Happy New Year!

Post two parties! 1:11am...Happy new year!

Dinner at the Garlic House and desert at Big Dip!

So a group of us went to Arin Krin also known as the Garlic House for dinner. Then after dinner we stopped at Big Dip-Blue Seal for desert.
Hear Teran and I stopped to take a picture!

Name that animal!?!

If you guessed a shrew...I believe you are correct. It is one of the many animals my cat loves to watch out the front door. This was on our front porch this afternoon.

Kayaking at Mizugama, Kadena Town, Okinawa

We tried kayaking again. A much more enjoyable experience. I did not worry about being lost at sea this time.

We found a river 20 mins north of us in the middle of the city. Although with all the jungle growing up the banks, you would never know we were in the city.

We headed in one direction and went as far as we could before we hit a waterfall-man made. Then We got beached on some rocks, lots of scooting and pushing with the paddles.

Then we headed out towards where the river met the sea. It is on the west side. There were some interesting caves. We speculated it is where Okinawans hid out for sneak attacks during WWII. Most were bricked up.

Then we came across a small beach area. We decided to stop and explore. We also started a collection a sea glass. I think Bill got a better haul than I did, he found pink, blue and black glass. I just found typical green, brown and clear/white.

After a little exploring and pictures we headed back. Like I said, a much more enjoyable trip than the first time we went out. Maybe we will stick to kayaking in rivers and stay out of the ocean, at least until we become experts.

I'll post pictures as soon as we get home.

¥100 White Elephant gift exchange

We had our first party. It was a good showing, about 25 friends showed up. We put a little japanese twist on the whole white elephant gift exchange, it had to be from the ¥100 store.

This lead to some interesting gifts: a banana carrier, back massagers, toe socks, and trail mix with almonds and fish.

The big get for the night was an Okinawa bottle opener. It was stolen several times.

It was a lot of fun! A great way to celebrate Christmas with some wonderful new friends.

Stardust Fantasia Illumination at Kanucha Resort

Bill and I drove an hour north to check out the Christmas light display.

We got on the ONLY highway in Okinawa. It is really strange to go so fast, insert eye roll. We can travel 80kph on the hwy and 50kph on regular traffic roads. This is 50mph on the hwy and 31mph on other roads. It really did seem as if we were flying. Since on base I am not to go over 25kph or 15mph.

The resort was very nice. They have a million lights set up. Japanese don't really celebrate Christmas like we do, but their light displays are nice.

They had several spots where you could hang up your wish for the new year. See the picture of the heart looking ornaments.

A cool option, also lazy, but you could rent a golf cart to drive around the resort. It is large enough that the golf cart would be helpful, but we choose to walk.

Now you might laugh, or if you know me think it's totally normal, but I wore a turtle neck sweater and my calf length puffer jacket and was still cold. I was in good company as most Japanese were dressed similarly. It got down in the mid 50s, but being right on the water and high up on a ridge with high winds, I was cold.

I found a website that had some good info about the resort we visited. It says ¥2000, but we paid ¥1200. Which is about $15, per car. And with the tolls on the highway, the total trip cost ¥1100. Not a bad day trip, and a nice way to finish Christmas.
Copied Info from a website:
It’s a fun time to drive around the island, taking in the businesses who’ve transformed their properties for the holiday season. Many of the island’s resort hotels are getting into the holiday illuminations and spirit, as well, including Kanucha Bay Hotel and Villas’ holiday illumination. This year’s Kanucha Resort Stardust Fantasia is more than elegant, a stunning blend of one million lights glowing in the night, as well as a 12 meters high Christmas tree poolside. Inside, the hotel’s restaurant offers a special couples celebration for an anniversary or a surprise night.

Stardust Fantasia runs through February 14th. Advance admission is ¥1,000 per group/mini-car or car. The admission is ¥2,000 at the door for groups or large cards. The illumination is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., except for New Year’s Eve. Guests at the hotel view the illumination free. Kanucha Bay is located in northern Okinawa, across the bay from Camp Schwab.

Leaping lizards!

Always a surprise here in Okinawa. Went to open the kitchen window and out jumped a leaping lizard. I screamed and jumped. Luckily, a friend stopped by at the same moment, we tried capturing it, only to loose it behind the dryer.

Later Bill, the combat hunter went looking for it. With no luck, he said he would find it eventually. Yeah, eventually turned into when I was doing laundry.

The lizard was on the pile I was loading into the washer and it leapt again. I threw the clothes and again jumped and screamed.

This time Bill caught it and set it free out front. I am sure only to find it way back into the house some day.

Kayaking out on Ikei Island on Christmas eve.

What better way to spend Christmas eve than kayaking out in the ocean. Seemed like a good idea, but the winds were high, the water was cold and we went against the waves both directions.

It was still fun, we are both soaked and cold and eating a picnic lunch in the car with the heater on. Merry Christmas from the Morrison's in Japan!

Roller Slide Video and Pictures

And the stockings were hung...

They are not totally done...that is job neumero uno this week!

Bill made the hook/ rack thing...glitter and all.

I also made a snowman to hang on the front door. And we hung Christmas lights! Thank you Nick and Stephanie for letting us borrow lights.

Today was productive!

Roller slide excursion #1

Today we went and found a roller slide. We have video and a lot more pictures. Apparently Japan is not worried about someone suing them for getting hurt on a play ground. It was a ton of fun but we are old and our backs do hurt. I also have a bit of a bruise on my arm. But all in all a good time.

Stay tuned for more pictures and videos.

Christmas Packages

Because we are half way around the world from family and friends, we had to send out gifts by Dec 10th. But when you live with some one who shops at the last minute, it makes sending gifts off at the tight time difficult.

