Tim's NEW Car!

Well, Tim received it today, and paid the balance, and now we are the proud owners of a Daihatsu Mira Gino!

The outside is grey, and the inside is crimson.  I am calling it the 'Wazzumer.'  Of course, it has a lot of pep for 3 cylinder engine (659 ccs).  It weighs less than a Harley.  That might not be good, as Harleys often blow over in the wind over here.  At least Tim and pals can pick it back up.

We zoomed around in it as a family tonight, and it hit 40 kph.  That is the fastest one can go on base.

We went swimming tonight.  William dunked once for dad.  He attempted one for me and sucked up a bit of the pool.  He is signed up for swim lessons, so we thought we'd do a trial run through, so he's familiar with where he'll be going.

As we came home, he parked his car next to mine.  My car is only a few inches longer than his!  But his is narrower and lower.  It's a neat little car, and Tim fits in it fine.  I joke that it's a covered golf cart for getting onto base.

Tomorrow he has one last bit to do on base with it, then it goes for the final Japanese licensing.  Then we get plates, and we're in business!  It's nice to be a 2 car family again!

Actually, I'll still use the bus while we're here at the lodge because it's easier, and probably as quick as a car, since you have to park and walk into places.  The bus, now that I have a routine that coincides with the bus schedule, is far easier!

I do have to admit that getting groceries is easier, because you don't have to carry them as far.  

Sliding all the Way

Today we went to a park by the Yokohama zoo.  A friend, Rhonda, told us about it.  It's one of those rolling slide parks.  You need a small snow slider, or a piece of cardboard to do it quickly and safely.  Guess which one we had?

William had an absolute blast.  He went up more times than I can count.  We went on the big slide together, then William went all by himself for awhile on the medium slide.  Then he did the big one by himself again.  I was glad because it is a long trek up that hill!

Today is Greenery Day, a Japanese holiday.  So, there were was quite the crowd there.  The wait for the big slide was 20 minutes.  There are individual little plastic discs that you are sliding on.  

Also, it was the day where I drove on the toll road for the first time.  It costed $9.50 to go about 8 kilometers.  We took the non-toll road back.  It was most definitely slower, but infinitely cheaper.  

Carnival

Yesterday was the Co-op Preschool Spring Carnival.  It was a lot of fun.  The weather wasn't the best, so I hope they made enough money to make it worthwhile for everyone.  Of course, the stars of the show were the kid friendly folks, like Square Bob and Dora.

I had signed up to do the pony races.  William really got into it.  He loved 'riding' the ponies, and got practice in losing, as there were older kids racing, as well.  I got to do the starting trumpet sound, and 'call' the race.  William's friend, Grace and here sister, Mary got into it, as well.  The white horse with the blue hair was the 'princess pony' and Grace braided it's hair.  It was funny.

Tim was a great dad and watched William the whole time.  He helped with the clean-up as well.  They had to roll up all the bouncy inflatable houses, and big guys are needed for things like that.

Before we headed out, we got a call from Noel on the computer.  We love Skype or iChat, as they allow us to see people back home.  We chatted with Thayer, who showed us his lego invention, and then Tim's sister, Sandy.  She had waited until we were online to open the birthday gift we'd sent her.  I think it was because we had to explain what they were.  We'd gotten her 2 DVDs of Animusic.  Basically, they took music and made funky 3-D animations of drum sets, etc. and then you 'see' the music being played.  William loves watching it.  You can also select other camera angles to watch it from.  We also got Sandy the latest craze here in Japan.  It's an electronic bubble wrap popper.  It is on a keychain and you 'pop' the bubbles, and it makes the sound.  William's one talks to you occasionally.  If you set it down, it says something in Japanese.  It's kind of a cool stress reliever.  

William thinks it's great being able to see his cousins and folks back home.  He usually just wants to be silly in front of the camera, however.  

We miss folks back home, and Tim misses good beer...  He was looking longingly at a kegerator yesterday.  I wanted to know where he could get kegs from.  Tim now has a new 'project!'  He's now searching out where we could get a keg at.  We just need a house large enough for all of our projects...

Pacific Club

We had a great time at the Pacific Club party last night.  Tim had to do a short speech in Japanese.  Then he said in English, "What I MEANT to say was..."  

The one speech that cracked us up the most, was from a Japanese national who said, "I have ONE wife."  He was probably confused why it got a big laugh because I don't think they know about the Texas sect.

The food was really good.  This picture isn't great, but what cracked me up was that there's a long line of Americans for sushi, and here at the table where the beef was (it is now long gone) were all the Japanese.  

I should have had more sushi.  I had tried the tempura and although it was good, my chopsticks usage was not, and thankfully, my jacket wiped off well.

There weren't any chairs, so at one point, I went to find some place to sit.  I didn't even mind the smoking around me, my ankle and feet were so tired.  I did notice the bus drivers who were sitting there, drinking Asahi.  I am assuming they were the non-alcoholic versions.  So, I tried memorizing the color of can, so I won't make the mistake of getting non-beer here.  Japanese beer is so expensive that you don't want to pay for nothing!  And I can't read the kanji.

