Kid Rock and Sea Urchins~Random Things from Camp Zama

Ok, last weekend I traveled to Camp Zama.  That is our headquarters for the Japan Disitrict.  I had training there last week.  It is a nice area.  It is about 2 hours outside Toyko.  So I road on my first double decker plane.  It was huge!!! I will start Kid Rock.  My bestest brother and wonderful role model that I have looked up to my whole life!!! he is so wonderful and I cant wait to see him.  One of the things I remember about him when I was younger was the first time I got to bring him to school.  I got to come to school late that day (WHICH NEVER HAPPENED, I HAD TO BE DIEING IN order to miss school as a kid).  I was in the 5th grade, and he had brought Chasta to come visit as well. He was 21 at the time so I think this was one of the first few times we met Chasta.  Well I loved her and wanted to be just like her with her hair spray and everyhing.  Well Hootie and the Blowfish had just come out with their new CD, and with Chris always being so good at keeping up with what was cool he had the CD.  Well he gave it to me that day in his car after he took me to school!!! It was so awesome!!!  Soooo

I have always thought of music with my brother.  We really like a lot of the same things.  Especailly some of the more Rock and Roll stuff.  but we love Kid Rock, and Noah my wonderful nephew has always loved Kid rock.  So a long time running us Ortstadt's have loved Kid Rock.  I can rememeber when Noah was no more than 3-4, he was sitting in his car seat and had passed the time where he would only sleep in the car or would only scream in the car...what fun days!!! Well Chris had the new Kid Rock CD and I had gone to visit.  Chris said, "Hey Elizabeth you want to see something funny?", I said sure...He said this is a really awesome song...It was Jackson Mississippi, it is one of Kid Rock's more hard core songs, see below in link...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGeRAPD6iSU He turned it on pretty load and i look in the back seat and there Noah is singing every word of the song!!! It was so cute, chris said he didnt even like the song but Noah would always ask for it and then Chris became to love it.  So this song always reminds me of Noah and Chris....Well to get back on track... Kid Rock has redone the song with Dale Earnhardt Jr. it premotes the National Guard! It is a really awesome song and video, so please check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHzSBEVbXtM

But hearing the new American Warrior version of the song reminded me of the "joys" of the military family but made me proud to have a husband that wants to serve!!! I am glad we have people like him in the world, and it made me remember the fun car ride of Noah singing Kid Rock and my brother always looking out for me!!!!
I cant wait to see you guys!!! i miss you a lot!!!

Ok so i saw the video in camp zama.

I also went to a highly recommended sushi resturant there.  We went with a couple of my co-workers. It was really fun hangin out with them and one of their wives is very Japanese savy. So helped with ordering food.  Well we ordered a very large variety of sushi.  Well one of the things was raw sea urchin.  I figured I needed to try it since I didnt have to really pay for it and might as well.  Well I tried it.  It is NOT my favorite.  I said oh this tastes very oceany...Tim said it way more nicer...as i feel like i am eating a boger off an old fishing net.  So I have eaten worse but think twice about eating raw sea urchin, it is like an oyster but definately not as good.   Well I miss everyone, and I would have posted this sooner but I did not have computer access last week during training...

Funny Video

Ok, So Happy Birthday to Chris, Chris, and Uncle Morgan.  My 2 brothers named Chris have the same birthday, June 2nd.  Which here right now it is no longer the 2nd but in the states it still is... So Happy Birthday to all of them!!! Yay!!!

Also Since vehilces are different here, you guys know we have a super cool, old minivan.  Which space here is a luxury except when parking in small areas, like most places here!!! But one of our very funny church friends posted a video on my facebook, about cool minivans.  It reminded me of a funny converstation with Montye.  I think everyone has said, " I WILL NEVER DRIVE A MINIVAN" but once you compare to an SUV and get in a minivan you wonder why you never had one in the first place they are so easy and great!  Especailly on price for wht you get compared to a SUV.  So when Chris Gardner  (I only specified the last name due to the fact that we have so many chris' in the family) told montye she had no choice but to get a minivan and she was very upset about it.... I asked her later about it and she loved it!! I love it, it is so cool and easy to get in!! Well she also said the kids think it is realy cool.  They all say, "Wow your mom has a minivan...thats awesome!! I found this really funny. 

Well our lovely friend, Greg (A friend we have met through our biblestudy group), he posted a very funny minivan (i think add for Toyota).  So everyone please check out, especially Montye, because she is super cool with her minivan.  I love my minivan and it is not even a nice one, and Munson and Boomer love it too.  They like being able to see... SO this is for all the Cool Smart minivan owners.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUG3Z8Hxa5I&feature=player_embedded
 So here is a funny creative laugh for you... Miss everyone..

Been Busy Sorry, Memorial Day, Jane Wayne Day

So work is in full swing, so getting on the computer and bloggin has been a little slow Im sorry.  Today will also be a shorter post because I am busy at work today so i am sneaking this in on my lunch break.  I read a really awesome email from my bestest buddy's dad, Ray!!! It was really awesome and I love stuff that supportst the military and this is a neat story so please read.   And rememeber that Memorial Day is to rememeber our troops and veterns. they work very hard and the families work hard supporting them, but so this is not a waste of post or information from me I will tell a story before I leave you with the email. 

And it goes with the military theme, you dont relize the little things even suck in the military.  So there is a thing called Jane Wan Day.  It is a day where military wives do jobs that their husbands do everyday. So day in the life of your husband and people he works with.  Well, I am short on leave so brad and I decided it was better for me not to skip work to go to Jane Wan day.  I will make it to one, before he gets out...but I was talking to him and feeling bad that I didnt take off work to go, I said i would come over there for lunch.  So I asked Brad what they were doing and he said sitting around, so I was like ok great, I will come hang out for a bit and see you during lunch.  I should have known better dealing with sneaky Brad.  I get there and his group is doing Riot Control.  Yes you read that right Riot Control.  So Brad obvisouly nominates me, to be in the group and I am no longer being a person watching, I am now going to join in.  I say " thats ok i have some meetings and I need to get back to work."  Brad proceeds to say you are a woose and are boring, so my competiative side came out and I said fine I will do whatever dumb thing they are about to do.  Well I get dressed up in full pads, and this giant shield.