But Bill got it all done, and we got all the packages sent off in time. It is quite a production. Wrap the gifts, get the right size box, pack the box, stuff filler, tape it up, put both address on the box, fill out a customs claim form and then take it to the post office.

We stood in line for about 20 mins. And then it took about another 20 mins to check in all the boxes.

So if your lucky, our Christmas gifts should arrive by Christmas day!

Anyone else see the irony?

Just thought this was funny!

So why did they ban DDT?

We have a really, I mean really bad mosquito problem where we live. The other night, just as we arrived home there trucks driving around announcing something in Japanese.

I believe it was go indoors, take children and pets as well. But what did Bill do, he got closer to take a picture of the sprayer truck.

Let's hope the chemicals aren't too harmful.

Christmas came early in Okinawa!

Bill and I decided that we would add some special things to our cars. For my car I got a radio.

My last radio was possessed, it never turned off and would drain the battery. So we yanked it out of the dash.

The new radio is awesome. It has a USB port, an iPod port and it has built in Bluetooth. I can now be totally legal and talk completely hands free through the radio.

It's my favorite feature. There is a microphone placed in front of my speedometer. I love it!

Bill got a roof rack for his car. Now he can haul large items tied to the top. He is thinking bikes, kayaks, and surf boards.

It has been a good Christmas so far and the holiday is just getting started.

Plumbing Problems and Japanese Effeciency

On Wednesday Bill got up early to go to work and started the shower. Ad shortly after the shower started, there started a loud fog horn like sound, shaking the whole house.

I was startled awake. Very scary and disturbing. All I knew is I wanted it to stop.

It was so loud you could hear it down stairs, it shook so hard that it knocked down the suspension bars in our closets.

We decided if it continued one more day, we would call maintenance. The next day, same thing. Just as loud and just as annoying.

So we called maintenance, at 11:30am on Thursday we filed a work order. By 12:30pm I had a 1:00pm appointment. By 1:19pm, they were done. It was amazing. I have never had a plumber work that fast. They listened to the sound, said they knew how to fix it and in a short time, the fog horn was gone. Amazing!

Smelly towels

Have your towels ever smelled a little after having been used a few times. This happens in oki about 5 days after getting a fresh towel out.

The smell is from the mold that grows on the towel. We have learned that the mold grows in a pretty, pretty shade of PINK!

But it still stinks!

Tree house.

Tonight we had dinner in a fake tree that had a tree house. It was awesome. I would have taken a picture, but it was at night.

As we walked out we saw a car plugged in to recharge. I love the total Japanese experience.

Memorial Peace Park, Mabuni, Okinawa

Today we took quite the adventure and went way, way south to the Memorial Peace Park and to Satsuki Castle, a castle ruin.

We started off with a little Coco's Curry. We had not been to a curry house yet and we wanted to show our new sponsoree's a good place to eat. It was really pretty good.

Then we set of in the car. After two hours of driving around in circles. Literally, Bill was navigating and we had passed the same baseball stadium twice. I finally took over navigation. Only problem being is the driver and the navigator would not listen to me. I had the whole back seat on my side, yet still we were a little lost.

I finally made my point and had the car headed to the peace park. We wanted to stop at the castle first, but I was navigating, and I had to go to the bathroom. When we arrived, Ben the driver felt like I had tricked him into going where I wanted to go. Which is partially true.

The peace park was very nice. It was built in 1995 to help promote peace and remember all the people who died in the Battle of Okinawa. There were about 50,000 people who died in the battle.

They have all of the names inscribed on a black granite wall. It is much like the Vietnam Memorial in DC. I did find a William H Jolley on the wall. I wonder if there is any relation.

Afterwards we set off looking for the castle. On the way home we passed a small boy walking his cow. We drove past him three times trig to get a clear picture.

Still looking for the castle we stopes at an abandoned restaurant. It looked like a castle, but not the right place. The Boys explored a waterfall and a nice place to hide a dead body.

Then we stopped at a tomb. Again the boys got out to explore. They met some locals who gave them directions. We found a house decked out in Christmas lights.

It was a fun day. We saw lots of local cultural flair.

Kadena airport terminal

Tonight we are picking up a couple who we are sponsoring from the Kadena Airport Terminal.

Kadena is the Air Force base next to the Marine base we live on. We are currently stuck in traffic and might be a little late.

We are takin two cars because with luggage, there will be no room for people.

Since this is a couple not a single Marjne, things are a little different. They will stay in a hotel not the BOQ. Also there is a van at the hotel that will take them most places.

We are going to pick them up, take them to dinner and then to the hotel.

Tonight we, a group of friends are going out, we will invite them out, but if it was me, I am not sure I would VW up for going out after flying in to japan.

Here are some Christmas decorations I have made:

Advent Calendar Time!

Yes, roll your eyes, I am a grown adult and I still do an advent calendar. My parents started it for me when I was very young.

Then last year I shared that tradition with Bill and sent him 25 gifts to open.

It was a huge surprise when my last package came from my mom and included was advent gifts. So I created a count down to christmas!

Super excited!

Our Purple Christmas Tree

We are begining to decorate around the house. I have set up our tiny purple Christmas tree. So cute!

I am making stockings and other decor so they will be up shortly!

Bill and the cat

Bill likes to say that he and Degas have an understanding. Bill leave him alone, Degas leaves Bill alone.

Only, where does the cat sleep? On Bill's side of the bed. Where does the cat hide? In Bill's closet.

And today topped it all. Where did Degas find a place to sleep. On Bill's uniform. I am sure Bill is going to hate this!