May 16, 2012  For those who want to keep up with our new journeys, you may now find it at:

www.saminmland.blogspot.com

Our Journey East

 May 3, 2012:  Well, even though we have been in Maryland for almost 3 weeks that doesn't mean you'll get Maryland pictures yet.  We still have many miles to go (in the blog world that is).  So, last we left off we were in Salt Lake.  Andi made a new friend with my mom's dog.  I keep telling mom that he can come live with us, but she assures me, this will not happen.

 The Easter bunny managed to find Andi while we were in Salt Lake.  Apparently the bunny can climb trees to hide those eggs.  It did take a while to find that final egg....the bunny had a memory lapse and couldn't remember in what camouflaged spot it got left.

 On April 10 we did start our journey eastward.  We made a detour first, heading towards Durango, CO.  And wouldn't you know it, "Hole in the Rock" as always, beckoned for a stop.  Always a good resting point, so why not.  We did avoid taking the tour of the house, as we've seen it 3 times previously and it always looks just the same.

 We stopped in Durango for a nights rest and relaxation with Cousin Lorna and Doug.  Always a treat to stay there.  Andi had a nice break from her parents while competing with Doug in a game.  No competition between those two....no, crows of delight from each as they beat each other in various rounds.

 On leaving the next morning we were treated to a lovely sunrise.
Not sure of how much of the mountain scenery Andi saw as she was drugged up with motion sickness pills for the twisty turny mountain roads.

 Below: a view of Silverton, CO

 Above:  A pit stop to top off the gas tank and walk around.  Couldn't resist the lone truck.
Below:  An old mining claim.

 We stopped in Gunnison, CO to see my nephew and take a lunch break.  We decided to keep on the road we were, in hopes of making a quicker transition back up to the interstate.  At this point we were relying heavily on our GPS navigator.  "Don't worry" said the soothing male voice (Shane changed it from the default female voice as he said he didn't need more women nagging directions at him), "I know where we are going"  The soothing voice failed to mention the County Road 3, which turns into County Road 3A aren't necessarily the road we think they might be.

 As you can see....County Road 3A is a dirt road.  Now, the male voice assures us this is the shorter of the two routes.  It is, in theory....less miles, not necessarily the quickest route, that the state road would have provided.  Ah well, it turned into a happy detour.  (and for those who haven't realized it, but the GPS navigator doesn't distinguish a two lane paved state road from a one lane dirt road....no lines of a different color, that is saved for the interstate markers...color coordination)

 Once over our shock, we did enjoy the opportunity to take one last dirt road before heading back to civilization.  Ah, civilization...see that tiny dot of a city in the picture below...that's where we are supposed to be...Which I am happy to report we got to just before the skies opened up and a deluge of rain came forth.  We were happy to find a hotel in Pueblo for rest.  Until a giant crack of thunder ripped from the skies...out of nowhere, it hadn't been raining and we hadn't seen any lightening.  It was rather startling to say the least.

 From Pueblo, our drive started in earnest.  Staying a day ahead of the worst of the storms, we weren't able to avoid the rain.  It rained everyday, if not all day, then a good portion of the day.  Oh, and when it wasn't rainy, it was windy.  Our view of the St. Louis Arch above, pretty much how I've seen it any other time we've driven by, always from the interstate, not always in the rain though.
Once we hit the Blue Ridge Mountains we were able to get out of the weather.  We made decent time all the way across, in spite of the rain (and one police pull over for following to close to the vehicle in front of us, and questions on the temporary tag....but Shane doesn't like to talk about that....just a warning, nothing major, aside from the bruised ego.  I say it was no big deal....)

 We arrived in Lexington Park and drove directly to the first apartment that we had on our list to look at.  Yee gads.....small, small, small.  Put one bed in the bedroom and it would be filled to capacity.  Went to a hotel to think about it.  The night desk clerk pulled a list of possible places to live, and by George, he found one!  The second place we looked at has the feel of home, so that's where we are living.
No, there are still no pictures.  I should've taken photos before the furniture came.  But according to the Navy moving experts, it wouldn't be arriving til June.  So we borrowed basics from a friend, but some other stuff and hunkered down for the long haul.  That is til the actual moving company called.  "Surprise!" your stuff is here from Japan.  Two days later (the 27th of April by the point) and we are making our way through a maze of boxes.
Eventually on Sunday the 29th, Shane and I realized it was our wedding anniversary.  It's been a little busy, so we both forgave each other for forgetting, and went out to dinner.  Though Andi picked the spot in the end.
Speaking of Andi, she is enrolled in school and seems to be settling right in.  We were concerned about how much she missed, but appears to be right on target.  Or I could be burying my head in the sand and living in denial....