Yes, I was dressed in similar attire with my nice meeting work clothes on underneth, so ballet slippers, dressy shirt, and nice hair, and make-up.  Oh but yes i joined in, i was wearing a helmmets that stunk SOOOOOO bad, and that was so big for my face it slid down over my face, then I was to carry my giant sheild that wieghed about 30lbs, with one arm.  This is not as easy as it looks, then  move in formation, scream and yell, and take the beating of pepole that are fake rioting.  Yes i got hit in the face with my shield numerous times because I could not hold everything up, so I cant imagine what would have happened if the pepole were actually angry and wanting to hurt us!!! Oh I almost forgot then they launched water balloons at us numerous times, and Brad told them to aim at me, so I went back to work smelly, wet, and weird for my afternoon meetings.  And my phone rang off the hook that day except the one hour i was playing riot control.

So remember some of this stuff looks fun, but would you really want to do some of the things that are just expected of the military memebers, they wear lots of uncofortable clothes and uncomfortable situations and in places we would never want to be, so rememeber they are doing it for you, and their families are by their sides, so keep all military memebers and families in your prayers, cause not everyone can be as cool as me and last the 10 minutes before i wanted to quit.  Just try sitting still or standing still for 3 minutes, without moving in the heat without touching a bug that might land on you, if you can do that you are doing better than me, but military memebers can do that for hours, just because they have the didcation.  So read this nice story, that I got in me email today....it really is awesome!!! I wanted to cry a little but it definately gave me goose bumps!!!

Cemetery Watchman ...

I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high.
I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace.. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers--about four or five bunches as

best I could tell.
I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: 'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!' But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.
Kevin would lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey's in time.
I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I

must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.
I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.
'Ma'am,may I assist you in any way?'
She took long enough to answer.
'Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.'
'My pleasure, ma'am.' Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.
She looked again. 'Marine, where were you stationed?'
' Vietnam, ma'am.. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'
She looked at me closer. 'Wounded in action, I see. Well

done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can.'
I lied a little bigger: 'No hurry, ma'am.'
She smiled and winked at me. 'Son, I'm 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off.. Let's get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time.'
'Yes, ma 'am. At your service.'
She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flowers out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn't quite make out.. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.
She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one

stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X.Davidson, USMC, 1943.
She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944..
She paused for a

second. 'Two more, son, and we'll be done'
I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, ma'am. Take your time.'
She looked confused.. 'Where's the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way.'
I pointed with my chin. 'That way, ma'am.'
'Oh!' she chuckled quietly. 'Son, me and old age ain't too friendly.'
She headed down the walk I'd pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.

'OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home.'
Yes, ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?'
She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons.

All killed in action, all marines
She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.

'Get to the 'Out' gate quick.. I have something I've got to do.'
Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service

road. We beat her. She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.
'Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead.' I humped it across the drive to the other post.
When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice: 'TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!'
I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice.
I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.
Instead of 'The End,' just think of 'Taps.'
As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: 'Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.'
Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.

'In God We Trust.'

Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!


"The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution is worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks."

Samuel Adams



WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!

God Bless Our Military

First Construction Project

Hello everyone, for May!! I have been a little behind but it because I have been working so much.  I am one of 2 LEED AP on the entire island, when the other just returned from afganistan last week. SO i am teaching the Japanese to learn LEED and making sure we can get LEED silver for a project that is at 40% construction, it is always hard working backwards.  But I am making a name for myself so that is good.

I start my first 2 construction projects tomorrow with the hardest costomer we have, the schools, so I am a little nervous even though we have told them numerous times we start 13 May, I dont think they really know we are showing up tomorrow. I am going to talk to them in the morning to work out the last few kinks, but will everyone please pray that things go smoothly for me, at least for the first few days.  I am excited, all this time and I am now going to have my own projects in construction.  They are smaller projects but I would rather start small.

Speaking of Pray, Brad and I have found our way back to a very strong spiritual life.  We are so excited and so glad that God is know our number one role in life and that we are on the right path.  We have officially joined a Baptist church here, called Koza Baptist Church.  Our pastor is a retire Marine, and we fit in great.  We are really meeting a lot of wonderful people through it and have made some good friends in our community group.  Brad and I are going to be showing our faith, and we are going to get re-baptized in the East China Sea in the next few weeks.  It is just a sign of our faith.  We feel that Koza is a good place for us, and it has really helped with dealing with being overseas and other issues.  Once I got over here, God was really calling me to come back to church, I just didn't know where, and I prayed and prayed, and I am glad that i did.  Also with dealing with Montye and being away from my family I really needed him with me.  So that is some exciting news going on here.  I never lost faith, I am just strengthening my faith.

Boomer and Munson are doing very well, if I didn't have to cook dinner I would get some pictures up, but now that I have my first May post, i will be updating often, I want to beat my entries from April. They love each other and Munson is back to his old self!!! They are crazy but gotta love them.

Also Brad put in his Warrant Officer package as you know, he found out the other day that there are 8 applications and 6 spots so if you could add a little prayer for him to get one of those spots we would greatly appreciate it.  It also means if he does we will be in the states in Feb!!!!! Thanks everyone, we love you and miss you very much!!!!

I will post how the first day of construction goes, check back soon.

Bye bye....lizzard as some people call me...

Montye's Sun

So, Back in the States last year, before we left...Brad and I were working on raising money for sarcoma and my cousin who has a rare type of cancer that only affects 1% of cancer patients and those are usually chilren and young adults. It was our way of dealing with her cancer.  We felt like we were doing something, well we did a good job and got some donations and had a bake sale so we ended up raising about 900 dollars in 2 months, while we were trying to move.  We had big plans for Montye's Sun, but we have slowly put them on hold since Montye was doing well, and the moving thing, it was very overwelhming for just the 2 of us. 

