Did I ever mention how last week I caught our dinner on fire?
Yup.
Had to break out the fire extinguisher.
I put some nice pork chops on the grill, on medium-low, and then went back into the kitchen to complete the rest of the meal. About 5 minutes later, I went out to check on them.
My first clue was the black, rolling smoke. Flames were shooting out every hole in that grill. I turned off the gas, but the flames didn't go down. I finally got the lid lifted, but the flames didn't go down. I really, really didn't want to break out the extinguisher - that would make it a Real Emergency. Alas, I had no choice. Out from under the kitchen sink and out to the back patio I dragged the extinguisher.
Like a fireman I wielded that hose, immediately dousing the fire, choking on the smoke and chemicals.
Then I went in to call my neighbor and let her know that the black, rolling smoke she sees out her back window is under control. While I was talking I wandered through the house, back towards the patio, and what do you think I saw? Black, rolling smoke.
"Um, hold on Wendy....."
Douse, douse, douse...
"...Ok. NOW the black smoke is under control."
I checked on it about 10 more times that night. It was over.
And the kids and I went out for dinner.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Sunday, March 28, 2004
The Day Spring Came to Tokyo
SPRING!!!!
Spring came yesterday! It was so beautiful. Sunny, 65-ish, not a cloud in the sky...The kind of day that makes you want to hike up your pants and play in the dirt.
But we had a ballet recital to attend yesterday, and then a celebratory lunch, and then we had to edit the video we took of the ballerinas, so we never actually made it outdoors.
But today...
Beautiful, sunny, 70-ish degrees. The kids wandered off to CCD at 9, I picked up the house a bit, my friend Ang came over and I trimmed her hair (at least she was still my friend when she left - we'll see if we're still friends tomorrow), and THEN...and THEN...
I made the first trip of the year to the flower shop! I picked up petunias, zinnias, marigolds, little purple ones I don't know the name of, straw flowers, impatiens, and 2 daisy-like shrubs for the pots that line my walk. I turned over the warm soil, and added instant color to my winter-brown entry-way. Here's a picture:
OH! I just got a call from Ang and our boys just arrived back in Tokyo from Virginia and are safe on the ground! I've gotta go! I've got things to do!
Spring came yesterday! It was so beautiful. Sunny, 65-ish, not a cloud in the sky...The kind of day that makes you want to hike up your pants and play in the dirt.
But we had a ballet recital to attend yesterday, and then a celebratory lunch, and then we had to edit the video we took of the ballerinas, so we never actually made it outdoors.
But today...
Beautiful, sunny, 70-ish degrees. The kids wandered off to CCD at 9, I picked up the house a bit, my friend Ang came over and I trimmed her hair (at least she was still my friend when she left - we'll see if we're still friends tomorrow), and THEN...and THEN...
I made the first trip of the year to the flower shop! I picked up petunias, zinnias, marigolds, little purple ones I don't know the name of, straw flowers, impatiens, and 2 daisy-like shrubs for the pots that line my walk. I turned over the warm soil, and added instant color to my winter-brown entry-way. Here's a picture:
OH! I just got a call from Ang and our boys just arrived back in Tokyo from Virginia and are safe on the ground! I've gotta go! I've got things to do!
Friday, March 26, 2004
The 50 Yard Email
Yikes!! It's 12:30am!! I need to get to bed!
I've been:
Entering a "99 Things" list (I was going to wait until my 99th entry, but it was all done and I just didn't see any point in waiting - I mean, it's not like there would be a ceremony or anything...).
And, emailing my girlfriend Candi, who lives about 50 yards from me (hmmm...didn't occur to me to ask if she had AIM or MSN...). Of course, we could have just picked up the phone and called. But I don't really like talking on the phone...plus, we were multi-tasking.
Then, while doing all-of-the-above, I got a phone email from her husband, who is not-so-much on this island right now, telling me that she should be in bed. I just got busted So Bad! Like I'm a bad influence or something...
Of course, what started the emailing frenzy was me suggesting that we start Happy Hour tomorrow around 4:30...("I'll bring the Margaritas!").
Maybe he does have a bit of a point.
I've been:
Entering a "99 Things" list (I was going to wait until my 99th entry, but it was all done and I just didn't see any point in waiting - I mean, it's not like there would be a ceremony or anything...).
And, emailing my girlfriend Candi, who lives about 50 yards from me (hmmm...didn't occur to me to ask if she had AIM or MSN...). Of course, we could have just picked up the phone and called. But I don't really like talking on the phone...plus, we were multi-tasking.
Then, while doing all-of-the-above, I got a phone email from her husband, who is not-so-much on this island right now, telling me that she should be in bed. I just got busted So Bad! Like I'm a bad influence or something...
