Health, Wealth and Happiness

This is a conversation from just a while ago on FaceBook. Panos Prevedouros, a highly educated gentleman and former mayoral candidate here on Oahu was verbally abused in the election and made a strong Anti Rail case, as he continues to today. We hope to help educate many who blindly have gone along with the propaganda machine known as the Rail Pushers.

Rail sucks? Depends on your point of view, but it sure sucks our tax money: Federal subsidies for Amtrak are 500 times greater than federal subsidies to intercity buses. Federal subsidies to transit are 3200 times greater than federal subsidies for autos.·

Debbie Tobler-Rydin: Thank you, Panos, for not stopping on your quest to stop RAIL!
Russell Pang: You making a great case of why the Long Train Running needs to be stopped now…Thank you!

Iris Tanabe-Hirose: Mr. Prevedouros,
Will the rail run 24/7? How much will the fare be for one way? How long will it take to get to Aloha Tower from the starting point ? these issues were never mentioned, I think. Then, after getting of at the Aloha Tower, one would have to catch a cab or the city bus! Spending more money! Was there any poll taken from west Oahu on how many people would really ride the Rail? they should!
PLEASE STOP THE RAIL !

Panos D Prevedouros Fare will be over $3 in 2020 one way. Actual cost per trip will be over $25. End to end the trip wiill take about 45 minutes excluding the time and transfers to access the stations. If a train is full then two thirds of the passengers will be standees.

Russell Pang What is the maximum number of passengers that can be “safely” transported in one run?
Iris Tanabe-Hirose ‎”RIDICULOUS !!!”
You see Mr. Prevedouros, SO MANY UNADDRESSED, UNANSWERED DETAILS OF THIS RAIL !!!! Mr. Pang posted a question already !!! SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE !

Mr. Prevedouros, your idea and Ms. Kobayashi’s made more sense !!

How can the people who want to stop this type of rail do anything ?
like I said before, I voted for you the last time !!! PLEASE run for mayor again next year !!!!!!!!!! the mayor we have now, got no chance next year ! it’s to bad we’re stuck with our governor for awhile !
one question you didn’t answer, WILL THE RAIL RUN 24/7 ?
mahalo with much aloha,
iris

Panos D Prevedouros: Trains will run 20 hours on weekdays, less on weekends. Max capacity is 600 passengers per train. The plan is to run a train every 3 minutes in peak periods, every 6 to 10 minutes off peak and weekends.

David Oshiro: How many people will be able to commute to work on a train? How much will it cost each person to commute round trip? What is the actual cost for a single person to commute round trip? How much time is saved for a person to commute via train as opposed to riding the bus or driving? Finally, how long will it take for the cost of building and operating rail to be made up by ridership?

Panos D Prevedouros: A lot, in theory. The actual problem is that in reality over 95% of people who drive do NOT switch to trains. Roundrip with monthly car about $5. Actual cost $50. City studies say that if you live east of Kaonohi Drive then auto beats the rail to work. Never of course. True cost per round trip is ~$50 and actual fare is ~$5! And every 30 years you have to rebuild the whole rail systems, escalators, elevators, controlers, machines, etc. A complete money pit. That’s why THEY like it! THEY got us for good.

Iris Tanabe-Hirose OH NO !!!
are you saying, it’s a done deal and absolutely nothing can stop the rail ? where are the “STOP RAIL NOW” people ? what, they gave up ?

$5 per trip is pretty steep. That’s $25 per week and $100 per month. Lot less than paying for gas but more expensive then catching the bus.

Iris Tanabe-Hirose Mr. Oshiro, $5.00 is nothing !!! the riders still have to pay for a cab or bus fare once they reach the end of the line, which is the aloha tower !!! it takes me about 40 minutes from aiea to the university and it cost me only $2.50 and i… use the transfer to come back home !!! if you pass the transfer time, just another $2.50 . (the a-express bus has a longer time frame for the transfer) they should just double the buses !!! i would think it would be less costly then taking the rail !!! i heard that the c-express is a good way to travel from the leeward coast !!! double that route, too !!!See More

John Ellis Iris, Ala Moana center is the end of the line. It has been in the initial plan from its inception from what I understand. The only changes to the route since it’s first design was the shift from Aiea to the airport, and a few minor shifts… for utilities and stuff. But, I still agree, it’s ridiculous. Why does TheTrain service an empty field in Kapolei but not Waikiki or UH Manoa? Ridiculous. I would LOVE a train, if they could do it right. But as we all know, this city and state cant seem to get anything right. We need Panos in city hall!

