Midlife Crisis Hawaii

Let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day with — Love Songs!  I’m looking for your favorite love songs.  Do you have one with a special meaning?  Perhaps the song you danced to at your wedding?  Or maybe a song that was popular at the time that you met your special someone?  Or any love song – silly or not.  Stories to tell – share!

On our weekly Sunday run to Costco, I saw this:

I couldn’t help but be reminded of when there used to be a gas shortage back in the 70′s.  Cars would line up early in the morning to get their tanks filled or put in as much gas as they were allowed.  And the last car in line would have a sign on the back of it telling folks that it’s the end of the line.  Not many folks liked that last car.  Right, M?

I know a few of you touched upon this subject in one of the previous posts, but I’m sure there are more memories.  Special thanks to volleymom2 who gave me the idea when she mentioned this a few weeks ago on Face Book.

For me, the gas shortage had little if any impact.  Since I was working at Windward Volkswagen at the time, our pumps were closed to the public.  Puts new meaning to the term “Employees Only”.  Talk about fringe benefits, this was one that really came in handy.

I remember when Holiday Mart was sold out of locking gas caps as people were resorting to siphoning gas from parked cars.

But how about the rest of you?  How did you fare during the gas shortage back in the 70′s?

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For all you Maui folks – I know you guys always miss out on the 70′s Nightclub Reunion here in Honolulu, but here’s your chance!  Deja’ Vu 4 will be happening in a couple of weeks on Maui.  And this is the first time they’re going to have a Honolulu band too.  A very familiar 70′s NCR band: Greenwood!

So buy your tickets and tell your honey “I have an early Valentine’s Day present for you.  We’re going dancing!“.  Guarantee to score some points. 

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* And don’t worry – we’ll have something for you Hilo folks coming up real soon too!

Being the youngest of 4 boys, I was exposed to music at a very early age.  Not so much music of my choice, but music of my brother’s choice.

First a little background.  We grew up in a 3 bedroom house in Kailua.  Two boys in each bedroom and of course, the master bedroom for my parents.  We were brought up in pairs – talk about family planning.  My oldest brother is a ’67 grad followed by brother #2 – a ’69 grad.  Then my parents took a 5 year break and brother #3, a ’74 grad and saving the best for the last: me.  A ’76 grad.

Now you might think that the 2 oldest shared one room and the 2 youngest shared the other room.  Wrong.

The 2 oldest of the pairs shared one room and the 2 youngest of the pairs shared the other room.  So I was teamed up with brother #2.  And it worked out real well.  We were the more passive of the pairs.  I guess being the younger ones of the pairs, we had to listen to our older brothers so we were pretty mellow with each other.  Plus, not only did we match with our calm demeanor, we also were the skinner of the 2 pairs.   So we got along real well.

The only real argument we got into – that I can remember – was that my brother told me that if I chose to leave my little nightlight on, then he gets to close the bedroom door.  But I wanted the little nightlight on AND the bedroom door open.  So I’d turn on my little nightlight and he’d get up out of bed to close the bedroom door.  Then I’d get up out of bed to open the bedroom door as he turned off my nightlight.  I’d turn on my little nightlight and he’d get up and close the bedroom door.

This went on a few times until he explained to me that he’s working a compromise with me.  He could demand that the little nightlight be turned off AND the bedroom door shut as I could demand that the little nightlight be turned on AND the bedroom door opened.  So I could choose one of the two.

It made sense to me so I chose the little nightlight and he chose to close the bedroom door.  And I thought that was fair and we left it as that.

See, I learned a lot from him.  Little did I know that he was teaching me life’s lessons, but I realize it today.

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So anyway, we had a portable turntable between our beds.  I was too young and poor to buy my own records so I used to listen to whatever he played.  And he had a  wide repertoire of records that exposed me to a wide range of music.

As I was messing around in YouTube the other night, I was trying to remember those songs that he used to play and I thought I’d share the ones I remembered with you.

Thanks Terry.  You were the best roommate a brother could ask for.

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What songs do you remember that your siblings used to play?  We were very fortunate to have grown up in the decades that music was evolving.  If you can’t recall the songs, what life’s lessons have you learned from your siblings?

In our last blog “Christmas Traditions“, a certain someone egged me on about doing another Christmas poem – saying that it was a tradition.  News Alert: Once does not make for a tradition!

But I do what I can to satisfy the readers, so…

Wait, this year I thought instead of an MLC Christmas poem, how about an MLC Christmas song?  A familiar one that everyone loves and can sign along with (with apologies to The Carpenters).

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Merry Christmas, Midlife Crisis

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Greeting cards have all been sent
The Christmas posts are through
But I still have one left for this Christmas finale
A special one for you, sally

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Merry Christmas MLC posters
And all you lurkers too
But I can blog and in my blogs
I’m blogging from me to you

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Blogging can be joyful
Sometimes a pain in the ass too
And not every day’s a new blog day
But I expect daily posts from you

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The lights on my screen
Make it hard for me to see
Almost every day
My eyes burn like fire
Hope still get vision when I retire
To see you and to say
That I wish you’ll keep reading
And continue posting too
I’ve just on wish
On this Christmas post
I wish, um…, ah…, babaloo

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Instrumental Interlude (slow dance time)

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Blogs on the fire
Fill me with desire
To post memories and to say
That I thank you for continuing to read it
And posting comments too
I’ve just one wish
Filled with love and niceness
Thanks for reading Midlife Crisis
Thank you from Midlife Crisis

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Time for the obligatory Christmas Music post.

