Making a House a Home

We should be having our housewarming soon, probably July 28. There were just a few things to finish up around the house, most of which has been painting. I've made the dining room lime green (it works trust me!), the study a dark brick red, and a soft sage in our master bedroom. And of course the guest bedroom had a blue stripe horizontally.

The yard and garden are coming along nicely! This has been Alec's passion these few weekends past and it has definitely become a part of the house to hang out in!

We got a great deal on a used smoker/charcoal grill; and a patio set which just needed to be primed and painted. We also bought a glider for the yard (have I mentioned that I absolutely love that we have a craigslist equivalent here?), and have installed a low-lying flower bed with some potted herbs and peppers and tomatoes. If I can just keep the bugs off them! Haha.

Meet (Orange) Julius, a.k.a.  "Pawsworth". 

 

He is all of 5 lb. full-grown, and super cuddly to boot. Ginger is learning to like him, and at least tolerates him for now. She's surprisingly wussy when it comes to getting near him on her own; but if he wants to cuddle next to her she stays put and lets him. 

I've been really impressed with how quickly they got along as well as they have so far!

Alec is getting settled in well at work. He's taking over the FCJ (Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction) spot, a unique position in the Marine Corps Judge Advocate community tailored to the circumstances of Camp Smedley Butler.  This mainly entails liaising with local police and informing SOFA status members/dependents of their rights and responsibilities if a crime is committed on island. It's a pretty cool job, actually!

I have applied for a few jobs but not gotten anything yet. I'm back to writing my novel (actually rewriting), and I babysit sometimes for a few close friends of mine. Fortunately, it's not hard to keep busy here!

Otherwise there's not much to report. Sorry to all you who keep asking for updates, but really no news is good news :)

Pictures in an Exhibition of our House

 

This is what the living room looked like after the movers dumped everything into it. We had our work cut out for us!

Ginger wanted to help unpack :-p

 The Master Bathroom 

 View out the kitchen window

[_]
 The 4 O'Clocks in our garden

 Mowing the yard. I got those bricks for free and plan to use them to define a flower bed in the back yard.

 Omigosh a real kitchen!!

 Shoes on the shoe rack in the entryway.

 Our nameplate :)

 Guest bathroom / Rav's bathroom

Hanging pictures in the master bedroom. 

[_]

Chilling in the study.

 

Our very nice government china hutch, and photo collages. 

 We have got to get some slip covers for these government chairs.

 

Tuckered out after so much unpacking and organizing and decorating!!

Don't worry, blog; I haven't forgotten you! Merely been neglectful. Soon to rectify!

A Place to Call Home

Our initial plan was to try and live off-base. Alec had done a lot of legwork touring our options and narrowing down the ones we liked best. But family emergencies have a way of reorganizing one's priorities.


We decided it would be less additional stress to just get moved in someplace ASAP, and turn-around for base housing is usually 48 hours or less. So, this morning I inspected our two "choices". They are basically identical 3 bedroom multiplexes in the same section; but one is on an end instead of sandwiched, and has all new wood flooring and carpeting. It is also at the back of the housing section and up on a hill. Tons of built in storage, including a porch and shed; each room is individually air conditioned. I accepted that one. 


So far we only have government furniture, and our express shipment which consists mostly of clothes, fragile items like musical instruments and the computer, and 2 of eacj kitchen item. I cannot tell you exactly how exciting it is to no longer eat off paper plates with plastic utensils. It is also really nice to have an actual kitchen again - I have to restrain myself, although having only one pot and one pan certainly helps! Also, we have a certain allowance for self-help items like caulking, and paint, as well as the rental of yard implements (although I went ahead and bought a mower). 


So before all our furniture gets here to take up space, I am going to paint the walls! We can use our allowance to get matching base paint when we vacate; and, because recycling is mandatory here (yay!) the hardware store has a locker for the exchange of leftover chemicals, which means if used judiciously we have free cleaning products and paint!! 


I hope to post pictures once it's all set up in a few more weeks; and once we have internet of course, so stay tuned! :)

Sharp Distance

Few things can make us feel farther from home than a family emergency. Getting news that a loved one is being hospitalized is always hard, but being unable to be there with the rest of the family is even more heartwrenching. Knowing that we can only wait for news from such a distance. ...

