Nothing

That is what has been going on here lately, which is why there hasn't been anything posted. I would think about something to blog everyday, but it was never anything big enough for it's own post.

I took Haru to the vet last week. I made an appointment, but I guess that is just a formality. I was there for almost 2 hours before they took her into the back to give her shots. I never even got to talk to the vet. They estimate she is between 6-12 months old and needs another booster in a week. She has adapted to life with us pretty well.

I got my hair cut last week too. If I had made it home in my beauty shop do I would have posted. The japanese lady that trimmed my hair also attempted to style it, but my hair is so thick and the humidity affects it so badly that it looked like an Afro! I thought about the blog entry all the way home, but by the time I got home it had gotten wind blown and when I fixed it for a photo it looked normal so no post. Those of you in GF please go by and give Brenda a hug and tell her I miss her!

This weekend was the base Market Day. It was a quiet day without a lot of people going by. Good thing I brought my computer! I was showing how to use the digital scrapping program and got most of our SD trip done!

We went out for dinner Saturday night to a BBQ place just outside the main gate. It was one of those places that you cook your own meat on the little grill in the center of your table. We tried a few new foods (since it was order all you care to eat) but Chris and Lyle were the most daring. Chris ordered the "small fish" which was a whole fish about 5 inches long and only an inch tall. The waiter brought three so Lyle said he would try one too. They cooked them up and ate 1 each. I couldn't bring myself to do it especially after Chris ate his tail first. Lyle started joking that next time they are ordering the Pig Neck and the Broiled Beef Innards.

Sunday was a quiet day. Steph and I went to see Horton Hears a Who (good movie) Chris caught up on homework and Lyle went to the driving range. Now we are ready for another week!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone.

I haven't posted lately because I have been busy. I got all of my pictures so I have been power cropping trying to finish 2005. I also have been surfing this site I found www.engrish.com . Be aware there is some crude humor on this site, but for the most part it is just making fun of the Japanese (or chinese) to English translations found aroung the Asian community. Be careful tho, it can be addictive!

Mail Day Update

I did receive another package of pictures the same day... Yes I went back to the Post Office twice in one day! This package had my four 12 x 12 page prints. After that, nothing. Until last night. We checked the mail just after 5 pm, the package window closes at 5. I have 3 happy mail slips in my box, but I have to wait until the window opens at 10 am this morning. I hope they are my pictures, because I have been in the scrapping mood for days with no photos.

The last couple days

Well, the ORI is over, and I think the US was successful in defending it's position here in the pacific. Best of all, Lyle is off 12 hour shifts after 12 straight days and we were able to spend the weekend together as a family!

We packed up the kids and the dog and decided to head to the beach. The week before I was supposed to take Steph to a beach clean up with the Girl Scouts, but the caravan of parents left without me (I was waiting for my son to get out of the shoppette). I had a map, and tried to follow it, but it was not a good map and I wasn't familiar with the area so we got lost. I did find my way home, but not the beach. Lyle took this as a challenge and we were off to find that specific area of sand.

Of course, he found it, but I WAS the navigator and I already knew where it wasn't so I will take half credit! The kids had a good time in the water, even tho it was cold. Haru, we learned, doesn't like water. I enjoyed the sunshine, a little too much (just a small sunburn on my back).

After the water we walked up to the Ice cream stand nearby and got a cone each. Lyle got Green Tea ice cream which was actually pretty good. They also sell Salt ice cream there, but none of us were brave enough to try that one.... yet

Sunday we caught up on yard work and house work, then went to dinner. Since we got here we have been hearing about Coco's Curry House, so that is where we went. It was good, but I can make the same curry using the box on the grocery shelf, so we probably won't go back.

Mail Day

I went to pick up my mail today, and have to mention the stupidity of some companies. Specifically, the company I work for. I had ordered over 300 photos from CMphotocenter.com and 4 12 x 12 page prints. I expected it to come in multiple envelopes, they always do. But when i got my mail today I had a yellow package card in my box (always a YEAAA moment). I waited in line for 20 minutes to be handed a single 8 x 10 envelope. I was confused, because it said CMPhotocenter on the envelope, but it was flat as a pancake. So I opened it up to find a single 4 x 6 print. One picture of 300+. And they paid postage for that (okay I paid postage for that). I am going to be really pissed if they come in one by one!

Maybe next year

Yep, we are saying that again.

Lyle missed his promotion by 0.4 points. His was #1 Non-selectee in his career field. That means 18 got promoted and he was #19 on the ranking. That sucks more than missing it by a mile since all it would have taken is one more correct answer... or one more medal... or a slightly better wording on his performance report.

