I’ve been asked to make my infamous potato salad - a recipe that’s been passed down to me so it isn’t really mine - for a farewell party.

I head down to Sam’s Club Pearl City after work to pick up a few more ingrediments - well actually just wasabi and Q-tips but like a habit I take the same route Da Wife I go through everytime we’re at Sam’s. We walk along the left side making a stop if necessary, then through the freezer section, along the back towards the fish and sushi and then back along the right side and again, stops if necessary.

Like a lolo I only needed TWO things but come out with five all because I didn’t b-line it to what I came for. Sushi, poke, vitamins, wasabi… make dat four things… fo’got da Q-tips. Auwe.

I noticed when I entered the store it was semi-empty and the lines was maybe one or two people deep. I swear was only in the store for like five minutes and when I got to the front ALL the lines were like eight or nine deep.

So of course I stay spocking out which line get people with little bit items and head there. Did I mention that I suck in picking lines? No mattah wat, there could be five in line A and one in line B and of course I going to line B right? Guess which line is pau first?

So I pick da “winnah” line once again. Get only four people ahead of me but with like five items each so should go quick. I then spocked one cashier looking like she was logging in and bettah yet, stay right next so I was expecting her to come around and “escort” you into her line.

Nope. She takes her drawer out and walks two lanes over, puts her drawer in and opens there! Loser!

Myna. One mo’ to go and she get like ten things so should be quick. Da cashier swipes the card and scans a couple of items before mentioning that da wahine’s membership expired.

Da wahine:  ”I didn’t get a notice.”
Cashier:  “Did you want to renew it now?”
Da wahine:  “I didn’t get anything in the mail.”
Cashier:  “They’re supposed to mail it out. Did you want to renew your membership now?”
Da wahine:  “So I can’t buy these things now? Don’t you guys send it out like a month before or something?”
Cashier:  “You can renew it right here and it’ll be added to your total.”

A quick pause.

Cashier:  “Did you want to renew?”

Da wahine now talking to her three teen keiki repeating the EXACT samething conversation above (as if they weren’t already standing there) while staring at her items proceeds to walk away.

Cashier:  “So you don’t want to renew?”
Da wahine (grumbling while walking away):  “No.”
Cashier:  “Can you leave the cart please?”

Da wahine was already halfway out the store before they decided to bring it back. Then the real fun started.

The cashier begins to reload the cart and then just stops and stares at the wall. I follow her gaze to no one in particular. She reloads one item into the cart and stops again. Being the akamai person that I am I notice that there’s a total rung up so she must be looking for a manager to void the transaction.

Where da heck is da manager? Eh, just turn on da light and someone will stop by. Look at the pole. Look up. Look down. Eh, wea da light? NO MO’! How come they took it down? The couple behind me had choke things and looked like needed a fridge real quick. The people in the back of the line already found alternate lines and heading out the door.

Now we’ve been in line literally for ten minutes watching the drama and waiting. A few minutes later amanager nonchalantly comes by. They giggle, clear the transaction and apologize to each other. Yes, to each other.

Wassap Wit Dat!

Not once did either of them acknowledge us the customers (one who was actually leaning against his cart, legs crossed playing a game on his cell). There was no eye contact either and believe me, da Korean stink eye was in full effect.

My transaction was quick being the four items and all. I swipe my credit card and hold it out while I sign the keypad. She doesn’t grab it or ask for it. I look at her again and nothing so I start to put it away in front of her. As I’m about to grab my box she asks to see the card.

Are you frickin’ kidding me?! You had all that time to ask and check and after you notice that I’ve put it away you ask only now? Oh boy….

The only good thing that night was the couple behind me with choke melting things actually told the couple behind them to go first since they only had three things. Simple acts like that made me feel au’ight again cause it doesn’t happen too often.

Then I stayed up till 10pm making the salad…. but you know wat?

Da potato trick really works….. I guess I can add that to my useless facts library!

I gotta say, kids do da darndest things.

After reading an article last week backing up what numerous Kwonics/Lanceformers/Lurkahs have already mentioned, enforcement is the key to help curb the road woes… or at least the “presence” of authority.

This keiki took matters into his own hands. (Sorry that the link didn’t work - the story is below)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Landon Wilburn, 11, has a future as a cop - a traffic cop. The youngster, who used to shout at speeders to slow down as they drove through the Stone Lakes subdivision in Louisville, now has taken matters into his own hands.

