Honolulu Pride 2012 (a little late)

I'm not someone who is very comfortable in big crowds...I get awkwardly shy, so back home I wasn't jumping to attend things like Pride.  But here, I figured why not.  Of course my roomie wanted to go, and I was interested in seeing how they celebrated it here.  I even bought my shirt about a week before...I was all ready!  Those who know me know I've been an Ally for sometime... I think I have more gay and lesbian friends than straight friends by now.  I like to joke that I have a sign on my forehead that says, if your a gay man you must love me!

The weekend started on May 31st, with my roomie volunteering for the Rainbow Film Festival.  I thought it was an awesome chance for her to meet some people, maybe make some friends.  And I attended the opening night showing.  The film I saw was Cloudburst, about two older women who had been in love for something like 30 years.  One had been blind for several years.  Her granddaughter still didn't know that the woman her grandmother had been living with nearly all her life was her partner.  After the granddaughter puts her in a home, the two lovers break out and go on a road trip to Canada to officially marry.  It was hilarious, and then so sad it brought a tear to my eye.  It was preceded by a short film entitled Lunchtime...which was also awesome.

The next night wasn't really part of Pride per se...but we ended up at Manifest, a bar in Chinatown that has become our new spot since Apartment 3 closed.  This was our first night here.  Great DJ's, cute bartenders, and an awesome spot complete with exposed brick walls and art...what's not to love.  And we got pinchos on the walk home!  Meat on a stick...gotta love it!  This place will be mentioned often.  This particular night my roomie got so drunk she nearly stole one of those orange cones on the walk home, did cartwheels and ended up scraping her arm, and tried to ride the bike rack that's in the shape of a bike.  An all around good time!

Saturday was Pride.  There was two separate celebrations this year, misunderstandings or disagreements between people caused it to be split up.  I think it would've been much better all together...after all that's kind of the point.  But we visited both spots.  We got some goodies at the first...new bracelets, food etc.  But we noticed pretty quickly that it was more for older people, and families.  The second spot was just up the street from our apartment, and it was definitely for a younger crowd.  We saw our favorite bartender from the gay bar we love here.  We also met the owner of Ono Pops, Josh.  Ono pops are the best pops ever!!!!  And we met his new sous chef Steve, who actually moved here about two weeks after us!  We've actually been here longer than someone, yay!  We also got food here, did I mention we love food?  I got Puerto Rican food...which made me very happy.  Not to mention the man working this spot was Puerto Rican himself, decked out in full Puerto Rico memorabilia, and he gave me a little education on Puerto Ricans and the Hawaiian islands.  Good food, + some knowledge = happy Jackie.  After talking to people, eating, listening to the band, eating, listening to the not so good singer, eating, and walking around a bunch, my roomie was sufficiently happy and we headed home.  An all around good weekend!  Enjoy our awesome shirts!

new bracelet 

us and Josh

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...

Welcome to the world!

Around the same time I really decided to make the move from NJ to HI, one of the people I've known the longest, and know the most, got pregnant.  She's one of few who has been to my house, who has had private conversations with my mother, who knows my father and my brother (and my dog).  It's the same with her family and I.  I've even been on vacation with them...her mom has even gone so far as to say I'm the only one of her friends that are welcome on vacation with them anytime!!  My line sister in greek terms, my friend in layman's terms, but really just an extended family (her and hers).    The day she told me she was expecting was the day I told her I was leaving.  It's been difficult, not being there physically.  It's not how I envisioned it happening when one of us was in this position.  Before I left I was able to go to one of her earlier appointments with her...I got to hear the baby's heartbeat.  But it makes me sad that aside from that, I missed all her pregnancy moments.  I never felt my niece kicking around in there...or got to talk to her through her mommy's belly.  It makes me sad because I know I can never get those moments back.  I do believe everything happens for a reason, and I guess I was supposed to be here, while she was back in NY letting the baby cook...but that doesn't make it any easier.

Yesterday they induced her labor.  And being thousands of miles away hit me like an emotional ton of bricks.  I'm pretty impatient by nature...so being so far, and not being able to be there to see them both, and know they're both ok made for a pretty nerve-wracking day.  Finally, this morning, at 740am EST, my beautiful niece, Analiese, made her arrival into this world.  I'm not easily brought to tears, but I admit I shed some as I looked at her pic and realized that it would be months before I got to see her in person, and hold her.  The most difficult part about moving away from everyone you love is that you miss moments you'd never miss otherwise.  There's not many people in my life that I would go and sit at the hospital for as they were in labor...simply because I don't keep many that close to me.  But in this case I know I would've been there.  And in every way I could be there, I was.

I can't wait to fill the blank space with a picture of us, and baby girl:

Why yes, I do cook! (update)

I realized it's been a while since I mentioned my cooking skills.  So I thought it was about time for me to update you.  Yes, I am still cooking!  No, I don't always hit it out of the ball park...but I've never made a complete disaster out of any meal...that's saying something no?!?  Actually, I think I've grown in this area by leaps and bounds.  I'm learning more about food, and flavors, and what goes well together.  I can't wait till my parents come to visit so I can cook for them!  Right now the roomie is my guinea pig, but she never complains  I look forward to cooking for my folks...and having them give me their honest opinions.  I know sometimes people want to spare others feelings, but not me, I'd rather you tell me something is horrible, that's the only way I'm going to learn!  Luckily I don't think that's happened yet.  Here's some pics of my newest creations...

roasted potatoes, broccoli and chicken breast

rice & corn medley (Jas's fave), shrimp, and lettuce & cabbage salad

fries, broccoli, chicken drumstick

pita pizza!!!!  our new obsession

my first attempt at real Puerto Rican rice (not bad at all!)

steak tacos with corn, black beans lettuce and cheese

pancakes, homefries and bacon

chicken burrito with black beans, corn, cheese, rice and lettuce!

I only keep getting better.  

And the adventure continues...

Stay tuned...