Friday, January 23, 2009

New Normal

click on photos to enlarge!
Ted Trimmer Photo


"It's not enough to just sit there and have compassionate thoughts. Your thoughts need to be reflected in what you do. . . You need to help other people." David Edwards










"What you do repeatedly is who you are." Aristotle


Honolulu Star-Bulletin Jan.21, 2008 "Shaka"
(Below)





"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.


Happy Aloha Friday!











After September 11th, 2001 we heard lots about a "New Normal" but it wasn't very normal at all for a formerly "free country." So today's "New Normal" is partly a restoration of the way things SHOULD NORMALLY be; but it is also distinctly new indeed. A delicious new Trade Wind is blowing. Can you feel it? As my sails fill, I'm beginning to believe that we as a people are back on course. . .
. . . Recently we have had public servants run amok in our name. Today it seems that we have leaders worthy of the name. Every day will not be a mountaintop experience, life's mundane tasks remain. But I believe that I am not the only one standing a little taller. This new normal is pregnant with hope and good will. So let's take a much needed break, and go over to Cafe Duck Butt to sing some karaoke! "me me me me me, la la la la" . . . . A L O H A! Cloudia

From da sublime to. . . DUCK BUTT!




19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, we can! Yes, we can party time! How about a photo of the interior of Cafe Duck Butt? Or a photo of you singing! Hawai'i should be VERY proud. I think our new President, is not just the first African-American....he's the first, in a very long time with ethics, standards, values and credibility. Hooray for his learning diversity in Hawai'i. Aloha! DrumMajor

the walking man said...

*ahem*...There is nothing normal about karaoke. ha ha ha ha ah ah aha ha

Maria Verivaki said...

i know this is a crazy questions, but is that chinese or japanese writing in one of your photos (i'm so ignorant on these things, i need some guidance)

Barrie said...

"pregnant with hope" Love that expression!

claude said...

Magnificent first photo, Cloudia !
May the wind of hope and good will blows on America and Hawaï for a long time. I think America made a good choice.

Brother Tobias said...

If principles are back in fashion and we are on the brink of a new age of reason, here's hoping it blows over here on the trade winds; after a long sabbatical we could do with a return to honesty and probity in the UK.

Dave King said...

I think we're all standing a little taller with a great feeling of relief.

RiverPoet said...

YES! YES! YES! I especially love the Edwards quote. It's how I try to live my life.

Yes, it should have been this way all along, but I'm full of hope that it might be this way going forward.

Peace - D

Charles Gramlich said...

He does seem to have inspired folks.

Anonymous said...

The Duck Butt you say? Oh, I would SO be there!!

Anonymous said...

i love the girl!

Cloudia said...

Drum Major: Wooo -Hooo!

Walking Man: You are wicked and correct!

M Kiwi: Japanese Neon, Baby! Thanks for your comment.

Thanks, Barrie!

Claude: Bonjour ami!

Brother T: How could you know that I've been wondering about you? I'm delighted to see you here. We are in accord. Your insights from over the pond are appreciated!

Dave King: well said! Exactly.

RiverPoet: I already knew that about you. It shines forth. I've been illuminated by your blog.

Charles: Sort of like you yourself.

Deborah: Lets check it out!!

Annonymous: "Blush." (hope you're who I think you are!)

The Grandpa said...

I feel the wind too. Sing a song for me. Aloha, Cloudia.

Cloudia said...

M. Kiwi: And the Duck Butt sign has Korean writing on it.

Amen, Grandpa!

Robin said...

Cloudia (what a great moniker by the way!), you've a beautiful blog! Very refreshing for a girl from the TX Panhandle praying for water in any form!

I watched the entire inauguration, I couldn't believe the people! Tons of them, the optimism was catching!

I was born in '68 and my generation never had anything to unify us really did it? We missed Kennedy, Vietnam...desert storm was maneuver's (though it shook me up that my country could go to war...who'd a thunk it?) We missed all of the eloquence of MLK, and to listen to our parents and grandparents, missing the great depression was the biggest horror of all! They had more fun being with family around a coal lamp reading Virgil and the Farmer's Almanac and we just don't don't what fun that was. Damn, we missed it. That was only half sarcastic.

Now, on the brink of scary times it's so nice to see young people get excited, even vehement, about their future...and see a country actually, sort of unify. I had a warm snuggly feeling...ok, yeah, I did, a TX girl who has to vote republican or her Dad will find out and ground her (I'm 40 now...but it could happen!) LOL!

I'm optimisitic, rhetoric aside...we've a hard row to hoe...so it's nice to visit you in paradise on this beautiful site with beautiful pictures and know it's still our country...I now know that I too, am pregnant with hope...(I just thought I was retaining boston harbor!)

Nice to meet you!

♥ Braja said...

Hey Cloudia, thanks for stopping by :) I love these quotes...nice to remind ourselves, huh? Greetings from Puri to Hawaii :)

magiceye said...

a time to look forward with a hope that has a real good chance of being realized!

Feisty Crone said...

We are truly back on course, Cloudia!

Fida said...

"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
It's up to us...