Entry for October 13, 2007

We got the carpets cleaned this weekend! Actually Dave did all the steam cleaning. Its sort of a one person at a time thing you know, and he is good at it and fast. I think he enjoys cleaning the carpet cause when you are finished it looks so much better and you get to see how nasty the water is when your done. Anyhow, its all cleaned and dry and the furniture is put back. The baby's room looks a lot better and I put the crib where I wanted it and it looks spiffy. I can't wait to get the whole room set up. My shower is December 2ND. I hope the mail isn't too slow because I can't wait to set everything up. It probably will take forever to get here since it will be the height of the Christmas mailing rush. Oh well, the real wait is until February when the baby will arrive! I LOVE Saturdays when Dave gets to sleep in with me and when we wake up I can put his hand where the baby is kicking and he can feel it. Its nice to lay there for a while and every time he feels the little thump from inside he lets out a little gasp. Its so awesome.

We went to the Maintenance Group Family Fun Day this afternoon. They had a burgers and dogs up at the ski lodge. It was nice. For the kids they had two bouncy things. There was an OK turn out... considering the group has over a thousand people working under it. It was nice to see the Colonel throwing a ball for the little kids to bat at. ( the same Colonel that plays guitar in the praise team at church)That is one things I really like about the military. Here they have 3 base beach bashes during the summer where the whole base is invited for kids games, and free food and drinks. Then you have the group gatherings, and the smaller office gatherings. Plus I think the Christmas Party is awesome. Get dressed up and go to this pretty ballroom all decorated for the holidays. You get a nice sit down dinner, they have prizes and the Commander thanks everyone for doing such a great job. It makes the base feel like a close knit community. I know the stateside bases don't do as much but I don't think people bother to participate even if they do. When we go back to the states I will make sure we do go to the the squadron Burger Burns and enjoy the community events more.

P.S. I took this photo of the crib and I noticed in the pic the chair looks dingy and discolored.... But in person it doesn't look that way. I think that chair will look really nice next to the crib bedding we registered for. Eeeee

wierd things, happy things, scary things

Weird things first... This morning I woke up to drive Dave to work and on the way I kept seeing these white things on the side of the road. At first I thought it was patched of frost or something. I asked Dave and it took him a while to figure out they were spider webs. They were all over the grass. It gave me the heebie geebies. There were so many of them it was creepy. We have some spiders here that are amazing actually. Our fence is covered with webs during the warm months. They are not like any webs I had seen before we lived here. You can't spray them away with the hose and if you have the guts to pull the web off it is back the next day. They are kind of pretty though.

The happy and scary things are the same really. I went today for my pregnancy test at the hospital and it came back positive. So we are really excited, but I am scared. I don't want to go through another miscarriage. That was really rough. I just keep praying everything will be okay this time.

Looong weekend

Yuck what fun it ISN"T when you have a long weekend and it rains the whole time. Yesterday it was nice for a couple hours but it has been crappy ever since. Dave and I did go tot he beach yesterday. It was sort of gusty and the waves were really crashing, but I am glad we went. I got a few really nice sand dollars and few other nice shells. Wendy had fun yesterday. When it was nice out Dave and I took her for a long walk then we took her to the beach with us. Then later in the day when Dave walked up to the shoppette he took her with him. So she got out of the house 3 times! She was beat.
Dave and I spent the afternoon yesterday playing cards and Yahtzee. We had a good time. Then we watched a movie and TV.
This morning we got up and went to Church. We went to the base cafe for breakfast afterwards. Then we stopped at the BX and I got a few things I needed, and I ended up buying some shoes that were on clearance that will be great this summer. The weather is so crummy I feel like nap is near.
Here is the Scripture for Reflection from today:
Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. ( Eccl 8:5)

great casserole

I realized something amazing yesterday! Dave and I were talking about how it ALWAYS rains on the day of the Base Beach Bash. Then I realized yesterday was the 3rd beach bash since we have been here... and we only have 1 left!!! Then I realized we only have one Valentine's Day, and April Fools Day, and one more Easter to spend here in Misawa... Isn't that exciting?! Well, it is for us. Like for the first time we are seeing a peak of a light at the end of the tunnel. Not that living in Japan hasn't become a lot easier since I quit my job.. but still, four years in a foreign country is tough. Especially since we are like on this one little island you know, considering the bases in Europe you can go lots of places just by jumping on a train. Like if we were in Germany we could go visit lots of different countries.
Dave has a really long weekend. He had Friday off for a PACAF family day, and he gets Monday off too. Yesterday was really crappy- super rainy and foggy and windy. But today is nicer, a little chilly but sunny. I am not sure what we are going to do this afternoon. Maybe go to the beach to look for sand dollars. Dave isn't here right now, he went up to the airport to say good-bye to some of his buddies. SO I picked up the house a bit and thought I would get online to blog and post a recipe for this dish I made last night. It was SO good. Dave couldn't stop talking about it last night. It was simple to make and it was fast. The recipe is called Spicy Chicken Casserole with Corn Bread, but it wasn't spicy at all. You could make it spicy I suppose if you used hotter salsa or maybe a spicy taco seasoning. But we liked it just the way it was...
SPICY(BUT NOT REALLY) CHICKEN CASSEROLE WITH CORN BREAD
YOU WILL NEED:

