Stainless steel restroom facilities

I occasionally play tennis at Colleyville City Park. Sometimes I have to pee before, during or after I play. The images below are what greets me (and others) if using the restroom facilities is needed.

They're quite interesting and somewhat disgusting! Wouldn't you agree?

Truthfully, I can pee in anything. So, the urinals aren't really a problem. However, they are always filled about halfway with water or pee. I'm not sure which. The stench of old, puddled urine is overwhelming. The flooring around the urinals stinks as well which is surprising since it's a pretty open restroom in the sense that they keep the entrance door wide open and there is metal screening around most of the top of the walls just before the ceiling. So, it's 'airy' but the stench still settles within the cement walls.

With the very strong odor, it makes me think that maybe boys/men may pee in the urinal, on the wall, on the floor—basically anywhere that isn't in their pants! I don't blame the little boys. I used to do the same when I was a little boy for some reason.

Anyway, I don't understand the reasoning behind the stainless steel urinals and toilet other than they think it would mean less maintenance. Sure, it's probably impossible to damage them unless you have a metal bat or sledgehammer but the usefulness kind of ends there.

Who in their right mind would want to use the toilet at anytime but especially during the cold weather? Sometimes city parks and recreation managers do not think through an idea.

Oh well, random thought over.

Broken driver side mirror

So the street I live on is bound and determined to make my vehicle-owning life a living hell. First, my CRV was rear ended and then my Grand Caravan driver-side mirror was sideswiped. I don't see other cars on the block or along the street having this problem but it happened to me within a few months time for both my vehicles.

I have a two-car drive way but sometimes my wife's family stops by while I'm at work. I come home and one of my vehicles and an in-laws' vehicle is in my driveway so I have to park my second vehicle at curb of the street. The in-laws leave and I end up leaving my vehicle parked at the curb for whatever reason like laziness or I'm already in bed. Then some idiot comes by and hits my vehicle(s) and doesn't own up to it because they're probably some stupid drunk assholes!

I looked all over the world wide web and local auto parts shops like O'Reilly's or Pep Boys for a cheaply priced replacement mirror. I didn't want to buy from a dealership because of dealership pricing. I almost had to because my particular model seems to be rare for some damn reason. It seems my mirror is in-between the two models that are widely offered from various vendors and dealerships. Either, I can find a replacement manual mirror or mirror with remote and heat. My mirror is remote with no heat. I have no problem having a manual mirror as I hardly adjust my van mirrors but I didn't want to order online and then the damn thing not fit/work like I thought. Then I'd have to go through the process of returning and probably getting screwed out of some of my money that I thought I was saving. Since I couldn't find my particular model on the Internet or in retail auto parts stores and surely didn't want to go to a dealership, I had an epiphany and thought of looking at a junkyard.

Hell, I haven't been to a junkyard in something like twenty five years! I didn't even know if they still existed...for pulling parts, anyway. I figured there were ones around where they just crushed, stacked and stored cars for scrap metal but what the hell do I know these days. I don't work on my own vehicle much at all these days since I'm busy and they have all these new technologies and shit that only "smart mechanics" know how to fix. Anyway, I googled 'junkyard' and found a few in my general vicinity. The closest was about fifteen minutes away. It closed at 6 p.m. and I get off of work at 5 p.m. but with rush-hour traffic happening at that time AND going the direction I'd need to go, I'd have to either leave work early or wait for the weekend. The weekend timing won.

I made my first trip towards the junkyard and got about three quarters of the way before I realized that I did not bring ANY tools for removing the mirror if I found a replacement. I went ahead and drove the rest of the way to know for sure the location and to be sure it actually existed. I mean it did have a website and all but I just wanted to be doubly sure.

It took me a couple of more weeks before I was able to head to the junkyard again. This time I was prepared. I brought the old mirror as well as my tool box of which I really only needed a couple of tools.

I walked all over this junkyard. It was much bigger than I imagined. The area where most of the vehicles that would contain my mirror was the farthest distance in the farthest corner of the junkyard from the entrance. It was a hot, dry day with a slight breeze and this place was very dusty. After about fifteen minutes, my eyes were watering from the dirt, my nose was running from the dust and I think I was getting a farmer's tan from the sunshine.

So long story completed, I finally got my driver-side mirror replaced.

compared to

How much for that sandwich!?

