Friday, May 22, 2009

Our baby girl is growing up!

Today was Melissa’s last day of work as a single woman. She and Taio will be getting married next week Saturday. So Lissa, who’s just back from her trip, and I decided to take her out to lunch. (Kara is away on a trip—boy, did she miss out! Oh well, more food for us!)

We headed out to one of our favorite places, Maile’s Thai Bistro in Hawaii Kai. Melissa and Taio are going off to Thailand for their honeymoon, so what better place could we choose?

By the time we got there, we were famished. The waiter brought us our water, and before he even placed the menus down, we told him what we wanted: green curry with shrimp, pad khi mao—a moist, delicious rice noodle with chicken and basil in a spicy shoyu sauce—and ong choy with beef, and of course, sticky rice: two orders!

The food was delicious! And we always do this, we meant to take pictures of each dish, but we were almost halfway done when we realized we had forgotten the pictures!

Everything was half-gone, but we scooped samples onto one plate so you could get a glimpse of what we enjoyed.


As old married women, we gave Melissa some advice on her upcoming nuptials: most important, do all the work and get all the headaches out of the way, so on the actual day she can actually enjoy her moment.

And then it was time for her gifts. I had gotten Melissa these really cute, white, almost eyelet-looking designer pajamas from Bedhead. Melissa is such a beachy girl, and they say some stars in L.A. wear them as beach cover-ups. The line was featured on Oprah’s favorites show, and I do love it. And I gave her some fun and naughty bath bombs and things like that. Lissa gave her a beautiful Murano glass heart pendant necklace and some earrings.

Even though it was just the three of us, we still had to follow tradition and make her wear her wrappings. Not enough for a dress, so we had to settle for just dressing her head. We made a veil and enjoyed a few laughs before devouring our dessert, the apple banana tapioca and mango sticky rice.


After that, it was back to the office, back to work, and then it was time for Melissa to fly off. The next time we see her, she’ll be Mrs. Melissa Shipman!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world ...

Phew! Post-production work on our TV special is almost done, but I'm still slaving away in sunny Honolulu. Why is that?

Well, take a look at what business partner Lissa's been up to these last few weeks:

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Does this look fair to you? That's right, she's smiling away and sipping a luscious sangria right there on the beach. Would you like to guess where in the world she is?

sorento-21

What was that? Did you happen to say Sorrento? As in Sorrento on the beautiful Italian coast? Well, you're absolutely right.

Lissa's been on a Mediterranean cruise with her mom, Carol. It's just the two of them, no worries in the world. Not the best timing, work-wise (when is it ever?), but how many of us ever get the chance to take a grown-up trip with just our mom, or just our dad? This trip will make lifetime memories for both of them, and I'm truly happy they're getting to spend this quality time together.

Meanwhile, here's a glimpse of what's been arriving in my inbox every few days:

Carol waving from the ship off Mykonos

Carol waving from the ship off Mykonos

Lissa finds great texture in Pompeii!

Lissa finds great texture in Pompeii!

... and a victim of the big volcanic eruption there.

... and a victim of the big volcanic eruption there.

Gaudi's Holy Family Church in Barcelona

Gaudi's Holy Family Church in Barcelona

Carol prays at the church of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace in Monaco

Carol prays at the church of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace in Monaco

This is the breakfast scene Lissa and Carol have to endure every morning

This is the breakfast scene Lissa and Carol have to endure every morning

Poor Lissa! She says she's having a hard time keeping up with all the tours every day, and the food! She says it's fantastic, and she's having a hard time keeping up with that, too!

But seriously, if you see this, I know you and your mom are having a great time. Come back refreshed, because I am beat!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

COUNTDOWN: June 4 at 8 p.m.!

Hey guys, I know I've been MIA for too long, and I do feel bad about that. It's because we've been wrapping up our TV special.

The Agenas' living room is DONE, absolutely final-mentally 100% totally totally DONE! They love it, the show sponsors who came to our open house loved it, and wow, do I love it!

We've been burning the midnight oil in post-production, so my schedule hasn't gotten any easier. Last night we were phone-conferencing about edits till past 1 a.m., and I am so fried.

But I just wanted to let you know that the countdown has begun! The show airs exactly four weeks from today, so mark your calendars for a transformation you'll have to see to believe:

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 8 p.m. on KITV! YIPPEE!!!