I've Got a Great Feeling About This Doctor

Tripler Army Medical Center, AKA "Crippler" or "The Pink Palace"

Jake had his appointment with the pediatric orthopedic surgeon yesterday and overall, I think it went great. He did a pretty thorough exam and really seemed to know his stuff. Not only are Jake's feet extremely flat, but the tendons are too tight, limiting his range of motion. He can fix both of those things through surgery. He was also very personable. Jake brought up Scouting (talking about not wanting to miss Scout camp) and it turns out, the Dr. is also a Scoutmaster. Also, I think he might be LDS. I thought I picked up on a faint Utah accent...and there's just this radar thing with Mormons. Hard to explain. Not being one to ask strangers about their religious beliefs...especially strangers who are going to be cutting on my children, I will have to see if I can think of some subtle way to find out. Because I'm nosy like that.

Unfortunately, the Dr. will not do both feet at once. This is not what we were lead to believe by the podiatrist. He said it's just not a good idea for a normally ambulatory kid his age. I totally trust his judgement, but I did put a few factoids out there for his consideration, like the fact that Jake is homeschooling now, but wants to go back to school next year, and it would be nice to have his recovery over by then...and that now I have an 18 year old to help with his care, but I won't have that past this summer. He said he'd take my request (to do both at once) under consideration...but honestly, I think he was just being nice. We'll do what we've gotta do...although the thought of having to do this trip twice is SO not appealing.

At first, he said we'd have to go back to Okinawa and wait for a surgery date. I was kind of bummed about having to make that flight THREE times, but not surprised. He sent us back out to the waiting room while he consulted the surgery schedule and said he'd send a nurse out with the paperwork. {Jake was hopeful for a date after Scout camp, so he'd still be able to attend.} After about 15 minutes, a nurse came out with an extension of orders for us to stay until April 15th, and an appt. line-up for next week, including a couple of pre-op appts and a surgery date. She just started explaining things as if I knew we were staying, so I was a bit confused at first...but then so relieved we were staying! Jake was not relieved. So much for Scout camp.

Of course, as we were leaving, I realized now I wouldn't have the opportunity to ask all of my burning questions. It's been frustrating that we've had to go all these months with so few details, and then this appt. happened so fast and since I thought we were coming back for the surgery another time, I didn't think to get more details while I had the surgeon's attention. For example, he mentioned he'd be using bone to build the arch. Bone from where? One of the possibilities the podiatrist mentioned involved taking bone from the heel to insert into the arch. This option had the longest recovery. {Yikes!} Some of the other options involved using plastic or metal hardware. The surgeon didn't say anything about that. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to make a list of questions for our pre-op appt. on Monday. Like how long he's going to be in the hospital, how long is the surgery, how long will he be off his feet, etc.

Whatever will we do with a week in Hawaii while we wait?

Celebration at Anzuya Koza

The evening Cliff returned from Korea, we planned to go out as a family to celebrate. Cliff had been living in a tent in the snow, eating MRE's and tray rations for almost a month, so we wanted to take him wherever he wanted to go. Coree was at a soccer game with a friend, but the rest of us were determined to press on.

The tsunami warning kind of threw things off, however...because that made everything on the water basically off limits. I scoured my brain trying to think of the perfect place (I hear more recommendations than he does). We had settled on Krishna's Indian food since it was already pretty late and Krishna's is just around the corner. But as we were turning, this place came to my mind and I said, "or we could go to the water restaurant." The boys, practically in unison said, "YES!" To which Cliff replied, "What's the water restaurant?" Could it be true? In the 1.5 years since Cliff has been back from his deployment, have I not once taken him to the water restaurant? It's true...we hadn't been back since. So, Anzuya Koza it is!



After stowing our shoes in the cubbies and climbing up the stairs...we walked across the glass to our booth, praying we wouldn't plummet into the depths below.



Can you see the people in the room below (over Jake's shoulder)?



