gigi-hawaii

I enjoy my daily herbal tea. It is naturally caffeine-free and calms and soothes my body and mind. Herbal tea is popular in China, Japan and Korea. It is also popular among vegans and yoga practitioners. When I was living in New York (1970-1975), I served tea to my boyfriend all the time, and he enjoyed it.

I recently bought this glass teapot from Amazon and absolutely love it. This teapot holds 3 cups of water and can be heated in the microwave for about 2 minutes. The handle is not hot, so I don’t need a potholder. You can also buy a teapot that holds 5 cups of water.

This is “Orange Cinnamon Spice” herbal tea.

My favorite is “Peppermint Creamy Vanilla,” but they are all good.

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I steep the tea to the desired strength, using 1 teabag.

I can also place loose tea in the infuser and steep the tea. But I prefer teabags.

Infuser for loose tea. Place it inside the teapot:

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I buy herbal teas from Amazon. This set contains 40 teabags, 13 flavors. It’s a Twinnings brand (established in London) but packed in the US:

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It’s such an adventure to choose a different flavor every morning. I sip it all day long. I just love it!

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The surgeon wanted David’s leg to be absolutely rigid to foster healing, so he put the leg in a cast. Alas, the swelling subsided and the leg shrank so much that the knee now flexes. This could lead to breakage of the sutures and detachment of the tendons, again. This is what happened after David’s first and second surgeries.

Hence, David relayed his concern to the doctor. A decision has been made to recast his leg and make it tighter. This will be done on Tuesday. While this is being done, the zipline and dressing will be removed. There won’t be a hole in the middle, anymore. The leg will be completely covered.

Until that happens, David will not undergo physical or occupational therapy. He will be bedridden to prevent further flexing of the knee. Therapy will resume on Wednesday.

David plans to return home on Saturday, May 10.

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Rylan (age 15) and his high school volleyball team won the finals against Nanakuli High School and are now JV Champions!

This is Rylan hitting the ball:

As proud as he is of the victory, Rylan doesn’t think he’ll pursue volleyball in university. Unlike Julia, who won a soccer scholarship, he lacks the desire and drive. But who knows? Maybe, he’ll change his mind.

He and his father did attend the University of Hawaii finals, and he was thrilled when Hawaii won the Big West Volleyball Championship this year.

For the longest time, he wanted to be a marine biologist. However, he now feels that marine biologists don’t make much money. This boy wants a more lucrative career.

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Julia (age 17) and her parents will leave for the University of Utah in June, where she will major in Business.

She has decided to maintain residency in Utah for one year to qualify for the reduced tuition for residents. The reduction will result in more scholarship money being diverted to her dorm and other expenses. Less hardship for Maria and Grant.

Smart thinking. Best of luck to Julia!

David spent his first week at St. Francis Villas adjusting to his cast. It really is heavy even though it’s fiberglass. And it keeps his leg rigid; he can’t bend his knee.

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The cast on his foot was uncomfortable, so David asked his surgeon, Dr. Nakasone, whether he could remove that part of his cast. Permission was granted, and now he is barefoot.

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David told the physical therapist to replicate what he does at home. David walks barefoot inside the house. However, when he goes outside, he wears sandals, not shoes. The reason being that shoes don’t provide sufficient support for his badly pronated left foot.

So, David has been walking with only double-sided grip socks. These grip socks prevent him from slipping and sliding on the floor.

The physical therapist took him to the gym to stand and walk with parallel bars. Just standing up from the wheelchair was an ordeal. Not easy when the left leg is stiff from the cast.

Then, the occupational therapist trained him to turn to the right and left in bed. She also had him exercise his arms.

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He is on restricted water intake in order to raise his sodium, which is important for healthy heart functioning. As a result, he is extremely thirsty.

I brought him a bag of honey lemon sugar-free cough drops to wet his mouth and cool his parched throat. I also brought him a bag of chocolate kisses.

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His blood and blood pressure are tested several times a week. Before he was admitted to the Villas, he was tested for TB and Covid.

Man, they are super strict and really on the ball.

David is in good hands.

I recently bought tickets to “Man of La Mantra.” It’s scheduled for June 1 at Diamond Head Theatre.

If David can’t attend because of his inability to walk from the car to the theatre, my nephew Travis will escort me.

David used to play the signature song of this show, “To Dream the Impossible Dream” on his clarinet. He liked to play it at family parties to much applause.

Is David’s dream to walk normally an impossible dream?

I hope he is able to walk from his car to the theatre on June 1. How can anyone pass up “Man of La Mantra”? Especially David.

David underwent surgery at Straub on Thursday, April 17. Dr. Nakasone opened up the left thigh and double knotted the torn suture. He also double stitched 2 tendons back to the knee cap.

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Then, he put David’s leg in a fiberglass cast to keep it immobile for 10 weeks. This is necessary to allow the leg to heal properly.

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David was then transported on the third day to his favorite nursing home, St. Francis Villas. Maria and I visited him yesterday. He was cheerful and happy to see us.

His room is on the top floor with a nice view.

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He plans to stay there for at least a month. The goal is to be able to function well at home. He has to be able to use the toilet, bathe himself, and prepare his breakfast—even with a cast. It seems so difficult for him right now.

He takes oxycodone, a narcotic, every 4 hours for pain.

We’ll see him again next week to check on his progress.

