Saturday, November 7, 2009

A broken toe, sushi, air sickness and Texas!

Well, I finally made it to Texas! I am regretably sorry that I have not posted anything since then, but I am just now attempting to regulate my body to the 14 hour time difference! Perhaps my lack of blogging lost me a follower? BOO! Anyhow, what a blessing and an incredible feeling it is to be back in the good ol' Lone Star State!! My trip was however, not entirely uneventful... Please let me go into further details!


                                                   Waiting in line to check in!


 My friend arrived Monday morning at our home in Japan to pick me up and take me to the airport. Like any normal person, I was up super early, dressed, packed, had unplugged the lamps, T.V. and anything else with a plug, and even managed to drag my huge suitcase down the stairs. Well, managed to drag it DOWN stairs with no problems- that is until I decided to walk back upstairs and apparently forgot how to walk at all... I suppose I just decided to stop walking upstairs, and slammed my left big toe right into the wooden stairs. Then, my house phone rings so I run to answer it and by the time I say hello, I am crying. It was my Dad, and he was like: "What the heck is wrong with you?" "I broke my toe. It hurts like hell, Dad and I don't know what to do!!" I ended up buddy wrapping it with band-aids (since Mr. Top Gun took the first aid kit with him, all I had was band-aids,) and somehow I managed to get it into my brand new Nike Shox that Mr. Top Gun bought for me before he left.



Don't judge. Not everyone can have cute toes!

Don't ask me how, but by the grace of God I was able to limp out of my house, into the car, through the airport, through the plane and then sat for 9 hours! I did, however muster up enough strength in Tokyo to wobble over to one of the numerous Sushi bars in the airport, and proceeded to eat my way through some of the BEST TUNA nigiri and sashimi in the world! I had in all, 6 pieces of tuna, 1 tuna roll, and 1 dragon roll (eel, cucumber, lettuce, and cream cheese and avocado.) When I ordered, the Sushi Chef looked at me oddly and asked if I was sure I wanted all of that sushi... He didn't think I was going to finish the 8 piece Dragon roll on top of the mountain of tuna I had on my plate. Oh, how wrong of him! I sat at the bar, so all of the chefs just smiled at me in astonishment when I asked for the check and they all realized NOTHING was left on my plates :) See, this American girl loves herself some Sushi! So, $4,2000 Yen later, my tummy was full, happy and ready to cross the ocean. Oh, and Yen to dollars makes my lunch an even $42.00. Blame it on the tu-u-u-na!



This is the Sushi bar I ate at in Tokyo!


Blame it on the T-u-u-na...


I then hobbled to my gate, boarded the plane and sat forever. and ever. and ever. When I arrived in San Fransisco, I headed to the nearest Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and ordered the largest iced tea ever! Man, was that like drinking sweet nectar of the Gods! I then limped back to my gate, sat down and decided to 'unveil' my toe... BAD DECISION. FAIL. I just about yelped out in fear, pain, and disgust when I removed my sock and was greeted by the most horrific looking toe I have ever seen! Now, I am the first to admit that I was totally shafted in the gene pool when it comes to my toes. I inherited my dad's lovely German genes for huge feet and weird looking toes, while my Mom decided she just didn't want to pass on her genes for cute, dainty and gorgeous little feet and toes! Toe comes out of sock, I scream and then cover it back up. It has now become all blue, black, purple, red, yellow and is the size of a large tomato. I put my sock back on and hobble to my last flight into SAN ANTONIO!!

The flight was hell. I absolutely abhore those little express jets, and for a three and a half hour flight, I was crammed next to a man who kept touching my arm when he was reading. I start getting airsick, and by the time we land in SA, I am running to the bathroom to puke. I hobble down the escalator and... SURPRISE! Both my Mom and Dad are there waiting for me!! I think my Momma must have known that her baby girl (ok, grown baby girl) was thirsty and not feeling well, because after she just about choked me and squeezed me to death with her hug, she handed me an iced green tea from Starbucks :) I am HOME NOW, and it feels good!! If only I had Mr. Top Gun next to me, it would be perfect. The Holidays are just not the same without him :(

Monday, November 2, 2009

Sayonara, Japan- Howdy, Texas!!

I'm leaving the land of the rising sun...


For the Lone Star State!!!!


But first I must make a trip into Tokyo *yeah* for my connecting flight into the US!! I plan on havng lunch at one of the many sushi bars in the airport before my 8 hour flight into San Fransisco. Then, I am a mere three hours away from San Antonio!! Don't worry about me not blogging- I plan on posting pictures of my trip as soon as I can!! 