They were having a great time. There were speeches and applause. I found myself wondering how they were connected and what they were celebrating.



See the shoes on the step? They are slippers provided by the house, in case you need to leave the room and don't want to put your own shoes back on. See the cabinet on the left? Those are the cubbies which hold your shoes.



Under the table shot. Glass floor.



Jake pointed behind me to get my attention and this is what I saw when I turned around.
"Pssst!".....



Heeheehee...I just couldn't help myself. He ducked back into his cubicle so quick when he saw my camera.



The food started arriving on gorgeous dishes. They seem to have stepped things up a notch since we were here almost 2 years ago.



Yummy avocado salad...



Beautiful roll...



Gyoza. A Japanese staple.



Troy had to get the ray-fin fries again. I couldn't bring myself to eat ray jerky. Just no.



Patrick had been dreaming about these bacon-wrapped quail eggs since last time.



Nomnomnom....



Jake can't quite decide if there's something else calling to him.



But Patrick feels pretty satisfied.



Suddenly, the waiter appears with more. Evidently, we were starving when we ordered, because there was a TON of food...



Except, see this lovely platter of sashimi? This gorgeous, $30 platter of sashimi? We didn't order it. We didn't know quite how to handle it with the language barrier...so we just ate it. Literally. {Then Cliff suggested it was something they pulled on all Americans, which made us laugh at the thought. More likely a picture-menu, pointing misunderstanding.}



The platter included so many interesting sea vegetables and other greens I had never seen. These little sprouts have a very strong flavor. I couldn't tell if I liked them or not.



But these, I love. Shiso leaves have a very strong flavor that you either love our hate. I think they're pure awesome.



Jake was thrilled with the bonus science lesson in shrimp dissection.



It didn't matter that we were all absolutely stuffed, dessert just seemed necessary. Troy opted (again) for the chewy, mochi-covered ice cream)



Yum. If you like that kind of thing.



Jake had the honey toast...which really seemed to have been kicked up a notch since our last visit.



Jake agrees.



The rest of us opted for this gorgeous chocolate lava cake with the classy cornflakes.



Loved the special spoon Cliff got with his dessert.



That's what I'M talkin' about! And the cornflakes really did add something nice to it.



Suddenly we heard familiar Sanshin music. At first we thought it must be a dinnertime show. Well, it was...but a private one. In one of the booths across from us, a group was having a jam session. All of the neighbors within our view seemed to enjoy it as much as we did.



As we were leaving, one of the sanshin players (who must have seen my enthusiasm) stopped us and motioned to ask if we'd like a photo with his instrument. Now that's my kind of guy!



I had a request of my own, which they seemed to happily oblige.

Happy New Year!

When we mentioned going to a shrine again this year, we got almost zero positive response. The kids wanted to hang out with friends. It was late by the time we relented, so Cliff and I decided to go it on our own, in search of a restaurant open late.


We ended up at our favorite Hawaiian restaurant...Tony's Honolulu. We had no intention of staying until midnight...



I just had this glorious, garlic shrimp on my mind.



But since it was New Year's Eve, the owner was offering free drinks to everyone. Lucky for us, he has a very large non-alcoholic selection, so we happily accepted his gracious offer.



At about 11:30, he brought out some electronic gadget, strung on a large cord to hook up to the TV on the wall. Something to do with satellite reception. When we saw what looked like the Tokyo version of Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve...we knew we had to stay.



I loved watching all the popular Japanese performing artists, even though I didn't know any of them.



This act totally cracked me up. They were like the Fruit of the Loom guys...only sushi!



I don't know the character being interviewed here, but it seemed oddly serious.



