tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70802826245923745632024-03-21T17:54:59.563+09:00the chapanese chapters.peace. love. and schnitzel.
enjoying moments in Germany (and beyond).kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-5414568522760663162014-03-19T18:53:00.002+09:002014-03-19T18:53:57.492+09:00The PCS Fifteen. WOW. Has it really been A YEAR since I have posted anything on here?! Well, let me attempt to dust off the cobwebs of this pathetic blog and make some baby steps to begin to update our life. Let me say HELLO! to anyone that might be reading this. Maybe one person? Lets be honest, I probably lost all the followers I did have (which was two I think). a year ago. ;) <br />
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But for those of you not on the wonderful world of Facebook, we have officially moved and settled into Germany. (Although, judging by our house, not sure you would say "settled".) It has been quite the experience to move from a house that was small but with tons of storage to a house that is much larger with not a single "closet". If you have been to my house or know me at all, you know i have a lot of <strike>crap</strike> beautiful showpieces. And now, no where to hide them! :) We have made three trips to the beloved IKEA already, Tdub has been a good sport, but think I am wearing thin on that request. Slowly but surely our stuff is moving from piles on the floor to piles in a cabinet and it's beginning to look a little more like a home. :) <br />
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Part of the reason we have not nested as much as I would have liked is we are too distracted with all the traveling we could be doing instead of hanging pictures! ha! We spent Christmas week in Belgium, New Years in Paris, been to a concert in Luxembourg, visited Amsterdam, spent a weekend in Porto, have skied in Austria and Switzerland and we are off to Prague this week! #hardlife #iknow. :) We have been given this great gift to be here for a limited time and we will not be guilty of sitting on our butts and not experiencing it! <br />
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Some random thoughts of mine upon moving to The Germanies: <br />
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-I personally have had quite a bit of culture shock here. Which was totally unexpected for me. I thought I have lived in Asia for the last 4 years, on a an air force base, rode the train all around Tokyo, made the less than pleasant commissary work for my meal plans, got really good at communicating in hand gestures and charades, drove on the wrong side of the road, learned some Japanese and I survived. So, Germany? I got this. a piece of cake. My first purchase at a German store: I go to check out and the lady starts speaking to me in German cause she's, well, German. Of course I don't have a clue what she is spouting off to me and obviously waiting for a response and my first and really only thought is, "Can't you see I'm American?!" and then I realize...no, she can't. I look just like her. *face palm* While many Germans speak English in this area, I find I get really nervous when I go to the farmer's market or shop off base, because they can't tell I'm a foreigner and I hate to not be able to communicate. In Japan it almost seemed easier because I stuck out and so no one even tried to really communicate. Normally I don't like to stick out, but in this case it seems more comforting for some strange reason. <br />
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- there is schnitzel ev.ery.where. and they serve french fries with everything. like, <i>everything.</i> I like french fries as much as the next person, just don't expect them to come out and be served with my chicken salad. :) <br />
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- the lack of closets. (see above.) My maiden name is Schrank (which means wardrobe in German). The joke never gets old (at least to Tdub) that he came with his own "Schrank" and my parents came to visit this last weekend and we had lots of "Schranks" in the house. Guaranteed cheesy jokes for the next 3 years with that one. <br />
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- we are SO close to SO many countries. Coming from Japan where you were literally on an island, you had to take a flight to leave Japan and get to another country to travel and you better have about 12 days of leave (vacation time) in your pocket, or you couldn't go. In the first 3 weeks of being here we had already traveled to 4 other countries. FOUR. I couldn't believe it. I still can't wrap my mind around that I can be in another country in 45 minutes. This is also the girl that's coming from TX, where you are driving for 3 days and finally get to NM. While this is something I am <i>so</i> grateful for and do not take for granted to have this life experience, it is also kind of paralyzing. Like where in the world do you start?!? What country do you go to first? How will I ever choose what to do in that city or how should I get there? Trains and cars and planes, oh my! <br />
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- I have come to notice there is a little police officer in every German. They have rules, they enforce them and they follow them.* This hits fairly close to home as I have lots of German blood running through my veins and finally makes sense why I am such a rule follower.<br />
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- A line? What's that? they don't wait in them. I have to be honest, it drives me nuts. *(guess standing in line isn't a rule and doesn't apply here?) I am constantly getting cut in front of and ending up further from the counter or entrance than where I started. Coming from Japan where there is a nice, single file line for everything and even the tsunami survivors were patiently waiting in line for their scoop of rice, I am not used to having to push and shove to hold my spot. I was here before you, buddy. But I'm getting a little fiercer every day. :) <br />
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- Sundays. are. awesome. The whole country of Germany respects and uses this day as a "quiet day". Everything is closed. It is actually illegal for stores and shops to be open and sell anything. You can't wash your car, mow your lawn, (enforced by your local German neighbors, who actually have noise meters to make sure your decimals of noise aren't too loud, not kidding. again, please refer to little police officers for this one.) and while some Sunday's it drives me nuts I cannot go buy some eggs or run my vacuum cleaner, most Sunday's I am so thankful for a day of quiet and rest. Where the day can be spent how I think the Lord intended it, as a Sabbath. <br />
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- Kinder Eggs (which are illegal to send to the states and I will be fined $5,000 per egg if found. So you can guarantee the rule follower in me will not be sending any kinder eggs in your care packages. :) sorry.) and Happy Hippos are gonna make me fat. For real, they are to.die.for. Cruel I realize, as I cannot send you any kinder eggs to try for yourself, but trust me or come visit me. :) they are good! <br />
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- The PCS Fifteen is a real thing, people. For you non-military folk out there "PCS" stands for Permanent Change of Station (i think). So pretty much it's when you move from one duty station to another. For those of you that have endured a overseas PCS, you will know exactly what I am talking about. But if I could just <strike>explain</strike> complain about the hardship and drama of it for a moment. Anyone that has ever moved knows it's stressful. If I may preface by saying, I am very grateful and appreciative to the government for taking care of us and footing the bill, I guess like anyone's company should. For the military, you are given a date that you have to be to your new location by. Sometimes you have enough time to make a stop or two to take some vacation time or visit family, but sometimes not. You are packed up in two shipments if you choose. 1st one to hopefully get there a little quicker than the other (although, both of our shipments have always arrived at the same time) with pots, pans, linens, kids toys, things you would need to begin to set up your house or well...just survive. Then your 2nd shipment is the big one, with many crates of stuff. Well, at least we had <i>many</i> crates of stuff. You are then moved out of your house, and are put into a holding tank (some call it Base Lodging) for a few days until you have a flight out. In this said lodging, you may or may not find yourself with heat, electricity, soap or clean towels, just depending on where the budget is being cut this week. ;) You have a very sad day saying some last "see you laters" to your dear friends, that have become family as you look ahead to starting all over at the next place. You then arrive at your next duty station to have some very nice and friendly people from your squadron, and you find yourself in the short time of one flight to the next..."the new girl". again. You stay in another said "holding tank" for 30 days until you find a house/or can move in. In this room you have a mini-fridge and a microwave, one bar of soap for 30 days (budget cuts) and wifi that works between the hours of 1:02pm-3:23pm #firstworldproblems. <br />
*Enter PCS 15* This is where the weight gain can really set in. Eating out every meal, or trying to survive on hot pockets and microwavable lasagna with plastic cheese is nor healthy or great on the waist line. Plus you're in a new place and want to try all the local foods, and for us the German Christmas Markets did not help. Even with a daily workout routine, it's the amount of stress and the laundry list of things to be done with a move...you look down and it's not so pretty. :) So as a military community, the PCS 15, is something we must embrace and be glad we only move every 3 years. <br />
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- the US dollar is not equal to the Euro. So we will be fat AND broke when we leave Europe. :) <br />
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While half of our hearts are still in Japan (pretty sure everyone here is sick of hearing me talk about Japan, sorry!) we absolutely love it here and it's feeling more like home everyday. I am attempting to stay a little more current with this blog in hopes to share with you, but also try and keep all our adventures straight to be able to remember and cherish them! And to that one person, thanks for reading. ;) Cheers! kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-16113153908474065462013-01-02T17:49:00.000+09:002013-01-02T17:49:49.483+09:00N-E-WI. love. new. <br />
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There's been lots of talk about "new" as we start a "new year". i love new. i love new clothes, i love new books and their crisp pages (and the way the smell), i love new recipes, i love watching new movies or when a new episode of my t.v. show pops up on hulu plus, i love new adventures, i love new tennis shoes, i love meeting new people, i love new places, i love new camera equipment, i love trying new restaurants, i love new car smell...well you get the point. :) <br />
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New can be a fresh start, an adventure, fun, unexpected, unknown, different, exciting, hopeful. Unfortunately, the unknown and different part of new, can also be hard, unwanted, dreaded, disappointing, tiring, scary, unhappy. So as much as i really love the new, I also really love the old. The comfortable, the known, the expected, the easy, the same, the happy. The new is inevitable, because we can only comprehend what our bodies and minds have experienced and we haven't experienced everything that will be brought our way, in our lifetime. We don't know what is yet to come. <br />
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But, I find comfort in knowing that the Lord knows. Really there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc 1:9) nothing comes as a surprise to Him. Sometimes the only thing I can hold on to is no matter how <i>new</i> it may be to me, it's not to Him. He already knows and has created a plan to carry me through.<br />
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At risk of sounding like Debbie the Downer, sometimes the unexpected, unexplainable, unplanned things aren't so fun. But almost always, they are the things that shape us, remake us, build us, and change us. I think about the sweet couples that have lost a baby, the wife that has been cheated on, the husband that has lost his job, the house that burned down, the child support that didn't come in, the long sleeves that cover up the cuts, the words that sting us and we'll never forget, the little girl that doesn't think she's pretty, the little boy that didn't make the team, the families that had to attend their small children's funeral a few days before Christmas, the woman that desperately wants to hold their baby and can't get pregnant, the man that's never been told he's good enough, the spouse and children left behind while Daddy/Mommy deploys for months, the single person that desperately wants to get married, and the list goes on and on. It may not always be the circumstance of choice and the <i>new</i> is not always fun, or easy or what we would have picked, but there will <i>always</i> be new. <br />
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Some great news: there will also always be Hope (Heb 6:19), there will always be Comfort (Ps 10:17), there will always be Safety (Ps 91:2), there will always be Good (Rom 8:28) to come (ever if we can't see it now), and there will always be Someone that has gone before us, there will always be <i>Him</i>. <br />
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"You don't go alone. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty,you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." Is 43:2<br />
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So whatever 2013 may bring us, and the chances are good it will be something (or a few things) new and unexpected and it may be gladly welcomed or it may be weirdly uncomfortable. If this year has it's trials and uncomfortable spots, I encourage us to remember that we don't travel alone. There will always be a new, new. The new will pass and become a little older soon. May you find comfort in your unknown and unexpected, that Jesus knows your tiredness, He knows your hurt, your frustration, your fear, your excitement, happiness and He knows your joy. He knows and He's got your <i>new</i> in the palm of His hand. <br />
