Starbucks Gift Cards available at Costco

Starbucks is teaming up with Costco to offer five $20 gift cards ($100 value) for $79.99!  This is the first time Starbucks has sold a gift card for less than face value.

Join Starbucks Card Rewards by registering your Starbucks card at www.starbucks.com

Everytime you pay with your registered Starbucks card, you get the following benefits:

• Free Wi-Fi access, 2 hours each day
• Free syrup, soy milk, whipped cream
• Free refills on drip-brewed coffee
• Free tall drink w/ 1 lb. whole bean coffee purchase

The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008)

Review by DEREK ELLEY 

East meets West meets East again, with palate-tingling results, in “The Good the Bad the Weird,” a kimchi Western that draws shamelessly on its spaghetti forebears but remains utterly, bracingly Korean. More than two years in production, and at a reported $17 million the most expensive South Korean movie to date, fifth feature by genre-bending helmer Kim Jee-woon (“The Quiet Family,” “A Bittersweet Life”), centered on a trio of treasure-seekers in 1930s Japanese-occupied Manchuria, looks headed for through-the-roof local biz, hunky returns throughout Asia and piquant specialized box offices in the West, in the right hands.

Yama no Anata: Tokuichi no Koi aka My Darling of the Mountains (2008)

Yama no Anata: Tokuichi no Koi is a japanese film directed by Katsuhito Ishii.  It is a remake of Hiroshi Shimizu’s 1938 film Anma to Onna (The Masseurs and a Woman).

Toku (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi) and Foku (Ryo Kase), both blind masseurs, travel between seaside spas in the North and mountain hot springs in the South from season to season. They are very much respected and appreciated by hotel owners and their patrons.

Unpronounced feelings are really the heart of the matter in the story. Toku, feels for Michiho (Maiko) but does not know how to express it. Michiho also has feelings for both Toku and Shintaro (Shinichi Tsutsumi), a visitor from Tokyo, but there is something that she is hiding from everyone that keeps her from committing to one or the other. Shintaro has feelings for Michiho but cannot bring himself to tell her. And the young boy Kenichi (Ryohei Hirota), Shintaro’s nephew, has a crush on Michiho.

Yama no Anata is a charming, calm and gentle film filled with beautiful and enchanting views of Izu Province in Japan.

Have you ever met the male/female version of yourself?

Meet my co-workers Carl and Lisa.  I believe they are long lost twins!  They are the same age, they talk alike, dress alike and they have identical personalities: both are passive-aggressive.  I’ve come to realize that these two are mirror images of each other.

St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day 2007 – Carl and Lisa live a couple of blocks away from each other…which is great for me because I’m usually the designated driver.  To my surprise, while picking them up before our St. Patty’s Day celebration at the Yard House in Waikiki, I noticed these two were sporting similar green jackets with three stripes down the arms.  Walking along Beachwalk, I captured a playful exchange between these two.  After a night of bar hopping, we eventually ended up at GS Studio in the Waikiki Joy Hotel.  Both shied away from the mic and chose to have a casual conversation at the bar.  At that point I wondered, what would happen if these two ever decided to hook up?  (didn’t happen btw…but they’ve become really good friends)

Kohnotori

Kohnotori July 2007 – For Lisa’s birthday, we decided to go to Kohnotori. Again, they were dressed alike without pre-planning it.  Both had a black top on and jeans that were the same shade.  I captured another friendly exchange between them.  After dinner, we headed out to our favorite karaoke bar (GS Studio).  A countless number of sake shots later, Carl and Lisa were on the verge of passing out.  Both needed to be carried down the stairs and escorted to my car in the parking garage across the street.

Diamond Nails

Diamond Nails 2008 – Three months ago, as a birthday gift, I decided to treat Carl and Lisa to their very first pedicure.  (Sidenote:  I think men secretly wonder what it’s like to get a pedicure.)  Carl loved it and without a doubt, so did Lisa! Since then, we three have made a pact to treat ourselves, at least quarterly, to a deluxe spa pedicure at Diamond Nails. Above is their most recent pic together. Check out the matching color palatte! 

Spirit in the Waterfall

Is it just me, or do you see a mysterious figure in the waterfall?  I see a skeletal figure with arms spread out.  What do you see?

“I see a skeletal figure with a big head that looks like an alien…with legs almost crossed at the ankles…thats weird.” ~ Akemi B.

“I see a ghost face.” ~ Lisa T.

“I see a dancing figure.” ~ Alla I.

“I see a prehistoric pterodactyl – that is spooky!” ~ Karen D.

“I see Jesus on the Crucifix.” ~ Shunta S.

Hitchhiking Grasshopper

Meet my little green friend who decided to join the ride along the curvy, treacherous and breathtaking Road to Hana!

Drum Lesson on the Beach

I am usually armed with my baby blue Sony Cybershot DSC-W55 to capture spontaneous moments like this one.  This photo was taken one glorious morning on Pai’a Beach located on the North Shore of Maui.

“Aloha for Aloha” First Friday Block Party

A fundraiser for former Aloha Airlines employees.

Sponsored by Murphy’s Bar & Grill

Friday May 2, 2008

6-10 pm

At the corner of Nuuanu and Merchant Streets

Food and Beverages

Aloha Airlines T-shirts and Memorabilia for sale

LIVE Entertainment! ~ Touch of Gold, Mana’o Company, Willy K, Kaukahi

The Lokahi Giving Project will administer an Aloha for Aloha fund.  For more information about The Lokahi Giving Project, or to make donations, go to www.lokahigivingproject.com.

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

A lei is a garland or necklace of flowers given as a token of welcome or farewell.  Since the creation of Lei Day in 1928, the motto has been:  ”Make a Lei, Wear a Lei, Give a Lei.”  Everyone gives the gift of lei to another, putting it around the receiver’s neck and accompanying it with a traditional kiss.

Schools throughout the islands stage pageants, crown their own kings and queens and create courts in celebration.  Competitions in both ancient and modern hula are held and entertainers give a concert or show for the locals. 

This year marks Hawaii’s 80th Lei Day celebration.  The theme of this year’s festival is kukui.  Get yours today!

Available in black, brown and marble.

Price:  $7.50 each

Visit my eBay store:  http://stores.ebay.com/dizziedaze

Flip & Tumble Reusable Bags

Keep a flip and tumble reusable bag with you all the time.  It is perfect for those unexpected shopping trips.  Its multicolored bags are made of lightweight ripstop nylon.  It rolls up into a peach-sized ball and has a 25 lb. capacity.  It works kind of like rolling your socks into a ball.  Because the ball is small enough to put just about anywhere, you’ll be able to keep your bag with you 24-7.

Price:  $12 each

Available in 5 colors:

• lime/sky
• evergreen/sage
• raspberry/pink
• aqua/sky
• black/slate