HispageTONOway

Going to see all Hawaii I want

We just landed safely at Honolulu International Airport.

There are many places that I would like to show my wife, but if Southern California was any guide, we didn't get to check out the two places where I lived in Corona and Tustin. We didn't get to ride all the attractions at Disneyland. I remembered when I suggested to her that we hit all the four parks at Disneyworld in one day.

I would like to visit the place where I was born, the high school that I graduated. It will be a challenge to get all the places, because we'll have the use of a rent-a-car only for three days. (The hotel we are staying at is charging us $20 a day to park one there.)

We already know that we'll have to make another trip to Southern California. We'll have to make another one to Hawaii since this one is packed with relatives meeting my wife of eight month, and we won't eveen have the opportunity to visit any of the neighbor Islands.

First night in So CA for El Pollo Loco

Aurora and I are very soon off to the airport, but it's not without saying good by to El Pollo Loco.  I waited many years to eat the flame-grilled chicken and specially-made Pico De Gallo.

The first night we raced from LAX to find a El Pollo Loco.  We received our rent-a-car at quarter after and left the rent-a-car parking lot at 9:30 in the evening.  I thought that they closed at 10pm.  We raced through the freeways to find one off the freeway.  You know you can't just exit a freeway off-ramp in the Los Angeles area.

We found one after going the wrong way coming off the off-ramp.  While at drive thru we noticed that the drive thru closed at midnight.  What I didn't understand was that they ran out of chicken breast and wings.  They only offered leg and thighs.  I was willing to take anything from them.  If they were open another two hours why didn't he say that they were cooking more?

After almost an hour drive from the restaurant to our hotel, I noticed that the chicken was overcooked.  I enjoyed it anyway, even though my wife didn't know what the big deal was with the chicken.

I missed my El Pollo Loco chicken and Pico De Gallo.  It was nice to have it a few times during the week.

Home-cooked meal before leaving So CA ...

I haven’t written in the last two days because the days were spent primarily meeting up with friends at their house. And about twenty-four hours ago, I was trying to catch up on my sleep, only to discover that early in the morning, I had challenges with my tummy.  That is all I'm willing to share.

It was good to see both of them. I was sorry to miss seeing Erin, G-U-M-B-Y! Her son was still not feeling well so she didn’t make the trip out to the Inland Empire of Southern California. It would have been good if I would finally met up with her sons. But it was fun giving Brianna a hard time about dating a guy for six years. I fully understand how it is starting a new life with so much college debt. Always remember, when we are faithful to God, He will always provide for us and lead the way.

Pictured left to right: Brianna, Melody, Theodore (Melody is holding), Sunshine, and TONO!

I am sad that we’ve reached this day. It ends our Southern California leg of our trip. About this time, a week from now, we’ll be heading back to our hometown. But time has flew already, as I mentioned on the beginning of this trip.

As we leave Southern California, we say good-bye to El Pollo Loco, the California Speedway—and all my friends here in So CA. I thank Diane’s mom and Melody for doing a good job of cooking authentic Mexican food and making (according to my wife … but I don’t see how) El Pollo Loco chicken at home, respectively. I appreciate the hospitality of everyone of my friends in Southern California. It is my hope that I’ll be back soon. But there are so many other places to visit.

Well .. it’s time to get some rest because in nine hours we are off to Hawaii. I will try to post something from LAX.

One for the books!

It was really one for the books! Spending our eight-month anniversary at Disneyland. It was much more memorable that I rode the rides with my wife. Space Mountain was faster, the Matterhorn Bobsled didn’t douse me with water, going underwater to Finding Nemo was safer with a spouse. More people to see and more places to go!

It was good to meet up with Claudia again, and a couple of employees past and present at the BM!

I really hate to say this, but I think that I didn’t take enough pictures at the Happiest Place on Earth. But two that is special in my heart are the ones below.

Oh ... look!  It's my Sunshine with Disney's character, Sleeping Beauty.  It was perfect timing.  it was taken as we were walking out for a lunch break at the park.

Prayers for meeting with G-U-M-B-Y!!!

I just received an e-mail from Erin, (G-U-M-B-Y by a name I gave her at the BM) informing the group that will be meeting me that she may not be meeting me because one of her sons was sick within the last day or so.  I looked forward to this meeting for months.

As I will be sad not to be able to see her, I'll understand because she's taking care of her son.  Please pray during the next twenty-four hours so that maybe I'll be able to see her?

Praise & Still Challenges

While at a break from walking, watching and experiencing another visit to Disneyland, we received an answered prayer from my father-in-law saying that he got a job closer than where he was working. I know it will improve my parents-in-laws quality of life. It is always a blessing to have your prayers anwered.

Earlier though I was informed that my best man for my wedding still was not working. He's under Doctor's orders to stay home. He's trying to start his own small restaurant business. But that will require an upfront investment of several thousand of dollars. Furthermore, he hasn't made a payment on his mortage. Please continue to prayer for his needs.

News travels at the speed of light from the East Coast to the West Coast in today's world.