• 2 TBLS OLIVE OIL
• 4 BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS CUT IN BITE SIZE PIECES
• 1 TACO SEASONING PACKET
• 1 CAN BLACK BEANS, DRAINED AND RINSED
• 1 CAN DICED TOMATOES, DRAINED
• 1 CAN MEXI-CORN, DRAINED
• 1 CAN (4 OZ) DICED MILD CHILIES, DRAINED
• 1/2 CUP MILD SALSA
• 1 BOX ( OR PACKET) (ABOUT 8 1/2 OZ) CORN BREAD MIX ( I USED JIFFY)
• 1/2 CUP SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE
• 1/4 CUP DICED RED BELL PEPPER

1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350. SPRAY 2 QT DISH.
2. HEAT OIL IN LARGE SKILLET AND COOK CHICKEN TILL IT ISNT PINK
3. ADD THE TACO SEASONING. THEN ADD BEANS, SALSA, TOMATOES, CORN, CHILIES. STIR TO BLEND WELL.
4. PUT MIX IN THE CASSEROLE DISH
5. PREPARE CORN BREAD MIX AS DIRECTED ON BOX... THEN ADD THE SHREDDED CHEESE AND PEPPER.
6. SPREAD BATTER OVER THE CHICKEN MIX.
7. BAKE 30 MINUTES OR TILL CORN BREAD IS GOLDEN BROWN.

IT REALLY WAS EASY. AND IT WAS SO TASTY!

Entry for February 09, 2007

Well, its been a week already!! WE have kept pretty busy even though leaving the house means using the shuttle because Dave has the car all day. Today we are going up to get our tickets to Sapporo then we are going to lunch. Tomorrow though Melissa and I are going to the Hirosaki Snow Lantern Festival. It should be a hoot. Dave has to work so he isn't going with us.

Next week we have lots planned. I will try to blog next week more.

