Thank you Delta Airlines

For finally updating your policy: Events in Japan

Now my parents can get a full refund and reschedule their trip! Now if the Navy would figure out what they have planned for my husband... all would be good!

Bitter

So I'm finding myself getting a little bitter (or a lot). It's lonely here and there is no end to Glenn being gone, in sight. When I get frustrated and bitter, I get mean. I hate to admit it, but I've been a little mean lately. I've said things that are less than polite about decisions that other people have made. It's none of my business of course, I'm just getting frustrated. Gomen nasai.

Now, time to occupy myself with non-evacuation/Navy/earthquake related matters!

The pantry game continues! Today I made macaroons with the half full bag of almonds we've had for over a year. Apparently the recipe said "blanched" almonds which I overlooked. Hence the brown rather than pretty white color. Oh well. They taste good!

Also on the menu for the JMSDF Food Drive: pumpkin bars. I had a random can of pumpkin leftover from the fall. I also seem still have an excess of eggs in my fridge. This recipe called for 4! Success!

Also need this evening to combat my bitterness, a lovely margarita. I knew I was saving that bottle of strawberry margarita mix for a special day.

When there was a sale for a 2-year BH&G subscription for $12 back in January, I jumped on it! It finally arrived this week. I remember growing up reading my mom's subscription and now I have a copy of my own. Now if only I had a real house to better... or garden...

Stella bear! She is healing nicely. And looking as cute as ever. What more can I ask for.

This is going to cost SO much money.

Here's an interesting article from Starts and Stripes I agree with this article. This is one of the reasons I chose to stay. Just think how much good the U.S. Government could have done with that money. How about we help the actual victims in this crisis? Those families living in Fukushima and the northern part of Japan. It is safe in Atsugi. We are not victims. 

Voluntary departure program: A safe haven or a free vacation?
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — U.S. family members who left Japan under the military’s “voluntary departure” program stand to pocket a considerable amount of money, depending on whether they flew home to stay with family in North Dakota or chose to lie on the beaches of Waikiki.

Some 7,000 family members from five U.S. military bases have departed mainland Japan so far amid fears of radiation leaking from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, left crippled by the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

But the departures are generating a measure of controversy, with some military community members blasting their neighbors for taking “paid vacations.” Others defend the decision, saying fears of a nuclear crisis, repeated earthquake aftershocks and concerns for their children’s safety made heading back to the United States the only real option.

Each family member who leaves Japan under the voluntary departure program is entitled to lodging, meals, a daily stipend for incidentals and a $25 daily family travel allowance.

The amount they’re allowed to spend depends on the location the family picked as its so-called “safe haven,” and whether family members are staying with relatives or in a hotel. Children 12 or older are eligible for 100 percent of the local per diem rate, while children under 12 are eligible for 50 percent.
In a low-cost area, such as Grand Forks, N.D., a military family of three — mom, a teen and a child under 12 — would receive a maximum of $9,795 for the first month. That same family, however, would receive as much as $21,975 for the first month if they picked Honolulu, with its much higher cost of living, as the place they wanted to stay until they were authorized to return to Japan.
Those figures are based on the maximum allowed for lodging; families will only be reimbursed for the exact cost of their lodging up to that amount. But families also receive the maximum food allowance regardless of how much they actually spend on meals. That allowance would be $3,075 for families staying in North Dakota and $5,375 for those in Honolulu.

Maj. Corey Gibbs, commander of the 35th Comptroller Squadron at Misawa Air Base, confirmed the rates. He said many of the family members had questions about their entitlements, and his office created hand-outs detailing allowances based on guidance from the Air Force Accounting and Finance Office.

A spokesman for the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki said the hotel has seen an influx of military families from Japan.

“Just landed in Hawaii with my family,” one commenter wrote on a stripes.com message board, where tensions over the voluntary departure program have erupted in recent days. “I am not a state resident here, but they offered us the flight with lodging at the Hale Koa. ... Thanks for all the brave men and women who have stayed behind for our sakes. We will drink one to you on Friday. Mahalo and stay safe!”

Wrote another commenter: “This is the best thing I have even seen in my 18 years in the military. I told my family to enjoy Orlando and check out Disney.”

Others have been more sober in their assessments.
Lynn Spratt, a family member from Misawa, said in an email that her decision to return to the United States was difficult, and that she understands she might end up away from her husband and dog for months.

“And while things have stabilized a bit, personally I was having a very hard time dealing with the daily quakes,” she said. “I felt like I was on constant guard and my nerves were frazzled wondering if ‘this one was another big one.’ I wasn’t sleeping well and that also added stress for my husband.”
That sentiment was echoed by a commenter on the message board.

“I cannot wait to get back to Yokosuka to my home, my husband, and the life we have here,” she wrote. “I feel so guilty that I haven’t enjoyed one day home in Virginia yet.”

Trina Jackson, one of a sparse crowd of lunchtime diners in the Yokota base exchange food court late last week, said she’s staying in Japan so as not to use up vacation she plans to spend with her deployed husband when he returns in six months and because she doesn’t want to disrupt her teenage children’s education.

“The part that frustrates me the most is that people are saying ‘This is a paid vacation,’” Jackson said. “It’s frustrating for me, [having] decided to stay, to hear that. It’s wrong. It’s not a vacation because it’s what our government has decided to do. I’ve heard people say, ‘I felt completely safe but I left because it was a paid vacation.’”