Pictured are Jim and Mary Manning, Pilar Recker and myself.

William loved his babysitters.  He is asking when they can come back.  So, LIFE IS GOOD!!!

When I was driving them home, I got stopped at a roadblock check-point.  The Japanese police officer spoke very good English, and was very nice, and let me go on.  I hadn't had anything to drink because I knew I had to take the girls home.  Japanese law gives you a hefty fine and a couple years in jail to think about the fact that you shouldn't have been so stupid as to risk other people's lives.

Field Trip

William's school field trip was to the commissary.  It was a good time.  They let us go into one of the coolers and one of the freezers.  You  can see that William really whooped it up.  I had to hold him most of the time so that he could see.

I, however, learned a lot.  The frozen meat is half price.  Good deal.  They stock all the boats and Singapore out of here, so it is a very large facility.  

I guess congress has decided they can buy produce cheaper than the commissaries, so now they have to buy their produce through a different place.  Blueberries went from $4 for a cup to $10 a cup.  I will probably end up buying most of my produce out in town.  It's usually a bit fresher.

They gave all the kids an apple when it was over.  I thought it was fun.  At one point when we were behind the scenes in the produce section, I read, "Fu-ji" in hiraganas.  WOO HOO!  One small victory.  

I had to go shopping this morning to complete an outfit for our Pacific Club event tonight.  Hard target shopping tends to take some of the fun out of it, but it makes it quicker and easier.

Signing up for field trips gives you at least an hour of 'volunteer' time.  I have to do 8 hours this semester.  Hmm...  By the end of Saturday's carnival, I'll have 6 hours done!  Woo hoo!  I don't mind volunteering.  It gives me something to do.  I've never been under the gun to do it before, but it is a co-op preschool, so there you go!

Tonight will be William's first babysitter experience over here.  I think it will be good for all of us to get away.

The Long Haul

Yesterday was one of those days where you realize how long the commitment to raising a child is.  

I think we are consistent with William, and have reasonable boundaries.  However, we are raising a very strong willed child.  He can be so silly and contrary and funny.  Sometimes, when something doesn't go his way or as expected, he isn't happy.  Consequently, nobody else gets to be happy, either.

Yesterday we didn't hook up with Thomas to go play.  You see, when someone says, "Let's get together and play," William assumes they are going to wait all day, in their apartment, for us to call (yes, we warn him that this might not happen).  So, when they aren't there when we call, all hope for a normal day is dashed.

When it comes time for me to write this blog after a day like yesterday, I just don't want to.   What can I write about?  For me, the day was one hurdle after another.  And he'd had plenty of rest and food, so that wasn't an excuse.  I'd let him play long and hard aft

er preschool on the play area, so he had been getting his energy used up.  

I'm not asking for advice.  I know every parent at one time or another, has had to realize that this is going to go on for years.  Deja vu with you thinking, "Isn't this child EVER going to get that this won't pay off for him?!?"  

I know that it's important not to give in.  I know that it may be years before he gets it. 

In other news, the previous day, he'd done really well when we went out with Tim's co-workers and friends.  We had a nice dinner out.  You have to know which narrow alley to go down in order to find it!  William loves tofu.  He'll always eat chicken and rice.  I need

 to start bringing our own fork and spoons for him, as he has a hard time with chopsticks.  Well, he uses the chopsticks for drumming on anything we'll let him drum on.  Which isn't much in a nice restaurant.

William on a happier day, got to ride one of those rides that cost 25 cents.  When we had pizza for lunch, he'd eaten it upside-down.  I guess that gives more taste to the taste buds.  Thank heavens it was sausage pizza, so nothing fell off since it was glued by cheese to the crust.

Spring Day

Yesterday was one of those pleasant spring days.  When I picked William up from Co-op Preschool, I sat on a park bench and read while William ran around with all the other kids on the playground.

I just love it when the sun is bright, the temperature is cool, and the greens of the new leaves and grass fill the eye with hope. 

William played almost an hour before he went to the fountain all the other kids were going to, and started holding his finger up to the nozzle to create a spray.  It's all fun and games until he was soaking wet.  He needs to work on his aim...  He was quite cold with the cool weather.  So, I put on his lined raincoat, this time for warmth.  

He did find a friend.  We've been viewing their blog since we met them by chance during our 3 week trip here a year and a half ago.  He's the only kid that William has immediately gotten along with.  In order to show William that Japan isn't scary, even to a child (since they're the same age) William has seen Joshua on video and pictures.  I keep meeting up with the mom by chance here (VERY COOL GAL), and I knew Joshua was in another class at the preschool.  But, I didn't push the friendship because they'll either sync, or not.  William all of a sudden says, "Mom!  I found Joshua!!!"  He was really excited.  And, they played well together.  Until they got into the mud...

