Since we’re on a high from JindoMaster808‘s excellent guest blog post (Big MLC Mahalo once again, JM808), I thought we’d do a Thursday 3 about Makin’ Music.
Copy and paste the 3 questions and answer them or just answer them by number, order, whatever. And don’t forget to leave any comments, stories, memories, etc. relating to the topic. So, with a one, and a two, and a three…
If you woke up one morning and had the magical ability to play, I mean really jam, any musical instrument – what instrument would you choose? And why?
If you used to or still do play a musical instrument, what made you choose that specific musical instrument?
What’s your take on music?
Here’s my replies:
If you woke up one morning and had the magical ability to play, I mean really jam, any musical instrument – what instrument would you choose? And why? In my younger days, I would’ve liked to play the electric guitar – like Eddie van Halen. But now, in my MLC age, I’d choose the saxophone. To me, the sound of the sax is both sexy and soulful. The way the notes have the ability to blend together. How you can almost feel your passion through the music that you play – like it’s an extension of your soul. Now that’s Makin’ Music.
If you used to or still do play a musical instrument, what made you choose that specific musical instrument? Since my brother had a guitar, I tried to learn how to play it. Didn’t happen. I think with my short and stubby Okinawan fingers – it just wasn’t meant to be. In high school, I tried taking a few slack-key guitar lessons. Nope. Nada. Nuttin’. I even tried the harmonica. No go. Then it dawned on me – even if I knew how to play something, if I’m simply not musically inclined – it wouldn’t sound good anyway (which leads me to question #3).
What’s your take on music? Since Makin’ Music was so hard for me, I gained an appreciation for music. It’s so amazing to me that individual instruments making all different sounds can come together and produce something so beautiful in harmony. And when I’m tired, stressed, or just need to relax – music calms me down. And one of my biggest loves for music is how it can transport me back in time and trigger my memories to when I used to hear that song. In fact, it still does that to me today. For example, a couple of times when we were playing at the Main Street casino, this song was playing in the background. I heard it although I wasn’t really listening to it – I’m guessing that my subconscious was soaking it all in – and the song was suddenly burned into my memory. So of course whenever I hear this song now, I remember sitting at the poker machine at the Main Street casino, relaxed and having fun.
Time for a Thursday 3 questionnaire. Since it’s been raining all week, I figured Rain would be the topic.
So cut and paste the questions and add your answers or simply answer the questions by number. And don’t hesitate to leave additional comments, stories, and other tidbits of information about Rain.
Do you love or loathe Rain?
Were you allowed to play in the rain?
Name me a song with the word “Rain” somewhere in the title or lyrics.
Okay, here’s my replies:
Do you love or loathe Rain? I love the rain. Nothing like feeling so secure in your house while it’s raining outside. Especially when it’s time for bed – falling asleep to the pitter-patter of the rain falling on the roof. Which reminds me, we need new gutters…
Were you allowed to play in the rain? Never. About the most we could do when we were kids was stand under the loud totan roof when it was raining and stick out hands out to catch some raindrops.
But once the rain stopped – it meant jumping on our bikes and riding as fast as we could through the rain puddles. We always made sure we lifted our legs up to make sure our pants didn’t get wet.
Name me a song with the word “Rain” somewhere in the title or lyrics. Before The Rain – Lee Oskar
Yeah, school started a few weeks ago. But this is MLC – where school NEVER started until the day after Labor Day! So, with the Labor Day weekend coming up, I thought I’d throw out a Thursday 3 – Back To School.
You know the drill – copy and paste the questions and answer them or just make local style and answer them by number.
Remember shopping for Back To School clothes? Where did your mom (because we know most dads don’t shop) take you shopping for your back to school clothes?
Were you more bummed out that summer was ending or more excited that school was starting?
What kind of anxieties did you have when you first entered Elementary, Intermediate, and/or High school?
Remember shopping for Back To School clothes? Where did your mom (because we know most dads don’t shop) take you shopping for your back to school clothes? I remember my mom taking us on a 1-day shopping spree to Ala Moana Center. Nope, not the Liberty House side, but the Sears side. Hippies were in fashion and I wanted to look like a hippy, but my mom would have none of that. Okay, the Hang Ten shirts it is. Or was.
Pants had to be durable – after all, they had to last the full school year – whether I outgrew them or not.
Were you more bummed out that summer was ending or more excited that school was starting? I was maybe 10% excited that school was starting – mostly because I wanted to know who was going to be in my class. But I was 90% bummed that summer was ending. It was so depressing – like being sentenced to 9 months of hard labor.
What kind of anxieties did you have when you first entered Elementary, Intermediate, and/or High school? In elementary school, it was missing mommy. I guess I never liked school.
