I **heart** my deliver man

I almost kissed the delivery guy today. Why? Because he brought me this:

I am not a can kinda girl, but at this point I am not picky. I am just excited to get my watered down, US beer. And the best part? It didn't cost me any more than buying a real beer here. What can I say, I am easy to please.

On the boat and on the plane... We'e coming to America!

After almost 5 months, we are on our way back to America for 8 weeks of visiting family and friends. I am very excited and also nervous at the same time. Living from house to house out of suitcases will not be easy. Sami is already being the drama queen at why we can’t just stay in our house in North Carolina. I guess renting isn’t fully understandable to a 6 –year-old.

Our flight back to the states isn’t as easy as when we first made our journey to Japan back in January. Northwest has cancelled all flights directly into Osaka (apparently Osaka charges too much for their fees) so we now have to connect through Tokyo. Then we have a 6.5-hour layover in Minneapolis before we finally head to Raleigh. Add on top of that I am by myself with the 3 kids (Matt doesn't join us for another 2 weeks) and you have one heck of a traveling experience.

It’s hard to believe that we have been living in Japan for almost 5 months. Some days I have to pinch myself to really believe that I am living there. Time has sure flown by, but at the same time it feels like we have been living there forever. Many of the other expats have told us to enjoy everyday because time seems to fly by faster than any place else they have been.

I am just amazed when I think about all the things we have experienced in just 5 months–– going to Hong Kong and Thailand, hiking up mountains, climbing the spectacular cliffs that jet out over the Japan Sea, making friends from all over the world, going to our first auction fundraiser (handmade area rugs and floor rugs from the Middle East) learning how to speak a different language, taking trains everywhere and learning how to drive on the other side of the road are just a few. I can only imagine what all we will experience over the next few years. This truly is an experience that the kids, as well as Matt and I, will remember, and learn from, forever.

So the next 8 weeks will be full of visiting friends and family all over North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and even Missouri. We have beach trips, camping, sleepovers, shopping and camps for the kid all planned. We can’t wait.

Football anyone?

One thing we knew we were going to miss when we moved to Japan was good old "American football". We are huge football fans, particularly college football. (Go Buckeyes!) "Football" in most countries is what us American's would call "soccer". And while soccer is okay, football is what we really love.

So imagine my surprise when my mom told me that she thinks a Japanese football team was coming to play a tournament in the US. I thought she had to be wrong. Japanese playing football? But after some time on Google I found out she was right. But to my even bigger surprise and delight I also located a college football team, not only in Kobe, but just TWO train stops from our house.

Japanese "American" football has a spring and fall season. The Kobe University Ravens are playing a game at home on Tuesday and we are trying to figure out how to buy tickets. (the kids and Matt are off for Golden Week) It appears we can buy them online, however since the site is in Japanese we are really not completely sure. (Anyone here read Japanese? ha ha)

I am excited. I mean really excited. I told Matt I may even have to check out the shop and get us some Ravens gameday gear. They have everything, even pet supplies.

Go Ravens Go!

***BREAKING NEWS***

Tomorrow at 2pm this little baby will be mine (Well and Matt's).

I am pleased to announce that after 5 weeks of trying to solve "Operation Buy Car" it is near completion. Project is anticipated to end in less than 24 hours with delivery. However next will be project "Operation Pass Drivers Test". From what I have heard that will take 3x as long as "Operation Buy Car".

Wish I May, Wish I Might

It only cost us a kidney and our first grandchild, but we have bought a car. This has been a long 2+ week process. We attempted a dealership ourselves, looked at used cars online, tried three auction houses (the typical route for ISEs) and came up with a big fat nothing. Yesterday Ire-san (a Japanese person in DHs office) offered to take Matt to a dealership and act as our interpreter and mediator. He came home with three cars picked out and an appointment for today for us both to go and make a decision.

Ire-san met us at the train station and drove us to the dealerships. We right away knew we didn't want the first car. We then drove to the dealership up the street where we had two to choose from. After thoroughly looking over both cars we made a decision.

This cute 2005 Toyota Wish.




The car has 57,000 km (35,000 miles), fits 7 (the third row folds flat), has a navigation system with a back up camera (a must when you have to back into all spots and the spaces are the size of a postage stamp), a DVD/TV/CD player, and a sunroof. It is a robin egg blue, which neither of us are crazy about, but it is cute.

Of course the crazy part is we should get it in about, oh, THREE weeks. I love the red tape of Japan. And they will deliver it to DHs work. This shall be interesting as a)It's about an hour away b)We have no idea how to get home from there c)We have never driven here nor have we driven on the "wrong" side of the road. We are going to ask Matt's boss, who happens to live two blocks away, to drive him home in it. We will pay him in free dinner.