[EDIT] I am very saddened to report that Alec's father suddenly passed away last night (Memorial Day), Central Standard Time, of a suspected heart attack. Please keep him and the family in your hearts in this tragic time.

[EDIT 2] Alec was able to work with his sister and his command here to get a Red Cross message in and authorize emergency leave to go home for the memorial or whatever is being done. I put him on a plane this morning (Wednesday), and I will unfortunately be staying here to finish taking care of my check-in and set up our housing and goods shipments so hopefully he can come home to a real house instead of the BOQ.

Gozaimasu Okinawa; Ohaiyou Tokyo!

Good day Okinawa; Hello Tokyo!

After getting necessary things done like turning in paperwork and securing transportation, Alec quickly got lonely and bored since he doesn't really start doing legal work until Monday. So, in line with talking about doing so off and or for nearly a year, he joined the Foster Bulldogs football team, on the offensive line.

This occupies quite a bit of time since they practice from 1700 to 2000 an average of four nights a week. This week, though, that has actually been kind of inconvenient since he has had to be at the range all day, leaving the room around 0200 each morning. As such, and because I just got here, he wasn't planning to fly with rhe team up to mainland this weekend for their game at Yakota. However, they have apparently not been doing well and decided they may have need of him afterall.

So when I got a call from Wednesday night's practice asking me how would I like to go to Tokyo this weekend, ... well how could I say no?

As it turns out we didn't really see much of Tokyo, besides what we could see from inside Yokota Air Base, or out the windows of the team bus. Which was still pretty interesting:

 A Shinto shrine next to a bus stop. This is also pretty common on Okinawa.

 I have NO idea what this says except for "In  -->" ...

Typically colorful building; and there are vending machines EVERYWHERE. 

Sometimes at the end of alleys or the side of the road in the city.

 It's a reputation well-deserved.

 Distant mountains over the head of a teammate (sleeping before the game, of course!)

Our Final Destination!!

But the Navy Lodge we stayed in was very nice!!!

     

Except for the tiny bed :-p

They didn't win, but were only down 0-7 until the 4th quarter. Alec especially played a good game! We were all tired, sore or hoarse by the time we got back on the plane to head home to Okinawa.

     

At least we got to see Mt. Fuji!

In the Dog House

One of the first things we had to do once leaving the airport at almost 2200, besides hugging, was checking Ginger into the Karing Kennel for boarding, since (a) we cannot lawfully keep her with us in the barracks and (b) she and indeed all animals imported to Japan must undergo a quarantine period of up to 6 months. (More on that later).

She was, naturally, initially unenthused to be "abandoned" right after we were all reunited. But it was a pretty nice dog hotel: a 4' x 4' indoor room with cushy blanket they change every few days, and a food and water dish; and an outdor concrete pen accessible by doggie door, about 4' x 9'.

       

It did take her a while to adjust to being ther, and around so many other dogs. We visited 3 out of 4 available times over the weekend. The second day it was drizzly/raining. In the morning we played with her indoors and when we came back that afternoon she was all wet on top - she had been standing outside waiting for us.

Thankfully when I went to take her to the vet yesterday (Tuesday), she exhibited all signs of being legitimately comfortable there, and the techs said she was making friends with her neighbors.

So, why did I have to take her to the vet? Two reasons: to register her with base, and more relevantly because Japan is a completely rabies-free country so they are I dare say paranoid about it spreading. This is why all imported animals get quarantined; they also require annual rabies vaccinations. Quarantine period is determined by the date from which a passing blood antibody test was performed.  So, since Ginger had a passing FAVN in mid-February she should only have 2 months' quarantine from this point (although we will get a call to find out for sure, at the latest she has a 30 day follow up next month).

If we live on base, quarantine will not be required/be really informal since all the other animals are also vaccinated; if off base she can stay with us and is merely restricted to not interact with other animals! We are applying at the end of the month so stay tuned!

Turning Japanese

Oh. My. Gosh. What a trip!

