Beginnings
As I stand on the cusp of motherhood, awaiting the arrival of baby girl, I think of all the special moments and memories my husband and I will enjoy with her.
Her arrival.
Her first day home.
Her first steps.
And so much more.
These moments, so ordinary and yet so extraordinary, deserve capturing. They deserve to be preserved in picture frames and photo albums. And not just the moments I will share with my family, but the moments you will share with yours. This is why I’ve decided to create Wonderland Memories. I want to capture all those moments that make life magical.
Let me preface by saying I am not the only photographer on Okinawa. I am not the photographer who has been on the island the longest, nor am I likely the most experienced. I do, however, have a creative eye and a passion for photography. I am not starting this business to get rich or to weasel people out of hard-earned money. I’m starting it because I enjoy taking pictures and I believe that when someone hires a photographer, it should be affordable.
So if you live in Okinawa and you are graduating high school, getting engaged or expanding your family, let Wonderland Memories capture the magic of your special moments.
Feeling unprepared…
Last week I caught a cold. Or really bad allergies. I’m not sure, I only know that what normally would have taken me 24 hours to get over, has taken me a full week — because I’m not taking any medication…unless you count lots of sleep and orange juice.
The good news is that I’m finally on the mend, and I’m hoping tonight I can go to bed breathing and not spend two or three hours tossing and turning because I can only breath out of one nostril.
There is no bad news. Well, not really anyway.
Bagpiper and I are still struggling with the crib issue. We know what we want, we’ve seen what we want, but for some idiotic reason, the Exchange (think Target, but for the military) won’t ship overseas. We actually ordered the crib weeks ago, only to get an email a week later saying the item we requested does not ship to FPO addresses. Never mind that beneath the listing online, it clearly said: “FPO/APO Available”.
Anyway, so we’ve hunted around the BX on Kadena, saw a crib we liked, but it wasn’t in stock. They don’t know when it will be in stock again, but they did tell us they were having a big baby sale next weekend. The problem? Ninety-eight percent of everything in the catalog is only available online and only available for shipping to CONUS (continental US).
Again I say: What is the point of having the Exchange if they aren’t going to ship to overseas military bases?
Seriously, because if I lived in the continental US and the Exchange didn’t have what I wanted/needed, I’d have the luxury of going to Target, Wal-Mart or Babies R Us. I don’t have that luxury. While I would not trade the experience of living in Japan for a quick trip to Target, it would still be nice if the Exchange shipped to FPO addresses.
To be fair, there are furniture stores on base that do sell cribs, but they don’t sell the kind we want. And I’m sorry, I’m not going to pay for something I don’t want. The cribs in the furniture store are not convertible, and I don’t see the point in paying for a crib that will be in use for a year or so. I want a crib that converts into a regular bed. It just makes more sense.
So yesterday, Bagpiper and I decided to shop around Japanese stores to see if we could find a crib we liked. We didn’t find squat. New plan is to wait for next weekend and see if the BX on Kadena gets anything in that we like. If not, we’re just going to order off of Amazon and be done with it. Either way, by next weekend, we will either have a crib in our home or have one ordered online.
I hate feeling like we are totally unprepared for Baby. Only three months to go, and it’s going to go by fast. I want to have the nursery set up within the next month and a half. Even Bagpiper is feeling like we are unprepared, so that’s why we decided, next weekend (payday weekend), no matter what, we’re ordered the crib.
The paycheck after that, we’re buying the stroller and carseat. November we will buy baby items like diapers, wipes, baby powder, etc. By the end of November, we’re going to be as prepared as we can be.
My next OB appointment isn’t until September 23, and it will be the appointment that tests me for diabetes. I’ve been really good about my diet, and semi-decent about exercise. I don’t always go outside for walks, but I do make it a habit to go up and down my (steep) stairs several times a day. And other than being sick last week, I’ve been feeling good.
Baby is responding to sounds more and more now. The other night Bagpiper was practicing some music and Chopper (the band dog we were watching for the weekend) was singing along and Baby was dancing in my stomach. She’s kicking around right now while I type this blog…
…I’m still waiting on the yarn I ordered and mistakenly sent to my mom’s house in Texas. I really want to start some sweaters for the Baby. I have finished a hat, however. I’m going to start a pair of booties this evening and the rest of the week will be devoted to knitting baby blanket #1.
That’s all for now!
Earthquakes and Drums!
