tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74149858502080934052012-02-16T17:28:40.490-06:00the daily drudgery and occasional adventure in my life as a Sailor, an Officer & an Army wife & mother...Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.comBlogger311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-11635848972858247112009-07-26T03:21:00.004-05:002009-07-26T04:25:30.969-05:00

Dear Oji-poo,It's been a month and a half since we said farewell to you. Even now, the thought of it brings tears to my eyes and I get a bit, no, a lot, choked up. You had been suffering from B cell lymphoma since March, when it was first diagnosed. Dad/David discovered lumps under your chin, much like swollen lymph nodes on humans. Your vet, Dr. Kirby, aspirated one of the lumps and after a

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-81292374166532773752008-10-14T03:01:00.002-05:002008-10-14T03:07:57.574-05:00

Okay, I've got a couple months left before this baby girl enters our crazy world. Hormones are finally starting to affect my temperment...well, more so than normal. I'm more susceptible to tearing up than raging out. In fact, I'm ashamed to admit it but last week, a handful of cake crumbs left on a conference room table pushed me over the edge before a 2 hour meeting. Yikes! What's the rest

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-40399390685740202362008-10-03T03:31:00.001-05:002008-10-03T03:50:15.567-05:00

Okay, I am now 29 weeks pregnant and finally admitting it on the blog. I haven't slept through the night in months, literally since the 1st trimester. I've probably seen every rerun of late night TNT or SPIKE TV's CSI: Miami, CSI NY, Cold Case and Without a Trace. Tonight was slightly different than the others.I've started sleeping in the living room, in David's comfy leather chair. It's too

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-71987801896598366462008-04-15T23:07:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:21.688-06:00

Last weekend, I went back to the cousins' home in The Plains before flying down to Texas to close on our new home. I'd spent the afternoon with my galpal, Gina, in Old Towne Alexandria. We spent a significant amount of time in an awesome paper store aptly called "Paper Source"I found the English translation of a very popular Japanese children's book on breasts. Yes, breasts. Boobies.So, I got

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-69930328584251522582008-03-30T22:32:00.000-05:002008-03-30T22:34:37.730-05:00

Visited w/cousin Tim's family this weekend. Sophia (age 5): what are breasts? Tim (age 41): boobies.Hiking w/the cousins earlier. Tim: This is coyote or fox poop. Me: Is this a boy thing, the ability to discern animal poop?

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-10102704133400536132008-03-10T17:47:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:21.907-06:00

A few weeks ago I took a quick trip back to Houston to visit my parents. Dad had fallen ill a few weeks prior to my trip and although we were moving back to Texas within a few months, I felt I NEEDED to be there. So, I prepared to travel. I decided to carry a work laptop with me so that I could monitor my inbox and also become distracted should the stress of seeing my Dad in a weakened state

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-52639683081528687372008-03-05T08:00:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:22.077-06:00

Dear EXIV (my 1994 Toyota Exiv),Today I handed your keys to a nice lady who will take good care of you. Thank you for putting up with my crazy driving these last 4 years. You've been a good girl, you know? I'm sorry about the scrapes and dings over the years. I'll miss your blue windshield wipers, blue I-wanna-be-a-race-car-driver steering wheel, low wide tires, and oh yeah, the blue lights

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-51946727146472196762008-02-20T06:31:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:22.234-06:00

I recently gave up coffee for Lent...I've been without my daily java for 14 days and 12 hours. It's been difficult but I only have, oh, 31 days left... but, when I walked into the Kamakura JR station "conbini" (convenience store) tonight, I found this ... Heaven in a bag... mmmmmmmm

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-56910685361972501142008-02-08T18:20:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:22.544-06:00

It snowed last Sunday... a lot. I managed to carefully tread my way down to the beach. What would normally be an 8 minute walk ended up taking 20 minutes! But once I got there, here's what I found...PS: it 's supposed to snow again today, but not as much.

