ADD at its finest...

Clarified a hot mess and misunderstanding with one friend...Wasting time trying to figure out another one...Having fun spending time with old friends...Happy to spend time with my new muchacha sucia and her kiddos...On the BBM with my new younger, bigger brother...Sad about my Sancho's bad news...Trying to make time to have qt with old school friends...Sad about Regina's farewell...Happy to spend QT with her, even though we watched her calculate the worth of free hotel shampoos...Eating WAY too much good food...Not looking forward to the early wake up...Looking forward to Boots n Kimo's and Beach time with the family...With that, calling this one scattered thoughts before my eyes shut for the night. OYASUMINASAI!!!

Saying, "ALOHA!"

Tonight, my friends and I spent a beautiful, and somewhat emotional, evening in Waikiki. We were at the Aston to help bid Regina Toguchi farewell, as she's set to leave HI on January 1, 2010...She likes to think of it as December 32nd, 2009...Either way, we'll sadly watch our friend leave us for an adventure into the unknown... LITERALLY.
Reg is heading to the Philippines for one month. Her purpose, a wedding, and then just gallivant about...From there, she's going to explore Africa and then the Mediterranean. After 6 months, or when the funds are depleted, she's going to make her way to China, to live. So, as we're all sad about her departure, we're all excited to live vicariously through her as she blogs about her travels and discoveries.
I've only had the pleasure of knowing her for three years, and more in-depth within the past few months. It's funny how some people just click and can connect. That's how it is with Regina. It's going to be funny Skyping with her during her adventures.
Regina, I wish you the best and look forward to seeing you in March, when Highway Inn is showcased on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives...You'll be in my thoughts and prayers, and I'll be awaiting your safe return.
And if, by chance, you meet Mr. Right along the way, try and see if he has a younger brother, who's single as well. Ha! Love ya.
You can follow Regina at www.reginatravelsworld.blogspot.com

Ponder...

I find myself being more brave and forward...But then, I also find myself always wondering what the response will be...To be continued...Just wanted to get that out...

Yeahyouwantme...How I turned social suicide into my vanity URL

So, my name on Twitter could be misinterpreted as a cocky blasian with a chip on her shoulder...NOT at all the case. It's a play on my real name, which is truly cracked out...Let me give you the breakdown so you can see how I turned "tragedy" into "triumph." Or not...U can just get a quick chuckle at my expense.

Let me set the scene for you. Mainland NorCal, probably the spring of 1992, which was my 5th grade year at Kynoch Elementary. It's recess time, me and my friends are all playing tag near/around the jungle gym on the playground. I'm "it" and all the kids are taunting me, in hopes that I'll chase them as they duck n' dodge my attempts to tag someone. One boy (I had a crush on) decides to be cute and clever and shouts out, "Hey Yaoyuanae (pronounced Yeow-you-wah-knee), YEAH-YOU-WANT-ME!!!"

I froze in shock, while everyone else continued to run around and laugh their asses off. With that loving outburst, I quit, and quickly retreated towards the classrooms. I figured I'd just cruise and wait for the bell to ring. There was no coming back from that one. He just called me out on the playground in front of everyone! In my head, I was thinking, "How did he know?!?!" Little did I know, he was just teasing in an effort to get me to go after him...In a game of tag, not pursue him as a love interest. Oh, the complications of being a 5th grader. lol

So, for all of you who think that I might actually think that I'm thinking "yeahyouwantme," you're wrong. I've turned an embarassing situation into a laughable moment in my history. Just to prove how awkward I was as a child, here's this lovely photo of me, circa 6th grade. My mom chopped me a J5 afro (but that's another story for another day). I post it because it's @CASEYSOWN 's fave of me. He likes to see his big sis as young and innocent; not a mean bully with a Barry White Autotune voice like he pictures me in the present day.