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"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Is 43:19<br />
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If we never had new, no matter if it's easy or hard, we would never change. we would never trust. we would never grow. we would never be better. we would never truly live. the <i>new</i> makes me better. makes me more like Him. So, maybe I lied a little, I don't always <i>love</i> the new, but I'm thankful for it.<br />
kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-64455938492591496592012-08-08T07:52:00.000+09:002012-08-08T07:52:27.580+09:00three-sixty-five.“Honey, I’m deploying for a year.” <br /> <br />
One of the many dreaded sentences every military wife hopes she never has to hear. Tdub came home one evening from work in late April and said those words. My heart dropped, or stopped I’m not sure which. At first I thought he was kidding, but there was no smile on his face or laughter in his voice, not that this would have been a funny joke, but was hoping that he was not for real. Questions flooded my mind as tears filled my eyes and that was my status for the next week. I avoided going out and when I had to I put on "big girl panties", my hat and my to-big-for-my-face sunglasses and dodged people at the commissary (sorry if you were a victim of my dodging) and post office, holding my breath and hoping to not have an "ugly cry" breakdown in the middle of the store. <br /> <br />
My eyes have finally regained their shape and I can go out without sunglasses on, but the sting of sadness that comes with Tdub having to be gone for a whole year has not gone away. Not sure that it will. And that's ok. It's part of it. <br /> <br />
It came as such a shock, not even on the "radar." But then again who dreams and thinks of the day their husband will go away for a year (if you've had a rough week with your hubby, don't answer that! ha!). I guess as a military wife it's always in the back of your mind as a possibility, but not something you actually think will happen or at least hope it won't. Well, when it happens, you wonder, how could I have prepared for this? How <i>do</i> I prepare for this? And I have not figured out the answer to that questions yet, so if you have it, let me know. ;) I have had to remind myself (more that once) that I too have agreed and signed up for this. I may not be flying planes or running around with camo on, but I agreed to marry my man and this was what he did and felt called to be a part of. Therefore, I am not "just a wife" being "left behind" once again, I agreed and I am called to this too. It is really easy to start feeling bitter and mad and like someone has come in and robbed you from a year with your husband. and you are left helpless, with no defense or way to make it different. I know I am not the only one going through a long deployment right now, that has gone through one or will have to go through one (and any deployment, no matter the length, is hard), so I hope this does not sound "poor me" or like others do not have it worse. I fully recognize that I am not the only one dealing with something that's hard, but I do think in sharing with one another and hearing others stories we can find comfort when our own storms hit. <br /> <br />
I am finding I am more sad about the things that haven't even happened yet. The moments we will miss out on together, the dinners we won't be cooking together, the trips we had planned that we won't be going on, the restaurant we haven't tried, the marathon we were going to run and the mountain we were going to climb. The big and the little moments that won't be <i>together</i>. Tdub is my favorite person and I love being together and to not have that for a whole year almost seems unbearable. And too be honest, I know it is unbearable. On my own. <br /> <br />
I still have the ugly cries and have to consciously put on my "big girl panties" almost everyday, but we have a deep sense of peace, that we know <i>only</i> can come from the Lord. Just when it seems like it's too much, He takes over in a way that I cannot describe, but it is so obvious it is not just us being brave or mustering up confidence we can get through this, but it is Jesus taking the load off of us and giving us a deep sense of peace that He <i>knows</i> and is in control and is deeply interested in our details, in our hurt, in our happiness and in our holiness. He reminds me that this does not come as a shock to Him and this deployment has always been on His "radar". And I don't just believe this because I have always been taught this and it sounds good, I <i>believe</i> this because it is the <i>only thing</i> I can cling to for this next year. My hubby is leaving whether I think it is fair or like it or am even ok with it. So I can either except that this is the Lord's plan, that He will help us, protect us and keep our hearts safe and close to one another through the distance and that great things will come from this next year or not. and the "not" option to me seems a little hopeless and lonely. <br /> <br />
The million dollar question for the last 2 months: "How are you doing?" Ugh. There is no good way to answer it, especially if you want to stay PC. :) We do not know what to expect. There is no recipe or formula for how we will feel or handle what is to come. We may do great or it may be awful (if it's the later, sorry for those that live close to me.) I don't know what tomorrow holds, and for sure don't know about the next year. I just know today. So I am working on living for <i>today</i> and not being sad about the things that may or may not happen. I sometimes feel guilty for being sad, because it is just a year apart from my husband and there are 25,000 people <i>dying</i> from hunger everyday. Gosh, perspective. There are so many other things going on in the world around us that are heartbreaking and more life altering. I do not claim to have it all together or on the flip side I don't want to be dramatic or have a martyr complex, but I do want to be honest and transparent through this process so that 1. if/when others have to go through this our journey can hopefully be a sense of encouragement and help 2. I want Jesus to be glorified through this. His power can best be seen in my weaknesses. and I'm not sure, but I think there will be <i>plenty</i> of opportunity for Him to show His strength and power this coming year. :) "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."<br /> <br />
For each one of us, everyday comes with storms, trials, worries and fears, surprises and things that were not on our "radar." They will look different, some are big and some are small, some will last 1 day, some 365 days and maybe some a lifetime. None of us are exempt. But may I encourage you as I have been encouraged that YOU are on God's radar. May we walk in <i>today</i>, because that's all we know and have been given and find some peace in knowing that HE has not forgotten about you. He knows your details, the good, the bad, the happy and sad. He is crazy about you and loves you deeply. He knows your heart and what you need. That He "causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them." <br /> <br />
And some days we may need to put on our "big sunglasses" and our "big girl panties" and that's ok. :)kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-38311204276108175782012-08-07T08:24:00.001+09:002012-08-07T08:26:28.009+09:00Stay Calm and CRY LOUD!!!We had a fun weekend in Tokyo in April with some friends. A fancy dinner at our favorite hotel in downtown Tokyo was the agenda, but it happened to coincide with a festival. Our favorite festival to date. Babies + Sumo Wrestlers = awe.some. <br />
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Most parents of small children will do anything to make their baby feel safe and happy and will go to extremes to keep their crying to a minimum. Not at the Nakizumo festival where crying is actually encouraged and prompted. The Japanese believe that the sumo induced crying keeps their children in good health, and wards off evil spirits. <br /> <br />
The Sumo wrestlers each hold a baby and order them to "nake, nake" which means "cry, cry" and the wrestlers growl, make faces, and kind of lightly "shake" the babies. Whichever baby cries first, is the winner. This "crying baby festival" is an over 400 year old (older than America, people!) tradition and not taken lightly. Parents from all over bring their babies of their own free will. If both babies cry at the same time, the one screaming the loudest is declared the winner.<br /> <br />
It may seem a little cruel and while standing there I found myself wondering if these kids would have scarring from this event that would some day make them scared of sumo wrestlers as many Americans are scared of clowns from some silly circus. But if I can be honest, and I can since it's my blog...this festival is freakin' hilarious. It would never fly in the US because someone would get their panties in a wad about it and stick CPS or PETA or whoever would listen, on the Sumos. In Japan, they are cool. 400 years of cool going on here. I figure if their parents were dying laughing, you can too. <br /> <br />
and gosh, Asian babies are SO cute! <br /> <br/>
parents waiting to present their babies.
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and the fun begins...may the loudest, most obnoxious cry win!
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a little classier for the PM...
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i love our Japanese friends! :)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIfLeXjnv-Fl62JkYSkdmSwsO_AHFAy_5nuAVbftTXlcJr2_J5XFGAJWXKSd3RaC_rDoD_HUjOrEvA6I2jpKxgTLxacsoCos9LKGZX6_ag77-rpVOK094AO_6dUlhVxlcoAOomhoE-uQ/s1600/IMG_3224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIfLeXjnv-Fl62JkYSkdmSwsO_AHFAy_5nuAVbftTXlcJr2_J5XFGAJWXKSd3RaC_rDoD_HUjOrEvA6I2jpKxgTLxacsoCos9LKGZX6_ag77-rpVOK094AO_6dUlhVxlcoAOomhoE-uQ/s400/IMG_3224.jpg" /></a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-84806831623943944852012-08-07T07:22:00.001+09:002012-08-07T07:22:04.236+09:00i heart sakura (cherry blossoms).So we have missed the past two years of cherry blossoms for one reason or another and this year I was determined to capture them. They are fully bloomed for such a short amount of time, sometimes just one or two days and I am normally taking pictures of other people in front of them, but this year I wanted my own. :) So I begged/bribed Tdub to come out with me one afternoon. We trekked far into Tokyo on the trains to a very famous area and it was totally worth it. Here are a few shots of our Sakura findings!
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see i told you i had to bribe him...with beer.
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love these next two, with the city in the background. beauty and grace in the middle of a humongous, bustling city.
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two cute little ladies on a lunch date, enjoying the blossoms.
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sakura festivals are everywhere!
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Hanami (which is literally translated to "flower watching") is a very popular activity during this season. people gather and put out blankets and tarps and sit underneath the blossom trees all day. sit, drink sake, nap and eat! get there early if you want a small area to sit on.:)
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some other beauty nuggets i fell in love with.
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when the blossoms start to fall it is beautiful and completely unbelievable how many blossom petals are left behind.
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sakura snow.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOeKEkrgF5-BGpXlv-NqZA8QuooolTL_khDcRh7D4cMCBfXoGsg8VA2CX5GubbMp_bxPjx4PszU4GjYXFwUiZKqz84wUZj12ESJu6-iwT3is65o1VXPhTGSAq97MULgYHBObidP1fzNk/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOeKEkrgF5-BGpXlv-NqZA8QuooolTL_khDcRh7D4cMCBfXoGsg8VA2CX5GubbMp_bxPjx4PszU4GjYXFwUiZKqz84wUZj12ESJu6-iwT3is65o1VXPhTGSAq97MULgYHBObidP1fzNk/s400/IMG_1111.JPG" /></a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-31574297249340342892012-07-30T05:39:00.000+09:002012-07-30T05:39:20.222+09:00Frost bitten...part 2.My friend Chelsea and I broke away from the group one day to go to a nearby city. Otaru is a precious, quaint little glass blowing/making village and know for their night lantern festival during the winter. Here a are a few shots from our day...
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Once again the Japanese resourcefulness strikes again!!
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Chelsea wanted to relive her professional flower girl days and test out scattering the seashells. she still has it.
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told you. buns, frozen!
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some guys working on some different snow structures
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placing the lanterns in the canal
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view of the canal during the day...
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and the night...
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cutest little snowmen/snowwomen ever!!
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<i>had</i> to stop at a local brewery for a snack :)
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Ramen has quickly become one our favorite fares in Japan (even though it is Chinese noodles). I would like to think we have become connoisseurs of sort, we eat enough of it to qualify for something. :) There is a "Ramen Alley" in Sapporo with all different Ramen styles, soups and add-ins that we were dying to visit and we did. I won't say how many times we visited in our 3 short days. :)
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The Ramen shop that Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" show stopped at! All smiles here!
