nothing like sleeping in one's own bed...

I am back home, and I am extremely happy to be here!  The trip back wasn't as long as the trip out, thank goodness.  The only snag I hit was when the airlines didn't want to let Brownie on the plane because her kennel was too big for their little puddle jumper we were about to board.  I argued that we flew in on a similar sized airplane (albeit a different airline).  They conceded and made an exception.  The night before i was panicked because it was supposed to be 24 degrees that morning- too cold for Brownie to fly.  So I was surprised about the size restriction.  If they hadn't let her board- I WOULD HAVE DIED.  Not to sound dramatic, but I really would have passed out on the floor right there.  It was so much work just to get her "safe for flight" so we could get her back into the country of Japan.


The first flight we flew to Denver- an hour long flight.  It was not so bad.  Luckily, we had an hour to find our next gate- because Denver is HUGE.  Our next gate felt like it was a mile away (which would fit the whole "mile high city" theme.  I think we got on at least 5 walking sidewalks.  The flight to Seattle was MISERABLE.  Brother sat in the middle and he proceeded to elbow me the entire flight.  It didn't help that we were in the back and everyone was lined up to use the bathroom.  The flight attendant kept squeezing by, which meant his butt swept my beverage tray each time.  Brother was getting irritated with Sister, and I was irritated with him.


In Seattle we had 3 hours to hang out before our flight to Tokyo.  By that time I literally wanted to  punch my son.  I know.  That sounds AWFUL.  But you have to understand we were all sleep deprived and Brother is not very fun when he has no sleep.  In fact, he usually does his best to make sure everyone else is as miserable as he.  He is pretty skillful at that unfortunately.  So he antagonized his sister every time he thought I wasn't looking.  Good thing we were in public.  I am just saying.


Being in SeaTac International Airport was bittersweet for us.  We have so many friends in the PNW (Pacific Northwest).  I wish we could have been able to see stay a day or two and see everyone.  So I just posted to Facebook that I was waving at everyone.


Changing planes when your dog is flying in the cargo hold is a bit on the terrifying side.  There are so many things that could go wrong- namely your dog could be put on the wrong plane and sent to Timbuktu.  And since we were flying a million miles to Japan, that makes it all the more complicated.  I mean, they lose luggage all of the time, right?  Before the plane takes off, an airline attendant is supposed to bring you a little slip of paper the baggage handlers filled out to let you know your dog is on board.  We watched her being loaded onto the first two flights, but forgot to look for her on the last.  I did verify that she was waiting to be loaded, but that was one hour before our boarding time.  Usually I will ask the attendants once I get on the plane to let me know if our dog was on board- if I didn't hear from them first.  On our last flight that day, I totally forgot.  That is, until the plane was taking off- and the attendants were all buckled down in their seats.  Talk about a moment of sheer panic.  And of course it was the LONGEST take off EVER.  Ever.


There is a happy ending of course- she was on board.  *big giant sigh of relief*


Brother fell asleep right away (he had an empty seat next to him), I enjoyed two small bottles of red wine, and  watched Gullivers Travels with Sissy.  It was an extremely long flight- but it was 100% better flying commercial than on the Patriot Express (military "airliner" we flew to Japan on when we first got here in 2009.)


The best part?- besides seeing my honey once again?  We didn't have to ride the "prison bus" home!  The base has a lovely tour bus they use to shuttle us back and forth to Narita airport.  They normally do not allow animals.  But with the evacuation- they decided to bend the rules (God Bless them for that.)  That meant they brought out the white "prison bus" to put our big dog kennel on.  They can't go underneath the bus, and they cannot be let loose on the bus.  So we had to set our kennel on the back seat.  The normal tour bus they use doesn't accomadate the big kennels, so they brought out the white buses that are used for shorter trips.  I was very appreciative of them for this, I really was.  But it was a cold and uncomfortable ride to the airport.  I was not looking forward to riding on it again (that and waiting an hour or so to even leave.)