This week, Tim is in meetings.  Many of the Puget people are in town for these meetings, so we're seeing people we know!  It's kinda funny, you feel like hugging folks you barely know, just because they're familiar!  We get to go out to dinner tonight with some of them.

Our house back home is still up for rent.  I guess we need to drop the price.  Tim's car back home still hasn't sold.  The guy brokering the car here for Tim has purchased 'the car,' but it has to be shipped from Osaka.

With all the items up in the air with this move, we are learning patience.  Or we're being subjected to it, I can't really tell.  Either way, it is an interesting experience.  I'm thinking I'm going to be in the Navy Lodge so long that I should have return address labels made.  I'm also contemplating contacting Guinness Book of World Records for the longest Navy Lodge stay.  Hey, it's gotta be a record!  That's if they'll extend us...  there is a limit on how long they'll let you live like you're on a sequestered jury.  

Little Drummer Boy

I bought my first ever crock-pot.  I've had use of ones before, but never wanted one.  The ovens are small here, and the stoves are small as well.  I figure that Tim and I will do 'Slow Cooker Sundays' and have friends over.  If they show, cool.  If not, fine... we'll have leftovers.

So, if you have a good recipe (I already have the tortilla soup one), email it on over!  My mom usually did a slow cooking roast on Sundays.  I remember coming home to the smell, and it was always delicious.  

I also bought a Japanese paper in English.  It's good to know what's going on in the world.  I like the other one I got last week better, as it has more Japan news.  I like knowing what's going on in Japan.  When I watch the news, I don't understand any of it.  I'll catch a word now and then, but knowing something happened 'yesterday' doesn't really flesh out the story for me!  Side-note:  William wrote part of my shopping list for me yesterday, and he wrote 'shinbun' (japanese newspaper) in Hiriganas!  He's been studying on his own.  He now says he knows Japanese if they'll write it down!  :)

In a previous post, I said I would add the video of William playing drums.  He LOVES to make 'rhythms' on things.  He walks around knocking on the walls, and drumming on mom.  I'm less thrilled with the slap pats, but he is into it.  

I don't know why I let him play with drums.  Now he's going to want some! 

Compromised Disposition

William and Kyle have found a train play area.  How cool is this?  

Okay, so today Tim said that I have a 'compromised disposition.'  He is right.  We've been here 44 days, and the walls are closing in.  

There are 2 crying babies in the rooms across the hall from us, so my night's sleep has been interrupted several times.  At one point, I didn't realize there were 2 different babies, and I was wondering why I didn't see a frazzled mom with a child who is waking up every 2 hours.

Yesterday we went to the Spring Bazaar.  Lots of items.  Without a house, I can't even go rug shopping yet.  Tim looked in horror as I perused the Persian rugs.  

Tim and William went back today to look for a rain coat for William (unlined).  Both Tim and I scored new coats yesterday.  After Tim was dressed this morning, William picked out his outfit.  It cracked me up.

I have been doing laundry.  It seems to take forever, as the dryers take a long time.  I have been in laundry mode for almost 6 hours now.  Wow.  We do have a lot of laundry each week.

I had promised to show you two items from previous posts.  One is the ice cream machine (which Tim said was not unique to Japan).

Sushi American Style

Okay, so I had to do something for a bake sale.  We have no oven, so I decided to do rice crispy treats.  I thought I'd ramp it up a bit, and here's what I came up with.  I have to admit, I was sweating it a bit.  The NEX didn't have Swedish fish or blue sharks for the longest time.

The attempt to imitate crab rowe... I used Nerds.  Nerds are sour.  There's only one per plate.  

The salmon roe is Yogos, and they are sweet.  

Yep, you notice the fruit roll-ups.

For awhile, it wasn't forming.  It had to cool a bit before I could roll, and then it was a race to do as many as I could before it was too hard.

All in all, it was kind of a fun project.  

---UPDATE---  5 sold rather quickly, mainly to my American friends who were there.  It was nice having a DONATION section for those who didn't want to buy a cake for $100.  

I have to find out the rest of the story, since I wasn't there for an ending on the open auction (I guess you'll have to come back to this post to see the ending when I update this next Monday).  There was a guy who was insisting he needed this german chocolate cake.  We asked him what would he do if we out-bid him?  And he said he'd let us hang, and he'd get another cake.  Some of his staff got together and out-bid him.  I was saying things like, "Hey, don't mess with this guy, he went to war school!"  He was strategizing how to get them... I wonder if he got the cake?  He was willing to pay $200!

Playground

Today William and I went to L.L. Bean's house.  WOW.  It is huge.  And that is hard to find here in Japan.  It is lovely.  And the best part is, it is next to a park.  William would go swing or slide or run around while we watched from the big house.

I thought the birds on these barrier bars were kinda cute.

It was a get-together of the ladies to make our cakes and stuff for the bake sale tomorrow.  Yes, I know, I thought that type of fundraiser went away years ago.  Without an oven, I'm making rice crispies.  Today, I kept the kiddies away from the goodies.  Going to the park was one of the distractions.  The drum set was another one of the things to do at their house.  How fun!  William just loved the different drum sounds.