There was a minor hangup regarding Ginger's crate at our initial check-in, but when I explained the situaution someone was willing to work with me and finally OK'd it just in time for me to get some coffee before boarding. Then of course the plane sat around and was nearly an hour taking off; yet even at that it was several hours into the flight - well after lunch had been served and trash collected - that I was able to get confirmation that Ginger was on board.

Only then could I "rest easy" although as predicted I was unable to sleep on either flight. I did have nice company for 14 hours, though: a Korean War veteran and his Japanese wife who told me stories about their children and how flying used to be and what a blessing marriage is.

When we landed in Tokyo, and I got Ginger and alllllll my luggage on a cart, everybody at the airport was very friendly and helpful, pushing my heavy cart for me and explaining exactly where to go and what to do next. Unfortunately the customs process took a long time with a dog and we did not have time to go walk or eat or drink water before transferring to the next flight. And of course she "held it" like a champ.

It was so funny how they wrapped her up like a fish in a net! 

Even though I had been awake for 26 hours straight and I felt filthy, I have rarely been so completely happy as when I saw Alec outside the baggage claim. Alec gave me and Ginger a big ol' hug and we both drank a bunch of water!

Japan, even here on Okinawa, looks as neon and mountainous as you would expect. I will save my general reflections for another post.

Stay tuned!!

I did take pictures; but that was with the camera and right now I can only use internet from my phone. When we move out of the BOQ or if I use the wifi at the bowling alley I will upload them!

[EDIT] PICTURES!!!

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Today is the day! Ginger and I board a plane to Tokyo, then through customs and on to Okinawa :)

I'll be in touch when I can, again, and I promise to post more pictures soon. Wish us luck!

A Little Help From My Friends

I am stubbornly independent. And that's an understatement.

And while I know it's one of the things Alec loves about me, it's only good to a point. Only in the past couple of years have I really learned that it is OK to ask for help from people when I need it. Everyone from good friends to total strangers is usually willing to give assistance, if others would only request it.

Pan out to my current situation: I finally got tickets issued on a pet-friendly flight this Thursday. But last week I dropped the car off for processing and storage, and signed it over to the government. There's really no way to reverse that. So I caught a ridiculously expensive cab ride with myself, the Ginger, and 5 bags to a hotel nearer where I will now be flying out of; and I've been walking everywhere ever since.  Unfortunately, in order to get her on the plane she needs current paperwork from the vet stating that she is in good health and whatnot. The only appointment they could give me is the afternoon before we leave!  And without a car, it means two more super-expensive cab rides, plus a ride to the airport the next day.

A young lady I previously did not get along with, but with whom I recently had lunch and made amends, offered of her own decision to pick us up on Thursday and take us to the airport. It's a 2.5 hour round trip for her. All I had to do is get her coffee and gas money :)

Another woman, the wife of one of Alec's contemporaries whom I have literally met twice in the past month, agreed to make two round trips to get me and Ginger to the vet, and bring us back in the evening. I felt terrible asking, initially, for what seems like a huge burden. I do really hate to impose, and if I still had the car it would be nothing, but at 27 years old I have *finally* learned that it is OK.  Her response really warmed my heart, and gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.

"I have certainly had a similar realization in the last two years, particularly with the children and Andrew absent at different times - I think asking for help actually is a sign of maturity and humility, and also, really, people are blessed by helping others! So many friends - people I knew well, and people I didn't - helped me over the last year, in so many ways. I'm delighted, now that we're settled in, to do the same."

Awwww :) I am so glad to have such a strong, kind, built-in community!

It's here! It's here!

My passport is finally here!  The congressman's office made all the difference, I believe, and I am optimistic that even though I still need to take Ginger by the vet's office, and store the vehicle, and call all the airlines to be sure the flights have room for a dog, and make sure nothing else goes wrong, I should be able to leave by Thursday


EDIT:   You know how I said "nothing else goes wrong"? I should have known better.

I was able to get tickets booked for Thursday. Unfortunately, a lot of things have gone wrong in the interim. I dropped the Corolla off for storage, but I couldn't rent a car. I couldn't get Ginger to the vet in time to get her health certificate signed off on by close of business today. And it turns out they booked the wrong flight anyway, I wouldn't have been able to take her.

