Round Two

I must have known there would be trouble. Upon my return to my office, I left myself encouraging notes on my desk. Around 4 AM, I had tantrum about going back. I had such a wonderful visit home. I realize I have a great supportive partner whom told me to go back be a grown up and properly finish what I started. My idea was to not get back on the plane and whatever happens happens. The plane ride was a very uncomfortable 17 hours which mostly was a daze to me. I kept thinking I couldn't believe I was going back and then I could not believe I thought it would be ok and sure just hop back on the plane. On the plane, I watched movies because I could not sleep. I did not sleep Sunday because of sadness, I missed sleep on Monday, so when I got off the plane it was Tuesday evening. I rode the bus back to base where Angela/Dave picked me up and took me to my apt. At that point, I could barely stand. I felt very wobbly. I had a lot of mail, but the apt was the same. It was cold and bare, but I tried not to think about it. I unpacked and realized my shampoo had leaked all over because I had forgotten to close it. I know that was so unlike me. I put away everything, realized I did not pack a lot of stuff, and left a lot of things that I liked at home. Although, I was dreading sleeping on my futon it was fine. This morning I was an hour late for work. This is not much going on seeing that it is New Years Eve. I had email, did my travel report, organized this and that, and now back to my beloved blog whom I have severely neglected over the holidays. So what is my game plan now? Tonight, I am going to eat at Chilis and then with Angela/Dave, Eko to the Chiefs Club on base, but no big partying as we are going to Tokyo Disneyland tomorrow. On Friday, I will do my planning for the weekend as I am trying to do as much as possible because I believe my future here may be limited. However, I see a hot spring on Sunday in my future! I wish everyone a wonderful, safe, and happy New Year. Baby, I love you can't wait to give you kiss in 2009.

Packed with an Interview

The lady called the job sounds great I have a telephone interview on the 1/8/08, but the job would start till March. I am going to do everything in two months, leave properly, and with all my stuff. I am going to Tokyo Disneyland to start off the New Year then Hong Kong, Singapore, and Hot Springs!!!! So excited about 20 hours of travel!!!

To go or not to go that is the question

Why at the last minute do I get an interview for 1/8/09? I want to stay I do. I see no reason to go back other than to travel. However, Rosalind says go back and finish what I started. I know she is right so as of this minute with my dog pouting on my lap I am going. I am going to a place where I have few friends and a few if I never saw again that would be great. I have had a wonderful time home. I realize this is where I want/need to be no more grass is greener it never is. So do I finish what I start? I guess we will see in a couple hours. I am packed, but as I sit here with my dog and Rosalind supportively telling me to go, that it will be ok, and baby stop crying.

Happy Birthday Baby! Happy 6 yr Anniversary too!!!

I am so excited I can't sleep either that or the jet lag still has me all mixed up. Late Tuesday, I got to South Bend and found out my luggage was still in Chicago. That was the exact information I wanted to hear since I had already been in the same clothes for two days. I ate at the hotel restaurant and went to bed. Wednesday, I got up went to restaurant called Perkins like a country Denny's and enjoyed being in a restaurant where I understood the menu, the waitress, and the other people speaking. After, I got a taxi and had him show me around Norte Dame and then to the mall. The mall was your typical small ass town mall. However, they had a Sephora and spent way to much on new eye makeup. By the way, if you wear cream eye shadow buy eyeshadow primer it really works. I proceeded to walk around buy socks, a pair of jeans, and a purple sweater. I am trying hard to venture outside the world of black shirts. I went back to the hotel, got my luggage, went to the gym, and then back to Perkins. Really, it was just to cold to walk any further. I got to the hotel room around 8 PM and passed out. It was odd and I can only assume jet lag. Today, I went to the conference. It was boring and a lot of group interaction with strangersand you know how I love that. In addition, the group was amazed I was working in Japan since everyone else in the room was from Indiana. After, I went to the gym, went to the hotel restaurant, sent the food back which I never do because it was gross, and walked to Bob Evans, a white trash country version of Denny's. I am so excited about going home am sorry I missed the snow. I wanted to wish my baby/monkey a very Happy 35th birthday and Happy 6 yr anniversary. I love you forever.

My 90 day progress report

I have been in Japan for 3 months, am about to be 32, and going home for a much needed visit. What are 32 things I have done and learned from Japan?

1. Lived on a naval base 2. Discovered my love for Chilis 3. Rode the bullet train 4. Saw shrines 5. Learned a little about the Buddhist and Shinto religion 6. Accepted I would never drive here 7. Became an expert on the Japanese train system. 8. Learned to communicate with my face and hands. 9. Discovered how fascinating a 7/11 could be 10. Became oddly comfortable with naked Japanese. 11. My addiction to the hot spa 12. Learned a little Japanese 13. Liked some parts of Tokyo 14. Being in love with Thailand especially Phuket 15. Realized you cannot force a friendship no matter what the circumstances and go with my instincts 16. Being friendly all the time was exhausting 17. Getting lost in Japan was scary 17. Walking up hills got easier over time 18. Appreciating my washer/dryer 19. I could survive with minimal furniture 20. Found my lunch buddy 21. Japanese Denny's was not good 22. Vending machine restaurant 22. Go if invited somewhere 23. Saying no if I did not want to go 24. Finding good in people that are different from me 25. Riding the bus to work made me late especially if I did not get up on time 26. Some days I cried because I wanted to go home 27. Sending packages and cards made me happy 28. Seeing North Korea 29. Accepted that sometimes I will be the third wheel 29. Internet TV 30. Importance of planning my weekends 31.My blog helped with homesickness 32. Loving Rosalind even more for supporting me through the past three months.