Dressed in a reflective vest, wearing a bicycle helmet and armed with an orange Hot Wheels brand radar gun, he points and records the actual speed of passing traffic.

Landon also carries a flashlight with a built-in siren.

“When I saw it happening, I got the biggest kick out of it,” said resident George Ayers, 61. “People were locking up their brakes when they saw him.”

Many in the subdivision are frustrated that motorists tear through the neighborhood at 55 mph despite signs posting a 25 mph limit.

Officials said the city will install speed humps in the neighborhood if 70 percent of residents agree and are willing to put up half the money.

Landon Wilburn, 11, points his Hot Wheels brand radar gun to see how fast an oncoming SUV is driving on Taylorsville Road past the Stone Lakes subdivision in Louisville, Ky. Wilburn has been charting the speeds of drivers near his neighborhood since June. Landon said he used to shout at speeders to slow down - then had a better idea. (AP Photo/The Louisville Courier-Journal, Charlie White)

He stepped up and actually Did Something About It (one of my very first “controversial” blogs - just fo’ you MoOgooGuypAN).

Not an adult. Not a senior citizen. An 11 year old keiki who had enough and stepped it up by doing what’s right. It happens in every city no matter what part of the country you live in where the 25mph speed limit sign is more of an eyesore than the law.

Then when “city officials” get involved they want 70% of the residents agreeing to put in speed bumps and front up half the money.

Wassap Wit Dat!

That “solution” is just wacked. You got drivers knowingly breaking the law and it seems like the “system” is backing the lawbreakers. 

What if someone here simulated a speed trap on the freeways? I betcha s/he guarns-bombarans would get a ticket instead yeah?

What if we had a citizens patrol camped out on known speedways doing “research” and once people get comfortable knowing that it’s not the police, switch it up and have a real officer there and BAM! Gotcha.

Has any keiki inspired you to do something? Anything? Give you any ideas?

Or think once adults get involved it’s all ovah?

Wow. Quick yeah? Kinda like wat Da Wife said last night………..

Aftah I took da dogs out fo’ one walk. Wat kine mind you get?!

So I stay sitting in my half-walled cubicle listening to 98.5 late in da afternoon yesterday and hea pops in Da King of HA blogs standing in front of my little hole and I say,

“Ai-yah! Wat I did? I nevah do nothin’! Dey made me do it!”

Straight from Da King, Tsaiko’s fearless leader, I got da scoops - plus Princess Shaunabee mentioned something about it not starting too in her post. So hea I am, for da time being back to entertain you - or rag on me - whichever you prefer cause it’s au’ good!

Hey, I just realized Da King himself posted on WWD! Cheeeeee-frickin’-hoooooo! Wow, score yeah! 

Ok, if He Da King of HA Blogs. Da Cat Da Queen. Shaunabee Da Princess. Uncle Rodney must be like Da Elder Advisah. Den dat make me wat….OH…. Da Jestah yeah! Cheee-hooo! But I ain’t wearin’ dat stupid hat!

So I’m back until we get all united on the home front… and get some reliable information. Sorry for the confusion and shmall kine panic attack. And hea I thought I was going to have one break. At least now I can blog about DK’s next week.

Which leads me to ask, has anyone else done anything or reacted based on misinformation? What did you do? How did you feel?

It feels like I stay in one dark room and someone yells, “Let’s streak!”. I strip down, the door flys open and I sprint out…. by myself and the door closes. Yeah, WWD!

Mahalos muchos fo’ da support!  Believe me, I wouldn’t be hea without each and everyone of you - Lurkahs included. 

I’m back for now and rest assured wen “it” does happen, I not going be da only one in da birthday suit.

You guys had to have seen it coming by now as I’ve - dunno who else - been asked to help support our efforts by suspending WWD! until a fair contract is agreed upon.

If you haven’t noticed, most of the staff bloggers are newsroom staff and while I’m not in that department it’s about supporting each other in this troubling time.

I hope everyone who drops in to read WWD! will understand that it’s a show of unity to suspend our wala’au sessions. I also hope during this time we don’t lose any readers and supporters.

So keep checking back all you Kwonics, Lanceformers and Lurkahs cause I’m not sure how long this will be.

Hopefully we’ll be back sooner than you know it…cause I’m sure by then I’ll have more than enough WWD! moments to share with you all!