Live on the Sprint Treo 755.

It won't be a Small World at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Today is my wife and my eight-month anniversary. We are off to Disneyland to visit the real Aurora, Sleeping Beauty castle. The one disappointment for me is that the ride, “It’s a Small World,” is closed. Of course, my Sunshine is happy about it because she’s had "interesting" experiences on the ride, even when she and I visited DisneyWorld last year about this time. I thought that it was appropriate in our story to make this first visit to the Happiest Place on Earth on this special “27” day.

Last night we posed with one of the cartoonist at Downtown Disney. I thought that it came out really well. I will share that when I get back to homebase and I can scan it to post it on the blog.

The menu on July 3^rd is set. I made the call last night while my wife was shopping.

Well … it’s off to pack up and all-day at Disneyland!

Reagan Presidential Library and So CA Claudia

Aurora and I are back in Orange County, California. My wife is actually in stores at Downtown Disney as I stand listening to the different musicians and watch as many visitors shop, walk through after there Disneyland and/or California Adventure experience.

It was a good time spending time with Claudia and her son driving and visiting the Reagan presidential library. There was the addition of the Air Force One museum. There was a walk-through of the Air Force One which was used by the former president. It was strange seeing "the state-of-art" laptop (at that time) during his presidency, and the IBM typewriter during the 1980s.

Pictured: Claudia and in front of her son, Bryan, Nicholas and Aurora.

At the library, it featured a lot of the Nancy Reagan's fashion sense until November with many, many of the gowns, dresses, and formal wear, and subtle grace during Reagan's presidency.

In November, the library will feature the Christmas trees in the Reagan White House.

It was a good opportunity to catch up with Claudia from Boston Market. It was good to hear that she doing so well at work, and in raising her son, who for the most part was well-behaved. I noticed that it only took a look for Claudia to make to get him to correct his "yeah" to "yes." It was a funny story to hear when he got lost at Disneyland, and he tells the story as, "Mommy lost me."

I pray every day that Claudia will discover the joy of love and marriage as I have. If there was anything that I could do to make that happen, I would.

Text Live from the Sprint Treo 755, Picture inserted from laptop.

It’s actually really early in the morning on Thursday Central Standard time. Of course, I am not in that time zone. It’s been a long but stimulating day.

We arrived safely as I show the first picture of my Sunshine at Los Angeles Airport.  Remember it's her first trip to California.

I am on the West coast dealing with crazy drivers, which I remembered from the driving of the rental car bus driver … you know the one who takes you to the airport rent-a-car place. It was close to a near roller derby experience without cars/trucks/buses not running into each other. That reminds me of when I just left my city running last-minute errands. On one main intersection a car was pushed against the tire of a FedEx Freight truck. There was another car blocking the cars turning left. I know how on a certain stretch of the freeway drivers are really fast and crazy on the roads!

Today will be the day that will start my wife getting to know many of my friends and family. It’ll be cool to finally include their names and get their important dates on our guest book and Hawaii and Florida calendar. For those of you in Southern California or Hawaii, I hope that I’ll see you there so that you’ll be part of my special history. Just thinking about the time nine months ago brings back good memories. That’s even though, my Sunshine believes that I don’t listen to her and/or pay attention to her.

Later today we are off to visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. It’s right after we visited William Clinton’s Library recently. I’ve visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in 2004. This was before the replica of Air Force One was put onto the property. That is one of the main reasons why I want to go there. It is history in the making.

I’ll try to post something from there. I think I need rest to enjoy the visit to Simi Valley.

On the plane from Memphis to Los Angeles

We arrived safely at LAX.

Just before we left the apartment, Aurora told me that it has been almost eleven years since she's been on a airplane. It was a different world, then, because it was before 9/11.

Today has already gone by really quick. I have no doubt that before my wife and I know it, we'll be back in our home town back at work.

I am really looking forward for the four days in Southern California where the temperature has been cooler. In Hawaii, it will be more warmer.

I couldn't believe the price of the snacks on the planes now. They have fruit snacks for $7. It's a 3x5 box of five pieces of apples, several grapes and a cracker with cheese. Thank goodness I could get a can of Mountain Dew for no charge.

While at the airport, Aurora and I discussed the menu for her meet the Lum/Young family in Hawaii. It's looking like a seven-course menu. So if anyone has any suggestions on what side dishes they want, please let me know really soon. ... Maybe by Thursday morning. Was that soon enough? I sense that it'll be a very important day.

While infight, I'm trying not to eat too much during the day because I'm waiting for El Pollo Loco, that Mexican chicken place in California. It's weird because as my wife just reminded me while writing this that I usually don't like Mexican food. Let's just say that some things are not to be understood. I have found that to be true more often than not.

It's about that time to turn the page and start the TONO and Sunshine California adventure.  Since I have been to the Disney park on a few occasion, this will be quite different than the one-day visit to the park.

I am excited to introduce my California friends to my wife of the upcoming nine months.  I'll keep you posted on the visit.

Live from the Sprint Treo 755 and my trusted Tungsten TX