you are in the proper mind set, begin to assemble.

3) The plate goes first. (Duh!)

4) Arrange the candles as you prefer. (I trust your judgement on arranging the best lighting to illuminate my features.)

5) Place picture frames throughout arrangement.

6) Light candles and enjoy the aura that fills the room.


Merry Christmas to Christians. And peace on earth and good will to men and women of all and no faiths. Pretty much defines my version of Christianity.

Flattened Grilled Cheese

Brother Alan e-mailed me that he had gotten into the grilled cheese mood as the result of references I made and he purchased a loaf of Hearthstone white and bar of Cracker Barrel Extra-Sharp. Alas, his competence ended there as he put the assembled sandwich on his George Foreman Grill. George promptly squished it something akin to a pancake.

Say Cheese

Blogger I encountered via a mutual disinterest in Christmas newsletters has begun a survey/study of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. One of her compatriots, Valerie, ["Rantings...] bemoaned the artery-clogging cholesterol in a Piano Man parody but I've been eating them for 10 years with no ill effects. I butter the bread inside and out - both pieces, and it's one of two things that I really like Velveeta for. (Now there's another subject that can inspire strong feelings, positive and negative: Velveeta. It's right up there with Spam.)

We deserve a pat on the back for the festive holiday atmosphere we've managed to bring to the bar and hotel. We're getting lots of compliments and some pretty good tips, too, as people get into the Christmas spirit.

Wise Man Bearing Gifts

In truth, the UPS man might or might not be wise, but he was certainly bearing gifts. He knocked on my door while I was eating breakfast, and delivered a big package from my folks in Chicago.

Displaying my usual patience, I let my Wheaties get soggy while I tore into the package. Goodies!! My mom makes the world's finest Divinity. And there's fudge with walnuts, too! My mom rocks!!

Also several wrapped packages, some of which I can guess at the contents by size and shape, but I won't open them until Christmas. Amy and I did that one year when we were kids, and discovered that it's not as much fun as it sounds. The anticipation is a lot of the fun.

December Newsletters

My Aunt Marlene faithfully sends one of those family newsletters every Christmas, chronicling the past twelve months of activity. She invests a lot of time and effort putting it together, and probably sends out twenty or thirty of them.

Does anyone read them?

If the letter comes from a close friend or relative, you probably already know about anything really newsworthy that has happened, along with plenty of trivia. And if from an acquaintance, why would you care?

I have two suggestions:

1) If you feel like writing one of these, go right ahead. Make it long and detailed. Then put it into your scrapbook before you are tempted to make copies and send them to everyone on your Christmas card list.

2) If you want to send something besides just the card, but don't have time to write a long personalized letter to everyone on the list...MAKE STUFF UP!! Or write a family newsletter about some other family.

What do you think? Maybe I should write one myself.

Does Anyone Have an Elvish-English Dictionary?

What do we have to look forward to next December now that the Lord of the Rings trilogy is complete? The three-hours-plus went fast for me at the matinee this morning, and I've decided this was my favorite of the three.

I heard a couple movie critics insisting on comparing it with Star Wars the other day, and I find that kind of annoying, so don't look for it here.

What I'll do instead is throw out a big broad hint that when they come out next Christmas with a nice DVD collection of the three, I would really love to have it. The spectacular scenery alone is worth the price of the ticket, and the acting and effects are first rate. Loved it. Okay, so I'm not a movie critic. But I know what I like.

No Room at the Inn

Brian tells me that the hotel is booked solid through January 3. And I have been asked to work every night. As a new kid on the block, I expected this and it's not all bad - I'll be in on the New Year's Eve partying and even if on the working side of the venue, it beats sitting dateless in my apartment with the TV escorting me to 2004.

Speaking of television, I'm thinking of treating myself to a TIVO with the extra days' income. I haven't quite convinced myself as my "must-see TV" list is short indeed. But occasionally there is an old movie on that interests me so I am tempted.

Stacy e-mailed me another testimonial on Hurricanes, from a brother who went to Tulane University (in New Orleans) and was a frequent patron of Pat O'Brien's Restaurant, birthplace of the Hurricane.

