Easter Weekend

Happy Easter! I'm a little late, but it still counts. 

Little Man was sent home sick from school on Thursday, so he got to stay home Friday too because of that lovely 24 hour rule. We made a day of it and dyed eggs and made Easter crafts. 

All the big Easter egg hunts were on base on Saturday. I wanted to take the kids, but Little Man had a soccer game, so it didn't work out. We went to a friend's house that afternoon and the kids got to hunt eggs and play. Best part though? The confetti eggs. 

Sunday morning, the kids woke up to Easter baskets and finding the eggs hidden around the house. My husband told them they weren't allowed to leave their rooms until we got up. Talk about torture. They were thrilled with their loot though. 

Sunday Social

1. Biggest middle school fashion mistake.

Wasn't all of middle school a fashion mistake? Middle school was early to mid 90's for me. It wasn't a great fashion era. Lots of loose clothes, flannel shirts, and I recall a bodysuit or two. 

2. Who were your best friends in high school?

I had the same friends, but it changed each year who I hung out with more. Overall, it would be Sara, Kristin, and Jamie. They all still live in the same town and we do keep in touch. I made a point to see them before we moved overseas.

3. What was a typical weekend like for you in high school?

I started working my sophomore year. I would normally work one night or one day shift on the weekend and one night would be spent out with my friends. I'm from a pretty small town, so there wasn't always tons to do. We went to a lot of parties, usually in a field on someone's farm. When that wasn't an option, we spent a lot of time driving around. There were certain places in town the kids would go to park, cruise, or just hang out. 

2010 pic of my sister and I in our high school jackets

4. Did you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?

I started dating a guy I worked with the middle of my junior year. None of my friends dated a lot of had a lot of boyfriends, but we just all usually hung out together if there was a guy. He and I broke up before the summer and I briefly dated a different guy, which resulted in new friends and that ended up being the best summer ever. I shouldn't have, but the first guy and I got back together for half of our senior year.

5. Did you have any secret codes with your friends?

Not really. We sometimes had goofy names for people, but that was about it.

6. If you could relive one day/moment/experience from middle school or high school, what would it be?

I can think of a lot of experiences I wouldn't want to relive, but nothing comes to mind that I want to relive. There were fun times, but I don't believe that high school is the best time of your life. We are too young, stupid, and convinced we know it all to get the most out of it.

Make sure to enter the giveaway for the 16x20 Aluminyzed Metal Print from AdoramaPix!

Online Friends

A few weeks ago, I had a chat with my 7 year old about chatting online. He's 7, seriously? He plays some online games, geared towards kids, but it allows the kids to chat. I gave him the whole spiel about not giving out personal information, blah, blah. He pretty much rolled his eyes at me and said they only chat about the game.

It got me thinking. I have online friends. Most of these people know where I live and I've given my address out on more than a few occasions. Sure, my address is a post office box and you could never find me from it, but still.

Anyways, the online friends. As a blogger, I've made online friends. Some are more acquaintances, you follow their blogs, maybe Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too, or any combination of them. Others, actually become friends. Most I have never met, but a few I have had the pleasure of meeting. And I'm talking people you actually interact with. Just because I have (let me check) 213 Twitter followers, don't think I'm dumb enough to believe they are my friends. I couldn't tell you who all of them are. Just like my Facebook friends. A couple years ago when I ran into people at Wal-Mart at home and didn't say hi to them, I unfriended them on Facebook. If I can't say hello to you at Wal-Mart of all places, then why am I friends with you on Facebook?

My online friends extend to beyond the social media world. I'm on a message board for all the sweepstakes and contests I enter. I don't participate as much as some, but enough. We did a swap for Christmas (the fourth year in a row I've participated in it). I mentioned to the organizer of it, that I hadn't received my box yet, but no worries! I figured it was just because of our crappy mail system here and wanted to let them know in case the person who sent it was wondering. Sure enough, I got an email right away from the person who sent mine. She was so worried and offered to send another box out ASAP. I reassured her it would get here eventually. How nice was that for her to want to send another box out? For all the talk about the bad people on the internet, there sure are a lot of good ones too.

What's really funny though, is that this isn't just me. My husband plays Battlefield and some of those other war/shooter games. He plays all the PC versions. He is in some clan with a bunch of other guys. They've been playing together longer than I've known him. On the occasion he has gone on trips for things, he has met a few of these guys. They are already making plans to have a big boys weekend (they even know the location already) once we are back in the states. Their boy weekend involves them all doing what they normally do, except this time they will all be in the same room, playing the same against each other, and talking shit to each other's faces. Not a huge difference there.

I am just amazed some days at the world the internet has opened up for us. For some, it reduces our social life because we are always on it or on our phones, but for others, it just opens up the possibilities when it comes to friends.