The full per diem rates won’t last forever: The allowances drop after the 31st day. From Day 31 to Day 180, the allowance drops to 60 percent of the authorized rate for those 12 and older and 30 percent of the rate for those under 12. And officials use different regulations and criteria for calculating expenses for families of civilian employees.

Estimates on how much the entire operation might cost weren’t immediately available Tuesday, according to members of the task force overseeing the movement of the family members.

Ugh.

Not how I had planned on spending my morning...

Monday

The last NEO flight from base left yesterday so hopefully that means things are getting back to normal today. Yesterday morning I was able to call the clinic on base and get a teeth cleaning at the dentist and a medical appointment for allergy pills (the plants in Japan give me the worst allergies every year!) all before lunch!

When I got back, I was able to make an appointment for Stella at the vet to check on her wounds and ask questions about the seizure she had last week. Yes, when it rains it pours around here apparently. Only 2 hours after I called they saw her! There are definitely a few benefits to having the base population so low!

All three of those appointments would have had to been made at least 3 weeks out. Amazing. Both the dental hygienist and the doctor said I was the first dependent they had seen in two weeks. It was nice to chat with a doctor, a medical professional, about how the radiation levels are low and safe. He (and I!) wished that he would have been able to speak to calm a few people down. Maybe not so many would have left? I doubt it though. People were in a hysteria when they left.

I'm teaching my English classes today and continuing on as normal which now includes washing and treating Stella's wounds. He said it would be another 2 weeks before she starts healing. Poor girl. Then we have to do blood tests to rule out what caused the seizure. No point in doing them now when she's on medication.

It's a beautiful day today though. Maybe spring is just around the corner. I can't wait for the cherry blossoms to start blooming!

What's going on around here?

 Lots of cooking. To keep myself busy, I've been cooking a lot of food for the sailors around base. On Thursday, I delivered this load of food to the Hangar where they are sending all the people who are evacuating. The best part- the only thing I actually donated was about 1/4 cup of salsa and some green onions. The rest was all food that would have gone bad in someone else's fridge. Thanks for the donations and letting me rummage through your fridge!

 Here is the Hangar with one of the last flights heading back to the States. It was so cold and noisy in there. I don't envy those people one bit.

I currently have 3 dozen eggs in my fridge so it's a lot of brinner/dinfast around here. I had to take a picture of my omelet for Glenn. He is usually the omelet maker, but I made a pretty good one myself!

Today we had a picnic at the park with all of the families left around base. About 200 people showed up! I was surprised how many there were- and so much food!

It's definitely been a week of ups and downs, but it was nice to enjoy the sunshine and get out to see a few people. We also had a party at the O'Club on Friday and dinner at a friend's house on Saturday. I'm trying to keep my life normal, but it's hard with very few around. At least those that are left are good friends or I probably would have left by now!

The last NEO flight from Atsugi leaves on Monday. I hope not too many more people leave!

Still Here

The last NEO flights went out yesterday and it is officially a ghost town around here. The last flight had 48 people and 42 pets. Obviously the pet situation was the critical factor in getting people out of here in a timely manner.

I stayed busy yesterday making food for the people working and then I had a few friends over for dinner before we went to the O'Club to meet up with the remaining few, which includes the base commander and his family. It was nice to see a few people that remained as well. We joked that they shipped all the crazy people off and the mostly rational people are still here! :)

The weekend is pretty normal. Feeling slightly hung over this morning, getting together with friends tonight and a family picnic at the park tomorrow for those still on base.

I was talking to the base commander last night and he said the elementary school had an 80% absence rate. The high school was around 40% to give you an idea of how many people are here. Not so many.

Now if my husband would just come home, life would return to normal...

Safe Food and Water

I'm sure this will be one of the top stories on the news for the next several days, but this is what the Navy has to say about it:

While U.S. service members continue to provide humanitarian and disaster
relief support to the people and Government of Japan, we have enhanced our
measures to safeguard food and water supplies on all our military
installations in Japan.

The food and water on U.S. military installations are safe and in accordance
with U.S. FDA standards. The food sold and consumed on our installations
comes from a variety of sources, inside and outside Japan. We are working
closely with food suppliers to ensure the health and safety of our DoD
personnel and their families and to date, there has been no interruption to
our supply chain.

Also, the drinking water on all U.S. installations is within U.S. drinking
standards. As we routinely do, we will continue testing the water supply.
In fact, as an extra precaution, we have increased the frequency of water
tests to daily to ensure the safety of our personnel and their families.

The safety and security of our service members and their families are our
top priority. We take extreme care to ensure our personnel are protected
and will continue to monitor the situation.

We will keep DoD personnel and their families updated through command
information channels.

Isn't it ironic?

The current radiation levels at NAF Atsugi: minimum detectable by instruments, .01 mr/hr

Check out this chart from xkcd: Radiation Dose Chart

So those people who left Japan and flew on a commercial airliner to America, you just received 400x the radiation levels you would if you lived within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant for a year!

Don't you think?

Quake Map

To date from March 11 at 2:46 pm until now, we've had 725 earthquakes in Japan! Yowzer! I've felt many including one yesterday and I guess there was a pretty strong one this morning, but it didn't wake me up like most people.

Make sure you press the 'faster' button or this takes awhile: Quake Map

We are somewhere between the Shizouka dot and the Tokyo dot to give you an idea.