On our way back on base, the car I was in got a random inspection.  I was teasing Kohlshopper because when I was with her on Monday, a cap fell off her tooth, and now I was going through an inspection with her.  She knows how to show a girl a good time.  

There's nothing really else to report.  It was fun to see a lovely home in a French style here in Japan.

Turf War

William loves his play times, and needs to run some energy out.  So, we are always hanging out at playgrounds.

We stayed after school, and William had fun on the older kids' playground equipment.

Some little girls came and tattled on him and Kyle.  They were screaming in one of the tubes, and the girls came to find the moms.  It was cute to see 3 small girls march up to Kyle's mom and I and say, "Are you the moms of those two boys?  Those boys screamed at us!"  Kyle's mom tried to make him apologize.  I asked the girls if they had screamed back.  They said, "Yes!"  So, I said that made it even.  I figured that 3 girls could take on 2 boys in a screaming match.  Although, both William and Kyle do have an impressive set of lungs!  

William is reading this as I'm typing, and he said that they were in the tube first, and the girls told them to (he's fake screaming), "Get OOOOUUTT!!"   So, it sounds like they stood their ground, and screamed back.  Hee hee.  There's nothing like a turf war.

Tim and I have contracted out someone to purchase at auction a car for Tim.  The guy came over, and he was entertaining!  Tim and I just sat there and listened to his stories.  The guy has a shop that will sweeten up cars, so we're thinking of one modification on Tim's car, already.  We'll see what this guy ends up successfully bidding on.  The Tokyo car auction is this Friday, and out of 45,000 cars, there's one Tim is interested in.  There are also auctions on Tuesdays at Yokohama, and eventually the perfect car will come along.  

This guy had wonderful stories about special cars he's helped get for a big car collector over here, like one from one of the Bond films.  I said, "So you mean, I watch TV and see a commercial and crave ice cream, and this rich guy watches a movie and says, 'I have to have this car.'?"  Pretty much, that's it! 

I asked if 'drifting' is for real here in Japan, and he said that yes, and he could help us get somewhere where we could watch it.  Drifting is racing and getting the car in a controlled slide as you're racing around corners.  It looks cool.

BUSTED

Okay, so for those of you who read the blog for Saturday where we'd gone out to see if we could find this house we're interested in, WE ARE BUSTED!!!

I spoke to our Fudosan (Realtor) yesterday, and he said, "I saw your family, your husband, your son and you in Mabori Kaigan on Saturday." 

All we were doing there, besides finding toilets, was taking pictures of this house we're technically not supposed to know about.

The Fudosan cannot release any info. on this place until the current occupants notify him that they are leaving.  We found out info. from a friend who said, "I know who he's talking about, and which house it is!"  With that information, we went and searched out the house.  So much for being stealthy with a 4 year old screaming, "I want an AMERICAN toilet!" 

We just want to be on this walking path... it is so much easier to find a place when cars aren't whizzing past you by mere inches.  

The speed limits here are pretty slow, compared to the US, but the roads are a bit narrower.  

William got to 'go by himself' to a play date yesterday.  He only had to go down 2 floors, and the mom called as soon as he got there.  Ah, to have the liberation from one's parents!  

I'm planning on cooking here at the hotel each night until William can behave again at a restaurant.  He had gotten upset with us and threw a fuss the other night.  Tim took him outside and probably annoyed all the smokers with the sound pollution.  Hey, fair's fair.  They're polluting the air.  It's a stiff ocean breeze, so you rarely smell it, even if they're 5 feet away.  I think William is noticing the power of embarrassing the parents in public.  

William loves music.  There's one program on the computer that he loves.  He can make the music change a bit.  Yesterday, when writing a letter to my mom, he put musical notes on the letter.  I was pretty impressed.  We've not talked about music with him.  One of his school friends, Grace, is taking piano lessons.  William likes to bang on things to figure out their sounds.  Most of the walls here are concrete, and so there's not a lot of boom per knock.

Tim and I are still giggling about getting 'caught.'  I'm wondering if the Fudosan doesn't live nearby.  I never even saw him!

Sushi-Go-Round

We went to the mall today.  6 floors of shopping mayhem!  We found some wrapping paper for Caroline in the 100 yen shop, and we found the perfect birthday gift for my sister Sandy.  I'd brag about it here, but that would spoil the surprise... :)

After the shopping, we headed to lunch.  Sushi-Go-Round is a great way to try out different kinds of Sushi.  You look at the sushi running by on colored plates on the conveyor.  The different colored plates denote different prices.  You grab what you want and at the end, the waitress counts up your plates and you take the final tab to the register.  William tried bits of different types.  He even tried the child friendly scrambled egg slice on rice, but didn't like the fact that the egg was cold.  For the moment, he insists that his eggs are warm and his toilets cold...  

