2012 New Years

Last year, my Japanese friends invited me down for Yokosuka's fireworks show.  We were at a friend's party, so I didn't go.  So, at 10:30 I got ready, headed to the train station, and left on the local train to go to Shioiri station and get off.

The vibe of the crowd as two trains pulled in at the same time was palpable.  Old and young were there, all thronging towards Verny park to revel with others.

 Loved these guys with their happy new year head gear!

 They had a makeshift Jinja (shrine) set up so you could ring the bells, donate money and make your wish.  Seemed kinda cheesy, but you get out of the need to go to your local shrine!

 The band was a rockin' it.  The atmosphere was fun.

 Tako balls and other Japanese foods to be had.

 And I think the Chinese figured out 'pigs in a blanket' before we did.  Click to enlarge. Many of these steamed rolls have a pork mixture in the middle.

 TV truck was here, and I saw the mayor there, as well.

 Truman Bay was lit up by all the Japanese Self Defense folk's boats.  One of these subs has 2011 on it.

 This is more of the same.  So pretty.  Before the fireworks started, the boat's decorative lights and the local street lights all went out.

 Blurry, I know, but these girls were passing the time before the show.  I got a great spot with only a half an hour 'til midnight.

I wasn't prepared for the boat horn blast!  Great show, and it was fun being so close.  We could also see a part of the Yokohama fireworks from there, as well!

 The reflection on the water was so beautiful.

 Now it says 2012!

And they moved the jinja to the stage. Folks were pretty lit.  The smell of alcohol and cigarettes mixed with the food and seawater smells.  Ah.. the smell of New Years in Japan!
The crowd was young folks on the make or young couples or elderly folks.  A few families.  A lot of grandma brings grandson or daughter for their first stay up for the fireworks night.
I took the train home, stopped by 7-11 to get the soba you're supposed to eat, and came home to enjoy it.  I wish all of you a happy new year!  Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu!

Lake Ashinoko 11/11

 I am so trying to get all of these blogs in before the end of the year where google is!  And I forgot about this!  Tim and William went with friends to Lake Ashinoko.  They stopped at Yunessan Hot Springs on the way up.

 Tim's underwater camera is good for something.

 This is the main room, and these jacuuzis are huge pools.  I always feel like a limp noodle when done soaking!

 The outside was still open for sliding!

 Tim and William soaking at the beautiful areas.

 This one is wine.

 Um, grinch?  Green tea?  Radioactive toxic waste?  Don't know what they're soaking in here.

 The kids all together.

 The slides from a different view.  This day was wet and nasty.  Good day to be in the hot water!

 The next day hiking by the cabin.

 Owadakuni, where you get the black eggs (boiled in the naturally occurring sulfur water), and you'll live 7 years longer if you eat one.

And another view from their hike.  They usually ride up on the lift, then hike back down to Lake Ashi shown here.  They didn't get to have the campfire this year, as another party wanted to use all of them.  So, our party joined theirs!  They even had campfire songs written out to sing along to!

A good time was had by all.  I stayed home and wrapped gifts, enjoyed being by myself, etc.

Annual Monopoly 12/28

 We are going to be very sad to see the Taylors leave in February.  She is such a wonderful lady, and Tim has high regard for Tim at work.
Once a year we get together to have dinner, and these folks KNOW Monopoly, so that's the game we play!

 This year, we did Japanese Monopoly.  You can buy Tokyo tower and other landmarks.

 But what we found fascinating, is that you get a credit card for your money.  Japanese don't do credit cards, hardly at all!!!  One side takes away whatever you owe or spend.  The other side credits you rents or going past go.  William was the 'banker' and he loved it!

 That card says CHALLENGE in katakana.

And this one is CHANCE.

 It was a buyers game!  Tim horse traded and gave a few monopolies.

 I got stuck in jail.  Shoulda bailed myself out earlier.  Oh well.  :)

One of the pieces was a cell phone.  TOO FUNNY and very Japanese representative!

It was a hoot.  Tim Taylor won this year (I won last bout).

Here is William taking rent from one card and putting it on Tim's.

Eve and Day 12/24-25

 Our Christmas eve, we had work friends of Tim's over.  They are here to help on the ship, and therefore away from their homes and in small apartments.

 So, we did a simple ham dinner with nummy potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, and rolls, carrot sticks, and olives for the kids to eat!  :)

 I had fun buying gifts under $5 for them.  It was a great challenge.  Andrew said to me how he wanted a different toy, this one wasn't one he wanted.  I died laughing.  Mainly at the dad, who was gulping like a fish out of water.  Kids are so honest.  He was schooled on his behavior, but I got a chuckle.

 Brandy is taking a pic.  She's the mother of:

 Reed.  Babies, Christmas... they just go together.

 Eva put on William's pirate crocks and shuffled around.

 RIGHT ON!  We have cute pics of William chewing on beer bottles at this age.  These mugs are perfect, and it's good training!

 It is Japanese tradition to eat KFC on Christmas.  Our great friends, the Anthony's, invited us for Christmas dinner.  I found some KFC (not sold out this year!) and brought it.  The BBQ chicken was smoked.  AMAZING.  The regular really did taste much like ours, but I think they use a bit more soy sauce in their batter for the Japanese palate.

LoriAnne and her cousin, Eric and the lovely table.  Roast pork, mashed potatoes, gravy, fancy salad, and pumpkin or pecan pie.  Eric made the dinner and had 2 sauces for the pork.  Apricot brandy was nice, as was the cranberry.  Ah, the tastes of the season!  I guess I won't have to buy that belt to hold up my pants, after-all!  SAVINGS!

Houses 12/21

 This is Tim signing the final papers on the house.  How cool is it that we only need the internet to buy a house?

 Meanwhile, William was building his 'dream home' out of candy.

 It's a graham cracker house, and then I let the boys go for it!  Skittles, not M&Ms on this side!

 A good use for PEZ, in my opinion.

 William wanted a weather vane.  We gave his Aunt Diane a fish one for her barn, so he used the swedish fish for it!

And then we had to clean the sweet boy off.

As of writing, a funny side-note:  We'd let the old owners have an extra 7 days to get their things out of the house.  So, 3 days after that, we sent the realtor to turn off the water.  And they were STILL THERE!!!  Both got a bit of a shock.  Wait until we change the locks on them!  Ha!

Opening Gifts from Relatives 12/25

Please excuse us, as we use the internet to remain close to our families!

And here he is, LOVING his gifts!  (He kept telling me he had legos under the tree... he knew this because he'd shaken it... I told him not to be too sure!)