Motion is Poetry @ the Honolulu Museum of Art!

     As an artist myself (poetry, photography, video editing...) I have a general fascination with other people's works and the history of. 

     Every time I visit or live in a new city I always comb the museums for exhibits that touch my senses to the very bottoms of my sole. (wink)

     What better place to quench my thirst than the Honolulu Museum of Art...?

Yumminess at the Cafe!

     
     So...my Boys (Yatniel, Yared, and Yorick) hopped on Da Bus and we headed towards downtown Waikiki!

     The Museum is located across the street from Thomas Square Park and as we walked through we decided to have an impromptu photo session...(I do that a lot!)

     The Boys tolerated it (lol...they are usually good sports) and we got some pre-Museum photography art of our own!

Thomas Square Park

     
     As we walked in I asked the wonderful lady behind the counter if they had any Military Specials...? Wouldn't you know it! We came a couple of days too early...ugh!

     The Honolulu Museum of Art is reinstating their Blue Star program for all Active Military and their families. 

     "Each year from Memorial Day to Labor Day, all active-duty military and their families receive free admission to the museum, with valid ID, as well as a 10 percent discount at our Museum Shops."-Honolulu Museum of Art-Hours/Admissions

     On the bright side kids under 17 years old are always free so admission wasn't too bad!

   
     Happy to be in the Museum we traveled (from room to room) to view different genres, awe inspiring historical works, and immerse ourselves in cultural diversity.

     While looking through the "Hawaii in Design" floor we stumbled across a new exhibit that was opening that day! 

     The Amazing and Multi-Talented PaulPfeiffer was featuring his work "Caryatids". I unknowingly walked into his discourse about the work and was completely fascinated.

     Paul creates a 4-6 second video clips where he highlights a boxing match (or basketball game) where the opponent that is winning is completely taken out (by layering other backgrounds of the same video images on top of one another) and showcases the athlete that is losing in their most painful and defeated moments.

     As I watched the images of all six video clips I came away with a sense of awe. In those crucial moments I could feel the boxers hurt as I scrunched up my face in fear of the punches they were receiving.

     The images he is portraying at the Honolulu Museum of Art are a violent commentary on society and watching these images was true poetry in motion. 

     Paul has been working on his art since the 1990s (when editing and layering were a process of months not hours). He is a video artist, sculptor, and photographer and these skills have only elevated his art over the years.   

PaulPfeiffer @ Honolulu Museum of Art

 
     As the discourse came to a close I asked a question (really...who doubted I wouldn't?). I looked Paul in the eye and took a breath, "If your work today features boxers, what comes next? Will it be MMA Fighters or perhaps Sumo Wrestlers?"

     Paul's eyes lit up with a smile because he understood that I had been listening and had followed the lecture.

     "MMA Fighters would be a natural evolution from boxing but Sumo is something to think about.", Paul replied with a smile and a nod.

     PaulPfeiffer's "Caryatids" will be featured at the Honolulu Museum of Art from May 27th - September 11, 2016.

Utterly Done...

    
     Back on Da Bus we headed home. The Boys exhausted and I on a natural high from brushing up against great works at the Honolulu Museum of Art! Dreaming, planning and looking forward to my next Hawaiian adventure...

WATCH OUT THAT'S A GREAT WHITE!...Oops, Nevermind It's Just Shark Cove!

     We have been preparing for this day for a Whole Week! 

     Towels?Check! 
                         Water Shoes? Check! 
                                                        Swimwear? Check! 
                                                                                    Sunscreen? A Must!

     Adventure is calling the Kling Family as we head towards sand, wind, and water! (Yipee!)

Preparations are a GO!

    
     We packed all our gear on a not so early Sunday and made our way to a spectacular place called Shark Cove on the North Shore of the Island of Oahu. 

     It is known for its snorkeling, powerful undertow, and shark tours! (The Husband and my Oldest Yatniel did the tour but that's another adventure...)

We made it to Shark Cove!

    
     It seemed that everyone had the same idea to be a beach goer that Sunday! 

     Ugh...it was extremely difficult finding a parking spot but My Ookie (Husband Joe) never gave up and he found a spot pretty close to the beach entrance! (YAY!)

Breathing in the salty air!

     
     As we placed everything on the sand I started to put sunscreen on all the kids (to include the Husband) so that no one would feel the sting of the Hawaiian sun later...

     When I reached for the 9 year old I noticed something strange! Yorick had put on his swim shorts wrong! (HA!) After we teased him three of us held three towels and made a makeshift tent so he could fix his shorts...smh...

Shark Cove is Fierce!