Actually, William was fascinated with the automatic toilet lid in the home improvement area.  It opened by itself as we walked by.  "Oooo!  Look at that!" He may warm to Japanese toilets yet!

Culture Shock

We had a wonderful day yesterday.  I got up early and did laundry, then we headed out to some air-filled bouncy room action that the Family Fitness Center put together.  William loved the obstacle course.  I loved the free part.  

Tim was official photographer.  He noticed all the little kids running around the parking lot in their socking feet.  We should probably head over to the Commissary now, as there's gonna be a run on bleach!

I have noticed at the Exchange and the Commissary that if you see it, and it's your brand, you better stock up NOW.  There have been several items not there when I've returned for them.

Okay, back to the original story.  So, we went out to Mabori Kaigan.  The community map shows how it's laid out.  I was laughing with Tim that about 10 of these home areas probably equal our 2 lots sized back home.  This map is of section 1 of 3 that make up the area, a part of Yokosuka.

Anyhoo, we headed out by train, for William's amusement, to see the area, and look at the place that we think might be our house.  All of a sudden, William is dancing, and has to go POO.  Uh oh.  It was a trek back to the train station, where we know there are bathrooms.  We know to carry toilet paper (not always available),

so we're feeling confident at success.  We use our train passes to get through the wickets, and Tim and William discover....  it's a traditional Japanese toilet.  It is in the floor.

Tim asks me to take him, as he's not wanting to go, and I might handle this potentially sticky situation better.  I take him in, and explain that we need to take off his pants (easier for kids to not get poo on something), and he REBELS.  "No!  I want a REAL toilet!"  I explain that this is a real toilet.  People have been squatting for millenia.  Billions of people in China squat today.  He was unconvinced.

Then we had to get out of the train station.  The wickets locked us in, as we hadn't gone anywhere.  Under time pressure, it was difficult to explain toilet, and we'd only gone in to use one (they thought that we needed one, and kept trying to lead us back to one).  Eventually, they gave our electronic ticket cards back, re-set.

So, we headed for the 7-11.  William is now upset about the Japanese toilets.  He wants a REAL one, and I'm saying, 'But where do you live, William?  Japan!  We're going to eventually have to deal with Japanese toilets!'

Luckily, the 7-11 had a toilet that was western style.  Tim got him set up, but William balked.  Apparently, all the buttons and gadgets to the side of the toilet seat freaked him out.  He was concerned what would happen if he pressed one (your butt might get wet!).  He wouldn't go.  He started saying, "I want an AMERICAN toilet!"

So, we went to a park across the street to let him run.  I know that this will produce another 'need.'  My plan was to run him across the street to 7-11 and re-introduce him to the western style toilet, and maybe the new familiar would be okay then.

Nope.  As soon as he sat down on the electrically heated seat, the need went away.

Okay, it's a very wonderful idea the Japanese have had for comfort.  I know people who order these type of toilet seats to take back to the states with them.  A warm seat is a wonderful thing.  BUT, in a public toilet, it kind of loses its charm for me.

Anytime you sit on a cold public toilet, you can convince yourself that you are the very first person to sit on it since it was cleaned.  Life is good.  When the seat is warm, it's hard to keep that illusion.  You're wondering why you didn't see the last person actually leaving the stall.  

So, we had to get home.  No stopping at the fresh fruit stand, no stopping at the 100 Yen store (Dollar store), no going up and down escalators for fun, we were getting home to familiar cold porcelain.  Worked like a charm.

Family Portrait

Last night, William insisted that I needed a person for our Wii game.  You are given choices on how to build a cartoon of someone.  Both Tim and William already have a 'Wii Mii.'  I would hear Tim and him in the other room debating on my hair color (I wonder what William thinks it is because Tim guided it to something else).  Then William comes running in and looks at my eyes.  He runs back to the other room and reports that they are round, and look like daddy's.  Then he comes running back in, switches on the overhead lights, and looks closer at my eyes.  "What color are your eyes, Mom, are they brown?"  Too funny.  He runs back over to report his findings. He ran in once and with his finger did an imaginary drawing of what I assume was my nose and ran back.  He then insisted that I have glasses.  I do use glasses for ease of reading.  Well, I am over 40 and getting closer to 50 with William's help, you know!  I told him I didn't need any on my Wii Mii.  He insisted.  Tim compromised with sunglasses.  So let the record show that I have brown round eyes under those sunglasses!  I was glad to see that I'm skinny.  A wee Wii Mii, see?

I haven't been posting as much because our life has seemed to be pretty boring.  A few play dates with Kyle, (he's a ton of fun) and house hunting.  It looks as if we're closer to knowing where we'll be, it's more of a waiting game now.  The lovely houses the teachers have won't be vacant 'til the end of school in June.  Teachers also get to live 'on the economy' since they also work for the DOD.

William and I had ice cream for snack yesterday.  It started out cold and misty, but when the sun came out, it got downright warm.  The machine was so cool.  There's a little hole so you can see the action.  You put in your money, then select your choice.  Then a robotic arm with a vacuum attachment picks up the item and drops it in the bottom.  I think I'll have to make a sacrifice and eat another ice cream so I can video tape this evolution.

