Tag Archives: poem

Out of this world

What’s YOUR Vorpal Sword?

A lifetime ago I earned a teaching certificate, knowing that I never wanted to teach.

Then why earn it? you ask.

Who the heck knows! But I did.

At the time, all I knew was that I didn’t know what I wanted to “be” when I grew up. But I did know that I was good at sports and loved language (hence the Bachelor of Science in education focusing on foreign language and physical education). (*)

Fast forward to 30-odd years later, and there’s Sj working as a permanent substitute teacher in the middle of a bunch of mask-wearing 6th graders. (The official teacher chose to retire due to health reasons.)

In the midst of juggling those unexpected lesson plans — while treading water as fast as I could — I fell in love with those kids. As graduation time neared, and no one volunteered to edit their graduation video, I realized it had to be me. That official graduation video is not for public consumption. This short excerpt, however, is.

Enjoy!

I am from my 6th grade past,

      from Sponge-Bob attire and ti-leaf lei.

I am from rainbows up high and chickens down low.

      I am from Kaua‘i nei.

I am from both A Groups and B.

      from Do we come this Wednesday?

      and Which class is your fave?

I am from two teachers: one retired and one who stayed.

Both are with me always, in ways I can’t explain.

I am from Black Ships Before Troy and Walk Two Moons.

From playing my classmate’s mother and wearing another’s shoes.

I am from four-square and kickball and Do we have to go INS?

That wasn’t fifteen minutes! Can’t we start again?

I am from Math time! andgroans all around.

From Can you turn the a/c on?  And—the lights OFF as well?

I am from a body that’s changing and talks about b.o.

Remember Monkey Man Mayhem?

And rolling-on-the-floor with a drum?

I am from Kumu on Wednesdays and library who-knows-when.

It’s time, Ms. Sj! You forgot—again!

I am from the land of the Greeks: 

fun Olympics and marching in sheets!

I am a poet:

Haiku and Cinquain

Future Me and ABC

Kilauea School

I am from lying on damp grass with my friends,

      arms straight, bodies curled, feet toe-to-toe.

Be I in the land of Aloha or far from these shores,

My Vorpal sword is ever ready, my strengths at my core.

I am from

      my 6th grade past.

• • •

Can I go to the bathroom now?

      I hope you can!

Inspired by: George Ella Lyon

Written by: Sj Hylton LeHoven for her 6th grade class

May 21, 2021

(*) I can see now that I was already riding the Trust Train. I trusted that my teaching certificate would lead to something exciting . . . and it did. First, a job as a fitness director aboard a cruise ship, and then later a position as a permanent substitute teacher on the island of Kaua‘i — a job I never could have imagined enjoying.

(**) Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll  

Vegetable-Frittata

Recipe — and Other — Exchanges

I love how…

these chain emails are crossing the globe: a poem exchange last week. And, today, a recipe exchange.

As most people are staying home and returning to things like: binge tv watching, sending chain emails to everyone they know, and occasionally–reading or playing games with family, I like to think that we’re all experiencing a great reset. A reset into being who we really are–and not who we’ve been conditioned to be. NO, I am definitely NOT SAYING that I am happy about the suffering that is taking place all over the world–that most definitely does not gladden my heart. But–I TRUST that each and every one of us will only ever return to the love that we are. Yes, that is my deepest belief.

So, if you’re still with me, I would love to hear what type of exchanges YOU are participating in during this quarantine-stay-at-home time. Or, other activities that you’re doing to fill your time (by commenting below–please, keep it rated PG).

And, for those of you who are are still-still with me, below is the recipe I submitted in the recipe exchange. Bon appétit!

Frittatas (as you probably know) can be made in a million different ways. With a million different possible ingredients.

In my opinion, the absolutely necessary ingredients are:

oil and/or butter

potatoes (red or white–not russet which get mushy)

garlic

eggs

cheese

Beyond that, you can add whatever you like AND/OR in these quarantine-stay-at-home kind of days, whatever is in your fridge.

onion 

(This is only listed below the MUST HAVE ingredients because THIS MORNING no onions — even dried — could be found anywhere in the house.)

olives

green peppers

mushrooms

tomatoes

jalapeños

pickles

salsa

okra

This list could practically go on forever.

How to make a Frittata if you never have?

1. Choose a large skillet.

2. Add butter or oil and heat.

3. Add diced potatoes (3 or 4 for 2 people with leftovers)

4. Cook until starting to get tender

5. Add onion and/or garlic

6. Add whatever else you want

7. Pour the beaten eggs (3 or 4 work for 2 people, add as required to covered all the veggies–AH, you could also add already cooked meat if you so desire)

Now…this is where the STYLE differs.

a. You can cook it like for an omelette where you use a spatula and lift at the outer inside-edge of the pan and then let the uncooked egg-goo slide under (so that it can also cook). 

If you choose this method, I find it best to do this in several places around the pan. If you have young children, you could turn this into a learning activity. As in, “What time is it where my spatula is? Now what time? Now what time?” This could go on for however long you can bear. Or, until the eggs are fried to a crisp and have set off your fire alarm.

b. Or, you can choose the broiler in the oven method.

For this, I highly recommend a pan that won’t melt. Something sturdy and made to be put under a very hot flame/or broiling coil.

Regardless which method you choose (a or b), next comes:

9. Add and melt the grated (or broken into bits) cheese.

Using a broiler is one of the easiest ways. But…if you’ve already been inside for a super long time, you might want to use a blowtorch from your wood shop. Or–the less scary torch that you normally use when making crème brûlée.

10. Serve and eat.

I recommend cutting the different slices as you would pizza-pie.

Or, if you have young children, you could turn this into another learning exercise of forced family fun. As in, cut the different pieces into triangles, squares, rectangles–and for the brave–rhomboids. Your pick.

You can serve your Frittata with:

crispy sourdough toast

rice

grits

tortillas

fruit

fruit juice

coffee

tea

water

or…mimosas

Again, your taste — and the state of your cupboards — will determine what you eat or drink along with your most delicious Frittata.

Bon appétit!

Mahalo to Yumna Jawad at feelgoodfoodie.net for the frittata picture. And, no, I did not look at her recipe before writing my own. ;-)

Miloli‘i

by Tony LeHoven

Miloli‘i

The moment I set my foot down on the sand,

the shock of the feeling startled me.
Home.
I was home.
For a moment, the disorientation
was palpable.
Home?
But in less time than it took to reach down
and slide the kayak up onto the beach,
it passed.
Not the feeling,
but the surprise.
Yes, the feeling
had entered my body
so completely,
so thoroughly,
that it was simply a fact.
A knowledge that had always
resided in my gut.
Unbeknownst to me.
Home.
As the next days passed,
the peace,
calm,
and
surrounding stature of the
mountains,
large black boulders
on the shore,
monk seals rolling
in the sand,
continued to permeate my heart,
until the feeling,
the knowledge
had so imbedded itself
that I wasn’t surprised,
when I paddled away,
that I felt sick,
sick to leave the home
of my heart.