Ice Cream in American Village

It had been a long time since we took the kids out for ice cream (or anywhere, that didn't revolve around school or church "have-to's" for that matter), so we decided to take Apollo for a spin down to American Village for some Japanese 31 flavors.



Smile, kids...show everyone how much awesome family fun we have together all the time...



How you love spending time with your family more than anyone else in the world. (Isn't it funny how they all sat in age order? I guess it's just instinct after all these years.)



We decided to take a look around at some of the shops on our way back to the van...there's been lots of new construction so lots we hadn't seen yet. Coree was hoping to find a case for her new iPod (which we did...yea!)



Cute. But "ouch" at the same time.



We couldn't decide whether this sculpture reminded us of Dean from Iron Giant...



Or iCarly's older brother, Spencer. Yes, this is the deep, intellectual stuff that makes up our family conversations. Also, I just misspelled intellectual. Thank you, spell checker.



This is just one of the many "baby in car" child-safety options available on the market here. Okinawans are not big into seat-belting or car-seating their children, even though it is the law here, too. It's not uncommon to see little toddlers climbing on their parents or hanging out windows. It is the norm. Oh, but they have their "baby in car" sticker on and that should keep everyone safe! {I'm sorry, most cultural differences I can appreciate...can understand that there is no "right or wrong," just that we do things differently...and TRUST ME, we can learn a LOT from the people here...but this is one idea I can NOT get used to.} It makes me want to cover my vehicle with bumper stickers that read, "if you really loved your children you would strap them in" in Japanese. How's that for a safety sticker? End rant.



So many awesome t-shirts in this shop. I would have taken more pictures, but there was an employee watching and I always imagine them catching me and telling me to knock it off. Anyway, I would love this one in a non-yellow option. I love shisas and singing. Good combo. But not the yellow.



Speaking of yellow...Patrick found his dream car.



He's been dreaming of an Oki-truck (those teeny, two-seat, flat-bed, golf-cart sized trucks) and this is a pretty fancy one. I pointed out he wouldn't be able to double date in an Oki-truck. I think he's back to the drawing board.



It's like the exact opposite of this monster.



By the way, here's one of the weird arrangements Apollo's seats can be made into. L shaped. Not a lot of leg room for Jake, but the kids like it because it's different.



Haha...Cliff thinking, "What is she doing? Let's go, already." I'm not sure what I was doing.

Stay tuned for our next installment of family fun!

Japanese Cell Phones

Our two-year contract with our cell phone company (AU) was up in December. Even though they have the most reception on the island, they are also the most expensive. We were paying upwards of $200 a month for 5 cellphones...for minutes we never used. We just don't use them that often, but really don't feel comfortable not having them, especially since they have saved the day on so many occasions. Things get complicated when kids get their own lives, I tell you.

Anyway, I took a scientific (Facebook) poll to find out what my other options were, trying to find the cheapest, workable alternative. We ended up going with Softbank, the biggest carrier on the island. They have a reputation for a lot of dropped calls, but we will be paying 1/4 the price, with free calls 24/7 to each other, and free calls to any other Softbank user during the hours of 2 AM to 9 PM. (Huh?! So any of you who wanted me to call between 9 PM and 2 AM, sorry...I'm too frugal.) Anyway, we don't typically need to call at length...most of our calls consist of a child saying, "I'm ready to be picked up."

The kids were all ecstatic, because this means they can call and text all their Softbank friends now. (Yippie.) We all went in on the happy day to pick out our new phones. There were several free phone options, in a variety of colors. I figured I'd stick with pink. I looked at all 4 pink options and settled on the coolest looking one. Troy chose a metallic blue (which will end up being Jake's when he leaves this summer, because it didn't make sense to do another 2 year contract for Troy when he'll only be here 6 more months). Coree chose a gold phone and Patrick chose black. After filling out the paperwork, we left so they could program the phones, and I came back alone several hours later to pick them up.

When I returned, they had the phones all boxed and bagged. I pulled mine out and had to laugh!



Yes, this is my phone!



There was no indication by the display model that my phone had anything to do with pouty jelly beans in panties.

The funnier part? Patrick picked out this same phone in black. He just tossed the box before I could get a picture.

Introducing...Apollo

Finally! After months of sharing my car with a college kid (which some days makes for a logistical nightmare) we got a new (to us) vehicle!

