2 January 2018

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Today I met a former CEO.

If I recall correctly, he used to own a financial asset management company. However, he lost his position in a merger and was looking to open up another company. He and his wife are particularly successful, and his success has afforded his wife the ability to stay home with their daughter. However, he did express concerns that they were pushing their daughter in academics faster than she wanted to be pushed.

I helped him with some of his computer stuff, and he said to me that if there's any advice he could give me... Invest in real estate. It sounds like they did, and they're doing quite well for themselves. 

He also said the most important thing for him was that his daughter was happy. I was really amazed at how grounded and kind he was despite his obvious well being. Humility is important, and it's something that was very evident in him from our conversation. 

1 January 2018

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Today I met some... People up Koko Head.

It was really an encouraging group of people up the hill, especially compared to the group on Friday. Maybe the fact it was the New Year helped, but everyone cheered each other on with small words of encouragement. From you can do it, to you're almost there, it's nice to start the new year with some positivity.

Plus, having a gorgeous view doesn't hurt at all.  

31 December 2017

in

Today I met some very friendly dogs at a dog park.

I probably was more of a nuisance to their owners though. At Christmas Tree Park in Kaimuki, there's a group of dog owners who walk their dogs up there around sunset. That's also where Tam and I were going to watch the last sunset of the year.

That was fine and dandy, but I wanted to bring some cheese and meat with us. So obviously... The dogs could smell it and were probably more interested in what we were doing with our drone and food than actually playing with each other. I'm sure the owners were a little annoyed.

But it's a park, and that's part of having a shared space. We did try to be as courteous as possible though! 

 

30 December 2017

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Today I met a pharm tech.

I was actually eavesdropping into his conversation with a tourist about some medication. When it was my turn, I asked what happens when tourists need medicine.

Generally, tourists have to pay the whole price upfront. When they get home, they have to submit the receipts for reimbursement. I can't imagine how expensive some of that stuff is over the counter. I wonder how much the price difference is between here and at home. The kid also shared with me that things like codeine are offered over-the-counter in places like Canada and Australia... So for many tourists, not being able to get it OTC is a shock.

I guess this is why my company offering traveler's health insurance is a big deal? The more you know I guess. 

29 December 2017

in

Today I met some wait staff at Sushii.

It was my going away dinner with Khara, and she made reservations there. Having a good waiter is the difference between ordering a ton of food and also... Not. She didn't really many suggestions, though I don't know if that's common in an izakaya. That being said, Khara and I stuck to stuff we like: 

- unagi
- otoro
- short ribs

I'm sure there were other things, but I can't remember. Either way, A+ with what we did get. Plus side is that it got renovated and can fit more people than previously. I know a few people who'd be interested in going with me next time. 

28 December 2017

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Today I met the staff at the Liliha Bakery on Nimitz.

They seemed... Nice. Really, a little inattentive, since I got no water refills during my time there. I also asked the hostess to take a picture of my friend and me, and well... She looked pretty over it. The location itself doesn't seem really busy, but I guess I'm wrong. 

At least most of the staff is Filipino, same as the other location. I bet that's why the food is still good. Haha, just kidding. 

27 December 2017

in

Today I met up with my gyno nurse.

She's new, or at least, I've never met her before. She seemed pretty gruff and unenthused to be there, but it's always hard to say what it is that people are actually thinking.

Though, I always wonder if gyno nurses are uncomfortable with seeing tons of vaginas. I guess it isn't really any different from the doctor themselves, though this girl's general disdain makes me wonder otherwise.

26 December 2017

in

Today I encountered some harassment. 

Khara and I were going to get lunch, and because of the rain, passed through the bottommost floor of the mall. While we were down there, I noticed some guys being really sketchy, but I continued walking on. 

We got our food and headed back to the store when we encountered them again. We made eye contact with one of them, and he proceeded to drop a bottle of Smirnoff. We headed up the escalator and were on our way to the store. Unfortunately, one of them started walking down on the up escalator and tried to get our attention. I have no idea what they were saying to us, but I know that everyone else was trying to ignore them also. We kept walking, and they followed us from the ground floor to the second floor and then to The Lanai. I didn't want to go to the store because I didn't want them to know where we work. 

