I'm in love!

If it weren't for this


{$13 USD! I'll never forget shaving cream on vacation again}

I would never leave here





~ Posted from my iPhone courtesy of the free wi-fi at McDonalds!

Checks

I've been working on my 30 by 30 list today! As I write this, I'm on a bus en route to Narita airport to check off country number 2 of 3 of #13: visit at least 3 new countries. I'm headed to Australia for the next 11 days where I'll get to check off #17: snorkel the great barrier reef. I feel so incredibly blessed to have these opportunities.

Another blessing in my life is the wonderful Japanese ladies I have met while living here in Japan. This morning Sachiko invited me and 9 of her Japanese friends into her home to teach me how to make my favorite japanese treat, inarizushi (sushi rice wrapped in a sweet piece of tofu).








While we were there the ladies also taught me how to make sushi rolls! (2 checks for #11 on my list, learn to make 5 traditional Japanese dishes, including sushi)

























It was a great morning of fellowship filled with lots of laughter and even more delicious food

























I am incredibly grateful to her for opening her home to me and allowing me to create memories I will cherish my entire life! THANK YOU SACHIKO (and everyone who came out this morning)!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

mini triathalon

This weekend our base had it's 1st annual sprint triathlon.  I had some friends who were competing so I woke up at 0600 to go take some photos.  I do not know how people get up that early every day.  I could barely function!  I am definitely not a morning person. 

Luckily, it was a beautiful day

after swim area

my buddy Andrew during the swim

after the swim

swim to bike transition

the bike with a slight view of the mountains (I wish we could see Fuji from here!)

the finish

dull

Dull is the best word I can think of to describe this blog lately.  Yuck!  My apologies.  It's not going to get any better, as I'm about to leave for an 11 day vacation.

I did go out today and eat lots of yummy Thai food take some photos for some friends of mine.  They warned me it was going to be a long, painful day because they are, "terrible at this".  I think I took less than 50 photos all day.  They NAILED IT on the 1st try each time!  What do you think?!?!

can't decide which of these I like better...

I'm so proud of these.  I'm secretly glad that they're having a hard time choosing one, it makes me feel good about my work!

Do you have a favorite?

shopping in Japan part II

It's obviously been pretty boring around here lately.  I guess boring isn't the most accurate word, I just haven't done anything blog worthy recently.  I've spend most of the last 2 weeks either laying by the pool or watching movies in the AC.  The heat/humidity here right now makes it almost unbearable to be outside.  I did venture out today to do a bit of pre-vacation shopping (PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one that NEEDS new clothes before vacation).  There is a nearby town that has tons of little boutique type shops and I typically stick to window shopping, but today I actually went into some of them and bought a few things.  I've talked about shopping in Japan before and I figured I'd share today's finds as well. 

I own about 7 or 8 plan white t-shirts/tanks but no "cute" white tops, so I picked this guy up for about $20 USD

and this shirt for about $18 USD, that I found in a REALLY busy store so I didn't try it on...

 and I didn't notice how GINORMOUS the arm holes are until I got home and tried it on...good thing I have plenty of plain white tops to wear under it!

I just thought this shirt was cute and it was on sale for $15 so I picked it up

 All 3 of these tops are size L!  The clothes here are not made for women with my measurements, that's for sure!

And my favorite find of the day, this skirt.  It was the very last one on the clearance rack, originally about $65 and I paid $25 for it.  I'm in love!

even if I do have to hike it up and wear it around the smallest part of my waist for it to fit!

I know a lot of Americans here that don't care for the Japanese styles, but I LOVE it!  I just wish it weren't so hard to find items that actually fit me!

ROCKABILLY

**Warning, this is going to be another long post with lots of photos!**

I've posted about our favorite restaurant here in Japan (you can read about it here) but I don't think I shared one of our favorite things about the place.  This guy, the owner, has a lot to do with why we love the place so much

He doesn't speak any English, but we rock at hand gestures.  He's so fun and full of energy and his hair is the bomb!

I've always had a fascination with the 1950's and greasers so finding this place was like finding a rare gem for me.  This led me to wonder what else might be out there in Japan so I did some research and found these guys.  I HAD TO CHECK THEM OUT!  We finally decided to go on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and we could not have picked a more perfect time to go!

From eavesdropping talking with a few other people that were there, we found out that there are actually multiple groups of these dancers out there and they never really get together, but the day we went happened to be some really important guys birthday and they all got together at the same place and time to celebrate. JACKPOT!

Everyone gather around him and presented him gifts

before the dancing began

this guy definitely wins the best hair award!

(major bonus points if you know what they're singing here)

this guy is the Japanese Joseph Gordon Levitt!

this kid was my favorite part!

seriously?!?

I loved him!

and a few misc photos

yay for a coca-cola shirt!

her jacket says Lebels...like Rebels...ha ha =}

and a video of the dancing