(a) very good year (s)

Right up front - credit where credit is due...
to my DollinkBroS-O, for sending along info (thank you) on...
Hawaiian uke enthusiast, keonepax...
who posts a series of 'Oldies but Goodies' audio/visuals on YouTube.
keonepax began with this #1 compilation, then went crazy. I believe he's up to twenty-some odd videos, and still going strong.

For those of us who stroll Memory Lane (maybe too) frequently, these musical posts are a delight to listen to.

Out of the many pop/rock/folk musical compilation videos offered by keonepax, I decided to post (the one above) from 1963.

Historically, so much happened in this country in 1963.
A decade of phenomenal societal and political changes.

Musically, art does reflect life.

Do check out the Classic Oldie but Goodie video series by keonepax. The album covers alone are worth seeing!
They're like a mini history lesson via pop music.

BTW, I was 12 years old in 1963.
My oldie but goodie grey matter has retained 90% of these songs and/or lyrics.

A fact that rather pleases me, I think...

Link: keonepax: be sure to check out his cute home-made-y uke videos too!
Also this.
We're all having too much fun!

KOOOOOOOOL!

Finally - It happened last week in my kitchen: wool - dyed with KOOL-AID!

Before

After

More being dyed today and in the next few days...will post pix at a later date...
In the meantime...what shall I knit with it?!?

i need you

good fortune!

YAHOOOOOOOO!
What good fortune!

I am excited to report... a recent A.B.C. sighting...
(Alas, 'round these parts, that is almost as rare as a U.F.O. sighting)

The photo: an irresistible quicker than quick crochet project from Craftzine. See post from January 9, 2007.
While you're there, take a look at another Cutie Crafty Chinese-y Craft posted on January 4, 2007!
Darn those tarts! Never too much of a good thing!

i am obsessed...

I left mine in San Francisco

heart*, that is.
The video is a bit incongruous, yes? Hula dancers in the foggy city. Yet I could not resist linking to it. For Tony's song, of course. Then there are the irresistibly darling hula hand movements for 'cable cars'.
Ah, Lovely Hula Hands.
Be sure to click further - on Lovely Hula Hands - to hear the song as Mom used to sing it to me and my sibs.

I grew up in the city, and though my move away from there happened over 30 years ago, I still consider it home...and so my heart is left...

All the fond memories of childhood (and of city life in general) aside, 'the morning fog that chills the air' has always been, and will always be, too frickin' damp n' cold for me. Nope, I never 'got used to it'. No sentimental oozings for damp night air and that relentless biting cold wind.
Uh-Uh.

Anyways.
I sit here frittering away the last hour or two of February 14th, and realize that Valentine's Day 2008 is almost over for another whole year.
Zip. Gone. Bye Bye.
Just like that.

So.
I trust you let someone (or several someones) know today that you love him/her/it/them.
Telling is good.
Showing is even better.

If not today, there is always tomorrow.
We can choose to play out Love Day over and over and over. As we wish.

* Funny thing about a virtual leaving-of-the-heart. Like lizards who can regrow a broken tail, the essence of the human heart can be 'left' and yet seems always to return, renew, regenerate...

year of the rat

1. Fact: It is the Chinese New Year of the RAT.
2. Fact: I love to knit.
3. Fact: Scarves make great knitting projects.
   
4. Fact: 'Theme knits' can be a whole lot of fun.
   

However, I will not be knitting this scarf this year or any year >>>>

Rat Scarf Kit is from Morehouse Farm, comes in green, lt. gray (shown) and dk. grey, blackberry and brown.
Kit also includes red beads to attach for 'beady red eyes' effect, if so desired.
Euwwwwwwwwww.

AROOOOOOOOOOOO!

15" Beagle is 'top hound' at Westminster Dog Show 2008
(His name is Uno and he is the 'Best In Show' winner)
Now that is something to AROOOOOOO about.
(The arooooer is Otis)

'Sorry' is a good start...

.... but it's only a beginning...

'Sorry' is not the instant fix some may hope that it would be.....

The purpose of 'Sorry' is not to 'remove a great stain' (see article from first link)....
as if it never happened.

Sometimes stains are there for a good reason: they serve as reminders of acts
not to be repeated.

'Sorry'.

'Sorry'.

'Sorry'.

'Sorry'.

'Sorry'.

'Sorry'.

spread good cheer....

....not germs.

you're not (a real) chinese!

I am agog.
I am aghast.
For those of you who know of Agog and Aghast, what a cute Les Miz connection, eh?

Last night, whilst awaiting my take out dinner of Mini Chicken Katsu at the local Hawaiian BBQ restaurant, I made small talk with the proprietor. I know from previous conversations with this woman that she was born in Hong Kong, raised in Hawai'i, now living on the mainland and running a business. I also know that she is not a big celebrant of holidays.