You can barely read the prices but for the filet mignon steak sandwich you see in the photo, it costs $18.00!

Maybe next time when I attend the U.S. Open, I'll treat it like going to Six Flags and have an ice chest with drinks and sandwiches in the car in the parking lot because it did not taste like an $18 sandwich!

I did purchase it and I didn't taste anything special from it other than it tasted like a steak (meat) sandwich. It definitely wasn't worth $18 but there isn't anything cheap to eat at the U.S. Open!

Colleyville Public Library

I sometimes play tennis early on a Saturday morning in Colleyville. I think the park used to be called Bransford but now it looks to be called Colleyville City Park.

I've been to this park many times but have never walked around it. Years ago I brought my kids when they were little because it had a pretty cool playground facility made out of railroad-ties type timber...but not exactly. It was like a giant wooden fort or an on-the-ground tree house. That's been since removed for a "safer" playground.

This one particular Saturday I drove out to play I had arrived fairly early. My friends, for doubles play, weren't going to arrive for at least twenty minutes so I decided to take a walk around the park to stretch my legs from the thirty minute or so drive from my home in North Dallas. It was a pretty cool day compared to the energy-sapping heat/humidity we had been having. I walked about halfway around the park and saw that it actually backed up to the town square. I've driven through that square once years ago because I thought I could cut through it to get to the tennis courts. I was wrong.

Anyhow, this is the first time I noticed the Colleyville Public Library building.

It's not a huge deal for all people but it looked kind of cool to me. I walked in the little archway there to see what it looked like. I peeked into the building through the large glass windows like a little kid. Nothing extraordinary but nostalgic since I've probably not been in a public library in many, many years!

It briefly took me back to the days I'd go to the Euless Public Library as a kid for class field trips or the occasional origami book to check out so I could learn new paper-folding patterns to impress people.

Let's play "name that food item"

I'm going to sound like an old man but I can remember the days when you knew without a doubt if you were seeing an burrito supreme or a bean burrito. My, how times have changed!

I remember when I was in high school and we got to leave the campus for lunch. We would head over to Taco Bell with our cash in hand knowing that we could get a medium drink and two soft tacos, two hard tacos or two bean burritos for $2.00 even. If we wanted a burrito supreme, it was like $1.59 but it was much bigger and it would fill us more. We all usually did the $2.00 deal because we'd be saving our money for going out over the weekend to the movies, bowling or whatever.

If I remember correctly, back in the day the tacos and bean burrito were priced around $.59 and the drink was like $.69. Add the tax which was probably around 7.5% back then and we'd get the $2.00.

Now what is it, like a $1.09 for a bean burrito or soft taco and $.99 for a hard taco? However, you get a little less filling for twice the costs. Ridiculous! Oh well. Unfortunately I'll still pay some of their prices because me and my family still love us some T Bell!

So, let's play the "name that food item" game. You have a 50/50 chance of being correct. Easy right?

Which one of these Taco Bell items
is a Burrito Supreme
and which is a Bean Burrito?
 

 

How much is that doggy in the window

Saw this little puppy while walking during my lunch break around Snider Plaza. Apparently there's a pet boutique that opened up which specializes in teacup and toy breeds. A friend and I stopped in out of curiosity. She asked if the dog was full-grown. It's still a puppy but won't get much bigger than it is now.

My friend asked if she could hold it. The sales girl said that she'd have to sign a release which I'm sure says one has to pay for the dog or damages to the dog if it's dropped or whatever. Weird but understandable, I guess.

My friend then asked how much the dog was. The sales girl said that she'd have to make an appointment to know the actual costs but it was a few thousand. So in my mathematical mind, a few is more than two but less than infinity. Right? Ha, ha!

Anyway, if you want teeny tiny dogs, you might check it out. I would not like to spend that kind of money...a few thousand...on a pet, especially a dainty one.

The dog was a cutie though!

Weekend breakfast

Over the past few years or so, I've tried to create a tradition of making breakfast at least on one of the weekend mornings for the family but usually Sunday. This is about what it looks like but with a bit more bacon, eggs (scrambled and over-easy), toast (french or toasted).

Add Dunkin Donuts coffee for me, milk for the family and breakfast is good to go in the House of Jay.