Wednesday

Ann and I spent much of the day today together. A regular Wednesday for the most part. I subbed a class this morning, had lunch with Ann's Japanese friends and then we went "shopping". I came home with probably close to a hundred dollars in fruits, vegetables, cheese and dairy products. I had 4 dozen eggs at one point.

A few organizations and the Red Cross on base organized to have a pot luck for the Marines tonight who were shipped in to help with the voluntary evacuation and relief efforts. Ann and I made 2 dozen deviled eggs and a huge batch of guacamole with homemade tortilla chips (Thanks Michelle, Erinn and Ansley!). The only ingredients that were from my house were the mayo and spices. I'm not going to lie, I kind of felt like I was looting peoples house...and it was kind of fun. It was nice knowing that I don't have to buy and veggies for awhile and we were helping out the people working hard on base. Also a bonus of everyone being gone- you can actually buy things at the commissary! Like the good flavors of coffee creamer? No problem! The greek yogurt that is ALWAYS sold out? Buy two! The veggies that are usually picked over after 11 am on Tuesday morning (they are closed on Mondays to restock and open at 10 am...)? They look good!

I'm teaching my regular Thursday classes tomorrow. Life is normal here. I wonder if the people who left feel silly for leaving? I know you can't joke around with your health, but there is no radiation risk here at Atsugi. In fact, Admiral Willard is already talking about how they are going to get families back to Japan since he thinks a mandatory evacuation is unlikely.

There are 4 planes leaving tomorrow with enough seats for 690 people. That kind of movement is what people were expecting 6 days ago! Now I think more and more people are choosing to stay. I don't think they will even have enough people to fill those planes (especially with a 10 pet carrier limit per plane).  My apartment building is now empty except for me. I was walking Stella last night when taps starting playing at 10:00 pm. The base was eerily quiet.

I reread my post from last night and it was pretty downer. No wonder my friend Hillary called me this morning to make sure I was ok. I'm fine, just lonely. I wish Glenn were home. Still no update on that front. BF Ann is doing a good job filling in. Too bad her hubby is home so I have to give her back in the evenings. :)

At least I can eat my greek yogurt and look at my veggie drawer cornucopia.

Nonevacuation Update

Life is continuing on around here for the most part, just with less friends. More and more people continue to leave on the military evacuation flights as well as commercial flights. The department in charge of booking the commercial flights called me today and asked what I would like to do and I said, "Nothing. I'm staying until it is mandatory that we leave."

It's feeling pretty lonely around here, but there are a few of us sticking it out. I taught two of my classes today and am subbing a class tomorrow for a girl that just up and left and abandoned her responsibilities. Then I'm going "shopping" at a few friends' houses. In other words, they left their keys for their fridges to be "used" by those of us remaining. I think we should just donate what they left behind to the relief efforts. :)

Glenn is still gone. I have little information as to what they are doing and when they will be back (as do they I think), but at least he's in a place where he can call easily.

Stella is healing well and acting more like herself. My hand is turning more purple, but I guess that means the bruises are healing.

I hope things continue to get back to normal, but that would include Glenn coming home. I wasn't, I'm not, quite ready for deployment to start already. This situation would feel much different if he were home to talk to and discuss (and keep me company).

The rolling blackouts on base have been postponed while the evacuation is going on so at least I don't have to worry about that. Now I just hope the trains are running so I can make it to my class on Thursday. Mom and Dad are going to cancel their trip for April. Things are just too frustrating right now, it wouldn't be the trip they want. Hopefully we can reschedule for the summer some time. Hopefully Delta extends their refund window a few more days so that they can get their money back.

I just found a cute, make myself feel better present and the stupid Visa gift card wouldn't work. These things drive me bonkers. And...now I'm starting to ramble. I think that means it's time for bed!

Evacuation Update II

The evacuation is proceeding on base very very slowly. The first flight went out today and it looks like only about 150 people or so are getting out each day. They've now started booking flights on commercial planes via Tokyo's airport for the upcoming days.

I haven't gone in yet with my paperwork to push that process through, not sure if/when I will. Sounds like most of our squadron is gone or leaving in the upcoming days. There are just a few of us singletons left. I'm hesitating leaving for several reasons. 1. I don't want to leave Stella in the States. Since her FAVN blood test only lasts 2 years, it is expired and I would have to go through the whole month long process again or more likely, have to leave her behind. 2. I'm not ready to leave Japan yet. 3. I don't want to leave Japan on these terms and abandon all my friends and students.

I know that if I leave, I would most likely return in a month or less. I'm hoping at least, I'm not sure if I would be back at all. Our orders are only being written for 30 days currently. I've been bored for the last week and a half with no classes though. What am I suppose to do in America for a month? :) More projects I suppose. I got good at finding projects when I lived with my parents before moving to Japan.

I'm teaching two of my classes tomorrow, thank goodness, despite the two scheduled power outages. We are suppose to loose power from 9:20-13:10 and from 16:50-20:40. I should probably be thinking about what I'm going to cook for dinner tomorrow. Or serve my students. No coffee maker...

The last few days have been slow and uneventful. Checking facebook and email every 30 minutes seeing what the latest and greatest update is on the current situation.

Today's update:

110321@1810 - Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan directed that Potassium Iodide (KI) be available for pick-up today for all DoD personnel and dependents currently located at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Ikego Housing Detachment, Negishi Housing Detachment, and Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
- Do not take until notified!
- There is enough Potassium Iodide in Japan for all SOFA personnel.
- There will be mass public notification if you need to take Potassium Iodide.
- If notified to take Potassium Iodide, take recommended dosage only!
DoD personnel and their families are asked to proceed in an orderly manner to one of four distribution points to receive their individual allotment in case a need was identified.