Of course, what started the emailing frenzy was me suggesting that we start Happy Hour tomorrow around 4:30...("I'll bring the Margaritas!").
Maybe he does have a bit of a point.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Cereal for a Potluck?
More Cold Rain.
Ahhhhh, the joys of Tokyo in the Spring. And this COULD last until July. It did last year.
Yay! ANother Potluck!
So Noodle came home with a note today that said:
"Choir Celebration and Mini-Concert"
"Award Ceremony"
"Dinner & Fellowship"
"Mini-Concert"
For Christ's Sake! This is the project that wouldn't die!
"Bring your family"
"Potluck!"
They reel you in...
And then, the catch!...
"Please bring a dish...blah, blah, blah...last names beginning with E ~ M please bring a Main Dish"
Guess who's an "E ~ M".
Tater's in Norfolk this week so we've been eating cereal for dinner - do you think that counts? I can just bring a large box of Lucky Charms and a gallon of milk?
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
So yesterday, Dillon and I were in the car on the way to the commissary when we saw a young girl (about 6 or 7) chasing her dog down the street. She kept yelling at him and every time she got close, he would run off. And then he was running out into the 4-way stop where we were sitting and she started to sound frantic, so I pulled over (nowhere to park) and asked D to get out and help her. So he jogged across the street and asked if she needed some help and she just said, "No, we let him out all the time" (obviously not dealing with rocket scientists here). Then he said, "Well, do you want me to help you get him back?" She just looked at him and said, "No, my daddy doesn't like you."
Poor D. He came back to the car, his feelings all hurt. We didn't even know that kid. But her Daddy doesn't like D - we do know that much.
Ahhhhh, the joys of Tokyo in the Spring. And this COULD last until July. It did last year.
Yay! ANother Potluck!
So Noodle came home with a note today that said:
"Choir Celebration and Mini-Concert"
"Award Ceremony"
"Dinner & Fellowship"
"Mini-Concert"
For Christ's Sake! This is the project that wouldn't die!
"Bring your family"
"Potluck!"
They reel you in...
And then, the catch!...
"Please bring a dish...blah, blah, blah...last names beginning with E ~ M please bring a Main Dish"
Guess who's an "E ~ M".
Tater's in Norfolk this week so we've been eating cereal for dinner - do you think that counts? I can just bring a large box of Lucky Charms and a gallon of milk?
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
So yesterday, Dillon and I were in the car on the way to the commissary when we saw a young girl (about 6 or 7) chasing her dog down the street. She kept yelling at him and every time she got close, he would run off. And then he was running out into the 4-way stop where we were sitting and she started to sound frantic, so I pulled over (nowhere to park) and asked D to get out and help her. So he jogged across the street and asked if she needed some help and she just said, "No, we let him out all the time" (obviously not dealing with rocket scientists here). Then he said, "Well, do you want me to help you get him back?" She just looked at him and said, "No, my daddy doesn't like you."
Poor D. He came back to the car, his feelings all hurt. We didn't even know that kid. But her Daddy doesn't like D - we do know that much.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
"Share the World" Concert
The Temporary Choir Saga continues. The recording of the CD* was only the first part. Since then, the kids have practiced every day for an additional 2 weeks, re-learning the original 2 songs in Japanese and sign language, AND learning an entirely new song, half in English, half in Japanese. And FINALLY, last weekend was the 2005 World Expo promotional event in Tokyo. So..
*By the way, in the 2nd photo, Noodle's on the right side of the photo, wearing a white shirt and jeans, standing between a girl in a black shirt and a girl in a red shirt.
On BOTH Saturday and Sunday, Noodle and I dragged ourselves onto a schoolbus with 50 other kids and parents, which then hauled our butts over 2 hours each way to Tokyo, amid chatty, mouthy, whiny, bouncy, stinky, loud, misbehaving kids.
No, REALLY, I love kids...
Saturday, we went up for a rehearsal with the Japanese kids from Nara. They passed out "Share the World" sweatshirts, which all the kids would wear. Our kids sang 4 songs. FOUR. Walked to the stage once, and then we drove back home in the nasty, sleety rain from whence we came. It was a nightmare. And the entire 2 hours, a sweet little girl behind me jabbered at Noodle and I, despite our earphones. I was getting really annoyed with her and feeling crappy about it the whole time, because she really is sweet, just WAY to chattery for our sensibilities.