I believe creating this tradition has worked as many times my kids have had friends stay the night and I hear them say, "Dude, you picked a good night to stay over because my Dad makes breakfast with bacon and eggs in the morning!"

I'm a good—no, great Dad and husband!

Dermatology Is a Lucrative Career

Went to a dermatologist appointment today. The office was in a building I've passed many times. I've been in it once — to eat and use the restroom. This was during a time that I took my kids and some of their friends to enjoy a little bit of Easy Slider Truck. They were parked outside this building.

Anyway, the elevators have a wall-to-ceiling glass window wall at the back of the elevators. I don't recall if the sides did too because I was too busy looking out and down through the back glass. Three of four sides of the building are offices and the fourth is all glass windows to the outside world.

Once I got to the dermo's office level, the 13th floor, this was the view...and the dermo office takes up almost all of the 13th floor. Daughters or sons, find a dermatologist to marry. :-)

Digg's Taco Shop's hamburguesa

I had a craving for the hamburger from Digg's Taco Shop. Yes, a hamburger at a taco place. Don't laugh. It's actually pretty tasty. This is at least the fourth or fifth time I've had one. I've probably been accompanied by the same female coworker for three out of five of those burgers. She's got an addiction as she's probably had 8-10 burgers from Digg's over as many trips.

I was pretty hungry and didn't want to still feel so after eating just one burger so I bought two. The one below is the lucky winner to be eaten tonight! I refrigerated the other one because even though I was indeed still hungry, I didn't want to feel bloated by starting the second one and end up eating it all...because that's what I would have done — eaten it all!

In case you're interested, here is an article/review from the Dallas Observer's restaurant blog (while it lasts).

Digg's has actually increased the price of the burger by $1 since my coworker and I first had one about 6-8 months ago. At $5.95, it was a pretty good deal. At $6.95, it's still a good deal if you just get the burger but once you add a drink and maybe a side, you could probably get something bigger (and maybe better) somewhere else.

McDonald's loitering

Stopped by the McDonald's at 5220 N MacArthur, Irving, TX this evening around 8 p.m. There were three female and one male worker. Service was VERY slow. Waited at counter to order for 5-7 mins after the previous customer ordered. Finally took my order and I realized they got it wrong when they called me to say my order was ready — she didn't confirm it (well I didn't either) immediately after taking my order. I ordered a 10 pc McNugget meal with a Diet Coke, a Quarter Pounder (sandwich only), and an iced coffee. The order I picked up was a 10 pc McNugget meal and a Quarter Pounder meal. I don't know if the cost was more or less than it should've been but I wasn't that hungry and was going to share the fries with my child. We basically wasted an order of medium fries.

Some quick thoughts: I feel the value of the quarter pounder meal is not worth it. The hamburger patties were the smallest and thinnest I've had/seen. It's like the disclaimer of "pre-cooked weight" is used to cover the fact that the burger isn't EVEN CLOSE to being a 1/4 lb. I truly believe the slices of cheese could have been as thick as the patties and weighed nearly the same. I probably won't be going back to McDonald's for anything but maybe a $1 menu item or a coffee (the coffee is very good by the way).

The worst and funniest part of our visit was the sign that was just above my head where we sat but also posted throughout the dining area. I don't understand why they'd post such a sign in a restaurant, a fast food restaurant at that, where there is no need for table turnover since there is no waitstaff looking for tip wages.

McDonald's McRibs

As you can see, the McRib is back at McDonald's. I'm not a McRib fanatic but I have always had at least one when they come back each year to the Mickey D's menu. I had a couple McD's gift cards with money on them still so I decided to have something from McDonald's for lunch today.

The shift manager took my order and was promoting the McRib value meal to me. He then said, "Do you want the extra McRib sandwich for just $1 more?" I joked, "So, are you asking me to add another 500 calories to the 1,000 the value meal already provides me?" He said, "Yep!" So I ordered the second sandwich for the $1 extra. However, after taking the photo, I repackaged the second sandwich to save for later.

Chick-fil-a off US 75 near Southwestern Blvd, Dallas

Went to get lunch for me and the wife. This was the drive thru at Chick-fil-a around 11:45 a.m. on a Monday. I can't believe people wait this long for food and especially this many people still think Chick-fil-a is "healthy." Yes, it's good-tasting food but people think it's also healthy because it's chicken. Everything is healthy in moderation. But I digress.