But yesterday I got an email from my bestest buddy cousin!!! Johnny O, he wants to get it up and running again, so that really sparked me, because it is hard dealing with a family memebers struggle when you feel like you are literally in another world, and I guess you are.  So it was great to hear a positive voice and know that we are going to get everything back on track!!!

About feeling like I am in another world, I feel like I have glimpses of the old world when I talk to someone, but I feel that there are 2 worlds spining on an axel and I am on one, and everyone I have known before Jan 7th 2010, is on the other.  I thought I saw a person, I was not a huge fan of yesterday, and I was so excited that I almost ran up and gave this huge hug to a random person, it was a weird feeling because I would have not thought I would have been so excited to see them but since they were from the other world, I guess I wanted to see them more than I thought!!!

Back to Montye's Sun, it was a goal to start a non-profit to raise money for sarcoma research and a chosen family to help with their needs during this difficult time.  Well anyone that wants to help, bring it on, we need it again, back stronger and better, so check out the website, we will be updating it, and making it better,
http://premium.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?alias=premium.bluesombrero.com/montyesun

Talking to John was such a refreshment!!! He is such a fighter like everyone else in our family!!! So Let's go!!

Dogs and Love

Ok so Munson is in flight, well, maybe not literally at this moment but he has started his journey to Japan. He is probably freaking out a little but I think he will be fine! About this time the Doggie Hotel should be picking him up and taking him to his hotel for the night. They will then take him to his plane ride tomorrow at lunch time for his flight to Japan. Tomorrow night I will be picking him up from the airport!!! We are very excited. Tom sent me an interesting story about dogs and a kids perspective on dogs, so I thought it kind of fit everything that is going on in my family and life right now, and with Munson’s travel because dogs really do make things better, ask Kathy the anti-dog person…until Walter!! I feel that everyone should try and remember these things in their daily lives and do them!!! Like when I tell Barrett something exciting, she jumps up and down wiggles and screams and yells, it is always good to tell her something exciting, it always makes you feel even better. I will keep everyone updated on Munson’s big adventure, I will also try and get a short video of when we get him and him out of his kennel with us for the first time in 5 months.
A Dog's Purpose from a 6-year-old? Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa , and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.'' Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live. He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'' '


Lessens from God:

Be humble and be charitable to all.

Live simply and honestly.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.


What are the lessens from your dog?: If a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

I forgot the link, he it is check your sign....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac

Could not Sleep well the Past few days

So the past fews days have been a little heck tick...Munson's flight is offically booked so unless there is a volcano in California, tokyo, or Denver, Munson will be here next week yay!!! So that is wonderful news!!!

On the Ortstadt side of things, we got some bad news that we are not sure what to do with yet...it is unofficial and still on the down low, but last night after the lady called about Munson's flight, so I was awake at 1 am, and I could not sleep, so I was thinking Ok, what can I talk about on my blog, I need to keep updating it and get in a better habit.  So yesterday at work I was talking to Yumiko-san.  She said she liked my earrings.  I was like thanks!!! But they are really heavy.  I said it makes me ears feel saggy. She said "Oh that is good, larger earlopes mean good fortune, and luck in Okinawa."  SO everyone, wear your heavy earrings and you will have good luck and good fortune!!!  So  I am not done yet....you guys know how I talk and think....my thoughts are running wild and I started thinking about the Chinese Zodiac Signs.  I was wondering what year, I was and what animal and what it meant.  So today, I decided to look it up...

Now I am not a believer in Zodiac and other forces that do not support God, but it is interesting and fun, to look at and I found some interesting things in the Zodiac signs, this morning, so this will be something fun for everyone to look at and compare. Just fun information...
Well I would like to say that the year 1983 is the Pig or Boar.  Now most people would be like, yuck who wants to be a big fat pig!!! Well in the Japan and China the pig is one of the luckiest signs to be, for numerous reasons but the main one is, you will be lucky, because you will not have to work hard and you will prosper in money and life...they reasoning is look at a pig, they get to be fat and lazy, eat all the time and other take care of them!!! So yes!! I am a lucky pig that people will wait on me while I eat and make money... By the way this has not happened yet, but maybe I have time to see!!! i will say that I am very lucky for my friends and family and life soo...it might be more true!!!!

Well now I am going to talk about a few people that I know wont mind me talking about on my blog...
Well my Brother Chris is the Ox, they work hard and are humble people...this fits him perfect, Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.


Boar/ Pig is me, we are Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic. I try to embody most of these things, and think these  fit me pretty well.  I need to definately work on a few...
 
Brad is a Monkey, which kinda just fits just in the name...he he...Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.  Some of these are dead on but some are off, but it is interesting to look at how the describtions change and how they fit too....
 
Kathy is Tiger...Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.  Kathy is a very sprited person and always has been, Aunt Ann wanted to bottle up her energy and become a millionaire selling it, and she has such a passion for others, so Even though this describtion seems crazy, i think it fits her well!!!
 
Now, some interesting comparisions, My whole life I have been told I act a lot like my father, that I look like him, and I am definately his daughter (I almost wrote son... not sure brain fart...) but that I have good characteristics of my mom too, but My Dad was a Boar/Pig as well, so that was interesting, now it gets a little weirder because Besides Chris who looks extremely like my dad, we have another family memeber that looks scary close to her Great Uncle Blair.  Little Julia, came out and I said oh my gosh she looks like Daddy, and everyday she get older and older she looks more like him!!! But our Little Julia is a Boar as well.  Now Anna Grace is a monkey as well, and her and Brad are 2 peas in a pod. 
 
Also Kathy was told her whole life that she looks and act like our Mom Louie, well Louie is a Tiger too!! Tom you are a Dragon...haha not literally...hehe :) but in the chinese zodiac world!!!
 
OH and our newest addition to the family...Adelaide...she is a tiger too!!! Steve and Courtney get ready for passionate, and colorful, and unpredictable!!!!
 
So everyone check out you zodiac sign and see if you think you fit, it is interesting to read the stories of how all this came about too.
 
Well that is your thing to do today, read about the Chinese Zodiac....is just fun, nothing serious. Please comment if you think you fit the animal you are!!! I miss everyone...Pictures of the house coming soon!!! Love you!!!