So, I am carless in Baltimore for the time being. Going to call SATO again tomorrow and ensure that they can get me on the direct (dog-friendly!) flight out of Dulles next Thursday, and try to travel as little as possible in the meantime. We are probably not going to get reimbursed for my month in a hotel, and we're not even sure if we're getting BAH between when Alec left and when I get there.

But in any case, nothing's to be done about it now except try to move forward! (After a short intermission for crying).

This is easily the worst experience I've ever had (not)-traveling. Love, support, prayers, hugs, all appreciated.

Ghosts in the Machine

(This post was originally called "Rage Against the Machine" because I was just so ANGRY at first that this was happening to me, but I've calmed down a little so the title's changed.)

You know how when you have a problem with bureaucracy, sometimes people say "Call your congressman!"? Well I did! Or more accurately, I wrote several of them.

It's a long story with a lot of facts, so I composed some notes; then I drafted letters and sent them by email or fax as appropriate.

 

When I called to follow up, the short summary of what their offices could tell me is:

Galveston county: We got your fax but you aren't a constituent of our district. Sorry, call the other guy. We faxed your letter to his office.
Ron Paul's office (the other guy): Uhm we didn't get that fax. But you should probably talk to your local representative in Virginia. It's best to just have one office on it anyway.
Local representative's office: Check. Got your fax, we can definitely help you. Let us get on it and see what we can do.

Now it's still a waiting game, but at least I have one more set of muscular arms (metaphorically speaking) on my side. And, since the magic of the Bureaucracy Machine shuts down on weekends, I have two worry-free days ahead of me. ... Yay?

Earthly Comforts

I know it may sound silly but, I miss our stuff.

Obviously I miss Alec, too. But I got really attached to all the stuff we had decorated our first place with. I miss our used couch; our scratched up Ikea table and chairs; our sagging spring mattress with no headboard. I miss our slightly mis-matched dishes, and our helluva bargain computer. And not just because I'm in an empty apartment right now.

I was probably too young to feel the same way the first time my parents moved as a child. But I remember a similar feeling of attachment to some of the homes I shared with my Dad over the years. I'll probably feel the same way when we leave Okinawa, as by then it will be the single place we've shared the longest. But for now, I'm left missing not only my husband but the trappings of my life with him.

As I haul armload after armload of things down to the dumpster, or Goodwill, or friends and neighbors, I am saying goodbye to the few things that were left in this place of the life we had here together for a year.

There is, thankfully, a not inconsiderable amount of peace in knowing that soon we will be together again very soon, starting a new life -- or more correctly, continuing and growing in the one we have -- in a new place that will become "ours" for a while.

All the Fuss

When we first found out we would in fact be going to Okinawa for this tour, I was so excited! In a theoretical kind of way.

Over the course of the last 6 months, though, the more people asked me "Aren't you so excited?" the less and less excited I became. I don't know if it was repeating the same thing over and over -- "Yes, sort of; I'll be a lot happier when I get there. Right now it's just kind of stressful." -- or if it was the sheer span of time spent waiting; but eventually it was almost time to go and, well frankly I didn't feel ready.

Sure, we were physically prepared -- utilities set to turn off, bags packed, stuff shipped, dog signed off on, tickets reserved -- but when I found out I wasn't going to get to leave on the same flight as Alec, ... I won't say I was relieved, but it didn't much change how I already felt.

Now, though, now that he has been there over a week it's finally started to seem real. Getting a car, looking at apartments, contemplating a phone. It's sinking in. I am finally ready to go! Unfortunately now I still have to wait.

Our Sweet Japanese Ride

We are now the proud owners of a 2000 Nissan Cube.

 Check out those rims!

The JCI (Japanese Car Insurance) is good through early 2015, which is good because that can get pretty expensive!  And yes, the steering wheel is on the wrong (which is to say the right) side.

Just like when we got each other rings, there was a lot of back and forth about what each of us was looking for in a car. Fortunately this conversation was a lot simpler, since we wanted basically the same things: something not too old (since they're all used on-island), clean, roomy (especially with rear storage for outings), and I like the boxy look so I think Alec leaned towards that to make me happy.

