My new favorite thing

Glenn and I really like the show Burn Notice. Lately I have become obsessed with Fiona's hip bag. Apparently, other people on the internet are obsessed as well.

So, if you would like to purchase me a birthday/Christmas present. The closest look-alike I could find, can be found here. Mom, I'd like dark brown. :)

While in Singapore I found a cute not-so-look-alike, but still cute bag for S$13. I'm wearing it here:

Yes, some may call it a fanny pack, but I call it a hands-free purse. I love it!

BINGO!

Nicole called me up last Monday before we left for Singapore and told me that it was $10,000 pot night at Bingo! I've never played Bingo, but told her that I was in and we headed over the the Enlisted Club on base. I had no idea what crazy bingo fans there are in this world! I could barely watch my own 1, 2 or 3 cards and people were playing 12 at a time! What?!

We even had to buy our own official dobbers! Nicole walked away $125 dollars richer (well minus the $29 for our pack of cards). I was not so lucky, but we had a ton of fun. I have a feeling we'll be back when the guys head out for the summer. The lady at the table next to us said she won $30,000 in Yokosuka (she had to split a $60,000 pot with another winner)!

It's my kind of gambling I think. I can eat and drink and hang out with my friends! See you next Monday Nicole!

Singapore!

Singapore was fantastic and just what I hoped it would be- relaxing, fun times together. I like that our anniversary is in April because it gives an excuse to go on a vacation before Glenn leaves for cruise. And fun surprise this year- cruise is going to be 3 weeks longer this year! Joy! [Insert: sarcasm]

Here was a typical day in Singapore-

What should we do today?

Do that/Sightsee/Shop

Eat

Drink

Pool Time

Drink/Eat

I'll update more this weekend or next week. Have a good weekend!

Happy Anniversary, baby!

I can't believe it's been 4 years since we got married at the courthouse in Pensacola and 3 years since this day. Love you, Mr. I can't wait for 30 or 40 more years to come. Muoh!

Connor and Brooke!

Laura sent some new pictures of my favorite niece and nephew! Connor playing t-ball now!

I think that helmet is a little big for Connor's head! :)

Hanami in Ueno

Last Saturday, Glenn, Stella and I headed to Ueno Park in Tokyo to enjoy a hanami party with friends. Glenn and I showed up around lunch time, but Seth and Rett got there at 7 am just to find a spot to put their tarp. You have no idea how many people were there! It was packed! Stella had to be carried through the park because it was too busy to let her walk!

It was a wonderful day of picnicing, drinking, enjoying friends and meeting new Japanese friends. Mostly, the just brought us drinks and acted drunk, but they were still fun too!

The Js definitely know how to picnic. There were spots reserved for companies and boxes all set aside. Don't wear your shoes on the plastic either! It's just like in Japanese homes...

It was dark before we knew it and definitely time to head home! Stella's second adventure in Japan. I think she was a little overwhelmed, but she did great.

Cherry blossom season is definitely one of my favorite times in Japan. I'm happy that we'll be able to experience 3 of them while we're here!

Karaoke!

Several weeks ago, Glenn and I went out with our VRC-30 friends. They fly the C-2. They were welcoming their newest pilot so we went to Mike's Mexican for dinner and then out to karaoke! When I go without Glenn, sometimes I sing, but Glenn and Nicole are just too good to keep up with!

Glenn tends to sing Billy Joel and he's pretty good at it so I guess I understand why!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Glenn and I are headed to Singapore today for a short vacation! It has snuck up on me this week. Usually I start packing a week beforehand, but I just started a few days ago! I miss the warm weather in Guam and can't wait for some more!

When we get back we're going to the Lady Gaga concert in Yokohama and then it is Badman Week (think Homecoming week ala high school/Greek Week in college). April is going to be a fun month! I want to to last a long as possible though. I am NOT looking forward to May. Boo.

Yay vacation!

LT Zilberman

If you have a chance, watch the video on the webpage below. It's a nice tribute to a hero who saved his crew. The E-2 community is a small one and although Glenn and I didn't personally know LT Zilberman, we know many people did. We're all thinking about our Bluetail family today.

Memorial service held for E-2C aviator

Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman died in March crash

Updated: Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 5:17 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 9:17 AM EDT

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Navy held a private memorial service Thursday morning at the Naval Station Norfolk Chapel for Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman.

Zilberman, 31, of Columbus, Ohio, was killed in the crash of an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft on March 31st in the North Arabian Sea.

The aircraft, assigned to Norfolk-based Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Bluetails," was returning to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) following a mission over Afghanistan when the crash occurred.

It was learned at the memorial service that the starboard engine on the plane developed problems and had to be shut down.

According to the Navy, the propeller failed to feather or turn freely in the wind after the shutdown, causing unequal thrust on each wing. As a result, the plane began a descent that could not be corrected.
With the auto-pilot incapable of holding the aircraft, Lt. Zilberman ordered his crew to bailout.  He stayed at the controls, allowing his three fellow crewmates to successfully exit the plane.  The three were recovered uninjured.

Following an extensive three-day search involving several ships and aircraft, LT Zilberman was declared deceased.

The Navy posthumously awarded Zilberman the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary heroism."

He leaves behind a wife and two small children.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Fukui: Day 3

On Sunday, we woke up to no snow, no rain, but cloudy gray skies. We decided to brave it and head to Tojinbo which is along the Sea of Japan, northwest of Fukui. We got on a train in the morning a little before lunch. I laughed when I saw the train, because this was it-

Just ONE car! The stations we stopped at were so small that the ticket taker actually rode the train up and down the coast and took your tickets as you got off. No need for someone at each station! It was pretty cute though.

When we got off the train, we headed towards the beach and to the hiking trail. We started near the red dot on the map and hiked along the coast up towards the island in the NW corner of the map. We hiked across the bridge and then headed back south to the train station. Along the way we saw beautiful cliffs and rocks. It was really cold, but still nice enough for the daffodils to be blooming and us to have a picnic!

Tojinbo is actually infamous for the number of suicides committed here each year. Sadly, in Japan, suicide is still considered an honorable thing to do in certain circumstances. In the phone booths along the coast, we saw stacks of 10 yen coins to make free phone calls to the suicide prevention numbers also listed in the phone booth. Hillary was telling me about a NY Times article about a man who patrols the coast in the evenings to stop people from jumping.

Once we had gotten to the island and the bridge, we headed back south towards the train station. Of course, before we could get back, the skies opened and the rain started to downpour! I had to break a rule I have with Glenn though (long story) and we got a ride from a stranger! Thanks random J lady for giving us a ride. We would have been soaked otherwise!

Once we got back, we dropped our stuff off at the apartment, checked on Stella and went to dinner at a ramen restaurant. A rainy day is perfect for a giant bowl of noodles. The day was an adventure alright. Check hitch-hiking in Japan off my list!