I've got my 5 KI pills ready to go.


I finished the book I'm reading, "Collabortive Consumption", and got the chance to talk with Cheryl and my friend Ali. The only benefit to all the earthquake drama and Stella attack was that I've heard from more family and friends in the last two weeks than in the last 6 months.

I guess I'll see what tomorrow brings and if my category is ever called. I guess I'll finally have to make a decision at that point if I will stay or go. Until then, life continues. The schools on base are even open tomorrow.

Time for bed. Good night.

Stella Update

Stella, me, Yuki and Yuki's mom all went to the vet this morning to have Stella checked out. The vet said they could either leave the wound open or they could give her general anesthesia and stitches. The wound on her back is the only one that needs attention, the rest are healing ok on their own.

I didn't really want to give her general anesthesia if it wasn't necessary and the vet agreed. He gave me creams, antibiotics and pain pills and also gave her a shot for the pain while we were there. Sorry for the gory pictures, but I wanted Glenn to see what happened.

When we got home, she drank a ton of water and ate a few treats and is now resting. She even nibbled a bit on her food from yesterday. She's going to be fine, it was just scary. I really think those dogs would have killed had I not been there to stop them.

Her personality is starting to come back a little too. She was shaking all night, but seems more like herself a little bit.

Thanks for all the phone calls and emails!

My baby

 As if this week wasn't crazy enough, Stella got attacked by two Huskies this afternoon. A friend of a friend was on vacation during the earthquake and subsequent evacuation. She decided to stay in Hawaii since we were evacuating. That was fine until the kennel on base decided to close. Another friend with two dogs of her own, picked them up from the kennel, but had no where to take them. She asked if she could use our side yard and I said that was fine, as long as she fed and walked them. They've lived in our side yard for 2 days now and Stella will growl and bark at them through the fence, but they had never been in contact with eachother.

I walked by this afternoon and saw there water was empty and tried to sneak in to grab it. Well they got around me and Stella had come back down the stairs from where I had sent her up. The dogs lunged after her neck and I had to pry their teeth off of her. I ended up huddled in a ball protecting Stella as they kept trying to get at her. Including from behind me between my legs. The neighbors her my screams and came out and got the two dogs in the yard and when I got up, I was covered in blood, both Stella's and my own. I just have a few cuts and bruises on my hand. Stella has 7 puncture wounds on her back, stomach, shoulder and butt.

A friend drove me an off base vet that I have been to before. Luckily, the English speaking vet was there and got her cleaned up and bandaged. I can't get the American vets to see her because they are busy with the evacuation business. I have to take her back to the Japanese vet tomorrow (with my friend Yuki to translate) for her to get stitches. Just for 2 of the 7 wounds. She wouldn't eat any more than one treat when we got home, but she seems to be sleeping now.

I'm worried about the general anesthesia that they will give her tomorrow and she has to spend the night at the vet alone. She doesn't seem to be in too much pain, but I'm so worried about her.

In better news, the reactors seem to be getting under control:
http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/79808.html

Huh?

Vonage now transcribes voicemail to my email. This is a new feature and apparently Glenn needs to speak clearer or they need to work on their system a little....

"Hey babe, it's me. It's like 1015 years at 915 there. Just getting them printed up some breakfast and get to the exchange and purchase all those things that we need to we don't have them so so I assume you're off in the walls and what not. So I will give you ASAP because pleasant it was like but I wanna let you but you call back when you get back to do it. Love you. Bye "

I forget what most of the message said, but I was "eating waffles" not "off in the walls". :)

This is what we're dealing with around here...

I realize that a MAVDD (Military Assisted Voluntary Departure of Dependents) is an unprecedented event. They have never done this before. And we are talking about evacuating tens of thousands of people. I understand that, but still. This is what we are dealing with. These are Facebook messages (which has been the most up to date information) posted this morning:

Naf Atsugi

ATTENTION - NAF Atsugi Category 1, with last names starting from A to M report to Cinema 77. Bring all your luggage, pets, children and report to Cinema 77..

about an hour ago
which was at 10:18 am

Then 15 minutes later, we see this.. 

110319 @ 10:37 - ATTENTION - THERE HAS BEEN A HALT IN THE PROCESS FOR THE VOLUNTRARY DEPARTURE OF DEPENDENTS FROM NAF ATSUGI. PLEASE DO NOT GO TO CINEMA 77. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVIENE. THINGS ARE VERY FLUID RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THIS IS A VOLUNTARY MOVE. THE CATEGORIES ARE LISTED BELOW.

Military Assisted Voluntary Departure of Dependents Categories
#1 - Expectant mothers, families with infants to two years old and special needs
#2 - Families with children three to six years old
#3 - Families with children seven to 12 years old
#4 - Families with children 13 years old and above or no children
*** The only pets allowed for travel are dogs and cats ***

As you can see, I am in Category 4. I'm kinda glad. Maybe this mess will be over by then. Maybe we won't have to go anywhere.

A Nuclear Reactor Explained by Poop and Farts

Still Waiting

So after all the madness yesterday today was....uneventful. We had a meeting about the evacuation this morning that provided very little information in fact. They don't know where we are going, when we are leaving, what happens when we get to the states, when we are coming back, nothing.