This is just a glimpse of the line that I caught. They have two drive thru lanes. The right one is all the way to the 75 service road and down it north to the Southwestern Blvd intersection. Which always causes traffic backups around lunch time at this location. It's ridiculous. Does it mean that Chick-fil-a is that worth it or that people are just foolish?

Oh well, either way, I would never wait more than 5-10 minutes between getting in line, ordering and getting my order from a "fast food" restaurant. I've got better things to do or better places to eat that require me to wait.

State Fair of Texas 2014

A friend and coworker of mine asked me to go to the State Fair of Texas on this wonderfully cool day. It was the perfect weather and day to go. She had free tickets and she was paying for everything, how could I say, "No?" So not to go into too much detail, I figured I'd just post a few pictures from the day that I took with my cellphone.

I did not photograph it but I would say that the Chicken Fried Loaded Baked Potato was pretty good. Visually, it wasn't at all what I was expecting — an actual loaded baked potato that ha been deep fried — but it did at least taste like it should. I think it was around 14 tickets, which is WAY overpriced, but I made a decision to try at least a few of the fried finalists...and well, my friend was paying. Anyway...on to the photos.

Big Tex!

The Cotton Bowl

The Texas Star

Stockyard building replica

Alamo replica

Fried Sweet Texas

Fried Sweet Texas is one of the Big Tex Choice Awards 2014 Finalist (as reported by D Magazine's Sidedish. It's best described on the StateFairBlog:

“Traveling across Texas to try the best and most popular desserts gave inspiration for this fried treat. Fried Sweet Texas starts with fresh pie dough filled with crunchy pecan pie, juicy peach cobbler and creamy buttermilk pie. It is then deep fried until the crust is golden brown and flaky, and then served up with a side of Texas’ own Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream. A real tribute to Texans and their amazing sweet treats!"

In all fairness, the dessert is good. Is it better than Molten Chocolate Cake at Chili's (I think) or even better than the cinnamon rolls at Cici's? In my opinion, no. In fact, I think I used 14 tickets which amounts to $7.00 for the Fried Sweet Texas dessert and I wasn't satiated or my taste buds fulfilled. I can eat all I want of the cinnamon rolls with the Cici's buffet OR Death by Chocolate is like $5.00. Both you get more for your money and thinking about them right now, makes my mouth water. I don't have that reaction with the Fried Sweet Texas. The only thing I can say about that dessert is I tried it. However, I cannot recommend it!
 

Cobra Mustang golf cart

2014 Cobra Mustang Convertible

Big Tex Game Card

As labeled, the above image is a Big Tex Game Card. You MUST purchase one of these to be able to play ANY of the games along the Midway. It's ridiculous! My friend purchased two forty credit game cards for $20 each. That means we paid $40 for 80 credits. With me? Most games on the Midway charge 5 credits or more. My friend liked the water gun games...you know the ones where you shoot water into the mouth of something and it either moves stuff in a race of some kind or blows up a balloon until it pops. In my mind, these are tailored to children. As that, the games should be priced as so. However, the two that we played were 10 credits per player and some had a minimum of 2 or 4 players to play. So they get more money and only one winner. Anyway, we looked specifically for those water gun games that would allow a minimum of 2 players. Anyway, we had to play twice to win a prize. I let my friend win both times to get a 12-15" tall Gizmo. Yep! That's Gizmo from Gremlins. I told my friend that she paid $40 for that stuffed Gizmo which she probably could have paid much less for at somewhere like Amazon.com, Walmart or Target and she paid that much for a movie item from like twenty years ago! Anyway, I then won her a football in a football throw contest. That cost her $20 since I missed the first two times.

So, the main point of my mentioning the game card is that the State Fair has finally found a way to gouge even more money from Fair attendees. Coupons are used for food and rides only. Game cards are used only for Midway games. So, if you have any amount left over of cards or coupons, it makes it more difficult to use them all before you leave as they cannot be cross used.

Mashed potatoes in a bucket

Went to my neighborhood Tom Thumb to get some groceries and dinner. My youngest went with me. We were pretty hungry and grocery shopping while being as hungry as we were probably isn't the best idea.

We didn't do too bad. We had to get some treats for a party my youngest was attending. We purchased Safeway branded chocolate-covered donut holes — 50 for $5. Yum! In fact, I purchased two tubs so I could have my fat-building dessert at home all day!