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I have been enjoying Thai romantic comedies on Netflix. These dramas are entirely produced and enacted by Thais in Thailand.

They remind me of my life in Bangkok, where I was an English teacher for 10 months in 1969.

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With my students (1969):

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At the Marble Temple (1969):

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At Wat Pra Keo (1969):

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One show, “Let’s Eat,” is set in Hua Hin, which is a district in Thailand, best known for its stunning seaside resort town. 200 kilometres south of Bangkok, the area is a well-loved destination for both locals and travellers. In the 1920s, the Thai royal family built summer palaces in Hua Hin.

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Basically, “Let’s Eat” is a love triangle involving a poor, cash-strapped writer, a wealthy public relations executive, and a popular insurance salesman. Who will win her heart?

The writer was obese as a child and constantly bullied. Nevertheless, she managed to do well in school, graduate from university, and find work in her field. How she overcame obesity and became slim and more attractive is a recurring theme in the story.

Ironically, the insurance salesman is a food blogger, who likes to take photos of restaurant food for Instagram. Hence, the title of the show, “Let’s Eat.”

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I truly loved the food devoured in these shows. As you know, I am a big fan of Thai cuisine and order it frequently on Uber Eats. Thai food is amazing!

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I also enjoyed hearing the Thai language, recalling vocabulary that I had long forgotten since leaving Thailand in 1969.

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Common Thai Greetings:

Sawatdee Kha/Khap (Hello or Goodbye)

Sabai Dee Mai? (How are you?)

Sabai Dee Kha/Khap (I am well)

Khop Khun Kha/Khap (Thank you)

Chai (Yes)

Mai (No)

Kha (feminine) and Khap (masculine) are suffixes you add to be polite.

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Thai Wai: 

The Thai greeting called Wai includes a slight bow, with arms pressed together as done while praying. This traditional Thai greeting looks the same as an Indian ‘Namaste’.

Thai people mostly perform a Wai when they say khop khun (thank you), or Sawatdee (hello).

As a non-Thai, you won’t be expected to return a Wai with a Wai. You can simply acknowledge a Wai with a khop khun kha/khap or Sawatdee kha/khap (as appropriate).

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Actually, Thai is a simple language. However, it’s tonal, and different tones can make one word have multiple meanings. So, be careful when you pronounce the words.

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Tiger Woods’ mother, Kultida Punsawad Woods, is a native of Thailand. Her ancestry is a mix of Thai, Chinese and Dutch. She was raised in the Buddhist faith and passed that faith on to her son. Another reminder of Tiger’s ties to Thailand through his mother is his middle name of “Tont,” a traditional Thai name that his mother gave him.

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I didn’t realize that watching Thai romantic comedies could be so rewarding. Not only are they educational, but they also take my mind off the terrible things going on in the world.

Time to escape to Thailand!!!

I invited my college classmate, Flo, to my home for lunch yesterday. We had such a wonderful time catching up with each other’s lives.

I have known Flo since Sophomore World Literature in 1966. I attended her wedding and saw her newborn daughter, Iris.

Then, I went abroad for 7 years, and we didn’t see each other until I returned. It’s been so nice to see her again over the years since my return.

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Here we are:

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I baked Salmon and Spring Rolls and also made a Salad:

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Flo brought a delicious homemade dessert (Chocolate Torte). It’s made of Ghirardelli chocolate, sugar, butter, eggs, water and flour. Very light and airy:

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Flo also brought me a beautiful, healthy anthurium PLUS a gorgeous planter to hold it:

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Over the years, I have purchased oil paintings from Flo. They are all so beautiful.

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Flo and Raymond treated us to dinner at Assaggio’s one year.

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Flo and I visited the Georgia O’Keefe art exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art:

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Now that she has more free time, we’ll see each other more often. Definitely!

The previous post discussed pre-packaged meals that I thaw in a pot and then stir fry.

Today’s post will discuss other ways to put food on the table.

This is especially important, since we can no longer go to restaurants because of David’s condition.

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Here are simple meals that don’t require much effort.

Salmon in my toaster oven and microwavable rice and lettuce:

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Spring rolls:

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Shrimp Zucchini Stir-Fry:

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Shrimp Pineapple:

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Taco Salad:

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However, there are times when my joints hurt so badly that I cannot cook at all. That’s when I order from Uber Eats. Sometimes, I am lucky, and they offer a discount up to $15 on orders.

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Sushi from Aloha Sushi:

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Mandoo Soup from Yummy’s Korean BBQ:

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Crab Roll and Tomato Bisque from Jolene’s:

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Egg Drop Soup from Waimalu Chop Suey:

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Crab Rangoon from Waimalu Chop Suey:

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There are so many ways to put good, delicious food on the table with minimal joint pain.

Way to go, Gigi!

Although I have an Uber Eats account, I use it only when my joint pain is more than I can handle.

On those days when I do feel like cooking, I cook pre-packaged meals. I thaw the meal in a pot and stir fry it. I also add other food items to round out the meal.

I purchase these meals from Target.

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Beef Broccoli:

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Orange Chicken:

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Chicken Lo Mein:

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Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo:

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Korean BBQ-Style Chicken:

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Sirloin Tips with Gravy:

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Microwaveable mashed potatoes:

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Microwavable Rice:

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See Part 2 on Wednesday.