They answered a few questions, but beyond that, it was not really useful except for telling me that I am in Category 4, the last category since we don't have any children.

So I came home and organized a few things and packed up a box to mail to my parents. I went to the post office and then to one of the hangars where they vet set up shop to give out health certificates for pets which are needed by commercial airlines to fly with your pet. Thank goodness I went when I did because I waited for 10 minutes and people 2 hours later waited for over 3 hours, ugh!

I came home and took a nap and then got sushi with some friends. Glenn called this evening from Guam and they are settled in for a bit. I bet he wishes he had taken his scuba gear! I guess he can rent some too. :) Not sure when he'll be back or I'll see him again.

The lists of names and flights for evacuation are not available yet. There aren't even any planes in Atsugi yet! I'm honestly starting to doubt that a full evacuation will even take place. As nice as a free trip to the states would be, I'm not sure now is the time to go. One of my students sent me an email today that said, "Let's pray for the people who has been really suffering now and endure whatever we face. It's the most important to help each other and share the pain.  take care. I also think of your husband working hard for us."

How about we help our Japanese friends? I'm not ready to leave this country yet and as the Fukushima plant is starting to be controlled, I'm not sure I'll need to! More time will tell what is to happen. I'll keep you posted! It's a roller coaster around here.

Thank you

Above it all, a gracious note from my friend Aya:

Hi Kelly,
How have you been doing? I hope you are doing well. Sorry for my country and I really appreciate for Navy's support. It's beyond my words (Is it right phrase?!). Today my friend let me know about voluntary evacuation in Atsugi base. I want you to be safe so please take care and have a nice trip!
Hope to see you again soon! :))))
Aya


I don't want to leave Japan yet!

Evacuation

We had a meeting last night to fill us in on all the details (as many as were available) about the voluntary evacuation. Currently, it is still voluntary, but if things continue as they are at the Fukushima plant, it may be mandatory at some point.

I went to the meeting last night with the intention of remaining in Japan. My Japanese students and friends aren't going anywhere, this is their country. I feel like we are abandoning ship and don't need to. After the meeting though, they explained that now they are being lenient with what you can bring on the planes, including pets. The planes are allowing us to bring cats and dogs so Stella can come. That means that in the future, that may not be the case. I can't risk her not being able to come with me, so I will be leaving Japan in a few days.

The are prioritizing pregnant women and small children first, then older children and lastly, people with no children. Planes should be arriving today and the first load of families being evacuated this afternoon/tonight. I have no idea where we are headed or when exactly I will leave. We are headed back to the U.S., but that is all I know.

I feel guilty leaving, but I know that everyone is leaving and it is necessary. If not for the dangers of the Fukushima plant, but for Glenn's operational readiness. It is difficult for him to complete what he has been trained to do if he is worried about Stella and I back in Japan.

I don't know when or if we will return to Japan and I am having a very difficult time packing. You know that game where they ask you what you would grab and take with you if the house were burning down? Well this is it, what is important to me? What will I take with me? What will remain? I don't know yet.

I'll post more information after the head count meeting this morning. They are suppose to have flight schedules and more information at that time.

Voluntary Departure of Dependents

I'm not quite sure what this means yet, but I'm passing on the information as I get it. I suggest you friend the facebook page 'Naf Atsugi'. They have had up to date and important information about the situation.

To all NAF Atsugi Residents,

Due to the uncertainty regarding the fate of the Fukushima Nuclear Facility
following last Friday's earthquake and tsunami, the President of the United
States has just announced that US military forces in Japan are now
authorized to conduct a military-assisted voluntary departure of dependents
from Northeast Japan, including the facilities within the Kanto Plain. What
does that mean for you living here on Naval Air Facility Atsugi? It means
that a voluntary evacuation of SOFA-sponsored families will commence, likely
starting by Friday afternoon 18 March. Flights will likely depart from
Atsugi to military bases in Korea for further transfer to other areas which
are to be determined at this time. We will also transport voluntary
evacuees from Camp Zama. Attached is the US Embassy statement containing
further information.

I know there are some people on base who are panicking or scared. Please
remain calm and make sure your families are ready to move. Stay in your
homes and we will be informing you what to do on the Base Information
Channel, the NAF Atsugi webpage, and Facebook page. This is not the time to
panic. This is a time to help each other to orderly move our families to
ensure their safety. Aircraft should be landing at NAF Atsugi within 24
hours.

CVW-5 Sailors continue to be fully engaged in humanitarian aid to help our
host nation of Japan. Carrier Air Wing FIVE aircraft will depart today to
make ramp space for incoming humanitarian relief flights and the evacuation
flights. The radiation levels at NAF Atsugi are less today, 17 March then
they were two days ago.

What are you authorized to take with you? Please review the Non-combatant
Evacuation Checklist on the NAF Atsugi website for guidance as to what to
pack. Remember, Korea is cold this time of the year, so prepare and dress
accordingly. I would pack for 3-5 days. NAF Atsugi Branch Health Clinic
will remain open through the night to refill necessary prescriptions.
Legal will also remain open for Power of Attorney processing. We are
requesting further guidance from CNFJ as to procedures for pets, baggage
weights, etc, that we hope to have shortly.

This is going to be a high capacity operation.
. The order of departure is women and children first.
. Non-essential personnel
. Essential personnel
. And finally me
We will likely prioritize families by the age of their children, with
infants and pregnancies first, toddlers second, grade schoolers, and then
teenagers.

