Soooo Out of Shape

Today, Doug and I bike rode around our neighborhood. I have not been on a bike in over 20 years and at least 60 pounds (yes I was very, very, very skinny). It was an opportunity to get out and see the neighborhood and get some exercise. I don't remember the seats being that little and uncomfortable.

My  husband has never seen me sweat as much as I did today nor smell like I did today.  Hey there's a first time for everything lol.  We rode to the seawall and then through a park and back.  The Japanese people are so polite that only one person told us that we weren't supposed to be riding bikes on the trail.  The whole time they probably thought stupid 'gaijin'.  We finally made it back and I had so much sweat on me it wasn't even funny.  I had to immediately jump in the shower, but not before Doug rubbed his sweat on me.  Ewwww!  

Earlier today we went to the US consulate office to get my passport with my new last name on it.  I even applied for my new SS card there last week.  Can you believe that I applied for the name change on my passport last Thursday and it came back Monday!  That is service for you!  I had never been to a consulate office until I came to Japan and the people who work there have to have their cars checked for explosives.  The doors I suspect are bullet and bomb proof because they are so heavy.

I'm so happy to have my name changed on my passport so now I can change my military ID also.  I will totally feel like a married woman now.

Marriage

When Doug proposed to me at the airport when he was going back to Japan from leave, I felt like I was the luckiest woman in the world.  I loved how he made me feel and I am always overjoyed to make him feel happy, wanted and loved.  Over the next few weeks we found out that we would be faced with some obstacles.  But I'm so proud to say that God has been the driving force in making our marriage a reality.

We were faced with obstacles that he took care of.  My lease just so happened to be up the month before we were to leave.  If it had not been then I would have had to pay way more rent to go month to month.  I found someone (a good friend) to buy my car who needed one.  He had recently moved and wasn't sure if things would work out with moving again but they did.  He found a house for all of us that will be big enough for when the twins get here in March.  There were more things that I can't seem to remember at this moment but God was with us the entire way.  I have to think that the command sponsorship hasn't come yet because there's a reason that is yet to be revealed.  The one thing that I've learned to do is trust and have faith.  God never puts more on us than we can handle.

When we found out the process we would take to get married in Japan, we were both very excited.  It was a step above getting a double proxy marriage in Montana where neither one of us needed to be present.  Friends were sad that they wouldn't get an opportunity to see us get married and we thought it would be nice to write our own vows and say them and send a copy of the video back to family and friends.  As of this day, we haven't said our vows to one another but we did email them.  We are definitely a family into technology LOL.  I hope that one day we will be able to fulfill this request and say our vows in our garden, when time allows.  

What a Day!!

This morning started off pretty good.  I really love being married.  There's a sense of contentment that you get that is irreplaceable.  I had a dental appointment and the girls were going to choir camp.  We all got up with no incidence.  I can't say that there weren't any attitudes but I digress...

My dental appointment went pretty well, or so I thought.  Apparently, the dental maintenance organization I had been going through courtesy of my former job has been doing a sub-par job on the maintenance of our teeth.  I had a filling in a couple of teeth that they did not fill completely.  The dental staff at the military clinic were trying to determine what the issue was on the xrays.  So because they couldn't determine what the problem was they had to go in and take the original filling out and refill it.  

This issue would have been so bad but we all know that they they have to numb your mouth and then drill.  Afterwards you feel like your jaw and lips are huge and that you might be drooling.  My husband had to keep reassuring me that I wasn't lol.  After the numbness wore off, I was left with the biggest headache ever.  It was so bad that it brought me to tears, literally.  I took 2 extra strength tylenols and it didn't help and then 4 hours later I had to take 2 advils and it still didn't work.  Eventually, the headache went away, thank goodness.

Earlier we ran errands to the housing agency and some other places.  It's always enjoyable to spend time with my loved ones.  

The repairman came to fix our Japanese toilet today.  You ask, "What is a Japanese toilet?"  Well it's one of those that sprays warm water on your butt while you sit on the toilet.  Initially it didn't work but now that it's fixed it does.  Doug has used it but I'm a little afraid to have water shoot up on my butt.  Maybe one day I'll get the courage to use it.

Oh, my passport with my new name has returned to the US embassy here.  They sent me an email to let me know I can come and pick it up.  I'm really happy about this because I get to change my name on everything now.  I had to use my hyphenated name on my military ID and medical records because they said for traveling purposes my names must match the passport.  When I finally decided that I might marry again, I said that I would never hyphenate my name again because I would be marrying a man who I respect and I would be proud to have his last name.  