Boomer and Munson and Great Family

Hey everyone, So I promised more blog posts, yet I have not followed through, which if you know me, that is not like me to promise something and then not get it together...So I need to be punished and get on the bandwagon!!! So we have moved, and that is no longer an excuse says my good friend Lahrissa!!! So I will stop using that excuse and keep you people informed of my wonderful, super interesting life, that you guys can't live without hearing what is going on...that should be a clue that I should keep you in the loop, because all of you have put your life on hold for me...he he I am SOOOOO kidding!! I will get better.

But first a Yay for my good friend from Savannah, My Running buddy and great friend Debbie, is now a grandmother.  Luke joined us at the beginning of Last week, so we are very happy.  Also while dealing with Montye and a few things Debbie gave great comfort while dealing with Montye's diagnosis, because her family has dealt with cancer and worried that having Luke might not be possible, so Yay for the Butler and Bragg Family!!!! We love little miracles and when we see God in our Life!!! We know he is there but it is an amazing thing when we get to see him in our lives!!!

Next, Brad's family is SOOO wonderful.  Nancy and Bill have been taking wonderful care of Munson and Rocky over the past few months, while I fought my dog war against the military!  Well after long discussions we have decided to have Munson come live with us and Rocky (my main hunting, and wondering man) will be holding down the fort in Oklahoma.  So since Munson is such a whinny Baby, Brad decided that he wanted to get a dog. We look all over the island at numerous types of dogs, and this little guy just called to Brad.  We then a vote on what we should name him, since he is Brad's dog, i had no say in the matter.  Sumo was a great name suggestion along with Chomper, i really liked both.  But Since I am from Geaorgia and Munson is named after Georgia, Brad decided that Boomer, should be Named after Oklahoma, since that is where Brad is from so we have Boomer Sooner and our Munson "voice of the Bulldogs".  The little girl downstairs says that she named Boomer because Brad asked if he should be Chomper or Boomer, so she claims the naming which is very cute.

Jana, a friend of ours, who is great!! Is a photographer, you should check her website out  http://janawhitephotography.com/, took a few random photos on the long day of finding Boomer.  Here are a few...

Boomer is very sweet but he does not like to get into trouble, well he does but he does not like to get caught!!! He is funny and keeps us on our toes, I think he will do the same for Munson , when munson gets here. Our Oklahoma and texas family are getting Munson ready for "Munson's Great Adventure" they are the Dream team!!! They are helping with all his paperwork and getting him on the plane.  Munson will be on his way here on 26 April. We will get him here 28 April (i think).  We cant wait to get our Hunk of love, and we will Miss Rocky but we think it will be best, also Nana and Bpa are doing such a good job as Granddog parents, we did not want to saden them too much by both boys leaving!! He he!!

I will post pictures of the apartment, the zipline, and a few resturantast that we have been to lately, but once again i do not want to run out of material, and I need to stick to my promise, and Brad needs to help me with the zip line photos and video...you too Robert!!!

Anyways, I love and miss you guys!!! until Later!!

Also Happy Birthday to Louie!!! aka Mom!!! It is her birthday in the states, not here anymore.  And a yay for Debbie and her new grandson, that was born on sat!!! April 3.  So we are excited to celebrate Louie's birthday and Luke's Born day.

My First Snail Encounter!!!

This morning I had my first Snail encounter. It was huge!!!!!! I should have taken a picture but I was so scared I couldn’t think, until later, which would have been a great time to take a picture so that everyone knew I made it by the snail. Well I was just walking into work like a normal day. We have a back door that leads right into our building. (We are on our own separate cantonment (sp…fenced in area like a mini base) area) so I had showed my ID, parked and was walking in when in the middle of the sidewalk there was a 6” long snail with a shell the size of my fist. I am not exaggerating. I promise( the picture would be good now). He was blocking the sidewalk to our building. He was right in the middle like he knew I was coming. So I freaked, went great what a morning and I jumped right over him!!!! I was then freaked out at my desk thinking he was going to be in my purse when I stuck my hand in it or that he would crawl on my desk. But at the same time I was proud I went by him!!!! So I made it but I did think oh man I hope I don’t see another one for at least a few days, I had the hee-bee-jee-bees for a few hours this morning!!!! But I made it. Next time I will be brave enough to take a pic and post on my blog so you can tell how big these suckers are…I told everyone at work….. they laughed at my fear and made it sound like that wasn’t even a big one!!!! Yikes!!!

Well sorry I was gone so long!!! We moved into pet friendly housing and only had 5 days to move from one house to the other on our own, and it come out of no where, so we have been moving trying to get dogs here before the heat gets too bad, but we are good now, and Munson should be here soon. Probably 2 weeks. We decided not to bring Rocky because he likes the farm too much, and to move him to an apratment would stink!!! But I will be back to posting more often and I will get the pictures/ videos from forrest adventure park up soon as we get our computer up and running at the apartment!!! Miss yall and love you!!

New Addition to the Family

Last week, my brother, Steve and his wife Courtney had a baby. Her name is Adelaide Rose, she is so cute. I wish I could meet her in person but I will have to wait until she is older.

So that is some big news.

This week has been super busy at work, I am starting to get the hang of things and a lot of people are on leave, so it is CRAZY. I have to fend for myself, which is a little scary but I am learning a lot!!!

No news on housing, or pets. I had a bad dream that Munson and Rocky were sad and sick, but then I woke up and realized it wasn’t true and they are happy on the farm!!!

Brad passed his big test with really awesome score 118, he needed a 110. So he will have everything to put in for a warrant officer so that is our next goal. Hopefully he will get this wonderful career promotion and then I will plan a family reunion in Washington DC for his promotion, and some tourist events!!! We will also get to see our favorite friends (Adam and Mary and big boy Logan). Who is also a cutie!!!

This weekend we have a big one planned, tomorrow we are going to a zip line course, Brad and Rob will be wearing head cams so we should have some interesting stuff for you. Also it will be our 1st anniversary and the greatest sister-in-laws birthday!!! On Sunday we will probably celebrate a little. We are going on the zip line for a celebration with our friends here and Jeremy’s Birthday. Also we have a triathlon scheduled for Sunday, I am not sure if I am ready to run one, but we will see. I also do not want to pass it up either. I will keep you all posted!!!

