Today was it….the festival I’ve been dancing for all summer! We met on base in the gym so some nice Japanese ladies could dress us all in our yukata (summer kimono). Then we rode a bus over to the Yamato train station area to PERFORM!! We shuffled along to the parade area in a single-file…
Yamato Bon Odori and Awa Odori Festival!
Awa Odori LIVE! This Weekend in Yamato!
It’s like you’re there! …er, here!
Rottnest Island—Australia’s West Coast
I told Chris I’d found a place for us to stay in Perth and was ready to book it, and he said, “Oh, uh, can you find something closer to Fremantle?” I began my search anew, booked a crappy, overpriced hostel that was in our budget, and voila–what good teamwork that was without our even…
Exploring Tokyo—Ebisu
This week I was feeling lonely…Lonely Planet, that is. The Lonely Planet Tokyo guidebook is a handy pocket/purse size and has this somewhat intimidating city conveniently broken down into neighborhoods. This is very helpful, because it’s difficult to get a good sense of where anything is in Tokyo when all your travel is done below…
Total Eclipse of the Clouds
While you were all snug in your beds, the morning side of the world was outside frowning up at the clouds and getting rained on for the sake of an eclipse. My friend Elaine looked around and said, “Yeah, total eclipse of the clouds.” I think Iwo Jima got the total eclipse, lasting more than…
Hamaori By The River
I wanted to go to a festival this weekend, but instead a festival came to me! I had stopped at an ATM en scoot to fill my gas tank this afternoon when my neighbor John pulled over and alerted me to a local festival that would be parading along the river in about an hour….
The Navy Wife’s Guide to Confession, or Shameless Product Endorsement I Should Get Paid For…But Am Not
Dear Chris, I wasn’t going to tell you, but I think I need to because I feel guilty. Don’t get mad. Here goes…… I bought a Swiffer Sweeper and I really love it. I’m sorry I don’t like that expensive wet vacuum we bought. 🙁 I really tried. But I saw the Swiffer at the…