Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Typhoon Tracking

Woke up this morning to TCCOR 1 status - winds of 50 knots or greater are expected within 12 hours - and the news that there is no school for the little ones.  One day on, one day off. 

Since last night Kompasu sped up and upgraded to a category 2 typhoon which is now supposed to go right over us between 3 and 7 tonight.

As of 9:00 AM it looks like this...


No wind, no rain, no grey clouds.

1:00 PM - Kids outside playing, parents inside cooking (just in case we lose power) and it looks like this...



Of course the satellite looks like this...



But it's only a little windy, and we had one downpour (right when Kelly and I decided to go for a walk).  And we wait...

3:00 PM - It's raining, little wind...


6:00 PM - lots of wind and rain



But we're staying warm and dry inside playing Wii and enjoying a "typhoon" party with the neighbors...

Dance Nation

Band Hero

While Stevie and Dima braved the storm...








7:00 PM




10:00 PM - Typhoon Party over, kids have to go to bed.  What a rockin' good time!  The typhoon was a little disappointing, for how awesome it looks on radar, it was a bit anti-climactic.  Waiting now to see if the kids have school tomorrow.

7:00 AM - Wednesday, September 1st - TCCOR ALL CLEAR - Back to normal life!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Typhoon Kompasu...

...is about to "pasu" over us. In case you're weather report doesn't include the typhoon warnings for SE Asia, we have a category 1 typhoon headed strait to Okinawa. What fun! We're going to test the strength of our concrete bunker home. And it actually looks like the kids might be off school for their 2nd day of school - no snow days here, we have typhoon days.

But never fear, we have a fun neighborhood and I've been following a trail of Facebook postings of people already planning our "typhoon party"!  In TCOR 1 everything military shuts down - schools, commissary, stores, etc. so we'll be trapped on base for the duration - might as well pool our resources and have some fun!


For those weak on their geography, that circle that says "9 PM Tue" is sitting directly over the island of Okinawa.



Bring on the wind and rain (it's definitely the calm before the storm right now)!

Back to School!

August 30th, 2010

London off to school a first grader!




Lined up and ready to go.


London with his teacher, Mrs. Murray, on orientation day.

Cannon entering his "school" as a fifth grader!





Looking excited to start school with teacher Mommy.

Yes, the summer flew by and now the kids are back in school - London is going to EC Killin and Cannon is being homeschooled this year.  We're looking forward to a great year - wish us luck!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Mango Madness

The next time you go to the grocery store and think $2.50 is a lot to pay for a pineapple, please remember us over here in Japan.  I went to the Japanese farmer's market today for my fresh fruit and veggies, which are usually much fresher and somewhat cheaper than those that are available in our Commissary.  To be just, I did pick up a big bag of eggplant for around $1.20, and I got a huge bag of basil for $1.00.  But certain fruits are beyond "pricey" in this here country.

Like these mangoes...



For those of you who may have a hard time reading the price tag for these 3, yes count them 1...2...3, mangoes - it reads...



... 5,500 Yen.  And in today's amazing exchange rate of 82 Yen to the USD (I'm being fascitious here, the Yen has recently dropped significantly!) that's $65.00!!!!!  Now granted, they are individually wrapped, and come in their own cardboard box, but all I have to say is those better be the best #$%! tasting mangoes you ever put in your mouth for $21.67 a piece.

Now if your budget was a little smaller, perhaps you could afford the 1,000 Yen ($11.82) watermelon.  That's a personal size watermellon, not a big, honkin' US grown one.



Alas, even the Commissary let me down as I was greeted by this week's "special" in the produce department...



Is $2.04 for one apple really "extra savings"?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Japanese Umbrellas

The Japanese think of everything, really they do.  And they do some things that are very curteous and thoughtful.  Today I witnessed a really good example.

I planned on taking the kids to the awesome aquarium on island today for one last hurrah before school starts next week.  Fortunately, Stevie was able to leave work early and join us, so up island we went under blue skies and sunshine.  We all enjoyed a great time around the aquarium seeing the sharks, rays, dolphins and whale sharks. 



However, by the time we came to leave, the rain had set in and we were umbrella-less.  But did that matter?  No, because as I mentioned before, the Japanese think of everything.  Outside of the exit was a rack of identical white umbrellas, probably 100 or more of them, and the idea is that you use one of their umbrellas while you walk to the parking garage and then give it back!  Brilliant!


Take an umbrella...


Head down the road...

Up the escallator... Love all the matching umbrellas!

In case you missed one at the bottom, you could pick one up half way up the hill!

Return your umbrella to this man when you get to the parking garage!

Emmy, singing in the rain.

Lieutenant Commander Coats

Congratulations to my hubby who got selected and confirmed for Lieutenant Commander today!!!  This means a promotion in military lingo, although he won't be able to "wear" the rank until some time in the new year.  Way to go babe!  We're proud of you.

Emmy's New 'Do

After a summer of chlorinated swimming pools, Emmy's hair needed help.  So in the spirit of getting ready for going to school (she's starting a Montessori school in September), I took Emmy to my Japanese hairdresser for a new do.  Doesn't she look cute!

