Traffic Hazards

I never get tired of the sites you can see just driving around town on any given day.

From the pseudo cow pastures:

(No...this isn't an unsightly construction zone...this is a tranquil cow pasture!)

To sharp looking traffic cops:



You mean he's not a real traffic cop? You SO fooled me on that one!

Then there's this:





I'm not sure whether I like not being able to understand what's going on here...or whether I feel slighted that there is no translation. These guys marched on forever in the rain. (Do you see how steamy my camera got just from opening the window? This is actually my second try, after it kind of equalized...the first try was not even usable because it was so steamy! LOVE that humidity!) When I went back to pick up Troy almost 2 hours later, they were still marching, just several miles up the road. I don't know what their final destination was, or their purpose.




Anyway, this doesn't look like an angry protest...but then again, the Japanese aren't known for showing anger, period. My first thought was that it had something to do with wanting the Marines out of here. Someone else said it could have to do with their elections, which are happening soon. The only word I picked out was "George Washington", which could support either theory, really.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Indian Hospitality...in Japan?

I had such a yummy dinner last night, with very dear people. Mala and her husband have lived here on Okinawa for over 30 years. They raised their family here. I met them through Molly...who met them at their darling boutique (Up-Tight) on Gate 2 Street. Thanks to Bani, I now have a gorgeous Indian cabinet for my scrapbooking supplies (that I'll show you another time). Believe it or not, there is actually quite the thriving Indian community here on Okinawa...which (besides furniture stores and the like) also accounts for the fabulous Indian cuisine to be had on the island, like Krishna's and Nepal Spice Kitchin (yes, that's how it's spelled).

But as fantastic as those places are, they have nothing on Mala's kitchen!


I couldn't decide what my favorite was...it was all so spicy and yummy. Those little potato dumplings were to die for! And not pictured here are the homemade vanilla almond ice cream treats Mala made for dessert. Yum!



Wonderful, gracious people...

Don't worry, Cliff...they plan on having us back when you return. I told them how much you love Indian cooking!

Roughing it on Okinawa...

Last week, some friends and I went to get pedicures at the Cocok's (pronounced Coco's) by the ocean, to celebrate (or mourn, I guess) Brenda going back to the States for the Summer. It was my first time at this one...and the view was awesome, even with the limited visibility caused by all this rain.




Here's Ruthann (and Susan's toes) ready to be pampered. It's funny, I think pedicures are the new "breaking bread" on Okinawa. I go once a month, and each time now I've gone with a different group of people. It's a very social thing. Back in the States, I probably went with someone else twice, otherwise it was just like going to get a haircut or go to the dentist...you just went and got it done.


Susan, checking out the design book. SO many options, so little time. I failed to get photos of Brenda and Calla, darn it...I was just to distracted by the relaxation, I guess.

I wish I could combine the view of this one, with the thoroughness of the other Cocok's...because I didn't feel it compared here. I suppose it could just be who was working on me, since I've heard others say they like this one better.

Everyone else had to scatter, but Susan and I had some time to get lunch at Ono Kau Kau before heading home. It just so happened, I also had a command function that night...a hail and farewell dinner (held in conjunction with a unit golf activity).

Here's an exerpt of the email I sent to Cliff:

"Dear Sweetie,

.....I had a rough day today...pedicures on the water, lunch on the water...now I need a nap before I head to dinner on the golf course. I know it's a rough life...but thank you for keeping me in the lifestyle I've become accustomed to.

Love ya,

Mean it,

Carrie"


IF ONLY the days were all like this! Actually, I guess that would be pretty boring...and I wouldn't appreciate how special times like these with friends really are.

Oh....and here's my toes:



Please tell me if you are aware of a place in the US that does nails this detailed, included in the price (not just a little something on the big toe for an extra charge) and I will have Cliff talk to his detailer about where we're going next! I'm SO going to miss this place! I don't think 3 years will be long enough...

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby....

43 years ago today...the biggest blessing in my life came to this earth. Oh, how I wish he was here to celebrate accordingly:

*Sleeping in (the Marines give you your birthday off, if possible)

*Being exempt from having to do anything he doesn't want to do

*Special presents

*A nice, long nap

*Whatever his heart desires for dinner (at home or out)

*Dessert of his choosing (even cheesecake)

*Other activities, as directed ;-)

Since these things will have to wait (other than the presents...which we mailed), all I can really do is shower him with the adoration he deserves. Where do I start? Actually the problem isn't where to start...it's when to stop...but I'll give it a whirl.

