Tuesday 10: Things I am Excited about in America

In no particular order...

1. Target. Where I can buy shoes! I can buy shoes again at a store! Although, Glenn would say this has saved us money, I miss being able to see a cute pair of shoes and they might actually have them in my size! And of course all the fun things that you find at Target that you never knew you needed.

2. Craft Stores. They have some here in Japan, but 1) they are expensive and 2) they don't carry scrapbook supplies or craft supplies that I use.

3. A back yard. This is really #1 on my list. Glenn and I have been looking at houses on the internet and our number 1 wish is a back yard. We can let Stella run around, we can entertain, we can eat alfresco. I can.not.wait.

4. Two towel bars. I know, so silly, but I am sick of my make shift towel bar that I have been using for 2 1/2 years. It's the little things. My current towel bar is made from 2 sticky hooks and a bar from an old shoe rack.

5. Driving. I'm excited to be able to get in the car and know where we are going. Not having to plan out our trip with landmarks and maps and the GPS. Not having to deal with crazy traffic like this. Or $25 tolls to drive to the hospital.

6. Reading. I'll be able to read the signs and the directions and the stores and the advertisements. Oh the possibilities!

7. My family. I'm excited to be able to get on an airplane for less than $1000 and see my family and friends. Birthday parties, visits, holidays. They are going to get to see me all the time!

8. Friends and Babies. Close to my arrival in America, 3 of my besties will be having babies. I can't wait to meet all of them! And baby Jack who was born a few months ago! I can't wait to see all my girlfriends. I've missed them so much!

9. Real grocery stores. I'm tired of reading a fun recipe in Food & Wine and not being able to make it because we can't find the items in the recipe. The commissary is great, but they only carry "commonly used" items. You're not going to find something unusual at the commissary. Or even the items that you need. Like the week we didn't have black beans? What was that all about? Or how I now have to special order Greek yogurt. Rame.

10. Glenn being home. Glenn recently left on his last deployment with VAW-115 and it will be our longest without seeing each other. Possibly in to triple digits. I'm not looking forward to that, but once we get to America, he will be on shore duty! That means no more long deployments or living on a ship for him! Family time for us!

My doppleganger a la advertisement

Some friends went out in Yokohama last night and they sent me this picture! I actually think it does look like me! I didn't tell them I've been modeling in Japan for 2 years. Ha! Apparently I have a Japanese doppleganger who is!

Happy 10 Year Reunion!

Today is the 10 year reunion for Mayo High School Class of 2001. I'm a little sad that I am missing it, but since we're moving so soon, it just didn't make sense to make the trip back. It's just too expensive.

Also, I think I remember about 25 people that I graduated with. The other 175? Yeah, I probably wouldn't recognize them and then that would just be awkward.

I hope you have fun tonight Class of 2001! It sure doesn't seem like it's been 10 years. I wish I had my old photos here in Japan so I could post some from high school. Especially those before the school looked like this!

Sorry baby girl

I think she hopes she'll get packed as well. Although, I think she'll be afraid of those ladder-wells. I bet the kneeknockers would be tiring for her tiny legs as well. Sorry, baby girl.

Wordless Wednesday

The Grossest Thing I've Heard

This is random and so so gross. Glenn told me that while cleaning the USS George Washington's ventilation system, the crew collected 4 tons of dust and debris. FOUR TONS?! That's 8000 pounds of human skin and hair and general nastiness. It's no wonder Glenn (and everyone for that matter) gets sick during the first several weeks of cruise. And a new guy? Forget about it. You'll be down for the count as soon as you climb aboard.

Blech. Sorry for the dry heaving I just induced.

A world apart...

The reality of moving is starting to set in, despite the fact that we don't actually know where we are moving to or when exactly, but it's coming, soon. Maybe. I hope.

I was reading a fellow Navy wife's blog and they are in a similar situation, except replace Japan with Naples, Italy. I really couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks for allowing me to relate!

New Furniture!

Shortly before my BFF Gizelle left Atsugi, I joked that her house was turning in to a furniture show room. Well... my house is getting closer to that as well. Last weekend was the last Camp Zama bazaar that I was able to attend before we PSC (move) out of here. Sad!

I went without Glenn, my friend Kristy and a purse full of yen- a bad, but good combination! I hadn't planned on buying any furniture, but this piece was at a super low price (much lower than most of the furniture that I've bought- this is piece #6 btw). I have no idea where I will use it in our future house, but I liked how versatile it was/could be. It could be used as a pantry or linen "closet" or even a TV center if I take out the drawers in the middle cabinet. See how I convinced myself???

In Japan, it is called a tansu (chest of drawers) and was designed to hold kimonos. The center cabinet has drawers that slide out and are the size that kimono folds in to. The piece is actually 3 separate cabinets so it makes moving and carrying it much easier. For now, it will live in the corner of the living room until we move.

Now, if the moth ball smell would go away... I could actually store things in it. I think 2 months in a crate across the ocean will help that... :/

O.M.G.

A few Sundays ago, on a beautiful day, Glenn and I headed to O.M.G Burgers. I had read an article in the paper and have seen the owner's car/advertisement around base so we decided to check it out. It was about a 30 minute drive from base with minimal traffic. There was outdoor seating and we could even bring Stella bear. All pluses in my book. Oh and they had the best burger I've had in Japan!

The burgers come with everything on it- bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and this yummy orange mayo sauce. Glenn ordered the 16 cm, I had the 12 cm with fries and unlimited lemonade. Yay America!

I'd like to go back some time and order one of their shakes or perhaps the 30 cm, 8 1/2 lb challenge burger! We need to get Man vs. Food out here!

It's easy to find- make the drive if you live around here. It's like a taste of home!

Rainy Season

Apparently rainy season started 2 weeks early this year. Merde. (That's French for $h!t. I'm classy like that). Hopefully that means that it will end early as well since that coincides with my parents' rescheduled trip to Japan!

Until then, I see a whole lot of this in my future:

I might just have to purchase a deployment gift for myself:

Although Glenn says that my boot count has reached double digits, which apparently is unacceptable, so I may have to choose a single pair...hmmm...touch decisions...