So it has been a while … good thing this wasnʻt one of my new year’s resolutions ….

But I wanted to share a couple of things.

So I had a great work environment experience in the last couple of years. I was able to work as close to nature as I have been in a very long time. I enjoyed it a lot, the peace I felt looking out my window was never overestimated. It was hard to be stressed there but it got harder to look out the window and not realize that something was missing.

I realized that I didn’t belong there anymore though and really thought carefully about what I wanted my next step to be. I wanted to be in a place that fed what I felt there on a deeper level. I loved being around nature but I wanted to feel it in my DNA which meant I had to also embrace aspects of myself and my ethnicity. Which led me to my current job and I don’t regret it one bit.

Back story aside, to the board and stone. We are taking a 11 week class with Keiki O Ka Aina and Kamehameha Schools taught by Earl Kawaʻa. It is awesome. Star Advertiser Article “Hawaiian educator teaches how to craft poi ponders, boards

So it has been a week in, we met last Thursday to get a debrief of what the Saturday huakaʻi (field trip) would be about. Then on that Saturday we were in Punaluʻu for the day, finding and cutting down hau sticks to make our koʻi (adze) and then stripping the bark and facing it, then at the stream finding our stones to create our pohaku (poi pounders), and picking a slab of monkey pod for us to use as our papa (board).

I am so sore now. To make the koʻi for removing the bark of the papa we had to tie bike tire rubber around the hau stick to keep the blade in place, between trying to keep it in place and continuously rewrapping it when it slips off. I now realize that I am in zero shape and have an ocd quality about myself. You see, they scored the boards for us and now that I see the indention marks, I have been compulsively trying to reach them with my koʻi. Until today, I think I got in at least half an hour but, “Oh boy.” I am done. Tomorrow will be a day of rest, hopefully I wonʻt regret it when we get to start on the pohaku (stone).

My tired muscles aside, I donʻt want to give you the impression that I am not enjoying myself. I have to say that I am very excited about this whole process and the work that we are doing for it. Which is why I want to share the photos with you

Happy 2017!

So this year I tried to make a resolution in advance. And so far it is working ….

Tips:

1. Make your new year resolution in advance of the new year.
2. Start your new resolution before the new year actually begins.
3. Start small, e.g., if it is to exercise, make it 5-15 minutes a day.
4. Give yourself a break off point or a deadline, like 30 days.
5. Keep track, find some way of logging your progress.
6. Donʻt push yourself to do more and allow yourself to do less.

So far so good.

I loved this episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and think I found a way to spend the next few years.

Favorite quote, “Hindsight is 2020.”

Things to make sure you are ready to do starting now:

• Monitor Legislation
• Vote

Places mentioned in his video (around the 19 minute mark) to actively support by giving money (recurring donations or in the name of a Trump voter close to you for holiday giving) or time:

Women’s Health and Rights –

• Plannedparenthood.org
• Reproductiverights.org

Climate Issues –

• nrdc.org

Refugees –

• refugeerights.org

Extra ideas –

• naacpldf.org
• thetrevorproject.org
• maldef.org

Also support true journalistic endeavors –

• The New York Times
• The Washington Post
• Local Newspapers
• Public Radio

or donate to propublica.org (a non profit that does investigative journalism pieces).

Squire and I have had the pleasure these last couple days and through this week to study a different type of improv that is strongly narrative focused.

There are two things that I really like about this process that I feel should be addressed right off the bat.

1) It has a literary focus, in language and in structure, with narration playing a large part in how the show is created and developed.

2) It focuses less on following up on your own initiations but handing off those impulses to other players because entrances and the characters within it are called to life versus self-initiated. For instance if I feel like a scene needs another players or a new scene should start, I can’t just take it upon myself to make that happen by starting the new scene or entering as a new character. I must announce that a scene or character is about to appear and those around me, support the initiation by creating the environment or becoming the characters that I narrate.

Fun and using many parts of my brain at once makes for steam coming out of my ears.

Laughtrack Theater had to close its doors at the end of July 2011 at the Bethel location for a bit. Turns out the space next door to them are looking to expand and the timing of the end of the lease wasn’t in Laughtrack’s best interest.
Although it’s sad, it’s also not forever. They are on the look out for an ideal space for improv classes and improv shows so expect to see them in the near future somewhere close by. Keep your eyes open and be ready for a good laugh coming your way.