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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