Anyway, that's why I go by Yaya. Most people cannot pronounce my real name, so kids started calling me Yaya and it stuck. My fam n close friends call me Yao. My sis still doesn't react if she hears Yaya, because she's so used to calling me Yao or Yayao. On a side note, I hate when people capitalize my name or space it out like this 'Ya Ya' or 'YaYa.' Don't ask, it's just irrahs. Probably why @CASEYSOWN likes to spell it like that on purpose.

Man, I miss my sister Doo!

So, my sis, her husband and my nephew/godson left Hawaii on June 10, 2009. I saw them for our goodbyes on June 8, 2009. We got to enjoy some chill time grubbin' down at Boots and Kimo's in Kailua; and of course dinner at Uncle Kawika's. I love this clip; it's classic Yao and Doo. Poor Nathan, born into a crazy asian family. He still has no idea what he's in for...

People let me tell ya bout my best friend!

This is Casey. He's my homie. He keeps me up on the music tips and let's me know what's hot, what's not, and who to check out asap. He's been having a field day by posting an old school of my negropino afro on his blog, about 3-4 times already. He claims it's the only photo he has of me. This, coming from the guy who blogs photos he'll steal from other people's facebook n myspace profiles...hmmm.
So, out of love for my little brother, I had to post the "only" picture I have of him. Unfortunately, he was a cute kid, so it's not hurting him to post it on the bloggity blog..



This is him now! How he got such a cute and sweet woman, is beyond me...but he's still my lil bruh...

Gloating on Nate Nate.

Who knew this kid would bust outta NICU as a Bubba Chunk with sooo much personality?


I love this kid. He's such a ham!


Loving him!


How's the hair though?

I wonder...

Do people really watch the Sham Wow and Slap Chop commercials and feel compelled to call and order either as seen on tv product? Does the value priced 2 for 1 make them that much more appealing?
When he says, "Beware of Sham wow imitators," and "It's made by Germans," does that make one forget about buying 'made in china' from Wal-Mart? Just curious to know if people really fall for that shit... Obviously, the marketing works on someone... My bad if anybody reading this has a sham wow in their car trunk and a slap chop in their utensil drawer......
No, not my bad. It's yours. What the hell told you to feed into that bs and buy a slap chop to make egg, ham, pickles, onions for breakfast??? Are you on crack? You can tell me, I won't be mad...and it'll make sense of the decision you made to blow 19.99 on that p.o.s.

C¤ck r¤ck!!!

Proof that my Grandpa John is hardcore!


Yeah, that's us right before we set out on our ziplining adventure in Princeville, Kauai. How or why papa puts up with my crazy ass, I don't know...but I can brag that I am his favorite.



And, of course, the doodoo-meister in her leg hump/ body pop robot pose. One of our signature dance/pick up moves. I love my lil brother.

Reflections on a discussion...

This entry is of a bit more serious tone, I guess. I was having a discussion with a close friend about relationships and finding "the one." He suggested that maybe we settle because we're comfortable and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I told myself that I'd never put myself in that situation or allow myself to do that with anyone. I lied to myself because I did just that with Robbie. 3 years of compromising and trying to help "fix" him. You know damn well people won't change unless they commit to make the effort to do it for themselves. I tried to force the situation to work because I'm a fixer and a giver. In my mind, I can make it work...even when it truly cannot. I think after that situation, I'm less tolerant of bullshit and dig out when I see anything that could be a sign of a shit sandwich.
We also discussed trusting in the fact that one could spend a lifetime happy with another. How does one really know that he/she will be in love and happy with this one person 10-20 years from now? Hell, how does one know that the other won't drive one crazy after 3-4 years? We discussed couples we knew that were truly happily married. He knew of none. I can think of several but one that stands out for me is my sister n bro-in-law. Their marriage is fairly new but the passion and love they share for each other, and for their son, is inspiring.
Hopefully, they can pull it off for the lifetime gig. Same for my brother and his wifey.
Hmm, getting too deep for tonight. I was trying to get to the funny part about some people having satisfaction in a relationship similar to hugh hefner's...but I took it a whole other direction. Hmm, maybe later.