Rick Emmerich what about the parking at the place you pick up rail? Will that cost money? Will it even be there? What happens (if it IS there) when it is full, just drive to work right? How about the extreme delays that will happen as they tear up the route to build the rail. In 50 years will those still alive feel it was worth the trouble and money? NOPE

Panos D Prevedouros This is the untold story that will drive my Kapolei friends totally mad: The excuciating delays over 6 to 10 years during construction. Many people will lose their mind when 2, 4 or all lanes on Farrington and Kam Hwy close for weeks at a time…
Panos D Prevedouros Followed by closures on Dillingham, Queen, etc. People have never seen anything like it. Just imagine the closure that is needed to install a football field 30 ft up in the air over two major intersecting streets…
50 minutes ago · LikeUnlike · 2 peopleLoading….Rick Emmerich How many businesses along there will be lost, forever. And the nerve of the Rail Pushers to suggest that the development will be substantial. At what cost? The guy that was interviewed in Waipahu the other night can’t sleep through the night due to the very loud drilling up toi 3AM. How long will he, (and many others have to sacrifice.)
49 minutes ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading….Iris Tanabe-Hirose mr. prevedouros, in 2008 election 140,623 people voted “NO” to the rail !!!
it’s been 3 years, it’s time to take another vote on the rail before the city spends all the money that we could using for pot holes !!! maybe a special election on this rail matter !!!
what you just posted is just what is going to happen!

Rick Emmerich Is it too much to consider that maybe this island has enough development out west, (sorry Disney). Could the big contractors live withou paving over ag fields. One day, Oahu will truly regret giving up some of the most valuable (in my opi…nion anyway) agricultural land in the world. Could the union laborers and people that build those developments at least consider for a second that the state doesn’t owe you a construction job. Heck, learn something new or move to Nevada and build all you want there.
Rick Emmerich I predict, with just a little organization on OUR part, 66% AGAINST and 34% FOR Rail if the vote was even close to fair and honest.

Thank God I had a Heart Attack.

I really wasn’t ready for the incident, but I was moving my body towards that day bite by bite of terrible food.  I loved food and ate as much of the bad stuff as I could.  I just wasn’t aware of the impact.  Brats, (that says Wisconsin, right?) beef, cheese, milk, white bread, and sprinkle in the fast food, which was more of the same, except worse. 

I also drank soda, being quite brand loyal to one, the one that starts with P.  Who knows how acidic and let’s just say sludge-like my blood was,  Other than the hero of the day, coming to a gurney near you.

Thank God for my cardiologist.

That was, of course, Dr. Frank Cummins, who just HAPPENED to be there that day.  He took care of me quicker that you can say Cardio-Catherization.

When I woke up in my room, I was instantly grateful that God had spared me.  For one second I had thought “this could be it” as I was moved into the elevator at my job where this all happened.  As quickly as that came up, I thought “No, not now, not yet.”

As I made progress and went from a grayish color to pale and then more like my original self, I really thanked God in prayer.

My book is released.  I am a published author! Thank God I….. I know that I am truly blessed.  It’s a gift to be able to actually say the words.  I know that my experince is not as tough as some, and I can’t wait to read the other writers’ stories. 

Stay tuned here to read more and to get the link to get your book.

Aloha, Rick Emmerich

PS  If you just happen to want to know how to lower cholesterol without pharmaceutical meds, go to http://lifemax.net/drmalia  It worked for me and that story is in an earlier blog here.

Also, if you would like to obtain my book, with the chapter in it, go to

http://www.thankgodi.com/cmd.php?Clk=4313438  The book is called “thankGodi…Triumph through Tragedy”

   He was passing on the perfectly proportioned ‘Penny’s Papaya Passion.’  What looked like an old man brunch is a culinary work of art, but you would not know it from the plain menu.  As a matter of fact, it was Kona Rick’s suggestion that gave the dish its name.

   Kona sipped pure Kona coffee from the perch overlooking Kealakekua Bay in the distance.  In fact, a look down and to the right reveals the trees that yield this berry brew.  He’s secretly researching the carrot cake recipe-convinced that the item is on the tip of his tongue.  (Kona had connections to some big carrot cake fanciers from the East Coast.  For years they have been after the complete recipe to offset the high cost of shipping from Kona.)

   By the way, Big Jake the owner is not suspicious of Kona’s motives.

   “I’ll take the Cobb Salad, and a little more…” with a smile and a wiggle of the coffee cup.”

   This is the kind of place where secret negotiations go on in public.  There’s no frou frou fancy drinks here, no posse, no dogs in purses.  Your agent WON’T call my people.  Quite often the locals and the tourists entertain big time coffee buyers, and international ‘persons of interest’ without a clue.