So in hopefully three weeks we will be official car owners in Japan. Then the real fun begins... driving. Until then we get to read a bunch of insurance articles trying to figure out what is required here and what is the best coverage.

Say "Hi" to a New Blogger

My SIL Becky (Matt's sister) has taken the jump and joined blogging land. I am excited as this will be a great way for me to follow what my super cute nieces and nephew are doing while we are in Japan. Plus she does some awesome scrapbooking so maybe she will share some of that in her blog. I do need some motivation to use all that scrapbooking stuff I own.

So if you have a chance stop on over and say "hi!". You can find her blog Time as a SAHM here.

Hitting the Ground Running

In only 42 days I am moving to Japan and I think I am starting to hit a slight panic mode. Okay maybe more than a slight panic mode.

There is so much I still need to do here, not just before we move next month, but before they pack our stuff for the sea shipment on December 18. I have been busy stocking up on medicines (you can't find simple items like Tylenol very easily and medicines are 1/2 the strength in Japan. And speciality items such as Leptovox) or Viagra, you might as well forget it), food (cereal, granola bars, canned goods, dressings, peanut butter, mac & cheese, oatmeal, pancake mix, etc) and household goods (laundry soap, shampoos & conditioners, soaps, dishwasher liquid, Kleenex, paper towels, etc) I have picked out new master bedding, kitchen rugs and towels, bath towels and area rugs for the kids bedrooms. Even though our dining room is already full of stuff, I still have a long list of things I need to buy this week.

1. Shelves for linens to put in the storage room
2. Shelves for toys to put in the storage room
3. Baskets and bins for the kids closests and the bathroom cabinets
4. Some type of storage/drawer unit for Chris's closet (We are not taking his dresser)
5. Spare sheets for Chris's & Emily's beds
6. Extra razor blades & Emily's face wash
7. Picture frames
   
8. New kitchen dishes (We are keeping ours here to use and then put into storage)
   
9. Blank DVD Disks
10. Extra boxes of contacts
11. Artificial Christmas tree
    
12. Some last food items
    

This weekend I managed to sort Sam's bookshelf, Barbies and all our DVDs and VHS tapes. Although Sam has outgrown many books on her shelf I just cannot part with them. Some of them were mine and Matt's when we were kids, and others have been passed through all three of my kids. So into storage will go a whole tub of board and toddler books. I figure someday my grandchildren can have them.

Besides shopping for the above items, I have a whole list of things that needs to be done before next week. Just a few of the most important things include:

1. Mail Visa paperwork **MUST DO BY TUESDAY**
   
2. Starting to pull out clothes and items that we will be taking with us on the plane and put into suitcases.
3. Finish Christmas shopping & wrap gifts.
   
4. Sort through toy closet, dress up clothes and doll basket to take stuff that kids no longer play with or have outgrown to Guardian Angel store.
   
5. Organize office, purge magazines, file paperwork, sort through supplies.
   
6. Backup laptop and burn photo CDs.
   
7. Pick pictures to print and place in frames.
   
8. Clean junk drawer in kitchen.
9. Clean out dining room hutch and sort recipe books.
   
10. Call boat storage place and find a storage place for van.
    
11. Call painters for quotes to get bonus room and master bedroom painted.
12. Call rental agent regarding paperwork for January to get our house rented out.
    
13. Sort through game closet to decide what goes and what will be stored.
14. Organize coat closet.
15. Make hotel reservations for Dec. 19 - Dec. 22 and then Jan. 16 - Jan. 19.
    

All of the above needs to be done while I have to get the kids to school, homework done, get groceries for this week, gymnastics practices (everyday this week), laundry, cleaning the house, 2 Japanese classes, finish work for one client and set up meetings for another client. I am way behind in my blog reading and I apologize. I promise I will get to them soon. I am also going to get a small real tree for the kids to decorate so we have something "Christmasy" here. Plus it will be a nice surprise for Matt (who will be here in 9 days!!).

Things are crazy around here right now trying to get things done, but it is probably a good thing. It keeps me from worrying about moving 7,200 miles away, the transition, the kids, missing our friends and family, and just being scared/nervous about this whole adventure we are about to embark upon.

Oyasuminasi! (Means goodnight in Japanese)

What is going on tomorrow?

Not going to jinx it, but I know you want to see what I am talking about.

Added Bonus

Do you know how awesome it is to have a friend that is a professional photographer?

You get pictures like these (hope you don't mind me sharing Val!). I may have to pay to have her come visit me more often.

Everything Photo and Cameras But Afraid To Ask?