Then on Sunday we did it all over again. Up at 6am, at school by 7:15 and back on that hateful, hateful bus. But his time was The Real McCoy. The reason for all of those hours and hours of practice. The excitement of the kids was palpable. They behaved the entire bus-ride. No standing up, no screaming, no eating (and the jabbery girl was far, far away from me)... We got off the bus in Tokyo and walked through Roppongi Hills shopping mall, past Prada and Armani, Kate Spade & Gucci, to the outdoor arena, where the concert was to take place. Though the sun made a special appearance for us, the temperature was still a brisk 50 degrees. It didn't matter. They had on their matching sweatshirts and the Japanese kids had just spotted them. When our kids walked into the prep hall, they were immediately surrounded by the Japanese students. Most of them were older and enchanted by the younger kids. Rachel's long blonde hair, Noodle's curly mop, tiny Alexis, breakdancing Jerome...They tried communicating, them not speaking much English and us not speaking much Japanese. But it didn't matter. They smiled at each other and sang songs that summed up the experience:
"Share the World", in which children of the world pray for peace and happiness; to make our hearts beat as one. FIrst as a Ballad and then in a High-Tempo version, and "Yes, I'm In Love", a whimsical, bouncy song that just makes one smile.
They were beautiful. Singing the same song and laughing at the same jokes, from different cultural and language perspectives...and the difference was irrelevant.
Photos.
*By the way, in the 2nd photo, Noodle's on the right side of the photo, wearing a white shirt and jeans, standing between a girl in a black shirt and a girl in a red shirt.
On BOTH Saturday and Sunday, Noodle and I dragged ourselves onto a schoolbus with 50 other kids and parents, which then hauled our butts over 2 hours each way to Tokyo, amid chatty, mouthy, whiny, bouncy, stinky, loud, misbehaving kids.
No, REALLY, I love kids...
Saturday, we went up for a rehearsal with the Japanese kids from Nara. They passed out "Share the World" sweatshirts, which all the kids would wear. Our kids sang 4 songs. FOUR. Walked to the stage once, and then we drove back home in the nasty, sleety rain from whence we came. It was a nightmare. And the entire 2 hours, a sweet little girl behind me jabbered at Noodle and I, despite our earphones. I was getting really annoyed with her and feeling crappy about it the whole time, because she really is sweet, just WAY to chattery for our sensibilities.
Then on Sunday we did it all over again. Up at 6am, at school by 7:15 and back on that hateful, hateful bus. But his time was The Real McCoy. The reason for all of those hours and hours of practice. The excitement of the kids was palpable. They behaved the entire bus-ride. No standing up, no screaming, no eating (and the jabbery girl was far, far away from me)... We got off the bus in Tokyo and walked through Roppongi Hills shopping mall, past Prada and Armani, Kate Spade & Gucci, to the outdoor arena, where the concert was to take place. Though the sun made a special appearance for us, the temperature was still a brisk 50 degrees. It didn't matter. They had on their matching sweatshirts and the Japanese kids had just spotted them. When our kids walked into the prep hall, they were immediately surrounded by the Japanese students. Most of them were older and enchanted by the younger kids. Rachel's long blonde hair, Noodle's curly mop, tiny Alexis, breakdancing Jerome...They tried communicating, them not speaking much English and us not speaking much Japanese. But it didn't matter. They smiled at each other and sang songs that summed up the experience:
"Share the World", in which children of the world pray for peace and happiness; to make our hearts beat as one. FIrst as a Ballad and then in a High-Tempo version, and "Yes, I'm In Love", a whimsical, bouncy song that just makes one smile.
They were beautiful. Singing the same song and laughing at the same jokes, from different cultural and language perspectives...and the difference was irrelevant.
Photos.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Office Space. Huh?
Well, the cleaning frenzy yesterday wiped me out completely and I had to lie around today and watch 2 movies: "Office Space" and "The Devil's Advocate". Yeah, I'm a little behind the general movie-watching-population. Basically, I just hate giving up 2 hours in a row to sit down and watch TV. This rule doesn't apply, however, to "Sex and the City" and "24". I can sit and watch entire DVD's of those two shows for hours on end. I was never really a Keifer Sutherland fan, but after 2 seasons of "24", I'm finding him pretty hot, indeed.
And "Office Space". I don't really get the whole hullabaloo about it. I'm always hearing people say, "Office Space! What a great movie!" I'm going to be looking at these people a bit differently from now on. I just didn't really get the whole point and now I'm annoyed that I actually wasted 2 hours on it. (Except that it was raining out and I had a headache and probably would have been just lying around anyway.)
And this, just in... for those of you who might be going to Hawaii in May (you know who you are........), WE'LL SEE YOU THERE!!! I bought my tickets this afternoon. Well, I reserved them anyway. I got them "Military" just in case Mr. Ops flakes out on us.
Ok, I'm heading off to bed. I have a ginormous Mac OS X book to read.