Today was both eventful and uneventful.
Sometime around 4am, I awoke to the entire house shaking. Half-asleep I couldn’t figure out if it was an actual earthquake going on or if I was just having some weird pregnant hallucinations. Turns out, there was a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in the Ryukyu island chain, of which Okinawa is a part of.
So. First earthquake.
Then, just before lunch, Shauna picked me up and we took her dog to the groomers and then wandered around American Village for awhile. We ate lunch at Freshness Burger (after going on a hunt to exchange dollars for yen, since I forgot my ID and we couldn’t get yen off base…bad Alice).
The exchange rate, btw, SUCKS. When I first arrived it was $1=82 yen. Now it’s $1=77 yen! But the exchange machine Shauna found was $1=71 yen. So yea. Yikes.
Anyway, we had lunch and then wandered into an arcade where we discovered and played this Japanese drum game. A friend from back home later informed me that the name of this game was Taiko Drum Master. 😛
It was fun, though it took a lot of energy. But that could just be that everything takes more energy for me nowadays.
I also saw a game that looked like you could win little bouncy balls, but the balls looked like the kind from Dragon Ball Z…
And what Japanese arcade would be complete without a huge Hello Kitty game?
The back of Hello Kitty opens up and has some sort of sit down/driving looking game. 😛
We were pretty much done wandering around at this point, so we picked up her dog and then Shauna grabbed her sewing stuff and came over (she’s still here in fact) and has been having an epic battle royal with a passport holder she’s making. I was going to knit, but after almost two hours of searching through Ravelry, nothing called out to me, so I gave up and just played on the computer instead.
Bagpipe looks like he is getting on Skype now, so I’m going to talk to him…he’s currently in Guam, but he’ll be home tomorrow and then it’s a week of leave!
150 beats per minute, Texas heat and my crazy cravings…
I had an OB check-up earlier today.
Doctor says everything looks good and we listened to Baby Bagpiper’s heartbeat. It’s beating at 150 beats per minute and I think it’s the coolest sound ever. Afterward, I scheduled my 20-week sonogram — you know, the one where Bagpiper and I finally get to know if we are having a baby boy or a baby girl! The appointment isn’t until July 29, but it’s perfect because Bagpiper is on leave that week, and I think that will be a terrific ending to a week off.
So that’s the happy news.
The sad news is about the dog. Because Texas is in a heat wave (no surprise — when is Texas not in a heat wave?) all the airlines are saying that until it cools down a little, there will be no dogs allowed on flights. They’re not even allowing dogs to ride in the cabin! So mother-in-law has decided to wait until September before flying out to Okinawa with the dog.
Oh my little Sushi-dog...I miss you so much!
September.
It seems like so far away.
And even though I know it’s for the best, I’m still bummed. I really do miss my Sushi-dog. But that flight is going to be super long and traumatic enough for her without adding potential heat stroke to the mix. So I will do my best to be patient.
In some ways, it’s a blessing in disguise because if my mother-in-law had come down this coming week as originally planned, we’d be really bored. Bagpiper will be in Guam next week and I am still not ready to tackle left-side-of-the-road driving. By waiting until September it gives me time to muster up some courage and take the plunge to get behind the wheel over here. Plus, hopefully Bagpiper and I will find some neat places while he’s on leave so that when she does arrive we’ll have lots to show her.
Otherwise, things are great. I still haven’t felt the baby move, but the doctor assures me this is normal and that I will probably begin to feel little flutters in the next couple of weeks. She said not to expect hard kicks, since the baby just doesn’t have the muscle strength for that yet. Still, I imagine the first time I feel the little flutters (and not think it’s just gas) it’s going to be a really amazing moment.
There’s not much else going on, except my out-of-control cravings, which Bagpiper is amazing about. A couple weeks ago it was chicken pot pies. This week it’s been chicken salad sandwiches, though right this moment I’d love some nachos with queso that they make at Chili’s (and thank goodness there’s a Chili’s on Kadena)…
Settling in…finally.
Yikes! It’s been almost a full month since I’ve updated here.
The excuse I’m going to use is that our furniture finally came in and I’ve been unpacking. The other half of that is that I’ve just been a little on the lazy side.
The furniture is mostly put away, with the exception of some stuff in the crafty room/nursery. We still have the loan furniture, so downstairs is crowded, but surprisingly, we still have plenty of space to move around.
