MLC Blog 2009 - Taking A Look Back
December 30th, 2009 by Rodney LeeWow, the years seem to go by faster and faster. So every now and then - especially at this time of the year - we need to look back and reflect.
So, I thought we'd look back on the MLC blog entries of 2009 - the ones that seem to really stand out to me. You can click on the titles and it'll link you to the entry.
Welcome to 2009 -Ushering in the new year
Aloha, Yoshiko - One of the sweetest person I've ever met
Do You Remember... Cereals - Puffa Puffa Rice was my favorite
Got Toong Mai (Chinese Puff Rice)? - I've found my source. A couple in fact
Do You Remember... Chinese Kung Fu Movies - Fu Sheng, David Chiang, Shih Szu, and more
Bachi - Karma, believe in it
Remembering... Kyu Sakamoto - Uh oh. NKHEA will be playing this all weekend now
Do You Remember... Your First Crush - Can you blame me?
A Tribute to Wayne Harada Pictorial - It was a once-in-a-lifetime event
70's Nightclub Reunion V Pictorial - Do a little dance, make a little love, Get Down Tonight
Small-Kid Time Toy, Games, and Other Mischief - Oh the things we used to do
Why I Don't (Can't) Drink - Classify me as Severe Deficiency
Do You Remember... See Moi? - Wanna make your mouth water?
Do You Remember... "Fridays"? - Best comedy show ever IMHO
Before Karaoke - Follow the bouncing ball
Do You Remember... Hanafuda - I still don't know how to play
Dealing With Dementia - On a more serious note
Remembering Farrah Fawcett - Not overshadowed by Michael Jackson's passing
Comfort Food - You hungry?
Do You Remember... Kid's Shows? - Checkers! And Pogo Poge!
70's Nightlclub Reunion 6 - Outstanding! - Natural High reunion
Memorabilia Display at the 70's Nightclub Reunion 6 - Oh the memories
Remembering Old Ala Moana Center Stores - Those were the days
50/50 Celebration - Hawaii Statehood - A look back
Grocery Markets - Small Kid Time - Mom and Pop store memories
Do You Remember... Language School? - After school care in our day
Got Ghost (Stories)? - Spooky
King Pins Halloween Dance - First time I dressed up in YEARS!
HBMDR Give2Live Charity Event - Simply awesome night
Do You Remember When... - Over 1,000 posts of memories
The MLC Night Before Christmas - My head still hurts
There you have it folks - 2009 in a nutshell.
This will be my last post for 2009 so take your time and revisit some of these posts over the long holiday weekend. The comment area may be closed on most of these entries so feel free to comment here.
And don't forget the annual Red and White Song Contest on KIKU on Friday starting at 5:00 PM. It's become a tradition for me - to at least tape it and watch it later.
What are your new year's traditions? Eat sashimi? Pound mochi? Eat ozoni? Pop firecrackers? Visit relatives?
What were some of your highlights for 2009? Anyone dare to list their resolutions for 2010? Not me.
But before I sign out for 2009, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that 2010 is filled with love, good health, prosperity, and happiness.
Happy New Year!
Tags: 2009, 2010, 70's nightclub reunion, Agnes Lum, Ala Moana Center, bachi, Blind Vendor, Cereals, Chinese Kung Fu Movies, comfort food, David Chiang, dementia, Farrah Fawcett, Firecrackers, First Crush, Fridays comedy show, Fu Sheng, games, Ghost stories, Give2Live, Glass Candle, Greenwood, Grocery Markets, hanafuda, Happy New Year, hawaii bone marrow donor registry, Hawaii Statehood, Japanese School, Kid's Shows, Kiku, King Pins, Kyu Sakamoto, language school, midlife crisis blog, Mischief, mom and pop stores, Natural High, new years traditions, ozoni, pound mochi, Power House, puffa puffa rice, Red and White Song Contest, relatives, resolutions, Rodney Lee, sashimi, See Moi, Shih Szu, The MLC Night Before Christmas, Toong Mai, toys, Wayne Harada, White Light, Yoshiko
December 30th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
First!!!
First time being first!
December 30th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
I know most of you don't know me but here's wishing you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Rod: I met you and Paula at the King Pins Halloween Dance but I understand you don't remember me...:-) that's ok!!
December 31st, 2009 at 12:00 am
@Sassydog - Ms. Santa!
December 31st, 2009 at 4:03 am
Happy New Years Eve
December 31st, 2009 at 4:11 am
Nothing special planned tonight. I had planned to attend the Fiesta Bowl New Years Eve Block Party in downtown Tempe on Mill Ave to listen to the bands playing.the Doobie Brothers are playing, last year was Styx ..but its becoming too crowded in recent years. They would have the fireworks over Tempe Town Lake and laser shows. It's a mad house and zoo now....probably hang out with my kids and their friends.
http://www.fiestabowl.org/index.php/events/blockparty/
No mochi, sashimi, poke, lau lau, kalua pig, or pop fireworks here
December 31st, 2009 at 5:20 am
I shouldn't have read the toong mai post. You have some you can share? Just a couple pieces to have with tea.