In intermediate school, it was the fear of getting beat up or hijacked. My theory was that if I could make friends with the mokes, then they wouldn’t pick on me so I became their “spotter”. It was my job to hang out at the top of the stairwell while they smoked cigarettes in the stairwell. If was teacher or administrator was coming, I would call out “Heat!”. It kept me safe.
In high school, it was trying to look cool. Looking good with some cool threads – but not too flashy. Making sure I knew where my classrooms were so I didn’t look like a lost newbie. And making sure I had friends to hang out with so I didn’t look like a loner. Oh yeah, and passing with a C grade.
Okay, your turn to recall your Back To School memories. And don’t hesitate to share some stories with us!
Time for a Thursday 3 question and answer. This time, it’s travel.
Copy and paste the questions or just answer by number. Easy-peasy.
If you had tickets to travel anywhere in the U.S., where would you go and why?
If you had tickets to travel anywhere in the WORLD, where would you go and why?
If you had a time machine that could take you back (or forward) to any time in your life, when and why would you go to that time?
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Here’s my replies:
If you had tickets to travel anywhere in the U.S., where would you go and why? I think I would like to go to Alaska. Besides loving the cold weather, everything is so green and fresh. Lots of nature to take in, lots of nice places to see, and did I mention – I love the cold weather.
If you had tickets to travel anywhere in the WORLD, where would you go and why? Anyplace in the world – as much as I’d like to visit Japan, specifically the Hokkaido area (where it’s nice and cold), I think I’d pass for now after the recent earthquake and check out Korea instead. The food, the electronics, the plastic surgery (kidding!).
If you had a time machine that could take you back (or forward) to any time in your life, when and why would you go to that time? I would go back in time to the 9th grade – when I was old enough to go where I wanted to go and do what I wanted to do. But yet still have a place to go home to where there was food to eat, a place to sleep, and my clothes got washed. Come to think of it, maybe the 10th grade would be better as I had my license and a car. And a social club. Plus all the gym dances, the music, the chicks. Wait. 8th grade was a good time too! Surfing, catching bus to Ala Moana, too young to work but old enough to ride my bike anywhere I wanted to. Not as many cars on the street, less crimes as compared to today.
Let’s just say that I’d like to return back to my intermediate school days.
Okay, your turn.
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btw, have you even notice the little “+1″ box located just under the date below the blog heading and also down at the bottom of the post?
If you click on it, it increments by 1. Just a little tool to help me see how many people are reading MLC – but you have to click on it to count. So can you do me a favor and click on it? Even those who are just lurking. It won’t log your email or anything like that. It might also help in getting MLC a favorable rating. Thanks!
Update: Paula just told me that it requires signing up and jumping through hoops, so no need. Too much humbug. I gotta go research it and see how it works…
If you could bring back any Hawaii band from the 70′s – which band(s) would you like to see?
Bonus question: What did you wear to the nightclub back in the day?
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Here’s my replies:
Which nightclubs do you remember going to? I remember when I first turned 18, it was the Hula Hut. We used to do the “drive-by” thing and see how long the line to get in was. If it was past the length of the building, it was on to Plan B. Plan B consisted of someplace in the International Marketplace: Tiki’s or Duke’s.
The later at about age 21, it was La Mancha’s for the 10:00 Punk Rock hour, then on to The Point After (back bar).
Were you a Playah/Bar-fly/Wall-Flower? During the Hula Hut days, I was mostly a Wall-Flower. As someone mentioned to me, Hula Hut was where all the pretty sorority girls used to go. No wonder I was a wall-flower. I was too intimidated to ask them to dance. But that’s okay – I enjoyed just watching Natural High play. Then later during the La Mancha/Point After days, was more like a Playah. Not really though because there was a big bunch of us that used to go there – guys and girls. And since we all knew each other – we just danced with the chicks we knew. Kinda like when we go to Hawaiian Brian’s now. LOL
If you could bring back any Hawaii band from the 70′s – which band(s) would you like to see?
Sounds of Innocence. IIRC, they had a female singer. We’re fortunate that some of the bands have regrouped such as: White Light and Greenwood. And they can be hired to play for office parties, Yakudoshi Kanreki, weddings, banquets, etc. I wouldn’t mind seeing Country Comfort regroup too. And Summer!
Bonus question: What did you wear to the nightclub back in the day? Jordace jeans, long sleeve silk shirt, and a Members Only leather jacket. Cologne was either Jovan Musk or Aramis.
Okay, your turn to answer the questions. And no shame share a story or two.
Since we’re on the subject of TV’s, how about a Thursday 3 for TV’s?
Do you remember the first time(s) you saw a TV show in color?
What do you remember about your TV antenna? Whether it was on the roof or “rabbit ears”?
How did you and your family decide what shows to watch?
Okay, you know the drill – copy and paste the questions and answer them or just answer them by number.