   There’s a rumor that a very larger Sumo Wrestler type guarded the backroom one time in ’99 as negotiations involving a zebra and a helicopter.  The animal and the helicopter came in on a ship late one evening to Kawaihae harbor.  The coffee was hauled out that same day in a bunch of suitcase and duffle bags.  Other packages were shipped out over the following weeks.  The leader of a small island republic really liked that same coffee that I was drinking today.

   This brew is a salt of the earth specialty that much of the world has not experienced …yet.  Anyway, as Alyssa brought the famous Cobb creation, and the clear view became ever-so-foggy due to the vog, our hero felt the caffeine kicking in, just as his vision seemed to gain focus.

   “This is gonna be a great day…”

TO BE CONTINUED

“Look at those two, they’re gonna go at it right there.”  Yep, the old man said it.

I had just spotted my wife after being gone a week and gave her a nice healthy kiss, right there in PF Changs.  And no, it was not a peck.  Dude next to us was of course, hard of hearing so everything he said was turned up to 11.  He spouted his opinions to his table which included 2 women.

Well, my wife happens to love the attention I give her, the fact is, we are still newlyweds after almost 6 years.  And I’d bet that those two older ladies at the next table would appreciate some attention  from their men from  time to time.  It’s HEALTHY to love your wife and it’s not wrong to show that in public.  (At least in this country.)

I feel sorrry for any couple that does not want to actually express their love.

So, when we left, and we did leave separately because we had driven our own cars to the restaurant.  I gave her another, why not?  The old guy said, “Look at those two they’re gonna have sex right there.”  It was hilarious and I wished I’d gone over to him and said what was on my mind. 

But, we never do, do we?  Malia and I went over to Kahala Park and watched the full moon and just hung out a while.  We then went home and, well, you know.  Thanks old man……

OK, it was a learning experience.  I went to gain some knowledge.  That’s the last I will mention the ‘working’ part of the trip.  You see, I also wanted to get away.  Yo do get a little stir-crazy on these rocks in the middle of the Pacific sometimes.

So, at pretty much the last minute I patched together enough frequent flyer miles to get their and the usual brother-in-law standby option to return on United.  Vegas here I come!

Well, as I had a limited budget (it would have been NO budget except for my awesome wife), I insisted on walking from the Vegas Airposrt to my hotel at 6:45 AM.  And yes, it was about 90 degrees.  That was not sobad cuz the Hard Rock is the first hotel you come to.  Not much in the way of secenery on the way, just a lot of plastic bottles, cans, some vacant lots and those advertising cards for escorts and bars, just laying on the ground.

I’m not going to tell you how I was all work and no play.  In fact, I like to do the slots.  The new thing since I was there years ago.  PENNY SLOTS!  Except you put in a 5 dollar bill and you get 500 credits.  That’s about as close to the penny denomination as you get.  Iwas betting 30 cents a pop, with gusts to 60 cents and 90, with a real brave occasional 3 dollars.

You have to check out this machine.  It combines space travel with grandma, grandpa, milk cartons, chickens, and COWS.  Every time you hear a moo, you win.  And I dare you to try to figure out WHAT wins.  It is the craziest machine ever.  Oh yeah, the other thing is that it is a Progressive and has the Monopoly Logos and theme, making it almost acceptable as my memory flashes back to those family battles on the dining room table.

I must say it was fun, and sorta harmless, as I contributed some, but tracked it all on my Players Card.  “PLAYAH”  Yeah that’s me.

My points added up, even with my ill-chosen Sports Book Bets to earn me a steak dinner at Ago, the Italian Restaurant.  And what a steak that was!

And in between my fun, I really did learn some stuff.  I got a little sleep.

I made it to the Rehab Pool-yep that one.  It’s the one featured on the Realtiy TV show and in it’s own cool way it rocks.  I know it is a different animal on the weekend when they’re filming, but I loved the mellow Wednesday version without the drunkos all over the place. 

And by the way, as Vegas always seems to do, they got my spare change.  I go the steak and yep, I hit a 3 team Parlay on the way out the door.  But you know, I still owe my wife some of that money she lent me.

Guess which one I am writing about today.

Yep, thaaaaaat one.  Yes I saw Tiger’s carefully orchestrated press conference, but I had to hear it and see tape after the fact.  Yes, I guess he gets the right to call all the shots and make the rules on HIS press conference.  And Yes I think he was sincere.

He seemed to have written it himself and I only wish he had practised it some more so he did not so robotic.  I would sayit’s clear he is not a public speaker.  But the emotion and sorrow was there.  He covered almost everything and everything HE chose to cover.

