We've Got Company!

Bob's been away since May, and shortly after he left he told me there was a possibility he'd be back in early August for a meeting or conference here. I won't get into too much detail, but last night he was finally ticketed after a week of waiting and hoping he'd be able to come. There was a mix up with paper work, and he literally did not know if he'd be coming for sure or not until last night. He's here for a week and then is going to South Korea for some more "Navy Fun." After he's done there he'll meet up with his ship. For those of you who know "Navy Speak," he's here on TAD orders.

The girls had no idea we were picking him up tonight, so after our morning and early afternoon with the monkeys, Off House and lunch out with Julie and Noah, we came home, I vacuumed quickly, got changed and we headed over to the base to pick up Bob. All I told them was that we were having company come to visit and that we had to go to the base to pick them up. Apparently they were wiped out, because they both fell asleep in the car! Sydney woke up with a red line on her face from the one page of the book, and Keanna just dozed off for a quick cat-nap.

Needless to say, they were shocked and thrilled! Keanna asked why dad didn't come home with his ship, and he explained that he took an airplane, and soon he'll take another airplane to go back to it. He's here a week, and he'll be working every day but will be able to come home at night; it's a week that we're going to take advantage of because we're incredibly lucky to have him home.

Hiroyama Koen (Park)

I emailed Julie this morning, and she immediately wrote back saying, "Call me when you really wake up." It was about 8:45 am and she knows we're not morning people. I called her and said, "Good Morning, Sunshine!" Anyway, she asked if we wanted to go see the monkeys, and of course the girls and I were up for it. She and her son, Noah, have been quite a few times, and this morning we tagged along.

The view is beautiful, and we were just above Zushi Beach. We had so much fun and the girls are already asking to go back. We saw the monkey feeding, the girls and Noah were dancing on the table (anyone have a dollar bill?!) and a little boy and his dad were catching bugs and showed us the cicada they got. Julie asked the father (and in Japanese too....I ought to see if she's available as a translator when shopping or eating out!) what they're commonly known as. He said "semi" which sounds like "say-me." And let me tell you, those suckers are loud and I can hear them even with the windows closed, and especially in the mornings!

They had a small playground which the kids loved, and mine didn't want to leave. But on the way there Julie spotted a store called Off House; a second hand store. We were anxious to get there and scope it out. Neat store, and they even had a Hello Kitty toaster!

And thanks to Julie for letting me "borrow" the first picture!

Hakone Kosui

We had the most amazing day yesterday, and again, it's a shame Bob missed out on it. I've posted 170ish pictures out of the 455 I took in my Shutterfly album if you want to see them. One of the places we visited, Lake Ashi, is the picture in the header of my blog.

We went on a trip through ITT (Information, Tours & Tickets on the base) over to Hakone, about a 2 hour drive from where we live. The bus picked us up at 1 pm in our housing area, then we headed straight to the Hakone Ropeway. We took a cable car ride which was so neat. Once we left the station Sydney immediately yelled out, "Mom, we're flying!" The other people with us laughed and thought it was adorable. I told them that morning what we were doing, but I don't think she understood until we were there and saw it. Keanna was very excited, and both of them enjoyed watching the cable cars at the station just as much as being in the air. Had it not been hazy the view would have better, and in the winter time apparently there's an incredible view of Mt. Fuji, or as it's referred to here, Fujisan. We went over Owakudani (大涌谷) which translates into English as Great Boiling Valley. Owakudani is the area around a crater created in the last eruption of Mount Hakone 3000 years ago. Sulfurous fumes, hot springs and hot rivers can be experienced on a walk around the area. The area below us is actually used to heat the natural springs at Yunessun, the spa we went to in June.

When we arrived at the next station our bus was waiting for us to take us over to another area of Owakudani. This was something I didn't know we were doing, so it was a surprise. We got off the bus and saw sulfur vents, so it looked and smelled a lot like Kiluea Military Camp on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our tour guide was very kind, and since I was the only one there with little kids, and also the only one there without a spouse or friend, she stuck with us. We had until 5 pm to walk around, so I thought we'd walk around the shops, grab a bite to eat and get back on the bus. Well she held Keanna's hand and told me to follow her. She's Japanese and works for ITT; she was also the woman that was the guide when we went to the spa. Keanna and Sydney saw people eating ice cream and naturally they wanted one, but she asked them if they liked eggs and said she had a surprise. We took the short (though arduous) walk up to the boiling sulfur pools. On the way up the path there were little steps, and as she went up them Keanna was counting. Our guide was counting them too, only in Japanese, and she told Keanna to repeat her. They did the same thing on the walk down, and don't you know, Keanna's telling me she has ni (sounds like knee, translates as two) hands and ni feet. The views were absolutely stunning, but the smell was what you’d expect. Owakudani is famous for their 黒卵 (Kuro-tamago, or in English, black eggs) that are hard boiled in the sulfur pools. Supposedly, the eating of a single egg will extend one’s life by seven years.