I am excited about going home. I cannot wait to see my monkies and magee. I leave in a couple of hours and will be in South Bend aroud 7 PM on Tuesday. Not sure, if I will be able to work on my blog if not I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

Thank you for being a friend..

The Christmas party was fun, the usual people you don't know, food, and drinks. The highlight was the raffle where they had all kind of cool prizes. I really thought I would win but no. However, Angela won a kind of ugly jade necklace. After, we proceeded to go out to Club Budweiser. She karoked I'm too Sexy and These boots were made for walking. The crowd loved it meaning about 15 or so young sailors that of course all took off their shirts which made the bar seem extra gay. After, we headed over to the Texas bar, another fine establishment and where I realized we needed to go. The next day Angela informed me that I told her to go with shore patrol, the guys whom walk around the Hounch making sure no one is to drunk. She got home, but did not go to work. I went to work and barely moved from my office. That evening I rented movies and laid on my futon. Saturday, I was supposed to met people for the Christmas lighting stuff, but I was an hour late and did not. However, I met up with the Russian, went to tour the George Washington ship, ate at my favorite restaurant, Tomato&Garlic, and stormed off. The Russian and the I will not be friends. After I stormed off, I met up with Eko and had the best time with her. She took me to a tiny Japanese bar by her house that she had never been too. It had a little bar, with about 8 seats, a karaoke machine, that only had Japanese songs, and a little old Japanese lady serving drinks and food. Everyone in the place was Japanese and at least 70 yrs old. Of course, we were a big hit and me being the American the little old lady kept making me food and watching me it. I felt like I was hanging with the Japanese golden girls. I told Eko we found our new bar. Today, I slept, took a walk, went to TGI Fridays, went to the naked house, and packed for home. Tomorrow, I am going to sleep at Angela's and one last time at Chilis before South Bend then NEW ORLEANS!!

Christmas in Japan!

Touring the ship with the Japanese that has nuclear weapons on it.

Such the rock star, later that evening she had the crowd meaning 20 yr navy guys singing these boots were made for walking. We managed to create our own gay bar!!

My first navy Christmas party!

Things I saw on my walk home tonight...

It was a very average day and nothing really happened. I went with Angela to Chilis and it was not very good, but I strayed away from what I usually order. I had two clients. I decided not to go over to Eko's house instead went to the gym and walked home. On my walk home, I started with taking pictures in various convenience stores, then taking pictures of random things that I saw everyday until my battery literally told me it was exhausted. Also, I am excited about the Christmas party tomorrow and hope to have some fun drunken pictures from it.

The dreaded laundromat :(

One of the buses I ride to work and sometimes to the apt.

However, you need a special card to buy them on the street.

My favorite thing I have eaten in Japan, chicken caesar with egg crepe

I heart the drink machines in Japan.

A vending machine restaurant

Being a good Jew, this was the first restaurant I ate in Japan.

A view of my train station, Yokosuka Chuo

I so want to pose for a picture with him.

Pachinko or what I like to call Japanese video poker

It was diffcult to take this picture without being noticed, well not really

My favorite crackers are the Brie in the black bag.

Kit Kat comes in all different flavors here apple, grape, lemon etc...

A canned Chu Hi all you need is one.

Japanese love to put words together that make no sense. By the way, this is some sort of pastry.

I thought it would be delicious and they forgot something called sugar.

Frito Lay needs to give me some cash

This evening while doing laundry I went to a convenience store called Family Mart. I was looking around seeing if there was anything new when I discovered Chocolate covered Cheetos. I would like to declare that I made the discovery in high school or college while under the influence of a substance I discovered the deliciousness of chocolate and Cheetos. I will have to confirm with Jessica, but I remember mixing M&M with Cheetos in college which I am sure contributed to my weight gain freshman year of college. Anyway, it was a great discovery and hopefully I will remember to bring some home with me. Yesterday, I went to work, went to the gym, got caught in the rain, and stayed up watching TV. Today, I went to work, mailed off Rosalind's birthday present (I want her to have a present on her birthday even though I will be there the next day), ate Subway with Angela (whom is now officially my lunch buddy), and saw some clients. After work, I went to the gym and decided to do laundry even though I dread it. Tomorrow, I am going over or out to eat with Eko. Thursday, I am going with Angela to a base Christmas party, and Friday I would never do laundry on a Friday night. So I had to face the fact that today I had to do laundry, but I thought to myself hopefully this would be the last time I would have to do laundry like this for at least a month. I went home got the laundry together, got there, ate at the vending machine restaurant, and discovered chocolate covered Cheetos. I think that was my biggest success of the day. Lastly, I have decided Facebook is good I was unsure, but it's cool to see people I thought I would never see again and with getting to know my cousins.

I could have been a millionire.