two week update

Hi again! its been a couple of weeks now. busy as always! the plumber came to "fix" my odor issue, (and there was no smell that morning! of course) but he only came up with some hair in my drain. NOT! he was speaking japanese of course, and they have the habit of smiling and laughing all the time, so when he is telling me this it comes across to me as "silly woman, you need to clean trap more!" so i'm grumbling in English "smug little b$#%@ don't give me that hair is my only issue! i've cleaned it out twice already and the smell comes back" so i got the relo gal on the phone to translate. the smell wasn't there that morning and didnt' come back so i stuffed the drain trap as an experiment to see if it would come back. Scientifically, if that were the problem then when the trap was full the smell would come back. no smell. but then the next week, same day, same time, wierd? the smell returned. ugh. but at least i felt vindicated that it was NOT the hair! so we have a date for this wed. at 6pm for the plumber to come again. hopefully it'll make a show this time.

In the mean time i have been looking on the website for homes that are available now and am viewing a lot more than were available in November. Frustrating. now that i have been here a little while the city is not as big as it had seemed, of course i didn't not know at all where i was, or where the places were really located in relation to things. but now! I know all! there are actually BIG homes here! Western style, with real OVENS! dishwashers, large size washer and dryers! no Tatami rooms! in neighborhoods where there are other English speaking people! there are bigger bedrooms, more bedrooms! ugh!

I love our apartment for many reasons, it is in a great location. Subway, grocery store, wine shop, McDonalds, Starbucks, an art store, Italian restaurant and hair salon below (getting my hair done today, more on that later), HUGE deck! but only two bedrooms, and the SMELL!

so if they are able to fix it great, but if not, there is more out there than i had known! it won't be a tragedy if i have to choose something bigger with a dishwasher!~

BUT, the Boeing people say that to move a Boeing Dr. would have to deem that the sewer gas smell is a health hazard! screw that! the smell alone is bad enough to live with, even ocassionally! i'd like to see them live with it! so worse case scenario is we have to pay for the move and the fees for the next house. ugh. fortunately the larger homes are further out of the city (which is not that far really) and cost less than the apartments in the city, so i think we can swing it if push comes to shove. trying to see a silver lining in all my options. but at least i know my options now! that is somewhat comforting and empowering. not totally dependent on the decisions of others. I may not like all my options, but i have the info, and they are mine to make!

for Valentines here the woman are supposed to give the chocolates to the men. so the boys and I got chocolates for Kirk. but i made sure they knew we were still into the American tradition! so i got my usual crap, literally, my manure and soil for my plants and pots! that is the way to this girls heart! so Jaxon and I planted a couple of fruit trees, orange and plum, and all the flowers in my new pots. we have such a huge deck we will get more, but it is a nice start! we also have planters for veggies. will start the seeds inside soon. gonna have to consult my Father-in-law, farmer, flower expert about what i need to do.

Jaxon and I have found a few cool pools. Two that have water slides, rivers, wave pools, etc. and are very very cool! we all went yesterday as a family! the boys had a blast! though it was Y1000 ($10) for Kirk and I to get in and the blow up floaty rings were Y3000 ($30!). everything is expensive here! but the kids were in heaven. on the water slides Jaxon had the biggest smile i have seen in a long time, and Ghett would come down with his head way tilted back, eyes closed, looked so cute, trying to keep the water out of his face! Kirk of course, would sink to the bottom and you would only see two feet of legs and feet sticking out of the water! lol! the wave pool was cool. crashing waves on the shore, very nice, no sand in your bum! and they would make it thunder and rain there every half hour or so. at the pools they make you get out every hour or two and do stretches. everyone knows the routine. we will have to learn. feels good though.

last night I went the mall for groceries and household items. there is a big all in one store there. so when i got there the parking attendant was trying to tell me something. all i got was two? two what? I went in, had sushi! yum! got my stuff, and on the way out they were trying to charge me Y6000! ($60) what the? i was just sitting there repeating, you are gonna charge me 6000? 6000? fumbling in my purse, muttering to myself, taking too long apparently (to my benefit) the guard gets out his little card, swipes it, and just let me go. Dumb Geighin woman!

yeah! for not understanding japanese! apparently you can't park there longer than two, something? or you are fined $60! yikes! i won't be shopping at the mall on a sat. night anymore!

I am off for my girl day ALONE! again today. I have been picking a direction and walking for about 10K. or 6 1/2 miles each time. I stop and shop or do whatever i want, have coffee, lunch, a glass of wine? today i am heading downstairs to get my hair done. they don't speak any English but it is very convenient at the base of my building. I called a friend who speaks both English and Japanese to communicate with them for me yesterday. they were very thorough in their questioning, finding out what i wanted, but they don't' have many options for blonds here, so he will be using bleach, yikes! i said i would be happy whatever but that he should try to make me as beautiful as possible. we'll see how blond i turn out! if i am platinum i may also need a sassy cut to go with the look! i am now at their mercy! wish me luck!

the new Carnitas Cantina is open below as well, it is a cute little hole in the wall, fancy Italian bar. gorgeous! I intend to end my day there with dinner and wine. The other Italian restaurant next to it, is very very fancy with white table cloths and pate', and strange foods. when i get an interpreter we may try that again, no kids. there is a more rustic Italian place just a block away and they will accommodate the boys, with plain noodles

we have two new room mates as well. Hambone and Fritz. two tiny hamsters. very cute! the boys put them in Diegos jeep and drive them around. i'm amazed they don't seem to mind. Hambone is very sweet and easy. He goes to Jaxon no problem, just climbs right into his out stretched hand. Fritz is a bit more reluctant, and doesn't seem to like to be taken away from his food. he tends to bite a little at first, but once he is out, he is good. It is nice to have little critters around. they were only Y500 each ($5) so they are probably older. Cats and dogs here can be up to Y460000 ($4600!) with the average being about Y260000 ($2600). so my thoughts of having a kitten here are shattered. no way Kirk will go for that! especially since we get them free in the states, and I have five there too. not sure if they have animal shelters here. will need to find out, may just volunteer if i can.

they had a monkey and a goat at the pet store! lots of ferrits, rabbits, other strange rodents, squirrels, chickens, toads, lizards, etc. very interesting. the fish area is like being at the Aquarium. it's great to just go look around.

we found out that the wives can work up to 28 hours a week while we are here. I am told for English conversation they pay between Y3000 and Y5000 ($30-$50) an hour! to just talk!

now that is a job for me!~ when the kids are both in school i will definitely look into that!

although i would really like to learn Japanese, and you don't get much chance since everyone wants to speak English. but i'm sure i'll find a way to do both. talking is my specialty after all!

my friend Sandrine also likes to do watercolor painting so we may find to do that together, go to some of the beautiful parks and paint. I visited the Botanical Gardens last weekend and it is mammoth and gorgeous even in the winter. of course it is a Japanese garden so very manicured and the trees alone are sculptures, but there are tons of bushes and trees just waiting to bloom so it should be spectacular in spring. some cherry blossoms are starting to appear already! I am very excited to see the splendor in person!

well off for my day! more to come!