In my first marriage I felt that my ex should have taken my last name because he didn't do anything.  In fact, I used to get a kick out of people calling him Mr. Smith because our daughters last names are Smith, except for the youngest.  He never found it as funny as I, lol.

The girls and I are watching Legally Blonde 2.  I can't believe I'm watching a movie because you know my ADD has been kicking in.  It is so hard for me to sit still and watch anything without falling asleep or getting up to do something else.

Well, we should have our command sponsorship by Thursday (again) hopefully.  The military can never be accused of doing anything too fast, lol.  To me it seems like it's a formality to keep people with jobs because all they have to do is sign some papers. Whenever they get around to doing it then I can get a job.  I need a job soon.  I've been enjoying this time with my girls and my husband but I need to work and do some other things.

My husband on a typical night.

Sunday, August 16

Today was a much better day.  We all got up and got along.  I suppose everyone has their own emotions that they are dealing with at this time.  In a way I feel a little selfish being here because I'm the only one who has loved ones here.  Doug is here for me and my children are here for me.  Although he cares for them because he loves me, and they 'care' for him because they love me, but it's an adjustment that I just assume that they can handle.

I suppose it's no different than my friends getting together to give me a bon voyage party.  I love all of my friends but they don't love each other.  I just felt that because I see something great in each one of them that they would be able to see what I see also.  Everyone worked together to accomplish the goal, but I'm not sure they would do it again.  It's kind of sad too because I always felt that I have some pretty awesome friends.  I hope that with a little bit of counseling my family situation will not turn out like my friends situation did.

Anyway....

Today we went to the commissary (supermarket on base) and spent quite a bit of money.  I think that it this continues then eventually I will gain back all of the weight that I've lost this summer.  I feel good about the weight loss but yet again none of the clothes that I shipped have arrived here yet.  When we were going into the commissary, this chick that was walking in front of us with her daughter had on some tight booty shorts and a low cut tank top.  She wore no ring so it appeared she wasn't married but I believe that she was and her husband was deployed.  After lecturing the girls about not dressing that way, we see a chick that goes against everything that we are trying to teach.

At the commissary they also have little Japanese ladies that bag your groceries and pack them into your car.  It's kind of cool because the majority of the cars here are small and it takes a skilled person to get all of the bags in.  What I enjoy is going to the commissary as a family and shopping.  I know that this isn't a big deal to some people but it is to me.  The more things you do as a family the closer your bond is, or I would like to think.  Growing up I hated when we all had to sit down at the table at every meal and eat together because I always felt like I was on the spot.  But as a parent, I realize that it was for a good purpose.  I know that what I want and what's reality cannot always combine.

Ever since I went to the optometrist, my left eye has been extremely dry and hurting.  But I am very happy to say that I have 20/25 (right) and 20/30 (left) vision and I came from not even being on the charts at all.  This is all within a 1 1/2 month period.  Anyone who has seen my glasses knows this lol.  I will be continuing my steroid drops a little bit longer than what my surgeon has recommended.  Maybe I will contact him and find out what is best.  Well it looks like I'll be staying up late Monday night to call.  It kind of sucks that there is such a huge time difference.

Oh, AT&T sucks!  I called to have all of the phones cut off because it would cost too much for me to have them on here.  They say that I would have to get new phones and my iPhone is the only one that would work with a $200 extra data plan.  I think not!  Anyway I have 4 phones on my contract and then they were saying that I should get them in someone elses name to take over the contract.  Who needs 4 phones?  Right!  Anyway I told them it wouldn't be an option for me.  The first lady I talked to accused me of falsely saying that I'm married now and living overseas.

I was getting angry with this lady and wanted to speak to another rep or a supervisor and she denied my request.  Now you know it takes a lot to get me upset and this lady had done it.  She even told me that the only way I could change my name on my account is to go into a corporate office to do it.  Ummm, that's pretty hard to do because there are no offices here on Okinawa.  Anyway, I spent almost an hour on the phone arguing with this rep and then had to call back and spoke with another rep who said I was just trying to get out of my contract.  Ummm, duh, yes I am because I refuse to pay $200 more to keep a number and still have to pay for other phones too.  

Hopefully after I write this long letter that I will be writing and copying everyone including the BBB and whoever else I can think of I'll get some satisfaction.

We are watching the Lions play right now.  We already know the outcome of the game but I guess he still wants to watch.  Men!

'Wedding' Pics

Our 'wedding' day @ Chatan City hall, Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan on July 30, 2009.

Random Tourist Pics

The girls on Kadena Airbase.

The girls at Chatan City hall.