My honey rented a van and picked us up.  That was the best present I have had all year.  And now we are all home again.  I didn't realize how MUCH I missed my home and missed Japan.  It is like being given a second chance, there is so much I want to do and see.  Now if I could just kick this jet lag in the butt, I can get started on that!


Lastly- here are a few random pictures I took on my iPhone of our trip there and back.  Mostly it is our trip TO the States.  They are totally out of order too, sorry...

"airplane food"- Sissy's lunch at one of the restaurants in Narita

Poor Brownie still locked up in her kennel at LAX- we were trying to find the dog park so we could let her out.

"Dog Park" at LAX- just what we needed!  Poor Brownie was so thirsty- she drank for days.  (She did have water in her kennel, in case you are wondering.)

"non-working" fire hydrant

They even provided poop bags.

riding to Narita on the "prison bus"

our good little traveler- just the beginning of our journey

inside view of bus

I was so happy to have one last Cherry Blossom Frappucino at Narita before we left!

Brother's hamburg lunch

Last one- a very tired and delirious little girl on the last plane to Narita.  Almost home!

Now I will get back to my spring cleaning- so good to be home!!

Going home

I am going back to Japan!  I am very excited, but I still don't have tickets in my hot little hands.  Until I get those tickets I will be anxious.  Shoot!  I will still be anxious because I have to get Brownie's health certificate so the nation of Japan will let me doggie in!  And let me tell, when there is no military vet nearby, it is a PAIN IN THE BUTT!  


Basically I will be relying on a couple of overnight packages and paying lots of money out the nose.  I really was hoping to leave Brownie here with the in-laws, but they don't have dogs anymore and I think Brownie would be lonely without us. *sad face* 


 Taking a pet to Japan is no easy task!  Even though we have only been gone one month- we have to jump through all of these hoops.  Luckily, she already had her FAVN test (test for Rabies antibodies), and it is still valid (they expire after 2 years).  She has all of her shots, microchip, and FAVN test.  Now the vet must examine her, fill out the paperwork to be faxed to the USDA office for pre-approval.  Once they get that, we have to overnight the paperwork to USDA, and include a pre-paid overnight envelope to send the certificate back.  I just hope USDA works quickly.  I would have done all of this already- but.  But the certificate is good for 10 days.  Make that 9 days seeing that we will lose a day traveling to Japanland. Oh- I have to let Japan know I am bringing a dog to the country.  It is supposed to 40 days notice, but we are exempted this time around. :)


 I am not looking forward to the actual flight.  But I AM looking forward to seeing my honey again!!  It will all be worth it when I am in his arms again...


Cross your fingers I receive my itinerary tonight (morning for Japan)!!

Cults, Cameras, Cantankerous Posts, and InCarceration

Hello!  As you can see, I love me some alliteration.  Life seems to be going in all sorts of directions, luckily it has mostly been good!  I am a wee bit superstitious so I won't make predictions and say if this is going to be a good year- because that had bombed on me the last two years.  I just plan on taking it day by day.  You know- "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

I have had some luck this year, which has surprised the heck out of me.  I won a $200 gift certificate to New Sanno, I won a Coach wristlet bag, I won a lamp, and I have won a brand new PS3.  We used the gift certificate the weekend before last and had a great time, I'll try to post some pictures soon.  Because of the PS3, Hubby and I have a new TV in our bedroom.  You see, we ALREADY owned a PS3, so we needed a TV for the bedroom.  But it's ok, I can now watch movies in my room, that makes me a little happy.  Anyhoo- I have tried that luck out at Bingo, so far nothing- but I haven't given up yet.