And Shane started his new job as a civilian.  So far so good.  Though 4 days into it and he is exhausted.  I believe this has something to do with the fact that not only has he had the last month off, but in the months leading up to our departure in Japan, he wasn't working as much then either.
Now that everybody is off to work and school, I have the process of getting back into a routine as well. The top of the list is getting the house in order.  Well, some things are in order...my computer is unpacked, pictures unloaded from the camera....now if only boxes and organization could go as smoothly.

Misawa to Utah

 

It seems so long ago that the nitty gritty part of our move started.  It's been just over a month...really? seems so much longer!

March 12 2012 gave us another dumping of snow.  This was the day the base was to come out and pick up the appliances we'd been using for the last 3 years.  Shane shoveled the driveway several times in an attempt to make it easier for the truck.  Of course the fact that the street doesn't get plowed would soon become a problem.





 Oh, and the satellite guy also had to come and remove the dish from the top peaks of the house. We are the only house in the neighborhood with a strange set up...everybody else's was within arms reach, oh to be so lucky.  After satellite guy got stuck, and the garbage truck pushed him out (garbage truck then got stuck) Shane went out to hold the ladder as the wind was howling as well.  We paid the guy extra...he didn't object. (Japanese generally don't accept tips, we found the exception)

 Next in was the appliance truck....they too got stuck.  Because of the snow the truck couldn't make the turn into the street that runs in front of the house, so they came on the street that runs behind.  Stuck they were.  Being determined folks, used to the snow, they lugged the appliances the 100 feet from front door to the truck.

 Next day, March 13 the big moving truck was to come for the household goods.  Oh, the streets hadn't been plowed yet.  Well, the street leading up to our house.  The moving truck couldn't make the turn, so went back to its depot.  A frantic call to the landlord, and an hour or so later the tractor showed up to plow a path for the trucks.  Amazingly, even with a four or five hour delay to the start of the pack out, the packers got the house packed and loaded in one day.  Thank goodness for a double crew!  No pictures of that, it was a tad hectic in the house.  We tucked ourselves into a corner and watched the hustle.
You'd think that would be the end of the drama, no not so.  As the trucks were pulling out, Shane finalizing paper work, I stepped back in the house, missed the step up and jammed my toe into the doorstep.  A brief visit to the urgent care to be told what I already knew....a broken toe in the middle of winter....good luck wearing the "shoe".  I opted for my hiking boots, stiff and able to loosen the laces enough for me to get my foot in.
In the midst of moving chaos, Andi and I continued feeding the birds.  We ended up with one more new "friend" before leaving.

 We flew out on March 20, 2012 bound for Seattle, Washington.  Our fly out day was clear skies, which was amazing, since it had done nothing but snow from pack out day on.
In Seattle we separated for a week or two.  Shane went on to do his out processing, while Andi and flew down to Temecula, CA to visit my sister.

Had great fun going to an olive oil tasting bar (yes there is such a thing), learning how to drive on the right and that the blinker is on the left side of the steering wheel.  I didn't drive for about a week, when I did I heard a few mutterings from Andi of "to the right" as I wondered why the arrows in the parking lot where on the right side and I on the left....ohhhhhh!
While there we hooked up with friends we hadn't seen in about 6 years.  Andi and the boys used to play together in Norfolk all the time.  They picked right up where they left off.  Thanks Gonzalez family for a fun evening (and sleep over for Andi).

 Went to a horse show while we were there.  Big estate, the show rings were far apart.  Andi and I would go to one, it would just be ending....wander over to the next, oh they are just warming up.  Instead we watched a few of the cross country competitors and then headed for Barnes and Noble.  It was a bit chilly out, not cold by any means, but considering this is Southern California not as warm as I was hoping for.

One of the best highlights was watching my niece learn how to climb the big tree in the yard.  She and Andi had a great time up there.  Hopefully Andi didn't teach her to many bad habits about tree climbing, like hanging upside down or jumping into the flower garden.....

 Shane arrived and was greeted with great gusto by the girls.  (he has that affect on some of women)

 Below:  A picture just for Andi's Grandma Carla.

 Eventually we left Temecula to start our drive East.  Pulling off in Las Vegas to get lunch I just had to take a picture of the restaurant name....it just rolls off the tongue.