At this point I was calling mall security, while Khara basically stopped, pushed her finger into the middle of his chest, and said, "Yo. Cut it out we're calling mall security." 

They ran off. I was annoyed, and mall security took fucking forever to come and help us. It's easy for people to say stand up for yourself against harassment, but you never know what people are brazen enough to do with an unengaged crowd. 

25 December 2017

in

Today, I met some girls at a ramen shop.

It was in Waikiki and it's literally the only place that's open on Christmas in Hawaii. That's fine. I get it, a lot of people don't want to be open on Christmas. Except, everyone who is a tourist was there... And it looked like the ramen shop girls didn't know how to handle it.

There was a paper sheet, but also a line queuing up for people who wanted to get in there. When we asked which one we should do, they said it didn't matter... But they go off the paper first. Fortunately, we were committed to waiting in line, so nothing lost. 

Also, I don't know which one it is... But in the Waikiki Yokocho, it's the one where you can add your own freshly grated garlic. DELICIOUS.

24 December 2017

in

Today, I met my manager's kid. 

It isn't like I met her before, but it was my coworker's first time meeting her. This is the conversation that was relayed to me 3 separate times after she came with my manager to bring in food for the team.

She saw our new team member, who is... An older blond gentleman. His blond is so blond, it's almost white. He also maintains a buzzed cut, which makes him look older... That being said, this is the ensuing conversation.

"Is it your retirement party?"
"What?"
"I mean, is that why we're bringing all the food? Because you're retiring?"

YIKES. I felt so bad. I mean kids really do say the damnest things. 

23 December 2017

in

Today, I was reacquainted with some friends from the past.

A good friend of mine had an engagement party, and it was basically like we were in high school again. Everyone was silly, and strange, and almost childish when we were together. My mom always says that the older you get, the more you yearn for people who knew you when you were younger.

Not all of them knew me when I was young, but we all knew each other enough through our awkward phases... And that was enough. I've always said that people don't necessarily chage, they become more themselves. Some people's permanent state of being is never known who they are.

And that's ok. 

 

22 December 2017

in

Today I met a med school student. 

I respect people who go to med school, it's truly a calling. But man, some people... Just let it get to their heads. Here's our conversation.

"Hey, how's it going today? Can I help you with anything?"
"No, I'm good, how are you doing?"
"Well, I'm cold."
"Oh. That's too bad, maybe you can set all the computers on fire."

Ok, this was probably an obvious attempt at flirting, but let's continue.

"That might be good in the short term, but it won't work out in the long term since I won't have a job."
"Well, you know, you gotta YOLO."
"Nah, I'm good. Anyway, what do you do?"
"I'm a med school student."
"You're a med school student and you're telling me to YOLO? Isn't that a 10 year commitment?"
"Yeah, but that's ok. What are you? In college?"
"No, I'm done with college."
"Oh, so we're almost the same age."
"Maybe."
"When did you graduate high school?"
"09."
"Oh, so you're like a year younger than me. Wow, so old." 

The heck? It's only a year.

"Slow down, it's only a year."
"Well a lot can happen in a year, like you could set this place on fire and finally be warm."
"Yeah... Or you could fail med school."
"It wouldn't take me a year."
"You're right, it would take you a semester."

 

21 December 2017

in

Today I met an FAA Trainer.

He came to the store in a huff because he needed to sign his contracts. I took over the interaction and we managed to fix his problem. Did you know that Adobe does digital signatures linked to your email to confirm your identity.

"We can't actually put your signature on it, but we can do a digital one."
"What's a digital one?"
"It's electronically linked to your email."
"Why not my normal one? Can't I change the document."
"Well, based on how they designed the PDF, they want a digital one."
"Oh, so it isn't me?"
"No?"