Many of you know how Cliff and I met...he came into my clinic to get his 24 year physical when he was a Marine Reservist. When he tells the story, it goes something like, "I was the finest specimen she had seen in a thousand, and she just had to have me." Truth be told, he had just lost ten pounds thanks to a bad flu, and tipped the scales at about 140 lbs. at nearly 6 ft. Lust was not the feeling that overcame me...it was more like pity.

Although we had subsequent, brief encounters, I was no more familiar with him than any of the scads of Marines I worked with every day. Nearly a year later, all of that changed. Our first date began with a rifle range detail. He was there to issue weapons and ammo, I was there in case someone got hurt. That left us both with LOTS of time on our hands while these Marines spent their day trying to qualify. I brought a good book (Kurt Vonnegut's 'Breakfast of Champions') which he later accused me of using as a prop (yes, I planned on trying to score a Rhodes Scholar at the rifle range). I always assumed he was a spoiled, Orange County brat. For one thing, he looked like a teenager....for another, he drove a Trans-Am. I figured this whole Marine Reserve thing had more to do with a macho fantasy than anything. (Do you like how judgmental I am toward this kid that I've barely spoken to? Nice!)



Anyway, we talked and talked...we just really clicked. The more I learned about him, the more I wanted to hear. Pretty soon it was time to go, and I didn't want it to end! I was SO excited when he asked me what I was doing that night. He came to pick me up, and it wasn't long before he showed me a roll of quarters, and explained that this was going to be our budget for the evening. A true Scotsman, you say? Truth be told...he had been recalled to active duty during Desert Storm and had not been paid in 2 months. We were going to go out on his laundry money. Surprisingly, instead of being incensed that he would be so presumptuous...I was honored and impressed that he would want to take me out so badly that he wouldn't let a little thing like money get in the way.

Cliff had the whole thing planned out. That night we rode the ferry to Balboa Island and back (.35 each way), played some arcade games, walked 2 piers and 3 beaches, and split a dessert at a seedy little coffee house. We never ran out of things to talk about. It was hands down, the best date I had ever been on (and there had been many). There was no restaurant nice enough, no man rich enough, to top what I felt that evening. I still can't really put what it was into words. I was just SO impressed with his authenticity, with all the challenges he'd been through, that he was putting himself through school and not letting any obstacles stand in his way. I have seen that perseverance through the years again and again. His vision and compassion amaze me.



When I look back at the past 18 years, I can't believe I got so lucky. I am missing him like crazy today, wishing I could be with him to make his day extra special. Sure, I sent him some nice gifts to hopefully bring him some comfort...but like I learned on our first date...it's not the things that money can buy that make the day special...it's the quality of the company.

Happy birthday, Sweetie pie...and happy anniversary on Wednesday, too! Wish you were here so we could do all your favorites...but I promise we'll make up for lost time!

More culinary adventures

So, I realize I've been terribly neglectful in documenting our Saturday culinary adventures. It's not that we're not doing them...but I've just been a lame-o in the photo journalism department. A couple of times, I actually forgot the camera...and sometimes, I'm SO excited, I forget to take pics of the food...or don't take enough good ones.

To remedy this, I went back through the iPhoto archives, and I'm going to try to piece together what I can...and I guess some of these we'll just have to visit again in order to do adequate research, won't we?


Here is the Mos burger menu. It's Japan's answer to the fast food burger...sort of. It was a nice surprise when the food and drinks arrived at our table on dishes and in glasses. I would definitely go back, the food was great!



Jake LOVED it. He's been asking to go back ever since.



This was my teriyaki burger. If you are thinking the meat looks different, it is. It's actually a beef/pork combo...so the texture is smoother.



Troy got a BBQ beef burger, and we really should have ordered two...they are pretty small. Something we didn't notice on the menu, was this one has a bun made of shaped rice.



Something else I found quaint...they serve all your fries together. Pictured above is 2 orders of fries, and one fry/onion ring mix. Cute, huh? Unless you're territorial over your fries, I guess.


This is the beloved Gen sushi bar (of the to-die-for sashimi salad fame):



I've been here many times for that salad, but took the kids here to celebrate Dad's promotion.