I don't get how this happened...but remember cute O'Malley? MY darling green machine? Well, somehow, he ended up being the KID car! How did this happen? Well, in a nutshell, Cliff's van died shortly after he last deployed (yep, we paid $1000 + several hundred more $ in repairs to have it die in 4 months time. Awesome.) When Cliff got back and we replaced his van with Lopez, it only took him a couple of days to figure out he couldn't drive him to work. He couldn't even fit him into his parking place, which you have to make a sharp, narrow turn to get into. Lopez's handling is just too weird. So, Cliff ended up with O'Malley and I got Lopez. Did I mention the aero-kit, which makes Lopez look like a low-rider (hence, his name)? Well, just driving that on the streets every day has caused the bumper to crack in several places. It looks charming. That, and it has a racing suspension on it, which causes you to feel every bump. SO, rather than getting another little car for Troy, Cliff felt compelled to buy himself something they could take camping, and pass O'Malley down to Troy....and I'M driving the barriomobile. Seriously?! Not that I'm totally resentful or anything...I am grateful Troy is in something small and easy to maneuver...even if that's what I wanted, too. At least I'm back to having a vehicle of my own. So, without further adieu, I introduce you to:



Apollo. The 4 WD mini-van. It's a Mitsubishi Delica. Wonder why these haven't caught on in the US? We hear they are popular in Australia, though. It seats 8, with the 8th seat being a collapsible jump seat attached to the middle row, that you can't use if the middle row is facing the side or rear...but at least it gives us the 8th seat when we're in a pinch.



Perfect for Cliff, since he's such an outdoor playa.

Now don't you think I should AT LEAST get new bumpers?! Sheesh!

Kubasaki's Got Talent

Wow! Kubasaki High School really has some talented kids! We had a great time watching them perform tonight. This was not your typical school talent show, with one lame lip-sync number after another. These kids all had to try out, make the cut and commit to practices.

These photos are a sampling of the acts in the show. It's good to see so many kids passionate about the arts.





Patrick has had a LOT on his plate, with the Madrigal dinner, rehearsals for Far East Drama competition, a musical with POPs (community theater on the base) and this talent show. And although the piano piece was his main act, he's also gotten involved with one of the Kubasaki bands lately, singing and playing drums.



Ha! This clip is about 10 seconds of him playing drums. I thought I was still filming, but evidently hit the button without knowing it. Oops! Anyway, this was their edgy rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer."



This number, they literally put together hours before the show. It was something they'd been working on, but hadn't planned on performing yet. I didn't know that part until Patrick told me after the show...I thought they did great. I don't get the draw of Screamo...but I have to remember my teen music tastes were pretty exotic, too.



And here's Patrick's piano number that he practiced tirelessly, nailed in every rehearsal, but then got stuck on twice in this performance. A good example of what can happen when you spread yourself so thin. I think it's so funny how he talks to us as he's messing up. It's just so Patrick.



And even though the lighting is so bad on this one, I included it because it just highlights this fun group. This is the advisor over the talent show, and some of the kids begged her to sing, so she did, but only if they agreed to come up and dance. The teacher you see get up and dance her way out the door is Patrick's drama teacher, who the kids all love.

(Trivia: When I was in jr. high and high school, I lived for drama. It was the only thing I cared about. We moved around a lot (see...it's not just people in the military) and in Jr. high I had one awesome teacher, and one awful teacher...and high school was the same. My first teacher was awesome, and when I changed schools, that teacher was a nightmare. She sucked the fun right out of it, and with all of her personal problems, really needed to quit teaching. I am SO, SO grateful, that Patrick gets to experience having such an awesome drama teacher.)

Taking Down Christmas

As much as we hated to take away Charlotte's holiday digs...


Christmas had to come down. I usually like to take it down the weekend after Christmas...or at least by New Year's Day. But this year, I just couldn't find the motivation to save my life. So, I decided to be an honorary Catholic and observe the Epiphany. I think it's a great reason to keep the decorations up until after the 6th. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

I decided to take all the ornaments off of the tree and spread them all over my dining room table. This would mean I'd have to put them away, right? We have to eat, after all (and we're NOT doing it on my couches!). Well, although it did get me started, it still took me several days to get them totally boxed up. We simply ate with ornaments in the middle of the table, like one elaborate but tacky, holiday centerpiece.