And to finally answer the WWD! First blog (record postings I might add - Au’right!), Terri and I will be celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary dinner at DK Steakhouse this weekend…. full review to follow…. pics too!

So stay tuned, A Hui Hou and keep checking back! Take care.

k-den,

Braddah Lance

It’s Feel Good Friday and sometimes in order to feel good, we just need to let it all out and like the commercial, 

LET’s VENT!

Layoffs are never good - especially in a down economy - but when it happens to you three times in eight years you begin to wonder if you’re the plague.

My first “real” job was at the Aston’s Waikikian on the Beach Hotel. Fo’ da MLC crew - dat’s the hotel next to da Tahitian Lanai. Fo’ da “not too old, not too young” peeps - dat used to be da two story hotel wit da Tahitian Lanai neon sign in between da Hilton garage and Ilikai. Fo’ da youngin’s - dat’s da new condo dey building on Ala Moana Blvd called, Grand Waikikian - guessing in honor of nostalgia.

I worked my way up from bell to front desk to reservations and next thing I know, BAM! Pink slip. Hotel is closing. My conspiracy theory? The hotel was nearing landmark status and the cost to upkeep it was too great so that meant A Hui Ho to da staff - just my theory.

Before coming to the Advertiser, my previous workplace had layoffs because of 9-11. My conspiracy theory? Management wasn’t managing very well but who loses their job? Da workers on da front lines… I just missed dat cut.

Now, The Advertiser has announced and proceeded with the layoffs.

Wassap Wit Dat!

And once again, I survived this time around but who’s to say I won’t be next? I’ve never applied for jobs lightly. I always considered longevity in a company as long as the company I work for takes care of it’s employees. I firmly believe that when a company shows “da love”, it gets reciprocated back ten-fold. You take more pride in it, you work harder and give intangible value that can’t be shown with a price tag.

For all the people who have given their lives to a company to be told, “Mahalo and Aloha but we don’t need you any more” is sickening. The feeling is not more so that the company doesn’t care about you but how are you going to take care of your family?

During my first layoff I was single so it didn’t matter so much - I coped, I managed, I survived. At times I didn’t eat for a day or stretched my meals for more than a sitting and most times just ate once a day. I wore the same underwear two days in a row…. wait, I still do that now. But I was single back then.

If I was to get laid off right now, I don’t know what I’d do. How would Da Wife and I adjust? I grew up a hard life - some things even Da Wife doesn’t know - and I don’t wish that upon anyone, especially Da Wife. There’s no doubt in my mind that she can handle but would I want her to go through what I’ve gone through? No frickin’ way! For now it’s just her, me and the dogs (keiki hopefully soon). The company doesn’t care what the heck happens - people care. Last time I checked, people make the company right?

So my heart goes out to all 54 of my fellow co-workers - some who I’ve gotten to know pretty well in the short amount of time we’ve worked together. I’ve been there. It isn’t a nice road to be on and honestly, I would trade places in an instant if I could and that’s just me. Now I have a family to worry about, finances to take care of, real life issues that can’t get resolved without a J-O-B so priorities are a huge factor.

The pitfall of layoffs is now everyone is watching out for numero uno. Morale is down and people get a little more defensive especially if they’re on the fence. What if there was one more job to be cut and it was between you and your cubicle-mate whom you’ve gotten to be friends with? Would you fight for your job or would you “volunteer” to leave? You both have families, you both have bills. That’s the real life issue going on right now.

The saga will continue I’m sure for a very long time as we try to get back to BAU (business as usual) but how can you be happy working while someone you know has lost theirs? Heck yeah I’m thankful I still got a job and it is difficult staying although not nearly as worse as being forced to leave.

Pop. Phiiizzzzzz. Gulp. Gulp. Guuuulp.

Yup. Dat was an imaginary can of Coors Light because today……

LET’s VENT!

So go ahead! Let’s hear your frustrations or problems from today, yesterday, whenever and whatever you’ve got to say! Boyfriend/girlfriend acting like a pill? Friends acting like jerks? Damn cheaters on da roads!

Let it all out and get it off your chest - lift that weight off your shoulders! Isn’t that how we begin to heal and “move on”?

btw, yeah dat was a fake can….. you tink I’d be drinking at 4:30am?! By myself?

…..I only drink bottles anyways…