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It wouldn't be a trip with our friends if we did not at least visit one microbrewery or craft beer house. I could have cared less about what bottles of beer they had for sale to actually <i>drink</i>, once I saw the ridiculous amount of unique and random cans of beer they had on display. I couldn't stop snapping. Unbelievable.
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found a little bit of Texas in the middle of Japan. :)
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and I have some Japan pride too...old Japanese beer cans!
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visit to the fish market for some of the freshest seafood in Japan.
where they let you hold your crab alive...
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and come back in 30 minutes and, well, eat your crab.
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the smallest sushi shop and also the most delicious.
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mouth full of goodness!
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kid in a candy shop. ha!
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the. real. deal. you can't make this face up. or for that matter, make this face. it just happens.
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A very popular thing to do while in Sapporo is too eat genghis khan at the Sapporo Beer Factory. It is all you can eat, all you can drink for 90 minutes. Let's just say they lost money on the Americans that night.
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enjoying a little biru tasting before dinner. aren't these ladies so cute?
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beer snobs!
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dinner time!
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the last afternoon the boys and girls went their separate ways and since I'm not a boy I'm not sure what they did. But the ladies went to The Sapporo Chocolate Factory. Ommpah loompah doopie doo...
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i felt like i was in Willy Wonka's factory. it was magical.
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"sensory evaluation"?...where do i apply?
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don't mind if I due, fondue, that is...
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it was a wonderful adventure, one for the books. full of many sweet memories and lots of laughter!kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-33881906067288225142012-07-30T04:00:00.002+09:002012-07-30T05:48:03.951+09:00Frost bitten.In February we had the opportunity to travel to Northern Japan with some good friends to ski and attend the famous "Sapporo Ice Festival." We also had the opportunity to be the coldest I have ever been in my entire life. This Texas girl had to buy quite a few articles of clothing, including my first real winter jacket. :) <br />
<br />
May I just say Niseko was <i>the most amazing</i> skiing we have ever done (now coming from a Texas girl that may not be impressive, but even Tdub agreed and he's been around. with skiing that is.) Because we were stuck in a perfect blizzard every day on the mountain and knee deep in powpow, pictures were not the priority so we only got a few. :) Our legs were burning, our little piggies frozen and bodies were sore after 3 days of shredding the gnar gnar.
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view from our hotel room
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The team then headed to Sapporro for a few days to the Ice Festival. Over 2 million people from all over the world attend this festival every year. It started in 1950 and has continued every year since. The park is full of about 400 ice/snow sculpted structures. Teams from all over the world come for a couple weeks before the festival and start to build and sculpt the structures. Each team/country makes theirs so unique and different. It was really incredible to see and I found myself in disbelief that this was ice and snow shaped before me. It was so "warm" this past winter (i beg to differ, would have hated to be there during a normal winter) that several of the structures melted and one actually fell on an older lady and broke both of her legs. It was the first time that anyone had been injured by a snow structure in the history of the festival. We got out safe, just a little frozen on the buns.
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that's S.N.O.W. people!!
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the whole gang at the Taj!
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my favorite one i think, the detail was ridic!
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the children, i mean our <i>very</i> mature husbands decided to race on the ice slides. The Japanese workers weren't sure what to do with them when they got in line because it seemed to be just a children's attraction up to that point. But as you will see by the time they are sliding down there are other adults in line. gosh, those Gaijin's have great ideas! haha! What I love about this picture is that the top workers are holding them back like they will slip and hurt themselves and the bottom workers were creating a snow drift to help slow them at the end. haha! Japanese people were getting in my way to take pictures of them sliding down. awe-some.
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and the f-u-n just keeps coming...a few of our people got chosen to participate in a game that was totally lost in translation. still not sure what they were supposed to do, but raise their flag when a certain thing was called out. Thank goodness everyone (even if you don't know Japanese) was a winner and got a goodie baggie. :)
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Tdub and his prize, a milk box.
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I am realizing this is a long blog and there is still a few more treats to share, join me for part two on the next post...kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-49126574661744730232012-07-29T23:59:00.003+09:002012-07-29T23:59:46.084+09:00make a wish.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If I've mentioned it once I've mentioned it twice (or maybe 3,000 times) that Japanese peeps love their festivals. They have them for everything. EV-ER-Y-Thing. In conjunction with the beginning of the year being all about good luck, every January they have a festival centered around a little doll called Daruma.<br />
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Now this little doll is not your average baby doll soft with stuffing and blond hair, it's round, red, eyeless and made out of paper mache, kind of creepy, but cute, ok maybe just creepy. <br />
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The idea is you come to the festival at the beginning of the year and buy yourself a doll. You make a wish and fill in one of the eyeballs. Throughout the next year, when your wish comes true, you fill in the other eye ball and then return to the festival the coming year to throw your doll into the fire. If your wish didn't come true that year you jump into the fire. kidding! you just throw your one eyed monster into the fire and hope it turns out better next year. :) then you buy a new one and start all over. I'm sure there is more mumbo-jumbo with the gods and wishes and thanking them, but this is about all I understand. :)
I have been the past two years and this last January got to throw my (and Tdub's because it was a school day) doll into the fire. i was kinda sad to part with the doll, to be honest. ridiculous, i know.
I know you are all sitting on the edge of your seats wondering if our wishes came true this last year, and here's the answer...<br />
before:
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after:
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all of us about to throw our dolls into the fire from last year
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verrrry strategically placing my guys on the pile. :)
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now on to make a new wish for 2012, how will I ever choose?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLIcX3bnaYh5fzt86KpjVu5R5Aln-elnYVbwf8hm3L92XSxqIXjsnRpLnghtxY60Pi55ddEX5vkoB34k6TLwQhxv636HmR5peGatN6uUAKGZ-DZ8trGuyq6oLKY_mWIRBD4RqSTbpLZ0/s1600/IMG_9968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLIcX3bnaYh5fzt86KpjVu5R5Aln-elnYVbwf8hm3L92XSxqIXjsnRpLnghtxY60Pi55ddEX5vkoB34k6TLwQhxv636HmR5peGatN6uUAKGZ-DZ8trGuyq6oLKY_mWIRBD4RqSTbpLZ0/s400/IMG_9968.jpg" /></a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-70198786077276945562012-07-29T23:59:00.002+09:002012-07-29T23:59:38.821+09:00another NY's celebration.I am a member of an amazing culture club!
It is a group (even ratio) of American and Japanese ladies that meet together once a month to exchange cultures. We take turns hosting each month so we each get a bit of culture throughout the year. It has been going for like 50ish years and it such a neat and invaluable experience for us while stationed here in Japan. We air force wives are not only able to meet Japanese women that speak English, but also to experience things we would not normally get to. I have been with the same group of Japanese ladies for the last 3 years and they have become very sweet and dear friends. They hosted the New Years function for us and brought in some very traditional entertainment with puppetry, singing (which is a little more like repetitive chanting, not good "put you to sleep music") and dancing. These puppets are not your average Kermie and Miss Piggy, they are life size, kinda scary looking (i think we have a trend with the scary, Japan) and they tell a story to music.
our bento box lunch, a few questionables.
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the entertainment...
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get on your feet, get up and make it happen!!
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i love these sweet ladies!
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the whole group dressed up!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWeB-Em6dna-BexRXpr-77k53wjtq1iVbE1qThe842IJ3aQxeyMozUp4IdMAcRfPwCtJWWP8v8CP0IvRaOxeEnSvdGXXHA5_xQiOUi9qBaIIigKf1sv-GZsB9UCA0sLgCVRZHvVlgjHw/s1600/IMG_9866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="242" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWeB-Em6dna-BexRXpr-77k53wjtq1iVbE1qThe842IJ3aQxeyMozUp4IdMAcRfPwCtJWWP8v8CP0IvRaOxeEnSvdGXXHA5_xQiOUi9qBaIIigKf1sv-GZsB9UCA0sLgCVRZHvVlgjHw/s400/IMG_9866.jpg" /></a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-71489716586882982212012-07-29T23:59:00.001+09:002012-07-29T23:59:21.755+09:00beginning of 2012.aaaand yes, i am that behind on life!! but the good news for you is, I have been living in a hotel room for the last 6 weeks and will continue to be for the next 4 and am determined to have our blog caught up by the time I make it out of our hotel home!! :)
Come with me all the way back to January as I have a few events I'd like to share...
The New Year is so special in Japan and their biggest and most celebrated holiday. Everything has tradition and meaning and is done with good luck for the new year always in mind. I was invited to a NY's party by a few of my students. I think they may have actually had the get together <i>for</i> me, but they made me feel like I was joining in on something really authentic at least. :)
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the tradition when serving sake or another special beverage in Japan is you pour over the cup to show your generosity. They poured this delicious warm sake in this little tower of saucers until all the liquid in the first saucer has run over and then I had to clap my hands and do some little swishy thing and then drink it. weird? yes, but fun!
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everyone took their turn from youngest to oldest.
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then we move onto the food. i did <i>try</i> everything, can't say that i <i>loved</i> everything...
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and as everything in Japan, each food group has a meaning. from bottom to top...
Chestnuts - gold/money for the next year.
Mame (beans) - working hard and being active.
Kazunoko (fish eggs, not delicious) - many children (laid low on these, good thing they were not delicious. haha!).
Tazukuri (dried fish, also not delicious) - longevity, long life.
Hazu/remkon (lotus root) - you look through the circle on the lotus root for fortune and luck.
Kamaboko (steamed ground fish, you can imagine what i thought of it) - red and white are lucky, celebratory colors.
Kuwai (small potatoes) - hope that children grow up well.
this was my face after trying one of the delicacies. God bless my students for having patience with this American!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jIerT6nubLNNN5AJnnaJ3Cl24dbEumZ-l1OEg173ME7CNFZoCdLPN490yTX6rrdD015pRELViDs-LV9bayRY_Z7Dyz8rxr7BqR3J2ectww6F79kaoC-yjcVUCHNkorTNZj0mSXKoTxY/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jIerT6nubLNNN5AJnnaJ3Cl24dbEumZ-l1OEg173ME7CNFZoCdLPN490yTX6rrdD015pRELViDs-LV9bayRY_Z7Dyz8rxr7BqR3J2ectww6F79kaoC-yjcVUCHNkorTNZj0mSXKoTxY/s400/IMG_0794.JPG" /></a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-51842085314476116812012-07-29T23:59:00.000+09:002012-07-29T23:59:12.012+09:00hello, 2012.(disclaimer: I wrote this back in January, but never posted. :) hope you are still having a happy 2012!)