Getting a wash.

The first cut...
Drying...

Finished!  Doesn't she look cute!

Back view

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Traffic-jam aid

The kids and I were in the 100 Yen Store today putting together a care package for our niece, Sydney.  She recently had an accident with a golf cart and a tree and ended up having 12 stitches in her foot, poor kid.  So, Sydney, if you're reading this, you have a Japanese care package coming to you.

Anyways, you know I'm in love with the 100 Yen Store and all their crazy, fun, and often , in an odd way, useful products.  Cannon found this one and it has to rank up there among my favorites list.



Yes, as you see, it's a "portable mini toilette" that you can use "when you are caught in a traffic jam on the freeway".  So I guess you put this on the floor boards, drop your drawers and pop a squat right there in the car?  Better hope you're not stuck next to a semi who can peer down at you!  Seems to me like you would have to be "desperately in need of a toilet" (as stated on the package) to even consider using this. 

Maybe those folks in China who have been stuck in a traffic jam for 9 days could use some of these!

Let me know how it works out, Sydney!!!!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Obon

I love my neighbor, Kelly, she is an amazing person - generous, caring, spontaneous, and just as crazy as me about capturing Japanese culture on film (maybe even more crazy than me, but she has the excuse that she's a professional photographer.)  So what does loving Kelly (or Ethel as Stevie calls her, I would be the Lucy of that duo) have to do with Obon?  Well last night as Stevie and I were heading upstairs for bed at 10:45, I heard the singing and drums of an Obon celebration somewhere behind our house off-base and I said, "I want to go find them!"  His response, go ask Ethel (aka Kelly) to go with you.  So I did, and she immediately grabbed her camera and three minutes later we were off to track down the fun!

So what is Obon?  I could write a big long essay on it, but I'll let About.com do it for me (I know, I'm cheating, but I was up late watching those dancers!)  Here's what About has to say...

Obon is one of the most important Japanese traditions. People believe that their ancestors' spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family during Obon and pray for the spirits. For the reason, Obon is an important family gathering time, and many people return to their hometowns.

Obon is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar in Okinawa.

Japanese people clean their houses and place a variety of food offerings such as vegetables and fruits to the spirits of ancestors in front of a butsudan (Buddhist altar). Chochin lanterns [rice paper laterns] and arrangements of flower are usually placed by the butsudan.

On the first day of Obon, chochin lanterns are lit inside houses, and people go to their family's grave to call their ancestors' spirits back home. It's called mukae-bon. In some regions, fires called mukae-bi are lit at the entrances of houses to guide the spirits. On the last day, people bring the ancestor's spirits back to the grave, hanging chochin painted with the family crest to guide the spirits. It's called okuri-bon. In some regions, fires called okuri-bi are lit at entrances of houses to send the ancestors' spirits. During Obon, the smell of senko (Japanese incense sticks) fills Japanese houses and cemeteries.

Toro Nagashi (floating lanterns) is a tradition often observed during Obon. People send off their ancestors' spirits with the lanterns, lit by a candle inside and floated down a river to the ocean. Also, Bon Odori (folk dance) is widely practiced on Obon nights. Styles of dance vary from area to area, but usually Japanese taiko drums keep the rhythms.

This is what Kelly and I saw last night - the Bon Odori.  We followed our ears, and instinct, and found a large group of dancers, some with big taiko drums, some with smaller drums, and then the ladies in back.



They were gathered at a park, but soon headed off down the street in a noisy parade.  In the lead was a rickety cart rigged with a loud speaker and four or five microphones around which the singers, men and women in blue summer kimono and straw hats led the singing. 



This cart was pushed up the steep, winding road as the singers sang and the drummers drummed and the ladies danced.  I have to say, this is a crazy road to drive during broad daylight, but at midnight, with a parade of drummers blocking one side, a stream of spectators walking up the narrow sidewalk on the other side, and the traffic directors for the parade partaking in the "festivities" (think beer), it was down right dangerous.  I was convinced that someone would be attending next year's festivities as the returning spirit, not the live body, but I guess the Japanese think nothing of it and continued as normal.









Most of these pictures are borrowed from Kelly since she had a lens that could take pictures without a flash.  Thank you, Kelly!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Funny Photos from the Week

Since I've shared alot of bummer news about our week, I just had to share these funny photos from the lighter moments...


Found these shirts at the BX - Cannons says "My Jedi skills, you will like."  And London's says "I'm a lover, not a biter." with a picture of Chubbaka.

London and Emmy playing dress-up.  London wanted me to make a helmet so this is the best I could do!
The kids in their new pajamas - aren't they cute!

I'm not sure I have an explanation for this face!

Nothing like walking in your front door and being attacked by these bandits!
Emmy loving on her "boyfriend" - Dimitri our neighbor.

Proving that Stevie can sleep anywhere...



Some of the interesting drinks they sell in Japanese vending machines.  The drink is called "Kirin Loves Sports."
More great drink names and flavors.  You buy a lot of drinks here to rehydrate!  The CC Lemon said it had the vitamin C of 70 lemons.