since I could...hold my head up high. Oh wait...this isn't a song from Staind. No, It's been a while since I've written. One can hardly forget when their inbox receives such an influx of blog requests. My apologies, however, I am once again in the midst of a PC snafu. I have come to the conclusion that all technology despises me and that I shall remain doomed for life.
On the up side...life is keeping us busy. The kids are finishing up Football and Cheer season this weekend which means Monday will usher in Baseball and Softball season. Marsha, Greg, and Bobby have all decided to play so again, I will play the role of taxi driver. I'm honestly thinking of painting my van yellow and attaching a meter to the dash.
Our life is a whirlwind of cleats, jerseys, Dial soap and deodorant. Ah yes....this is the life!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Farewell Winter Break
We decided to spend the kids last day of winter vacation at one of the Japanese parks off base. The kids had been nagging Al and I to take them to one park in particular with a "drop slide", I prefer to call it the slide from hell. I can't blame the kids for enjoying it though...it's a riot.
You begin by climbing the stairs 15 feet into the air where you then sit on a platform, slide your rear to the edge, and grab hold of a bar that is positioned over....thin air. Once you fling your body from the platform you hang suspended from this bar until you work up the nerve to DROP 8 feet to the slide. I do believe the design is meant to give you such an adrenaline rush that you fail to notice the massive bruise beginning to form on your tail end.
The park also boasts a HUGE roller slide. These are indeed a great deal of fun...about three times as high as the drop slide, you use it as you would any regular slide...with one exception...it is VITAL that you sit on cardboard.
This slide is made up of small rollers. You sit on the first and it rolls you to the second and third and fourth and so on. Without the cardboard ones Gluteus Maximus would feel as if it were shooting flames by roller 500. This, as you can imagine, is absolutely excruciating. With or without cardboard however, the rider will reach such a speed as to be catapulted a good 50 feet off the end. Talk about fun!
Then there are the individual merry-go-rounds. If not approached with care one is liable to walk away with a slight concussion. These toys consist of a disk and pole placed in the ground at a slant (to add to the danger eh um I mean fun). One would sit on the disk and hold the pole (much like they would a sit and spin) while another would spin them at such a speed as to make the rider hold on for dear life until being flung 100 MPH from the contraption.
Japanese parks are a far cry from the more conservative ones in the states. Although I am fairly positive that if any of these playthings were installed stateside there would a great many lawsuits filed. Crazy Americans ruining our fun! Hehehehe!
Here are a few photos from our afternoon. My apologies for not snapping any shots of the "drop slide", I was busy reading...perhaps next time.
You begin by climbing the stairs 15 feet into the air where you then sit on a platform, slide your rear to the edge, and grab hold of a bar that is positioned over....thin air. Once you fling your body from the platform you hang suspended from this bar until you work up the nerve to DROP 8 feet to the slide. I do believe the design is meant to give you such an adrenaline rush that you fail to notice the massive bruise beginning to form on your tail end.
The park also boasts a HUGE roller slide. These are indeed a great deal of fun...about three times as high as the drop slide, you use it as you would any regular slide...with one exception...it is VITAL that you sit on cardboard.
This slide is made up of small rollers. You sit on the first and it rolls you to the second and third and fourth and so on. Without the cardboard ones Gluteus Maximus would feel as if it were shooting flames by roller 500. This, as you can imagine, is absolutely excruciating. With or without cardboard however, the rider will reach such a speed as to be catapulted a good 50 feet off the end. Talk about fun!
Then there are the individual merry-go-rounds. If not approached with care one is liable to walk away with a slight concussion. These toys consist of a disk and pole placed in the ground at a slant (to add to the danger eh um I mean fun). One would sit on the disk and hold the pole (much like they would a sit and spin) while another would spin them at such a speed as to make the rider hold on for dear life until being flung 100 MPH from the contraption.
Japanese parks are a far cry from the more conservative ones in the states. Although I am fairly positive that if any of these playthings were installed stateside there would a great many lawsuits filed. Crazy Americans ruining our fun! Hehehehe!
Here are a few photos from our afternoon. My apologies for not snapping any shots of the "drop slide", I was busy reading...perhaps next time.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Happy 2006!
We hadn't any definite plans for ringing in the New Year until about 3 hours before the blessed moment. But come midnight Al and I were tooting our horns and clinking our plastic champagne glasses with seven of our friends and about 300 other people who didn't feel like partying out gate 2 in the pouring rain. We danced and laughed until midnight. Then we all counted down, kissed, hugged, toasted the New Year and called home to wake up our sleepy children. Somewhere in all that excitement R.L. had the pleasure of receiving my first "bird" of 2006 at which point he gladly returned the favor. It was all in love though as we fondly embraced afterward. Thanks R.L. for that honor!! Hehehehe!
