Wedding Stamps

So yesterday I was assigned the task of picking up the femme-looking stamps from the Post Office. Our envelope was a bit heavier than the $0.42 standard, so I had to think on my feet and decide which $0.59 stamp (or combination) to get. A yellow heart, a sunflower or a picture of a ram. The guy in me wanted to go ram, but I made the smarter decision and went the safer route: yellow heart. *grin*

Did you fellas out thurr know that postage would cost so dang much!? WTH? Including the ones we needed for the insde, the grand total came out to $109.40. If it weren’t for the gas prices these days, I would’ve tried to save money by hand delivering every single invitation… and then waiting for the person to fill it out before leaving! Haha! OK, so I’m not that cheap, but seriously… over $100 just for postage? It’s a good thing we’re going Nu Skool and offering the option to email back their RSVP. This will save our guests gas money (to drive to the post office) and they can also use the stamp for something else.

One of my main goals is to try and do things different from what people are used to. Thinking outside the box as they say. I would list all the things we’ve done or will do, but I don’t want all y’all to be stealing the ideas before our big dance yo. Haha! We’ll save that for a future piece I guess.

Have a good weekend!

Google Auto-Complete

Since I’m like, in the industry, and the title of this blog is “World Wide Ed” for Pete’s sake, I thought I’d post a computer/web related post for the first time in months/years. (Sorry, the Hawaii/food/travel related stuff is so much more fun! 😛 ).

Recently (or coincidentally after I cleared my browser cache for the first time in years *blush*), Google activated their Auto-Complete feature to the general public on search terms entered into the search box on Google.com. It’s nuthin’ new. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) experts have been using tools like this to optimize their sites with relevant keywords. But it’s interesting to play with don’tcha think?

Try it yourself! Go to Google.com and enter any search term you desire. Suddenly it starts to sense what you’re typing and attempts to auto-complete your phrase, complete with how many sites/results there are out there based on that search string.

Naturally, I had fun with “hawaii” and took a screen cap of it. Check it out yo!

Google Auto-Complete for “hawaii”

Talk to me!
* Is this helpful for you? Annoying?
* Isn’t Google just insane/amazing?
* Why aren’t you commenting sum’more! 😉

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – August 27, 2008

Since we’re blogging on this site this week, I thought I’d make it somewhat easy (I think)… If you’ve ever been here, you’ll probably recognize this scene (I hope). Post your guesses below (I pray)!

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – August 27, 2008

Shoots!

Fantasy Football Draft Results

So we’re 4 picks away from completing our Fantasy Football Draft for this year.

Hallelujah!

There are 10 of us and it’s taking painfully loooong.

Since we couldn’t find a good time when all of us could meet up for a live, draft party, we decided to do the ol’ standy, the convenient method of drafting electronically. This year’s product of choice: a spreadsheet in Google Docs (where you can trash talk/chat right in the spreadsheet window… priceless!). Trouble is, many of us work or have a life on the weekends, so you end up getting lost in the draft process. The call or text message from the person drafting before you inevitably comes, and is followed by a “Wait what? What happened? Who got picked after me?”

This rigamarole repeats itself 18 times until the completion of the draft.

After my last pick, there was a defensive run in the 13th and 14th rounds: Brian Urlacher, David Harris, DeMeco Ryans, Kerry Rhodes, Jon Beason, Gibril Wilson, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Bob Sanders, and Kirk Morrison. I’ve always been a defense shmefense kinda guy once the top tier dudes are gone, so I went Warrick Dunn.

Stop laughing.

I figgah since my last 4 picks will be D, D, D, K (as it is every year), I might as well fill my last bench spot with a make or break type. Dunn’s back in Tampa Bay where he was a quality fantasy back, so perhaps something magical (or miraculous) will happen? 😛

Here’s a breakdown of how my 2008 draft turned out so far. Gimme some feedback on my team. Be honest. Lemme have it. I can take it. I’m a man. But I won’t mind compliments either. Holla atcho boy!

(In a QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, Flex, Flex, Flex, TE, K, DEF, D, DB scenario)

QB
Donovan McNabb
Marc Bulger

RB
Brian Westbrook
Larry Johnson
Jonathan Stewart
Ronnie Brown
Ahmad Bradshaw
Warrick Dunn

WR
Andre Johnson
Torry Holt
Brandon Marshall
Bryant Johnson
Derrick Mason

TE
Tony Gonzalez

K
???

