it's mah birthday

Darrell's Mom's family had a reunion on Molokai at the end of July.  I had thought about all 3 of us going, but with not knowing how my Mom was going to be then and knowing I probably would have to work (PLUS it was my birthday weekend and going to Molokai is not exactly how I wanted to spend it), Darrell got his own air ticket and planned to go alone.  Ryan was going to go but his band, The Instigators, picked up a gig at the Mercury Bar downtown.

Since Darrell was not going to be around, I asked a couple of girlfriends if they wanted to go with me.  I'm always nervous about going to unfamiliar places, especially potentially sketchy places like downtown Honolulu on a Friday night.  Luckily it was early evening and still light outside.  The Mercury Bar was described online as a "classy dive bar."  Teri June agreed to join me...what a great friend!

I posted online that I never thought I'd be at something called "No Suck Fest" but Ryan was performing so there I was!

The place is really tiny, probably the size of our living room, and the music was SUPER loud.  But the kids did great, really getting into it.  Too bad there wasn't much of a crowd.  Some sound guys, the bartender, a couple of spectators, Teri and me.












Ryan asked for a pic with me and then he posted it with something nice.















After the short show, Teri and I went to celebrate our birthdays (mine is on July 28 and hers is July 31) at Restaurant Epic around the corner from Hawaii Theater on Nuuanu Ave.  I had remembered seeing it when we were band-sitting during the Kamehameha Christmas Concerts a few years back, and when I Googled restaurants downtown, this one came up with good reviews.  There are actually a few restaurants/bars on Bethel Street and Nuuanu Ave. that looked interesting, but I didn't feel cool enough to go in!  But Restaurant Epic was a great choice.  We shared their "Holy Crap That's A Lot of Bacon Burger" (real name from the menu) and the "Full Moon Ravioli" (mushroom, spinach and ricotta stuffed ravioli with basil pesto cream, toasted macadamia nuts and tomatoes).  Really, really yummy and reasonably priced.  It was nice to catch up with Teri and just relax and talk, something I really needed.  And by coincidence, we bumped in Debbie at the same restaurant, who was a few tables away.  I had asked her too if she wanted to come with me to "No Suck Fest" but she had already had dinner plans.

On Saturday, Dad and I met up with Jan and Craig at Anna Miller's for a late breakfast/lunch.

When Darrell got home on Sunday, we went to an early dinner at CPK to see Ryan, who was working.  Grandpa was proud to see Ryan working so hard.

During dinner, Darrell got a text from our niece Ipo saying that  she was in labor at the hospital (she had actually started having contractions while he was still on Molokai at their house).  He texted her to hurry up and give birth by midnight since it was my birthday.  She texted back, "no problem, baby should be here by 8."

And she was right!  Around 8:30, he received this photo via text message.  Kingston had arrived!  Here he is, all brand-new, with mom Ipo and oldest sister Ale'a.  I never had anyone close share a birthday with me, so it was nice to have this special "gift."  Welcome to the world, Kingston!

Overall it was a nice birthday weekend.