My kick-butt best buddy Val is an amazing photographer. She has started a new session on her blog called Tuesday Tips where she will start offering advice and suggestions for people wanting to learn more about photos, cameras and maybe if we are lucky even digital editing.

I personally am ecstatic about this. So stop on over to her blog and let her know what you would like to learn more about. And then check back every Tuesday for advice that I know we could all use.

Is the suspense killing you?

I could be really mean and let all my impatient readers wait a few more days. After all I do have suitcases to unpack and laundry to do from an impromptu trip to the beach for a long weekend. But I guess I have left you waiting long enough.

Sorry to all those who guessed I am pregnant. Considering that would have to be an act of God, you are incorrect. With the busy life I have with the three we already have I think another would push me over the edge to the funny farm.

So what is it then? Are you ready? You holding onto your chair in suspense? Are you jumping up and down from the wait? Well here we go...

Matt has been offered and accepted a promotion at work. And while that is exciting, it is not the BIG news. The BIG news is that the job is in...


... Kobe, Japan.

(I will pause while you pick yourself up off the floor)

Yes, you read that right. We are moving to Japan – as in the country Japan. We have always wanted to do an international assignment, and while we were thinking maybe next summer would be a good time, this fell into our laps. And after lots of talk and prayer we have decided to take on the adventure.

We will be starting to work with our relocation counselor this week to iron out the details and book a house hunting trip for Matt and I. Matt has to be in Japan for an already booked business trip the week of September 14, so I will fly out and meet him at the end of the trip and we will stay a week to pick a house, get the kids schools all organized, learn the area, meet fellow expats (people working in a foreign country) and much more. The job is a 3 year assignment and after that we will be back stateside.

As of right now, Matt will be going around the 3rd week of October and the kids and I will follow at the end of February. While the kids and I could go by the end of the year, Matt and I have decided that allowing the kids to finish up some commitments here for school, football and gymnastics will help them transition easier. Our hopes is to rent our house out here, allowing us to keep a US residence and hopefully some back here when our assignment is over.

I am excited, scared, nervous... so many different emotions. This is huge for our family. But I know that during the next 3 years our family will have an experience of a lifetime. And don't worry all my bloggy friends... I will be here to blog it all. I know. Finally something to blog about besides David Cook.

So I will leave you with these few facts about Kobe, Japan. And be prepared for lots of posts leading up to our departure. The next few months will be filled with visits, packing, passports, redtape, jumping hoops, tears, smiles, airport travel, recommendations for the best acne treatment due to stress levels and much more.

• Kobe is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of Japan's ten largest cities.
  
• Kobe's has a population of approximately 1.5 million.
  
• Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is considered one of Japan's most attractive cities.
• Kobe was one of the first cities to open for trade with the West following the end of the policy of seclusion and has since been known as a cosmopolitan port city. It is Japan's fourth busiest container port.
• In January 1995, Kobe was hit by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which killed over 5000 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. A decade later, the city is completely rebuilt, and few signs of the terrible event are left. (Don't worry the city was rebuilt to withstand such an earthquake)
• The city is the point of origin and namesake of Kobe Beef, as well as the site of one of Japan's most famous hot springs resorts, Arima Onsen.
• Companies headquartered in Kobe include ASICS, Kawasaki, and Kobe Steel , as well as over 100 international corporations with Asia or Japan headquarters in the city such as Procter & Gamble and Nestle. (While we will live in Kobe, Matt will actually be working in Akashi, Japan, where Caterpillar is located)
  

I Must Say Goodbye

Because today I leave for my David Cook American Idol weekend. I have been counting down the days for 2 months and finally its here. And I cannot wait.

Chris and I are leaving today to go to Shannon's house in South Carolina. Chris and her son, David, will get to play and sit and watch the neighbors do some fence installation and Shannon and I will do some girlie bonding and book sale shopping. Then at 6:30 am on Sunday Chris and I will head back north to Charlotte for the big concert day.

No that was not a misprint. I did say am. Why so early? Because Chris and I are going to camp out to watch the tour buses roll in, all in hopes of getting to meet David Cook all the Idols in person. Yes we are lame and yes I am 33. Chris has promised to take my picture with David if I take his with Brooke White. Cute little boy I have.

Obviously I am more than looking forward towards seeing this group of Idols in person. But I am also excited to get to spend some one-on-one time with my son. It's not often we get to do something like this.

I probably won't be back to blogland until Monday. So until then I will leave you with this preview of what I will be seeing in TWO days. I promise I will try not to be one of those screaming ladies you hear in the background.

Happy Early Birthday To Me!