DEF
???

D
???

DB
???

P.S. I wouldn’t mind your choices for sleepers this year either… 🙂

Hawaii Does It Again: Waipio Takes the Little League World Series!

Our boys from Waipio took the Little League World Series yesterday by beating Mexico in the decisive Championship Game. This was their second in 4 years, the last taken by Ewa Beach in 2005 (read my previous blog about it). What an exciting time it must be for these boys and their families. I remember how excited I was to take champs in our little Wai Kahala little league, but this is on such a grander scale. The entire state of Hawaii (and USA for that matter) is cheering you on. TVs everywhere, a stadium of that magnitude. Woah. Definitely something they can tell their grandkids one day…

Where were you when this historic moment occurred? How did you react? I had to go to a party, but before we left the house, we watched as much as we could. Then, I set my trusty DVR to capture the rest. Thankfully, I was able to rush home and catch the end of the game… I was soooo stoked!

(Front l to r) Kainoa Fong, Matthew Yap, Keelen Obedoza, Khade Paris, Tanner Tokunaga, Ulumano Farm and Christian Donahue. (Back l to r) Coach Kiha Akau, Iolana Akau, Pikai Winchester, Jedd Andrade, Coach Gregg Tsugawa, Trevor Ling, Caleb Duhay, Jordan Ulep and Manager Timo Donahue.

CONGRATS WAIPIO LITTLE LEAGUERS!
Enjoy the moment! You deserve it, for you are the World Champs!

Fave Five Friday – Hawaii Athletes

With all of the Olympic hysteria going on (and the lack of comments from my Kauai related posts 😛 ), I’ll switch it up a bit for this week’s Fave Five list to include an Olympic star from Hawaii: Bryan Clay. Clay captured gold in the decathlon this year, the last American to do so since Dan O’Brien did it in Atlanta in 1996.

Anytime a local boy (or girl) does good, it makes me proud to call Hawaii my home. Here’s my current list of fave Hawaii Athletes.

1. BJ Penn – the ultimate bad @$$ in MMA. His stand-up is wicked and his ground game is off the chain. He is regularly mentioned when a “best pound for pound fighter” debate occurs and is easily in the top 10 of best MMA fighters of all time. The best part is that he stays humble and always recognizes Hawaii in everything he does. True local boy who remains true. You gotta love it!
2. Colt Brennan – Bruddah turned this town upside down with the announcement of his returning, the leadership in our undefeated season and potential Heisman run. Now with his drafting from the Washington Redskins, we will continue to root him on.
3. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – this athlete has gone “Hollywood” on us, but we still love him nonetheless. He still does the shaka and mentions Hawaii periodically.
4. Jason Elam – Anytime you can use a guy from Hawaii on your Fantasy Football team (and he does well no less!), it’s golden!
5. Bryan Clay -you can’t argue the title of “world’s greatest athlete” for this Castle High grad. Doing in big on the International Level. Mad respect!

Who’s yours?

EATS! – Kauaian Style – Part III

Part I | Part II |  Part III 

Goodnight my darlin’, it’s time to go (doo doo doo doo doo)…

Alas, we’ve come to the final series in EATS! (at least for this week! 😉 )… Aww… there, there. Don’t worry *hug* There’ll be more… 😛

Before I get even sillier, let’s get this party started… (RIGHT)!

First stop is Kountry Style Kitchen in Kapaa for breakfast. Get here early as it’s crowded. I ordered my favorite (hash and eggs) and the lady got the garden omelette. Both came with their scrumptious cornbread. Check it out yo:

Corned Beef Hash & Eggs Any Style – $9
(Imported corned beef served with hash browns or rice. Corn bread or wheat or white toast.)

KSK’s Garden Omelette – $9.75
(Filled with fresh mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and grated cheddar cheese. All omelettes include a choice of hash brown or rice, corn bread or wheat/white toast and jelly.)

Yummy Cornbread

That evening, we stayed at Princeville (mahaloz for the upgrade guys!) so of course we had to hit up the cute little city below called Hanalei. We settled on Postcards Cafe. The lady liked it there (and so did I for that matter… at least for the atmosphere), but my dish was ridiculously too miniscule, especially for the price!

