Time to play Seven Degrees of Separation ...
1. On this day in 1778, Captain Cook anchored in Waimea Bay and came ashore to the island of Kaua'i, giving him the distinction as the first European to arrive in the Hawaiian Isalnds.
2. Cook named the archipelago as the "Sandwich Islands" in honor of John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty who funded Cook's expedition.
 |
| Captain Cook Monument |
3. Montague was an accomplished statement ... yet he is "famous" for creating the sandwich. Whether is it fact or legend, Montague requested a meal while playing cards. Since he was unable to use a knife and fork (as a gentleman never lays down his cards), he stuffed the meat into his bread. Viola, the sandwich!
4. The Earl of Sandwich, a chain of sandwich shops, operates in 26 locations, including Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas (link).
5. Las Vegas is considered the 9th island of the Hawaiian Islands - Steve McGarrett once explained the nickname on Hawaii Five O.
6. Last night's H50 episode featured a scene near the Byodo In Temple in the Valley of Temples - a spiritual retreat nestled among the Ko'olau Moana (mountains).
7. Contemporary author Dee DeTarsio intertwines endearing "spirits" in her humor filled books. I was first introduced to her through HAOLE WOOD (link).
The name becomes clear as you read this story of a San Diego weather reporter who reconnects with her Hawaiian heritage in Maui. I posted my review on Amazon at this link and Goodreads and this link. This is a must read for all Hawaii lovers!
I just started (and already loving) Dee's recent release, ALL MY RESTLESS LIFE TO LIVE:
Life is a soap opera, especially for Elle Miller, who is a TV producer. (Ellen dropped the "n" in her name in hopes of finding a better ending for herself.) When her laptop crashes, she borrows her dead dad's computer and gets way more than she bargained for.
As Elle tries to save her career with a storyline featuring a trip through Atlantis, she takes a trip to the Emmys, and finds herself in the middle of a romance between a real doctor and a hunk who just plays one on TV. Friends, family, and clues from "the other side" all help Elle figure out the difference between living the good life . . . and living a good life.
Praise for The Kitchen Shrink: "Dee DeTarsio is easily the next Sophie Kinsella. Her writing is fast-paced, hilarious, and engaging. I loved The Scent of Jade and am hopelessly heels-over-head for The Kitchen Shrink." --Chick Lit & Wine
The Byodo-In Temple is located in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In Temple in O'ahu is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan.
As Elle tries to save her career with a storyline featuring a trip through Atlantis, she takes a trip to the Emmys, and finds herself in the middle of a romance between a real doctor and a hunk who just plays one on TV. Friends, family, and clues from "the other side" all help Elle figure out the difference between living the good life . . . and living a good life.
Praise for The Kitchen Shrink: "Dee DeTarsio is easily the next Sophie Kinsella. Her writing is fast-paced, hilarious, and engaging. I loved The Scent of Jade and am hopelessly heels-over-head for The Kitchen Shrink." --Chick Lit & Wine
In honor of Dee's homage to "the other side", I am giving away a special gift from the Byodo In Temple (link):
The Byodo-In Temple is located in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In Temple in O'ahu is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan.
 |
| The good luck cat at the Byodo In gift ship. |
To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about soap operas - love them or loathe them? I grew up as a fan of Young and the Restless ... although I haven't watched in over a decade. I'm now a fan of "evening" soap operas such as H50!
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, January 25, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 26.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
To learn more about Dee and her books, check out her website at deedetarsio.wordpress.com.
I used to watch soaps. I started watching them with my mom, but when I worked midnight shift I got out of the habit. I haven't watched any daytime soaps in many years.
ReplyDeleteMarcy Shuler
Back when my children were babies I would put them on and Young and the Restless was one of my favorites but I have watched them for a very, very long time. Castle is the one I never miss now.
ReplyDeleteI have not watched soap operas in many years. But when I was younger, I was totally hooked on Guiding Light.
ReplyDeleteI have never watched any day time soaps. I guess I just wasn't home. I don't watch much TV at all really.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in college a whole group of us would watch soap operas together. All My Children was a favorite but I haven't watched a soap opera in decades.
ReplyDeleteMy mother introduced me to "the soaps" when I was in grade school (late 50's) and they were still fairly new. She had one or 2 that were 1/2 hour shows. It seemed that every time I stayed home from school, which was NOT often she had added another program. So she went from about 1 hour viewing to 3 hours or more. One or two of her "programs" had become hour long by this time. I knew some of the characters from childhood (theirs...LOL). As a young married woman, I picked them back up on days that I was not feeling well. I remember one that I particularly liked called Dark Shadows! As a young mother, I got to watch about 4 hours a day of soaps! AND, by this time there were one or 2 soaps on at night! My favorite of all time was a show that ran a few years called simply "Soap" which was a spoof! Yes, over the years I have loved "The Soaps"!
ReplyDeleteMy fascination with soaps has come and gone several times through out my life.
ReplyDeleteI watched them once in a while when I am actually home in the afternoon. I like the over dramatic plot!
ReplyDeleteI was always working, so have never gotten hooked on daytime soaps.
ReplyDeleteAloha, Kim! Mahalo for sharing All My Restless Life to Live! The drama of traditional soap operas, (sometimes called stories), is the template for modern dramas--everything from The Game of Thrones to Girls to Revenge! I hope you and your readers have fun with AMRLTL—I had a lot of fun writing it! Take care! Dee
ReplyDeleteI grew up watching General Hospital. I loved Luke a Laura's story. As I got older I watched The Young and the Restless and My Life To Live. But then I got Cable and found better things to watch and haven't watch a soap opera in years.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid and my grandfather came to visit lunch was at 1:00 so he could watch 'his shows' including one that's off now 'As the World Turns'. I have watched soaps occasionally thru the years but had to stop as they really can suck you in (both day & nighttime ones).
ReplyDeleteI loved my visits to the Byodo In Temple - see peaceful - remember ringing the big bells and feeding the carp.
I used to watch One Life to Live and General Hospital.
ReplyDeleteDon't care for them
ReplyDeleteI really don't watch much daytime TV. But I do have 2-3 favorite shows on at night. I'd much rather read. But when I was much younger I did watch All My Children for about 2 years.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com