I know my birthday is still 3 weeks away, but I bought my own present. I bit the bullet and got two tickets to the American Idol Tour! **Cue the fireworks, applause and screaming**

I could kick myself. I had the opportunity to buy presale tickets and didn't. They would have been floor seats. I then had the chance to have Row B tickets, but once again didn't. Between the cost of the tickets themselves and the gas to get there (it's in Charlotte, about 2.5 hours away) I just couldn't justify it.

But you know what? It will be my birthday treat. I stay home with my kids. My husband travels–– alot. I deserve it. I didn't get the best buy in seats, but hey they aren't that bad.

And the lucky winner to go with me? My lovely son Chris! I am already planning our departure time to get there in time to line up to see them get off the bus and hope real hard that we are the lucky ones to get meet & greet passes. Val, maybe you should send me some luck. You seem to have a way with celebrities. Maybe make a call into your Talk Soup boyfriend **wink wink**

Only 81 days!

Planes, planes and a resort

Finally, the long anticipated blog about Thailand. It will only be a peek into the trip, but it is a start.

We left our house April 4th at 5 am. From Raleigh we took a 2 hour flight to Chicago. After a 3.5 hour layover we boarded the plane set for Singapore, via a "small" stop in Hong Kong. I have never been on a 747 airplane so I was in awe watching the 400+ people board. I took a picture of our boarding sign, however I accidentally erased it when switching camera settings. (oops)

While we were not fortunate enough to be in business class and sit on the upper level, we were in a plus section so we had extra room compared to just a regular coach seat (not that really I slept any). Originally when we booked our tickets we were told that our tickets were direct to Singapore. We then found out that we had to stop for fuel in Hong Kong. Little did we know that meant we would have to deplane for 3 hours and switch gates.

Anyways, the flight from Chicago to Hong Kong was 15.5 hours. The longest flight I have ever been on was 7 hours to Europe. This flight felt like eternity. Luckily we had 4 movies, 3 meals (one including a "noodle service") and free alcohol. It was so strange looking out the windows as it was always light out.

So finally we landed in Hong Kong where we deplaned, switched gates and wandered around for 3 hours. This was my "first meeting" with Asia. Here is a picture of the view outside the gate in Hong Kong.


I wish I had taken pictures of the food court. Hanging in some windows were whole fried/smoked ducks, parts of chickens and other mystery items. It was interesting to walk past each place just to see the different items. I decided to try a beef and broccoli in a mini-wok with some Chinese tea and it was very tasty. Two thumbs up to the Hong Kong food court (even with the hanging meat).

Back onto the plane we went for the 3.5 hour flight to Singapore. This is what Matt looks like after 24+ hours in the same pair of boxers (excuse the blurriness, I am a bit exhausted at this point).

We land in Singapore just before midnight, on Saturday, April 5. Our flight was set to leave at 7 am so we went and found the transit lounge to shower and refresh. We then wandered around the airport, drank some tea, ate some cheesecake and dozed. The Singapore airport is amazing. It is so clean and, well, sparkly.


So finally after a night in the airport (it was amazing how many people were hanging out there) we were off for a final 1.5 hour flight to Phuket, Thailand. If you add all that up it made 22.5 hours via plane and over 13 hours in airports. **yawn**

The Phuket airport is almost an hour via car from where we were staying and the main beaches. So we out into the humidity like I have never felt, got a driver (boy was it crazy with all the taxis, hired drivers, buses and people) and set off for the Hilton Resort at Karon Beach, our first hotel of the trip. I just took the drive in –– the people, the businesses, the vegetation, the landscaping. At one point I hit Matt and said "Did you see that! They were washing an elephant next to the road!" The driver just laughed. Here are just a few glimpses from the car.


Finally we went through a gated security (they took mirrors and went all around the car) to the welcome lobby of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa. From there we loaded a tram to the main lobby. This place was huge and beautiful. The most amazing place I have ever stayed. We were told to sit down and the next thing we know a front desk person brought us cools towels with some floral scent to refresh our faces with and fresh juice. I was impressed with the service but as Matt explained to me this is the Thai culture. They do everything and anything to make sure you are happy. Their goal is to serve you. And throughout the whole vacation this was made evident.

After checking in we went to our room and once again I just had to drop my jaw. The room was huge, hardwood floors and the decorations were amazing. The bathroom had a soaker tub, a huge shower and a vanity section that was more than big enough for two people. Sort of what you would expect from a condo hotel, not a regular hotel. The room had fresh orchids and everyday they switched out fresh flowers. The towels were folded into animals. You could just see personal touches everywhere.