For dinner, we decided to get an over-roasted chicken. You know the kind they have these days at any big-name grocery in the middle of some aisle near the deli that was actually baked/cooked by the deli. They are usually like $4.99-$5.99 depending on if you have their rewards card.

Anyway, my youngest said we needed a side item to go with it. Which normally we don't but today we needed one. My youngest picked this bucket of mashed potatoes for like $3.00. I guess we could test it for such a low price. Besides, unless it's just completely horrible and disgusting, I'll eat it because I was born, bred and raised to NOT waste food!

So, long story short, these are pretty darn good! I was a little iffy when buying and initially warming them up (they're in a microwavable container) but the oldest, youngest and I liked them. I don't think the wife had any but I'm sure she would have liked them as well.

Sometimes you gotta live on the edge, especially with food. If it works out, cool. If not...try again.

Is this the perfect shirt or what?

Saw this at Walmart or was it Target? I don't remember.




Sent by Absent-Minded Jay via his Samsung S3

High school band trip to Honolulu, Hawaii

** This is WAY past overdue from when I started but I have many thoughts and distractions on top of being a busy man. Just enjoy the post...or not.

So, my kids are privileged. Okay, not really. But they do go to a public high school that is 97.5% full of the privileged. We are able to benefit from this because we rent in the area versus buying. We are in what the "real" residents call a "multi-family dwelling." We'd NEVER be able to buy...not necessarily because I won't ever make that much money...okay, I won't ever make that much money...but not because I can't. It's because I won't waste my life working to afford something that isn't a necessity in my life. I'd much rather make enough to live and enjoy not working all the time.

Anyway, the marching band at this high school announced during summer 2013 band camp that they were going to Hawaii for this year's band trip. More specifically they would be marching in the Honolulu St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waikiki Beach on March 17, 2014 at 12 p.m. Most all of the kids were pretty stoked. Many of the kids probably have already been to ritzy vacation areas——maybe places like Vail, Cancun, Bahamas, and any popular destinations for the rich in North America, South America, Europe, Asia...okay basically anywhere the rich take their kids.

The student price was $1,970 since they will be in a quad occupancy room. The adult price was $2,030 as they'd be in double occupancy rooms unless they decided to be in quad occupancy. I prefer double as the wife and I were planning on going. She's still fighting her illness or the side effects from the illness but we were going to use this as a celebration of her making leaps and strides to betterness.

The wife didn't get as better as we had hoped so I invited my long-time friend who's basically be demoted to a well-known acquaintance to take her place. He'd have to pay of course but I had already reserved an extra space and I didn't feel like paying double or rooming with someone I really don't know. I thought about asking the one brother I still talk to but I ended up asking the lesser of two evils. I knew my friend and I would have fun. We just don't hang out as much these days as we used to and we live 15-20 minutes away from each other and also work basically across the street from one another. Anyway, so he was the lucky one to benefit from my wife still not feeling up to traveling. I could have just not gone with my kids but this is freaking Hawaii!! And, it's one thing if they were going to one of the 48 contiguous states...well, most anyway, some I'd still want to go...but this is a flight over an ocean with my two kids. I was not going to be worried about them sitting in good ol' Texas!

The band used a travel agent which was beneficial in including a few interesting excursions that I probably would not book to do myself or even as a family. Going just as a family, everything is costly so I have to pick and choose what's best, most fun and at a fairly decent price. Sometimes though, I do things that I REALLY want to do and I will pay whatever the cost is. Luckily, the total amount we paid included these extra activities so I'd be an idiot to not take advantage of them.

---

  WHERE WE STAYED

---

First of all, we stayed in the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. Here the hotel rooms were nice enough but they weren't all that. I didn't know what to expect but it really wasn't much different inside the room than when we stayed at Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel as a family back in 2010. I don't know what the cost difference is but they obviously are owned by the same parent company. I think the Circle Hotel had a much better balcony view (beach front for us versus beach view at Beach Hotel). The Beach Hotel room was a little larger maybe a couple of feet wider and longer, had a few extra room amenities like a flat screen TV with a PS3 which one could rent movies or games for 'free' as part of the room cost. Who's going to spend their time in their room playing video games or watching TV when the entire island of Oahu and the ocean are there to play in is beyond me but to each his own. I'm sure the Circle Hotel rooms have been updated somewhat since 2010——maybe not larger but amenities-wise.