Otherwise, there’s really not much new to update about. Bagpiper has been working a lot so we still haven’t had much of a chance to go exploring. He’s currently in Thailand with a few guys in the band doing sound for gigs. And with the exception of a few weird sightings, he seems to be enjoying himself. He won’t be back until the 10th, which is just in time for my second prenatal visit and the premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
Afterward, he’s off again, this time to Guam for about a week. Then he’s home in time for my third prenatal visit — the one that will tell us if we’re having a little boy or a little girl — and then he gets a week of leave, which will probably when we finally get to do some exploring around the island. I’m really hoping to go to the beach. I’ve been hear almost three months and I haven’t gone to the beach yet!
The other big news is that my mother-in-law is getting all the paperwork straightened out to get Sushi out here. It’s looking more and more like she (and the dog) will be out here around mid-July. I think this is right around the time Bagpiper leaves for Guam, so I’m hoping to get the courage together to get my license so I can drive her around while she visits. Driving on the left side of the road still has me a little scared though, so we’ll see. I know eventually I will want to drive, but right now I’m just not ready for it.
The pregnancy is going good. I just entered week 16. All the morning sickness symptoms are long since gone and now all I want to do is eat. Specifically, all I want to eat are chicken pot pies. I can’t get enough of them!
Well, that’s really all that’s going on. Now that we’re more settled, I’m sure I’ll be updating more (and posting more pictures). Tomorrow I’m going to a BBQ with one of the other wives whose husband is also in Thailand. So it’ll be nice to get out of the house and mingle with real people for the first time in the past week, lol.
Take care and have a wonderful July 4th weekend!
Japanese cuisine, table manners and the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Yesterday (Sunday for me, Saturday for the US), our landlady, Sachi, and her husband (whose name I can pronounce, but not spell) took us out to explore Okinawa.
Originally, the Bagpiper and I thought we were just being treated to a meal (which was perfectly fine with us), so we were very pleasantly surprised when Sachi and her husband told us that they were treating us to lunch, a visit to the largest aquarium in Japan and dinner!
Lunch was about five minutes away from the house, at the local fish market. I was a bit skeptical, because I’m not a big fish eater. But, I was going to be polite and at least try something new. Sachi translated the menu for us, and asked me if I liked lobster. Lobster is one of the only types of seafood I do enjoy, so I told her I did and she told me to order the lobster. Sachi and I ordered lobster and Bagpiper and her husband ordered mackerel.
The meal came with raw tuna, which I tried and liked, but didn’t want to eat all of it since I’m not supposed to be eating sushi/sashimi while pregnant. The lobster was so good and had some orange sauce that was great, but I have no idea what kind of sauce it was. The meal also came with steamed rice and fish soup. While I tried the fish soup, I didn’t like it. Bleh.
The Bagpiper’s meal was the same, only with a giant mackerel instead of lobster. He said it was really good, but he wasn’t used to eating a fish with so many little bones. But Sachi’s husband showed him how, and after a few attempts fumbling with chopsticks, they got him a fork. Sachi also taught us a little bit about Japanese customs at meal time, like how to take soup (they don’t use spoons, they just sip it from the bowl), mixing wasabi with soy sauce for the sashimi (raw tuna –I used soy sauce, but I stayed away from the wasabi) and they taught us what to say before/after a meal.
Before the meal: itadakimasu (ee-tah-dah-kee-mas), which means something like “I gratefully receive this meal.”
After the meal: gochisosama (go-chee-so-sama), which means “Thank you for the meal.”
After lunch, we drove for about an hour and a half to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, which according to Sachi is the largest aquarium in all of Japan. It was definitely huge, and even though we spent all day there, we probably only saw about a third of the park.
View of the aquarium courtyard from the entrance.
We saw the planetarium and took a small show. It was all in Japanese, but I was able to figure out (through pictures) that the story was about Chiron. After that show we looked at the boat/sea artifact exhibit.
I think Sachi's husband told us this boat was actually Chinese.
Then we wandered over to the aquarium area and looked at tons of fish. Sorry to say, but the Dallas Aquarium has nothing on the Okinawa Aquarium. Nothing. LOL
The "touch tank".
We also got to gaze at fish, shark and rays in the largest viewing room I have ever seen in an aquarium (granted, the only other aquarium I’ve been to is the one in Dallas). The viewing glass was floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall. We’re talking at least 20ft high and 30ft wide. I wish I could have gotten a better picture of the scope of this thing, but it was too dim to get a really good picture.