Our goal was to change and spend the day getting acquainted with the hotel and more importantly the pool. There were three pools so we chose the one next to the beach and with the least amount of kids.

We spent a few lazy hours by the pool, walked down the beach, took a nap and then wandered out for supper and to check out the area. We found a really good restaurant where I had a pork lo mein, a local beer and ice cream , DH had the same but with prawns, and our bill came to $6 US dollars. Then we retired for the night as we were spending the next day on a snorkeling and beach tour of the Phi Phi islands.

You can check out more pictures from our travel and of the Hilton Resort here. Stay tuned... next up is Phi Phi Islands.

Woh Woh Woh Woh –– The Right Stuff

I am a child of the 80s. So yes that means I was a NKOTB groupie. For all you other NKOTB Fan Club members how exciting is this rumor: They are doing a reunion tour! **cheers**Applause** **Lots of jumping up and down**

Per People magazine:
After months of speculation and rumor, the Kids are coming back. A well-placed source tells PEOPLE exclusively that New Kids On The Block are indeed getting back together. The band's Web site, www.nkotb.com, which had been dormant, is now back up and running in anticipation of the official announcement, which the source says will be made in the next few weeks. The site currently features a television graphic with a fuzzy, flickering photos of NKOTB in their heyday, and a link inviting fans to sign up for info. The boy band, which made legions of tweens swoon in the early '90s, selling more than 50 million albums, became a worldwide phenomenon before calling it quits in 1994.

Eighteen years later, they're still "Hangin' Tough." The oldest "Kid," Jonathan Knight, now a real estate developer, will turn 40 later this year. Since the band's demise, former members Donnie Wahlberg, 38, and Joey McIntyre, 35, have seen acting success, while Danny Wood, 38, has worked as a music producer and Knight's brother, Jordan, 37, has continued to record.

Yes I am a dork and signed up for exclusive breaking news information. And yes, I seriously would go see a reunion concert. Anyone want to join me? I promise not to throw any women's lingerie.


Off to listen to my old tapes... yes I still have them in the storage room.

Took The Plunge

I did it. I ordered my camera. While I have been dying to get a SLR camera, I just hate to spend the amount of money it requires to buy one. Not to mention the cost of the lenses I am already drooling over.

So what did I get you may ask? After lots of research, talking with other SLR owners and looking around for the best possible price I have ordered:

Nikon D40x Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 18-55mm Lens

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens
They should both be here by the end of the week (fingers crossed) and I cannot wait to start playing with it. Now I just need to find a pretty, I mean functional, bag for it all to go in. And a new SD card. I still need the one I have for my point and shoot.

I so cannot wait! What a perfect early V-day present from Matt. And to think, all I am getting him is a digital photo key chain and some chrome accessories for a dirt bike he and Chris are rebuilding.

The Ultimate Gift

My friend Michelle blogged here about an upcoming movie called The Ultimate Gift. I have never heard of this movie or of the book but after hearing about it I want to read and see both! The book took the nation by storm when it came out (how I missed it I will never know) and now the movie will do the same. I anticipate big things for this movie.

The Movie
When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life with twelve tasks – or “gifts” – designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness.

The Movement
A few years back, a little book started something very big. A message that has already prompted people to give to others, connect with friends and family, and help those in need like never before. Every one of us has powerful gifts to share, now we all have the added inspiration, resources and opportunities of a full-fledged movement. Each day, the momentum grows and the impact widens, as The Ultimate Gift continues to inspire thousands, if not millions, of others to share the gift and change the world.

Teen Initiative
Once Upon a Family, a pioneer in products that help families connect through activities, traditions and values, announced today the development and launch of "Show of Hands" – an innovative initiative designed to provide teens with a platform to discover and act on their charitable passions.

Show Of Hands is the nation's first true, hands-on initiative developed solely for the purpose of showing teens the power and rewards of giving to others. The organization's goal is to harness the compassion, energy and commitment that teens have inside in order to demonstrate how their combined interests and networking can create significant cultural change. A key component to the program is the ability for teens to choose the causes they want to support.

Show of Hands (www.raiseahand.org) features partner non-profit organizations – hundreds of groups that focus on a wide-range of issues like the environment, faith, education, health, animal welfare, inner cities, hunger and more.

Weekend of Giving
The days of March 9th, 10th and 11th will be filled with opening weekend screenings of The Ultimate Gift, and each and every one of them is an opportunity to raise donations for non-profit organizations – including the causes closest to your heart. Throughout the “Weekend Of Giving”, $1.00 of every ticket purchased for The Ultimate Gift will be donated to the charitable group of your choice, thanks to a special partnership with the Fox Film Fund.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I'm excited.