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...where will you spend the countdown and ring in the new year? I feel like that is a big question surrounding the holidays right behind "what do you want for Christmas?" We had spent the last two years in downtown Tokyo ringing in the new year in swanky techno clubs and nice hotels and feeling...well...a little too old to that this year. :) <br />
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We decided to stay closer to home and go to our Officers Club (equivalent to a country club-ish minus the golf course or swimming pool) here on base with some other friends. This new years I came to a new revelation - you can bring the par-taay with you anywhere you go (it's called an iphone.) Without the help of our posse the O-club would have been a very lame sauce place to spend NYE. I like to think of it as we single handedly saved New Years...sounds a little prideful? well it was truly a New Years miracle. There were a few mishaps for the O-club's music/DJ this year. About an hour into us being there the little Japanese band was done playing and we quickly realized there was no DJ (the ones they had lined up were TDY or deployed, the price you pay living on a military base) and we were listening to a mixed tape...ok maybe it was a mixed CD but it was pretty bad. I like to call myself the "first responder." I was first on the scene to notice this predicament and start CPR. I knew that we had tons of people with iphones w/ music on them and ipods on the scene so I began looking for a cable or a wire or something that I could recognize. If you know me, you know that I have <i>no</i> skill whatsoever with electronic gadgets, the cords, buttons or outlets that are included on them. (This has been passed down to me from my mother.) I'm doing good to be able to check my email, and facebook. But nevertheless, NYE was on the line and I needed to find an outlet for our tunes to be played thru. So, I found a cord that looked kinda right and then started calling boys that seemed a little nerdier (kidding!) than me to help. I like to refer to them as "EMT." They came, rallied, took over and played the tunes that rang us and danced us into a New Year that was one for the books. We had a great time with our Yokota Family. When life gives you a mixed CD make an ipod work. It's all about perspective, you can be miserable and lame anywhere or you can make it fun and un-lame. (I made that up, be impressed.) Save your 2012 and choose to make it un-lame! Happy New Year! May God bless and keep you in 2012!
some of my Yokota sisters!!
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the boys trying to figure it out
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starting to get the jams thumpin'
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all American heroes. saved the night!
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us and the awesome Shockleys, that moved soon after. :(
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photo bomb!
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much better! me and Kay B
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sweet Chelsea!
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Happy New Year!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguf9Y13FTFan0OXZgNs0PvTCpvbttoDU0Ebk1d5Olf3cttMnAHs6aO2_xSHzb6lAO8354VPIBQOEZm0kNAgVAubQFeCOjvHj73BoE0exBYHJD5DIYmdmGprEEmpdxSR_D_uOx9eqhtRx4/s1600/IMG_3139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguf9Y13FTFan0OXZgNs0PvTCpvbttoDU0Ebk1d5Olf3cttMnAHs6aO2_xSHzb6lAO8354VPIBQOEZm0kNAgVAubQFeCOjvHj73BoE0exBYHJD5DIYmdmGprEEmpdxSR_D_uOx9eqhtRx4/s400/IMG_3139.JPG" /></a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-25678333546958344642012-01-13T15:34:00.003+09:002012-01-13T22:42:07.141+09:00moderate. ly hard.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYz2DO23jJOZhu1lZau2VALnaE_v-HBIf9zJdGVy3tncjgP0uG4-eq62pc36C1vrfUti83qZ8lP06xB0n6drSWRlNzYj6MBLl2xvQMukRuHUODPOahhAJPH1T21q-krmMMK4hG4b5TFs/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYz2DO23jJOZhu1lZau2VALnaE_v-HBIf9zJdGVy3tncjgP0uG4-eq62pc36C1vrfUti83qZ8lP06xB0n6drSWRlNzYj6MBLl2xvQMukRuHUODPOahhAJPH1T21q-krmMMK4hG4b5TFs/s400/IMG_0762.JPG" /></a></div><br />
After living here for 2 years you can find yourself in a rut. Staying on base is way to easy and comfortable and to be honest getting bundled up for a day traipsing around Tokyo, finding your way on the train and playing charades at every restaurant you order from just doesn't seem that "fun" and appealing anymore. You end up telling people you live in Japan, but all you do is drive to Chili's on base and drive home, maybe stopping at Baskin Robbins on your way home for a little "culture." So some days/weekends we have to force ourselves off base. Well we had a day off over the holidays and woke up with a wild hair (me more than Tdub) to go on a hike. So we sent out a quick text to a few friends saying we were leaving in 20 if they could get ready in time. Surprisingly, 3 were able to get their act together in time (if you knew these friends it would be even more, surprisingly.) ;) <br />
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We loaded up some sushi we had in the fridge, 4 trail mix bars, 2 nalgene's of water, lonely planet book with map and directions for hike and 4 chu-hi's. Now mind you we, thought we <i>might</i> need a little snack or two on the hike. <br />
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Lonely Planet listed this hike at easy to moderate. Now I am not sure who they had come to Japan to find, write and do this hike, but it must have been Aron Ralston (before the 127 hours) or someone he hangs out with. There was nothing easy about this hike. :) Its said it was a 4-5 hour hike...maybe. if you sprint the whole thing. and they fail to mention you have to hike about an hour to get to the "start" of the hike. a very smug ex-pat overheard our conversation on the bus and said in a very smug like voice, "oh, you're just now starting your hike?" yes, very smug ex-pat, we are. now once the sun started to go down in the middle of our hike and we were very cold and racing the sun to the bottom of the mountain we realized why "smugger" had made such a comment, but we are adults, and did I mention, she was very smug? <br />
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We got to the top of Mt. Otake-san in about 2 1/2 hours for a great view of Mt. Fuji-san and overlook. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwbZc6AhVW4SBgogMcPdN5tpbITYasPaLv4VErtEgEOgeoJ7d3gne0gYoHvXQlA7PeJwndpoJBdlwpMQdeiLMXCnsePHL5-OyIRTuDV1yFXSQC4Lmfah8ymy4vneVMUnAPT9-73a3WsY/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwbZc6AhVW4SBgogMcPdN5tpbITYasPaLv4VErtEgEOgeoJ7d3gne0gYoHvXQlA7PeJwndpoJBdlwpMQdeiLMXCnsePHL5-OyIRTuDV1yFXSQC4Lmfah8ymy4vneVMUnAPT9-73a3WsY/s400/IMG_0771.JPG" /></a></div>Tdub and I realized we were the only ones out of our friends that had brought food (remember that whole "got ready in 20 minutes" thing? yeah, hard to remember everything on the list with that little time. too bad that's the first thing T and I think of...we don't care where we're going or what we'll see when we get there, but what do you think we will eat along the way? ha!) that food that <i>might</i> get eaten, was devoured. all of it. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM96ZeMWJPicnFa16CKElwFy70FTroYde75ol93zBsymEaLjnAOTcjGBSM1tDz2qCoWYOwCMSDyuy-5yvrFl4aWKUypoS2ZNTKVmk3Y0lVkriYD2TMXPUkKp9MWzLu6Q6do3dbJ6Zja30/s1600/IMG_0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM96ZeMWJPicnFa16CKElwFy70FTroYde75ol93zBsymEaLjnAOTcjGBSM1tDz2qCoWYOwCMSDyuy-5yvrFl4aWKUypoS2ZNTKVmk3Y0lVkriYD2TMXPUkKp9MWzLu6Q6do3dbJ6Zja30/s400/IMG_0764.