I only managed to get a couple of pictures, though. Patrick nomming on the gyoza...



and Coree diving into her tempura shrimp. Yum!


So this past Saturday, we set out with Okinawa Explorer in hand. We had to run some errands on the way, and I just planned on picking a place out of the book while we were out. As we were leaving the barber shop, I still didn't have a clue where we were going. Coree pleaded for American food...she just wasn't in the mood for Okinawan cuisine. Just then I remembered that Julia had given me some coupons for another restaurant in the Sam's chain...Sam's Cafe. It's right outside of Camp Foster, and has an Americanish menu and a fifties diner theme. (Which ended up being more like Peggy Sue's diner meets Gilligan's Island.)


I'm thinking of submitting this one to Awkward Family Photos dot com.
What do you think?

Here's what was on the menu:

Garlic butter shrimp



Creamy seafood spaghetti



New York Strip, baby!



Red Snapper with crustacean sauce



I'm falling in love with some Japanese Kobe beef...

Every meal begins with salad and sweet potato mushroom soup (yum!) and we also had our coupon worth a free appetizer for each of us...crispy steak baskets (little wonton cups filled with marinated, diced steak, lettuce and tomato).

It was all very good...and two meals worth of food, so we all enjoyed leftovers the next day. (Except for me...Jake thought he was entitled to my steak since it was in his takeout box. Guess who's doing the dishes this week in Patrick's absence? Hope you liked the steak, Jake!)



When normal kids play with their food...it might involve a mashed potato volcano. When Jake plays with his food...it involves a communist school of fish, with no freedom of speech, forced to work in the rice paddies for meager wages. *sigh*

Still LOVING this island...can't wait to share it with my favorite person!

Rain, rain go away...could you just come again while I'm sleeping?

This is the view out my bedroom window...




which makes me want to climb back under the covers.


And here's my lovely back patio...




which, evidently...only keeps the rain out when it's coming straight down...not sideways.

:-(



I know paradise needs rain...and I know that the dams around here were getting low...



but couldn't we work out a compromise? How about sunny all day with a light breeze, and rain at night...while I'm supposed to be in bed anyway?

I think it sounds completely reasonable. Am I alone in my feelings here? How do you feel about the rain?

*On a positive note...the weather has given me PLENTY of opportunity to catch up on the blog. I'm completely caught up on my Flashback Fridays, having scanned over 50 photos (Can I get an amen!) for your enjoyment. If you'd like to check them out...just look in the right hand column over there---> and scroll up or down to "Labels". Click on Flashback Friday, and read until you are all caught up with me. Hope you like them!

Flashback Friday...School's...out... for...Summer!

We are having some mixed feelings around here about school letting out. Yeah for homework and finals being over...boohoo for missing our friends (all of us...mom, too...so many people go back the the States for Summer).

So today, we are flashing back ten years to the end of school 1999. Patrick was graduating preschool, and Troy was saying goodbye to 1st grade.



Look at Patrick...rocking preschool graduation! We had our worries, believe me. Like on day one, when we are waiting in line for the doors to open, and he turns to the kid next to him and says, "I bet I could beat you up!" As the poor boy's mother clutched him closer, I wanted to be anywhere else but there. And then there was the time he got busted for spitting off the jungle gym...repeatedly. But seriously, we're so proud.

In related news, he leaves Sunday for a week long JROTC leadership camp. I'll post graduation pics next week. I'm hoping he learned some lessons ten years ago. There are going to be equal numbers of Marine and Air Force kids...so I had to give him a pep talk about leaving the Air Force jokes at home (we save those for the dinner table). Seriously, though...hopefully he'll mind his joint-service manners.



We loved Miss Chris...the patience of a saint!



Next stop...Troy's end of the year party. Woohoo! Since Patrick only had half days, he scored with double parties!



Mrs. Cruz is one of the most awesome teachers, ever. She had both Troy and Patrick in first grade, and we just loved her. I seriously wanted to stay at Camp Pendleton just so that all of my kids could have her in first grade...but then Coree and Jake both had fantastic first grade teachers, too. (And then moved on to the best teacher, ever...Mom! Yes, I realize I'm only a legend in my own mind.)

The plan is to do something fun every single day this Summer. If it doesn't stop raining, we're going to run out of ideas really quick!