He spoke and then obviously is headed right back to the treatment facility that only he and hundreds of other choice millionaires can afford to attend.  I believe he is ’sick’ although his greed, sense of entitlement and desires probably caused this type of affliction.

I’ll pray for him and wish him the best.

I miss him on the tour, but actually I don’t watch, probaqbly cuz he is no longer on the tour.  I hope that he is totally focused so as to wait until the appropriate time family wise and heath wise to reurn.  Although, as a Christian I really love a good recovery/change story (David, Moses, Saul/Paul) I think it will be a while before he could really be counted on as a successful ‘recovery.’

For  his wife’s sake and the kids, I will hope for the best.  By the way, I expect him to be able to be a BETTER golfer if y’all can imagine that, by not having all this extra curricular activity in his life.  Going way back to my professional foosball days I DO have a persepctive on that….

   We flew into Kona this morning, only 12 hours ago, but it seems like

a week’s worth of activity just settling back into Hilo.  Ya know, the Big 

Island is large, with different weather patterns and we went from the 

hot, dry, surface of the moon West side over the North side through rainy

Waimea and down South into Hilo.

   If you don’t care about the geography, it’s cool.  I am working, by the

way.  In search of the elusive Wifi, I returned to my old haunt, Bayfront 

Coffee, Tea and Kava.  There’s a rousing acoustic jam going on, with a 

gutiar and 2 ukeleles, and a singer that is ALMOST on key.  And I said

ALMOST.  It is painful at times, yet the spontaniety and the joy of the

participants is infectious.

   I have my Wifi and need to get some important details and a couple of

critical emails sent.  Meanwhile here I am blogging.  Oh well.  The sur-

roundings have me ready to sing along, and continue to relax.

   My normal routine here is a shot of Noni, with a shell or 2 (or 3)

of Kava, which natually, organically and almost magically relaxes me 

gets me ready for my rest later.  The small of cooking brownies is 

intoxicating and that may be next on the menu for me.

   These people were my peeps back in the ealry 70s, and the Grateful

Dead years.  Well, actually anyone that really was into THAT THEN is 

perhaps no longer with us, and these guys are incarnations.  But that’s

just a minor detail.

   I get to work for real in the morning, and my efforts to share Yellow 

Pages seem almost contradictory to this wonderful scene all around me.

But, this post is NOT meant to market, to share deep knowledge, or to

persuade-only to somehow relate to ya how wonderful this moment is.

  OK, one more glass of Kava, Rick Emmerich

I’m baaaaack!

I know I have been on a health product kick lately, but ya know I really enjoy being healthy.  I am not perfect of course, I really want to get back to the gym. I get it.

But here goes again.  I think in additon to being healthy physically, it is a must to pursue financial health.  Another stream of income MAY be what the Dr. ordered.  For anyone that does not know me, I am NOT a Doctor, I just play one on the internet.  I DId, however, marry a Chiropractor, and Dr. Malia has changed my life in more ways than one.

She and I are working on our own careers, she the Doc, and me the Yellow Pages Salesperson.  We really like each of them and they have been bery bery good to us.

However, we are looking at retirement down the road and why now have the security that other streams of income provide?

Between us we can help you lower your weight, lower Blood Pressure, perform better sexually (men), recover from workouts quicker, and alkalize or detox the body.  Better sleep, lowering of aches and pains, ALL are possible and others have more dramatic testimonies.

You see, though, we do it because we are fans of better health, and the companies that we represent compensate us for sharing.

Becasue health and wealth are both important to us, we look to share the comcepts we have learned with others, and that means the products too.  They are very healthy, affordable (but not cheap) and in one case demonstratable.  I other words we show right now that the product will work for you and then it works.  A lot of people say, “How can I get this stuff?” as soon as the demo/test is done.

While I have you attention, Dr. Malia is a great teacher and Chiropractor, so meeting with her in person, often in an appointment, is very rewarding.  If you are on Oahu, I highly recommend.  Her # is 808 596-4853.

Finally, if curious about any of the above, get in touch with me as well.  Rick http://www.rickemmerich@gmail.com or, just go to http://www.LivGreenHawaii.com

PS In the near future I will share with you a way to build YOUR business, whatever it is.  I know it’s important and those of you who are networkers, in the treanches with another company, I am not so naiive  to expect to convert you to my biz, so let’s lighten up and share what works in biz-building.  If interested in what I do and what health products I will of course accomodate.

Aloha, Rick Emmerich

Maui is a great island to visit and a pretty cool one to work on.  I’m typing fast, because if my boss sees the time I post this, I may not be working here anymore.    (Had a good day yesterday, so starting a little later today.)