Off to work.

Ubiquitous Umbrellas


Not outside; as previously noted, it does rain sometimes yet usually not for long.

Lots of umbrellas inside and poolside - in drinks. The bar and restaurant are open to each other - but trust me, it is elegant. So bartenders do the drinks for the waitresses. Folks sitting at the bar tend to be less into drink aesthetics as they are, per Brian, mostly locals. But not surprisingly, tourists who dine here like sweet, fruity drinks with little umbrellas (or parasols, if you prefer) decorating them. It seems to be part of the overall Hawaiian experience.

Getting more e-mails from friends and family. The one other female in my mixology class has gotten a job at North Shore (Chicago area) country club. She didn't say but when winter winds blow near Lake Michigan, hot toddies, buttered rum, Irish coffee, and warm liqueurs in demitasse cups must be big sellers.

I wonder if I'll ever be called upon to prepare one of the above.

Garnish with Cherries and Oranges

Identified my first steady patron last night. I figure 3 nights in a row makes him a steady though he was sitting at the bar long before I stood behind it. Nice looking, 50-ish, sophisticated air. Brian tells me he's the manager at a nearby upscale boutique.

Anyway, his drink of choice is a Hurricane, which he came upon while managing a store in New Orleans. Brian accommodated him early on by acquiring the proper hurricane lamp-shaped glassware. We don't get many requests for it but it's available to anyone who asks for one.

I received an e-mail from friend Stacy who reports that one of our photojournalism schoolmates, "Geoff," is taking a course in the craft - and art - of the Steadicam. Geoff should do well as he's very creative. I base my judgment on the great doodles he did in his notebook the semester he sat beside me.

Bad enough reading about over-achieving classmates in the alumni journal - now it comes via e-mail.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Frosty the Snowman

I printed the pic Amy sent and, held in place by a pineapple magnet, it adorns my refrigerator. To its left is my return plane ticket. While I'm philosophically here to stay, a nice airline clerk clued me in that it would be cheaper to buy a round trip ticket than a one-way. I've been told Hawaii is trying to discourage immigration though illogical air fares won't do it.

It can be reported that the skies are not sunny all day, every day. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. Because my exposure to Hawaii has always been via travel brochures, it had never occurred to me that such could happen but the lush forests don't stay green sucking salt water from the Pacific. Yes, I suppose there could be giant aquifers under the island. But it's still supposed to rain.

I'm not quite at the point where tending bar is fun but the martinis get a little dryer each day.

After reading about my snowball, little sister Amy e-mailed me a picture of a snowman. Such fun they were. But while my heart is still in Chicago, the rest of my body is happy to be in Hawaii.

I had wondered whether there would be a holiday feel when the temperature outside is 80 degrees but the hotel atmosphere is quite festive. I will describe this with more passion in the days ahead.

"Brian," who is the head bartender/sommelier, seems to have accepted me into his fraternity of mixologists as I arrived with knowledge and enthusiasm even if lacking experience. But he likens my education to that of a doctor - lots of book learning but still having to develop a bedside manner. This analogy struck me as more than a little over the top but he's clearly well-intentioned about providing TLC to the bar's patrons.

Time will tell whether this venture was worth the lives and money but getting Saddam must be at least a temporary morale booster to our guys and gals in the military.

My snowball seems to be growing, the product of a freezer which is not frost-free. I'm thinking about leaving it intact for sentimental reasons until Spring comes to Chicago. If I had freezer space I'd be tempted to buy pints of ice cream - and I'm better off without the calories. Besides, there's Baskin-Robbins and Haagen-Dazs stores and a bunch of others too close for a dieter's comfort.

Mixed my first Navy Grog last night. A work of art, if I do say so myself. And a testimonial to its good taste in the form of a nice tip.

Hi. Welcome to Hawaii and a view of the well-frosted freezer in my apartment refrigerator. But that's not a complaint - not today, at least, because I can scrape enough frost off the sides to make a darn decent snowball.