Also i had lunch at King Taco, GREAT PLACE!!! it is a taco rice and cheese place.  Someone a long time ago mixed mexican food with Japanese rice to make an Okinawan Orginal.  It is very good, rice, taco meat, and cheese.

 I went there for lunch and took a  30 min lunch. Well when I was on my way back which should be a simple drive home, I had to take a one way road.  Here in Okinawa you are never lost because it is a small island (BUT YOU CAN DEFINATELY BE SOMEWHERE YOU DO KNOW) so my lunch quickly became an hour lunch due to my lovely detour that brought me right back to where I started!!! ha ha gotta love driving on a no-name streets, with signs in a different language and on very skinny roads!!!! Yikes!!! I made it!!!

Thoughts and Updates

Hey Everyone,


So I am not good at the updates, but I will get the hang of it, I have three years to get it really good!!! Well I feel like I have to write something SUPER interesting every time I write, and I am realizing that is not the case. I also do not have to write pages and pages off information either, but I thought I did. Instead, I need to just write like journal for everyone to read even if my life is not super exciting!!!! So the last week, I worked a lot and I relaxed. I guess we are now officially settling down. We are getting ready for the long haul of living here. We are not feeling like we have to do something at every second of everyday, which is actually pretty nice. Well work is going well, I am just putting out fires as the come up. But it is going well, my boss only has 2 weeks less with us and I am very sad. He is a wonderful boss and definitely brightens your day.

We do not have any updates on dogs, we had another meeting last week with the Inspector General, he is the guy who wants to keep everyone behaving and happy, so that is a good step. Sgt Maj Rew, is great he was there and I got to meet him, and he really cares so that is nice to know there are people out there fighting to help us. Also one of my Col Buddies is helping to with converting our tower to an integrated pet tower, which means pets are allowed but everyone does not have to have one. We also got a call from housing about maybe moving. Brad does not want to move, he likes our friends and wants to stay near them and he does not want to give up the guest room, because Right now we have 3 bedrooms, our bedroom, the guest bedroom and the “man room” aka an office. It only has a desk in it, and a tv. I said if we move I will give up the guest room to keep his man room for the pets!!!! We will see what happens, I do not really want to move away from our friends but maybe we will get an offer closer or that Brad really likes, because it is for 3 years (unless Brad gets Warrant Officer…hopefully). So that is the status with that. Munson and rocky are doing very well at the farm. Rocky is B-Pa (Brads Dad)’s best friend and has attached to the farm very well, and loves living there. Munson loves it too but still has pouting fits. I do not know what I would do about moving them over here, because they seem so attached, but I am attached. Or maybe it will be better for them to stay and them get a new little brother. I have no idea, I guess I need to wait to worry.

We have started going to a new church. We really like it, we have been 2 times now, and went to Sunday school yesterday which was great as well. I think we have found a good fit and a good community.

Brad and I will be celebrating our 1st year anniversary this weekend. I think we are going to go to a zip line course with our group of friends. We will also be running a triathlon as well. So it should be an interesting weekend, Brad should have some good pics and videos for me to add. I cannot believe the first year flew by so fast. And I cannot believe that it is almost April.
I think I am going to wrap it up now, so that I can add my thoughts each day. Not something great and wonderful. I will get pictures of our house and cars up but I think deep down I am still thinking something will change so I have not updated pictures of the house, but we will see.

I miss everyone!!! Love you!!

Pet Status

Keep the prayers going, I have not changed the pet policy, but I think we are close!!! Thank you eveyone for the nice comments and prayers, it is lonely in another country!!!

My First Earthquake

My first earthquake....well it was a big one. Well you want to know how big...picture this, you are sleeping in your new wonderful bed that makes you feel like you are sleeping in heaven, when all of a sudden you feel like Brad has grabbed the end of your bed with both hands and starts to shake the bed. At first you think what the heck is he doing, why is brad shaking the bed (your eyes don’t open). Then he is shaking the bed with all his might and all his strength, which those of you who know Brad, this could be pretty crazy. By this point you are holding the edge of the bed eyes opened as wide as possible, thinking, "BRAD WHAT IN THE H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICK ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!?!" You then realize since your eyes are open now, that Brad is not the one shaking your bed. Well not being from a place that has ever had an earthquake, or even a possible one, you think....natural disaster...what do I do during this one...oh wait...we didn’t learn this one in school...OH SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!




By the way my husband is still sleeping during all this!!!



So at the point where I am shaking like crazy and it is not Brad pestering me I think, what could this be....Well some lady had talked about earthquakes the week we got here and that suddenly popped into my head. I then realized it was an earthquake, my first earthquake, with the pots and pans rattling, the pictures falling, and now my crazed husband running down the hall. Well after I realized it was an earthquake I thought of the Saved by the Bell episode where there was an earthquake....they tell you to get into the doorway, so I went to the doorway. While I am in the doorway, is when the crazed Husband comes down the hall, get in the doorway, get in the doorway. I said I am here. Brad then says not that it really matters if the building falls because we have 5 floors above us. That was a very happy thought. By this time, the building has stopped shaking.



So when in an earthquake, run out of the building, if you cannot make it out run to a doorway, if there is no doorway lay down beside a large object (bed, table, dresser...) this will hopefully provide protection if things fall, whatever you do, do NOT get under anything!!!! It could crush you!!! I have now learned all the safe things to do. But this was the largest earthquake here in 100 years. Lucky Me!!! I was very glad that the US Army Corps of Engineers built my building because we had no damage and were perfectly safe!!! WHOO-Hoo for engineers!!! So hopefully you learned something and found my natural disaster funny, especially now, since everything is fine.



Also after earthquakes you have to watch out for Tsunamis, the waves caused by earthquakes, so we had a warning and evacuation for those too!!! But everything is FINE!!!!