The famous black eggs of Hakone are chicken eggs, and they have black shells because they're boiled right there in the springs. We had to try one, how could we not? They're sold in little bags with six for ¥500, so about $5. Keanna and Sydney love hard boiled eggs, so I knew they'd probably want to have one. The bag was so hot that I could hardly hold it, and when I got to the little table to start peeling them, I saw all the other egg shells (which was ironic because a sign right next to me said to put shells in the trash), and that got the girls even more excited. I burned my finger tips trying to peel them, but it was worth it. I let the others cool before peeling them, and out of the six I was able to eat half of one. Keanna finished that one off and had three more, and Sydney had two. They tasted just like any other hard boiled egg I've ever had, and obviously the girls enjoyed them, and added 14 and 21 years to their lives [respectively]. Once they cooled off Keanna wanted to peel her own. She looked to be having trouble, so a man standing next to her helped her. He said something in Japanese, his wife giggled and Keanna handed him the egg after he gestured for it. But aside from our appearance, we really did fit right in there. From the way the girls were eating those eggs, you'd think we would have been there before! I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the sign warning people of the temperature of the water near us. "Dengerous! 80º C of temperature of the pond."

When we were done we headed back down the trail and the girls had an ice cream and I had a nice cold bottle of water. Before we got down there we saw a small basket of eggs in a small transport car getting ready to be brought to the stores below. And when we were walking up the hill we saw one pass overhead, but didn't know what it was. The boys sitting across the table from us were making a mess since their ice cream was leaking from the bottom of the cones. Keanna grabbed the container of wet wipes I had and handed one to their mom and said, "Your boy dripping." She giggled softly with her hand over her mouth like a lot of women do here, and said "Arigato" to Keanna. Keanna replied with, "Oh you're welcome," and continued eating her ice cream. The mom bowed when they got up to leave and I said "Sayonara" and the girls waved to them. It was sweet, and it was nice to see Keanna be attentive and caring the way she was.

We hopped back on the bus and headed over to Lake Ashi. We arrived with enough time to eat and walk around before meeting to get on the ship at 7:15 pm. The girls and I walked around a couple of shops and ate dinner. We saw other people in our tour group (about 30 total), but everyone kind of stuck to themselves. The restaurant we ate at had an English menu which was nice, because unlike the others I've been to, there are pictures in the menus. My favorite example of "Engrish" was "Fried Pond Smelt." Have no idea what it is, and I wasn't brave enough to try it. I did however have shrimp tempura in miso soup with udon noodles. So good, one of my favorites actually, and I'm happy to say I actually know what it is before ordering! The girls each had a side of rice and split my soup with me. Afterward we walked around, saw a few interesting things...a really big Hello Kitty, a mug that said "Pee" on it, a beautifully lit street with lanterns and a really big hydrangea bush.

The ship was really nice, and very large! I took this picture of another one right after we finished eating. Ours looked just like it except it was black. We went up to the top deck to reserve our spot. Fireworks started about 30 minutes after we left the pier, and far off in the distance was a torii gate that I really wanted a picture of! Unfortunately we weren't close enough to get a picture of it, nor we were close enough to the shore to see the obon, or Japanese lanterns floating in the water. If we go back next year, I wouldn't go with ITT, but will go on my own and stay on shore where the action is! But we had a wonderful day and night and got back home around 10:45 pm, and all went right to bed!

For the Love of Tomatoes

My friend, Susan, is most familiar with my love of sun dried tomatoes from Costco. I love and miss them so much, and when Julie mentioned finding some at the commissary I was so excited. Didn't jump in the air, but came pretty close!

Julie ran to the commissary this afternoon and bought me a jar. But she called and told me she was holding it hostage (those readers that just laughed know the story), and wouldn't release the jar until I posted a blog. Now I know she was talking about the blog about our day yesterday in Hakone, but hopefully she'll soften up and change her mind since technically I am posting a blog. Ha!

Tenacity of Military Wives

Bob bought a car the day before he left for this deployment. That left me with a small pile of paperwork and a big headache. It's parked in a "guest" spot outside of our building...basically a spot that's not reserved for residents. I've been pretty good about starting it up, but with not feeling so hot over the last three weeks I haven't started it.

