Don't be confused

Taking it back to February.
I was supposed to keep this updated with photos and updates of our recent PCS (permanent change of station).  We left Japan on February 16th, 2010.  The flight was scheduled to leave Yokota AB, head to Misawa AB, then to Anchorage, Alaska, and final destination Seattle, Washington.  While we waited in Misawa for refuel and had lunch from a hot lunch truck parked outside, we got news that the flight would skip Alaska and head straight to Seattle.  That was awesome news for us.  Less travel is always good!  The kids were doing great.  No complaining.  They were still excited to be going to a new place.  I was just hoping that excitement wouldn't wear down.  The long flight went pretty well.  It was landing back in the United States that wasn't so wonderful.  Being back in the U.S. was such a great feeling, but the experience was far from great.  Before we left Japan, we made reservations on Orbitz.com for a hotel, which turned out to be a motel type place.  The shuttle was a run down van that was obviously due for a tune up or overhaul in my opinion.  The driver wasn't so bad, but when we pulled up to the place, I already knew I was NOT staying there.  There was a old musty smell at the front door when it swung open.  Yucky!!  We were exhausted so my husband said, lets check in, wash up and find a place to eat.  We got in the room and even the kids didn't want to touch anything.  It was disgusting.  The window wouldn't shut all the way, the linens looked used and the staff seemed like they hated their jobs.  There was dirty dishes on the floor outside of the door of the next room.  I refused to stay there.  AM1 went to the front desk and told them we were uncomfortable there, listed the problems and unacceptable, and requested the driver take us back to the airport.  We called Orbitz.com which was no help at all.  We explained that we didn't want any problems or confrontation because there were thug like folks hanging out with the staff and we didn't need any problems.  The dumb Orbitz.com person called the hotel and told them we were not satisfied and demanded our money back.  We didn't want our money back, nor did we want to deal with the hotel staff.  AM1 already told the staff that we just wanted to go back to the airport to try to catch an earlier flight.  Then the staff brought up the Orbitz.com person and what they told them.  Goodness!  The driver was kind enough to take us back to the airport without any problems.  As we were taking our stuff back out to the van, J1 was holding the door for me to come through and a guy about 19 or 20 years old tries to talk to her.  She freaks out and lets the door go.  We were welcomed back to the states with what will be our reality, I'm assuming. 

We got back to the airport, used payphones to call other hotels and finally found one.  It wasn't much better than the first, but the staff was really nice, the room was a little musty, but we were in walking distance of a Denny's restaurant.  Thank goodness, because we were starving.  AM1 didn't want to leave the luggage in the room, so he sent us to eat and told us to bring him back something.  Our first night in the United States was such a tough one, but we were still glad to back. 

Fishing for... Flounder?

Before getting stationed in Japan, we were stationed at NAF Patuxent River, Maryland.  We used to do some good fishing and crabbing there.  It was so much fun and it was something very cheap to do back then on E4 pay.  We only had the two oldest girls at the time so it was a little easier to stay out longer and the spots were more accessible.  We didn't do any fishing while in Japan, so coming back to the states, we were excited to get new fishing gear and head out to teach the three little ones how to fish.  We also wanted to get them to the beach and teach them about water safety.  They've only had pool experience in Japan, nothing like the ocean, so they need to be out there on the beach. 

We've been looking for fishing spots here in Virginia Beach, but didn't find any places that you can park and fish.  All the spots are far from where you park your vehicles.  It's not easily accessible.  Anyway, we took the kids to Ft. Story yesterday.  This is our second time out there.  We went out there to practice... hahaha!  We're a little rusty!  For J3 just learning how to fish, he did awesome.  He caught a few Flounder.  J2 caught a stingray, some flounder, and some croakers the last time we went there.  Yesterday, we only caught flounder.  We had to throw most of them back because they were too small, but we had a blast competing who would catch the most. 

Ft. Story has beautiful beaches and scenic points, with lighthouses that would make picture perfect postcards.  We haven't brought the camera out there because we're notorious for losing or leaving cameras.  On a non-fishing trip out there, I'll TRY to remember the camera. 

Maybe not today

I had every intention to start filling in the gaps of our relocation from Japan to Virginia, but I got news yesterday of my Uncle's passing.  My Mom's brother, Fredie, passed away after many months of fighting Liver Disease and Kidney Failure.  There wasn't much the medical staff in Hawaii could do for him without him receiving a liver, so they've been doing everything to keep him comfortable up to yesterday when his body just couldn't fight anymore.  He's been in and out of the hospital for days at a time over the past year and it's been tough on his children to see him in so much pain and discomfort.  His son, Fred Lee, is a Senior in high school and is playing his last year on the football team.  He's been visiting his Dad, my Uncle, before his games and practices when he got too ill to go watch him play.  It's been a really tough year for them all, and though it is a sad time and his 5 children will miss him dearly, he is no longer suffering and we all believe he is in a much better place, and now resting.  May God comfort his children as he makes his journey home. 

I'll start updating tomorrow.  New day, new mood, new agenda.  Have a good day!

Am I back?

--- Well, it's been about six months since our journey from Japan to Virginia Beach.  I told myself I'd update the blog as often as possible, and I did NOT lie.  It is now possible.  It has been quite a journey.  And you may think six months is enough time to adjust, but it isn't.  I'm still adjusting to the differences between Japan and the United States.  I think the hardest to get used to is the RUDENESS!!  People here in the U.S. are very rude and it seems as though 99% of the folks around here do NOT like their jobs.  Its rare to run into kind, courteous people here.  Living in Japan for over seven years with friendly, courteous & helpful people was waaaaaaay more pleasant.  I enjoyed Japan, but I wouldn't want to move back.  It would just be nice if the folks here were easier to get along with. 
--- I'm six months behind on the updates, but I am ready to share the experiences we've gone through thus far.  I don't know where to begin, but I'll try to go back as far as the moment we stepped foot back into the United States of America. 

Stay with me!  I have updates on my weight issues also.  Argh!