List your favorite Christmas songs.

Here’s a couple of mine:

Since I’ve moved my posts from Fridays to Thursdays, we can’t have a Friday5 anymore so how about a Thursday3?  Thanks to sally for coming up with that moniker.

Since we’re under a flash flood watch (at least on Kauai and Oahu), I thought the topic would be RAIN.

So, here we go.  Hopefully we’ll get a flood of responses.

1. Do you enjoy rainy weather?
2. Did you ever play in the rain?
3. Name me a song with the word Rain in the title or in the lyrics.

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Here’s my replies:

1. Do you enjoy rainy weather?
   I totally love rainy weather – especially when I’m home.  There just something about being enclosed in a cozy house while there’s rain everywhere outside.  It just makes the house feel that much more warm.
2. Did you ever play in the rain?
   The closest thing I ever got to playing in the rain was surfing while it was raining.  It’s pretty neat – because we’re already wet.  And it usually meant – glassy conditions.
   Growing up, we could never play in the rain.  In fact, my mom wouldn’t let us play with water.  She said that if we did, we’d catch a cold.  And we believed her.
3. Name me a song with the word Rain in the title or in the lyrics.
   One of my favorites: Rhythm of the Rain by The Cascades

Since it’s only 3 questions, don’t hesitate to answer them more than once.

And of course, rain stories are always welcome.

Stay dry!

On this Veteran’s day, I want to salute all of those who served time in our military services – and those who are serving today.  And a special hug to those who have lost loved ones while they were serving to protect our country.

When the Vietnam war was at it’s peak, I was just an elementary school kid oblivious to it.  I remember in passing that I’d see Bob Jones reporting from Vietnam on the Channel 9 news.  Every night.  I just thought that it was a daily event – since it was on the news every night.

It wasn’t until I saw the movie “Deer Hunter” that I realized just how gruesome war really was.

Then when I learned that the draft had ended before I became of age, I started to count my blessings.

I know that there a quite are few of MLCers who did serve in the military – and did see action in Vietnam.  Honestly, I’m a bit intrigued about those who did do tours in Vietnam.  But I’m not comfortable asking them about their experiences – as I’m sure they’d rather not talk about it.

And I look up to them for fighting for our country and having the strength to come home and adjust to normal life, suppressing the hateful memories of war.

When I took an orchid class from Robert Aoki, I became a pretty good friend with him.  I used to go visit him after his classes or during card-playing nights.  And once in a while when just Robert and I were the only ones there, talking story in the wee hours of the morning – he used to recall his memories of fighting in Italy.

I would listen intently as he shared his experiences – how sometimes the enemy was so close that you could see the white of his eyes.  And he said that he didn’t want to shoot and kill that person, but if he didn’t, that person would kill him.  It was unreal listening to Robert (God rest his soul).

He also told me about when he got shot – and the effects of morphine.  He said that there was nothing ever like morphine – you just float and feel so good.  No pain, no sadness, just the ultimate high.

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Fast forward to the late 70′s and early 80′s during the height of the Cold War.  I would pray every night that a nuclear war would never happen.  I was young and my life was just starting – and I surely didn’t want it to end with a big blast.

Not to say that it’s still not a possibility today, but if it happens – I hope that I’ll be vaporized instantly – and be in a better place.  And that all my dear friends and loved ones will be with me.

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Did you ever hear this song?  Give a listen to the lyrics.

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MLC HAWAII SALUTES OUR VETERANS.   We, as MLCers will never take your sacrifices for granted.  Thank you for protecting us.  Thank you for having the strength to overcome the hatred of war.

First off, just a reminder — we have until Monday, Oct. 4, 2010 to help the UH Band.

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A fellow MLCer needs our support:

Howzit MLCer’s!!!

Hope all is well with everyone.

Would appreciate your help. Please vote for the UH Warrior marching band in the CBS College Sports Hawaii Five-O Marching Band Mania Contest. The winner gets $25,000 which they could certainly use.

http://promotions.mardenkane.com/cbs/marchingbandmania/videovoting.cfm

You will have to find the UH Band Video and click on the Vote button. Please vote every day if you can. My son is a sax player in the band, thanks for your support.

ct

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Now, as for band memories.  I have nothing. 

I never took band.  Although I did have to take Music for one quarter back in the 7th grade.  I learned “Every Good Boy Does Fine” and F.A.C.E.  And that’s about it.  I don’t think I’m musically inclined.

Like most guys, I tried to learn to play the guitar — but I am cursed with short, fat fingers.  I could never put a finger tip on one string without touching the next string and making that “twang” sound.  And as for “bridging” (if that’s the proper term), forget it.

I think that’s why I appreciate music so much — because it’s so hard for me to do.