After getting home from the lab for blood work (seven vials, ouch!) and physical therapy for my neck, I came home and thought it'd be a good idea to start his car. (Thanks to Julie for watching the girls for me!) Well no luck, the thing wouldn't turn over. Now I've never used jumper cables before, but I have seen them used before. So my new neighbor, Jen (her husband is gone too), and I gave it a go. Before I go on, you have to know how Jen and I met. I knocked on her door a week or so after she moved in and said, "Hi, I'm your neighbor, can you help me move my tv?" We hit it off and immediately sat down on the couch, chatted, drank the mango iced tea I brought from Hawaii, and we moved the tv so it was centered on the wall.

Don't laugh at what you're about to read, and don't roll your eyes either. I asked her if there would be instructions in the bag with them, and she insisted there must be. Well nope, no luck. So we winged it, and hoped for the best. Jen and I were looking at each other and laughing. Me behind the wheel of my car, she behind Bob's. I was keeping my fingers crossed that it would start, because the last thing I wanted to deal with was buying a new car battery. After letting my car run for a few minutes and revving the engine, his car finally turned over. She stayed in the front yard with our kids, her three and my two. We're in different buildings, each in an end unit, but our side yards touch. So I took his car around the block to let it charge up, parked it, cut the engine and then restarted it to make sure it'd run.



What is a MILITARY WIFE? They may look different and each is wonderfully unique, but this they have in common:

-Lots of moving
-Moving some more
-Moving even more
-Moving far from her hometown
-Moving two cars, three kids and one dog----all riding with HER of course
-Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house
-Moving curtains that won't fit
-Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours
-Moving away from friends, moving toward new friends
-Moving her most important luggage; her trunk full of memories
-Often waiting-Waiting, waiting, waiting for housing; waiting for orders; waiting
for deployment; waiting for reunion; waiting for the precious 5 or 10 minute phone call; waiting for that 3 sentence email; waiting for the new curtains to arrive; waiting for him to come home for dinner----AGAIN!
-They call her 'military dependent,' but she knows better
-She can balance a checkbook
-Handle the yard work
-Fix a noisy or overflowing toilet
-She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors, and toggle bolts
-She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up a move, and all with one Power of Attorney
-She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her
-Reinvents her career with every PCS; locates a house in the desert, the arctic, or the deep south and learns to call them all 'home’
-She MAKES them all home
-She is fiercely IN-dependent
-Military wives are somewhat hasty
-They leap into decorating, leadership, volunteering, career alternatives, churches and friendships
-They don't have 15 years to get to know people, often just two or three
-Their roots are short but flexible
-They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them
-Military wives quickly learn to value each other
-They connect over coffee, rely on the spouse-network, accept offers of friendship and favors and record addresses in pencil
-Military wives have a common bond
-The military wife has a husband unlike other husbands his commitment is unique. He doesn't have a job, he has a 'mission' he can't just decide to quit he's on-call for his country 24/7 but for you, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
-His language is foreign: TDY, PCS, OPR, LDO, PSD, ACC, BDU, TAD and EDO
-A military wife is a translator for her family and his. She is the long-distance link to keep them informed the glue that holds them together

Military Wife has her moments----
-She wants to wring his neck, dye his uniform pink, and refuse to move to Siberia, but she pulls herself together.
-Give her a few days, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, a pledge to the flag, and a wedding picture. And she goes. She packs. She moves. She follows.

Why? What for? How come? You may think it is because she has lost her mind. But actually it is because she has lost her heart. It was stolen from her by a man, a man who puts duty first and country first, longs to deploy, who salutes the flag, and whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her military husband, and she will remain his Military Wife.

Give Me A Break- Break Me Off A Piece of that Watermelon Kit Kat Bar!

Got these at 7-11 on Tuesday...for you local readers it's the store at the intersection of route 24 near Ikego, not the one by Jinmuji Station. Though I'm anxious to take a walk over there and see if they have any others in. I bought the banana ones there a month or two ago. Pretty neat, huh?

I bought a few bags of watermelon, and there are individually wrapped packages in the bag. I finally broke down and opened up a bag this afternoon. Keanna and Sydney love them, and I wasn't sure what to think...and was afraid to even try them. I took a bite of the corner on Keanna's, and it tasted good. A little bit of chocolate and a little bit of watermelon. It was almost as if the flavors were separate of each other, but complimented each other. From the outside it looks like a regular one, but there's a sweet smell to them, but not really a watermelon smell.

