Jet lag

I am sorry for the delay in posts, jet lag and being super busy has taken up this whole week. I will try my hardest to put up a real post tomorrow maybe.

Sayonara

Okinawa we will miss you, it's been rad.

I hope to see you again some day.

Please send us safe travel thoughts today, it's going to be a long 15 hours!

Weather

Over the next two weeks my weather is going to change drastically.

Today and Tomorrow:
Next week
And our new home, we should be there by Thanksgiving.
I'm excited, and scared.

Eagle Lodge (our temporary home)

We've been staying in the Eagle Lodge for 5 days now, and it isn't half bad. It's very spacious, full kitchen, drinking/dining establishment downstairs, and walking distance to many more food/drink/connivence stores.

View from the front balcony:

LR looking into the K
K looking into the LR
K from the hall
one of the 3 BRs

It's more space than we need but it's very nice. We have satalite TV and internet hookup. The animals are all enjoying the extra space to run around. And we are all enjoying watching the Animal Planet for the first time in 2 years.

Another Thing I will miss

Walking the cow (bull).

This is a common sight here in suburban Okinawa. The farmers walk the livestock. I am not sure why, if it's for exercise or if they are studding out the bulls, or just so they can have a peak at our beautiful view of the pacific. For all the years we've been here this is the first time I've had a chance to take a real good picture. It was on move out day (notice our mounds of trash in the background) The guy was kind enough to not only pose for me but to get the cow to sort of look at me, initially the cow wanted nothing to do with me.

another delayed post

I missed a few days again. Sorry, things have been bananas.

Like today:
I am in love. They grey will lighten up as it heals, and it will be un-shiny as soon as I no longer need to lotion it every hour or so.

Thank you Matt Ahn @ One Shot Tattoo Okinawa.

Goodbye Home.

Oh noes! I missed two days!

We'll it's not a failure in my book, I've just been BANANAS busy. Yesterday was spent all day moving. The internet was shut off early and we spent the whole day dealing with movers, and running minor errands. Last night we checked into our temporary housing, it's non-military and it looks like a little apartment, I'll post pictures tomorrow, if I can find my camera cable. Today we did all the cat and dog stuff, got all of our health certificates, checked in the quarantine office in Naha at the airport, and also sold the Prelude. Tomorrow I may get to sleep in, hopefully. I am exhausted. But things are running fairly smooth.

Family

I am very thankful that I come from such a stable, rock hard, family. We love each other and support each other. After talking to people over the years I have realised just how lucky I really am. Without the support of my family I dont know where I would be. Even thousands of miles away they are still there when I need them. <3

Test

Poosting.from pauls android testing the app

PCSing & Friendship

Making good friends is hard enough. Moving every three or so years to a whole new part of the country (or world) means you have to make new best friends. Tonight was the second time since we arrived on Okinawa that we have had to say goodbye to great friends. I cried. I tried to not let it be seen but it was unavoidable.

It's good and bad I guess, In 10 years when Paul retires we will have friends in: California, Arizona, Montana(hopefully), Idaho, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and who knows where else. We have made some amazing friends thorough the years, and saying goodbye always sucks. Goodbye never means forever though, I always try to say "see you later" because who knows when we will cross paths again. I have made some amazing friends because of the military, people who I may not see for years, or physically talk to on the phone for months, but they are people who I know will be there for me if I need them.

Goodbye never means forever.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To move to the other side!

sorry that wasn't funny.

PCS is in full swing! Our express shipment has been packed up and sent out. Today the military came and picked up our government furniture (fridge, stove & washing machine). Tomorrow the movers come to survey to see how many or movers and how much packing stuff they will need for when they come Monday. Monday night we move into the hotel, and then away we go! In 2 weeks we'll be back on US soil!

Things are going very smoothly this week so far. I really hope things continue this way for the next 2 weeks.

3 year adventure in hair!

One of our first days in Okinawa, almost 3 years ago.

Early February 2008. I think this is my natural hair color.

November 2008. Decided to go short.
Winter 2008 lightening the color

May 2009, super dooper short
July 2009, Back to brown, and faux hawk short

October 2009, going blond!

New years eve 2009, Super blond! and growing it out some.


Spring 2010, getting longer.

Summer 2010, GOING PINK!

October 2010, light pink and short
November 3, 2010 Hot Pink and short!

PCS news tomorrow.

NaBloPoMo

I'm going to try to do NaBloPoMo this year, Even though I am already 2 days off. It's going to be super hard because we are moving this month from Okinawa to Montana.

Actually the movers come tomorrow to pick up our express shipment of stuff we want in Montana ASAP. Stuff like winter clothes, a radio, blankets, towels, some dishes, pots & pans. We are frantically getting shit together for tomorrows pickup because we are lazy asses and procrastinated.

