Sunday, December 5, 2010

new neighbors, guilty pleasures, and my sexy sailor

Happy Sunday!  Nothing too exciting to report today.  I took the opportunity to sleep in this morning, which was delightful.

Today I made cookies for the new neighbors (the Chocolate heath cookies I  posted the recipe for previously.)  The townhouse next door has been empty since last July after my chemically imbalanced neighbor moved to a new unit.  I feel bad for her, I truly do.  I also feel really bad about being insensitive to her problems. Unfortunately, the issues I had with her were not an isolated event- her new neighbors are having the same issues.  It is truly sad.

So, as you can guess, I am crossing my fingers these neighbors are nice and normal!  So far so good.  They were very friendly and delighted that I brought them cookies.  I will be so very happy if they DO turn out to be good neighbors!

My new guilty pleasure- The Vampire Diaries.  I rented the first disc out of total boredom with AFN.  I just watched the last disc of Season 1 today.  I checked out CW online to see if I could catch the new episodes.  This is what I got:
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Boo-hoo!!  I wish we had someway to get past all of that being that we are on a military base.  *sigh* Anyway, I am totally in love with Damon on the show.  Normally I find his type to be creepy, but I just love the thing he does with his eyes. *swoon*

I totally judge myself because I am too old to watch this show for liking this high school show, but I just enjoy it.  So who cares?  
Speaking of vampires, I watched Eclipse today (I went out and bought my copy last night.)  I know how it ends, but I still keep hoping that Bella will choose Jacob.  Now if they had Zac Efron playing Edward, I wouldn't be saying that! hee hee

The highlight of my day was receiving this picture from the very talented photographer who took our picture at the Khaki Ball.  Doesn't my sailor look handsome?  I heart this picture!!

I am wearing my new favorite shoes here.  This is the only good picture of me from that night.  I was in a total bad mood and stayed clear of any pictures.  The only other picture I got caught in and was unaware of, I look like someone had told me my dog had just died.  I was so embarrassed!  I also felt uncomfortable in the dress, it was too big in the top and I was afraid of giving everyone a 'show'.  My two other dresses were ruined by the dry cleaner (story for another day.)  
But at least my honey looks good.  The photographer had him take off his glasses, I think that is what did it. 
Have a great Sunday (and good night for my fellow Japanese residents.)

~Nancy

Friday, December 3, 2010

Food Fun Friday- Gyoza

Know what the number one thing (besides sushi), that we looked forward to eating when we arrived in Japan?  Gyoza!!  What is gyoza, you ask?  Basically they are little pot stickers filled with meat and veggies.  They can be steamed or fried.  They are to be eaten while still hot, and dipped in a combination of soy sauce, garlic, oil and red pepper (or any combination thereof.)  


The reason we looked forward to gyoza was because Hubby had made several trips to Japan before we moved here, and each time he brought home packages of frozen gyoza.  It was simply delicious, and we knew it would be even more delicious when eaten fresh.  We were right!  The favorite go to place around here for gyoza is the Gyoza House (also called Mankin) in Sagamihara.  There we order gyoza by the dozen and they bring it out scalding hot and mouth watering.  The gyoza here is a little different here than the typical gyoza sold in other restaurants.  Instead of being pinched into a crescent shape, these are folded into little bundle-like balls.  They cook them in a frying pan and come to our table all stuck together and cozy like they were cooked.  Usually we commence to poking holes to let out the steam so they can cool enough for us to eat.  The first couple are eaten with open mouths as we are trying not to burn our tongues, it is too hard to wait!!  If I could take back three food items with me to the States, it would be gyoza (from Gyoza House), curry rice, and sushi (like they make it here.)


There are several different options for dining, and three floors I believe.  Downstairs they have tables and a long counter.  Before heading upstairs one must remove one's shoes.  Upstairs- they have the low tables where you sit on the floor.  I think the kids enjoy it more.  I still can't get my legs to appreciate sitting on the floor.  Women don't sit cross-legged in Japan.  They demurely sit on folded legs or delicately folded to the side.  It hurts my American legs!!  


We sat at the counter for the first time at our most recent visit.  We were too hungry to wait for a table!


It's 8AM and I am already thinking of lunch!!

we had to wait outside, it was Sunday night, a very busy night for going out to dinner!
someone was grumpy- he needed FOOD!
little balls of goodness!  See the cokes?  I normally don't like regular coke (I am a diet coke kind of gal)- but the cokes here are delish.  I think it is because they don't use high fructose corn syrup in Japan- sugar tastes so much better!
I wish I could get a better picture than this.  Did I mention I am hungry?
where the magic happens.  The guy in the back in steaming the gyoza in a pan.  The red and white stripped package in the forefront is how they wrap the frozen gyoza to take home.  They even give you little miniature bottles of dipping sauce with it.
One thing is for sure, I always end up with garlic breath after eating here!  But it is SO worth it!!!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Crystal Anniversary

Can you believe I am old enough to have been married for 15 years?
 Me neither! *wink* 


Fifteen years ago I married my Sailor and became a Navy Wife.  Did I think for a second we would be in Japan 15 years later?  No chance!  I had no idea what life would bring, I just knew who I wanted to spend my eternity with. 


 It hasn't been easy.  The Navy makes it hard (like not being together on our 15th anniversary), but I also think it has all made us stronger and more dedicated to each other.  It's true what they say, absence DOES make the heart grow fonder.  I think out of our 15 anniversaries, we have spent 10 together.  It's funny, because last year we didn't really make plans for our anniversary and Hubby apologized.  I told him- that's ok, we will do something big NEXT year.  Here we are, and he is on a big steel box out in the big blue ocean somewhere.  Maybe that was a lesson to us to grab the moments while we can.


I woke up to a really sweet email from him, wishing me happy anniversary.  Sometimes when I think he doesn't have a romantic bone in his body, he surprises me.  As for next year, who knows if he will be home?  But you know what?  That is ok, I still feel loved, and he knows I love him.  That is what counts.


I had to look this up on YouTube, it has been in my head all day.  It totally shows my age, but I don't care, I love this song!




Enjoy!!