And don’t forget, you can always leave additional comments, stories, memories, experiences, etc.
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Here’s my replies:
Do you remember the first time(s) you saw a TV show in color? I don’t exactly recall where the first time I saw a color TV, but I remember going to a relative’s house and they had a huge console color TV. I think I just sat in front of the TV and watched. I didn’t even know (or care) what I was watching. I was just so mesmerized by seeing the show in color. IIRC, some of the commercials weren’t up to the modern technology (at that time) and were still in black and white.
What do you remember about your TV antenna? Whether it was on the roof or “rabbit ears”? Living on the Windward side, we had one of those aluminum antennas on our roof. I remember it well as I used to play on the roof quite a bit. There were 3 guy wires holding it in place. I remember after a big storm, the antenna broke and we had to go to Wigwam and buy a new one. Nothing fancy, just a plain ol’ TV antenna.
How did you and your family decide what shows to watch? Of course we had just 1 TV, so whose ever turn it was to do the dishes (and set the table) got to control the TV. Usually I just went with the flow and watched what everyone else wanted to watch. In fact, sometimes I’d just go to my room to listen to records or the radio and let the others fight over what to watch. LOL
Okay, your “turn”. Ha, ha. Get it? TV… Turn… Turn the station…
Welcome to another Thursday 3 – Three questions for you to answer, comment upon, etc. And since this Sunday is Easter… Isn’t funny how Easter always falls on a Sunday?
Did you believe in the Easter Bunny when you were small?
Have any memories of coloring Easter eggs and/or going on an Easter egg hunt?
Name me an Easter song.
Here’s my replies:
Did you believe in the Easter Bunny when you were small? Of course I believed in the the Easter Bunny. But I started having doubts when I noticed that the woven Easter basket I got was the same one every year – the one that was stored on the shelf in my closet. And the big thing was getting a chocolate Easter bunny – not the hollow kine, but the solid one!
Have any memories of coloring Easter eggs and/or going on an Easter egg hunt? We used to color Easter eggs the night before using the famous Paas Easter egg dye. And the smell of heated vinegar from the coloring. I remember the clear wax crayon thing to make designs on the egg (although it was hard to tell where it was applied). And that thin copper egg holder thingy to dip the eggs into the Golden Wheat coffee cups we used to hold the different color dyes. Then on Easter morning after coming home from church, we’d wait in the bedroom while someone would go outside and hide the colored Easter eggs. There would always be at least 1 egg hidden on the Plumeria tree branches.
1.) Where was the Panasonic building? Not the one that was in Halawa valley, before that.
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2.) Where was the Flamingo restaurant on Ala Moana boulevard? It was on a triangular parcel of land. Why is that parcel of land no longer a triangle?
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3.) I don’t have a third Where Was… question so I’ll leave it up to you. Post a place that used to be someplace that is no longer there. But don’t forget to check back in and see if someone has answered your question correctly. Or reveal the answer if no one can figure it out.
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ROBERT FUJIO NAGAOKA (Rob@96744)
Age 54, of Kaneohe, passed away on March 6, 2011, in Hawaii Medical Center (St. Francis) East. Born in Honolulu, he was the assistant superintendent for Oahu Transit Services Inc. (The Bus). He is survived by his wife, Brenda Chang Nagaoka; son, Stanley Nagaoka; mother, Doris Masu; brothers, Darren and Curtis Masu; sister, Laurie (Dennis) Mosher and nephew, Justin. Visitation from 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9. 2011, at Hosoi Garden Mortuary; funeral service at 4:00 p.m. Casual attire.
I’ll be there to represent MLC.
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Want to try your hand at blogging? HawaiiNewsNow is looking for community bloggers to blog about things related to your community. Just click on this link and in the top right hand corner, hover over “more sites” to select your community, then sign up! It could be a lot of fun blogging about places to eat, showing pictures of things in your community, neighborhood stories, Wassup Wit Dat, etc.
How about a Thursday 3? Answer the questions and add your comments. Don’t be afraid to answer the questions more than once as different answers pop into your MLC brain.
The trade-winds have seemed to picked up today. And don’t forget, Thursday 3/17 is St. Patrick’s Day. Wear something green unless you want to get pinched.
Name me a song that has something to do with wind.
Name me something green.
What’s your plans for this weekend.
Yeah, I wasn’t prepared to write tonight’s blog entry so just play along.
What’s your plans for this weekend. Maybe attend the Jazz for Japan benefit happening at The Ground Floor this Saturday, featuring Snappy Boys Jazz Band. That is, after spending the day at Ala Moana.
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.
Do you enjoy rainy weather?
Did you ever play in the rain?
Name me a song with the word Rain in the title or in the lyrics.
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Here’s my replies:
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.
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.
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.