P.S. this pic is from Swan they have really great food

my favorite things from the places I have lived

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I was talking a walk this morning and the sky was so blue and beautiful I was in awe. I started thinking about the places I have lived and how each of them have their own natural beauty. So I thought I would list my 5 favorite things about the places I have lived.
I was only a baby when we moved from Louisiana so I wont do that state. Hehe
Michigan- I think about all of the things I miss from Michigan everyday! Not only my family, but the things that growing up I came to know well, and when I go home and see these things they are comforting and bring back lots of memories.
1. The TREES- I never knew I loved trees so much until I moved to Arizona where there aren\u2019t any. I love BIG huge climbable trees. I love them in spring, summer, fall, and winter. They are so amazing. I love walking down a street lined with trees. It is so pretty and it feels like your hiding under them. And when your watching the sidewalk you see the little slivers of light that made it through the cracks and were able to reach the ground. And I love walking through the woods. Its like a whole other world in there.
2. The Birds- In Michigan everyone I know owns at least one bird feeder. And almost everyone has a handy bird book, so when they are drinking their morning coffee and are watching their bird feeder they can quickly look up the new birds they spot, and report the sightings next time they are catching up with family and friends. I cannot tell you how many get togethers include new bird sightings by someone. I miss this A LOT! There is always a bird chirping to listen too. I stil love waking up to the sound of birds chirping.( who doesn't) I remember how fun it was to spot a robins egg. They are so pretty.
3. The LAKES- Oh how can you come from The Great Lake State and not think of them all the time???? The lakes in Michigan are AMAZING. Growing up we only lived only 45 minutes or so to Lake Huron. Lake Huron is my favorite even though most everyone complains about the Port Huron side because it is rocky. I don\u2019t care I love it there. I have only been to Lake Michigan a handful of times but it is really beautiful.
4. Fall- When I moved to Arizona I was bitter all fall because I knew I was missing a beautiful Michigan Fall. When I was a kid I loved how the streets looked after everyone had raked their leaves into the street. It was so amazing to me all those leave! I remember walking home from the bus stop, crunching leaves with every step I took. I loved scuffing my foot along, then looking back at the one clear line of sidewalk.
5. I am sure this isn\u2019t true, but it seems to me thinking back that it always snowed on Christmas Eve. I am sure it didn\u2019t, but I guess the years that it did made a huge impression on me. I remember one Christmas Eve we were going to a party on my Mom's side of the family and we picked up the pizza from the pizza parlor because we lived in town. We picked it up and were driving out to the country where the party was and it was snowing so pretty, and on the light poles the Christmas decorations were lite up and it was so magical. I think of how it looked that night over and over every Christmas eve.
Arizona- I don\u2019t think of Arizona quiet as often as Michigan, but at times I definitely think of the beautiful things I saw while living there. I would go back happily if we got orders there again.
1. The Sunsets- If you have ever been to Arizona you know exactly what I mean. They are amazing day, after day, after day. I never thought sunsets could be that beautiful. Someone once told me that they are so nice because of the pollution but when you see them all you can think of is, only God can make something that beautiful, not smog.
2. Tumbleweeds & Dust Devils-If you have ever seen a tumbleweed blowing across the road or been in awe at a dust devil you can see why it made my list of favorite things. They are both so cool Where we lived in Arizona there were a couple of open spaces nearby and when driving past them we would often see big swirling dust devils. They are really neat. We drove through one once and it shook the car a little bit. It was really cool. Being from the Midwest I had never seen a tumbleweed and every time I saw one in Arizona I would feel the need to shout, \u2018hey look a tumbleweed!\u2019 Guess I am easily impressed. Hehe
3. Monsoon lightening- Since we basically lived on a huge cement slab the lightening hardly ever came really close, but it was so flat in the valley that you could always see lighting really far away. It was hardly ever raining where we were but we could see all those lightening bolts and they were amazing! We would often sit outside watching the free light show. I think the Arizona lightening makes an impression an anyone that sees it.
4. The endless sunny days- I don\u2019t know the real average number of sunny days in Phoenix, but I would guess something like 300 of 365 days are clear and sunny. The day we left Arizona it was especially sunny and beautiful. It was January and something like 80 degrees. It was a beautiful day to remember Phoenix by.
5. The Mountains- I think anyone that lives near mountains know why they are so impressive. I cant say you ever get sick of looking out your window and seeing mountains. Living on Luke AFB there was a really nice mountain range just behind the base. To get out of the Valley of the Sun you have to drive through some mountains and it always felt good coming back, you get through the final mountains and look and you can see the nearly the entire valley. It so great!
Japan- Since I mostly dislike living in Japan it feels weird to like certain things. But while living in a foreign country isn\u2019t my bag, there are very beautiful sights here that I am glad I have been able to see.
1. Blue Skied Winter days- It is so odd to have a foggy grey rainy summer then when winter comes this place is totally beautiful. (The complete opposite of Michigan) Nearly every day is blue skied and sunny. When a snow storm is coming it is so obvious because you can see it cutting across the blue sky. The mountains are snow covered and so amazing against a blue background. I haven\u2019t had trouble with winter blahs here since almost ever day of winter is so cheery
2. Green overloaded Summer- The first summer we lived here we were driving to the mall and I realized it gets crazy green here. The back roads that we drive down are lined with basically unkept forest. It is natural and beautiful looking. There is one picture in the slide show from that drive that first summer. You can see what I mean. I guess all that rain makes everything SUPER green!
3. Snow Covered Trees- I love nothing more than driving by a line of trees after fresh snow has fallen. The trees are so beautiful covered in snow. Our backyard has pine trees and in the morning when I let the dog out I am always caught by how pretty the trees look with the new snow on them.
4. Rice Paddies- driving by the rice paddies is so neat. You see these fields that are flooded then you see these perfectly straight lines cutting through the water. It is so cool. Then in the fall when the rice is cut and hung it is a sight to see. Just seeing fields with all these tee-pee things of rice makes you think about how that rice is going to be at nearly ever meal the Japanese eat!
5. Cherry Blossoms- You know I like trees by now and when they are full with cherry blossoms it is a real treat to see. I will never ever in my life be able to explain how pretty they are. I am really lucky to have 4 years here to take in the beauty of the Cherry Blossoms. There is a stop sign on the way to our house and right there, there are three trees that so are beautiful when they have their blossoms. When I stop at that sign I always feel like lingering to look at them longer.
Well, that\u2019s all I have to say about that.