It was close to 3 when the eight of us piled into my van (Al and I weren't drinking) and headed out to the infamous Club X for a bit of Karaoke. I laughed my tail end off! I sang a few songs to get everyone warmed up (that means they all had time to down a few beers). A.J., who enjoys a bit of karaoke I am told, rocked the mic with a little "Paint It Black". K.L., J.G. and I belted out a lovely rendition of "Hollaback Girl" (I'm using the term "lovely" veeeerrrrryyyyyyy loosely here). And we all about threw down when some guy tried to steal our mics during "Sweet Home Alabama". Finally Al and R.L. finished us off with "Hotel California", now THAT was a treat!
Our voices raw and gravelly we trodded back to the USO where K.L., R.L., Al and I decided to head to CoCo's for our first 2006 curry run! At 6 a.m. the four of us sat zombie-like in that booth attempting not to fall asleep in our Chicken Cutlet Curries. Needless to say, we crashed hard when we finally rolled in around 7.
It was a good New Years Eve. Hope your was as safe and fun as ours! Happy 2006 all!!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Back to Reality
Well, Christmas is officially over which means I now have to find a place for all this stuff the kids have accumulated. Normally I would have had them clean their rooms prior to Christmas day, and the truth is....I did, only the rooms didn't exactly stay that way. Besides the fact that I haven't gotten in there to do a good thorough cleaning in a couple of months which means.....YUK!!!!
So, here I am...the day after Christmas, scrubbing my kids' bedrooms. This is no small task let me assure you. I haven't the foggiest idea how the hell my kids can manage to be such slobs. For heaven sake...they came from MY gene pool! Those rooms truly disgust me sometimes.
I just finished Bobby and Cindy's room. THREE trash bags of assorted cut up paper, old crayons, ripped books (sorry Grandma), broken toys and who knows what. I probably filled up the canister of my vacuume in that room alone. N-A-S-T-Y!!! Whatever...beds are made and fabreezed, a window is cracked to let in a bit of fresh air, everything is dusted and the glass is gleaming.
Now I get to move on to the boys room. NOT such a terrible feat. Amazingly Greg and Peter are very clean. Fifteen minutes in there and I will be finished. After that unfortunately, I must tackle Marsha and Jan's room. This I dread. Those girls have one of the worst rooms I've ever seen. Literally within hours of cleaning, it somehow they destroy it once again. Not only do I have to scrub that room (with face mask and rubber gloves), but when I'm finished I will have a whole new Mt. Washme on my hands. As if I don't have enough laundry already.
So I suppose the next couple of days will be devoted to the laundry room. Heck if I have enough I may have to make my piles on the living room floor (nothing quite motivates one to finish the wash like piles invading their living space). Yep...these are good times!
Oh and by the way, if you were thinking of dropping in for a little visit this week, don't bother. I refuse to entertain until the end of this hellish nightmare! Toodles!
So, here I am...the day after Christmas, scrubbing my kids' bedrooms. This is no small task let me assure you. I haven't the foggiest idea how the hell my kids can manage to be such slobs. For heaven sake...they came from MY gene pool! Those rooms truly disgust me sometimes.
I just finished Bobby and Cindy's room. THREE trash bags of assorted cut up paper, old crayons, ripped books (sorry Grandma), broken toys and who knows what. I probably filled up the canister of my vacuume in that room alone. N-A-S-T-Y!!! Whatever...beds are made and fabreezed, a window is cracked to let in a bit of fresh air, everything is dusted and the glass is gleaming.
Now I get to move on to the boys room. NOT such a terrible feat. Amazingly Greg and Peter are very clean. Fifteen minutes in there and I will be finished. After that unfortunately, I must tackle Marsha and Jan's room. This I dread. Those girls have one of the worst rooms I've ever seen. Literally within hours of cleaning, it somehow they destroy it once again. Not only do I have to scrub that room (with face mask and rubber gloves), but when I'm finished I will have a whole new Mt. Washme on my hands. As if I don't have enough laundry already.
So I suppose the next couple of days will be devoted to the laundry room. Heck if I have enough I may have to make my piles on the living room floor (nothing quite motivates one to finish the wash like piles invading their living space). Yep...these are good times!
Oh and by the way, if you were thinking of dropping in for a little visit this week, don't bother. I refuse to entertain until the end of this hellish nightmare! Toodles!
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Morning
It is 6:30am and the kids have had me up for an hour and a half. I am brewing coffee at the present with the hope that it will help to hold open my eyelids and perhaps even bring me to life a bit.
When I attempted to wake Al this morning he asked for just one more hour of shut eye. This I gave him (so to brew that coffee), however in the back of my mind I thought of my wonderful in-laws and how now, with no small children in the house, they don't make a big event of decorating trees, hanging lights, and rising at 5am to see what "Santa" left during the night.
Already Marsha is celebrating her 13th Christmas. The years truly are flying by. There will indeed come a day when I won't awake on Christmas morn to the sounds of laughter, excitement, and remote control cars racing up and down the hallway. And as much as it pains me to say...there will likely come a day when Christmases may be spent without us all being in the same house (or country even).
So here I sit....6:30am....Christmas morning....waiting for this coffee to finish brewing so I can pull my husband from the comfort of our bed and join our kiddos in the living room. And as they tear into the gifts under our tree, laughing, squealing, and playing, I will remember that these days are numbered. I've no doubt that Al and I will enjoy every sleepy-eyed second of this.