More Sappy Stuff and Some Fun Stuff

This is going to be a long one, so go ahead and plan on taking sometime.  First off, I would like to thank beautiful little Julia (3yr old neice) for loving my Zumba dancing and wanting to join a class on Aunt Ann's Lap today. Here is a pic of her and her older sister Anna Grace (5 yr old).  They are so cute, you guys will like the sides at the end of this one.

Also their Mom is the greatest. so check her blog out too http://www.allthisandmore.typepad.com/

Well My alignment is now in the center and I can't get it to go back, so we will deal with center alignment today!! Next I would like to give a hello and congrats to a best friend/friend of the family, Amanda Carvajal aka Cali.  She has been bouncing around in life and has been a little lost but she has pushed through, and kept fighting and she has found her way home, literally, Merced California.  She landed her dream job, so it pays off Cali, "Way to GO!!!!!!!!"

SO here is a link to what she is doing. I am very proud!!!

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/1314972.html

Next I have a story, this is from my happy cheerful friend in Savannah but it is very true to life, and I try to live by it daily. I feel that my family does too so that is good we talked about a few of them because I have a wonderful family (even the ones that dont call me back or answer their phone....Chris O!!!) not to say any names. Try to remember that everyone wont be in your life forever so make sure you make the most of your time!!!

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

       When someone is in your life for a REASON...It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be.
       The, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. Sometimes they die. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. Your need has been answered, and now it is time to move on.
       When people come into your life for a SEASON...It is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
       LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Now this past weekend, the one before the beach we went to a slide park.  The park has slides all around the park that are free. Brad, Marilyn, and I went to one of these parks in the rain, so we did not travel as fast and it doesn't look to fast but it is!!! It was really fun, so kids, if your parents let you come visit, that is another thing to add to the list of things to do,when coming to visit Brad and Liz!!! 1. Festival 2. Life size cotton candy 3. pirate ship park 4. slide park ...remember these things!!!
Ok so no video of slide I will add later I promise. But #5. Dolphin show, man I will add a video of that too these dolpins are crazy!!!

#6 Trampoline Land, this place is covered in tons of trampolines, it is crazy but it is only for kids so we could not enjoy it.

Brad doing one jump onto it!!!

He is 2 pics for everyone, me and Lahrissa and me and Bradley J.

Bye bye now, I will have more later!!! Miss everyone.

Updates in Life

Ok, first off I am not good at the blogging everyday thing, if you can't tell.  I get busy or do not want to get on the computer after work so I skip a day, so new plan, give you an update on everything going on, you read at your own pace (a little everyday) and I will post brain dumps of information!!! So anyways now that we have that out of the way. 

Updates on What is going on!
So we are pretty settled, we felt that hanging out at our house was a decent past time.  This is a good sign because before we felt we needed to do something at all times because we are in another country!!! NOT the case we have 3 years. I got food poision last week from eating at the Tree House resturant (Which Kathy really wanted me to eat there).  It is called Naha Harbor Diner.   It is very cool looking, but the food was very expense did not come with sides, and was nothing special for paying 2000 yen (23 dollars) for duck that gives you vomit and other wonderful things!! Kathy I tested it out for you, but next time we will drive by to show you and then eat somewhere that is better food, and less money.   But the reason the resturant is so cool is it is in a tree, now dont get your hopes up, it is not a real tree. It is a fake tree, but it is still pretty cool to look at. 

The resturant is down by the Naha Port which is about 10 miles from where we live.  Now remember Okinawa does not use mileage for directions they use time so in this case the restruant is 1 hr and 15 mins away from us!!! He he the traffic is crazy here!! yes this picture does look a little airbrushed but that is exactly what it loks like! but the buildings around it are closer and more crowded, but this picture gives you a good view of what it does look like.

Next, I have been hangin out with my friends more often and making more friends.  Lahrissa is definately still my fav!!!! But we are slowly adding more, and we have been going to work outs classes together. They are awesome here!!! This is something I did not get to do in the states because I was driving my life away but We go to yoga (super hard wow these people are crazy, I am so bad, but I do feel quite wonderful when I leave), Zumba (the greatest workout ever), and water fitness.  All of them are great. So water fitness is in an outdoor pool, I got sunburn this weekend!!! yay!! Work outs in the pool in Feb!! I love it! Zumba is a dance cardio thing, Our teacher is so awesome, her name is Erna, she really makes burning 800 calories fun!! Watch the youtube video to see what it is like...I am terrible at this too but it just makes you smile!
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/zumba-dance-dance-dance/8f245ef76e327906e39a8f245ef76e327906e39a-1585219371517 
This does not do justice to Erna's Classes but you get the idea.  You should definately find a class near you and join because it is great.  I think it will help with dance skills too!
Also I went out for a girls night this past weekend which was fun and I got to meet more people here. 

So this past weekend we actually had typical Okinawan weather and it was 70 and sunny. We went to the beach which is so pretty you cant even imagine.  We also loved at dive stuff, because Brad cannot wait to go diving, we will see!!! Next weekend it is supposed to rain but if not, I will be at the beach all day, with a cooler and sandwiches and cards for you Aunt Ann!!

I will get some pics of the house and van on here, this week I will promise you guys that!!!

I took my pet policy package to the Camp Commander. He is against pet towers and pets in housing, but his dupty said that we raised some very good points, and that there should be a pet policy on base.  I presented a pet policy that I think all military bases should enforce because people not being able to have pets should be a privelegde lost not just enforced.  I am hoping he reads over everything that I have put together and he will at least call me in for a meeing.  So I know you guys are sick of me saying this but my house is lonely without Brad, but pray that I get to talk to the Camp commander about my pet policy, I really think it can make a difference.  Brad is going to be deployed 2 times this year for 2-3 months each time, so it would be nice to have my wigglely family memebers here while he is gone, and Brad I promise I will make sure they do not get pet hair everywhere.

I have not been to a sushi place yet, but I am going to try and make everyone go this weekend.  I am having a really fun time, it is just weird being so far away.  We now have a phone so you can call us anytime, preferable not on your lunch hour because that means it is 2 am here!!! We miss everyone!! I will not post everyday probably but it will be more often.  Oh I can count to 1000 in Japanese now. I am getting decent!