Have the finest 2010 and a safe transition on this "once in a blue moon"!
Going to hole myself in the bedroom with A/C on, and a few movies, so that I don't have to make a special trip to the ER for oxygen. Astmatic lungs don't like vog or fireworks smoke.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:02 am
Wow Rod, that brings back some memories. One memory I have is meeting with you guys this year again. Hope next year takes me back to Oahu so I can hook up with you folks.
As for tradition, none really. We go to the in-laws up in the sticks away from all the smoke at my place. Wife and son have asthma so we go to my wife's parents place. Eat, eat, and eat some more. No drink too much cause I drive. Maybe one or two. Watch TV or movies and then the Ball at Time Square, that is if this MLC can stay up that late. Maybe if I take a nap
Anyway, wishing all of you MLCers, Rodnay and Aunty Paula a safe and prosperous New Years. Hope 2010 is better for us all.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:22 am
Happy New Year all you MLCers!
I'm at home cleaning today (well, I will be after breakfast). We used to throw a New Year's party since we have a good view of the Space Needle, but we're getting old and lazy. Plus, we're usually in bed by 12:30 on NYE 'cuz can't stay up so late any more. Aigoo.
Back at home, everyone's going to Gramma's house tonight for dinner and fireworks.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:26 am
Guuud New Years Eve Morning!
M: You always remember your first time. hee hee
Ynaku: I still waiting to meet you IRL. We came so close yah? I wonder if we were actually sitting closeby each other at Ken's when I was on BI (or is it IB) last July? Then I missed you this last time too. But that's okay, mystery is good. At least got plenny peektures of each other.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:31 am
Have a safe and Happy New Year!!!
December 31st, 2009 at 6:33 am
Yeah sally, sorry we never meet up yet. I think we've come a long way. Glad you met the triad and became one of the "family" Good fun these guys yeah? Hey when you come for the Hamakua Asthma camp, let me know.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:37 am
Rod: Your post about Yoshiko Nishihara... I knew her and yes, she was such a sweet lady. She was a patient at an office I used to work at, she was at the HPD bldg back then. I loved talking with her.
New Years Eve I usually go to "Gramma House" (my hanai family) in Palolo and we hole ourselves up inside where the food is. She has a big picture window facing the valley so we have fireworks show, with many BOMBS thrown in for the jump factor.
New Year's Day my SIL is making the Christmas Ciopinno that wasn't made at Christmas since Prime Rib was so cheap.
Day after New Years my friend reserved a restaurant to have everybody together to ...what else?... EAT!
December 31st, 2009 at 6:44 am
Rod- looking forward to your 2010 genre of topics!
@anklebiters- Doobiebrothers?? I am waiting for them to come back to Hawaii to play. Its been a long, long time. If you go, have fun!
Take care everyone and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou !!
December 31st, 2009 at 7:07 am
Ynaku: Hamakua Asthma Camp is in July and we ALWAYS go to Kens before heading up that way. We make rendevouz den? But hoping you will come to HNL before then. Don't you have some lines to repair here or something?
Rod: we got so many years behind us, this blog will last forever!
MLCers rule! and then we get tired and gotta go take a nap.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:36 am
sally, it's a date. Let me WAY ahead of time so I know I be in town.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:36 am
OK pau eat my free bento, time for mid-morning nap
I pau work 10:30 so off I go to kissy kissy all da girls in the building 
December 31st, 2009 at 7:50 am
Ynaku: Da excuses men will come up with!
KAN: you and Sweetie still cleaning? I did small kine clean up last night and now am panicking. I'm trying to tell myself that the world will not end if my apt is not tidy.
Fact remains that I hate walking in the door and my Christmas wrapping is still out. I gotta get some stuff done today.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:55 am
sally, go borrow one blower and blow all the rubbish out the apartment. Aim em toward Safeway.
Eh, I find any excuse to kiss da girls
XOXO
December 31st, 2009 at 8:37 am
Good morning Rodney and MLCers!
Looking forward to 2010!
Be safe everyone and Have a Happy New Year to all!!!!
December 31st, 2009 at 9:05 am
M, wishing you and Masako and great 2010. Keep on SUPing
December 31st, 2009 at 10:11 am
To the MLC gang:
Happy New Year!!
December 31st, 2009 at 11:32 am
Rodney,
for 2009, your 1st crush with the Agnes Lum pics blog--da bomb!
lol! have a good next year
December 31st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
@ Rod - Thanks for making the links go to a seperate tab, so's I don't always end up closing the tab then having to go back. I was kinda bummed yesterday when I saw no posting, wth, Rod is done for the year, sorry for doubting you.
To all the MLCr's, this has been a great year, though, tough for many. I pray that 2010 will be better for all and that everyone can come home from over sea's and spend the Holidays like the rest of us fortunate people.
Many parties, many new friends, and then some left, but the Triad will live on, and so many of us have a chance to "Rant, Recall, and Renew" (the MLC's version of 3 "r's").
