A very busy and fun Sunday! This morning we woke up around 8:45 or so to prepare for our own church service before going to Kaimuki. We were a bit delayed though because there were several things which had to be done before actually doing the service. So we started around 10:00 and Naomi and I were able to really meet the Lord. Naomi spoke from Isaiah and I added in a verse of my own from 1 Corinthians. Basically we talked about how we can’t rely on our own strengths or understanding; instead, only from God can we get ‘real’ strength.

Got to church a little bit late but we were in time for the testimonies from the Samoa trip to begin. Sunday services are basically the same as from the Friday Night Services. Some of the testimonies were maybe a little different and there were some other people who came to speak about the mission trip.

After the service Naomi and I were able to see and fellowship with many people. Shirley and Glenn are looking great; Shirley’s really excited for me to come to her sign dance classes. ^_^ I’ve already promised to go to tomorrow evening’s class and she’s simply ecstatic!

Haven’t been able to say hi to Nick yet so Naomi and I spent some time talking to him, Heather, Malia, and Bella. Malia seems to have gotten used to me and now calls me ‘Pintella’. Hmm… got work on her saying my name… :P

Oh, yes! Got to see Dave and he seems to be doing a lot better! He has longer hair now so he says he always has it in a pony tail. Very interesting… not used to this new look yet. Also said quick hellos to Kenny, Linda, Tammy (she’s leaving for home so won’t be seeing her until she comes for vacation), Tina, Matt, Yuriy, Tony, and Jenny. Joe had left quickly so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him. But Tony was saying something about Joe teaching drum lessons sometime next month so who knows? Maybe I’d like to learn from him a bit. ^_^

Naomi and I went to eat some Chinese Dim Sung for lunch and guess who we met there… Sandy and her mother! It was pretty ‘coincidental’ just meeting up like that. We chatted a bit and promised to see her again soon (Naomi might be doing some business at the bank where Sandy works or something like that. :P)

Got home after the delicious lunch (I was stuffed!) and I relaxed in front of the computer with some Moonlighting while Naomi read a book. In this episode, Bruce Willis actually gets a little serious at one point; quite different from the kind of character he plays.

Ericson and Taryn came to pick us up a little after 3 (Ericson drove... ^_^). He had invited Naomi and I to go watch Gilbert and Sullivan's opera/musical, "The Pirates of Penzance". It's a witty, opera, comedy which was sooo much fun to go watch! It's (to try to keep it simple) the story of a pirate named Frederic who falls in love with the Major-General's daughter. Ok, I tried right now to think of more of the plot to write but it's just too complicated to try. Here's a good site to look up more info on the story (http://starbulletin.com/2005/07/24/features/story7.html)

But, honestly speaking, the musical was sooo much fun! The songs were lots of the fun and everyone was so talented. This is the musical from which the 'Fun!' song listing all the elements in the periodic table comes from. (hee hee, very funny!) I gotta say, my favorite character (and Ericson, Taryn, and Naomi unanimously agreed) is the Pirate King played by Curt Olds. He was incredibly funny and had such a nice, baritone voice. (In the picture on the left, he's the guy on the right towards the front with longish brown-blonde hair and a red jacket with ornate gold trim. Pretty kakkoi!)

One of my favorite parts would be when the Pirate King and the Major-General are talking and they get confused between the two words 'orphan' and 'often' (you wouldn't think they sound too alike but trying saying both in a fairly strong, British accent!) LOL! I also like it when the Pirates are 'sneaking' around trying to catch the Major-General unawares; how they 'hide' behind the gravestones is just too, too funny! Especially when the Pirate King tries to kill the Major-General in frustration with Ruth trying to hold him back. The cops are also hilarious, a lot of people say perhaps that is where the Keystone Cops idea came from. (The original play was written 125 years ago.)

*Sigh* Now I just HAVE to get the Kevin Kline 1983 movie version of The Pirates of Penzance... Or at least the soundtrack!

Stopped by Ericson's house to drop Taryn off and I got an outside shot of Ericson's house. ^_^

Ericson, Naomi, and I next went to CPK's for dinner (California Pizza Kitchen). There was maybe a 20 to 25 minute wait so we (actually it was more like 'I') decided to wait in Tower Records. ^_^ Come on, the perfect place to wait! Naomi got me a CD with a compialation of songs which Bob Fosse directed. I also go an Andrew Lloyd Webber album and a DVD for $9.99. (on sale). Hurray for Tower Records!

For dinner, we all shared chip-dip, vegetable-Japanese pizza, and jambalaya spaghetti. We also all got lemonades except Naomi and Ericson got raspberry-lemonade and I got peach-lemonade. Everything was yummy! A great big thanks to Ericson for the great time at the theatre and CPK!

Got home and started listening to the new CDs I got; I simply love all the songs and am so glad I got them! Chatted with Maria for quite a bit as well as Maki who seems to be very busy getting ready to leave for Hawaii. So excited for her to be arriving soon!

Last but not least, a picture of me wearing the eye-patch which came free for those who went to watch The Pirates of Penzance. Aren't I dashing?