More Goodbyes

I've been here long enough that my friends are starting to PCS. One left in August and another is leaving in a few days. 

It took me a while to make friends here. I'm not just talking about the girls that you hang out with occasionally, who always end up being your neighbor or their husbands work with your husband. Those girls are great. Don't get me wrong. But I'm talking about real friends. The kind you tell your troubles too. The kind you can call in an emergency and they will either take your kids or come pick you up. Those friends. I don't hang out with these girls all the time. I only have long, random phone conversations with one. I know that they are there in the event I need them though and I know they can say the same for me.

Like I said, it took me a while to make friends here. I was excited about  moving here, but this is really only my second duty station. I'm not used to the frequent moving that some military spouses are. (I lived at the last place for 8 years. Way too long.) I don't want to say I was ever depressed after I got here, but you get to a pretty low point when the only person you have to talk to all day is a toddler, who at that time, didn't talk much at all. Hubby would walk in the door at night and I would attack him! Poor guy. Lots of days, he was the only adult I talked to. I made a point to leave the house most days, but that doesn't mean you are having conversations with anyone. 

I have since read/seen/heard of other new spouses on island who are going through the same thing. It's one thing to move, but add moving to another country on top of it and it is not easy. On one hand I feel bad because I know what they are going through and on the other hand I'm glad it wasn't just me! I've made the effort to reach out to a couple new bloggers on island because of this. One I became really good friends with and the other, nothing bad, just not great friends. We've all been the new girl and it's never fun.

So anyways. We had a going away at the office that I had to miss because of Little Man's obligations. This past Friday, we had a going away party. Our bowling alley has a private room with 2 bowling lanes and karaoke. We rented it out for a couple hours and had our usual fun. There were dinner reservations afterward, but no one was hungry, so after much deliberation, we decided to just head to the NCO club to hang out for a while. We drank a little, talked, and felt kinda awkward at the "club". I'm too old for the bar/club scene. Monday night, a few of us went out to dinner with a few friends that weren't able to make it on Friday. The goodbyes are never ending! It seems like the majority of my friends leave in the next few months. My sayonara doll is going to get a work out!

All Things Japanese Giveaway!

In the almost 2 years I've lived in Okinawa, I have to come to love it. The people are nice and friendly, the island is gorgeous, and there is just a different atmosphere here. I don't really know how to describe it. Maybe it's more laid back? I do feel like it's a slower pace and not quite so materialistic (my opinion anyways). Whatever it is, I love it here. I try to share with you all my adventures and the fun new places I find, but it doesn't always capture the Okinawa and Japan that I know and love. 

In order to better give you a feel for Japan, we are having a giveaway! I say we, because there are 3 of us. Darlene from True Love Conquers All, Jes from Bleu Dress and Dress Blues, and myself. I think it's safe to say that they feel the same way that I do about Japan. They may love it for different reasons, but they love it none the less.

Backstory!

Darlene and I initially met when she emailed me roughly a year ago, asking questions about Okinawa. From email we moved on to Facebook. Once she got here, I met up with her while they were still in lodging and took her and her son to a couple parks. We've been friends since! Our husbands already knew each other too, so that's always nice!

Jes and I have never actually met, but I still consider her a friend. I'm convinced it will happen by the time we both head back to the States. She and I met via our blogs, then moved our chatting to other medias. We tend to talk about Japan and Okinawa mostly, but that's ok! 

We each went shopping and bought a fun assortment of things to giveaway. Well, Darlene and I went together. Jes is on mainland Japan, so as fun as that would have been, she did her shopping alone.

We each bought a wide variety of things, but did our best to find things we use and love. Everything from snacks and drinks, to origami and cosmetics, to dishes and chopsticks.

Since there are 3 of us, there are 3 chances to win!

Jes from Bleu Dress and Dress Blues

Darlene from True Love Conquers All

Myself

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An Awesome Night With a Sad Farewell

Saturday night we had a going away for a friend who is PCSing. She also happens to be the Director of the organization I volunteer at, so the evening started as a semi work function, but as the night progressed, we were obviously no longer on their time.

We started with dinner. We went to a great, little place on the seawall. We had great food, lots of drinks, and an awesome view.

I had escargot as an appetizer. No one wanted to try it!

A couple girls had put together a photo book of various work functions and had a plaque made for her. That's when the tears started. We all said a little something. Not one of us had dry eyes. It was very sweet though and she will be missed.

After dinner, we moved on to karaoke! I've never done karaoke in the states, but from my understanding, you just take turns getting on stage and singing in front of everyone. Not in Japan. For 2,300 yen a person, we were given 3 hours in our own private room and all we could drink. Why have I not karaoked before? It was a blast! We sang our butts off. We all took turns picking songs, but there were a few times when everyone got into it. Justin Beiber anyone? It was a little sad, but really hilarious that we all sang and all knew the words to that song!