Quote: 'Thanksgiving?!? I don't eat turkey. I don't like cook those foods. It's not my holiday. I don't care'.
Quote (my personal fave of all her declarations about holidays): 'Why Merry Christmas?!? Whot foh?!? Whot foh?!?'

BBQ Lady can be rather abrupt, but we usually manage some meaningless chitchat during the 5 minute wait for my order to be prepped. This particular evening, she and I happened on the topic of having a Chinese name. I told her my 6 month old DollinkGrandDaughter was given a Chinese name, and that both my DollinkDaughters had one too, as did I.

BBQ Lady looked at me incredulously, then firmly stated
that it was IMPOSSIBLE for me to have a Chinese name, because....well....she said...that I wasn't a real Chinese.

'But I am a real Chinese', says I.
I'm A.B.C., grew up in San Francisco, in the Chinatown 'hood', I added....a feeble attempt to further emphasize my authenticity.

'NO', she repeated.
'You are American and not Chinese and you can't have a Chinese name', she retorted - then continued her harangue by insisting, 'Because you are not a real Chinese' (or not Chinese enough, or something to that effect)....as if I didn't quite get it.

Truth be told, I really wasn't getting it.
My first reaction was to be offended, but in reality, this entire scenario was borderline ironic and/or funny, considering the source(s).

The fact is that I am far more accustomed....though am never ever thrilled when I hear....in fact I take issue with...
those who identify me as 'Chinese' before they take into any consideration of me as an AMERICAN (who happens to be of Chinese descent).

Besides being politically incorrect, this blind labeling is cheap shot, cop-out, never no mind about history, an asinine assumption borne of stupidity, ethnocentric beliefs....
....whoa there now....really, I shouldn't get started...

During our exchange, both BBQ Lady and I tried to keep it lite.
All along, she thought I was kidding when I insisted that I was Fo' Real Chinese.
I thought she was kidding by persisting that I was not.
As the moments wore strenuously on, I realized that neither of us was funning the other; that we were both headstrong steadfast in the seriousness of our individual conviction.

When my チキンカツ was ready, I grabbed the bag, hightailed out the door and left her repeating as I walked away that it's simply not (Ha Ha) right for me to have a Chinese name.
I kept calling back in her direction '(Ha Ha) but I do, but I do'....

Once back in my car I chuckled, then released a rather hearty laugh.
After which, I thought to myself (and probably said aloud) - 'WTF?!?'

Not a Real Chinese, eh?
Having lived in areas where I am frequently identified as The Chinese One, I struggle to educate the masses, often pontificating on deaf ears, unwilling perspectives and/or unyielding frame of references.
It shouldn't matter, but when ignorance abounds, it does.
Living for generations in a country that family and I call home; there are still far too many days when I feel the need to wear a button, tee-shirt or sign stating 'All American Girl' - because too many of y'all out there just don't seem to know that.

And then last night, of all Hallow'd Eves (Gung Hay Fot Choy New Year), indeed - one of my own messes with me.

Me, b.
Made In America.
4th generation (from Gum Sahn gold seekers).
Longtime Californ', to boot.

No small wonder I am an Angry Little Asian Girl.

raindrops

Random thought the other day
whilst driving down the rainy wet slippery road, heading off for work/running errands:

Rain was spitting down something awful, but in the car, I remained warm and dry. Umbrella in the back seat, ready to use once at my destination and I might be in need of some protective cover to run from a (very convenient) parking spot into whatever store(s).

Growing up in the Big City in the 1950's - 60's, we all got where we needed to go by foot and/or public transport. Forever exposed to the elements in our forays to and fro.

In those days, it seemed to rain quite a lot during the winter, so proper rain gear was de rigueur.
Us kids had yellow raincoats with hoods, and cool kid galoshes.

Ladies like Mom wore knee length raincoats, and just about every woman in the city (at some time or another) might have donned a pleated plastic rain bonnet (sorry, could not find a decent pic online) and 'clear' rubber galoshes before braving foul, rainy weather.

Even as a kid, I thought those pleated plastic rain bonnets were so cleverly designed, albeit kinda ugly. Like wearing a plastic produce bag on your head, only then - plastic bags were not so common/not available (can you believe?!?)(were things actually so much greener then?)...
Anyway, back to the rain bonnets - I even wore one on occasion, just so I could be like Mom.

The pleated plastic rain bonnets were certainly not a positive fashion statement, as they didn't look good on anyone. But it did keep rain off one's head. After coming in from the wet weather, you merely had to shake off the water by giving the hat a quick snap. With that flick of the wrist, it easily refolded along the accordion pleats and with another easy fold, it returned to a neat little size for storage in purse or pocket.
Pretty cool.

The rubber galoshes were worn right over shoes, preventing footwear from getting soggy on wet city streets and stepping into those inevitable rain puddles. Again, funky plasticky looking galoshes for women that were terribly unattractive, but boy were they practical.

Why oh why do I find myself missing these atrocious wet weather unfashionables?

P.S. While looking for images of raindrops, I came across these. Aren't they pretty though?