 Above: Beaver, Utah a resting spot.
Below:  Geese headed North, it really must be spring.  We just couldn't believe the size of this formation.  From our ground level view it looked like a giant silver ribbon in the sky, totally amazing to see.

 In Salt Lake, Andi got to meet up with some of her cousins.  Above are 5 of 6 brothers and below are Shane's folks.



The snow followed us........go figure.

Shane's brother had two new colts he was breaking in.  We were able to take a couple of hours and go watch him work the horses.  Andi was in heaven.  Uncle Jody let her lead one of the horses a little bit.  Andi had just spent two days at the barn with my sister and had gained a lot of confidence in how to lead a horse and tell it to "back off".

 

 Jody successfully getting in the saddle and taking a few rides around the ring.

 The world's friendliest horse!  This one was in the big arena just wandering about, but loved to be petted.  He did take a bit of interest in my hair, which I might've been offended about, but he was just so friendly, I think I found a horse even I could love.

 So, that's just part of our journey.  There are more pictures forthcoming...more from Utah, and a few from our journey across the states.  And of course pictures of our new home.  At the moment though new home is without furniture.  So ideally I should take pictures, this is probably the least cluttered this house will ever be.

In the States

April 4 2011- If you are looking for pictures....quit looking! Just signing in at the moment to make sure I still remember how to. And a quick update. We are back in the states, have been for about 2 weeks. Yesterday was a long drive from Temecula, CA to Salt Lake City for the next round of visiting and resting. And wondering how I'm going to repack things that seem to have expanded exponentially in the last few days.
Pictures will be forthcoming shortly, patience.

Leaving Home

March 11 2012 - Many emotions today. At the forefront is the anniversary of the Great Quake and Tsunami of March 11 2011. At 2:46 local time, I took a break from cleaning activities to go stand on the porch and listen to the sirens go off. The integrity of the Japanese will stick with me for the rest of my life. Such an example they have set as far as pulling themselves up. Granted, the whole nuclear power plant could have been handled much better. But given the extreme conditions, I think the authorities did what they could and hopefully had the best of intentions at heart with how they handled thing. Hind sight is always 20/20.

And to add to the heavy heart is the forthcoming week when moving trucks will actually start arriving at our house. The time has come, we must move on. This will be another big move, not just because we are returning to the states, Shane will be leaving the Navy!

It's something we knew would probably happen. In this economy, it wasn't really what we wanted at this time. The universe and powers that be have been kind, and he has a job already lined up and waiting for him. Oddly enough he will probably be back in Misawa, but as a repairman of sorts. We won't be with him on those trips. He'll still be a traveling man, and Andi and I will remain home-based.....kind of like the military life.

Andi's last day of school was this past Friday. Way up there is her class and teacher. They've been together for two years now. Last year she was in a 3/4 split, this year the teacher did a 4/5 split. They have a great bond.

Since it was our almost last weekend, there was one more drive to take. This was a drive with a purpose. For 3 years I have passed a house that I just love. Every time we go by "I've got to remember to get a picture of that house". When we first arrived it was still under construction. But even then, I could tell this is the house I'd like some day....with some Victorian flair thrown in somehow.

As always with a drive about, there are other distraction, like the sign for the restaurant. No money with us so we didn't go try it out.

The way home (as by this point the goal had been accomplished of getting a picture of the dream home) it was "oh, stop, I forgot about that house" "oh, look at the colors of those houses" (of course the gray skies don't really help, some day I shall photoshop the skies to blue and whiten up the snow) Shane couldn't help but wonder how the drive turned from "just one picture of one house" to "what? another house? how many are there?"
There will always be other houses around the corner. I hope they are also good homes.

As we get ready to leave Japan, it was with heavy hearts for all of us. For me, this is home. As a child moving around (Pop was in the National Park Service and we moved every 3-5 years) folks would ask where "home" was. Well, there was the home to go to every day after work, school, play. Where Mom, Pop and my sisters lived as well. That's always one form of home. But the "home" of where are you from....I never could answer that til now. This is someplace where I feel like I could remain for the rest of my life. I may never be back....but it will always hold that one spot.

Now don't get me wrong, I'll make another home in Maryland...that save haven where everyone wants to return to at the end of the day. But it won't be the quiet haven of isolated Northern Japan.