     
     We rolled around the waved, on purpose and sometimes not so on purpose (lol), collected many rocks and corals (which are now in my gravel), and got bumped on the rocks (Yatniel and Yared still have the scratches to prove it!) . 

Buen Provecho!

   
     Ofcourse we had to finish the day at Shark Cove Grill (where else?)! 

     I had to wait more than 15 minutes for someone, anyone, to appear from the Shark Cove Grill food truck. I was told rudely, by the cook, that they were no longer serving breakfast.

     I had my heart set with eating breakfast on the beach but I finally settled for a hamburger. They got my order wrong and Yorick asked for a PB&J, which they gave him deconstructed. 

     The good news is that there were many other places to eat and we enjoyed some local cuisine. 

Wish you were here...

   
     We had a great time even if the ending left a lot to be desired. We are definitely going to see more of what North Shore has to offer in the years to come...

     A happy and tired Kling Family made our way back home...All in all it was a perfect beach day! 

Mother's Day Never Looked THIS Good!

     Mother's Day came in 2016 with a slow yawn...lol...the children, Yatniel, Yared, and Yorick let me sleep in (how lovely) and I did!

     After my morning of sleeping in (again yay!) my Loving Husband (my Ookie) Joe took me to "The Ward Warehouse" in downtown Waikiki!
     

"The Ward Warehouse"

   

     I had received a notice on my FB Page that "THEFACESHOP" was having a Mother's Day Special! Sooo...being the Loving Husband he is he sacrificed himself and went shopping with me (whee!). 

Ready, Set, GO!

     I had a great time looking though "THEFACESHOP"! As you guys know I'm in love with Korean culture especially KDramas and KPop so going to a Korean beauty shop was a true treat.

Look what I got!

     The Mother's Day Special was an interesting promotion. Once you got all the products you were going to buy you scratched a ticket to uncover what percentage you would save. Some people even got 100% off their purchase! 

     I was not so fortunate...I got 10% off...lol...

KIM SOO HYUN

          ...but I did get to see a CELEBRITY!!! 

     KIM SOO HYUN from "MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR" and "DREAM HIGH". (HA!)

Look what I GOT!

     I also had bought face masks for both my Husband and I at "THEFACESHOP". I had always seen them in the dramas and was curious as to how they would feel. 

Leading Lady...?(LOL)

    All in all it was a great Mother's Day... and I'm looking forward to Father's Day to see if my Ookie will make me go golfing with him?!? (Ugh...)

ComiCons a Way of Life!

     Whether it was partnering and solving crimes with the Dark Knight, running through the forests with Wolverine to kick some butt, fighting the denizens of hell with Daimon Hellstrom or discovering the mysteries of the universe with Sandman I love and have grown up with a great love for all things comic!

     What better way to celebrate my comic affliction with my family than The Amazing Hawaii Comic Con!

Made it!

    
     We hadn't even left the parking area when my son, Yorick, spotted his first cos-player! (people who dress as their favorite characters/superheroes) 

     These mighty cos-players were dressed as Rose Quartz and Greg Universe from the "Steven Universe" animated series which was created by Rebecca Sugar and it was the first show Cartoon Network produced in which the creator was a woman! (Yay!)

Rose Quartz and Greg Universe

   
     LOL..."I Ain't afraid of no Ghost!" ran through my head as we found this childhood memory (for me...sigh) as we took another step closer to the Comic Con.

Who You Gonna Call...?

   
     As we made our way into the Comic Con we saw familiar faces and a variety of story lines. Yatniel and Yared spotted the Storm Trooper and ran over to grab a photo.(I asked if they were looking for new recruits but they just laughed...I was serious...!)

Off to Imperial Storm Trooper Academy...

     
     Seeing so many fellow comic enthusiast was amazing! Being able to share the experience with my children was unforgettable...making my 8 year old, Yorick, stand next to Ghost Rider...PRICELESS! (ha!)

Hawaiian John Blaze...?

    
     The highlight of the day was meeting and taking a photo with the Legend himself...Stan Lee! Even if my kids don't realize how much of a historic event it was to meet him we will always have this photo and the incredible adventure of the The Amazing Hawaii Comic Con!

The Great Stan Lee!

The Wheels on "Da Bus" go Round!

     I'm finally getting the hang of traveling around Oahu! Especially in downtown Waikiki which has great stores, scenic beaches, and scrumptious places to eat! What it lacks is parking space...(ugh)!

     I have taken part in the Hawaiian community (since August of 2016) and I have tried to immerse myself with my surroundings. 

The best way to achieve that? ...to get around on "Da Bus"!

   
     This app has come in handy while maneuvering the public transportation system in Hawaii. It uses GPS, real time tracking, and maps to help coordinate which bus stops are nearest you and how to get to your destination!