Meanwhile, back in the states, my Mom suffered a minor heart attack.  She is 83.  They're all minor until the big one, right?  Thank heavens my brothers and sister in the area are taking care of her well.

Tim went to another 'Go Club' meeting.  More people are getting involved with it in our group here.  Only guys, so far.  

I managed to lose my umbrella on a rainy day.  We took the bus back, and I didn't use it, and when I realized it was gone, it was too late.  I did go back to where I'd left it, but even though there were other umbrellas left there, mine was no longer one of them.  It was a snazzy and very bright paisley pink.  It was a fundraiser for breast cancer.  I kind of liked it because you are very visible to cars, even when it is nasty out.  

I said something to William about, "Someone must have needed to use it."  He said, "GOOD!  It's not gone forever, after all!"  I had to explain to him that yes, it probably was for us.

I have noticed that people who aren't normally larcenous will become so if they can justify it.  It was a particularly nasty day.  To make my point:  those folks in New Orleans who needed food and supplies could justify their forays into stores that were closed.

Life moves on, and I should probably shop for an umbrella that Tim doesn't have a flinching reaction to.  I mean, it was no 'engineering black' if you know what I mean!  :)

I have noticed that umbrellas are a big thing over here.  It rains a lot.  Many Japanese carry cheaper ones.  The wind wrecks so many of them, you understand.  But, I have seen many classier ladies with umbrellas that match their coats.  Seriously.  In the summer you see umbrellas used as shade.  Some of them are quite elaborate in workmanship.  Those are very pricey.  It's so hot, you have to bring shade with you.  I used a black umbrella for that when we were here in 06.  Umbrella is 'kasa' in Japanese.  Mii Kasa or Su Kasa?  Maybe the person who took it thought it was a 'Wii' kasa...

Playing Out Loud

William loves going to a play group where they get to play on mats where they can do soft obstacles.  They do things like the chicken dance and playing with a parachute.  It's only $2.00 and he loves the obstacles... children 1 and up.  

One of the things that he absolutely loves to do there, is to play a musical instrument along with the music.

Today we went there and back on the bus.  Yes, even though we have a lovely car, he prefers the bus.  He's now into going to the back of the bus.  One time there were three BIG guys back there, and he went up to them, one realized he needed to scoot over, and William sat down amongst them.  They were saying, "Hey, you wanna be one of the big guys?"  

We looked at houses again today.  William fell asleep before the last one.. a real showcase, Tim said.  It was up a hill with narrow, winding streets and the van slipped a bit.  Don't think I want that commute.  

Why was William so tired?  Well, the fire alarm went off at the hotel a little before 6 a.m.  Ugh.  I don't think everyone left.  I figure that better safe than sorry.  Someone offered a place in their warm car, so that's what we did while waiting.

William impressed the real estate agent because he was reading some hiraganas.  

Another Storm

I loved this picture from Tim's trek.  With Tim in the picture, you understand how large this Buddha is that's carved into the rock.  It's like their own Mt. Rushmore, in a way.

Yesterday William and I stayed safe and dry inside.  We had another one of the gale force winds and thunderstorms pass through.  It is amazing to see the waves crash over everything.  There is a reason things rust out here.

The great house hunt continues.  Here's the most recent happening:  We were at a friend's for dinner.  People passing by on a bike told us of a house that is recently empty.  The location is wonderful.  The house is older, but more classic Japanese (there are issues of no insulation, not enough amps, mildew, and only one car parking).  You understand how desperate we are because we want this house, and are hoping it might work for us!

The problem was finding out who represented that house.  There are no signs posted telling you who you need to contact.  I asked at Base Housing (they do referrals for finding off-base housing) and they didn't know who represented it.  I had them write a note for me, so I could at least go ask Realtors in the area if they were the representative.  I even went out to the area and asked strangers at McDonald's with the note.  I searched Websites of Realtors in the area (hard to do, as I don't speak Japanese, but you can click...), and came up nil on all.

Then, yesterday, as I stayed in because of the rain, I checked the Base's website about the weather.  Just for grins, I clicked on their housing link and looked at their procedures.  It had 'example houses for rent.'  I clicked on the 6th one.  And what do you know?  It's THE HOUSE!!!  I click on the floor plan for it, and it shows me who the realtor is that represents it!  I called, and we have an appointment to see it.  Now, this begs the question of why Base Housing didn't 'know' who represented it, since they have it on their website...  I'm going with that they have a new database, and therefore it wasn't in it.  It does kinda crack me up.

Then, as if this guy has some sixth sense, the realtor that has the newer, better homes in the area (I've been going to his agency once a week, calling or emailing once a week as well),FINALLY calls last night.  BUT, his places don't open up until May or June.  We might get kicked out of the hotel we're in (called the Navy Lodge... think Howard Johnson's of the 80s) because we only have so many days to find a house.  