What does that have to do with my blog title?  Well- nothing, sorry.  I know you are curious as to what I means by cults?  Well, I decided to drink the "Kool-aid".  Next week I start CrossFit.  And I have to say I am terrified!  I just know I am going to look like the biggest wimp and be the most out of shape person to ever grace their presence!  Several of my friends have been on me since last summer to join.  Out of one side of their mouth they would say how wonderful it is, and out of the other side, they would talk about how they were dry-heaving during a work-out, or how they were falling down stairs because they were so sore. I kept meeting more and more people that were on the CrossFit wagon and I was convinced they were in a cult and refused over and over to join (even though a part of me was saying "do it do it!") Another friend of mine joined in January, and she already looks fantastic!  That had me sold, so I set the date for March.  Wish me luck.  If I don't ever post again, it will be because I died.

Cameras!  or I should say camera.  If you have been an avid reader of my blog (isn't everyone one? *giggle*)  , you will know I have been dreaming and dreaming of a DSLR.  Last weekend I finally got one!!  I felt really guilty asking Hubby if he would mind buying one with our tax return funds, but he was all for it.  I even ended up buying the pricier model.  I LOVE IT!!  Now I just need to learn how to use it.  Obviously I can "use" it, since it has the wonderful automatic mode for non-knowers like me- but I have been reading about apertures and shutter speeds and want it all to make sense!  I ordered what I think will be the most beautiful camera bag from Epiphanie.  It was pricey, but seeing how I have NO camera bag, I went for it.  I ordered the grey, since I can't afford to buy another one should I get tired of pink or turquoise.

Isn't it beautiful?  It even will fit a MacBook in it.  I don't have one, but it's good to know...

Cantankerous posts...  I am referring to Facebook.  I know, one year ago I gave up Facebook (but that mostly because I was hooked on Farmville).  But it seems that Facebook is the way we all communicate these days and how I keep in touch with my friends.  It gives me a certain amount of pleasure to laugh at funny posts or pictures, and to hear good news.  There is also sad news from time to time- I found out a guy I went to high school with had passed away just before his 39th birthday.  Seeing how we are military- Facebook has improved my life in that I am able to reconnect with long lost friends- that is a good thing in  my book.  But there is also a down side, and I need to just learn to move on.  Some people insist on posting every single aggravation in their life!  Every. one.  I feel like screaming at all the "FML" posts.  I am not going to say that what the person in question is experiencing is "not that bad" (although I do feel that way at times)- but is it really necessary to post it ALL?  I have been guilty of the bitching and whining on FB, I do admit that (and now I reserve that for my blog post- ha!)  But I came to the realization that it serves little purpose- unless it is something friends can help with- thereby making it a "productive" rant.  Now- some people are just funny when they rant- that doesn't bother me.  A little snarkiness and sarcasm go a long way, I always say.  (No, I really don't say that- but it works for some people.)  Have you read Snarky in the Suburbs http://snarkyinthesuburbs.com/?   She has a Facebook page as well- I double heart love her!  She IS snarky, but it works for her.  My complaint is about the ones that get all worked up the minute life doesn't work the way they want it to.  Ok- I digress....

InCarceration - no I am not going to jail.  But a guy I went to elementary school with IS in jail.  He was a very  very popular guy on campus and quite the ladies man, back in the say.  We "went out" for maybe two weeks in the 6th grade, before he dumped me for someone else.  I was devastated, but I got over it.  I think he went to my junior high as well, but fell into a bad crowd and I didn't see much of him after 7th grade.  In high school I found out he had been sent to jail for manslaughter.  He shot at someone's feet with a gun and the bullet ricocheted off the ground and ended up killing that person.  At least that is what I heard.  Anyway- one of the girls that went to same school "found" him.  She had thought he was dead (I was pretty sure he was in jail.)  Come to find out, prisoners can get onto Facebook!  He is serving a life sentence for manslaughter, but can still get on the internet.  I mentioned that fact to a fellow Navy-wife friend and her reply was "Oh- that's nice. Our husbands can't get on Facebook on the ship- but prisoners can!"  She has a point, ladies and gentlemen.  Not only did my fellow classmate "find" this guy- but she even suggested through Facebook that I be "friends" with him.  She must have sent the same suggestion to him, because he sent me a friend request.  I doubt he even remembers me, I really do.  Morbid curiosity took control and I did peek at his page (it is not private).  I even considered "friending" him.  Some of my old classmates did, but not a lot.  I don't have anything to say to him, so I am not going to do it ("friend" him on FB).  I feel a little mean, like there is a slight chance I am hurting his feelings.  But he IS in PRISON!  What would YOU do?