Ah, which brings me to....where are you going? Why to Maryland! Lexington Park to be exact. Well, that's as exact as we can get at the moment. No house/apartment to rent at the moment. Though we do have a place to look at when we arrive. And, Shane has a job. So life is looking good.

I was going to do a bit on Maryland....facts and trivia. Andi has done a bit of research on it. (milk is the state drink, for example) But time has crept up on me. Like I said, the moving trucks are coming!

So, now at this late hour (11pm local time) I need to sign off and get some beauty sleep before the marathon week begins.

As a result, "SAM in Japan" will fall silent for several weeks. Perhaps I'll be able to load some pictures in a couple of weeks of our journey Eastward, be patient. I haven't decided what to do with this blog once we get settled....after all SAM will no longer be in Japan.

I can't say "Sayonara" as that is to final....I hope I am back...instead "Odaijini" (O-day-gee-nee) take care of yourself!

March 5 2012

March 5 2012: Let me just say this has been a long winter! I don't think the snow started falling until late December, but when its come, its been with a vengeance. But first, we start with a "happy" box. On Valentines day (yes a month ago) there was road construction, which led to children having to be dropped off at an alternate sight. It just happened to be in front of the Cake House. The name describes it perfectly! Cakes and confections of all types. I was only too happy to go in and purchase a box of exquisite chocolates to make up for loitering in front of their business waiting for the bus. Of course getting a box of chocolates is truly a "Forest Gump Experience"....you never know "what you're going to get". They were delicious. I say that as I didn't get the one with the Cherry or the coconut! And yes, that is what the box says: "Hare a break time in Shiroi-mori. You'll feel happy, and take a easy mind". (And to further clutter your day with trivia "Shiroi-mori" means white tree, or white pine tree (SHE-ROY-MORE-EE)
Moving on.....did I mention it's been snowing with a vengeance? This time it was Shane's turn to shovel the driveway. I gawked and took pictures. Wasn't as deep as the last one, but still pretty wet. The front loader did come through later in the day and cleared the roads and driveway. I'm still not sure why we persist in shoveling our driveway when the loader will do it. I think we just like to feel productive. Anyway, the operator took great delight in creating some large piles for Andi. Well, not really sure it was just for Andi, or the fact that he is running out of room for piles and our yard is the dumping ground. I'd like to think it's because we're special.

Andi atop one of her piles. They make great sled runs. As a child though, I can remember the older kids spending a great deal of time to make the runs just so. Smoothing them out...pouring water on them at sundown so it would freeze into a slick track. I tried to get Andi to do that with at least one pile. But she's young...."noooooo I like the bumps!" I did go down one time. My kidneys aren't to fond of the bumps!

Below: A view from the top of the tallest snow pile.

As our time here grows short.....and no we still don't have orders.....just lots of anticipation and sleepless nights, we had promised Andi a last slumber party. She invited 7 of her girlfriends to come and join the festivities.....all 7 came. A giggling gaggle of 8 girls descended on my living room. Wait....Is that a young man on the left corner? How did a boy get in here??? No worries, the young lad is the neighbor boy. We had him for a couple of hours as well. He had a delightful time being well cared for by the girls. I did take him into the the computer room a few times to sit with Shane, so they could momentarily decompress from the bedlam.
Dinner was casual....fruits and veggie snacks and raviolis. With a ice cream sunday bar for desert.

The girls. Andi is in the center standing with the purple coat/pink hat.
As mentioned before, I have been feeding the birds this winter. Along with the many tree sparrows, I now have 2 doves, the occasional hawk (probably hunting the doves) and a murder of crows. There is one crow in particular who calls out at about the same time every morning. For about a week I've noticed that he perches in the same spot every day....seeming to try to blend in with the sparrows!
When I go out to do the little birds feeding, he sits on the pole. After feeding the little ones, I go in and scrounge around for snacks for the crows....frost bitten bacon, yucky chicken tenders, stale bread....I stand on the porch and throw that out into the snow. He'll fly down now to the snow pile and wait for me to go back in. He's become such a feature with the morning ritual that I named him.....meet "Micro". Get it??? My Crow.....micro....hahahahaha

The feedings have also attracted a loner. He's been a bit skittish. After about two weeks of getting him used to movement in the house, I was finally able to get his picture taken. Then Andi poured through her big book of birds of the world, and Shane did some googling. This is a "Hiyodori" (HE-YO-DOOR-EE) or if you want to go with the American name...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown-eared_Bulbul

And once again, we wait.....wait for the mysterious paper that will send us on a new adventure.