It's a catch-22.  Many people are leaving this spring.  Once that happens, places will open up.  We're here a little early.  People coming in later this month will have a better selection.  Meanwhile, our clock is counting down.

So, now we're looking at fitting into a smaller house than we'd originally anticipated.  We'll still have room for friends to come visit, but our wish for a guest room with a real bed may be dashed.  We'll still probably end up with a tatami room (think deeply woven mats, for traditional Japanese sleeping) that will double as a place for our visitors to have privacy.

BTW, for those keeping track, we've had 2 minor earthquakes since we've been here.  And from the two storms that have gone through, I'm worried about typhoons.  These are winds that will knock you down, and they're not even the forceful ones.  We have to hold on to William so he doesn't blow away.  Seriously. 

I am hoping that by the end of the week, we have an action plan on housing that we can endure to the end with.

Mother Survives Child's Fall

Every mom at some point has to give up a few years of her life for her child.  I don't know how many years came off yesterday, but I won't be signing up to be on an Oprah show with Dr. Oz determining what my 'real age' is.  My stress level was so high, I couldn't even fill out the admitting form at the hospital correctly.

Hospital?  Yes...

The day started out with me driving out into town for the first time.  Tim has already accomplished this feat in style.  I got to go cruising for houses.  William and I stopped for lunch and a bit of shopping.  Parking costs money here, even in the 'burbs.'  So, when William wanted to play at a park, I said, "Let's go back on base."

I pulled up to his favorite park, and hung out in the car, fiddling with stuff, as I could see him playing.  I heard screams and looked up to see William slumped at an odd angle, screaming, and two parents dashing towards him.  William rarely cries, even when he bonks, so I knew he'd hit hard.  The parents there said he'd fallen from the top of the slide area.  They have those openings so the kids can either slide down a pole or climb down a bumpy object, and he'd fallen ---thankfully onto a playground shock absorbing surface---  I ran to him and picked him up... no pain screams, so I was assured he hadn't broken any bones, but he was pretty upset.  

I tried to find out what had happened, if he'd tried to climb down and only fell part way, or if he had fallen the entire 5.5 feet.  I tried to take him up and show him and he was disoriented and acting funny.  I sat with him on a bench and one of the parents came up and said, "I'm not a doctor, but I'm a hospital administrator, and I'd take him in for a fall that big."  

Sometimes William is so embarrassed that he acts funny, so I was waiting a bit to see what the real story was.  Then he started to go to sleep, and his lazy eye (only when he was a newborn, this eye would wander) kept rolling in.  Then he started to try to throw up over and over.  

Okay, time to go to the hospital.

The good news is, we were admitted (crossed out and re-done paperwork and all... I started putting my name as patient... etc.) into the CAT scan, etc. and out within an hour of the incident!  That's phenomenal!!  That would never happen in the states!

About an hour later he was running again and as ornery as ever.  Yes, he's fine.  Doctor said to watch for any unsteadiness for the next 24-48.  I don't know if I'm steady, yet...  We also got to wake him up last night.  

So, the good news is that William is fine.  It is a good thing that I already dye my hair, as I'm sure I'm going to have a few highlights more now...

William finally told the rest of the story.  He was pushed off by one of the other kids.  And when he asked if he could go back to the playground, and I said, 'no,' he said, "But I was pushed!!"

Tim was in a place he had to turn off his cell phone, so by the time he called me back, it was all over.  The reception was choppy, but he got the words:  "CAT scan was okay," and figured all was well.

I expect to get 'now that you're 50' cards this next year for my birthday, but am so relieved that the boy is fine.  Well, he's in fine form, anyway!

Mt. Nokogiri

A few of our engineers showed up for a couple of weeks before they make the permanent move later this year.  It seemed like a good chance to make a trek and show them the types of things there are to see in the area.  

Our trip was to Mt. Nokogiri.  We had to take the train down to Kurihama, walk to the ferry, ride the ferry across Tokyo Bay, and then ride up the gondola to the top of the mountain.  

The view was incredible.  

From there, we hiked down the mountain, looking at the 1,500 Stone Figures of Tokai Arhats along the path down to the stone statue of the Buddha Daibutsu.  This one happens to be the largest stone Buddha in Japan at 31 meters tall (101 feet).    Despite his size and great age, he was amiable enough to pose with us for a picture.

After taking our picture, it was time to climb back out, this time looking at several temples along the path.  It was a great day to see the sites and get to know each other.  But that's the end of the weekend.  

Tomorrow, it's back to work!

Kyle Therapy

William has a friend here named Kyle.  Kyle has been an upbeat 4 year old guy we keep seeing.  Finally I made the connection with his mom, JC Penney (a Bremerton native) and we set up some play time.

They went to a little play area that you can see from our hotel room.  They were searching for treasure in Alaska and Alasko.  It was very cute.  I love it that real boats pass by fairly closely.  You can see the plank on the left of the photo, and there's a steering wheel up by the mast.  Neat!