There was a weird thing with the "all-you-can-eat" breakfast. It was sold to us as an international buffet breakfast. In reality, it was the same shit you get at Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn or some other hotel that has "Inn" or "Suites" in the name. I'm not saying that it's bad. I'm just saying it's never what they promote and advertise. The main difference between the Inn/Suites' continental breakfast and AWBH is they didn't have the pastries prepackaged in cellophane. Inside each room there was what I'd call an "insulated" lunch tote. It was about 10" long by 6" wide by 6" deep. You took this down to the breakfast "buffet" by the pool between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. You waited in line because some hotel employee is checking your key card to make sure you room at the hotel and belong in the line to get their breakfast "buffet." Once past the gatekeeper, you had a line of like six tables and stations that had various items on them from individual serving boxed cereals, milk, muffins, donuts, various other pastries, Japanese-type breakfast items like cold noodles and then just-OK coffee. You could opt for hot breakfast items like eggs, bacon and/or waffles but they would bill your room for those items. You put whatever you could inside the tote to carry and eat in a poolside chair or back in your room. That's what the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel calls an international buffet breakfast. The best parts of the breakfast was the poi roll/muffin with sweet poi filling. Everything else one could get at ANY hotel/inn/suite on the mainland or anywhere else I'm sure. Although the coffee wasn't memorable and the only cup they had was like the kind you'd use to rinse your mouth out at the dentist, I had to drink it because I NEED my caffeine in the morning to make it through the day especially getting up at 6:30-7:00 a.m. The urn of Kona coffee with pouches of powdered creamer we had available when we stayed at the Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel was much better than the coffee on the buffet line. Truthfully, I wouldn't have minded just hitting the corner McDonald's and paying for some spam and eggs or a sausage, egg McMuffin. But adding additional extraneous costs to my travel when the buffet is "free" was not in my game plan.

View of Waikiki Beach from our balcony

Sunset view of Waikiki Beach from our balcony

Pool and breakfast area as seen from our balcony

---

  WHAT WE DID AS PART OF THE PAYMENT

---

Germaine's Luau — This luau was a new experience. I didn't know what to expect but if it was anything close to the luau we attended on our last visit, then it couldn't be too bad. We took a luau bus from our hotel to the location. I guess it'd be considered located on the southwest corner of the island. We had an older lady guide that was kind of annoying and funny at the same time. She was very good at sharing all her cultural knowledge of Hawaii as she's a local...born and bred. The drive to Germaine's was kind of interesting. We took a lot of highway and went through an industrial park to get to the place. I'm sure there was a time when it was mostly trees, sand and rock around the Germaine's but not so much now. Luckily for them, they are located pretty close to the beach and ocean so they are able to keep the allure of a traditional luau. The entertainment was fairly good and the food wasn't too bad. The offerings were plentiful although I would have expected a few more options. Our last visit we did the luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Overall, I believe the entertainment, atmosphere and dining was much better at the Cultural Center. I don't know the actual cost difference between the two different places but even if it's double or less, I'd go with the Cultural Center. Now don't get me wrong. Germaine's was a nice establishment with decent food and entertainment but it just doesn't compare to everything we got with a ticket to the Cultural Center luau.

Imu where the kalua pig is being cooked

Dining area and stage

Maita'i Catamaran — This isn't something that I would have planned to do myself. I'm not even sure that it's something to even consider. It was package in the deal so I wasn't going to miss it. It was a fairly enjoyable time to just be out on the water. The catamaran had a huge sail and at times we were really booking it. It was occasionally entertaining when some of the band kids got splashed and soaked from the bow dipping under the water a bit causing a big, splashing wave. We did get to see some dolphins swim along the boat. The ride started just off the beach in front of the Outrigger Waikiki went out towards the ocean then to slightly past Diamond Head and then back to the beach. It was probably an hour ride and the captain and deck hand were nice if not mostly silent. While it was somewhat nice and enjoyable, it's not something I think is really worth around $30. Can I mark it off my bucket list? Sure, if I had it on there but other than that I'd much rather spend $30 on some souvenirs I can take/send home. However, if it's something other people want to do, then you can't go wrong with the Maita'i Catamaran.