Unexpected Friends-Remembering to tell them Thank you

This morning I had a wonderful surprise when I got to work.  I had 4 emails from good friends of mine from Savannah GA.  First off finding a job in Savannah, GA was an answer to my prayers, however I never would have had any idea what God had in store when I went to work there.  Besides my family and a few friends I have kept over the years, some of the greatest friends/adopted family members came into my life in Savannah.  Savannah is also a place where I started my career, learned a lot from very talented engineers, (and other professionals (Sometimes in the Architecture section this word is used loosely, haha)), and trained/ran for my first marathon!!! I don't think that I would have done any of these things without going to work in savannah, let alone it got me a job here.

But I wanted to remind everyone in Savannah that I left, but not forever, that they are so much more than I ever could have dreamed for.  I am so lucky to have met these people, and I am so glad I have them in my life.  I would like to make a special thanks to Terry P., he will probably be embarrassed that I added his name but he deserves a good thank you.  He is such a caring, wonderful, funny person.  I am glad he is my friend.  He looks out for my best interest, you cant ask for more in a friend. I will leave it at that. So thank you, Terry.

I also got a story from a wise man I used to work with, He is someone who will always brighten your day and is always full of good stories and ways to live your life, so today I am leaving this story for you guys to read and try and implement in your life (I do).  It came to me in an email this morning when this week has had some ups and downs. It was one of those weeks where the greatness of moving here was not as good as some days.  I do not like to write on the blog on the days that are not as happy and full of experiences, but this week I have had so many great emails, letters, and packages of people reaching out to me (Yes you know who you are thank you!!), that I thought I needed to say thank you and keep them coming. The email from "the guy that is always smiling and saying hi"was a great way to end a week. A week, that was not as easy to love being here, but got some really great emails, and mail. SO here is my story and thank you guys  for reading, writing, and sending stuff.  The emails, letters, and funny picture packages were the wonderful experiences this week.

"Chocolate Sings"

One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old "blue hair" about 90 years old, came along with them---all in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, "Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate."

I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast.

"Along with heated apple pie," Mae added, completely unabashed.

We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time.

But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.

I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down.

The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned.

The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae.

I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait.

I smiled. She asked if she amused me.

I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me.

How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible?
She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, "I'm tasting all that is Possible.

I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should.

But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good.

This year I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't been this old before."
"So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored.

I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.

There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes.

I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes.  
I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face.

I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.

I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast.

I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most.

I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain.

I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again.

So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner,

Then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner,

Because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire.

I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired."

With that, I called the waitress over. "I've changed my mind,” I said. "I want what she is having; only add some more whipped cream!"  
This is my gift to you - We need an annual Friends Day! Live well, love much & laugh often - Be happy.  
Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we love and respect. Remember that while money talks, Chocolate Sings! 

ALways remember to smile, I wanted a pic for this one and I have a lot of the wonderful savannah folks but i did not want anyone to feel left out so this is me smiling to you crazies back in the states...Miss you..with me, and Munson driving the tracker, i just learned!!!

Oki-Mobile

So I have been talking about how it is weird to drive a mini-van, and that they are really cool here.

Well Mini-vans are cool!!! Since vehicles are so small here, having a mini-van like this is gigantic. You might as well drive an 18-wheeler!!! Those are funny looking as well.  It is weird to learn how to drive on the other-side of the road. You will be driving in the car and think, "oh no that person is reading while in the car, or oh my gosh where is the driver!!!!!" Then you will remember the driver is on the other-side of the car! I still think that every once and awhile!!

Also the windshield wipers are on the left and the blinker is on the right,  so when you are freaking out cause you are turning the wrong way on the wrong side of the road and are trying to get your blinker to help you...you will turn your windshield wipers on full blast!!!! It will then scare you and the only thing you can think is ...shit, I have my windshield wipers on full blast, where is the blinker, hopefully these people will laugh when I finally get figured out which side of the road I am supposed to be driving on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  While I am thinking all this I also have someone yelling wrong way and dying laughing as I drive like crazy person on the wrong side of the road!!  It is then funny once you have not hurt anyone.  Then you go yes, I made it through that and you turn you windshield wipers off!
Ha ha I have done this a few times! Also I still walk to the wrong side of the car when Brad is driving.

License Plates are different here.  They are classified by engine size and weight. So you can tell when a person has a tiny vehicle and should be slow. So you are to be nicer when they don't accelerate fast.!!! SO this plate is smaller engines and light weight, (a mini vehicle-below and smaller).

This is a large vehicle here, like a  Ford Explorer it is no where near the size of a Ford Explorer

Also the Kanji letter (Japanese Character) on the left says the person is native, if there is a Y there, you know there are American!!! This helps when you get mad at a driver and want to yell, you can tell if they should know better!!!! And always remember no honking in Japan!!! It is not nice, so you city folks that honk at everyone and drive like crazy people you will have to contain yourself here, because that is not allowed and the max speed here is usually around 40 mph.  The traffic is usually so bad that you won't reach that fast anyways!!!! He he so be safe and no honking!!

Also always avoid drivers with these symbols in the window!!! You will get in big trouble if you hit them.  They are like exempt from all driving rules!!!!!!! The one on the right is an Old Person Driver, and the one on the left is a New Driver!!!!

Instead of punishing these types of drivers, we excuse them from driving laws and blame everything on the person that got in the wreck with them.  SO at least you know when and where they are unlike the states where you assume all Florida people are old!!! Ha ha just kidding Florida Family!!!   Now you guys are ready for driving in Okinawa, besides the fact that a stop sign looks like a yield sign, a yield sign looks like a stop sign, a no parking sign looks like a no smoking sign, and everything is written in Kanji (Japanese Letters)!!! Ha ha!! You are ready!!!
  

