And do you know what happened? The next day I received a check I’d been missing, and the day after that I got another check, and then our whole Internet cable issue got resolved.

When I introduce our family as being new to the islands, people here immediately get a deeply concerned look on their faces.  “Oh,” they say, sounding worried, “how are you adjusting?” Then I wonder if I should be worried about something  I don’t know. Living in Hawaii hasn’t been too much of a culture shock.…

Now, my family HATES sweet potatoes and yams passionately. Even the ones covered in maple syrup and marshmallows. My husband privately says he hates them, but will “eat” them to show the kids it’s okay, if you count “eating” as spooning a tiny bit onto your plate and eyeing it like a raw goat testicle…

It is a great day in my history. My children are all at school until 2 pm. And for the first time ever, my youngest is in school five days a week to prepare her for kindergarten next year, and also because she loooves school and complains if she is not there. Of course, drop…

Remember this episode of the Brady Bunch? When they go on their big trip to Hawaii and accidentally possess a Tiki that they must return to the caves? And everything they did was cursed? Well, I think I got a tiki. On Thursday, my Internet stopped working abruptly. I thought the modem just needed resetting.…

My stomach turned at the sight. I ran to the lifeguard station and asked for a bandaid. Another coral casualty was there– a young man with a big puncture ripped out of his foot. Ick. The lifeguard explained to both of us how to use the iodine swab, then I ran back to Cadillac and…

Do the Amish really use instant vanilla pudding in their breads? That question posed itself as I made Amish friendship bread. To make this, you need a starter from a friend, which I was lucky enough to acquire. “Only the Amish know how to make this,” the recipe says ominously. “If you give it all…

At first, I didn’t force the kids to try the beets, but then I remembered the precept. I had to get the kids to try beets, in case they went to a friend’s house and were served something godawful. Now, considering all the cultures around here, I figured the likelihood of somebody visiting a friend…