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-57297063653558553032008-02-02T04:11:00.001-06:002008-02-02T04:29:15.590-06:00

12. I have a comic book collection that includes: issues 1-34 of Spawn, issues 1-3 of Beavis and Butthead. No kidding! 11. I have a Disney watch collection that I started about 15 years ago.10. I really like musicals. I even saw Carol Channing in San Diego during her final performances in "Hello Dolly!". I've also seen Phantom of the Opera (San Diego), Mamma Mia (London), and Beauty and

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-5107845987268705972008-02-01T23:45:00.000-06:002008-02-02T00:17:22.191-06:00

I belong to a couple of professional organizations related to my field of choice, healthcare administration. Unfortunately, due to "the mission", I haven't been to a conference since January 2006, when I was on the Kitty Hawk and another command funded the trip because I was on an operational "platform" (Navy speak for being stationed on a ship). My current command, which shall remain nameless,

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-80363996284686375692008-01-09T05:47:00.000-06:002008-02-01T23:21:06.719-06:00

I've decided that after 17 years in military service, there are quite a few Thoughtless Individuals in Uniform. There are educated TIUs, mind you, but TIUs still the same. The worst sort of TIU is one who has gained power by virtue of rank. TIUs are recognized by actions, not words. The most clever of TIUs are those who speak with a forked-tongue... watch out for these sorts! A TIU may

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-57799723128307026842007-12-28T20:10:00.000-06:002007-12-28T20:43:18.987-06:00

Hubby was finally promoted to Lieutenant Colonel this month. Actually he started getting paid for his new rank on the 1st of the month but didn't "pin" it on until just before Christmas. He wanted to wait until after most folks from work were back from a joint exercise up "north of Tokyo." I know he despises being the center of attention, preferring to be behind the camera rather than in front.

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-24864646055888215192007-12-10T04:25:00.000-06:002008-02-01T22:14:42.110-06:00

We just celebrated 2 significant dates this past month. We met 7 years ago on the 5th of December and married 4 years ago on the 6th of December. We had a wonderful dinner at Wellington's restaurant in the New Sanno Hotel. As always, the staff at the Wellington's were utterly professional and attentive. We enjoy seeing the same folks & catching up, much like we are at the Army Navy Club in DC:

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-61009784557725897282007-12-02T02:11:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:22.923-06:00

Okay, the game's over, the crowd's have long left the stadium but the cheers and jeers will continue... at least until next year. Navy 38, Army 3. Of course, it's all in good fun because truth be told, some of these young men will work alongside their opponents in the future, especially as more joint operations come into existence. This is a good thing for us since we're our own "Joint

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-74208146815431312752007-12-02T01:48:00.000-06:002007-12-02T01:55:00.243-06:00

I literally stumbled on this great craft project for "Crayon Nibbles". We have so many friends with toddlers and I fear going out of control on new baby gifts. I think I'll have to try this out before the end of the year. This project is so creative and simple to do! Heck, the website is just a fun one to visit! The site is called Crafty Daisies...CHECK IT OUT!

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-43160691406381326432007-12-02T00:15:00.000-06:002007-12-02T00:59:12.981-06:00

I periodically check my virtualtourist.com account (which is sorely in need of updating) and found an email from AUGUST requesting hotel suggestions for a trip to Kamakura in April for their group of 3 adults & 2 children (1 baby). It's a good thing that our British pals, Paul & Karen, with their 4 yr old & 15 month old daughters visited Japan during their Easter holiday. As a result, I've become

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-27092014366055674742007-11-22T11:34:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:23.291-06:00

I just finished reading several news articles about China's refusal and last-minute approval to allow port entry for the Kitty Hawk's carrier strike group for the Thanksgiving weekend. The liberal western media, being what it is (liberal), for once gave some mention to the politics behind decisions on a world stage, but I wonder if this was one of those stories that ends up on page 12 on most

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-34307034649185446772007-11-12T04:49:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:23.854-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, on Columbus Day, since I didn't have to go to work, I went for a quick run around the neighborhood. It's a rare treat to catch the sunset during the week so I sat down by the beach and took some notes. Here's what I wrote:Sky's clear. Looks like a lot of folks had the same idea I did. Since I arrived about 20 minutes earlier, the crowd of quiet observers has grown from a

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-67997232807531924802007-11-11T08:45:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:25.185-06:00

I have always liked bridges. They take you from point A to point B and beyond. This is my homage to the bridge...Sydney bridge climb...photos pending as I can't locate the CD purchased after my Bridge Climb on the 4th of July in 2005. Until then, I tried to take a shot of a photo of my group at the top of the Bridge. This photo & cutesy magnetic souvenier frame is on my fridge door. If you get a

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-59615804691581360632007-11-11T08:39:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:25.355-06:00

Twice a week, a delivery truck drives through the neighborhood playing a cheerful little tune. No, Virginia, it's not the ice cream man...it's TOFU MAN! For a mere 300 yen, you too can have some of the finest tofu in the Kanto plain. Our next door neighbor tells us that this is made with Fuji area mountain spring water and is among the best tasting tofu in the area. Wow!