Creeping Along

So, I'm glad that I called the passport office again today. I got to put in ANOTHER application this afternoon. I really want to be angry at the guy; but considering that he is doing the job of 3 people right now, and has been since February, I mostly just feel sympathy for him. (Mostly.) When people are overworked they make mistakes; and he has been quick to fix them when they arise, and willing to work with me even to the point of letting me have my documents shipped to his home address to be sure he got them!

This shouldn't delay anything, really. I should still be flying out May 4. Assuming nothing ELSE goes wrong. Knock on wood. (No seriously, knock on wood: maybe if enough people are doing it, it will be like Tinkerbell coming back to life. Only this time the fairy is a giant government bureaucracy).

In other news, this is from the blog's statistics page (among lots of other items):

Pageviews by Countries United States 60 Japan     8 Germany 1 France    1

Pageviews by Browsers Internet Explorer   (40%) Firefox  (30%) Chrome  (20%) Safari    (7%) Mobile Safari (2%)

I have to say I am excited about the readership - although I don't know who I know in Germany - but I am disappointed that so many of you are using Internet Explorer. So sad. Do yourselves a favor and go download Chrome or Firefox right now. (Safari people, you have amnesty because I will probably be getting an iPhone soon, against my better judgment!)

I haven't been able to convince Alec to make a post yet - I count it as a victory that he figured out how to send me a picture email from his iPhone - but from what I understand today (Wednesday, Japan time) he is going to be buying our car! I hope he picks something good! :)

Cleaning Up

As far as I know, Alec's plan for today was to get checked in with all the various places he has to check into; and to attend a housing brief and see about applying for housing ASAP.  I will let him fill you in on that, or I'll make another post if I get an email. The only two things I managed to get out of him between jetlagged naps were that (1) as soon as my passport is processed and I get the number I can get my flight booked, and as soon as my flight is booked Alec can apply for housing there and find out in a few days what's available for us on-base; and (2) that he got to meet his boss(es) and start working some, the upside of which I guess is that the sum total of leave days taken for this move is lower, and he gets to stay busy (as if that was going to be an issue with a move to a new place!)

I am having our apartment professionally cleaned. Which is an adventure in itself - I'm not used to letting people do things for me, even if I've paid them to - but it is totally worth it to me. We learned our lesson last time moving out of the place in Beaufort that as much as I am a stickler for clean, I would never get it right enough for the apartment manager(s) to be happy with it. I am already impressed that this lady is, like, cleaning all the baseboards, and doors, and little cracks in the shelves, and behind/under all the appliances. Like, wow.  That totally makes it worth $175, plus being out of the house with Ginger most of the day.

Still no word on my passport, although I expect it will get completed by the State Department either later today or sometime tomorrow; and it's possible (although unlikely) that I'll have it in hand in time to fly this Thursday. However, as mentioned, it is not likely to work out that way so I've been looking into hotels in the local area. Since I'll have Ginger with me, this narrows the search quite a bit. And it actually looks like staying at the Base hotel is the cheapest option.
[EDIT: I still can't get a clear answer out of anyone about whether they accept pets but I think the answer is "no" in which case I can get a super-cheap Motel 8 type place and kennel Ginger, or stay someplace nicer with a one-time pet deposit; whichever is cheaper.]

In the meantime, we're just "camping out" on the living room floor, watching hulu.com - which it turns out does work in Okinawa - and reading library books (well I am; Ginger mostly sleeps), biding time until we're all reunited again!

The Deal with the Delay

So everyone is aware of what's going on with Alec's flight, and with me:

We woke up at 3 today for a 6 a.m. flight out of Baltimore, but when Alec
checked in he found out that SATO had reserved but did not pay for the
tickets flying out this morning, and they would not deal with us outside of
business hours, even through their 24-hr. emergency line, so he called them
to try and fly out later that morning on a flight from Baltimore. Unfortunately it
messed up things with Ginger because of the way they have to reserve space
for her; so while we ate breakfast we decided she should go out with me
since I'm not in such a crunch!

They finally got in touch with us around 8, and could only put him on a
direct flight to Tokyo out of Dulles at noon today (which was quite a drive!)
Fortunately that actually got him to Tokyo and customs sooner than
originally planned. But he arrived on Okinawa at the same time,
on the same flight as before, landing Friday afternoon local time.