Waikiki Beach from the catamaran

Diamond Head from the catamaran

Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial — We did this when we vacationed as family a few years ago. It's the same except they finished the construction of part of the visiting center that was blocked off last time we were here. The new building is essentially a movie theater that shows photos and film clips to show the progression of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the aftermath and the subsequent USA's joining WWII. It's about a 20-30 minute movie and then you get to move to where the barge taxis will be boarded for the trip to The Memorial. One thing I did notice this time is that the visiting families with children did much better in controlling those children and having them respect the time and reverence of being on The Memorial. The landscape of the Harbor was much different too as there were not as many naval ships docked as our previous visit because the "naval war games" were not going on at this time.

Just inside Pearl Harbor Visiting Center

USS Missouri from inside the Memorial

American Flag thru top of USS Arizona Memorial

Name wall inside the USS Arizona Memorial

Nu'uanu Pali Lookout — This was also done on our previous trip. It seems to be a part of almost every available island tour and it was worth it just as much as before. The overlooked land was more lush than before as this visit was during Hawaii's winter time. This is still a "shouldn't miss" stop for any vacationers as it's a fairly peaceful and beautiful place to visit and it's free.

---

  THINGS WE DID OUTSIDE OF THE PLAN

---

We had a "your day" where there wasn't anything to do as part of the package. They did have "deals" that the band kids could've signed up for which included snorkeling in Hanauma Bay or hiking Diamond Head or parasailing somewhere. I told my kids that we already did the first two and we could parasail on the mainland but it was up to them. We/they decided upon my idea of renting a vehicle for the day to drive around to at least hit the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet as it's only open until 3 p.m. and Saturday, our free day, was Saturday. This was our only cheaper priced shopping option because The International Market Place was closed down for remodeling or something. It seems their link is currently down or wrong but you can view some online articles here, here and here while they last. Besides, last time we were here, the Swap Meet was $2-$5 lower than the Int'l Market probably due to convenience. Anyway, we hit the Swap Meet and I purchased more shirts this time around than last because I knew I'd wear the hell out of my shirts I bought. Besides, I decided this time around that if I bought too much that wouldn't fit in my carry-on, I was just going to check a bag or FedEx/UPS it to my home. My buddy also was prepared and had a checked bag that was 90% empty because he didn't know what he would come back with either. And it turns out that checking a bag is much cheaper than shipping it even via FedEx or UPS. Good call friend!

Blue Hawaii Helicopter tours — However, before the Swap Meet, we decided the day before to try something really different and definitely something my wife would not approve of. A helicopter tour with Blue Hawaii Helicopter tours. They do a tour of about half the island that starts at Honolulu Airport around and down to the southeast point then up north along the short to the northeast point and then back down the "middle" of the island to the airport. So we saw places like Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Oprah's house, Bird Island (I think), Schoefield Barracks, North Shore, Dillingham Airfield where some fighter jets were taking off and landing during flight exercises, some place in the lush mountainside where they were building sets for the new Jurassic Park movie and the same trail/dirt road along which 50 First Dates was filmed, Dole Plantation and few other places along the route that escape my memory at this time. It was WAY WAY cool! I'd have to say well worth the $200 each plus my buddy purchased the video for $25 (it comes on a flash drive) which includes video of inside and outside of the helicopter as well as mic/headset audio during the ride——it was cool except for one camera that was a little foggy/blurry which as part of the service and sales you'd think they'd make sure all lenses were free and clear...all in all the video was good enough for memorabilia sake. We also used two GoPros (hand-held by me and my friend however so a little bumpy). The helicopter held the pilot and six other people. Seating is based on weight distribution so my kids got the two front seats next to the pilot, I was on the outer right, my friend next to me and then a couple celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary on the left side. Our pilot was not only the pilot but a well-informed tour guide. He was good at what he did even though he looked to be the ripe old age of 18-20 years old. He may have been a little older but certainly did not look it. As stated, it was a good time!

Keneke's — My friend and I didn't visit the original location that I did in 2010. Instead, we ran into the location listed on the website. I asked the lady inside if the other location was still open (it was really just a hole-in-the-wall place) and she said yes. However, the website only lists one location so I'm not sure about the other. I would say that I felt like the food seemed a little tastier at the 2010 location but I'm not going to complain too much because it's ALL good going down!