But he is taking it in stride and has already pulled out his books to start the study grind (again) and that means he will up early so I will be back at the gym at 4 am instead of walking the neighborhood (or in addition maybe??) That also means my life of leisure is over and I will be brushing off my resume and looking for a job. Lyle says to wait until after the kids get done with summer break, but I don't want to miss the "right" job if it comes along.

I just hope they reorganize the squadron quickly so everyone can get settled and back to a normal routine.

Today's Entertainment

Lyle is working today so I took the kids and the car (and all the yen I could gather) and went shopping. I originally planned on hitting a couple different stores. But after spending 2 hours (and all my yen) at the first one, the kids were done. Here is what 2000 yen ($about $20) can buy:

I bought3 storage bins, one for sauce packets the other 2 are for my spice cabinet, four juice glasses, a harness type collar for Haru, 3 different Sakura Pens, a sketch book, Japanese paper wire, 2 fruit and chocolate bars (banana is YUMMY), Japanese cookies and a packet of japanese greeting cards.

Tomorrow I will get more money and head out again since my bff in Germany is wanting those sakura pens.

The kids are screaming for the chocolate so I have to go claim my share!

Catching up

I know it has been a while, so before you all started grouping me in with the bad bloggers (Jen..still no new pics??), I decided to give you an update.

First (and most important) we are no longer on lock down. Lyle (As a military member) has a curfew of 10 pm and he is not allowed to drink off base, but the rest of the family can go and do whatever we want to do.

Of course when they announced this I had already scheduled the remainder of my week. Including ortho appointments, dentist appointments, school appointments etc. So I haven't gottenthe chance to go do some much needed Yen shopping. My list has gotten very long over the last couple of weeks and I am completely out of chocolate filled marshmallows (little clouds from heaven!).

Tonight is the night tho. Stephanie is going to go do a Girl Scout event and we are all going along. She is helping with a beach clean up. I am checking the batteries in the metal detector and going too. Maybe we will have some time for a little shopping afterwards. If not, I have already claimed the car for tomorrow (Lyle has to work this weekend) so I can go then.

The biggest news for our family is our newest addition:

It has been over 5 years since Lucy passed away and the kids have been wanting a new dog ever since. We kept telling them to wait until we got our next set of orders. So as soon as we got here, they were both begging. We had been checking the rescue kennels, but never saw one we liked. This week we found an ad for a free dog. We called and the lady said the dog was a stray and she had been looking for the owners for over 2 weeks with no luck. Fully house trained, obeys the basic commands (even shakes!) and a girl (PERFECT!) We all went to look at her on Wednesday. She is the perfect size, about 20 pounds. Quiet, easy going, likes the kids (did I mention House Trained?). We told the rescuer we were very interested but needed some dog supplies,so we made arrangements to pick her up on Thursday.

It turns out she is also kennel trained. She has already adapted into our family and is very comfortable here. The first night went great, no whining or barking, just went into her kennel and ent to sleep about 9:30. She fits right in! She also went for my Walk/run this morning and keeps up with me pretty good.

Her name is Haru Inu (Haru for short) which means Spring Dog in Japanese.

Lock Down...... What day is it?

I lost track.

And it turns out it is for nothing since they released the marine accused of doing wrong.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080229/ts_nm/japan_okinawa_dc

I know they won't release us from lock down until Monday when they review the events of this weekend, but I can hope.

Potluck Anyone??

Yesterday I prepared two different items for two different potlucks. Lyle has a Hail and Farewell at work, and I had a scrapbooking event, both required a potluck item.

I, personally, take the word POTLUCK as a challenge. I pull out my recipe file, look through to find the best of the best. I never try new recipes for a potluck, and I absolutely NEVER stop and buy a bag of chips for a potluck (unless it is accompanied by a homemade dip). This is my chance to have people OOOH and AAAH over something I made. I love to hear, "who brought the .......".

So I made a tortellini pasta salad for Lyle's event since he was asked to bring a side. It turned out great and he brought back almost empty bowl. I asked what other people brought, because I am always curious and everyone else brought Deli potato Salad, bags of chips, deli coleslaw and bakery cookies nothing else homemade.

Then I went to my scrap event. This was a free evening, the only requirement was a potluck dish to share. I decided to bring a sandwich ring, I thought about dessert but since I am watching the diet again, healthy was better. I walked in, and unwrapped my sandwich on the poluck table. The table was covered with bags of chips..... nothing else. And everyone was suprised that someone actually took the time to prepare something. I got the OOH's and AAH's I was after, but I was pretty disappointed that I didn't get to try someone else's best recipe.