Mistletoe

What is mistletoe? I have no idea except that it is a plant that we use as an excuse to kiss a girl during Yule. I haven't had the excuse to use it. Yet. There should be plenty time for that.Baldur was having troubling dreams. He dreamt of his death. It worried him so that he consulted his mom about it. His mom had the same dream. Baldur's mom, the goddess Frigg, was disturbed by them for it was said that with the death of Baldur, Ragnarok, the end of the gods, would soon come. She vowed to do something to prevent it.So Frigg visit all nine realms under the tree Yggdrasill. She went to extract promises from all the creatures, plants, and living things to do no harm to Baldur. She scoured the realms from high to low and received the promises from all things.In Midgard, in the deepest forests of the north she came upon the mistletoe. As she looked upon the small plant, whose small leaves she figured it was too innocent and benign to harm anyone. Its immaturity garnered pity from Frigg. She figured that she can't subject such a young and innocent plant to the burden of the promise, so she did not extract a promise from it.Thus with oaths from creatures and plants big and small did the gods of Asgard believe that Baldur was safe from harm. Most of them tested this theory by attempting to hurt Baldur. They would hurl spears at him or swing at him with swords, but nothing would touch him. They believed Baldur to be safe and Ragnarok far from coming.Loki heard about the dreams that troubled Baldur. He talked to Baldur about it. He talked with Frigg about it. He learned of the mistletoe, the plant so small and harmless but without the oath of harm to Baldur. Loki went in search of it and found in the deep northern forests of Midgard the sprig of mistletoe. He hastened back to Asgard with it.Loki returned as the gods played at sport with the untouchable Baldur. They were arrayed around Baldur taking turns throwing things at the god trying to harm him. On the outskirts sat the blind Hodir. Loki crept up to him. "Why don't you take part in such sport, Hodir?""My blindness keeps me from joining in.""Then let me help you. Use this bow and arrow to try and hit Baldur."Loki points Hodir in the direction of Baldur, places the bow in his hands, and guides Hodir's aim with the mistletoe arrow. Hodir releases the bow.Gasps arise as the mistletoe arrow hits Baldur who succumbs to the injury. So came to pass the truth in his dreams. And soon Ragnarok.

Hawaii Vacation 2010: The Yogurt Incident

Hawaii 2010/Eats Around Town/Before the Yogurt Incident

After writing up the story about Korean grilles and nudie bars, I had to come back to another tale that will be told about this vacation: the yogurt incident. The accompanying picture is minutes before it happened and is part of the incriminating evidence. If you have been reading my Hawaii posts you’ll find this one out of order. Sorry about that, but this story has to be told.

We had to get out of Ko Olina and experience the real Hawaii. We leave the place and go one exit down H1 for something to eat. The Seed, Capitol Swell and I head for ramen. My brother and his family go for kind grinds. We hang out for a bit before we go back.

Capitol Swell initiates the Yogurt Incident. He goes into this “make your own yogurt sundae” place and comes out with a gigantic cup of yogurt. It looks good and I go in for some. I’m quickly followed by my nephew who decides to make his own gigantic yogurt sundae. I take the smaller cup, but pay for both.

At this “make your own yogurt sundae” joint, you are charged by the weight of the sundae. It costs me $13 for the two. You can guess which sundae contributed the most to this bill.

We sit down and eat. Moments later the nephew is done. “The cold hurts my teeth.” He’s only a couple scoops in and he doesn’t want it anymore. That makes me angry. And I berate him about it until he runs away.

He comes back saddened and tries to eat more. His mom packs it up and takes it with us. It remained in the freezer until we left Ko Olina. It was there for the maids to eat or throw away.

Dude still owes me yogurt.

Hawaii Vacation 2010: Girlie Grille

Hawaii 2010/Yakinuku

Best story from the vacation…

Wednesday night before Thanksgiving we make it into Town, Waikiki, to see the Bob. We’re also hungry, so after he closes up shop at the Mall, we go out in search of food.

“We’re gonna go to that Korean barbeque joint next to the strip club.”

And we’re off. Two cars looking for that Korean joint by the nudie bar. The car I’m in stops at the first Korean joint, nudie bar combo we pass. There’s Yakuza hanging out front. This must be the place! In we go.

“Table for 15.” “Right, away!”

“Water.” “Here you go!”

“What’s this button?” “Summon you waiter!”

Five minutes pass.

“Should we order or should we wait some more.”

“How many Korean joints next to nudie bars are there in Honolulu?” “This HAS GOT to be the place, right?”

*BRRRRIINNNGG*

“Where you guys?” “We’re at the Korean joint next to the nudie bar.”

“No you’re not. We are.” “No. We are.”

Sorry, Yakuza Korean grille, we’re at the wrong place.

We’re in the car and drive one more block over. Here’s the Korean joint next to the strip club. Who knew?

But look at this picture. It says volumes about how happy we were to eat yakinuku.