You can still tell that this is a HUGE vieiwng room.
After sitting in the viewing room for a few minutes to rest and enjoy the a/c, we saw the manatee exhibit, the sea turtle exhibit and then we took in a dolphin show! I’ve never seen a dolphin show outside of Sea World San Antonio, so this was a lot of fun for me. The back drop of the dolphin show is the ocean, so it was gorgeous to watch these creatures jump in the air with the full ocean view behind them.
They did a lot of tricks, and I think the narrator was explaining stuff about the dolphins and the handlers, but of course, it was all in Japanese, so Bagpiper and I just enjoyed the show. At one point, the handlers made the dolphins sing which was really cute — though after a minute or so the noise was a little annoying.
Jump!
The really nice thing about this aquarium, is that it’s right on the coast. So even though it was hot and humid, we had a lovely sea breeze keeping us fairly cool most of the day. All in all we spent about five hours at the aquarium and then we had an hour ride back, and Sachi and her husband took us to a really nice buffet dinner at a fancy looking hotel.
We got to know one another better over dinner, and because dinner was buffet-style, I didn’t have to worry about ordering something I wasn’t comfortable with eating. I had some chicken, vegetable stir fry, salad, fruit, soup and dessert. So our “lunch” turned into an all day affair, but it was definitely worth it. Not only did we get to see a whole lot more of Okinawa and learn a little bit of the customs at meal time, but we got to get to know our super nice/friendly landlords.
They even mentioned that in a month or two they’d like to take us out again, so I think that sometime while we’re here Bagpiper and I will have to treat them to a meal or get them a gift for being so hospitable and welcoming.
By the way, the rest of the pictures of the aquarium can be seen HERE.
Konnichiwa!
Konnichiwa!
I’m safe and sound in Okinawa, Japan! After two layovers and about 22 hours in the air, I landed in Okinawa around 10:30pm Wednesday (8:30am Wednesday in Texas). Bagpiper picked me up at the airport (he hitched a ride from a fellow bandsmen and his wife) and they drove us to the hotel on base.
We’ll be in the hotel for the rest of the week and then we’ll move into our off-base house. And in case you haven’t seen a picture of our house…
I'm not even joking. This is seriously our new home.
It’s a two-story Japanese-style home. Two bedrooms, an office and 1.5 bathrooms. Oh, and it’s about 25 yards away from the beach. How amazing is that? We get to move in on Monday, but the Bagpiper is going to try to take me to see the house this weekend.
Meanwhile, I have a lovely view of Camp Foster from my hotel window:
View from hotel room window.
I have not done any official site seeing yet. I got in too late last night, and frankly, after all those hours on airplanes, all I wanted to do was lay down comfortably in a bed and sleep next to my hubby. So far, I have not really experienced any jet-lag. I’m now 14 hours ahead of CST, but I’m glad I got in so late last night, because (hopefully) it will help me adjust to the time difference.
That’s all I have to report now, expect more updates and pictures soon!
Less than two weeks to go!
It’s been a couple of weeks since the Bagpiper left for Japan. We talk regularly on Skype and on the phone (thank God for international plans!) and he’s doing really well out there.
He says it’s gorgeous; I can’t wait until I’m there to share it with him.
Surprisingly, the Bagpiper didn’t have much jet lag, even though there is a 14 hour time difference. He said he slept the first day, but after that he was good. I think this is partially because he’s anxious to get everything set up before I get there. Speaking of which…
…my flight is reserved for May 17! That’s less than two weeks away!
I’ll fly to Minneapolis first, then Tokyo and arrive in Okinawa late on May 18. It’ll be a lot of time flying, but I’m excited. I plan on filling my eReader with plenty of books so that I have lots of choices to read. I also have some knitting, so I can knit some baby bibs on the plane too.
I’m entering my 8th week (I think), and the nausea comes and goes, but overall I’m doing well. I’m sleepy a lot, so I’m taking a bunch of naps. Once I’m in Okinawa, I’ll make my first prenatal appointment and find out exactly how far along am and all that stuff. I just don’t want to start in Texas and then switch doctors in Japan. To me, it makes more sense to wait an extra week.
I also haven’t begun to practice Japanese. I’m waiting until after Monday — after I take my French final. Then I’ll start studying Japanese. It’s too much work to try to learn two languages at the same time.