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-11956563452330890812007-11-11T08:20:00.000-06:002008-11-12T19:17:26.172-06:00

One gorgeous June morning on the way to work, I decided to stop and literally smell the roses. I stepped off the train and decided to take the path less travelled. Instead of heading in a beeline to the base, I walked about 50 yards off my normal path to walk through the nearby Verny Park "rose garden." Base of a monument in the park.I can't recall the name of this rose, only that it smelled

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-52998791401182369632007-10-14T07:12:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:26.582-06:00

Our initial visit to Sushi Kappa Gojo, a local restaurant about 2 minutes from our home in Shichirigahama Higashi, Kamakura City, was a wonderful 2 hour affair. We went with our pals, Ginny and David. The short rainy walk was worth it because we had a great time!We walked in the front door and were warmly greeted by the staff. This restaurant was converted from a ramen house about a year ago and

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-10353368442709744842007-10-07T22:22:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:27.175-06:00

We went to our first Japanese Major League Baseball game last night with our friends Ginny, her hubby David & Rod. We saw the Yokohama Baystars last home field game against the Chunichi Dragons. (Baystars won 6-4) It was such a fun experience! I spent the 1st hour (of 4) just soaking in all the sights, sounds, and smells. Here's a list of cool observations, in no particular order:Organized

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-74355718094099906562007-10-07T20:21:00.000-05:002007-10-07T21:24:01.395-05:00

I subscribe to wonderful magazines such as Real Simple and Everyday with Rachel Ray in an attempt to balance my life, learn new things to better our daily living and clean out my vast collections of "stuff". The latest advice to clean out the clutter are the 3 F's (please excuse my simplification):Fit...does it still fit well? Function...'nuf saidFeel...does it make you feel great? If you say no

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-8924858839206051022007-10-05T00:25:00.000-05:002007-10-07T21:39:51.517-05:00

We're still about 6 months (+/- a week) away from leaving Japan but I've now seriously looked at so many houses that Hubby's starting to get them mixed up. Okay, I've been "sick in quarters" (SIQ) for the past week and when I'm not resting/recuperating, I'm enjoying rare unbridled luxury of internet surfing. The difference between Hubby and I when it comes to our laptops is that he surfs sites

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-19475277639708537562007-10-03T08:14:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:27.817-06:00

We're getting ready to move again in a few months. While we will dearly miss our life in Japan, we are looking forward to being closer to both of our families when we move back to San Antonio, Texas next year.In anticipation of this upcoming move, I've been perusing the housing market in San Antonio for the last four months. We just started working with a local agent and managed to narrow down

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-10062785061828885392007-10-01T12:51:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:28.405-06:00

Virtual aside: In the old days, before a sailor crossed the equator, he was called a Wog (as in pollywog) and was looked down upon until he became a Shellback. This was accomplished after much trial and tribulation during an event lovingly called Wog Day. Nowadays, Wog Day events are much tamer and less gross than in decades past (there is no longer the arduous task of eating a cherry from the

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-59939487069081007642007-09-29T18:38:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:28.617-06:00

I love lists. They help keep me organized. There's also a sense of satisfaction in checking off accomplishments, big and small.I even have a list tacked up in the kitchen of what needed to be done before a big party we hosted this summer, a list of to-do items, hour by hour. Our guests included 7 Japanese families from our neighborhood and a sprinkling of friends from work to mix it up a bit.

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-35474422003737648162007-09-29T12:13:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:29.163-06:00

1. Stop to smell the roses. Okay, in this case the ajisai (hydrangea). Each month has it's own flower. The ajisai viewing season is in June which coincides with the rainy season. This particular sunny spot is at the top of the stairs at Jojuin temple, Inamuragasaki in Kamakura-shi. Hundreds of people visit the temple to see the thousands of ajisai along the hillside. Traffic is snarled all along

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414985850208093405.post-62379916358285882742007-09-29T10:16:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:17:29.331-06:00

After commiserating over several possible blog names and coming down with basically squat, Texapina's MEL will have to do. Virtual aside: My better half came up with the name for our blog, sandandtsunamis, a couple of years ago...I'll never be able to meet his level of creativity. But heck, marriage isn't a competition, right? Check out the sandandtsunamis blog for a look at Hubby's written and

Texapina Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827598174563388870noreply@blogger.com1