So far this move has not been very smooth. It all started 2 saturdays ago when Paul got home from Recruiters school in SoCal. First thing monday morning he back to his work here to begin the check out process, so we can get orders and a flight date, this is normally done about a month in advance but since P had almost no notice that he was leaving for RS school nothing got done prior to him leaving and after the school they want you recruiting within 30 days, yeah that isn't going to happen with us trying to move back from Japan.

So anyway he begins the process, schedules the movers and our move out of the house we are in now. The USMC has given us a flight window of Nov 10-20 and we asked for a date of the 15th. Today is the 2nd and we still don't have a flight date. We have movers tomorrow, Thursday and Monday. Friday we have to take the animals to the vet to get their health certificates so we can all fly, and then we have to drive an hour or so down to Naha to get everything stamped by customs and approved. Well the dog stuff will only happen if we are flying before next friday, If our flight is later we will just change the dog appt to next week some time.

Monday is our last day in our home, and then we will move into a hotel until we fly, hopefully sooner rather than later. We also still need to sell my car, my iPhone, the full size bed, and trash bunches and bunches of stuff. I win for procrastination, I could have done so much while Paul was in school but I fail.

I need to try to put together a post from when my 'rents were here with all the lovely pictures, incase you aren't already stalking me on facebook.

If you are reading this and you are doing NaBloPoMo leave me your blog link so I can follow!

Good luck to all!

Visit

Mommy and Daddy came to visit, much fun was had. I'm working on a real post.

Enchilada Soup

The last few weeks I've been throwing things in the crock pot and hoping for the best. Tonight it was a mish-mash of chicken and mexican stuff. 2 Chicken Breasts, canned olives w/jalapeno, can of rotel tomatoes (hot), can of roasted green chilies whole, and a can of enchilada sauce. Usually I use frozen chicken but I thawed it last night and never cooked it so I had to cook it today, the chicken was done after 4 hours on high, I imagine if it were frozen it would have been at least 2 more hours. I topped it with some strips of pepper jack cheese.

It turned out spicier than I thought it would, but still very good. There is enough for at least 4 people.
I shared mine with some stouffer mac and cheese, (made in the oven, as it should be) and dinner was fantastic!
How I did it:

2 chicken breasts

1 can enchilada sauce

1 small can of olives with jalapeno

1 small can of whole green chilies

1 can of rotel tomatoes Hot

all contents into crock pot on high for 4 hours, after 4 hours I spooned out the chicken and shredded it in a bowl, I also took out the green peppers and cut them down, this would have been easier had I done it prior to cooking. Then I added peppers and chicken back and stirred it up. I served in a bowl with some pepper jack cheese on top.

This would have been very good with a crunchy bread, or even rice.

Also in other news, I saw another praying mantis yesterday. More good luck!

I should be doing dishes....

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

September 2000 I was fresh out of High School, I think I was working for Long Realty, Driving the courier Truck. I was living in an apt on with my (now ex) boyfriend. I think in general I was mostly being a rebellious youth.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

1. gym
2. dishes
3. clean floor of knitting room
4. pick up computer room
5. laundry

3) Snacks I enjoy:

• pickles
• chips and salsa
• popcorn
• cucumbers and taziki sauce

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

• I would finish school and travel around to National Parks educating and working with the Parks. I would also travel abroad every chance I got, Australia, China, India, Japan, Europe, Africa. Lots of travel.

5) Places I have lived:

• Tucson, Az

• Chicopee, Ma

• Okinawa, Japan

6) Jobs I have had:

• food prep
• babysitter
• motorcycle sales & service
• courier
• pizza delivery
• receptionist
• cashier
• retail manager
• retail merchandiser

How many doggies do you count?

one?

or is it two?
there's the sleepy Aiko peeking out from under the blanket!

The Junkyard

I always complain when Paul drags me to a junkyard. But part of me enjoys it, if only for a few minutes (until I get hot).

I think it's cool how they stack the cars up, they look like they will topple over but they dont'.

I know it's morbid, but I look for gore, when people get in car accidents they bleed, and they loose arms and fingers. I think it would be neat to find a finger.

but I never find anything gory. Just dirty junk.

and lots of tires.

and cute junkyard cats.

The View

I've started jogging almost daily. I took my camera with me one day because I love the things I see.

This is what Paul likes to call "jungle nom" the jungle is working on taking back the island in some parts, like here where it has swallowed a chain link fence and is working down the wall.

here you can see partly down the hill, and the jungle continues to nom...
Japanese people have lots of plants, lots and lots of plants.
Here the jungle is nomming the houses.
shisa
one always has an open mouth and one has a closed mouth
Dragon fruit plant
Dragon Fruit
That's some of the neato stuff I get to see every day.