After karaoke, we headed to a bar. Our group had cut itself from 8 to 4 by this time, but we did add a sober husband. The main reason we went to this bar was for the band. They had an awesome 50's band! It was an 8 piece band, with 3 singers. 2 girls and a guy. They were so good and so cute! I was impressed with how good they were and the variety of songs they sang. The best part was watching everyone dance. Some cute little old Japanese man even asked me to dance.

She had a great send off! I haven't been out that late or had that much fun in a long time!

Summer Essentials Blog Swap

Flip Flops and Combat Boots hosted a Summer Essentials Blog Swap. I was paired up with Liz from Defying Gravity. We now stalk each other's blogs, and on Twitter and Instagram, so I think it's safe to say that we are now internet friends, thanks to this swap.

She sent me:

cute tissue packs

one of those little, fold-up, easy to throw in your purse bags

a cute ladybug kitchen timer

a patriotic bell

a notepad set (which my daughter thinks are presents, just waiting for her to open them)

set of 4 zebra stripe plates

Very cute and I love it!

Thank you!

Keeping the Kids Busy

Little Missy misses her brudder. The day we took him to the airport, she asked at least hourly if it was time to pick him up yet. She has quit asking, but she still gets this really sad face and then tells me out much she misses him. 

I've been trying my best to keep her busy and keep her mind off of him. Poor kid lost her playmate though. He left almost 2 weeks ago. Last week on Monday we went exploring with friends and found 3 new parks. On Wednesday, we headed to 2 new parks with new friends. Not really bloggy friends, but internet friends none the less. It worked out though. I liked her and her child and didn't have to think up excuses to escape her craziness. Anyways, back to the topic, we went to 2 parks a friend gave me directions to. 

A sailboat park

and a dragon park.

I think the dragon park was the big hit. How could you not love that slide. It was huge!

Friday, I had a beach bash party thing for the office I volunteer at. We barbequed, the kids had a bouncy house, and we spend plenty of time in the water. 

Saturday, hubby had a friend over to do nerdy computer stuff, so she and I headed out to check out more new parks. I know. I'm slightly obsessed with finding parks. I spend A LOT of time on Google Earth. Wakamatsu Park was better than I thought it was going to be! There was 2 big wooden structures to climb on and a roller slide!

There was a random staircase next to the playground, so we headed up it to see what we could find. The tomb of Nakagusuku Wakamatsu. I tried to find out how old it was, but Google failed me. It's pretty dang old though. 

That evening, we went to the Koza Athletic Park. She was scared to death of the concrete slide. Heck, I didn't even want to go down the thing.

She did however, get into this mess of nets without a second thought though.

I have a list of more parks we plan to visit. Maybe next week!

Exploring the Island

Yesterday, a friend and I loaded up the kids and set out to do some exploring. We originally headed to find a neighborhood we had both heard about. We had directions, we had GPS, but we never found it. We gave up and kept on driving.

We headed into Naha and turned towards Kokusai Street. It's on my to do list, so we just drove through to check it out. We both decided that a trip back would be in order, but someone in the back seat was fussing for a bathroom, so we drove on to find a convenience store. Once back on the road, we were crossing a bridge when we saw a whale in the distance. 

 

Can you see it? Bless Google Maps.

After some manuevering (roads are tricky here), we got the kids out to check it out. We found a crab

 

and the whale. The head of the whale was huge! The inside had a good size slide, a bridge, and several walkways. At first glance, we thought maybe it wasn't open. They were doing construction nearby and the grass was in serious need of a mow, but it was open. The tale was locked up though.

 

While we were trying to get to the whale, the kids saw another park on the other side of the highway, so we headed there next. This park, we discovered, was the Onoyama Athletic Park where the big baseball stadium is. We parked and headed towards where we thought the playground was. We ended up crossing a small pond and then checking out the fish and turtles, found a torii gate, and then the playground. The roller slide was HUGE, but sadly, it was closed because they were installing a new playground at the bottom. The kids played on the old playground for a while until we headed towards the next park!

 

Hubby and I had gone to the Japanese Naval Underground over the weekend and I knew we were close to it. There is a huge park in front of the Underground. 

 

Yes, there are 2 roller slides in that maze

We all had a blast! The kids were good all day (besides Little Missy's frequent bathroom trips and upset stomach, but she was a trooper, if not stinky). When we were at the last park, a few Japanese boys, they were maybe 10 or 11, kept talking to us. At first I think they were asking us things, but then I think they were just trying to get us to repeat what they were saying. One of the boys said something that sounded like America. I cocked my head to the side and said 'America?'. Then they started mocking us. They made fun of our laugh and I'm pretty sure they making rude gestures trying to get us to make them back. Little shits. It was hilarious though.