Da Bus App

      
     The whole bus system connects all of Oahu and the buses run consistently and frequently. You can go from Downtown Waikiki (which has a lot of museums, the zoo, and plenty of boardwalks) to North Shore (where the best surfing in the world is happening!). 

It's amazing how far you can go for $2.50!

Traveling!

     Island life may be cramped at times (highway lanes and parking spaces are much narrower than on the mainland) so if you have a place to go and want to stretch your legs (and you cents) then riding on "Da Bus" can give you freedom from your vehicle!

                                                              Happy Travels!

Confessions of a Karaoke Addict!

     I absolutely LOVE to sing! My family has always had a grand affair when it comes to music and I am no exception... (Edwin "Haviken Hayes" Guerra and David "Still Diligent" Jimenez).

     I have been singing since I was 3 years old (entertaining my Abuela mostly) and have been participating in choirs all throughout my school life.

     Although I am not classically trained I have a great ear and I am definitely my own harshest critic (sometimes I sing songs I like not that I do well..HA!). 

     I have a lot of friends who enjoy singing (WannaB's Karaoke Family), teach music (LaJuan E. Lee), or are professional artists (Don Green, Brent Charles, Diaz Mussalimov, and Tiffa G.). 

     I especially love to hear the voices of those who can sing what I cannot (Crystal Frazier...those damn high notes!).   

Hispanic Heritage Month Performance

     Since coming to Hawaii I've been hitting all the local karaoke spots! I've been to Karaoke Hut, Blue Ribbon, Shorebird Restaurant, Above Ultra Lounge, The Spot Karaoke, Bronco Cafe, and a few others... (heehee)

Blue Ribbon

     Yet...if I can't get my fix I let my fingers do the walking and open up my Smule App on my Iphone (yay!). It's a great way to practice and sing with people from all around the world. 

     You can sing by yourself, as a duet, or in a group and the talent you find on Smule varies from the amateur to the professional...plus it has all these cool effects!

SMULE

Back to Black

Creep!

Preparing...

     Now, I'm narrowing down a list of songs for a Karaoke Contest at the end of April! I'll let you guys know how it goes! (Wish me luck!).

Fine Dining with a French Twist!

     My Husband walked into our bedroom and announced, "our reservations are at eight p.m.! We should leave at seven if we want to beat the traffic." He raised his eyebrow and walked out of our room with a flourish.

     Ever since we started dating we would surprise each other with small adventures and date nights. We have been married for almost 15 years and that has not changed. So, when he made his grand announcement I giggled at him and started to get ready.

Date Night

    
     We drove down to Waikiki and stopped at the Halekulani Hotel on the beach.  As we walked through the hotel the night breezes brought the sweet tropical scents that encouraged the palate.

   We had arrived. My Husband's surprise was a restaurant called: 

"La Mer" 

    
     We were seated by french windows looking out over the ocean. The scenery was beautiful and the atmosphere subdued.

Our View

 
 Menus had come and gone and we waited with high anticipation for the food to arrive!

     I started with the Beef Tartare, Heart of Palm, Watercress Purée and Aquitaine Caviar. While my Husband tried the Pork Trotter Ravioli and Artichoke Velouté. 

Appetizers

    
     Both were exquisite! The Beef Tartar was tender and spicy. It had a well-rounded flavor which played well with the Heart of Palm and Watercress. The Pork Trotter Ravioli was zesty and the Velouté was creamy.

     For my main entree I chose the Filet of Beef, Foie Gras, Truffle Mousseline, Pommes Soufflés, and a Sauce Périgueux. My Husband ordered the Seared Lamb Loin and Spiced Shoulder Confit, Chickpeas Purée, with a Raisin Lamb Jus.

Main Course

     
     I had never had Foie Gras before and I could not really appreciate it. Regardless my Filet was tender enough to cut with a fork and the sauce and mashed potatoes divine! The Lamb was spicy and I fell in love with the Au Jus.

     As we were finishing our entrees the waiter came by with the dessert menu...Oh My Goodness!!!

Dessert!

      
     I had the Souffle! But it wasn't a normal Souffle it was a Hawaiian Vanilla Soufflé with Makaya Dark Chocolate Chips, Coconut, Mango, Spiced Rum Sauces! (three different sauces for my dessert!) and my Husband chose the Peanut Butter Mont Blanc with a Raspberry and Hibiscus Essence and Blackberry Gelato.

     One word...YUM! My Souffle was lighter than air and melted in my mouth! My Husband's Gelato was good but the Raspberry packed a punch (I am not a fan). All in all it was wonderful ending to a fantastic meal...Oh! and not to be outdone they brought us an assortment of after dinner sweets to send us off with full bellies and warm hearts.