Turns out that after years of working as one of the Air Traffic Controllers, he'd be training them in Oklahoma somewhere. He was super thankful that I helped him and shook my hand several times. Good luck to him!

20 December 2017

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Today I met some people at Macy's.

They looked absolutely miserable, and didn't want to be there. The presentation of the products there showed it as well. I had to go through a few different boxes to find the least damaged tempurpedic pillow BOX since it was for a present. Then, when I was ready to purchase, the girl looked like I was bothering her at the cash register... Even though it's her job! Geez.

Presentation matters. Attitude matters. I feel like I care about this because I have to coach it all day and night with people... But damn. At least try.

19 December 2017

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Today I met some people in this new Mexican place at Shirokiya.

They were nice enough, and there wasn't much of a line. So I thought. It took 20 minutes to make me some freaking nachos! Holy crap. To be fair, there was one cook... But holy crap, 20 minutes. I can make myself nachos in 20 minutes. The Mexican food place is the only one in Shirokiya's Japan walk so it was definitely out of place.

Overall not impressed, I'll stick to my Alejandro's. 

18 December 2017

in

Today I observed some people during my safety check at McKinley Car Wash.

I parked my car behind the other cars queued up, and took a seat. The guy doing the checks seemed really happy today, compared to other years I've had seen him. Anyway, I'm sitting there, as is the taxi cab driver in front of me... When this car drives in.

If you've never been to McKinley Car Wash, let me lay it out. There are 4 one way lanes, originating in the same direction. 3 of the lanes are used for the gas and carwash service. The last lane is the widest; half of it is for the previously mentioned queue, and the other part is for people to exit should they choose to leave the queue. This is the only lane in the whole carwash that is mostly empty.

The car that drove in came in from the other direction, as in the wrong way. THEN, it pulls into the safety check garage. Or attempts to. The taxi cab guy tried to tell her that there was a queue, but she ignored him. The safety check guy approached her and basically was like, you came the wrong way, go fix it. 

Anyway, she pulled in behind me and that was it. She was super nice when talking to the safety check guy, probably because she knew she goofed... But still. Some people don't have any sense of pattern or order I guess. 

17 December 2017

in

Today I met some pretty unhelpful kids at the Lunch Box shop.

I was shopping for a Secret Santa gift, and I had already did a once over of the store... I only found a little bit of Final Fantasy stuff. I asked for that and Yuri on Ice, and they had neither and suggested Hot Topic. I went there and asked for the same products, and they told me to go to Lunch Box... Which I was just at.

I returned there and approached some kids chatting with each other towards the front of the store, definitely not helping the multitude of browsing customers. 

"Hey, do you guys have Final Fantasy stuff?"
"Uh... No."
"Did you try Hot Topic?"
"I was just there."
"Oh we don't have any of that stuff."
"You wanna try that again? You had some Final Fantasy stuff on that column over there." 

They panicked and then got someone else to help me. It wasn't any different from what I had seen earlier, but I was so irked that they didn't even try. 

16 December 2017

in

Today I met some sales people at the National Geographic Gallery/Showroom at the International Marketplace.

Apparently, it isn't officially open. The official opening is in February, and they're inviting an actual National Geographic photographer to the opening. This gallery is one of seven in the world, 1 in Vegas, a few in California, and 1 on Maui.

The girls in there were very friendly, obviously, because they told me all of the stuff above. Though, I really recommend that people check it out. The photographs are beautiful. I particularly like the ones in the leftmost part of the gallery. I like images of awe-inspiring nature, and I definitely got that from the photos in there. 

15 December 2017

in

Today I met someone who was very open about her self care, or lack of.

We got to talking, and she talked about how her hair used to be matted. Part of it was because it used to be braided, but she didn't maintain it. Unclear of if because she was too busy to take care of it or because she was depressed. She did mention she was either so busy or so tired that she didn't have time. She even showed me pictures of the before and after she cut it. 

She also showed me about how she had surgery on her lower back after a bad fall. The woman seemed like she was in a good place now, but I could only imagine the stresses in her life for that to have happened.