And "Office Space". I don't really get the whole hullabaloo about it. I'm always hearing people say, "Office Space! What a great movie!" I'm going to be looking at these people a bit differently from now on. I just didn't really get the whole point and now I'm annoyed that I actually wasted 2 hours on it. (Except that it was raining out and I had a headache and probably would have been just lying around anyway.)
And this, just in... for those of you who might be going to Hawaii in May (you know who you are........), WE'LL SEE YOU THERE!!! I bought my tickets this afternoon. Well, I reserved them anyway. I got them "Military" just in case Mr. Ops flakes out on us.
Ok, I'm heading off to bed. I have a ginormous Mac OS X book to read.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Mid-Week Happy Hour
Why is it that I have to be the last remaining guest at every party?
Ang had a St. Paddy's Day Happy Hour. From 4:30-6:30.
Yeah. Three margaritas later, it's 8:10.
It wasn't so bad when Bron was here - she was just as reluctant to leave as I. As a matter of fact, we'd probably still be there now, and it'd be all her fault.
It's tiring being so popular...
Ang had a St. Paddy's Day Happy Hour. From 4:30-6:30.
Yeah. Three margaritas later, it's 8:10.
It wasn't so bad when Bron was here - she was just as reluctant to leave as I. As a matter of fact, we'd probably still be there now, and it'd be all her fault.
It's tiring being so popular...
Monday, March 15, 2004
Dinners, Parades, and Golf, Oh My!!!
Oh my GOSH!!! It has been so long! For the friends and family who have asked if I fell off the face of the Earth:
I'm hanging on by my fingernails!
It has just been such a couple of busy weeks! I can't even name anything specific that we've been doing (besides Spring Cleaning) that has kept me off the computer. Just a bit of everything. Let's backtrack a bit...
Friday Night we went out with a rank-, age- and personality-diverse group of 16. We went to Garlic Jo's in Yokohama, though the extra couple that brought our numbers up to 18 ended up at Garlic Jo's at Grandberry Mall, about 20 miles away from the rest of us...(We'll assume they had a very nice time too.) All went well, everyone avoiding all possible mine-fields, and we had a great time. Strange, but great. Then we went to The Crub and all was very boring. No DJ, no dance music, no Cara, and no people. We drank a couple beers and then headed on home around 12:30. On the way, we merged with one of our more "spirited" wives, who followed Tater and I home, stole Candi's Irish Flag, got into a fight with the neighbor-guy, and ended up sleeping on our couch (but don't worry - I called her overnight babysitter and told her where she was).
On Saturday Tater and I went to Zama to buy Crap We Don't Need. But we had lots of fun doing it, and then stopped at the store to buy steaks and cheesecake for dinner. Yum. (And yes, you Cholesterol-Policewoman-with-Crazy-Hair, I was thinking about you!!! - But ate it anyway.)
Then Sunday was a Great Day. We met Angie's brother, John, and his family up in Tokyo and not only Watched, but Marched In the St. Patrick's Day Parade up there. As we were watching, John's son's school marched by and we just jumped right in with them! We drank some Guinness, got some flags and shamrock stickers, and started marching. Armed Forces Radio & TV were there and taped us, the US Army Zama Marching band was there, there was a Japanese marching band behind us that played Abba's "Dancing Queen" about 5 times (HOW IRONIC IS THAT???), American and Japanese Girl Scouts (maybe because of the green outfits?), and the Tokyo Irish Wolfhound and Tokyo Irish Setter Clubs marched. It was a riot.
(Oh! And while we were marching, someone hollered out HSL-51!!!!! - We never did see who it was...)
Afterwards, we went to Meiji Shrine and looked at the weird Goth Kids hanging out in the Park. Our kids ran around a bit while we relaxed with some beers and shrimp chips, then moseyed through the shopping district on our way back to the train for the 90-minute ride home. We stumbled in the house after 7pm and were all dead to the world by 9.
THEN today, you will not believe what I did.
I played golf.
Big deal, huh? Well.
I started playing Junior Golf when I was old enough to carry 3 clubs and walk 3 holes. I continued through 10th grade, when I had an Asshole-Male-Chauvinist-Pig-coach. I quit cold turkey, mid-season (I have a tendency to do that when things aren't "Fun" anymore. I ONLY do things that are "Fun"), and have only played about 5 times in the last 22 years. But Angie invited me to go along today, so she, Candi, Megan B., and I played 9 holes at 10am. It was a beautiful day. Once I got rid of the 2 extra 6-irons, the 1 extra 5-iron, and the 1 extra Pitching Wedge from my rental bag, and got over the fact that I was missing a 7 & 8-iron, I had a great time! I wasn't as bad as I had expected, we didn't keep score, and had lunch together afterwards. I can't think of a better way to spend a gorgeous Monday Morning.