Then, at about five minutes before midnight, it switched over to a Tokyo shrine. Talk about a contrast. Instead of watching confetti fall and people in crazy glasses kiss, this was the somber way the new year was actually rung in. Minutes before midnight, the owner tried to insist we take some shots of whiskey. We had to be very persistent, but after about 3 tries (and us motioning that we'd be happy toasting the new year with our smoothies) he relented. He wasn't the last to try to get us to take it...but it all ended up fine. We were thrilled to be part of a local party.



Even though the wind outside was fierce (it's the worst right on the water, where we were)...



We still went out to the balcony with everyone to whoop it up at the stroke of midnight...



And watch the fireworks over Araha beach.



The owner also insisted we eat toshikoshi soba to end the year right. They are eaten for long life, and you need to slurp the long noodles whole (because breaking them would mean a shorter life, right?).

What a great (although unexpected) way to celebrate the New Year. Now maybe we'll have to try something entirely different each year.

What to do while waiting for your car

Troy had a little accident with Lopez. He was off base, backing out of a driveway and he backed into and scratched a local's car. He was pretty freaked out about it, but it went pretty well, all things considered. He called us, we told him to call the number for the military police on his driver's license and they came right out and everyone was nice and professional. Unfortunately, even just a scratch can be several hundred dollars these days.

So today, I had to go drop off Lopez with our insurance carrier (which is also part of the business where we bought the van) so they could look at our damage (which is too hard to distinguish from the damage we receive each and every time we drive our van around this island...every bump and dip cracks the bumper anyway...but don't get me started on how much I hate the dealership that sold us the van) and also so we could give them the accident report for the other insurance company. I had a bunch of time to kill while I waited for them to be done, or Cliff to come pick me up, whichever came first. What else is there to do besides take random pictures of stuff? So I walked next door to Lawson, to see if there was anything new and interesting for breakfast.


Of course there was. Ritz crackers with mozzarella and basil. Only in Japan.



My opinion? Not bad...if you're into processed cheese food. I won't be back for more, though.



I love the elderly here on Okinawa. Especially the ladies...they always have a smile and seem to have very full lives. I took this very quickly, and I don't think the effect is quite captured here, because the car she is next to is one of those mini-cars...but she is tiny. She's about the size of a six year old. I know it looks like she is pushing a stroller, but that is actually a cart that is common around here. She's pushing her groceries home.



These mirrors are common here. With so many blind intersections, they are essential. See me?



There he is. The man who should really be wearing a plaid jacket so people can see his double-talking self coming.

The story would make one long, boring, spite-filled, blog post...so I won't bother, but I'll just summarize by saying, he and I seem to agree to avoid each other. When I brought back our vehicle to be fixed (days after we bought it and already had the first crack in the bumper just from driving on the streets here) he was FULL of back-pedaling, regarding the things he had said he would do for us. He now blamed it on the port of Naha for allowing the vehicle (that we are by law, not allowed to test-drive here) to be registered with such a low bumper. The port of Naha did not sell us the vehicle, or make us any promises. Mr. Scheister here, did. I nearly blew up in his face, and the more double-talking he did, the more rage filled my body, so I just had to suck it up and walk away.

The funny thing is, I see so many people listen to and trust him. After being in the office and listening to him in action several times...really listening to the crap he is feeding people and they are eating up...I have to believe they trust him just because he's half Caucasian and speaks English. The irony is, he's been the only non-trustworthy person I've encountered off-base here. Things that make you go HMMMMM.



Here's something much happier...my latest pedicure. Snowflakes for winter.



I heart this picture! It's one of my faves.

The damage? About a thousand dollars to fix our bumper...even though 99% of it is caused by just normal driving here. Surprise, surprise...that's the amount of our deductible for comprehensive. Shocker!

To fix the other guy's car? About $400. That's one expensive scratch. So we opt to pay for it out of pocket (because they say they'll hike up our insurance 70% if we use it to pay for this) and try to find a junk yard to replace our bumper ourselves...and set out to find another insurance company. I am not paying these people (who shall remain nameless) one more dime. *COUGH (Payless Motors) COUGH*