And I thought I had seen everything...

We leave for our spring break trip to Hong Kong in 12 days. Somehow I do not think I will be rushing to eat at the restaurant that serves this lovely set menu.

Yes, that is what you think it is. A toilet, a urinal and something that resembles a pile of poop.

I will pause a moment for you to pick your jaw up off the floor...

Modern Toilet, which has seven locations in Taiwan, has one location in Hong Kong. According to Time magazine, the restaurant is decorated with lights and dish covers shaped like feces and seats customers at glass tables with sinks underneath.

Modern Toilets food is served atop miniature toilet bowls, ice cream dishes are shaped like squat toilets and beverages are served in plastic urinals that customers can take home as souvenirs.

The desert menu features shaved ice concoctions with names such as "diarrhea with dried droppings," or chocolate; "bloody poop," or strawberry; and "green dysentery," or kiwi.

I'm not sure why, but Modern Toilet has not made the "must eat at" list while we are visiting Hong Kong. I don't think I have enough nutritional health supplements to even think about eating anything on their menu. However I am so intrigued that I just may have to take a quick peek inside.

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)
  

Stay Tuned...

...for some huge, exciting news from our family. I could be nice and tell you now, but I like to keep people in suspense.

So watch the blog over the next few days. I promise, it will shock you.

Oh Yeah... Time of MY Life

I think I am still floating 6 feet off the ground after Chris and my American Idol Concert experience on Sunday.

It was an awesome experience. I cannot even begin to describe just how awesome. Chris and I got there a little after 8 am and were the third people there, in hopes of meeting the Idols after they got off the tour bus.


After a very long wait of almost 7 hours, the idols got there and started to come out to greet the fans. Unfortunately Cookie, Carly and Brooke had press on that day so they were only outside for about 15 minutes. My hopes of getting a pic with him were dashed, but hey I still met him and got his autograph. Not that it would have mattered because when he said "hi" all I could muster was "T-t-t-thank you". Can I just say he is soooooo much better looking in person than even on tv or in the magazines.


Archie and Jason Castro were out there for well over an hour greeting all their fans. Michael Johns is hilarious and really just a regular guy. Chickeeze is very personable and fun to talk with. Carly is beautiful. Brooke is super sweet and just an itty bitty thing. Everyone but Syesha and Ramile came out.


It was so interesting seeing all the people wearing shirts and other items displaying their favorite Idol. People were holding signs, carrying battery operated radios playing their favorite Idol's music and even brought gifts. It was crazy. One lady, who had to be in her mid-50s, almost passed out when Chickeeze came out. I definitely wasn't the only "Cougar for Cook" out there. My favorite shirt said "I like a guy who wears eyeliner." And my favorite fans had to me the ones of Jason Castro. They were too cute. (As is he!)

Before the concert Chris and I managed to play cornhole for a chance of upgraded tickets. And guess what! We got them. So our nose bleed section seats turned into seats right off the floor. Not as great as if they were front row, but still awesome.




The concert lasted three hours. And it was so different from the other concerts I have been to. Maybe it's because these people were average joes like us who we invited into our living room for 6 months. Maybe its because we saw them transform as the weeks went on? They just seem real, if that makes sense.

I am counting down the days until Cookie's album is released. As well as some of the others. They all were so amazing that I can see myself downloading lots of albums from i-tunes in the coming year.

Now I just have to find a way to goto DCs solo tour. It kick's off in January.

In the meantime, you can see some of my pictures and even a few more videos here.

So what does Chris say about his first concert experience? "When can we go again. Just don't scream so loud next time mom. "

Move over Daughtry

Here comes David Cook.

I haven't blogged much about my American Idol obsession this season. But I just have to after last night. For my longtime blog readers, you know I love love love Clay Aiken. (yeah I know, I'm weird) But I have to say, David Cook is about on the same pedestal. (Sorry Val) The guy gives me chills. He is so original, so fresh, so –– wow.

For those who are not American Idol watchers, you may not know the story behind this brilliantly talented man. (Are you a man at 25?) His brother is undergoing chemo for a second diagnosis of brain cancer, which has spread to his spine. This road to stardom is not only filled with the stress of the show, but with stress and anxiety of his brothers illness. Last night's show was a special one. His brother was able to take a break from chemo and come from Indiana to see his David perform in the final 7. No wonder last night he had tears in his eyes when he closed his song.

There is no doubt in my mind that he is a clear cut winner. However we all know that many times the best don't win (look at Clay and Daughtry).

For those who have not seen what this guy can do, grab your laptop computer and youtube his past weeks songs. For those who may have missed last night, here is a review. Enjoy!