I will wrap this up with a picture of my dog Brownie- taken with my new camera (Canon Rebel T2i).

She is getting all grey on her chin!  I love her to pieces, even though she has taken to eating food off the counter whenever we leave the house (bread, cake, butter, crackers....)

Cheers!

if you can't say something nice...

I have been MIA for the last week, I didn't even do my Food Fun Friday post (and I had pictures!)  It's not that I had something bad to say, I just didn't have any happy or positive to say.  I have been in a major funk, folks.  It started with Hubby coming home earlier than planned.  Earlier usually means 'happier', right?  Not when that means he has to leave again- earlier than originally planned.  The result being- he left three days before Thanksgiving, a day which also happened to be my birthday.  Knowing this was going to happen (and my plans were ruined) put me in a big funk.  That, and finding out some people weren't the friends I thought they were.  And- knowing the one true friend I have here, is leaving me next month.  Put that all together and you get one big pity party.

Honestly, I have dealt with being without my hubby many times (deployments) during my birthday/Thanksgiving time.  But I thought he was going to be home this year, and I had made big plans.  When I get let down, I fall hard.  Maybe that is a lack of maturity on my part, I don't know.

I know my readers will be shocked to hear this, and will probably stop reading my blog when I say this: I really don't like Thanksgiving.  I know!  It's so un-American of me.  I have my reasons, I won't get into it.  Anyway.... I tend to get all moody and feeling sorry for myself-ish every November.

I started to blog about it last week, but I didn't because it sounded even more pathetic whiny than what I am writing now.  I know- how can that be??

Let's focus on the positive (and the funny) now- shall we?

1.
My honey made me a birthday cake before he left.  He took Brother with him to the commissary and they bought strawberry cake mix.  Brother said that was my favorite.  I am not sure why he thinks that?  I have never made strawberry cake nor professed any love for it.  But I pretended it was my favorite, they looked so proud of themselves!  They used two boxes of cake mix and three, three- tubs of icing- which they colored a greyish lavender with my Wilton gel food color.  Sissy got to write 'Happy Birthday' on top.  Since there was left-over batter- there were some extra little dome cakes (a pan my Hubby made boob cakes with a couple of years ago- don't ask).

We went out to dinner and had some lovely gyoza (stay tuned for Friday's post).  We came home and found out Brownie (my chocolate lab) also LOVES strawberry cake!  She got the little dome cakes off the counter and ate them!  Hubby was so mad, but I thought it was funny.  Brownie had never done that before, not that I know of anyway!  She had food in her bowl, so the cakes must have been too good to resist!  The good thing is that the main cake was in my pretty glass cake stand, all protected.

The 'cake'.  I could have done without the big '37', but at least they didn't actually put 37 candles on it!

2.
I finally found a new car!  I even bought it all by myself.  If you live here you know that is a big deal.  So let's hope it lasts me the 15 remaining months we have here.

3.
Brother's football team finally got a touchdown last week.  The whole football/cheer/youth sports issue is another reason for my funk.  I will spare you the drama of that one except to say the poor kids have been totally robbed.  Needless to say, Brother's team rarely has enough players to even make a team and has had to borrow players from the other team to even have a game.  So it was great news when they finally got a touchdown!

4.
The tree is up- I did that all by myself as well.  Sissy helped too.  Brother wasn't interested in the tree this year, so Sissy and I went at it.  The excitement in her face when we got out the ornaments was just priceless.  I love that little girl!