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeDlfyYTu5koIczgfvhcA20aEC-99bVOTnTi0PfcQiXZy2dG_814wZKaLPj2iSWAzBcXUhiJsFn3mmRg_av5W1u9tNGbnFVCS6S0gM0hkX7vrr0x5qFBWLEc4fzA4xYhGXckiOdyc5qY/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeDlfyYTu5koIczgfvhcA20aEC-99bVOTnTi0PfcQiXZy2dG_814wZKaLPj2iSWAzBcXUhiJsFn3mmRg_av5W1u9tNGbnFVCS6S0gM0hkX7vrr0x5qFBWLEc4fzA4xYhGXckiOdyc5qY/s400/IMG_0765.JPG" /></a></div>After taking some pictures and nomming on sushi and the chu-hi's that saved the day we then found out it was 4 more hours to the bottom if we kept going. uhhh...not a hard decision to turn around and go back the way we came. It was a fun adventure, an excuse to get off base and no matter if the task is easy or hardly easy it's always more fun with fun company and a few chu-hi's. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfIJXtGBI6p0SdXrS9k1dOSnjk6GBgvB7TO8wtf3a7gKQDec-G9VDCUnvVLqHKRdh5GOe40G_0Lf3N-1NMQSuBt4kxHIabczjyPBkWqXyd8p9UaEntmCe-JdfMZ_6TnQSzsPrQohzp9s/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfIJXtGBI6p0SdXrS9k1dOSnjk6GBgvB7TO8wtf3a7gKQDec-G9VDCUnvVLqHKRdh5GOe40G_0Lf3N-1NMQSuBt4kxHIabczjyPBkWqXyd8p9UaEntmCe-JdfMZ_6TnQSzsPrQohzp9s/s400/IMG_0772.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEI7SKMmrNdLLK_u_lUiFzajWls7ctFWGXJpgg4P9YJKAzE60n96WctAKiOahOkdGIKfzJGGTJ3IAWWsXShqud0HR90irh2arxc2RoQtYCUigik7EAErw9b_E3q4dIbPMTdsflKMKRVo/s1600/IMG_0769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEI7SKMmrNdLLK_u_lUiFzajWls7ctFWGXJpgg4P9YJKAzE60n96WctAKiOahOkdGIKfzJGGTJ3IAWWsXShqud0HR90irh2arxc2RoQtYCUigik7EAErw9b_E3q4dIbPMTdsflKMKRVo/s400/IMG_0769.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplihApN0_LrEjlKtMq9ReNQzkQGOBTqMUTDUMdqH1dN4oMDm-xD8LkzYnsKVNXXIpr4Ezc2yV9GD0RpkF_FfFlahF7lpYSzKUzZGSECxJIkBU9x5AM8MK3zAOuEVQXGMrWqO4x2K1ZGU/s1600/IMG_0757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplihApN0_LrEjlKtMq9ReNQzkQGOBTqMUTDUMdqH1dN4oMDm-xD8LkzYnsKVNXXIpr4Ezc2yV9GD0RpkF_FfFlahF7lpYSzKUzZGSECxJIkBU9x5AM8MK3zAOuEVQXGMrWqO4x2K1ZGU/s400/IMG_0757.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhqCiR3gs1Eym0ZLTbjHlpg-zrfQDlzv2htFyVpiPphseIxNEEgc8S3OmzSKDX2Ee1gHuMQGpR8Q_sXBXmbALCKR6Uxrwl5dzqzzJ92f9AG28X8JH2WM8PkyaP9GC2lwlgwDkFh6F9Hc/s1600/IMG_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhqCiR3gs1Eym0ZLTbjHlpg-zrfQDlzv2htFyVpiPphseIxNEEgc8S3OmzSKDX2Ee1gHuMQGpR8Q_sXBXmbALCKR6Uxrwl5dzqzzJ92f9AG28X8JH2WM8PkyaP9GC2lwlgwDkFh6F9Hc/s400/IMG_0754.JPG" /></a></div>Lonely Planet, call me if you want your hike rewritten, by a normal person.kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-21609697805951076492012-01-12T08:50:00.000+09:002012-01-12T08:50:40.063+09:00pound it.A couple weeks ago I was invited to a Japanese friend's house to make some "mochi". Now, if you are not familiar with mochi, you aren't missing much, well you could get into a great debate with a Japanese person over that because they <i>love</i> their mochi. After watching, learning and helping to make it I kinda like to think of myself as a professional mochi maker and should go on the road with this new found talent and love and have a mochi taco truck. I have to say it was a lot more fun to make than it is to eat. :) <br />
<br />
Mochi is sticky rice that is steamed, then pounded out to make a sticky paste type flour substance (Mr. Atkins diet would have a heart attack.) and then that paste is pulled and stretched apart to make it into sticky balls (better than Schwedy balls) and either filled with sweet bean paste or put into sauce, soup, etc and so on. Mochi by itself doesn't have a real strong taste, actually not really a taste at all. like I said before...lots more fun to make than to eat. :) <br />
<br />
here are some pics of our day making mochi...<br />
The rice is in these wooden grates being steamed for hours:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6luehZ9R5AAkXUp4yvTqVttxwTC1reuH12Gbz588yWYp2qT95CDCxdvFV1McA_gO4_LZmu4FlMIyc-8D2QnRL2VTL-OAHYKrwuArzYf58NAn8CwBtOW30R13VuIuj4EOd4349wM68k6g/s1600/IMG_8783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6luehZ9R5AAkXUp4yvTqVttxwTC1reuH12Gbz588yWYp2qT95CDCxdvFV1McA_gO4_LZmu4FlMIyc-8D2QnRL2VTL-OAHYKrwuArzYf58NAn8CwBtOW30R13VuIuj4EOd4349wM68k6g/s400/IMG_8783.jpg" /></a></div>Then the rice is "kneaded" to make it more paste like in this wooden bowl. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWn8t6ZDRO9huMpNmGs8QSLQnxeePYounIIxZmSIAxTrI1iOv8y8_bLCLVjm_MS1E2a3RnFRWpGqGFVoLE2kFnTP9sd8wOOWGnZY2iL1CC8uuF8ZQVIbcUBaDwGEfJcGQVH6PXjuqat9U/s1600/IMG_8780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWn8t6ZDRO9huMpNmGs8QSLQnxeePYounIIxZmSIAxTrI1iOv8y8_bLCLVjm_MS1E2a3RnFRWpGqGFVoLE2kFnTP9sd8wOOWGnZY2iL1CC8uuF8ZQVIbcUBaDwGEfJcGQVH6PXjuqat9U/s400/IMG_8780.jpg" /></a></div>Then pounded into a pasty flour. Because it's so sticky there are two people working on it. One pounding and one throwing water on it after every hit so it won't stick to the hammer. art i tell you, art. <br />
The professionals at it:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiWF0LJ3aslLwHAQIb1xHqYEGsZE3HktX9U2I5ReV7le8vLjGWhX4af13WojzXpEphDndOQtuqjZR6APeuu8Kkc0fssYcW3ZDImJvqviqOwz6xzyLauSjYIpQt4SPCxRs9LxX3dhf1j0/s1600/IMG_8739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiWF0LJ3aslLwHAQIb1xHqYEGsZE3HktX9U2I5ReV7le8vLjGWhX4af13WojzXpEphDndOQtuqjZR6APeuu8Kkc0fssYcW3ZDImJvqviqOwz6xzyLauSjYIpQt4SPCxRs9LxX3dhf1j0/s400/IMG_8739.jpg" /></a></div>the sous' at it: (we don't look quite as graceful or don't think we helped <i>at all</i> in actually making progress on the mochi pounding but they were sweet enough to humor us and let us try.)<br />
Chelsea:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S3NMPn7hrep2XdcE0UkZ0jBU0gDAIranY5RoaJIPq-Tj35ksuvSepDN0sKoTCHCQ0cufSTR0iisiVY6E7OUYKF-UdXiClk7c6-JAK7aJ0T3EN5t5pKITVLXF2JfLRKj7EM6p7x-OanY/s1600/IMG_8755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S3NMPn7hrep2XdcE0UkZ0jBU0gDAIranY5RoaJIPq-Tj35ksuvSepDN0sKoTCHCQ0cufSTR0iisiVY6E7OUYKF-UdXiClk7c6-JAK7aJ0T3EN5t5pKITVLXF2JfLRKj7EM6p7x-OanY/s400/IMG_8755.jpg" /></a></div>Lacey:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-mxQTt445IuN-A8aGV-2pyEQ1nnuog6bsxcsqwfNMKEUXQIM1-6QFt5ogpPL0aRZB85EhLZ5B9Av6RjbuDmFWGUsMIAsnEfPiMApObEw36FfGVn1X9frau7_JF5T7SlAcvG6tLjBnh8/s1600/IMG_8744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-mxQTt445IuN-A8aGV-2pyEQ1nnuog6bsxcsqwfNMKEUXQIM1-6QFt5ogpPL0aRZB85EhLZ5B9Av6RjbuDmFWGUsMIAsnEfPiMApObEw36FfGVn1X9frau7_JF5T7SlAcvG6tLjBnh8/s400/IMG_8744.jpg" /></a></div>Kay B:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou__jtj0F4qVIxeb7xksGUr1wgenugVzPeeyY24C-PyxdFDZtXGKdMBcQmaEe3XeNAqI_nXlri3TtTdQuWNk2h3XTpqEHpmkOx2MTw9XdsC2uUuhLpWcpdsf5qE1k0ywOzIkxqmqIunE/s1600/IMG_8757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou__jtj0F4qVIxeb7xksGUr1wgenugVzPeeyY24C-PyxdFDZtXGKdMBcQmaEe3XeNAqI_nXlri3TtTdQuWNk2h3XTpqEHpmkOx2MTw9XdsC2uUuhLpWcpdsf5qE1k0ywOzIkxqmqIunE/s400/IMG_8757.jpg" /></a></div>Me:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DkqqEWtZQNuuZsEmZpX3oAwTfXQyP42Z7jsXnGRaI3TRvlgO_Y2wUhb_mCZ8H0RwEbppOw4HcxHGLQXRAdqr9_oj0YvQ9dphIA-roZWnhtGWnP_oPo_sdXNW_z66HClXOeGLBZ1TCy8/s1600/IMG_8767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DkqqEWtZQNuuZsEmZpX3oAwTfXQyP42Z7jsXnGRaI3TRvlgO_Y2wUhb_mCZ8H0RwEbppOw4HcxHGLQXRAdqr9_oj0YvQ9dphIA-roZWnhtGWnP_oPo_sdXNW_z66HClXOeGLBZ1TCy8/s400/IMG_8767.jpg" /></a></div>Thought I'd go for the the "make loud grunting noises and maybe you'll impress them with your sound rather than your skill" technique. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zjD4TcSb2NmG6jcs9kC2ky_7ai0Aj36HwN8rU5tkQe64xCJtv63v975GPwwY7kqorkwDYrOJfFPy_2M9boSJQgqtEGYDL7zZZ3rAdjrisG1t6rY7mtpc95NTlROHOJdOhqyiQ36UJ24/s1600/IMG_8768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zjD4TcSb2NmG6jcs9kC2ky_7ai0Aj36HwN8rU5tkQe64xCJtv63v975GPwwY7kqorkwDYrOJfFPy_2M9boSJQgqtEGYDL7zZZ3rAdjrisG1t6rY7mtpc95NTlROHOJdOhqyiQ36UJ24/s400/IMG_8768.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNBYQQzpKwHMUHrTvEAJWYN49QTnuWbUS9Ai7qxgTNKWJGK98jLUdTjZMfvcxBGYrr8yhqQMRiBRahT8f10BQb5HFj3y_inYZSLqxktxIhiyLLlGfEujzZS7UV6Wm6KRK8Iu8H_wrQEo/s1600/IMG_8764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNBYQQzpKwHMUHrTvEAJWYN49QTnuWbUS9Ai7qxgTNKWJGK98jLUdTjZMfvcxBGYrr8yhqQMRiBRahT8f10BQb5HFj3y_inYZSLqxktxIhiyLLlGfEujzZS7UV6Wm6KRK8Iu8H_wrQEo/s400/IMG_8764.jpg" /></a></div>....and then I hit their door with all that power...what can I say?...baby got back! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb3AYA2z7df6pcqmDPsnahzoFLCNQaXLRavlFxPok-hrrR6Ojb5ZIMnI1iWEh6rAjAOB6jic4bpkZe34uRp60FlczAh14onZSTgbx2w6QnizbBWZYskl08HLt0ZZtatKq4pLiJn_iWa4/s1600/IMG_8769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb3AYA2z7df6pcqmDPsnahzoFLCNQaXLRavlFxPok-hrrR6Ojb5ZIMnI1iWEh6rAjAOB6jic4bpkZe34uRp60FlczAh14onZSTgbx2w6QnizbBWZYskl08HLt0ZZtatKq4pLiJn_iWa4/s400/IMG_8769.jpg" /></a></div>then we learned how to make them into the little ball pastries we are familiar with...the most common mochi on the market is filled with a sweet bean paste like we are learning here...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnZMxRSFs2ka9QNfPJyO0H_HLnGs1A75_EjFc62fJ1kmIlZwbDqQH-H-eMuj1R2KQ-IVmdbc27sLFgFXXRGybX8YBgHps6wmOti4jQWRK6orP93BgTtxbGuiR36O6GCB1rsjc_EkBafg/s1600/IMG_8797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnZMxRSFs2ka9QNfPJyO0H_HLnGs1A75_EjFc62fJ1kmIlZwbDqQH-H-eMuj1R2KQ-IVmdbc27sLFgFXXRGybX8YBgHps6wmOti4jQWRK6orP93BgTtxbGuiR36O6GCB1rsjc_EkBafg/s400/IMG_8797.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYGFEu40AnvkxrNA0uyx9IM1XskZiXXQCqnNfV2xByozdY-x3g1jfMOBkMmxnheJEzgQnnks8NvivtgjdsZikVixDbQWtxQRq3TmCZ2xiYlaWfAyh7YDM2O49c0I9KMbUmbABBNSIuDI/s1600/IMG_8803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYGFEu40AnvkxrNA0uyx9IM1XskZiXXQCqnNfV2xByozdY-x3g1jfMOBkMmxnheJEzgQnnks8NvivtgjdsZikVixDbQWtxQRq3TmCZ2xiYlaWfAyh7YDM2O49c0I9KMbUmbABBNSIuDI/s400/IMG_8803.jpg" /></a></div>mochi, anyone?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ_WnKUHVK9X-hFnF9DwihqYfXrQhNsfeqOP_78J0VzR2balyxoSJaTU_FXxvQbs1Ku2fftv_ClLO5uaPSJrJicTevYyzFyiG6mNf9U4NXd-pMKK_NSKvIVb4tgBsQCVcFBtacnoBxMc/s1600/IMG_8794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ_WnKUHVK9X-hFnF9DwihqYfXrQhNsfeqOP_78J0VzR2balyxoSJaTU_FXxvQbs1Ku2fftv_ClLO5uaPSJrJicTevYyzFyiG6mNf9U4NXd-pMKK_NSKvIVb4tgBsQCVcFBtacnoBxMc/s400/IMG_8794.jpg" /></a></div>sweet friend, Midori-san.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoX03Rk1FFeqTbJGGkzYZlPsPBaEo0U-BWeLnbakcU2tGkmR0MMko2zEF1YDWhSJFvRPPYZz1J7UVKW09310B8A2OgWd6xk0j7sQxAH2uksCNiG_tlyBp-_UigdiFRV4pNzoXYNbowkQ/s1600/IMG_8823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoX03Rk1FFeqTbJGGkzYZlPsPBaEo0U-BWeLnbakcU2tGkmR0MMko2zEF1YDWhSJFvRPPYZz1J7UVKW09310B8A2OgWd6xk0j7sQxAH2uksCNiG_tlyBp-_UigdiFRV4pNzoXYNbowkQ/s400/IMG_8823.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsthj76TFx4HDLlFeBqRT_jxE9uKHePIjVK_q1GCdlezLTEhb7LmEu-PjU8e3SuWDw_z2_4IeG-x3P5tx0ioxLwcHCuhZGl4U5euhSvkNQJwRyPTbm3uRfKuY3SKpNX41SCXaXhLkmBOA/s1600/IMG_8815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsthj76TFx4HDLlFeBqRT_jxE9uKHePIjVK_q1GCdlezLTEhb7LmEu-PjU8e3SuWDw_z2_4IeG-x3P5tx0ioxLwcHCuhZGl4U5euhSvkNQJwRyPTbm3uRfKuY3SKpNX41SCXaXhLkmBOA/s400/IMG_8815.jpg" /></a></div>Midori and her husband and their very large radish from their garden. ha! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOzEzbE3q4CPrRUFxjcYzdfbg1Jow66zkDR93VmlfWL6OwciMGhJQyiBFTdV6vX-tgKxQS33ZMSGnxUE45-Q1prsOYwJQ_4JhCtZ9-AYjH65Ov3RDD0glddh-GPg7-gfQ49IkSn6Wj70/s1600/IMG_8842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOzEzbE3q4CPrRUFxjcYzdfbg1Jow66zkDR93VmlfWL6OwciMGhJQyiBFTdV6vX-tgKxQS33ZMSGnxUE45-Q1prsOYwJQ_4JhCtZ9-AYjH65Ov3RDD0glddh-GPg7-gfQ49IkSn6Wj70/s400/IMG_8842.jpg" /></a></div>This day is going down in the books for one of the best in Japanese culture I have had yet. Thanks, Midori for a very sweet day, pound it!kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-42394740570903325762012-01-10T23:10:00.000+09:002012-01-10T23:10:30.668+09:00Christmas-ed out!The Christmas season is something I always look forward to, it's wonderful, beautiful, meaningful and eventful (sounded out: event-full). I/we attended 9 Christmas parties in a little more than 2 wks this year. Now, I like to party as much as the next girl, but geeze, a little ri.dic.u.lous. I was d.o.n.e. With so much Christmas hype going on and the hussle and bussle of presents and decor and candy and food, parties and functions, it really makes you realize what a culture of "doing" we are, instead a culture of "being." <br />
<br />
I don't know that this is what Jesus hoped Christmas would become. A season that sometimes brings out the worst in us as we fight the crowds and shop the sales, wrap presents and send packages, prepare for Santa Clause to come or have 1,000 Christmas get-togethers that all have the pressure to bring the perfect gift to exchange. I don't know that he hoped we would be so tired and spent by the time Christmas actually came around that we were ready for it to be over and forget to actually celebrate in His birth, His life and the freedom that brings. The other night I was putting up my Christmas decorations and I have an adorable nativity set made of Kokeshi dolls (traditional Japanese wood painted dolls) that I was wrapping and putting in their box. I realized I had set that out a month ago and really hadn't looked at it again. It, as everything in my house, becomes something I work and live around, rather than something I notice and appreciate. I'm realizing I move and do and live and work and most days and just get by, rather than slow down my roll a little, and dare to be interrupted, or appreciate the little reminders of beauty and love in my life: like my little Japanese baby Jesus doll that reminds me why we celebrate Christmas or the hug from my husband "that I don't have time for" while I clean the kitchen, or the stop in visit from a neighbor that needs to talk, but I gotta get to the store before it closes. I want to be a human <i>being</i> not a human <i>doing</i>. This crazy Christmas season was a good reminder that i need to hit the slooooww down button a little more often and let myself just <i>be</i>. I am thankful for friends, I am thankful to have the opportunity to party and be busy and that life is full and not lonely. i'll try to slow down and appreciate a little better next year...here are a few pics to document the fun we did have this season with our Yokota Family...<br />
<br />
Had my Japanese students over for a Christmas party...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61k9QPkcwQpWrcYvNsMKrrPEDT2ZOvEgSks4wR33H5xVkiedAY5ORp44J-G3rsG9vDb25PRZwUGSXomqFX2YRzhthRvpY8wUmJ6AcTs0rK7jznHcS1qVv6Umr5hv3s0qQg5OhqhyphenhyphenROo4/s1600/IMG_9679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61k9QPkcwQpWrcYvNsMKrrPEDT2ZOvEgSks4wR33H5xVkiedAY5ORp44J-G3rsG9vDb25PRZwUGSXomqFX2YRzhthRvpY8wUmJ6AcTs0rK7jznHcS1qVv6Umr5hv3s0qQg5OhqhyphenhyphenROo4/s400/IMG_9679.jpg" /></a></div>Taught them the game of "Snoop" for their gift exchange. Because they are such a kind and polite culture it is <i>really</i> hard for them to steal or snoop on each other's gifts in gift exchanges...it's pretty cute. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT8saAo_VYw6DIO5wsW67FG6pe1JqrKjHpMH4asQz_3xS99zx3GaXkaWubzDIAJ46HqgUG9AUSY3k-X6bLq29vgds2aFhOAME9CKgqt7anlsJzGMAxikZSLE_Mo4em4BmtJ5MEwkZALI/s1600/IMG_9697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT8saAo_VYw6DIO5wsW67FG6pe1JqrKjHpMH4asQz_3xS99zx3GaXkaWubzDIAJ46HqgUG9AUSY3k-X6bLq29vgds2aFhOAME9CKgqt7anlsJzGMAxikZSLE_Mo4em4BmtJ5MEwkZALI/s400/IMG_9697.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpymRvoSHNy5hR6IsofFjNZ7YUaZRjd8Q_TlzZH351IQURT5JcsLKcq7JCy6TNGoiu0evGRS5SPhF3jJJHwJfEsZvHyl-dCvD5gcUT0DcwukpiDmEAyliRA0LKiivGsZmpK8VMszGRa8/s1600/IMG_9695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpymRvoSHNy5hR6IsofFjNZ7YUaZRjd8Q_TlzZH351IQURT5JcsLKcq7JCy6TNGoiu0evGRS5SPhF3jJJHwJfEsZvHyl-dCvD5gcUT0DcwukpiDmEAyliRA0LKiivGsZmpK8VMszGRa8/s400/IMG_9695.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycgbVIWqYREcjMMWTaDTCAv2WtsOGiKto4cRiV8anfI_IF9nnCgggjNVXupIyyJAekvu3OP_F0UcjAinoZRSkvJKOg_8gGGVTKY32ZHvalRh-svp_LLFY3Fs_iHKJxa0bVOwsuXqKfKs/s1600/IMG_9701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycgbVIWqYREcjMMWTaDTCAv2WtsOGiKto4cRiV8anfI_IF9nnCgggjNVXupIyyJAekvu3OP_F0UcjAinoZRSkvJKOg_8gGGVTKY32ZHvalRh-svp_LLFY3Fs_iHKJxa0bVOwsuXqKfKs/s400/IMG_9701.