Candi got a bit cranky at her lack of actual contact with the ball. She thinks we should have beer next time. I'm willing to experiment....
I'm hanging on by my fingernails!
It has just been such a couple of busy weeks! I can't even name anything specific that we've been doing (besides Spring Cleaning) that has kept me off the computer. Just a bit of everything. Let's backtrack a bit...
Friday Night we went out with a rank-, age- and personality-diverse group of 16. We went to Garlic Jo's in Yokohama, though the extra couple that brought our numbers up to 18 ended up at Garlic Jo's at Grandberry Mall, about 20 miles away from the rest of us...(We'll assume they had a very nice time too.) All went well, everyone avoiding all possible mine-fields, and we had a great time. Strange, but great. Then we went to The Crub and all was very boring. No DJ, no dance music, no Cara, and no people. We drank a couple beers and then headed on home around 12:30. On the way, we merged with one of our more "spirited" wives, who followed Tater and I home, stole Candi's Irish Flag, got into a fight with the neighbor-guy, and ended up sleeping on our couch (but don't worry - I called her overnight babysitter and told her where she was).
On Saturday Tater and I went to Zama to buy Crap We Don't Need. But we had lots of fun doing it, and then stopped at the store to buy steaks and cheesecake for dinner. Yum. (And yes, you Cholesterol-Policewoman-with-Crazy-Hair, I was thinking about you!!! - But ate it anyway.)
Then Sunday was a Great Day. We met Angie's brother, John, and his family up in Tokyo and not only Watched, but Marched In the St. Patrick's Day Parade up there. As we were watching, John's son's school marched by and we just jumped right in with them! We drank some Guinness, got some flags and shamrock stickers, and started marching. Armed Forces Radio & TV were there and taped us, the US Army Zama Marching band was there, there was a Japanese marching band behind us that played Abba's "Dancing Queen" about 5 times (HOW IRONIC IS THAT???), American and Japanese Girl Scouts (maybe because of the green outfits?), and the Tokyo Irish Wolfhound and Tokyo Irish Setter Clubs marched. It was a riot.
(Oh! And while we were marching, someone hollered out HSL-51!!!!! - We never did see who it was...)
Afterwards, we went to Meiji Shrine and looked at the weird Goth Kids hanging out in the Park. Our kids ran around a bit while we relaxed with some beers and shrimp chips, then moseyed through the shopping district on our way back to the train for the 90-minute ride home. We stumbled in the house after 7pm and were all dead to the world by 9.
THEN today, you will not believe what I did.
I played golf.
Big deal, huh? Well.
I started playing Junior Golf when I was old enough to carry 3 clubs and walk 3 holes. I continued through 10th grade, when I had an Asshole-Male-Chauvinist-Pig-coach. I quit cold turkey, mid-season (I have a tendency to do that when things aren't "Fun" anymore. I ONLY do things that are "Fun"), and have only played about 5 times in the last 22 years. But Angie invited me to go along today, so she, Candi, Megan B., and I played 9 holes at 10am. It was a beautiful day. Once I got rid of the 2 extra 6-irons, the 1 extra 5-iron, and the 1 extra Pitching Wedge from my rental bag, and got over the fact that I was missing a 7 & 8-iron, I had a great time! I wasn't as bad as I had expected, we didn't keep score, and had lunch together afterwards. I can't think of a better way to spend a gorgeous Monday Morning.
Candi got a bit cranky at her lack of actual contact with the ball. She thinks we should have beer next time. I'm willing to experiment....
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Monday, March 08, 2004
Sun, Snow, Sun. And New Shoes.
I know it doesn't look like it, but I did type out an entry yesterday. You just can't see it. And why do you think you can't see it? Because my Tater-man was on my Mac so I typed it out on the piece-of-shit PC which promptly lost it when I hit "send" (...or "done" - whatever). When I was using the PC every day, I remembered to copy everything before sending it out into cyber-space unprotected but what is it - 10 days to break a habit? Well, we're well past that limit and since I never fully recovered from my pregnancy memory-loss (times two) then I should just chalk it up to Things To Be Expected And Not Bitch About Them Later.
Stupid, stupid, evil PC...
So yesterday, I wanted to make mention of our Crazy Japanese Weather. When we woke up yesterday morning, it was a sunny 52 degrees (so I put on a light shirt). By noon it was grey and coudy and snowing (so I added a leather coat and scarf). By 2, sunny again - not a cloud in the sky (ditched the scarf...). I can't deal with that crap. I like to know what the weather has in store for me. How to dress. Whether or not to bring an umbrella. Huh. That explains why I liked San Diego so much...
