Bits and Pieces

Stella at a beach near our house. The tall, dark area almost directly above Stel's head is Fuji-san. (Click to view closer.)

In Japan, you can pay your bills at convenience stores.

I mentioned something before about the customer service. Wow, it's great. Mostly everywhere you go, one or more people will say "Ira-shai-mase" (welcome) as you enter, pretty loudly. Then, they will leave you alone until you are ready to buy whatever it is you want to buy. No pressure. They just leave it at 'welcome' until you are ready. But, at that point, they go all out. Packages are usually wrapped pretty nicely, especially in smaller stores and markets. There's alot of thanking and bowing. And it is not unusual for the girls to get gifts. Just today we bought some plants at a store and they grabbed a couple of fresh flowers and gave them to Stella and Lacey. Oh, and Stella got some kind of bag at another store. The other day Lacey was given two bibs at a department store. It's really cool.

I wish you could see the absolute cuteness of all the Japanese school children on their way to school in the morning dressed in their adorable uniforms. Mostly kids walk to school. We have seen kids that look no older than Stella walking down the street by themselves. There are, however, adults dressed in reflective green hats and vest, that stand all up and down the streets. I assume they are there to guide the children to and from school.

There are persimmons growing everywhere right now.

We unfortunately discovered a different kind
of very large spider on our porch today.

Lacey with her biggest fan, Yiying, who works at a Ramen shop just outside the Base gate that we go to, alot. She really loves Lacey. We just discovered that Yiying and the other two people that work here are not Japanese, but actually Chinese, so we have to bone up on our Chinese now too 'cause she only speaks a couple of English words. Check out their English menu. It's so great!

They have the best fried rice, ever.

We are so excited to be having our first visitors!

Trips' mom and brother are coming for Christmas!!

I'm really missing Huber's, and Hillcrest Ave., and PeeWee's House. Fall is my favorite season and I'm missing these things. There are a few decorations around and Stel will get to trick or treat onbase, but missing that feeling that's usually in the air. It was a bit cooler last weekend and we grabbed a chai tea latte from Starbucks onbase, that helped a little.

We got to vote already! Absentee ballots.

Congrats to Lesley and Robert on their crazy, good news.
Congrats to LeighLeigh on her baby girl

and to the Hoekstras on their baby girl.

WE MISS YOU GUYS.

That's all for now. Just had a couple of things in my head.