When I attempted to wake Al this morning he asked for just one more hour of shut eye. This I gave him (so to brew that coffee), however in the back of my mind I thought of my wonderful in-laws and how now, with no small children in the house, they don't make a big event of decorating trees, hanging lights, and rising at 5am to see what "Santa" left during the night.
Already Marsha is celebrating her 13th Christmas. The years truly are flying by. There will indeed come a day when I won't awake on Christmas morn to the sounds of laughter, excitement, and remote control cars racing up and down the hallway. And as much as it pains me to say...there will likely come a day when Christmases may be spent without us all being in the same house (or country even).
So here I sit....6:30am....Christmas morning....waiting for this coffee to finish brewing so I can pull my husband from the comfort of our bed and join our kiddos in the living room. And as they tear into the gifts under our tree, laughing, squealing, and playing, I will remember that these days are numbered. I've no doubt that Al and I will enjoy every sleepy-eyed second of this.
Kyle and Maliea
Congratulations! You both know that there is no where I would rather be right now than watching the two of you begin your life together. Know that Alex, the kids and I all send our congratulations and best wishes. We'll be there soon enough to do our celebrating in person, until then...Blessings and Love! ~Randi
Monday, December 12, 2005
Addition to the Family
Don't get ahead of yourself here, I'm not having another baby. THANK GOD!!!!! Don't get me wrong...I have six of the most fantastic kids you will ever meet, but I'm not looking to have anymore! No, no, no...our little family addition is a puppy. Yes, it's official, I am certifiably insane.
The puppy came to us by way of a neighbor who decided she really didn't want a dog. Thus my children pleaded and begged and I (being the sucker that I am) gave in. He came with the name "Jake", but I would have none of that. We don't give animals people names in this house. We needed something a bit more Japanese to mesh with the rest of our household pets. Our Golden Retriever, Sumo. Our Betas (Japanese fighting fish), Sushi and Sashimi. And the infamous Parakeet, Kamikaze.
I'd like to make a side note here. Our dogs have names that are only and will only be theirs, however ALL of our Betas are named Sushi and Sashimi, and every Parakeet-Kamikaze.
Anyway, we needed a name. The kids and I came up with a few to try out. Nibana (meaning second)-nope. Yoshi (Marsha flipped out) "We can't name him after a character in Mario Bros." And finally, Cindy's name request-Samurai Jak (Sammy for short).
So Sumo and Samurai. Poor Sumo. The old man is chillin', sittin' back, relaxin'. enjoyin' the peace and quiet, when out of no where this young kid jumps in and turns his world upside down. Such is life! Just wait until we get back to the states...momma has every intention of getting herself a kitty to name Geisha. Sumo may very well turn himself into "Kamikaze", Hehehe!
The puppy came to us by way of a neighbor who decided she really didn't want a dog. Thus my children pleaded and begged and I (being the sucker that I am) gave in. He came with the name "Jake", but I would have none of that. We don't give animals people names in this house. We needed something a bit more Japanese to mesh with the rest of our household pets. Our Golden Retriever, Sumo. Our Betas (Japanese fighting fish), Sushi and Sashimi. And the infamous Parakeet, Kamikaze.
I'd like to make a side note here. Our dogs have names that are only and will only be theirs, however ALL of our Betas are named Sushi and Sashimi, and every Parakeet-Kamikaze.
Anyway, we needed a name. The kids and I came up with a few to try out. Nibana (meaning second)-nope. Yoshi (Marsha flipped out) "We can't name him after a character in Mario Bros." And finally, Cindy's name request-Samurai Jak (Sammy for short).
So Sumo and Samurai. Poor Sumo. The old man is chillin', sittin' back, relaxin'. enjoyin' the peace and quiet, when out of no where this young kid jumps in and turns his world upside down. Such is life! Just wait until we get back to the states...momma has every intention of getting herself a kitty to name Geisha. Sumo may very well turn himself into "Kamikaze", Hehehe!
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Raiders
Here are a few photos from Greg's first game (Friday night). Threw one in of me and my baby girl (she isn't much of a baby anymore...sob).
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Eagles and Falcons
I'd just like to take this opportunity to say "Happy Birthday Grandma!!!" (Dec. 7th) I've posted a virtual smorgasbord of photos for your veiwing pleasure. Just because you asked! Love you tons. Hope your birthday was a spectacular one! ~Ran D.
Here are photos from Peter's and Jan's games last night (Thursday).
Here are photos from Peter's and Jan's games last night (Thursday).
Cowboy
Ah football season. I know it has long since passed for most of you....but here in Okinawa we are just getting started. And what perfect timing! The weather is just now dipping low enough to toss on a warm sweater. In fact, I've had to break out my long wool trench coat just to sit through practices! GOOD TIMES!! Anyway, enough of that...here are pictures from Bobby's first game (Wednesday night). I don't think they won, but who really keeps track in flag football? And my apologies for the terrible photo quality. Wouldn't you know it? My batteries died after the first few minutes, so these are camera phone photos. No worries, it won't happen again!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