I bought new shoes at Zama yesterday. I know for most people, that would not be such an accomplishment. But here, to find shoes you like, that fit you and are quality is a near impossibility. They are black high-heel leather Tommy Hilfiger clogs. Now, in general, I have an aversion to anything Tommy Hilfiger, due to the blatant self-advertising he puts on EVERYTHING and then charges an arm and a leg for people to prance around town in them. Usually with their belly-buttons hanging out. That is NOT ok.
But... in such extreme conditions, one must not be too unbending. My choices here are severely limited. Every SINGLE pair of shoes in the Exchange on this base were made for women at least 25 years older than my spry 36. They are those ugly faux-leather shoe-sneaker-things that usually come in beige. Or gold. (Fug.) Or low-heeled sandals...in winter...in beige...ugly low-heeled sandals.
Anyway, I love them and they make me look tall. -Er. Taller. (I will never fool anyone into thinking I am tall.) And my jeans that are too long (and they say PETITE right on them!!!) now fit a bit better. Now I just need somewhere to go.
Stupid, stupid, evil PC...
So yesterday, I wanted to make mention of our Crazy Japanese Weather. When we woke up yesterday morning, it was a sunny 52 degrees (so I put on a light shirt). By noon it was grey and coudy and snowing (so I added a leather coat and scarf). By 2, sunny again - not a cloud in the sky (ditched the scarf...). I can't deal with that crap. I like to know what the weather has in store for me. How to dress. Whether or not to bring an umbrella. Huh. That explains why I liked San Diego so much...
I bought new shoes at Zama yesterday. I know for most people, that would not be such an accomplishment. But here, to find shoes you like, that fit you and are quality is a near impossibility. They are black high-heel leather Tommy Hilfiger clogs. Now, in general, I have an aversion to anything Tommy Hilfiger, due to the blatant self-advertising he puts on EVERYTHING and then charges an arm and a leg for people to prance around town in them. Usually with their belly-buttons hanging out. That is NOT ok.
But... in such extreme conditions, one must not be too unbending. My choices here are severely limited. Every SINGLE pair of shoes in the Exchange on this base were made for women at least 25 years older than my spry 36. They are those ugly faux-leather shoe-sneaker-things that usually come in beige. Or gold. (Fug.) Or low-heeled sandals...in winter...in beige...ugly low-heeled sandals.
Anyway, I love them and they make me look tall. -Er. Taller. (I will never fool anyone into thinking I am tall.) And my jeans that are too long (and they say PETITE right on them!!!) now fit a bit better. Now I just need somewhere to go.
Friday, March 05, 2004
Mr. & Mrs. L-o-o-o-s-e-r
First of all, it's Friday night here and Holy Shit we're home!!! We could watch Survivor or something...
But we won't.
This is what happens when all your friends move. You end up drinking Rum & Cokes alone, with Noodle jabbering in one ear and D and Tater jabbering in the other, listing to your husband's hard rock bouncing off the kitchen walls through his wholly inappropriate surround-sound computer speakers, and posting a journal entry to the computer.
Have I ever mentioned that we have surround-sound speakers in 3 rooms in this 1200 sq/ft house? Living room, kitchen and master bedroom. And that we have 5 TV's? Living room, kitchen, playroom (for movies and x-box only), master bedroom & D's room? OH!! AND we still have one on the boat...And that we hardly ever watch them? Things are out of control here. Tater also has a problem with cameras (we also have 5 digital cameras...and 2 old-fashioned film-using ones).
But it's his money, and we aren't eating ramen every night, so what can I say??
(Oh. My. God. You thought I was exaggerating when I said that Noodle was jabbering in one ear and D was jabbering in the other. I was SO not embellishing. They are each about 8 inches from my head, and talking at the same time. But on the plus side, Noodle is reading this as we speak and alerting me to all typographical errors as they occur. (Because I am such a crappy typist that I have to look at the keys. I got a D- (yes, MINUS - but don't worry, I changed it to a PLUS before I got home) in typing in HS. They were still giving us that bullshit about how a girl should have secretarial skills to fall back on. Now, I didn't know much, but I knew I would NEVER be a secretary. Bosses frown on it when you argue with them... So I blew it off. Out of spite. Thus the D-. Obvoiusly Mrs. Hubule didn't appreciate my Conciencious Objection for Women's Rights.))
Oh. My. God...Again. Have I also mentioned that we have 2 computers set up in the kitchen (on 2 different desks) at the moment? The new Mac is in here, but so is the old Dell, while we make sure all files are transferred off the hard drives and they are cleaned up before we put it up in D's room.