The Earth Moved

Got your attention, right?! Bob's not even here...he's in the middle of the Pacific somewhere. We just had an earthquake about 25 minutes ago. I was on the phone with Bob actually (I'm telling you, surface ships are so great for communication!) and told him I thought I was having a dizzy spell. Right after I said that, my friend sent me an instant message asking if I was feeling the earthquake. That's right, present tense. It lasted for a decent amount of time, and it felt like I was on a boat with rough (well not bad) seas. The girls slept through it, and had I been sleeping, it probably would have woken me up.

Nothing shook on the walls since it was only a 3.0 in our area, but further north it registered as 6.8. The Japanese Meteorological Agency posts the info right away. I've posted two maps, and the map to the right we're located on the smallest peninsula that's light blue, and the body of water northeast of us is Tokyo Bay. The larger peninsula on the other side of the bay is Chiba. You can go to this website and get a more detailed description of which area registered higher on the Richter Scale. FYI, we're in Kanagawa.

Eye Spy

Shari started this new blog all about pictures. Well, it's actually a small group of us, all scrapbookers and submarine wives. Every week she posts a new challenge, and our deadline is Tuesday night (Wednesday morning for me). Our first "assignment" was to take a picture of ourselves, but the catch was that it had to be a picture of a reflection. So check it out! There's a small group of us right now, and all of us are submarine wives. I submitted a picture I took in May. Bob was driving so I was snapping away. Keanna was holding her bear out the window so he could see, so I snapped the picture. Then I zoomed out a little bit and snapped one of myself...but you can still see the bear in the background; I love it!

So be sure to check out the blog, and feel free to join us! Doh! Just got an email about our second challenge.

Edible Coffee at Starbucks

Living in Japan affords us things that aren't available in the United States, and vice versa. Well here's one thing that you can't get anywhere but in Japan....you ready? It's a new Starbucks drink called a Coffee Jelly Frappuccino. That's right, jelly.

While the Starbucks stores in the United States are going through a series of closings, 600 in all, those of us here don't have to worry about that.

I saw a sign for it at a train station when we were on our way to the Tanabata Festival. I thought to myself, "What the heck? Edible coffee?" After researching online about this odd sounding drink, I found out it's only available in Japan. So I taunted Shari, Terri, Alison and Liz about it, and all four demanded a taste test and photos. So not to let my friends down (we're all submarine wives and have known each other for years, but finally met up in Hawaii-except Alison), I went to the Starbucks on base prepared to be their advocate. I went a couple of weeks ago, and completely forgot to write about it!

By this point you probably are wondering what I thought of it. Well, it tasted good until chunks came up my straw...it was like chunks of jelly, but softer, more like Jell-o. It tasted good though, but it's a texture thing for me. The jelly pieces were large, but very soft so they broke apart and came right up the straw. Liz told me to bring a spoon...I opted not to, but when I grabbed my straw I got a spoon too! Keanna enjoyed it more than I did, and Sydney was too interested in her sunglasses!

So my vote? Thumbs down. Coffee is for drinking, not eating...especially in jelly form at the bottom of a frappuccino! And make sure you read the girl's hat in the first picture!

Japanese Mango Sorbet

The last couple of weeks haven't been fun for me. For the last five days I have been wearing a cervical collar and am having a hard time doing housework, sleeping, getting comfortable and suffering the side effects of my muscle relaxer (so not fun). The week before I was living on Motrin and Ben Gay, so at least now I'm not needing the Ben Gay. My right arm is still numb and tingly, but I am feeling better. Keanna's helping me, so is Sydney, but unloading and reloading the dishwasher isn't fun. Just a couple of days ago I managed to shampoo my hair with both hands...a big accomplishment for me. Today I felt a little better and took the brace thing off for a little while this afternoon. The muscle doesn't hurt, but the back of my neck does a lot (especially if I sneeze), and my head feels like someone's inflating a balloon inside and the pressure just keeps building.

Aaaaanyway, on a lighter note, Julie rang the bell around 5 and handed me three tiny containers of Häagen-Dazs Alphonso Mango Sorbet. Now when I say tiny I mean tiny. But ya know, after having one of them, they really are the perfect size. Just the right amount to be satisfying, and small enough to not make me feel guilty about eating something shortly before bed. I swear small portion sizes like this are why the Japanese as a whole aren't overweight like us Americans. It's also helped me in losing about 15 lbs since we've arrived here in late March. So Julie, Scott and Noah, thanks so much for thinking of us while you were out today! Guess all the talk of my love of mangoes hasn't gone unnoticed! I appreciate it, and the girls will tomorrow when they eat theirs.