Corn Soup from a pop machine??

You know there are some things the Japanese got right.  Yesterday Dave and I were shopping for a bed for Melissa, and we found the strangest thing!  We were getting a pop out of a vending machine outside one of the stores and what do we see??  Corn soup in a can sold in the pop machine!  Well, actually most pop machines also have cans of coffee.  A lot of times they have both warm and cold cans for sale.  It is really nice to grab a hot coffee on a chilly day.  But Corn soup??  We got it and tried it and man, it was the most wonderful thing ever.  It was the exact right temperature and it was creamy and wonderful but still had a few kernels of corn in it.  It was delightful!! 

I was just thinking

I was just thinking how strange my life has turned out to be.  You know in sch0ol when you have to think of where you think you'll be in 5 years and 10 years??  I never in my life would have seen myself here.  It is Wednesday and I am changing the sheets like I do every Wednesday, but tonight I am listening to the info on TV about a tsunami warning.  I am listening to warnings for people on the coast to evacuate and they are talking about tidal waves.  How strange.  And what is stranger is that even though I live like 5 minutes from the Ocean I am not worried and I go about making the bed like normal. 

Here is a list of strange things that seem 'normal' to me:

• earthquakes
  
• fish on a stick ( i don't eat them)
  
• LOTS of orange earplugs in Dave's pockets
  
• Holiday Dinners for two
  
• fish markets in the malls
  
• emptying my ice into a special drain at McDonald's before throwing away my cup
  
• using chopsticks
  
• spending weeks at a time apart from Dave
  
• seeing my family once a year
  
• lots of male cross-dressers on TV
  
• eating rice without soy sauce (its so good on its own)
  
• Stopping for a jet crossing on my way to the Post Office
  
• Getting five thousand yen from the ATM ( the minimum allowed for withdrawal)

I know there are so many other things that I can't think of right now.  I guess it doesn't matter how "strange" my life seems at times.  I have so many things to be grateful for.

Parade

So today we went off base where they were having a festival.  They had a costume parade that lasted a couple hours.  There were a lot of really cute costumes, and there were a lot of really strange costumes.  It was fun though.  Check out the album.  Beware I did take a pic of the sumo guys from the rear so don't be shocked.(That might be rude? I am not sure but everyone was looking so I thought it should be okay for me to snap a picture right?) 

Went to the Beach Today! & Omelet Bake

I just got back from the base beach.  It is a nice day.  FINALLY!  Yesterday I went to the BX and bought a beach chair.  I thought since I'll be here all summer long I should start going to the beach to read.  SO I went today.  Dave came with me but only stayed for an hour, he went golfing with a guy from his work.  I spent two hours reading.  Melissa and I are currently reading a book called, Dying for Chocolate.  I got a lot of reading done and it felt so good being out of the house and outside in nice weather.  I also took my new O magazine and started reading that.   I could have stayed all day but I didn't want Wendy to be in the kennel for that long.  I thought I would post this picture of Dave trying out my new chair. 

Oh!!  Last night I made breakfast for dinner.  I tried this recipe I have for a Ham and Cheese Omelet Bake.  Boy was it good!!! Here is the recipe.  Definitely try it.  It called for grands flaky biscuits but  since they are round there were little gaps and the egg got underneath.  I think next time I will try it using the sheets of the crescent rolls instead.   You'll see what I mean if you try it.

Ham 'n Cheese Omelet Bake

1 box( 10 oz) Green Giant frozen broccoli & cheese flavored sauce

1 can pillsbury grands flaky layers refrigerated original biscuits 8 ct 

10 eggs

1 1/2 cup milk

1 teas dry ground mustard

salt and pepper

2 cups diced cooked ham

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 jar (4.5oz) green giant sliced mushrooms, drained

1) Heat oven to 350. Cut slit in the broccoli packet and heat in microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes( follow the directions on the box).  set aside to cool a bit.

2) Meanwhile, spray bottom only of a 13x9 in pan. Separate the biscuits.  slice the biscuits in half making 16 round biscuits.  Lay them in the pan evenly and try to spread them to fill in the holes.

3) In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, mustard and salt and pepper until well blended. Stir in ham, onion, cheeses, mushrooms, and broc and cheese packet.  Pour the mixture over the biscuits spread around making sure all the biscuits are covered.

4) Bake at 350 for 40 to 50 minutes or until edges are golden brown and center is set.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.  Cut into squares.  ENJOY!!!! 

We had this reheated for breakfast this morning it is just as good as it was last night.  Yummy!!