Keneke's Grill at Punaluu

View from the back seating area at Keneke's

Kalua Pork and Pork Adobo

Pork Adobo and Pork Guisantes (aka. Peas & Pork)

Oceanarium Restaurant in the Pacific Beach Hotel — My friend and I ate dinner at this place. I ate here with the family the last visit so I recommended to my buddy to eat here again. It still looked the same as before but I think the food offerings were a little more. It's probably the difference between lunch and dinner but I don't know for sure as I didn't ask. The food was pretty good like before but there was no female diver feeding the fish in the giant tank.

Me's Bar-B-Que here or here — There was one day where the band kids had a lunch-is-on-you in between required activities. My friend and I wanted something more local like Keneke's but we couldn't travel too far due to the kids' responsibilities. Our last visit we walked by this place, Me's, on our way to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. We thought about stopping but stuck with our original goal of trying L&L. This time with the kids, L&L was a possibility but it is a good walk from our hotel. Again, the time constraints were considered and we decided to stop at Me's Bar-B-Que. It wasn't too busy (see pic below). Me's had plenty of options familiar and not-so-familiar to choose from on their menu...way more options than the L&L Hawaiian BBQ in Plano, TX. Anyway, we ordered and everything was pretty damn good! Very good like Keneke's on our last visit although a few more items we were able to try/eat than offered at Keneke's. All in all, it was pretty good food for a decent price. I wish I had room in my belly to try everything on the menu. If you want something more of a local cuisine, definitely try this place. It looks a little scary (especially seeing the "Rent scooters here" sign and scooters right next to the seating area) but it's really good!

Order line at Me's Bar-B-Que

Me's Bar-B-Que (photo by Google Maps)

---

  SHARING RANDOM PHOTOS FROM OUR TRIP

---

Blow hole albeit not 'blowing'

Hanauma Bay

Secret Island Pavillion

Donkey Balls

90 cents gas rewards at Tom Thumb!

I've been to Tom Thumb a few times to grocery shop over the past week or so but I haven't had to get gas since I haven't driven twenty minutes each way to play tennis each weekend like I used to a month or so ago.

Anyway, today, I had to gas up my van. The price per gallon was $3.19 but using my gas rewards that I've built up, you can see the price I ended up paying in the image below. That's a 90 cent savings! This is a huge bonus as my van normally takes anywhere from $50-$60 to fill up from almost empty. Today it was $37.50!

Cooking sliders

Started a couple of weeks ago but just now finishing and posting.

I've written about my appreciation of the sliders from Easy Slider Truck. They make 'em pretty good. But as we all know, it's not that hard to make a burger whether it's 1/4 lb, 1/3 lb, 1/2 lb or "slider" lb. No matter how you make it or with what add-ons, it usually tastes good or tastes good to someone. Anyway, it's been a few months or so since we've had any Easy Slider sliders. We just haven't had the time but also, the last time they were near my work, they were charging $8.00 for two sliders or $12.00 for three. It used to be two for $7.00 or three for $10. I think $4.00 a slider isn't worth it when I can get almost an entire value meal (fries, drink and burger) somewhere for $8.00. Anyway, the last time I went to buy sliders for the family, I got nine sliders which cost me $30.00.

So, the family decided to try and make our own. Well, I get to do all the trying and making. The wife and kids get to try the tasting. Hamburger meat @ $8.00, slider buns 12-pk @ $3.00, small goat cheese @ $3.00, strawberry preserve spread @ $3.00, and a pound of bacon @ $8.99 which equals a total around $26.00 plus tax. I saved roughly $4.00 but I also made 16 sliders——the last two (in the bottom pic below) probably could have been broken into four for a total of 18 sliders.

Below: is just the start of the sliders in the skillet. I just mixed the 95% lean hamburger meat with garlic powder. I sliced a yellow onion and put in the skillet with the patties to hopefully pick up some of the juice/flavoring from the patties.

Next: This is just one of the many sliders I cooked. A photo just doesn't do it justice on how good it looked and also lacks the tasty smell that makes the mouth water.

I had some leftover hamburger meat since I didn't know how many sliders I would/could make. I decided to make some Heinz 57 sliders. I mixed the hamburger meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Heinz 57. I ran out of slider buns so I thought I'd see how cinnamon raisin bread would work. Added some bacon and, voila! This shit was pretty darn good and tasty if I may say so myself!