No Ka Oi means number one, and it’s hard to argue that this is the number one island or perhaps, the number one tourist destination in the US.  I know, arguably.  You can have Oahu and its hi rises, and congestion in Waikiki and on the roads commuting.  I DO live there, btw.

Maui has two main mountains, the incredible Heleakala Volcano, and then the other ones.

Heleakala dominates the view from the time you get out of the plane, down to Kihei, and central Maui is at its doorstep.  It’s so huge, because unlike other non-Hawaiian peaks, that rise from among the hills, the higher elevations and the neighboring peaks, Heleakala shoots up from sea level.

They say, that going up to the peak takes about 2 1/2 hours on the road and then produces some of the most magnificent sunrises on earth, and pretty good sunsets too.  I got in trouble with my Regional Manager because I told him I was going up there to take pics one morning.  I didn’t, but the suggestion, and the fact I missed the next morning sales meeting landed me in the dog house.

The other mountains impede the jouney to Lahaina, Kaanapali, and the West Maui resorts.  That is mostly the dry area, and the land reflects that with hues of brown.  Of course, with constant watering, the golf courses remain green.  I have to say that, the Mercedes Open just ended the other day.

Those other mountains must have a name, I’ll look.  Going to Lahaina and all those resorts, the road hugs the cliffs along the ocean.  There are 2 tunnels, I believe, and my Sprint didn’t work in a couple of places.  The quaint former whaling village of Lahaina makes for good shopping and cheeseburgers.

BTW, this isn’t going to be a detailed travel blog, but I have seen a good portion of this island.  Write and ask if you want.

Those other mountains include the Iao Valley Park, also spectacular.  Take time, and perhaps a picnic, drive out of Wailuku and vist the valley.  Make sure you bring your camera.

If you go on the famous Road to Hana, you’ll encounter Paia, about 6 miles down the road.  This is where you stock up for the ride with supplies, use the bathroom if you can find one (it’s sometimes great to be a guy), and be a tourist.

I recommend parking at the public lot at the edge of town and walking.  I also recommend Charleys Restaurant (Willie Nelson’s favorite) and Moana Bakery and Cafe on Baldwin.  I’ll be at Charleys drinking coffee and working (on the phone).

Down the road, also towards Hana is the turn to go to Haiku.  Haiku, like Paia gives me a great vibe, a sorta ex-hippie, surfer wannabe, used to like Grateful Dead feeling.  There are also good places to eat, some hairpin turns (careful) and the usual businesses.

I’m going to just say this now.  I saw/see the most beautiful women in Paia and Haiku.  Don’t know what it is, and this is certainly not a scientific study.  I’m still happily married, right honey??? 

Now, the other famous travel writers will go on and describe the Road to Hana with more hairpin turns and many waterfalls.  Drive slow and DON’T if you had too many drinks at Charleys.  This is where I get off, because, like I mentioned, I am working today.

Suffice to say, the Road is worth it.  My beautiful bride and I took that drive on our honeymoon 3 and 1/2 years ago.

I have to go now, I think there will be a part 2, perhaps with pics.  Right now, I fear that somehow my boss is monitoring every minute of my work time here, and this does not qualify. 

Now, off to Charleys for coffee. 

I watched this morbidly obese guy with no helmut riding a rather small moped down Kapahulu today.  Oh yeah, he was talking on a cell phone.  I thought it was sadly funny.

Hawaii is different from what we call the mainland.  Many things are different.

Weather.  We only have one kind.  It’s ‘nice’.  It’s either really nice, or nice.  Sometimes it rains hard.  So what.  It is still warm out.  Anyway the air is different here.  It’s nice too.

You don’t see semis on the roads.  Once in a while you will see a big truck, but it is rare.

No billboards.  I think that’s cool.  There is actually some group or society to keep billboards out.  You can’t just sneak ‘em in in the middle of the night either…..

It’s OK here (and only here) to ride around in the back of trucks.  No seats, no seat-belts of course, and no safety.  Some states seem to allow dogs (also unsafe) but here we compromise the safety of people too.  The deal does not even get mentioned-ever.  You can tell the seasoned back-of-the-truck people.  They have this smug, defiant "I’m not comfortable, but I won’t let on no matter what" look.

You’d think perhaps that it was because of the great numbers of underpaid farm workers, but no.  As more and more subdivisons gobble up the available farmland on Oahu, we see that it is for all types of people.  Young, old, even kids on dates…..

No pro sports teams play here.  Bummer.  I mean the Lakers practice here for about a month, but that’s as close as it gets.  No one seems to mind.  We DO have the Pro Bowl, for at least one more year.

Anyway there are too many differences to tell in just one blog,     Rick Emmerich