Other than that, there isn’t a whole lot going on. Just waiting….and time is going soo slowly.
I’m ready to be with my husband.
Update…
I just received a message from the Bagpiper.
He’s just landed safely in Tokyo. He got to watch “Deathly Hallows” on the plane and said it made him think of me, lol. He’s got an hour layover and then will take his last connecting flight (about two or three hours) to Okinawa.
He said he tried to call, but that dialing internationally was confusing and he was too tired to keep trying to figure it out. Once he’s in Okinawa he said he’ll try to Skype me, but it might not be until tomorrow (Friday for me, Saturday for him).
Current time in Japan is about 9am Friday. He’s in the future!
🙂
Quick update…
Just after midnight this morning, I received a call from the Bagpiper. He landed safely in Seattle.
He had a four hour layover, so I imagine now he’s on a plane en route to Okinawa. I have no clue what time (for me) he’ll be landing, but he’ll at least send me a quick text message or email from the airport when he lands (I’m not sure how the cell phone will work, I imagine he’ll be roaming, but at least I’ll know he is safe).
Once he’s there, he’ll find out where he’ll be sleeping for the next two weeks (it’ll take about that long to get set up for base housing) and then he’ll set about the task of fixing whatever paperwork needs fixing. I hope he gets some rest first…I’m not sure he took jet lag into consideration when he left.
So that’s that.
I’m off to class to take an exam, work on a project and make a presentation — all while wondering when I’ll hear from the Bagpiper.
C’est la vie.
My life is super busy, but I wouldn't change a thing.
The Bagpiper flies to Japan today.
For awhile it was touch-and-go as to whether or not he would leave today or in May (lots of confusing back and forth), but this morning he called in and they told him that yes, he would be flying out today as originally planned.
Basically, he’s flying out and the paperwork he’s missing —which, technically, he needs this before he can fly out — he can get sorted out when he’s over there.
Such an organized system, no?
Meanwhile, in case you missed the news on Facebook….
I’m pregnant!
Yep! I’m estimating that I’m right around six and a half weeks pregnant, but since most OB/GYNs require that I’m at least eight weeks before I can get my first prenatal, I’m just going to wait until I’m in Okinawa before seeing an OB. This way, I can have one doctor throughout my entire pregnancy.
I should be around nine weeks by the time I flyover seas, so it’s perfect timing. If I fly any later, then I will see an OB here and just explain to them that I’ll be leaving shortly.
But before I worry about that, I have to make it through finals and graduation….
So that’s what’s going on. Lots of big things happening all at once! School projects/tests, Bagpiper leaving, finals, graduation, my flight and a first prenatal visit….all in May (except Bagpiper leaving, but it’s almost May).
My brother also returns in May (hopefully, we’re still waiting on official word on that), so I’m hoping I can see him before I leave. He’s currently in Florida (and judgeship by his Facebook posts, he’s loving it), and will find out next week when he comes home. Here’s hoping it’s not on the same weekend as graduation — cause that day will be busy enough!
Whew! Life just doesn’t slow down, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
"Are you going to be OK?"
Are you going to be OK?
How close are you to all ‘that stuff’?
Those are the questions people ask me the most when they discover that I’m headed to Japan in less than a month. While it’s sweet of people to be concerned for my well being, it’s also a little annoying to hear the question repeated on almost daily basis.
I’m headed to Okinawa. It’s a small island off the coast of the main island of Japan. It is also south and west of where the worst of the earthquake/tsunami damage is. Also, it’s the military — as a dependent, I would not be sent into an area that wasn’t safe. They’ll send the active duty guys all day long, but if it’s really a threat to lives, families are going to be sent home.
Yes, I’m aware that families have been sent home. Those families were located in a base near Tokyo. I will not be living near Tokyo.
So how far is Okinawa from Tokyo?
About as far as Daytona Beach is from DFW.
So there’s a pretty good distance between where I’ll be in Okinawa and Tokyo.
Also..I’ve realized it’s been almost a month since I last updated, but life has been super crazy busy. All of our belongings have been packed and are in storage waiting to be shipped over. We’re living at my mom’s house, out of suitcases, in the meantime. The Bagpiper leaves April 27 (he was supposed to leave today, but his area clearance didn’t go through in time). With any luck, I will fly out May 17!
One month to go!
Down to the wire…
This week is going to be ridiculous.