I remember when our neighbor (no, not Jules – the other side neighbor) took up the trumpet in intermediate school and used to practice in the garage – right next to our parlor.  Yikes.  That’s when I learned the word “excruciating”.  Imagine listening to this “bwaaap, bwaaap, BWEEEP!” while trying to watch Checkers & Pogo.  Excruciating!

Well, that’s about it for my band memories.

Now it’s time to help me out with this blog entry and share some of your intermediate/high school/college band memories.

What instrument did you play?  Were you part of a marching band?  Maybe you used to ride the band bus to football games?  I haven’t a clue…

Thanks to long time reader/poster “Snow” for sending me this quiz!

How much Hawaiian History do you know? Age is a plus here!!!

1.) The hotel’s name means the “surface of the sea”. It was built
near Chinn Ho’s family’s duck and rice pond. Ho’s company, Capital
Investment, got its start at McKinley High School in the 1920′s to
pay for a broken window.

2.) This name literally means “white tree store”, and was founded in
1662 in Edo , Japan as a drapery and notions store.

3.) This company was once called Waialua Garage, a two car service
station in Waialua

4.) This company was founded 105 years ago. It burned down in its
first 6 months then again 20 years later. To bring supplies to
Hawaii , they built their own ship, the fastest 5-masted schooner in
the Pacific.

5.) Retail guru, Glenn Kaya brought this company to Hawaii in 1958.
You had to be a member to come into the store. They leased out space
to businesses that ran its various departments. ABC Stores,
Wong’s Drapery, C.S Wo, Mid-Pacific Lumber, Chun Kim Chow, and Hauoli were all
tenants of this company which closed in1993.

6.) Most remember this company as a fabric and dry goods store in Ala
Moana Center but 75 years ago, the store was known and loved around
the world as Hawaii ‘s best shirt maker. Chotaru Miyamoto ran
advertisements using pidgin and broken English that locals found
cute and touching.

7.) Shopping on Oahu used to be in the downtown area. When Lowell
Dillingham proposed building a 100-acre City of Tomorrow retail mall
at Ala Moana, downtown businesses were reluctant to move, until this
store made a commitment. It began as a watch company in Chicago in
1886.

8.) This retailer on several islands carries the name of a well-known
Hawaiian entertainer from the 1950′s. You can see the largest Aloha Shirt
in the world at their Honolulu store.

9.) Can you remember the name of the super market on School Street
and Nuuanu Avenue ? It opened in 1935 and closed in 1983.

10.) Thahn Quoc Lam started this sandwich place in 1984 and now has
more than 20 franchises. The name means ” Paris ” in Vietnamese.

11.) These now-gone sister restaurants at Ala Moana Center were
famous for pastrami sandwiches and Chinese take out. Calvin Chun
owned both and named them for his daughters.

12.) This restaurant began as a four-table Japanese restaurant on New
York ‘s west side in 1964. They are the most successful Japanese
restaurant in the U.S. , having prepared over 100 million meals. The
recipe for success was blending exotic Japanese dishes with a
dazzling chef performance.

13.) Perhaps the oldest restaurant in Honolulu , it opened in 1882.
When tourists asked cab drivers to take them to the best Chinese
restaurant in town, they took them here, partially because the fare
was larger.

14.) The oldest school in Hawaii , built in 1831 as a seminary for
young men. It is the ninth oldest school in the U.S. The neighbor
island institution prides itself with being the ” Oldest School West
of the Rockies .”

I took out a couple of hints to make it a little bit harder.

To keep the game going, go ahead and think of someplace and put out some hints so we can try to figure out where you’re talking about.  Could be something as simple as “Go now Hawaii, Why pay more?”
Just make sure to check back in and let us know if someone guessed it correctly.

btw, Re: #4 – All day on Friday (8/20) to celebrate Admission’s Day – all sales will be tax-free!  One day only, though.

Have a fun and safe 3 day weekend!

*If you’re looking for something to do on Saturday night – Powerhouse will be playing at Gordon Biersch from 8:30 to midnight.  Garlic fries!  *but I think Paula and I will be checking out a bon dance that night.

I have pictures from Saturday night’s 70′s Nightclub Reunion VIII.  Robin Kimura and Candy Au did another awesome job of putting this event together.  The dance floor was PACKED all night long.  From when Greenwood opened the night with their first song to Nohelani Cypriano and Golden Throat closing the night, it was like reliving the days of the Waikiki nightclubs.  Thanks Robin & Candy for giving us yet another opportunity to boogie the night away.

Here’s my pictures: 70′s Nightclub Reunion VIII
(I’m trying something new here, using SmugMug to host my pictures.  If this works out, maybe we can use this picture hosting site for MLCers to upload pictures for sharing).

For more pictures of the big event, check out the 70′s Nightclub Reunion site.  Click on any or all of the photographer’s picture to view the almost 5,000 pictures from that night.  Mahalo to Irwin “Supes” Santos and his team for capturing the memories for us.

The next (and probably the last) 70′s Nightclub Reunion is scheduled for June 2011.

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For all you Seattlelites (and maybe David In Oregon), the Seattle Boomer Blast will be coming up real soon so start making your plans now to see the Kingpins and Beat Boys.