My Insomnia "Cure"

I have insomnia. I've had it for a while. I don't take anything for it; I just take advantage of it. One of the things I do is Duolingo lessons; if I'm going to be awake I might as well be productive! If you are eavesdropping outside my bedroom window you might just hear me practicing my Mandarin pronunciation! Or it might be something from a Chinese TV series I am watching on my phone. Though I don't do that very much since I prefer seeing it on a bigger screen where I can more easily read the subtitles in English & simplified Chinese characters. More likely you are hearing me listening to something on You Tube that will be taking me down another rabbit hole. Like "Top 10 Intense Historical Chinese Dramas with Strong Female Leads" or "Top 12 Fearless Female Generals in Chinese Dramas 2025".

Last night I also found a great piece on sword drawing techniques! It may not impress you but it got me in the mood to look at a lot more sword drawing videos. Another rabbit hole. 🙄

Then I found a video about Lingopie; it's another language learning platform. It's got more to offer than Duolingo & makes use of actual shows in the native language that you choose to learn; downside is there are not that many language options. Like no ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, but I've kinda gotten used to that. One thing that they said, that I guess I kinda knew but didn't want to admit, is that by watching the shows in the native language that you are trying to learn you will pick up on the use of every day language with the cadence, idioms, & modern slang that is being used as well as cultural cues. Which means since I am currently only watching historical Chinese shows that I am learning some outdated terms & cultural customs, like, "I must be punished! Kill me!". 🙄 I guess I need to watch some of the modern stuff that has no swords, horses, or martial arts. 🙁 Well, I guess they can have some martial arts. And they're probably going to have a lot more romance; there doesn't seem to be much modern stuff without a lot of romance. Oh well, guess I'll have to get used to that. 🙄 (Most of the time the romance seems to just be a blind alley that sidetracks the plot.)

The breakfast special at Motek Bakery this morning was Uncle Yosef. When I put in my order, David wrote my name down in Hebrew; this is what it looks like.

Uncle Yosef.

 

In case you are wondering how the cats break the cat door, here is a quick lesson. Two cats get in a little spat; usually the instigator is Paʻipaʻi. (She was a bully when she was younger, then she developed a subluxated knee cap which locks up on her every so often & decreases her mobility. I think she feels vulnerable when this happens.) Paʻipaʻi growls & hisses at the other cat, & if she is outside, she runs in through the cat door, quickly turns around, & starts batting the door to keep the other cat from coming in. Hence the crack in the door & it being batted off of its hinges!

Paʻipaʻi waiting to ambush someone.

Kai sent this to me. This is what my cats are like.

This is crazy! I know I said I wasn't going to look at the stats except for the end of the month. But I could not help it since I have to go past that page to turn off my views.  But today it showed 6 countries with more than 1000 views! Which is not much compared to very popular blogs & other social media with a whole lot more views, but this is a blog about nothing in particular. 🤔

The window for Episode 51 of the eruption at Kīlauea has been refined a little. It is now expected to occur between the 9th & the 13th.

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Kathy, Margaret, Gregg, & Everett!