Here’s a run down of what my week is going to look like:
Monday
- Classes from 11a-1p
- Sift through kitchen, dining room, living room, bathrooms and extra bedroom. Mark what’s going overseas, what’s being donated and what’s being thrown out.
- Finish cataloging books and movies — If I lose any, I want to know what it was!
Tuesday
- Classes from 8a-5p
- Sift through closet/clothes.
Wednesday
- Class from 11a-12p
- Go to base to finish overseas screening. Finally.
- Finish sifting through extra bedroom.
- Gather books that are for Book Addicts giveaway — pass on to another member of BA on Thursday.
Thursday
- Classes from 8a-5p
- While I’m in class, Bagpiper is taking the dog to the military vet in order for her to get a microchip and the first rabies shot.
- After class, it’s my writer’s night — I’m choosing not to skip this, because I feel like I’ll need a break by Thursday, and my writing shouldn’t have to suffer just because we’re moving!
Friday
- Class from 11a-12p
- Pack up the essentials into two suitcases and a backpack.
- Call electric company and make sure they’re cancelling service as of Tuesday, April 12.
Saturday
- Go through the rooms once more and double check that everything left is stuff to be backed.
- Double check suitcases — make sure I remember to have all my school stuff set aside.
- Write and schedule Book Addicts reviews for May — If I don’t do this by the second week of April, it ain’t getting done and the other BA members will have to cover for me…
Sunday
- Rent truck and take bed, extra couch, washer and dryer, food stuffs and a few other things over to Mom’s.
- Take suitcases and school stuff over to Mom’s.
- Take dog — plus food — over to Mom’s.
Monday
- Class from 11a-1:30p
- Movers come over at some point (Bagpiper will be home, if I’m not) — EVERYTHING in the apartment gets packed and taken to military storage facility.
- Stuff gets weighed. Hopefully we’re not over weight (we can only take a certain amount of lbs overseas — everything extra stays in storage for the next three years). We estimate that we’ll be fine, since we’re not taking the bed, extra couch or washer and dryer, but you never know.
- Double check the nooks and crannies and make sure nothing is left behind.
Tuesday
- Turn in keys to apartment complex.
- Commence living out of suitcases for the next two months
The rest of the month through May will also include things like:
- Taking Sushi to vet for second rabies shot.
- Bagpiper leaving. (April 21?)
- Going to base for final immunization (April 28).
- Finals week (May 9-13)
- Graduation (May 15)
- I leave (May 18?)
- Stuff arrives in Japan (by May 31)
- Sushi goes to Japan (end of May, early June?)
2.5 Weeks to Go!
It’s been awhile since my last update, but school has kept me busy.
I’ve reached the point of the semester where I just want to fast forward to graduation. I wake up and for the first ten minutes or so it’s a struggle to get out of bed. Not just because the bed is warm and snuggly, but because I just want to be done with school and in Japan! Then I get up and go to class and the feeling passes.
Even though I’ve been kept busy with classes, the Bagpiper and I managed to have some fun last weekend. He had a three day weekend, so Friday we packed up his car and headed out to Possum Kingdom Lake for a camping weekend. We had lots of fun, and I took lots of pictures with my new Nikon D3000.
beautiful morning sky
view from our campsite
bluebonnets on the side of the road
We actually ended up leaving earlier than we planned on Sunday, but that was because of the cold front that came in — in the rush to leave Friday evening, we didn’t pack any extra blankets, sweaters or long pants. Still, we had fun and it was relaxing. I read through three books, for a total of 1,100 pages!
- brrr. cold morning!
[rest of the pictures can be found here]
And yesterday, after weeks of waiting, the official orders came in — 36 months in Okinawa.
The Bagpiper has until the end of April to fly out — he’s aiming to leave somewhere in the next two and a half weeks! So now things are going to get REALLY busy. Wednesday we’re making an appointment for Sushi to see the military vet, Friday we’re doing immunizations and sometime next week (I think) some people are going to invade our apartment and pack up all our stuff.
So that’s nice — I don’t have to pack! They do it for us! Woohoo!
Of course, I’m going to be watching like a hawk when they pack up my yarn and books.
This weekend we’re going to buy luggage and pack our necessities in them. I’ll be living out of a suitcase until it’s time for me to fly out and join my husband in Japan. I’m so excited! Graduation can’t come soon enough!
adorably alice 