Seafood Sorrento – $24
A divine seafood pasta with fish, shrimp and scallops, oven-dried tomatoes, braised organic greens, goat cheese, red onions and garlic, sauteed in a light Chardonnay sauce.

Saffron Risotto – $25
A colorfully divine rice dish with shrimp, mussels, scallops, mushrooms, and pesto, perfumed with white truffle oil.

On our last day on the north shore, we headed to the popular Kalypso for breakfast. Eggs Benedict and, of course, an Acai Bowl were on the menu for us that morning…

Blackened Mahi-Mahi Benedict (whole) – $14.95
Two eggs poached over blackened Mahi-Mahi on a toasted English muffin topped with a tropical Hollandaise sauce.

Blackened Mahi-Mahi Benedict (partially eaten)

Acai Bowl (whole) – $7.95
Refreshing blend of Acai & banana served with local made Anahola granola.

Acai Bowl (partially eaten)

Hope you’ve enjoyed this series of EATS!… Send me some feedback below and let a brutha know what you like and don’t like about what I blog about please. I’m still trying to figgah out what y’all want me to do with this little space on the Internet and how I can make it better/more interesting for ya. Shoots!

Part I | Part II |  Part III 

Little League World Series Live and On Demand

Our undefeated Waipio team is currently leading Mill Creek, WA 4-3 in the top of the 3rd inning in the Little League World Series United States Semifinals. Tune in to ESPN (Digital Channel 0222) or HD ESPN (Channel 1222) and support our local boys in the hunt for the championship!

Missed the action ’til now? No worries! Catch up on all of Waipio’s previous games of the series on Oceanic Time Warner’s On Demand service on Digital Channel 0221! Here’s what’s available now:

• LLWS Pool Play Round 1: Waipio vs. Connecticut (from Friday, August 15)
• LLWS Pool Play Round 2: Waipio vs. Tampa (from Sunday, August 17)
• LLWS Pool Play Round 3: Waipio vs. Rapid City (from Monday, August 18)

GOOOOOOOOOOOOO Waipio!

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – August 20, 2008

Continuing with our Kauai theme, this week’s “Where in Hawaii” Wednesday photo is coming to you from the beautiful Garden Isle of Kauai. I won’t make it as difficult/obscure as some of our past photos, but I’m hoping it’ll still be enough of a challenge for all y’all.

So without further ado, here’s this week’s photo:

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – August 20, 2008

Comment your guesses below. First one with the correct answer gets their name in “lights” on the official “Where in Hawaii” Winnahz list. Excited? Post away den! 🙂

Have a Happy Hump Day yo…

EATS! – Kauaian Style – Part II

Part I |  Part II  | Part III

Part 2 in our Kauaian Style EATS segment leads us to Kauai Chocolate, aboard Holoholo Charters, and Hamura’s Saimin. Let’s get on it!

While waiting to board our sunset catamaran tour, we stopped at Kauai Chocolate Company near Port Allen for a lil’ snack. I’m not a big sweets person, but the immense chocolate smell that enters your nasal passages when you walk in the door hypnotizes you.

Kauai Chocolate Company’s Selection

More of Kauai Chocolate Company’s Selection

Then it was “all aboard” Holoholo Charters for the Na Pali Coast Sunset tour. Motion sickness almost got the best of me, but a couple of beers and a little mental toughness 😉 allowed me to pull through and enjoy their “heavy pupus” meal.

Caesar’s Salad, veggies, bread and some fruits

My plate, which included the above in addition to some kinda quiche

What’s a trip to Kauai without mentioning the ever-popular Hamura’s Saimin? Not exactly my favorite, but still a decent place to grab a (reasonably) quick bite…

Won Ton Saimin – $6.25

Close-up of Medium Saimin – $5

Close-up of BBQ Beef Stick – $1.75 each

Well, that’s it for part 2. Tune in tomorrow for “Where in Hawaii” Wednesday and then Thursday for the final part (part 3) of this Kauai EATS series.

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On another related note, Congratulations to fellow co-worker Wayne Yamada’s adorable daughter Carly, who was honored at this past weekend’s dedication for the bronze, life-sized statue of Spark Matsunaga in Hanapepe. The statue includes the late Matsunaga with a little girl (Carly)!

Life size bronze statue of Spark Matsunaga with Carly Yamada in Hanapepe

The human and bronze versions of Carly

Latahz!

Part I |  Part II  | Part III