Yeah, I know it's got a gangsta lean, but it was the first time I put up a live tree by my little ol' self!
We'll just say the tree has 'attitude'!

not a very good picture (as usual)- but here is one of the ornaments I bought last year at the bazaar.
 Something else to be happy about- bazaars!!

Here's to being cheerful and positive.  Here's to Christmas carols and cookie baking.  Here's to hoping my honey gets home in time for Christmas!!

You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea

It's time to break from the serious stuff and join in on a little fun...
This has been going around, here's my version:


1. Favorite Hobby

If you have peeked at my other blog (that is very slow to get off the ground *sigh*)-   sewing is my heart's desire.  I love taking a piece of fabric and transforming it into something wearable, usable, etc.  I also am learning to knit.  In the past I used to crochet and do cross stitch- but it's been a while.  I love scrapbooking and have oodles of supplies, but like sewing- it is messy and time consuming- so I usually haul out the sewing stuff when I have to choose.  I love to read and do it whenever I can (it is my escape- especially during deployments.)  My latest hobby/ past time is doing crossword puzzles- so fun!

2. Favorite TV show


Here all I get is AFN.  That means we don't get the new shows until 6 months to a year later, and I don't have DVR anymore!  So what I do is buy the series when they come out on DVD.  My current favorite is Glee.  What is not to love about that show!!  I even got Hubby into it.  The other shows I like are Heroes and True Blood (I have it pre-ordered with Amazon, can't wait!!!) 


3. Favorite Resturant

I miss Red Robins!!  In WA I think we ate there at least once a week.  Here in Japan my faves are a sushi -go-round restaurant called Kamisushi and an Indian restaurant called Mahatma's.  On base I prefer to eat at the Golf Course restaurant.  It is the newest and the nicest, but it's no Red Robins!

4. Favorite thing to shop for

Fabric, sewing patterns and shoes- please don't make me choose just one.



5. Favorite Animal

I can't choose really.  But as far as pets go- I say my dog is the best dog ever.  She is a chocolate lab and is the sweetest girl ever.  I love her to pieces.

6. Favorite Song

Come On Get Higher- Sugarland's Version.  I like Matt Nathanson's original too, but Sugarland really rocks it in my opinion.  Unfortunately, there is no actual video, but here is a video someone shot at a concert in Del Mar, CA.  I hope to see them in concert someday.  Someone needs to convince them to come to Japan yo!





7. Favorite Word


I don't know- but I keep saying "right right" whenever someone is telling me something.  Where the H did that come from?  It is driving me nuts.


8. Favorite recent YT video

I posted my favorite a while back- so I won't repeat it- but here's another good one:






9. Favorite Movie

 Steel Magnolias- I can quote that movie line for line.  Some recent favorites are The Secret Life of Bees (almost as good as the book) and Julie and Julia (I have Mastering the Art of French Cooking on order from Amazon as we speak.)

10. Favorite childhood memory

Going to the Bud Kearns Memorial Swimming Pool in Morley Field in San Diego, and also going to the beach (usually Mission or Pacific Beach).  Unfortunately I was always getting bad sunburns, I am sure I will pay for it sooner or later...

I am so glad this pool is still around.  It has been around forever- it was opened in 1933 originally.  The park setting is just gorgeous.  I hope to take my kids there someday...

Dropping the Ball

I had a rhythm going, I was in the groove.  Then my Hubby comes home and my world is in total upheaval!  So I have an "excuse" for not having posted anything for over a week?  Homecomings are wonderful, they are happy and joyous.  Even our dog Brownie was in 7th Heaven when her "daddy" came home.

                                                        Our chocolate Lab- Brownie

In fact- I think she was the happiest member of the house to see him home.  It was like the best day of her life- she was so happy.

So life is crazy and happy and stressful all at the same time.  I would rather have my honey home of course- so it is all worth it!  I am especially happy that he is home for the holidays- that is the best news of all.
Now my challenge is to get back into my groove and keep up my blogging.  I will do it! 

This is my third attempt to post something since my last post, by the way. 

Until next time...

Yours Truly