At least knowing all the intricate details, now, of how things can get
screwed up at what points and by whom, I will be able to make sure my own
ticket is all paid for (and they know I am bringing Ginger) once I get my
passport, contact MARDET and SATO, and get confirmation of my flight at
some point in the hopefully-near future. I put in a new expedited application Friday morning.

He did manage to get an iPhone (they are the thing to get there, apparently, because they have good internet plans!) And he set up a mailing address. It should only take as much shipping as a standard US address, but will of course take longer to get to us. 

Pourteau, Alec
PSC 557 Box 205
FPO AP 96379 - 205

I will keep you posted as developments, er, develop.
Love,
Rav

Written in Tokyo, Waiting for a Plane

(Alec wrote me this in the airport between Tokyo and his flight to Okinawa)

The US airport that you will take off from will work pretty much the same as always, you'll just be in the "international" lines.  Make sure that you clarify with the PetSafe people where you will be doing the processing of Ginger on the front end and how you can confirm her tracking if you have domestic connections (to make sure she got on the plane with you).Oh, you can get yen at the airport stateside (I got 40 bucks worth), but they charge you a 10 dollar fee on all exchanges under $500, and they have a shitty exchange rate, so that only came out to like 2,000 yen and some change back.  I think it is worth it to have that with you though, because you will be hungry and thirsty when you get to Japan.

The flight to Japan is LONG.  They will give you customs forms to fill out.  Just fill them out to the best of your ability.  You shouldn't need to declare anything on there, but read the instructions carefully to be sure.  you'll have plenty of time, and it should still only take a few minutes.  I watched the new Sherlock Holmes in part, and then re-watched it so that I could fill in what I missed the first time.  I read for a while.  I ordered drink and tried to pay, but found out that they were complimentary.  That wasn't advertised in any way, because I think they didn't want to encourage people to order who wouldn't if they had to pay, but just a heads up to you.  There was also a sweet map feature that let us track where we were on the flight plan on our  little screen.  We flew north from DC over new york, the northern wilderness of Canada, Alaska, and the Bering strait before coming south again and landing in Tokyo.    FYI, Tokyo is only 13 hours ahead, while I believe Oki is 14.  And what's the deal with airline food?  It was gross, and not nearly enough of it.  I would bring some with you.


When you land in Japan you will exit the plane and follow the signs that say "domestic connections", etc.  You will walk straight through an area that is for health screening (just for sick people to be quarantined, I think), and then go through immigration, where you will present the customs documents you filled out on the plane, plus your passport.  Then you will continue on to the baggage claim, which includes a "pet information" desk, or words to that effect labeling it.  It is also marked with a brownish squirrel and a red parrot looking symbol.  It is next to the animal and plant quarantine area.  There are luggage carts laying around for your use.

After you get your baggage (and the Ginger, I believe), you'll go through customs, where you literally just walk through another line, with your checked bags and show them your passport and give them the document that you didn't give up at immigration. 

After that, you'll continue to follow the signs for domestic connections, walk through some doors, and and baggage reps should take your bags and the ginger, which you should have loaded up on one of the free carts available at baggage check.  Talk to the ANA reps on the phone ahead of  time, as they may want you to do all of your baggage and Ginger checking at their checkin desk, which is further down the terminal as  you follow the signs for domestic connections.  Do not mistake the multiple "baggage information" desks for the check-in and baggage check desk.  I think that they're just information portals/ traps.  Many of the ANA workers and reps speak English and are very helpful, however. 

As you move through the terminal you should see screens like in all airports with the arrivals/ flight numbers, and you can use that to see what gate your connection is in and make your way there.  you'll have to go through security again, but it should be pretty quick.  From  plane landing to terminal waiting it took about 50 minutes for me, including walk time, getting bags, and everything.  When you get to the terminal you'll see that they're just gates that busses pick you up at, and maybe drive you to the plane?  I dunno, I'm still waiting.  I bought what I think was a green tea energy drink and some sticky fried rice that they microwaved for me for 650 yen.    And now I'm waiting!