The US Marine Corps III MEF will be the supported Commander in this
operation and that team will be flying in soonest to begin the orderly
voluntary evacuation process.

NAF Atsugi has turned into the logistical hub in support of operation
TOMODACHI. Our Sailors have done a great job supporting units from around
the Pacific and the U.S. Now is the time for us to care of their families.

There was an Ombudsman Assembly meeting scheduled for tonight. We will hold
that meeting at 1800 in the Little Theater, across from SLES. If you have
questions, please get them to your command ombudsman and we will have
support personnel there to answer questions.

Once again, please stay calm and prepare your families for travel. Thank
you.

V/R,
CAPT Eric "Biff" Gardner
Commanding Officer
Naval Air Facility Atsugi

I figured this would happen

Another update for those of you back home. Glenn left today. The planes have been instructed to "get outta dodge" to make room for the relief efforts. Other ships are in our area filling in during our guys' time off so they are using our base as a staging point. Glenn and his mighty E-2 are not needed during this time (mostly the helicopters are needed for search and rescue and delivering supplies) so they are on their way elsewhere.

I was telling a friend earlier that this reminded me of Hurricane Dean when we were living in Kingsville, TX. The hurricane was headed towards the Texas coast so all of the airplanes were evacuated further inland, leaving the wives and children behind.

Don't worry though, I've got my big girl undies on. I'm taking care of my Stella bear and weathering the craziness here at Atsugi. We're fine. We're in no harm for the time being.

Several families have chosen to return to the States on their own. This is not required or requested by the Navy, but for personal choices. Some are pregnant and worried about the radiation. Some have small children and worry the same. With the husbands departing (the helos are also moving further north to help from a closer base) it is easier to be with family than be alone. Some are just crazy-pants (in my opinion).

At this time, I don't plan on going anywhere. Thank you for the phone calls and emails though (when the power is working). They mean a lot!

Some Levity & More Updates

Some friends and I went shopping at H&M a few months ago, but then the girl with the pictures on her camera moved. Now she is settled in Maryland and look what shows up in my inbox! Apparently jumpers are in this spring....and leopard print. I think I promised Ann I wouldn't post this, but seriously Ann, you can rock that mini dress. At least I didn't put it on FB.

I ventured off base yesterday to teach the second of my English classes for the week. The rest were all canceled because of the earthquake. I decided to take the train (even though I typically drive) because of the gas shortages and what I had heard about terrible traffic. I left with plenty of time to spare to take the local train (no express trains are available) and walk to my class. I made it there with no trouble. We had a small class since many people couldn't make it. It was nice to chat with everyone and make sure they and there families were safe. After class the teacher that I teach with, dropped me off at the station and I walked towards the Odakyu line where the train employees were standing in front of the gates, no trains, no schedule. Ugh. I looked around for the signs explaining what was going on...only in Japanese.

Me: "Excuse me, do you speak English?"
Train Guy: "Yes, a little"
Me: "Can you tell me what is happening?"
TG: "Uhhh...4 days ago, we had big earthquake now and now....uhhh denki, nan desu ka?"
Me: "Yes, I know. What time will the trains start?"
TG: "Around 6:00"

Since it was only 4:00 at the time, I quickly called Mayumi back to come pick me up. She graciously drove me the 45 minutes back home (in very little traffic). The only long lines of cars we saw were in line for the gas stations. Some of the lines were 20-30 cars deep!

So if you plan on going anywhere for the next couple weeks, I would drive! The trains are unpredictable right now with the power outages. Speaking of which, we're suppose to have another one in 2 hours.

Too bad I can't go shopping for more leopard print during the power outage. Also, the radiation levels on Atsugi base are back down to zero although that didn't stop one of the pilots in Glenn's squadron from getting his boots confiscated for having radiation levels that were too high. I guess he drove home in his socks!

Radiation Updates

For those of you watching the news and CNN like we are, don't worry, we are safe. First we received this information from our obmudsman (Navy-family liason):

  I have been informed by RADM Wren, Commander Naval Forces Japan,
that a third reactor at Fukushima has exploded.  Winds currently are tending
from the Northeast which means that extremely low levels of radiation - 1.5
milliREMs (about the radiation of a chest XRAY) was detected in Yokosuka,
and 0.5 milliREMs was just detected at NAF Atsugi.
    Recommendations from RADM Wren will be forthcoming officially, but
he just relayed to me the following actions that should occur to take the
most conservative approach to this situation.

A. Minimize outside exposure
B. Secure outside ventilation sources

All NAFA personnel should stay inside as much as possible.  Staying inside
decreases exposure by 60%. 

As we receive RADM Wren's official guidance that he is coordinating with the
US Ambassador, then we will forward that, but for right now please execute
the above actions until further guidance is gained.  Thank you.

We also received this email today (amongst many others updating us constantly about the situation): 

Subject: Precautionary Measures

All,

I was just briefed by the technicians taking air samples here at Atsugi.
The readings they are seeing are EXTREMELY LOW.  

Their assessment is that one hour of activity outside would be equal to one
day's worth of what you normally experience as a result of your TV,
Microwave Oven & Cell Phone.  Staying inside all but eliminates the slight
increase to what you normally would receive.  

Short transits will cause a minimal increase of the radiation you normally
are exposed to daily.  

DCAG 

So as you can see, we are fine and if things get worse, we will be taken care of. Some people are getting very stressed about the situation, but there doesn't seem to be a point to me quite yet. As you can see from the map I posted earlier, we are very far from the reactor. They are only evacuating a 20 km radius from the reactor site. We are over 200 miles away. None of my Japanese friends/students are stressed, in fact, a few of my classes are still continuing as scheduled for Wednesday. Don't worry, Glenn and I are enjoying an afternoon/evening of TV (well, for 20 more minutes when the power is scheduled to be turned off). If you can't get in touch with us, it's because of the rolling power outages!

Where is Atsugi Base?

Many of our friends and family have asked where we are in relation to the earthquake and nuclear reactors. Here is a map of the affected areas. You can see us in the south by the 'We are Here' arrow. As you can see, we are pretty far from the main areas of devastation.

Earthquake Update

Hello Everyone,
   Thank you all for the well wishes and messages of concern about the earthquake. Glenn, Stella and I are all safe and far from the devastated areas. The nuclear reactors experiencing problems are about 200 miles from us and are not a concern at the moment.
   This weekend was interesting, but uneventful for us. Glenn was called in to work on Saturday to do some mission planning in case they were called upon to help with the relief efforts. So far, they have not be asked to help, but are 'on call' in case that happens. The USS Ronald Reagan is in the area to help as well.
   We stayed close to home all weekend because of the closed trains and highways throughout much of Japan as well as the continuing aftershocks. We didn't want to get stranded somewhere like many of our friends did on Friday night.
   The commissary and stores on base remained open, but with many efforts being redirected and Japanese supplies closed, I'm not sure when things will be restocked. The gas station on base has started rationing gas, but I waited in line for 15 minutes on Sunday before they had started rationing. Now there is a 10 gallon max if you have less than 1/4 tank. Good thing my car only holds 8 gallons anyway. :)
   Rolling blackouts were suppose to start this morning on base for 4 hour blocks, twice a day, but as you can see, the power and internet are still on. The same is happening off base to conserve power and word on the street is, will continue til April.
   I'm going in a couple hours to help pack up a hangar full of donated food, clothing and blankets from base. We're hoping that the helicopters can deliver the items to the tsunami victims in the north that are without a home now.
   From what I've read, Japan has shown its true colors in a time of devastation. Here's an article about Japan's manners in a time like this. That is an inspiration, I think. Like a friend said, "Remember what happened after Katrina?" Definitely a different attitude.
   So for us, things are much the same. My Japanese friends and students are safe. My home and family are secure. Thank goodness for that. Thanks for thinking of all of us.

Kelly

Happy Birthday Laura!

Happy Birthday Laura! I hope you and Baby J have a fabulous day today! I think you need to update you blog more often so we can see how s/he is doing. Miss you lots! See you in September!

8.9 Earthquake!

What a crazy afternoon we just had! I was sitting at the computer watching Desperate Housewives on the computer when I felt the earthquake start. This is probably the 10th earthquake we've had while we've been in Japan, but only the 4th or 5th that I've felt. I was holding Stella and waiting the 20-30 seconds they usually last, but after 30 seconds it still wasn't stopping! I had time to put the leash on Stella and get out of the house while it was still going on. I think it lasted 2-3 minutes. Outside I could see the cars shaking, the trees swaying and poor Stella staying low to the ground. The earthquake was a magnitude 5.5 here from what I've heard. What a crazy sea sickness type feeling. Here's video of the mini mart a few miles away at Camp Zama. A friend was at the mini mart on base here and they made them evacuate. Not surprising!

I came back inside to find a few things on the floor and a broken picture frame that fell off the top of the bookcase. Nothing major. I'm glad our wine glasses are in a cabinet with a door! I'm glad I ran outside though, the picture from was right next to were I was sitting!

Times like this are when I love facebook and the immediacy of it. Several friends were stuck in traffic or in another city. When the earthquakes happen, the trains shutdown obviously. Which means, traffic stops because you can't cross the tracks. Several friends posted messages to have neighbors check on their dogs. Others were stuck out in town and are walking home and can now get picked up! Facebook is fabulous (note: only if you have an iPhone...).

A few of us turned to the Japanese News Channel where they were posting live video of the tsunamis and damage closer to the epicenter. It's crazy what a little shaking can do. In some places there were 8-10 meter tsunami waves! Hopefully no one was injured. Over the next hour, we had 2 or 3 more aftershocks. A couple small and another big one.

Of course, as is life in the Navy, when something crazy happens, your husband is unreachable. Glenn was in an airplane flying so he probably didn't even know it happened, but he's coming back to an evacuated hangar. :) Stella and I are safe and sound.

I just talked to Glenn and he said he saw many buildings in Tokyo on fire!

What a day!

I wish I was here...

Have fun together this weekend, ladies! I wish I was there too!

See you in 5 months!

Visitors!

My parents are coming to visit in April!! I'm so excited to see them! This will be their second trip to Japan. They came in September 2009. Now we've got to start planning a new itinerary!

Sun, Apr #, 2011
Rochester Municipal Airport, (RST) to Tokyo Narita Airport, (NRT)

Flight:         Delta Air Lines Flight #   
Depart:         12:30 PM, Rochester, MN (RST)
Arrive:         01:18 PM, Minneapolis, MN (MSP)

Flight:         Delta Air Lines Flight #   (on Boeing 747-400)
Depart:         03:00 PM, Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Arrive:         05:20 PM, Next day Tokyo, Japan (NRT)
______________________________________________________

Wed, Apr #, 2011
Tokyo Narita Airport, (NRT) to Rochester Municipal Airport, (RST)

Flight:         Delta Air Lines Flight #    (on Boeing 747-400)
Depart:         03:55 PM, Tokyo, Japan (NRT)
Arrive:         01:00 PM, Minneapolis, MN (MSP)

Flight:         Delta Air Lines Flight #   

Depart:         02:20 PM, Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Arrive:         03:01 PM, Rochester, MN (RST)
______________________________________________________

Passenger Name: Delbert Lawson
Passenger Name: Katherine Lawson

New Obsession

Since I have lately been in the mindset that we are leaving soon (even though it is still 5-6 months away), I have been house hunting on the internet. Why are houses so expensive? All the ones in the area I love are way too expensive! Or they will have already sold by the time we get there...which is why my searching now is pointless, but I enjoy it anyway!

Here are a few of my current favorites:

These house are all in Ghent, West Ghent or Colonial Place in Norfolk, VA. I don't even know where to start if we were headed to TX, CA, MS or NV! I mostly did this so Glenn could see what I've been looking at. :)

Hina Matsuri

Last Thursday, March 3th, was Hina Matsuri in Japan. It is better known as the Girls' Day Festival. During the month or few weeks leading up to the festival, collections of dolls known as hina dolls are put on display in homes where women live. Each granddaughter, daughter and mother has their own set of hina dolls be it big or small.

Here is a blurb from Wikipedia about the day:
The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period. Formerly, people believed the dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits. Hinamatsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi ("doll floating"), in which straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them. The Shimogamo Shrine celebrates the Nagashibina by floating these dolls between the Takano and Kamo Rivers to pray for the safety of children. People have stopped doing this now because of fishermen catching the dolls in their nets. They now send them out to sea, and when the spectators are gone they take the boats out of the water and bring them back to the temple and burn them.
The customary drink for the festival is shirozake, a sake made from fermented rice. A colored hina-arare, bite-sized crackers flavored with sugar or soy sauce depending on the region, and hishimochi, a diamond-shaped colored rice cake, are served. Chirashizushi (sushi rice flavored with sugar, vinegar, topped with raw fish and a variety of ingredients) is often eaten. A salt-based soup called ushiojiru containing clams still in the shell is also served. Clam shells in food are deemed the symbol of a united and peaceful couple, because a pair of clam shells fits perfectly, and no pair but the original pair can do so.
Families generally start to display the dolls in February and take them down immediately after the festival. Superstition says that leaving the dolls past March 4 will result in a late marriage for the daughter.

Last week, I attended a Girls' Day lunch at one of my student's family's house. We ate the traditional foods and they showed us their large display of hina dolls. It was a fun afternoon!

My student is Nanako, the 4 year old, and my friend Brittany teaches her Grandma and friend. Nanako's mother's hina dolls are displayed behind us.

 Here are pictures of some of the yummy food they made for us! Sashimi! Vegetables! Rice!

 Nabe! Champagne!

 Coffee and dessert! The strawberries are in season in Japan right now and they are amazing!

 Thanks for wonderful day!

Flashback Friday

Glenn's dad spent several weeks converting their old slides to digital pictures. He gave us a CD of what I'm assuming is several thousands pictures. I haven't had the chance to dig through all of them, but the Batman outfit that was top picture in this folder had me intrigued. Here's a picture of Glenn and his sister from back in the mid-80s. Makes me smile. :)

Debates

We're now approaching the 6 month mark of our time left in Japan. Our PRD (Projected Rotation Date) is September 2011. How are we here already?! It seems like we just left for Japan not so long ago, but now we are quickly running out of time to check all of those boxes. I'm ready though. I'm ready to move, to start our next adventure and do so with our families and friends closer.

Glenn is still attempting to get a hold of his detailer (job assigner guy) to work out where we will go next. Where might we go, you ask?

• Back to Norfolk, VA where Glenn would be an instructor in the training squadron, VAW-120
• Back to Kingsville or Corpus Christi, TX where Glenn would also be a training instructor
• To Meridian, MS where he could also be an instructor
• To Pt Mugu, CA where he could be a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (he could do the same in Norfolk or Fallon, NV as well)

I'm sure there are other possibilities that I don't even know about, but that's what things are looking like right now. Lots of options! Our first choice is to go back to Norfolk, but we have been debating what our second choice would be (if the Navy gave us a choice). Would we buy a house? Would we not buy a house? Which city would we live in in each area? Up until Japan, we didn't really have much choice and in Japan, most of those choices are moot, so now I feel like we have so many things to think about! Thinking about them, though, just makes me want to get started. Let's move already.

We still have some major obstacles in the way of moving though. An entire summer deployment, for example. Another 4 month deployment makes moving seem SO far away, but a few more months with Glenn before he leaves, a visit from my parents and it will be time for packing and cleaning before I know it. I'm planning on heading out in August and Glenn will meet Stella and I back in the States. The countdown is on!

Who Glenn was playing with in Guam

Here is the photo exercise photo from Cope North 2011. It was a multinational joint exercise of some sort or something. Glenn got to ride in the B-52 (the plane in the front) on one of the days too. Neato!

JAFG Valentine's Lunch

 Here are some pictures from our February meetings. Such cute little ladies. I look forward to seeing them every month!

 Baby June!