What's for Dinner? Sushi

Glenn and I finally made sushi for dinner like I have wanted to for a long time. We somewhat perfected the sticky vinegar rice that is used for sushi, but I think we used too much for some of the rolls. Either way, it was nice to have some American style maki (rolls) sushi for dinner!

We made philly rolls (salmon and cream cheese), california rolls (crab, avocado, cucumber), spicy tuna and a few others. We definitely had some leftovers!

I had an iPad for 3 hours...

One of my students is obsessed with Apple. Ridiculously obsessed. To the point that he couldn't wait an additional 4 weeks for an iPad after the release date in Japan was pushed back. His solution? Ask me to order one from the US. Which has all English apps, requires use of American itunes (which requires an American credit card and mailing address). He went through all that for an iPad 4 weeks early. Ok! So here's the iPad I had for 3 hours...

He of course paid me back for the iPad, shipping, taxes, forwarding service (since Apple won't ship to FPO addresses..boo!) and my trouble, but when we made the exchange, he brought me the cutest Japanese cakes. That is true Japanese style. Do something for me, I will give you something wonderful or edible. Or wonderfully edible.

PS. Did you notice it has a little ice pack since it was hot out last week. So smart. So J.

Thanks Osami! And no Annie, I didn't take his picture, but I wish I would have! He was very excited! He drove all the way to base to pick it up!

Wordless Wednesday

What's for Dinner? Brunner

Brunch for dinner? Dunch? Drunch? Either way, I had breakfast for dinner. Typically when Glenn is deployed or gone, Friday is Pancake Friday. I make a big batch, freeze them and then when Friday rolls around and I want something easy and quick before I go out to meet my girlfriends, pancakes it is!

Well, earlier this week, I hosted our monthly spouses club meeting. I had leftover food from the meeting and figured it would be perfect for Friday night dinner. I guess, I didn't really plan that, but when 6:00 rolled around on Friday evening, that's what I saw when I opened the fridge. Brunner was born! I say brunch for dinner because I had a glass of wine with it. Breakfast only includes mimosas, brunch includes wine! Plus dinfast and breakner just don't sound as good.

For the OSSG (Officer Spouses Support Group, I know we sound like an AA group or something) I made mini quiche things based on this recipe. I added some sausage, used green onion instead of a grated onion and followed the first suggestion and used phyllo dough on the bottom instead of bread. I also made this monkey bread recipe. It is a great recipe for brunches and breakfast potlucks because it looks pretty, is easy to serve/separate and it goes over great!

Glenn's only been gone 3 days, but the not buying grocery game has already begun! I think I probably save hundreds of dollars over the summer by just using what I already have and being creative. Although last night I had leftover buffalo chicken dip and mac n' cheese for dinner. Oprah would not have approved of that dinner! Meh!

Yokohamaya

One of Glenn's favorite restaurants in Japan in Yokohamaya, a ramen shop. It is a chain restaurant that we called shinshinmen for the longest time because we didn't know the name and that was our favorite thing on the menu. Now when we go, we don't even have to look at the English menu, we always order the same thing!

     "Ichi shinshinmen betsu betsu, set B to gyoza. Arigato!"
     "One spicy ramen, split with fried rice and friend dumplings. Thank you!"

It was one of Glenn's requests to go here before he leaves for deployment so we went last Monday before I went to Bingo night with Nicole. Always delicious.

Notice that Glenn is now sporting his "cruise" haircut. I gave him a buzz cut last weekend before he left for Iwo Jima. Easier when you're wearing a helmet every day I suppose!

Happy Mother's Day!

Wish we could see you two for mother's day! Miss you and love you!

Sagamihara Giant Kite Festival

I went to this festival with my former student, Keiko. Keiko has started graduate school so we no longer meet for class, but I was so happy she invited me to go to the festival with her! When I say giant kite, I mean seriously giant. The biggest kite was the size of 128 tatami mats. Why the J's use a tatami mat as a measurement, I will never know, but a single tatami mat is 90 cm x 180 cm and it weighed 950 kg! We're talking over 2000 pounds for all you Americans! Here is Keiko and I in front of the giant kite.

The kites were all on display for picture taking and viewing and while we waited for the wind to pick up. Keiko and I had some yummy food while we waited and enjoyed the sunshine. It was a beautiful day. The wind wasn't too strong so only the smaller kites made it in to the air. They were still the biggest kites I have ever seen!

This is as far as the giant kite ever made it-

Keiko was worried the whole time that I wasn't enjoying myself simply because I didn't see the big kite fly, but it was still amazing. It took 80 people to try and fly the biggest kite. Take a look at the rope they are pulling!

The team of 80 people was orchestrated by team leaders with red and white flags. Red means wait. White means ready to go. Surprisingly, to get the kites in the air, they simply lifted the front edge and waited for the wind to catch it, then they would push up the next section and finally push the edge of the kite up. It was pretty simple for the smaller kites. The hardest part was keeping all of the ropes straight and untangled!

I also loved the carp fish wind socks that were hanging all across the fair grounds. They used these to measure the wind speed and said when the fish were parallel to the ground, it would be time to fly!

We weren't quite ready yet at this time of the day. A beautiful way to spend a Tuesday afternoon!

Yokohama Bay Festival

Since this week is a holiday in Japan, most of my regular classes have been canceled. On Monday, I went to Yokohama with my Tuesday night students to see the Bay Festival parade. Parades in Japan aren't too different than American parades except for the candy. No one hands out candy, bummer. We saw lots of marching bands, baton twirlers and dancers.

Here is Hatsuki and Keita and me. I also brought my friend, Nicole. She moved to Japan about two months ago. Here we are eating our conbini lunches (convenience store lunch).

We also got a little added entertainment when a police officer tried to stop a man from riding his bike down the blocked off street. The guy fell and scraped his knee. Nine cops, an hour and an ambulance later, and we think he was finally taken care of.

It was a perfect day to be out in the sun and enjoying the weather. Thanks for taking us, Keita and Hatsuki!

The beginning...

Glenn left yesterday for Iwoto/Iwo Jima. They are getting ready for their carrier qualification which means (cue evil daunting music) deployment is just around the corner. Didn't we just go through a deployment? Yes. That is the beauty of a forward-deployed airwing. Glenn's squadron and the rest of the airwing deploys annually. Most airwings in the states only go on deployment once or twice every 3 years give or take. Of course lately, it's been a little more give than take.

Last summer, I didn't think deployment would be so bad- and it wasn't. I had several of my best friends in Japan and had made a couple new close friends. Now Laura's gone. And Annie. And Gizelle is leaving in July. It's the way of the Navy I suppose. You say goodbye to one friend and make another, but it doesn't make the goodbye's any easier. I guess I've gotten used to having Glenn home and it has been wonderful. I'm not ready for the summer to start and now it's May already! It's already here.

I suppose the summer will be what I make of it and hopefully there will be lots of traveling whether it is to visit Glenn or not (since the port calls keep changing every day)!

Glenn's address over the summer will be his "boat" address. You can send care packages and letter to:

LT Glenn J. Smith

VAW-115 Unit 25428

FPO AP 96601-6403

He always appreciates hearing from everyone, otherwise he just hears my side/version of every story!

What is it about an organized space...?

When I open my drawer now, it makes me a little happier...