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Can we say "Excited Much?"

I woke up this morning to find two things in my inbox:
1. An incredible e-mail from Mr. Top Gun, filled with all things lovey and sweet! Boy, does he miss me :)
And...


2. An e-mail from my Dad, entitled: "So Excited for you to get here!"
Sounds simple enough right? Well, for those of you who follow my blog, you know that Mrs. Top Gun has herself one incredibly crazy, funny and down right ridiculous Dad! Want proof?? Look below...


                Yep, that's my Dad! And apparently, he is quite enthused about me coming home! This totally made my day when I saw this! Oh, Dad the silly things you do with your iPhone when you are bored. Can't wait to see you!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I'm blowin' this joint!

No, not THAT type of joint!!! I am referring to the fact that this time next week, I shall be in...
                                      San Antonio, Texas!!
                                  
 And what is more gorgeous than my beloved Riverwalk all decked out in her finest Christmas lights, just waiting for me to stroll down her banks, taking in the splendor of the majestic Texas sky, savoring the smells of decadent Mexican food in the air and listening to the sounds of the city all around me.


Ahhh... Being home is going to feel amazing! I only wish Mr. Top Gun were with me to celebrate... 
 

    

Halloween, Okinawa Style!

Here are some pictures from our Halloween party this weekend! Hey, when Mr. Top Gun is away, I have got to have some fun, right? And boy oh boy... did we have some FUn!















Wednesday, October 21, 2009

It's like an episode of "Locked Up Abroad" here!






Japanese Police Stations are not friendly places. They do not look nice or pretty, there are no vending machines for you to get a Coke, they have odd furniture for you to sit on (namely something which resembles your Great- Great Grandpa's rocker that happens to smell like pee and look like it had been out in the rain for eons.) Oh, and the smell in there... moldy, mildew, stank! It was raining and they had ALL the windows wide open too, which probably wasn't helping the smell inside one bit. As I entered the building, I proceed to take of my Chanel shades and place them in the case. No biggie right? WRONG. I manage to not only spill half of my water bottle on the floor, but drench my foot and the sunglass case with cold water. I swear the men were just wanting to die laughing! But, nobody even looked at me....


I am then told to pick up a BLUE phone in front of me and say hello to the english speaker on the other end. I do this, and a few minutes later the Japanese interpreter comes out and greets me and leads me back to the interrogation room. Now, for those of you who have seen the Locked Up Abroad series on T.V., you know what I am about to describe... A padded, 3 by 5 room with a small window, one desk, a tiny laptop and printer and three small chairs. The padded walls were yellow, and had god knows what kind of mold growing and leaching out of them! I am asked to sit in the smallest chair ever and thus begins the questioning... 


Here are a few of my favorite questions they asked me: 1- Where were you raised? (Military, so all over?)
2- You were raised by your Mother and Father together? (Umm, no I was raised by Penguins??) 3- You attended: Elementary School, Middle School and High School and graduated from all three levels? (Yes, yes and yes, but WHY elementary and middle school are important??) and last but not least... 4- Your place of birth was in Texas, USA? (Yes, and in San Antonio, TX- USA.) This one had to be explained to them, as did the reason why I spoke another language and why I went to College...


I apparently must look like a terrorist who speaks German, wears jeans, diamond stud earrings, and heels and Chanel glasses to an interrogation appointment, right? SURE! I honestly think the Police 'interrogator person' was trying to figure out why I looked the way I did. Two very stiff hours later, I am told we are finished and I can leave. I get in the car and break down. Mr. Top Gun is hours away from leaving me, and he HAD TO WAIT IN THE FRONT FOR ME FOR TWO FRICKEN' HOURS, SITTING IN AN ODD AND NASTY CHAIR. Seriously, Japan? Can you please give us both a break already! Let this deployment start and end now please :(

Monday, October 19, 2009

D-Day is upon us...

This is what true, honest to goodness love looks like. And, it also happens to be what a happy and smiling me looks like before Mr. Top Gun leaves for a few months? Yeah, I thought the same thing too. Like, hey why am I SMILING HERE?? He is leaving and you are smiling... I suppose I remembered that I didn't want to look too completely desolate and helpless in at least one picture.  Don't worry though- The pictures of me crying my eyes out, all reddened and mascara dripping down my face are to come in the following days. In the meantime, I am just trying to savor every last second I have in my husband's arms.


     I can't believe he has to fly away already. I am NOT ready for this!


          *P.S. Please ignore the clutter on my bar area... We all know how messy a deploying Husband can make our home right?*