Kyle would say things like, "Miss Caroline, you are beautiful."  "Miss Caroline, you make the best peanut butter sandwiches!"  I think I might have Kyle stick around to save my sanity (occupies William) and sooth my ego.  

There was only one sticky moment.  William and he decided to race.  It was 50 yards there, 50 yards back.  Kyle won by 5 feet.  He would have only won by 3 if William wouldn't have started slowing to whine that he was losing in the last few meters.  So, they're really well matched.  Kyle likes to run as much as William does.  Not all kids do.

We had a very light earthquake (northeast of Tokyo epicenter... Barely got past 1.0) this morning.  People on the ground floor felt it more than we did.  We are safe and martini-esque... shaken, but not stirred by the incident!

New Car

Okay, so some of you may be saying to yourselves, "So you went to the land of cheap small cars and bought WHAT?!?"  Yes, I have continued my pattern of having a German Car, then a Toyota, then a German car, then a Toyota, and now a German car again...  this one Tim calls a 'Pocket Mercedes.'  It's like a smart car with a back seat.  The good news is that we can have 2 people come to visit, and we all can fit into this car.

I am pretty excited about it.  William keeps telling people that we have a Mercedes.  I keep telling him that sounds like bragging.  (So this begs the question as to what this posting actually is.)

Today Tim was hard at work getting it to pass inspection (they had to replace a headlamp bulb) and getting it licensed.  He barely made it, but he did!  Now we have to get the official plates, do the LTO run, and we're in business!  There's one more Japanese license we need to have done.  Basically, you pay someone $50.00 to drive your car up and get it licensed.  

Now Tim has to start shopping for his car.  :)  

School Picnic

William's Co-op Preschool had their pictures taken and had a picnic yesterday.  They had made tie dye shirts for their class pride.  Of course, we arrived in Japan too late to make one, so we got one of their LL Bean polo shirts with the Co-op logo on it.  

The walking your kid to the park was one of the easiest 'volunteer times' ever (I have to volunteer 8 hours).  You show up and take your kid's hand and walk them to the park.  It was a ton of fun.  William ran and ran.  At one point, I see William sitting on the ground, and some girls surrounding, looking down.  I go over to see what the interest is.  One poor worm was being investigated.  The girls all had little sticks so they wouldn't touch the icky worm (not William's problem) and were trying to pass the worm between stick to stick.  The worm was wriggling so much, this never quite worked out well for anyone, least of all the worm who fell many times.

I met both of the Ethans and their moms.  Everyone was so nice and it was a nice day to boot.  

Afterwards, we went on to get the hanko (I'll make a stamp and put it on when I have more time), and sent some cards from the Japanese Post Office.  William played in a Japanese play area with Japanese kids.  One guy just wanted to follow him everywhere.  William didn't really like it... it was like his junior self was bugging him!  :)  The mom spoke very good English and helped me with some words for William.

Then, we got to go to dinner at one of the Captain's houses on base.  A friend is dog-sitting and can have quiet dinner parties.  All the homes look 50s or 60s in style, but inside they are spacious, modern and beautiful.  As you drive by Captain Row, you wonder what they'll be like inside.  :)

When There's a Wii, There's a Way

Today the NEX was going to have Wii's again (they get so few that most people have given up trying to get them from the exchange, you have to call on the sly to find out when they'll be in).  It's a Nintendo game system where you use a little remote control device in your hand to swat at the ball, or bowl, or whatever the game is.  It's a bit more interactive than just hitting buttons.

We were told there would only be a few, and we should start forming a line at 7:30 (they open at 9).  I decided to relax at Starbucks, and if we got lucky, so be it.  I got there at 10 'til, and what?  They'd opened the door early, and the line was inside.  Groan.  But a friend was waving at me and said, "I'm number 23 and they say they have 45, and there are only 15 people behind me, hurry!"  So, we now are the proud owners of a Wii.

William really cooperated today and had to give up his late afternoon playtime so we could go get insurance for the car Tim's going to pick up tomorrow.  He did get McDonald's and play time there earlier this afternoon. 

We were given the directions to: 'Go out Womble gate, and there's a place somewhere there that does your family name stamp.'  William and I went out Womble gate, and didn't see anything obvious, so I knocked on a printer's shop and miraculously remembered the name for this in Japanese (hanko, I think), and he pointed me in the right direction.  For $30 we're getting a stamp for official documents.  This becomes your signature on bank applications, licensing items, etc.  Basically, they take the sound of your name and find kanji that mean something related to you that make the sound of your name.  Our Sensei had done one for us.  For example, the realtor from yesterday was Fujisaki, or Wisteria blooming, not an alcoholic beverage named after the mountain.  Rainier beer.................  Okay, if you recognize that commercial, you are dating yourself!

I thought it would be nice to show everyone the blooming cherry trees here on base.  Sakura are beautifully pink.  The compressed video does not show that.  But, we happened upon it when nobody else was around, and the solitude inspired us to do this video: