I hate jet lag!

According to my world time clock (and my body clock) it is 5 pm on Sunday. In actuality it is 2 am Sunday morning. My clock is so messed up I can't sleep even tho I am exhausted.

Just a quick update, since no one else is up and I am tired of internet games.

Our flight was horrible. Okay, just the first flight, but it really was horrible. Turbulence for 2 straight hours, an aborted landing, one gagging child and one puking child. That's all I need to say about that! Fortunately, the other 2 flights were smooth as butter, just long.

Lyle's mom has an official diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer. There is no true cure for this, the doctors can treat the symptoms and try to slow its progress with Chemo, but it is a fast moving, untreatable disease. We are all dealing with this news, the best way we know how. Bonnie is trying the chemo, we should know within a week if it is having any effect. But until then, she will remain in the hospital.

On another note, my baby boy turned 15 on Saturday. We had a little cake and went out for dinner. We saved his cards from everyone so he had something here to open. He has grown up so much in the last few months!

That's it for now, my tea is gone so I am going to try to get my body to sleep.

Headed back to the States

Lyle's mom, Bonnie, has cancer. It seems to have spread already into her liver. They are still running tests to find exactly what type of cancer, but the prognosis isn't good. We have already received the Red Cross paperwork, Lyle is picking up our plane tickets and we will be leaving here on Thursday. Please keep Bonnie, and our family, in your thoughts and prayers. I will update as I can.

Just another day in paradise

We spent the afternoon just driving. We went north from the base and found a nice little beach. It was even warm enough to let the kids go in the water!

Wine review

We opened the white last night, because dinner, Chicken with Garlic Sauce, called for white wine. (Okay that was just an excuse to open and taste the wine)

The Chicken, while it looked beautiful, left something do be desired. It was definitely lacking something.

But the wine was wonderful. Slightly sweet and a wonderful flavor. I will be picking up a case (to get the discount of course) next time I am at the Class Six.

Tough Break

Wednesday I came home from my morning walk to a voice mail. It was the nurse from Kadena High School. She said she had Chris in her office and could I call back right away. Of course, I called immediately. She told me Chris was hurt while playing dodgeball. He jammed his pinky and ring finger, they were swollen, he couldn't make a fist and on a pain scale he said it was a 10. I said someone would be right there, but I didn't have the car, Lyle did and I knew he was gone to meetings all morning.

I called his work line and talked with somone that said he wasn't sure where Lyle was, so I explained it was an emergency and someone needed to find Lyle or give me a ride to pick up my son. I was told someone would call me right back. A few minutes later Lyle called, amazing how they tracked him down so quick! He came to get me then we headed up to the school, imagining a very large hand, turning purple and black. We were suprised to see a hand that looked very normal and Chris was starting to be able to move the injured fingers.

We considered not taking him in to get checked, but since the medical is free, and Lyle had nothing but meetings staring him in the face we took him, fully expecting the doc to say it was just sprained and he would be fine. Before even looking at his hand the doctor sent him for x-rays. Then were called into her office to view them. We were suprised to hear that his pinky was in multiple pieces and he would need a cast. Fortunately the break is such that it didn't affect the growth plate, so his pinky should grow to normal size.

He got his cast on Thursday. He, of course, chose orange!

One more, then I am caught up

Okay, I would have updated the blog yesterday, but we had no power. The base is updating our power lines. We live in Washington Heights, which is nicknamed Washington No Lights due to the frequency of the power outages here. So fixing the problem is a good idea. But it means no power for me for the next 3 Tuedays.

But I spent my energy free day putting some finishing touches on our unpacking. Mostly in my scrapcloset. I discovered my table can't be stored there (too big) so that is now hidden behind a door in the bathroom. And I am going through item by item and arranging on the shelf. My closet size is about the same as my storage closet in GF so it should all fit. The problem is that I want EVERYTHING to be accessible and that isn't happening yet. Maybe eventually.

On an up note, mama erne sent me a link to her favorite winery http://dolceimports.com/Home_Page.php

When she first moved to GF in 2004 she shared a bottle of wine with me that she brought back from Italy. Loosely translated it was called "The blood of Judas". It was the sweetest, smoothest Red wine I had ever tasted. I held onto the empty bottle until we moved, just in hopes of finding someplace that would import it. Turns out the AAFES people are bringing it onto the bases! So I decided to check out little store to see if they could order it for me. It was already on the shelf and at less than $7 a bottle it is the perfect wine for me. This vintner also makes a white wine that we are going to try with dinner tomorrow night.

All I can say is WOW

Our stuff is here. It showed up Monday morning.

And unbelievably, nothing is broken, damamged or missing, that we know of, anyway.

Lyle and I both keep saying, " I thought we brought _____" then realise we stored it. If only we had a chance to send some stuff we brought to our storage and to receive some things we stored. I don't know what I was thinking when I didn't put the crockpot in the "Send to Japan" corner.

Guess who is getting a new crockpot?

Bloggers Annonymous

Hi, my name is Heather and it has been 5 days since my last post.

The family and I had a pretty nice weekend. We left the base, drove down to the Marine base to find where we had to take the car for our registration decal. That was an event! If you ask anyone for directions here they say it is just up the road, but the main gate is under construction and we have to rely on word of mouth or a really sketchy map of streets that aren't named or numbered very well.

We tried to find this same base 3 weeks ago and eventually did after circling the fence for 30 minutes, so I asked my neighbor. "There has to be an easier way onto Foster.... isn't there?" and she said to just go up the road and turn left the gate is right there!

So on Saturday we left.... went up the road.... and turned left. We ended up on the same twist road we were on the first time we tried to find it. Fortunately, we knew where we were going from there. Then drove on the base to find all the different gates. And you know what we found? All we had to do was go up the road and turn left.... One street after we turned!

We now have the drive to the marine base mastered! After Foster, I directed Lyle to Naval Kadena, a shopping area close by. That I could find after only being shown once, in the dark. It is shopping, ya know, and they have a 100 Yen store. I could have found it blindfolded!

Lyle liked the grocery store, and the Wal-mart type store, and of course, we all loved the 100 Yen store. Because our stuff hadn't arrived yet, I just walked and built my shopping list for next weekend. Chris wanted to look at the video arcade that was on the second floor so we headed over there. The Japanese seem to REALLY like the claw games. There were more claw games than anything else in there.

When we were done there, we decided to do a little more exploring in the car and drove the coast line until we saw a highway sign leading us home. It was a nice day out and I feel a little more comfortable venturing off base.

You've got Mail

Lyle brought home the mail today. Only two small packages but they were both for me! My new SU catalog is here (Thank you so much Bev!) And a package from Susan, containing Yummy, Yummy chocolates and a card :) I love mail day!

I met a new friend today. Susan met her first on Splitcoast and forwarded her on to me. I was a little leary given Susan's past friend finding forays. But she did good this time. Had Sabrina been with us in Grand Forks, there would have been trouble. And in keeping with how I seem to meet friends, after she left, I went to put my keys into my purse and there was her 2 year old daughters toy keys. "T" had been asking for her keys the whole drive back to the base. She said Keys.... Purse.... Keys....Purse, so both Sabrina and I assumed they were in Sabrina's purse. I will be returning them tomorrow, just as the gym clothes had been returned 4 years before.

On a final note, my household goods are to be delivered on Monday. I can hardly wait!

My Christmas Gift has arrived

While browsing Wal-mart.com, I found myself the perfect gift. After so much wasted time driving to calculate different running and walking paths, just to log miles for the Tour Around North Dakota, I found this watch.

This watch, when worn with the GPS attachment tells me with every step exactly how far I have traveled, keeps track of my pace, and averages the two. I can keep a running total, or start fresh with every day. I wore it to walk up to housing to get my Business Approval letter and found out it was .81 miles round trip! Only drawback is it doesn't work in my house (too much concrete I guess) which is bad considering hos many trips I take up and down those stairs every day. Germany here I come :)

My favorite things

We received our unaccompanied baggage yesterday. And while we probably won't need the 12 blankets that showed up, the sheets and towels were very necessary :)

Of the items that were in this shipment, a few of them made me smile and I wanted to share them with you:

Eeyore, for my car.... Lyle doesn't think it is very Manly, but it is my car too right?

My bobblehead moose, because even Okinawa needs a moose.

Wireless Router....Very important for my internet sanity!

My yoga ball, yet to be inflated

The crystal bear that Lyle bought me at the mall, before we moved into our first apartment. It has hung in EVERY home we have ever had.

Laundry baskets. My laundry accumulates upstairs, the washer is downstairs. These were highly anticipated.

And last but not least, the wall art every Air Force wife understands.

There was nothing lost and nothing missing. Let's hope that bodes well for the full shipment, due in a week (or two).

Crafter's Hell

(insert Twilight zone music here)

Imagine a world, full of Brand new paper, tags, stickers and brads. New, uncut rubber stamps and page protectors all unusable. And adhesive upon adhesive without a picture to be seen. Refill blades for 12 inch trimmers that are floating on a container ship (hopefully) over the Pacific.

That is Heather's world, now known as Crafter's Hell.

I have been here for 3 weeks now. I had a Creative Memories box waiting for me when I got here and just a few short days later my Angel Company order was here. And all I can do is look at it all. I have tried using my CM Storybook 2 creator and I love the 12 x 12 page creator, but there is something to be said for picking up paper, photo and tape that is more relaxing and fulfilling that completing 100 digital pages.

I spent my afternoon looking at my new supplies again, taking them out of the box and laying them out on the shelves in the closet that I have already laid claim to. I know you can all understand, so please, pick up your trimmer and paper and create a masterpiece while thinking of me.

What I want to take home from Japan!

Okay I know I haven't even been here a month, but reading the news this morning I found my souvenier! Wouldn't this be funny clearing my driveway in Michigan?

For the full article click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319473,00.html

No Picture, just a quick story

My neighbor Shannon is an Army wife. She (and her hubby) were the first to greet us as we pulled into the culdesac. Her husband invited Lyle over for a friendly game of poker (okay not so friendly, but it didn't cost us too much LOL) and invited me to come along and meet the other wives. Turns out Shannon and I were the only wives that don't play Texas Hold Em. So we chatted.

She told me about EVERYTHING going on here on the island. She has been here for almost 2 years and has explored the island from tip to tip. Her main piece of advice was "Don't do it all right away, or you will spend the last half of your tour wishing you had something to do". She also offered to take me out and show me a few sites.

Last night she stopped by and we left for a quick jaunt out gate one. She drove me around American Village, pointed out the "Gentleman Massage House", showed me the Monkey store (it's like a home depot, but we haven't told the kids yet, let them think we are going to buy a monkey), a 100 yen store (Love it!!!), and best of all a little grocery store.

I could have spent hours just walking up and down the short shelved aisles with my little basket. Unfortunately, I left my family without dinner and my tour guide was waiting. That is definitely on my list of things to do when I get to drive the car after the kids are back in school.

I missed having my normal sidekicks with me as I walked around all the shops. I could hear each of you make a comment or two in the back of my head!

I also signed up for a conversational Japanese class at the community center. I just want to be able to say excuse me and thank you without sounding like a complete moron. Apparently that takes four 1 1/2 hour sessions (and $22).

I did get the sound removed from the video, but I must have done something wrong since it created a file 10 x its normal size. Because of it's size YouTube won't accept it. I will keep trying or I will just get Lyle to drive again and we won't talk this time.

New Year's Day

Happy 2008!

Today starts my virtual walk to Germany. Of Course, any miles that Germany walks will be added above, making my job a little easier!

We brought in the new year in quiet. A trip to see Tops in Blue, then home for dinner, games and a movie. I am ashamed to say I didn't make it until midnight. I fell asleep on the couch at about 11:15, but the rest of the family made it! I am going to blame my body clock. Since coming to the island I have been in bed before 10 on almost every night, so midnight was too much of a stretch for me.

I have video of our first off island driving experience. I am trying to edit out the sound before posting it. I don't think you want to hear our normal family babble as we drive down the road.

I hope you all have (or had) a wonderful New Year's celebration.