Hello Everyone, I am sorry I have not posted in a few days. I figured you could catch up with the loads of stories I wrote last week. This week I will work on Moderation. A little each day, so that I don’t run out of material by the end of the week, because work is not always super exciting! But today was quite a new experience because we do not have Super Bowl Sunday here, since we are 14 hours ahead of Eastern Time, we have Super Bowl Monday. Now, this is interesting because instead of pizza, beer, and chips, I had Waffles, coffee cake, fruit, salmon rolls, and gyoza. So having the Super Bowl game in the morning changes the Super Bowl Food and with a different culture we also have different food! It was a good time and I was very excited the Saints WON!!! Whoo hoo Chris O!! Yay for the Saints.

Also I want to Thank all moms. I talked to My mom yesterday and it was great. Moms always make you feel better so make sure you thank you mom today and tell her you love her. Also tell those Adopted Moms(the ones you add because they are always there for you too) that they are special and loved as well. You know who you are.

Well now for the funny part! Japanese Bathrooms!

Does anyone know why Japanese people don't wear their shoes in the house, well I have a philosophy about 1 reason why. The Japanese Bathroom! It is not so bad for the boys, as usual, they always have it easier. The urinals and toilets are on the floor. Well why am I talking about this, Yumiko-san taught me how to ask where is the bathroom last week, today I was telling her that I used that phrase this past weekend. Well I told her that it was funny seeing/using a toilet on the floor. She asked, "do you know how to use the toilet?" I said " I think so". I was thinking ah I hope so and I didn’t know you could mess this up, and man there are some interesting/useful things I NEED to learn!! Haha.

She then said that when you use Japanese toilets you do not face the stall door like we do in the United States. Whoops! First thing I did wrong! Then she said always flush using your shoe. Whoops! Glad I washed my hands. So when you females use a Japanese toilet you need to 1. Squat (I guess that is why they teach you when you are a kid), 2. Face the wall not the door, 3. Aim. The aiming part is why I have decided that their shoes are a little dirtier and why you don’t really want to wear your shoes in the house. 4. Flush with your foot and shoe (another reason to not wear you shoes in the house). Don’t worry females when you visit, most toilets are regular but some out in town will be a NEW experience for you, but it is a good thing I have taught you the way to use a Japanese toilet!! ha ha I hope you guys got a good laugh from this one!

So here you would want to face the flush handle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaeGL3SvvyA   Here is the link of the little kids dancing from the festival. I wish I had recorded longer, but you will get the idea!

Family Dinners and Festival!!

Everyone don't forget about how important the little things are. Brad and I have been cooking almost every night. I think we have not cooked 2 nights the entire time we have lived in our apartment. Also we have had Jon and Lahrissa over for dinner most of those nights. Brad and I cook together which is fun bonding time, that we really appreciate since we did not have that time before living in the states, due to our jobs. Also we have bought a new cookbook which is wonderful and everything has been delicious. But that time around the table, goofing off, Lahrissa giving Brad a hard time, really is enjoyable. Remember to do the little things with your loved ones and friends because those memories mean more than whatever TV show is on tonight, you can watch those after dinner. Ha ha watching HOUSE. We are trying to get Brad to like it better. It is one of few prime time TV shows we get here since there is a monopoly on the TV by the Air Force. The Air Force runs everything here so remember, when you enlist or join the military the Air Force might be the easy one, but take it!! They get all the good stuff, it is a breeze to be in the Air Force. Even though you think "Oh I want to be a Marine they are the coolest!" go Air Force Life will be better...ha ha Tom!! I am just kidding!

Other information here, Brad might be going to some northern island for 2 months in April. I will be in our lonely apartment harassing Jon and Lahrissa with no one to talk to. I am writing my letter to the commander this week, so hopefully I will have that package turned in next week for him to look at for turning my tower into a pet tower.

And the good stuff: THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL!!!

This is a picture of Me, Brad, Jon and Lahrissa at the Cherry Blossom festival. There where cherry trees everywhere like the one in this picture. The story behind the cherry trees is this: Back during WW2, there was a comm/data center on this hill, well after the war the soldier that worked there would get bored, so he decided to plant all these cherry trees, now one side of an entire mountain is covered in these cherry trees, so every spring the Japanese celebrate the coming of the cherry trees. I thought it was interesting that an American had planted all these trees.

So at the festival you can explore all through the trails, the trees, and 450+ stairs. Picture of the bottom of the stairs.

the bell at the top of the stairs

We did the touring around the trees and park, and then went to all the festival carts that were set up at the bottom of the hill. There was wonderful food that I have never seen before, we all picked one thing and then shared the food, to try lots of different things. The chicken tepenyaki (sp) was the best, Brad picked it (I think he knew what it was). Here is a picture of the food that Jon and Lahrissa Picked and what i picked.

Whatever you think any of this might taste like, it doesn't. It is really good, but nothing you have ever tasted and that sauce was GOOD!!!!!! I can't even explain what they were. Kathy you might want to work on the don't ask don't tell policy for food, over here, with the no meat!!! Ha ha!

Next I had to have some cotton candy!!!! Man you guys know how I love cotton candy, well, they have bags here as big as a king size pillow case so I was in Little kid heaven!!!!

Anna Grace, Julia, and other little nieces and nephews, we will definitely have to plan some cotton candy action, when you come to visit!!!! Julia the bags were as big as you, and I thought that when I bought it. Because think how cool a cotton candy bag that is actually bigger than you are!!! TALK about AWESOME!!!!

Then the best part came!! The entertainment!!! there were Little 5 year olds dancing!!! it was so neat, please check out my video and the pictures!!

These kids were awesome! They were stomping and yelling and dancing!!! Check out my not so good video!! I will post the link later it is publishing to Youtube.com but it should be under dancing Okinawa festival- kids dancing posted by eaosmith44. Well here are a few more pics

Right: on the path at top of Mountain

Left: one of the views from the top of the mountain.

Oh my do outs: Do the little stuff, turn the TV off and have dinner together, play a boardgame, just enjoy the little things in life, and as always a random act of kindness (shout out to you Veijo and Heloise) this can be anything, a quarter in a meter, a random piece of candy for someone, or a note that says I love you on the bathroom wall...be creative and post your random act of kindness!!