So picture this:
I am on the Mac, D is right behind me on the Dell, and Tater is at this moment setting up his laptop so he can play on his computer too. Poor Noodle. She needs a computer. Just call us Mr. & Mrs. Geek.
Or, more appropriately Mr. & Mrs. L-o-o-o-s-e-r!
So, since it's Friday night and we were all going to be home, I asked the kids if they wanted to Order A Pizza!?!?! They both scrunched up their noses and said, "Nah." They chose the Italian Sausage Sandwiches with sauteed onion and peppers and tomato sauce and a salad on the side that I was originally going to make instead.
Weirdos.
Oh! Noodle found something to do. She's painting a rainbow at the kitchen table. I guess I'll get off here so she can have a turn.
Or keep surfing since she's obviously busy...
But we won't.
This is what happens when all your friends move. You end up drinking Rum & Cokes alone, with Noodle jabbering in one ear and D and Tater jabbering in the other, listing to your husband's hard rock bouncing off the kitchen walls through his wholly inappropriate surround-sound computer speakers, and posting a journal entry to the computer.
Have I ever mentioned that we have surround-sound speakers in 3 rooms in this 1200 sq/ft house? Living room, kitchen and master bedroom. And that we have 5 TV's? Living room, kitchen, playroom (for movies and x-box only), master bedroom & D's room? OH!! AND we still have one on the boat...And that we hardly ever watch them? Things are out of control here. Tater also has a problem with cameras (we also have 5 digital cameras...and 2 old-fashioned film-using ones).
But it's his money, and we aren't eating ramen every night, so what can I say??
(Oh. My. God. You thought I was exaggerating when I said that Noodle was jabbering in one ear and D was jabbering in the other. I was SO not embellishing. They are each about 8 inches from my head, and talking at the same time. But on the plus side, Noodle is reading this as we speak and alerting me to all typographical errors as they occur. (Because I am such a crappy typist that I have to look at the keys. I got a D- (yes, MINUS - but don't worry, I changed it to a PLUS before I got home) in typing in HS. They were still giving us that bullshit about how a girl should have secretarial skills to fall back on. Now, I didn't know much, but I knew I would NEVER be a secretary. Bosses frown on it when you argue with them... So I blew it off. Out of spite. Thus the D-. Obvoiusly Mrs. Hubule didn't appreciate my Conciencious Objection for Women's Rights.))
Oh. My. God...Again. Have I also mentioned that we have 2 computers set up in the kitchen (on 2 different desks) at the moment? The new Mac is in here, but so is the old Dell, while we make sure all files are transferred off the hard drives and they are cleaned up before we put it up in D's room.
So picture this:
I am on the Mac, D is right behind me on the Dell, and Tater is at this moment setting up his laptop so he can play on his computer too. Poor Noodle. She needs a computer. Just call us Mr. & Mrs. Geek.
Or, more appropriately Mr. & Mrs. L-o-o-o-s-e-r!
So, since it's Friday night and we were all going to be home, I asked the kids if they wanted to Order A Pizza!?!?! They both scrunched up their noses and said, "Nah." They chose the Italian Sausage Sandwiches with sauteed onion and peppers and tomato sauce and a salad on the side that I was originally going to make instead.
Weirdos.
Oh! Noodle found something to do. She's painting a rainbow at the kitchen table. I guess I'll get off here so she can have a turn.
Or keep surfing since she's obviously busy...
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Crazy-Ass Day
I'm in a rush to get off here, because when I wasn't out running the streets today (which was all day) I have been on the computer figuring out how to set up Microsoft Entourage (for the Mac). I did it, and I am the bomb. (I was having issues...)
So my house is a disaster...but I did...
-work out
-go to tanning bed (yea, yea, I know, shut up)
-shop at Zama
-lunch with Rachelle
-run errands
-return emails (some emails - I know I still owe!!)
-run Noodle to Daiei (Japanese K-Mart) for a recorder she needs for school
-read up on my iPod
-go meet Dillon in Ebina, where he was half-way home from Machida via the train when he called and wanted to meet us for dinner at Outback - how could I refuse him?
-come home and obsess about Entourage and iPod for 4 hours and here I am...
Found my black dress - it was sandwiched in a pile of sweatshirts! wooooo-hoooooo!
Exhausted, going to bed.
So my house is a disaster...but I did...
-work out
-go to tanning bed (yea, yea, I know, shut up)
-shop at Zama
-lunch with Rachelle
-run errands
-return emails (some emails - I know I still owe!!)
-run Noodle to Daiei (Japanese K-Mart) for a recorder she needs for school
-read up on my iPod
-go meet Dillon in Ebina, where he was half-way home from Machida via the train when he called and wanted to meet us for dinner at Outback - how could I refuse him?