You all have a great and safe Happy New Year. It will be better then the 2009, because we all want it to be and that is what really counts, "One conciosus" thought.
December 31st, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Have a Happy New Year everyone.
I used to be really big on traditions. I have learned that the world does not end if I do not follow it every year.
Mochi as the first thing to eat for the New Year.
Clean the house from top to bottom. (I did most of it this year though)
No cooking or cleaning on the first day of the New Year.
Firecrackers at midnight.
Keep it safe.
December 31st, 2009 at 2:16 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Postin from phone humbug
so jus 1 fast 1 4 now 
NKHEA..... goin mak sua da beea cold
December 31st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Happy New Year everyone!
Thanks Rod for having your blog. Don't recall the specifics, but the ones with everyone exchanging old time, "hanabata" days stories and trying to test memories were real fun.
Have a great 2010!
December 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Tradition or rule not sure which one....but at the strike of midnight at my house the women was not to touch a broom till a man swept first...then the women were allowed to sweep up the rest of the rubish from the fireworks..
December 31st, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Thanks for memories, Rodney. Happy New Year to all your loyal posters, man, how quickly these decades go by...wonder what 2020 will be like?
December 31st, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Rod,
I really enjoy reading your blogs and all the MLCers comments every day. Ever since the 70's nightclub reunion i have had fun remembering all the memories that the topic you have chosen. Will look forward to another fun year reading and a occasional response. Have a safe and Happy New Year everybody!
December 31st, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Largo - it's been a great year reading all your posts! thanks for all the time, effort and thought you put into all of these. keep up da good work and see you all next year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all you MLC'ers!!!
December 31st, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Happy New Year everyone!
Thank you for making this blog so enjoyable. Even if you're just a reader and don't post, thank you for stopping in to read. I'm not looking to get a ton of replies, I'm just trying to take us back to the simpler times. So we don't forget where we came from and to see how far we've come.
"Memories, pressed between the pages of our mind"
Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Happy New Year from Seattle!
Rodney, thanks for making MLC so fun to drop into and share. I'm looking forward to another year reminiscing with everyone.
G'night.
December 31st, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Home early from Palolo... lots of crazy peeps in that Valley.
M: someone in your direction had some major aerials. I'd like to thank them for the Free Show.
I think I'm alone now. That's okay, at least I'm safe. Hope you all are too!
December 31st, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Akemashite Omedetto everyone!
January 1st, 2010 at 12:55 am
@sally, had major aerials in my neighborhood. Best show in town....
January 1st, 2010 at 1:10 am
@M: I was wondering if that was near you. We were watching from Grandma T's picture window. It was like a big screen TV. ha!
Three of us went walking around the 'hood pointing out where classmates lived. We visited one...perfect timing cuz that's when the downpour happened so we took cover in his garage.
January 1st, 2010 at 1:21 am
@sally, it's 1:36am and another bomb just went off....
January 1st, 2010 at 1:25 am
@M: so irraz
I'm done. Eyeballs are burning, I'm going nene now.
Goodnight everyone, Lets see what time I wake up without an alarm.
January 1st, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Hey...I spock'd Rod at the Makai Market yesterday while picking up grindz for last night.
Nobody posted all day, must be recovering...
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 am
I got my highlights up!! Happy New Year, Rod.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Happy New Year ya old futs! (Me included)
Still recovering from the Vegas trip.......that place is NUTS.
Walking through the MGM, BELLAGIO, and CAESARS PALACE....seeing all the different RICH PEOPLE of the world and going back to the California Hotel and seeing all the LOCAL PEOPLE......I felt kind of "scuzzy". But ya know what? The ALOHA SPIRIT can't be bought and THAT'S what makes Hawaii people special.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
OL
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 pm
I'm still here. Didn't blow myself up over the new years celebrating. Added a few pounds though. But what the heck - it's the holidays!
Happy New Year to you too Melissa!
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:09 am
All those Holiday Feasts have no calories. The appearance of poundage is a figment of our imaginations.
And if we all will agree to believe that, we're in good shape.
Remember, round IS a shape.
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:36 pm
i'm a little late... but HAPPY NEW YEAR to rodney, auntie paula, and all the MLCers! there's been some ups and downs but 2009 was another great year! thank you, rodney, for all of your hard work, putting together a great blog for all of us to enjoy and reminisce about and for helping so many new friendships to form. i think it's pretty amazing...
i'm looking forward to 2010 and sharing many more memories and fun times with all of you (yeah, you lurkers, too... come out and play! 
)! hope you all have a fantastic 2010!
on topic... sheesh, new year's time is filled with more traditions than any between my family and my husband's... it's kind of exhausting! we have the firecrackers at midnight, the traditional ozoni for our first meal of the new year (in many years, we have it twice... here at home and at my in-laws). at home, we pretty much eat the same thing every year, too! lazy susan filled with pineapple chunks, olives, char siu and roast pork, kamabuko and kanten. it's been like that since i was a little kid! i used to be more crazy about cleaning... but, i'd be so tired by midnight, that i gave that up! i still clean... but not as much!