I've mentioned before that I have a bit of an ornament fetish. A matchy holiday tree doesn't sound like my idea of a good time (although I do admire the beauty of others' matchy trees). My Christmas tree represents a life fully lived. I try to get an ornament from every vacation stop we make. I have them for first Christmases, events and special occasions (although I don't do an ornament per kid per year like some do...too much pressure. I just get one if I see something that celebrates an accomplishment or interest and it all comes out in the wash). I LOVE ornaments my kids have made. I still have some made from dough, cinnamon, paper, pipecleaners, you name it that have been around for over a decade. And if a school/church teacher has my child make an ornament which includes his/her picture? I'll love them forever. They are the best. And ornaments as gifts? I can't think of anything better. I swear to you I remember the giver of each and every Christmas ornament gift and I think of them fondly, each year as I hang their ornament.

My favorite gift to give to newlyweds is an "Our First Christmas Together" ornament. Hallmark's ornaments come out every June (I know, I've checked) so if you get married the second half of the year, you're getting one. (Who am I kidding? Even if you get married in January, you're getting one...because I NEVER get gifts out on time, anyway!) I like them so much because they are my favorite ornaments to put up each year. Those, and these:


'92, '94, '97 and '98...all VERY good years!

While I am happily minimizing in other areas of my life and I'm loving not having so much flotsam and furniture...I don't plan on parting with any of my ornaments, if I can help it. I love the memories they represent.

Something else I've collected through the years (since they started making them in 1996) are dated, military ornaments made my American Greetings/Carlton Cards, sold through the military exchanges. I get at least one each year, and try to get one having to do with whoever we are serving with at the time (Navy or Marines, ship or aircraft, etc.) if possible.


I grouped them all together, and realized, I was missing three of the years. I tried to think of how that could be...and one was the year we were totally broke, right after Cliff had finished grad school and was trying to get picked up by the Navy Chaplaincy, while we were living on enlisted, Marine Reserve pay. Lean times, for sure. An ornament would not have been on the list.

[Trivia: This was also (not coincidentally) the year we decided to blow the lid off of the whole Santa thing. While our choice had spiritual benefits for sure, in our case it had more to do with not wanting our kids to have any doubts about how good and wonderful they were, even with very little under the tree...while the thieving brats down the street got the latest in video game entertainment and custom skateboards. I have never regretted my decision, although I do not blame any who perpetuate the Santa fantasy. It's a great fantasy, when your parents can afford it. Otherwise, it sounds like a pretty crappy thing to burden kids with...especially as expectations continue to rise of what a "good list" gift from Santa should look like. For those who have not been in this position, it might be hard to understand my reasoning...but it does give one pause to wonder about how the good and worthy children of America feel, who are all too aware of "Santa" but fall short of his good grace due to their economic situation. It's not the giving of lavish gifts I take issue with, heaven knows we've had some pretty expensive Christmases, and I realize ours are way more lavish now than they were when our kids were young. The problem I have is tying the giving of those gifts to how "good" a child is. Again, it works great when you have no worries...but when you end up in a situation like we did in 1999, when at least two of our kids were young enough to "believe" but also old enough to see the disparity in the neighborhood, it's hard to rationalize. Why don't we either say, "Santa brings toys to children according to IRS reporting data, regardless of their goodness" or just admit that parents are behind it all? It would be so much easier to explain. Still, my children will have to decide for their own families and I will support them in whatever they decide.]

The other two missing, were from years we went to Utah for Christmas, and so it was just something I had obviously overlooked before we left town. But...thanks to Ebay, my collection is now complete, and I didn't even have to pay more than they were originally. cha-CHING. Can't wait until they get here in the mail.





What about you...do you prefer matchy or hodge-podge in the tree department...or do you even get into ornaments at all? Is it just me?

New Year Treats

In Japan, if you receive a gift...it's just an expectation that you give one in return, although it isn't necessary to give something equally matched, just something to show appreciation. We gave our housekeepers Christmas gifts...


And in return, for the New Year, we received special rice crackers...


And yummy, sweet treats! It was all delicious, and we had fun trying the different varieties. The packaging was beautiful and so detailed. I just had to share some pictures with you:





Even simple gifts are beautiful in Japan.

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.