-come home and obsess about Entourage and iPod for 4 hours and here I am...
Found my black dress - it was sandwiched in a pile of sweatshirts! wooooo-hoooooo!
Exhausted, going to bed.
Monday, March 01, 2004
Missing Dresses & Lenten Sacrifice
We had a really busy weekend - The Really Stupid Farewell on Friday, a wetting down on Saturday (Wojo's), for which the guy spent a small fortune on food & an open bar, and hardly anyone showed up. Me, Candi and Ang were the only wives there (file that under Big Freakin' Surprises - Cara would have been there but she's in the states), and not so many guys were there...maybe 20? Poor Woj. Then on Sunday we went out to dinner with Drew to Outback. I've decided it's my favorite foreign restaurant...
Has anyone seen my new black t-shirt dress? I got it in the mail about 3 weeks ago and tried it on and haven't seen it since. I think it's somewhere in my closet, but that doesn't really narrow it down at all...we have a walk-in...actually, it's more of a "stand-in" closet. About 6 feet of hanger-space to share and an empty 4 foot wall. So we put up some shelves there and that's where my jeans, tees, workout clothes...actually, pretty much everything that's not hung up goes on those shelves. Because my Tater-man has control of the 6-drawer dresser... AND the armoire....
Just occuring to me... I'm getting screwed.
Anyway, so I've lost this dress somewhere in my house and it's really starting to bug me. I'm starting to obsess about it. I actually had a hard time sleeping last night for racking my brain trying to figure out where it got sandwiched...I'm convinced it must be stuck between two other pieces of clothing and somehow disguised beyond all recognition. And I fear that the only way to find it is to drag EVERYTHING out of the closet. And that doesn't sound fun.
Because I thought I might get to wear it soon - it was 70 degrees last Sunday.
But then it snowed today.
I guess I can put off the destruction for a bit.
I gave up sweets for Lent. I usually do. No more ice cream after dinner, no more baking cookies just for the heck of it. No more sweets when Hiroko brings us each a piece of bakery cake. No more Doughnut Sunday Mornings (that's the kids treat for suffering through CCD).
But I gotta tell ya: It's starting to get on my nerves. I just don't take well to deprivation. Which, I realize is the point. It makes me do the exact opposite of the intended (Tater learned this pronto after we got married) so I'm thinking about giving up bourbon instead. Yes, I REALIZE I don't drink bourbon. That should make it easier. Duh.
Last year, during Lent, Tater was in the Persian Gulf doing a 6-month deployment. I wrote him and asked what sacrifice he was making. He wrote back and said, “Home, my family, air conditioning, my bed, good food, sex, and beer. Isn'’t that enough?
I thought so.
Has anyone seen my new black t-shirt dress? I got it in the mail about 3 weeks ago and tried it on and haven't seen it since. I think it's somewhere in my closet, but that doesn't really narrow it down at all...we have a walk-in...actually, it's more of a "stand-in" closet. About 6 feet of hanger-space to share and an empty 4 foot wall. So we put up some shelves there and that's where my jeans, tees, workout clothes...actually, pretty much everything that's not hung up goes on those shelves. Because my Tater-man has control of the 6-drawer dresser... AND the armoire....
Just occuring to me... I'm getting screwed.
Anyway, so I've lost this dress somewhere in my house and it's really starting to bug me. I'm starting to obsess about it. I actually had a hard time sleeping last night for racking my brain trying to figure out where it got sandwiched...I'm convinced it must be stuck between two other pieces of clothing and somehow disguised beyond all recognition. And I fear that the only way to find it is to drag EVERYTHING out of the closet. And that doesn't sound fun.
Because I thought I might get to wear it soon - it was 70 degrees last Sunday.
But then it snowed today.
I guess I can put off the destruction for a bit.
I gave up sweets for Lent. I usually do. No more ice cream after dinner, no more baking cookies just for the heck of it. No more sweets when Hiroko brings us each a piece of bakery cake. No more Doughnut Sunday Mornings (that's the kids treat for suffering through CCD).
But I gotta tell ya: It's starting to get on my nerves. I just don't take well to deprivation. Which, I realize is the point. It makes me do the exact opposite of the intended (Tater learned this pronto after we got married) so I'm thinking about giving up bourbon instead. Yes, I REALIZE I don't drink bourbon. That should make it easier. Duh.
Last year, during Lent, Tater was in the Persian Gulf doing a 6-month deployment. I wrote him and asked what sacrifice he was making. He wrote back and said, “Home, my family, air conditioning, my bed, good food, sex, and beer. Isn'’t that enough?
I thought so.
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