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IVPX7N3o_1KwYfLqtSCSxvsmZEa6b7wIIn_2SkZMi38M5LS1Zizrubrl9bv9PVglcPaNgB1qOZxxeICTf1nGORfTZv9nFAF4S0wYMFS519hzYMRibRmmTvQ0SGEznqk4OV7A6Ud1txo/s1600/IMG_9683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IVPX7N3o_1KwYfLqtSCSxvsmZEa6b7wIIn_2SkZMi38M5LS1Zizrubrl9bv9PVglcPaNgB1qOZxxeICTf1nGORfTZv9nFAF4S0wYMFS519hzYMRibRmmTvQ0SGEznqk4OV7A6Ud1txo/s400/IMG_9683.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaZNJDkjgeytOK7rEzWkfSsEXbCfqlm6YgA0TSPWdm9Ii3tC8-kXXvPRWnRCGKmCQP5Dp6B5XEmZYm7kJC-MMQBiFlFkzRVU5JkXOiAGnGJGyqSk0lx1kBRqxn7w0vKAJ8SD82XhacPs/s1600/IMG_9684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaZNJDkjgeytOK7rEzWkfSsEXbCfqlm6YgA0TSPWdm9Ii3tC8-kXXvPRWnRCGKmCQP5Dp6B5XEmZYm7kJC-MMQBiFlFkzRVU5JkXOiAGnGJGyqSk0lx1kBRqxn7w0vKAJ8SD82XhacPs/s400/IMG_9684.jpg" /></a></div>#1 squadron Christmas party:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6arq65GgPAEJwvEq0fp-Hg-yK2C4hsgG9WbE-WpWXnatNtvDoxlYXg9KbupNMJ47L8os79Hvf31c9Oah3EYsTPCcYDJMHIrMSTfZjX4T16tEQ6PdNiitx8-iIZXvqm0CBzTVQtiMv9OE/s1600/IMG_3010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6arq65GgPAEJwvEq0fp-Hg-yK2C4hsgG9WbE-WpWXnatNtvDoxlYXg9KbupNMJ47L8os79Hvf31c9Oah3EYsTPCcYDJMHIrMSTfZjX4T16tEQ6PdNiitx8-iIZXvqm0CBzTVQtiMv9OE/s400/IMG_3010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LSPqzQRtmxtwTKL0Y0CpZimnlBRPmBVK3sgu1quqQTQCYKMYu9bADlYkZh9IVKgSnQw85bJsB6xUAWPPir-jJRb3e5BrNomuB30FfCWWhl1wszaesTj2Q84y9hn4EISGB25qatR2FTM/s1600/IMG_3027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LSPqzQRtmxtwTKL0Y0CpZimnlBRPmBVK3sgu1quqQTQCYKMYu9bADlYkZh9IVKgSnQw85bJsB6xUAWPPir-jJRb3e5BrNomuB30FfCWWhl1wszaesTj2Q84y9hn4EISGB25qatR2FTM/s400/IMG_3027.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgVJ90f3KMpJ6HxBbwnj1pKItxQbxJb-UwGWffq7THIBANsRPml3MlHMafkFbCRuSZLA9q-85FyGN-nx8lim9ue_CXv7nnxgrG3iAS1qLcMeChIviftFN2KGNYueeumk7o0kJ_aZWUNY/s1600/IMG_3023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgVJ90f3KMpJ6HxBbwnj1pKItxQbxJb-UwGWffq7THIBANsRPml3MlHMafkFbCRuSZLA9q-85FyGN-nx8lim9ue_CXv7nnxgrG3iAS1qLcMeChIviftFN2KGNYueeumk7o0kJ_aZWUNY/s400/IMG_3023.jpg" /></a></div>this is what happens when you live overseas and your clothing options are not only limited but near to impossible to find clothing that fits the American girl's curves. :) good thing we all like each other. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou_JZ2cDuoCxR6X6jY60WyfL3kNS2bEktr8lW22Ncy3ZUnktvlNqTk2OC23JQpUPm1w1T9xlD9R2qAMCOKySfeFK-iRcpeA1hG9fjRgPlyD5sljLf1j_m7bZ0fHut-9K4xzU69WBNCIY/s1600/IMG_3036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou_JZ2cDuoCxR6X6jY60WyfL3kNS2bEktr8lW22Ncy3ZUnktvlNqTk2OC23JQpUPm1w1T9xlD9R2qAMCOKySfeFK-iRcpeA1hG9fjRgPlyD5sljLf1j_m7bZ0fHut-9K4xzU69WBNCIY/s400/IMG_3036.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEIKiZnVYzo7LbR9iweIIg4dt7psgB65oD3bbArMV3U4dESZJrMbbAibN8GCfsfJcsx86AxKTmG9J801TdY7BOzGd4rplFSjk4CjTFbRoMUonYK1vTY2T8AdorwY-XplWYEvH95O9QRc/s1600/IMG_3039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEIKiZnVYzo7LbR9iweIIg4dt7psgB65oD3bbArMV3U4dESZJrMbbAibN8GCfsfJcsx86AxKTmG9J801TdY7BOzGd4rplFSjk4CjTFbRoMUonYK1vTY2T8AdorwY-XplWYEvH95O9QRc/s400/IMG_3039.jpg" /></a></div>=love. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEb3K8w1C4jca1NhAGDkBT11FowlsaAOxJPQpmWQSsmII4Yr05hV1Y4Lbm0ZgS09zvniuyB1hRxbSbqqNIVXZVDHqxuz2tdCx-RMoFGIK7ZiPOQ-FaSd5r5oucXNEEAq5vG4kyPEBzQ4/s1600/IMG_3011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEb3K8w1C4jca1NhAGDkBT11FowlsaAOxJPQpmWQSsmII4Yr05hV1Y4Lbm0ZgS09zvniuyB1hRxbSbqqNIVXZVDHqxuz2tdCx-RMoFGIK7ZiPOQ-FaSd5r5oucXNEEAq5vG4kyPEBzQ4/s400/IMG_3011.jpg" /></a></div>#2 squadron Christmas party:<br />
yes, i am wearing the same dress as the last party, to put your mind at ease. kinda tacky i realize...but remember the above mention...limited options. :) crossed my fingers all the way to this party that i'd be the only one in it. :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G7kh3iHuCwC1XTF4WatMuLrp4yiVbentCyCbFqDWu7sXzYPKhlLouzDNldFRISEhVZuOM_-TDeDuMTHw_ph9DX_jyi_t4YJ9EirE9pefxJ9KXnvQv_a_dYVkkOwhqGqdy1sWY_9mGc0/s1600/IMG_3044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G7kh3iHuCwC1XTF4WatMuLrp4yiVbentCyCbFqDWu7sXzYPKhlLouzDNldFRISEhVZuOM_-TDeDuMTHw_ph9DX_jyi_t4YJ9EirE9pefxJ9KXnvQv_a_dYVkkOwhqGqdy1sWY_9mGc0/s400/IMG_3044.jpg" /></a></div>hey, at least the shirt is still on. baby steps. baby steps. :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoEoHHU1mIT7rSCaj3UsFyD6XxdxuWNJkTZXFrNBHuA2SIqC7mGEVBuJl-lbZ61_x-hVONgbTOanMeBfyve0nT_FCfbG5v88TizMs_33Rqlek1Tzov1uj1LRugwcW4M20NQAaZS_6yOY/s1600/IMG_3050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoEoHHU1mIT7rSCaj3UsFyD6XxdxuWNJkTZXFrNBHuA2SIqC7mGEVBuJl-lbZ61_x-hVONgbTOanMeBfyve0nT_FCfbG5v88TizMs_33Rqlek1Tzov1uj1LRugwcW4M20NQAaZS_6yOY/s400/IMG_3050.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2EDCAaqmCncGo-jZBxpMxLAIu7VskSkJfRNJBM-RHefvj_aYoTFungpS8x4STQH57-72ciAOibkUTcrntiHi7bwbA8vQCI0QepYXb1aG2j3j7Sq-h-nCzwJLIv_wjf3utw5SoPZF2AI/s1600/IMG_3045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2EDCAaqmCncGo-jZBxpMxLAIu7VskSkJfRNJBM-RHefvj_aYoTFungpS8x4STQH57-72ciAOibkUTcrntiHi7bwbA8vQCI0QepYXb1aG2j3j7Sq-h-nCzwJLIv_wjf3utw5SoPZF2AI/s400/IMG_3045.jpg" /></a></div>My culture club Christmas party:<br />
They learned to line dance. Japanese women + country line dancing = awe.some.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_QOzF4jIMEiTtYCrCH34fbPDl_cE9OTuf75qA9oXt2H4HVcjabF0CQSfRvmrSxmugF_ywb7wtVTmKYU006k8X0ZK2DCRNJyVBZo_gePhUYJqFOQ0ZJ6i1AEeINJsEcEYTTsNyGWj14M/s1600/IMG_7939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_QOzF4jIMEiTtYCrCH34fbPDl_cE9OTuf75qA9oXt2H4HVcjabF0CQSfRvmrSxmugF_ywb7wtVTmKYU006k8X0ZK2DCRNJyVBZo_gePhUYJqFOQ0ZJ6i1AEeINJsEcEYTTsNyGWj14M/s400/IMG_7939.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiSwQDgyH3dm_48evOJY_zgAj4sVvQ-um-npK3xdG8GIEMqKzAtFEvJWWbnXvT5HCRnPdcglr0xLsnWIBzjw6qB_LtY3ohAPbsjpoLnwl1RAnaA6jdCsQqLbHAIauSQJ68Qw3mzW6Bq4/s1600/IMG_7924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiSwQDgyH3dm_48evOJY_zgAj4sVvQ-um-npK3xdG8GIEMqKzAtFEvJWWbnXvT5HCRnPdcglr0xLsnWIBzjw6qB_LtY3ohAPbsjpoLnwl1RAnaA6jdCsQqLbHAIauSQJ68Qw3mzW6Bq4/s400/IMG_7924.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaMopMZnbIPA19fcYUVRO239GZMbR_tyF2M7xNPxCxJ-O5tDYziE1QzNxFEJAPkXbQT5C__M8aTF9XtshQN43A17oAhzG3iVlLSkpOFuciqDOMfUEl0PmkydC_S8vp-Xx4hCiOea5dgQ/s1600/IMG_7934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaMopMZnbIPA19fcYUVRO239GZMbR_tyF2M7xNPxCxJ-O5tDYziE1QzNxFEJAPkXbQT5C__M8aTF9XtshQN43A17oAhzG3iVlLSkpOFuciqDOMfUEl0PmkydC_S8vp-Xx4hCiOea5dgQ/s400/IMG_7934.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_j_ZicwnTCJaA1RaxSuqQxAQKcQyxdC5yMTvGO9Xwf2RnJ4M1giBj1NTXEBOkFZCzxZTOF6zaUbSOiUySnGZRUl4yC7zRZxPcabqUw1HKLnxWVsY753idFmpLGHTAf_O925bgjGujzL4/s1600/IMG_7886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_j_ZicwnTCJaA1RaxSuqQxAQKcQyxdC5yMTvGO9Xwf2RnJ4M1giBj1NTXEBOkFZCzxZTOF6zaUbSOiUySnGZRUl4yC7zRZxPcabqUw1HKLnxWVsY753idFmpLGHTAf_O925bgjGujzL4/s400/IMG_7886.jpg" /></a></div>We spent the Christmas holiday in Nagano again this year with about 40 others, shredding the powpow and having a great time. When it's just the two of you, you open presents for about 30 minutes and then just sit there and stare at them or each other. so we had more fun playing in the snow. But in true Chapman fashion, we would <i>hate</i> to miss a holiday dinner, an opportunity to make and eat everything that is bad for you aaaand you have an excuse to use <i>real</i> butter cause it's Christmas dinner! So we had a dinner for 16 friends that would also be skiing with us and we would hate for them to miss the opportunity for <i>real</i> butter also. so we did Christmas dinner before we left for the pow. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNRgxeKGEefDZX0Ee_zqYlw_YBO6QX7GGq_MFXOso-m1-ZbY3zg_1t8lQ_yoDWV_Q6oOXdWsbR4ZdS43oCmsKqVIyVDTL6zDZchUZ12kbj3HCMzbavuf0hUFkNVZLzxZKUWMfq9BlCyg/s1600/IMG_9714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="198" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNRgxeKGEefDZX0Ee_zqYlw_YBO6QX7GGq_MFXOso-m1-ZbY3zg_1t8lQ_yoDWV_Q6oOXdWsbR4ZdS43oCmsKqVIyVDTL6zDZchUZ12kbj3HCMzbavuf0hUFkNVZLzxZKUWMfq9BlCyg/s400/IMG_9714.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOT4TCKnTN2wIJ4GtLWZ6zqUjzR8f4whgPgtzCzIK4hDrPc7RjRhdOz28Iz1MEIgJYhbD0i51YwB-x2NmP7gPELnPgSCjF52rFB3dzttWHKdddFgvVLJgwabRH1JADeCQOeWWINPLDac/s1600/IMG_9711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOT4TCKnTN2wIJ4GtLWZ6zqUjzR8f4whgPgtzCzIK4hDrPc7RjRhdOz28Iz1MEIgJYhbD0i51YwB-x2NmP7gPELnPgSCjF52rFB3dzttWHKdddFgvVLJgwabRH1JADeCQOeWWINPLDac/s400/IMG_9711.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHBn3OwmZSNtOqAWylobM85z3kTSUQ9in-WXzZB-voaznqAYHMZSSBygrq8YK3BHjqb4lysMS7XO-n633qKHEHcM3iW7-x6CZpGNyEEYegyDkgoj9LDQU4h_IEptkv53BEWj-t5xFUIc/s1600/IMG_9730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHBn3OwmZSNtOqAWylobM85z3kTSUQ9in-WXzZB-voaznqAYHMZSSBygrq8YK3BHjqb4lysMS7XO-n633qKHEHcM3iW7-x6CZpGNyEEYegyDkgoj9LDQU4h_IEptkv53BEWj-t5xFUIc/s400/IMG_9730.jpg" /></a></div>a white Christmas! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxtfP9museqSt4y7tJm2xeJk_uenPDw9_Qp8RqXTY6LXW6l2-ZmydX6pOT365CZ1tbMbO-T2gRFp-z_yCdHH2x0pqN3j8yblBxOwwaf6rvg-m6WXmFn6wIRaY-ucerCJkYouHgV09Rao/s1600/IMG_3078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxtfP9museqSt4y7tJm2xeJk_uenPDw9_Qp8RqXTY6LXW6l2-ZmydX6pOT365CZ1tbMbO-T2gRFp-z_yCdHH2x0pqN3j8yblBxOwwaf6rvg-m6WXmFn6wIRaY-ucerCJkYouHgV09Rao/s400/IMG_3078.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjospxW4beiRq89cyQRVyAWhx2lIpV5l-7PgAdKlfNkoSPH6VR_5vXteKbSv__kjgb6mI-wOw9rH2V64Nm6GpMWvIcqvxVbkSsUrVb7ZMZi-lvNDUj4FhN4VK60rZ_cQjwUAnGafkLf6Bo/s1600/IMG_3062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjospxW4beiRq89cyQRVyAWhx2lIpV5l-7PgAdKlfNkoSPH6VR_5vXteKbSv__kjgb6mI-wOw9rH2V64Nm6GpMWvIcqvxVbkSsUrVb7ZMZi-lvNDUj4FhN4VK60rZ_cQjwUAnGafkLf6Bo/s400/IMG_3062.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ULx90PYZv-PuUvSLvetcI4r7OhDBSxRWXNlNYRXPbgRcMFTYxJwlbxfQ1MT1PKdWlDafs22l_6_FczCa3wSrc6l_TPG8wkD6w4WK7_4BRJTElR184sC6kbGY3X6WecF8dM8BcnjtQvk/s1600/IMG_3064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ULx90PYZv-PuUvSLvetcI4r7OhDBSxRWXNlNYRXPbgRcMFTYxJwlbxfQ1MT1PKdWlDafs22l_6_FczCa3wSrc6l_TPG8wkD6w4WK7_4BRJTElR184sC6kbGY3X6WecF8dM8BcnjtQvk/s400/IMG_3064.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGatyT7x_6dQqk0PfBXkecr78s7yb1beq0gxc2IDPBbVh8RAR1SCf6cGDZFvh1DhqqnbWxD6Yz-pXzL5YJfd1s82ONRhMKuXByUK_ztpE9otup8rFiSLnjzgCFRWnhtkGwIHqWvdzCu5A/s1600/IMG_3075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGatyT7x_6dQqk0PfBXkecr78s7yb1beq0gxc2IDPBbVh8RAR1SCf6cGDZFvh1DhqqnbWxD6Yz-pXzL5YJfd1s82ONRhMKuXByUK_ztpE9otup8rFiSLnjzgCFRWnhtkGwIHqWvdzCu5A/s400/IMG_3075.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEKA1p00xOBudkWE7kpgE0jUti8pyQI16GcwnvyVVj5GIhSq7m9J-Erkj_LdIibGBCXB4jwI-knDX6kf7NmwR3Vio8CHRLawLO2dRrYvf8Tm8WfSlMWykxYoQOU4e7kpDtYqxmDhwCEM/s1600/IMG_3072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEKA1p00xOBudkWE7kpgE0jUti8pyQI16GcwnvyVVj5GIhSq7m9J-Erkj_LdIibGBCXB4jwI-knDX6kf7NmwR3Vio8CHRLawLO2dRrYvf8Tm8WfSlMWykxYoQOU4e7kpDtYqxmDhwCEM/s400/IMG_3072.jpg" /></a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-81871982395058996392012-01-10T21:41:00.002+09:002012-01-11T06:11:28.886+09:00a chipotle burrito and tank of gas.wow.....been only like a 1,000 years since I've posted. so sorry! not sure anyone even read this anymore since I am so lame. there is SO much to catch up on and I think that's why I have put it off for so long because I don't even know where to start! So I am going to attempt to catch you up on some of the epic and important events of 2011 before we move to far into the new year....attempt is the key word here. <br />
<br />
Tdub headed back to the states (Little Rock, AR) in early Sept for a 2 month training to become an instructor pilot for the C-130. Aaron, my little but bigger brother was engaged and his wedding date was October 29th. So i Space A-ed my way to the USA and arrived in Texas mid-October. I got to spend about a week and a half helping prepare for the wedding and getting to know and hang my new sister-in-law (who I am in love with) and bro. It was a sweet time, we met up with the 'rents at the lake house for a last weekend of fun in the sun before it got too cold, and then back to Houston for the wedding bells!! Aaron and Marianne's wedding was perfect, so God honoring and a beautiful, fun celebration! They are a beautiful couple inside and out and Tdub and I were so honored and blessed to have been asked to stand beside them on their wedding day and in life. Here's some pics...<br />
<br />
morning of the wedding we had a brunch for all of our out of towner family at Aaron's sweet pad: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q4h4pdR0m-y3V9LK66O2QfpVMHKi8Z52YWpUWEb0HvnPPtC5ECwzjJSdGJun2RaVlXBgSrsrVzy-Y7CypzkfckpYxiuiYqN_id0dCU5Whk0jNhFlrpANnak-ZbDdzF6vxseRARW4jm0/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q4h4pdR0m-y3V9LK66O2QfpVMHKi8Z52YWpUWEb0HvnPPtC5ECwzjJSdGJun2RaVlXBgSrsrVzy-Y7CypzkfckpYxiuiYqN_id0dCU5Whk0jNhFlrpANnak-ZbDdzF6vxseRARW4jm0/s400/IMG_0299.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkc-0U-f9ZeTPLkVdYJhIrxCiemvXtbm0KeeFGRUna75xoJDcGTWfftYAgV2ckZAlw3cqBMmCT0YKBFfxwv6WCGmSmvKI5-OVLmtfFer122loOfu3-zwFPPlZhHRpu5zfpCcvzVMZxSA/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkc-0U-f9ZeTPLkVdYJhIrxCiemvXtbm0KeeFGRUna75xoJDcGTWfftYAgV2ckZAlw3cqBMmCT0YKBFfxwv6WCGmSmvKI5-OVLmtfFer122loOfu3-zwFPPlZhHRpu5zfpCcvzVMZxSA/s400/IMG_0292.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpY-uoThH1l_EkAsQN-RDx3KQe9c0Ful0eSyacyw80aKRH-6ju0Rl48fjhKH9P21eUOConpHFJUhpgipJiymG4PjIKwAbCcs0YSvagRuZV4Qw0p1EWek_5MT3IyVfJDcGWfIfSgia2tw/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpY-uoThH1l_EkAsQN-RDx3KQe9c0Ful0eSyacyw80aKRH-6ju0Rl48fjhKH9P21eUOConpHFJUhpgipJiymG4PjIKwAbCcs0YSvagRuZV4Qw0p1EWek_5MT3IyVfJDcGWfIfSgia2tw/s400/IMG_0290.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baby Bro getting ready for the big day...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3_nIFplLhdJ7e9MYfp4fhJ-WT-GMMzLKTI44pOHdfJmaLnS1Lh4XVhL8TyIl6jgp5B4bfAPnL-hfeNG0Uc3z19RS2XtyTkuc8HngDKKaUYg9oueX6ukrc8TwIgmgFDIa3gEt-a0G_-E/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3_nIFplLhdJ7e9MYfp4fhJ-WT-GMMzLKTI44pOHdfJmaLnS1Lh4XVhL8TyIl6jgp5B4bfAPnL-hfeNG0Uc3z19RS2XtyTkuc8HngDKKaUYg9oueX6ukrc8TwIgmgFDIa3gEt-a0G_-E/s400/IMG_0376.JPG" /></a></div>Momma putting on the bow tie...little boy all grown up. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dj4MgMIVmoWCRYR96pzfpTOLN3H3VGz6Gx9NivFkDJQBZ8yBHjMY3fN4KM6NdUZtUAHbqzk4Xtn0IKT1GTH4ibJ1H-x7uJcwE9WIqyTFjOhIEnNcoHjMwXzbHBdgV-L5v_1Jiap388o/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dj4MgMIVmoWCRYR96pzfpTOLN3H3VGz6Gx9NivFkDJQBZ8yBHjMY3fN4KM6NdUZtUAHbqzk4Xtn0IKT1GTH4ibJ1H-x7uJcwE9WIqyTFjOhIEnNcoHjMwXzbHBdgV-L5v_1Jiap388o/s400/IMG_0371.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNEKzioA44YwlJQTb2a2W832CUz4-rIYdfSqpktAlkOY50OnWs9NIIKggX0wvkOFLCEnH7a9JQD20lhKjqFr7vRWi1E6DEnzP2QVyAVB-goylGSvmdtUwm-GA14a85thyphenhyphen81m70pQXO5k/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNEKzioA44YwlJQTb2a2W832CUz4-rIYdfSqpktAlkOY50OnWs9NIIKggX0wvkOFLCEnH7a9JQD20lhKjqFr7vRWi1E6DEnzP2QVyAVB-goylGSvmdtUwm-GA14a85thyphenhyphen81m70pQXO5k/s400/IMG_0305.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gPJDUSXA3V2i9eDPUqi5DdDt5QcivG4bKpDV-7qukN6BXFr_SNmEczejUiIjJ5HPBLgxVnLuhgNHemUlqYcLqoC8n-orwaPbdgghlazzsQQ35cI3rB3Be3Y6lIr6g8LeGUpXV7Z7zHE/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gPJDUSXA3V2i9eDPUqi5DdDt5QcivG4bKpDV-7qukN6BXFr_SNmEczejUiIjJ5HPBLgxVnLuhgNHemUlqYcLqoC8n-orwaPbdgghlazzsQQ35cI3rB3Be3Y6lIr6g8LeGUpXV7Z7zHE/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWzCis8rCLFrBMkNgUbg_U2Z1B2LHFDj7QcCOcSj8vheC_c6OIgREN90xrZmbEP0j9rWh7PGW8rzc9kkvd6y0f3fxHbaHOOfwu5J0yi7LrCS7tDG2Y4olfKrPhz0yRWUnhMefiwVs41Y/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWzCis8rCLFrBMkNgUbg_U2Z1B2LHFDj7QcCOcSj8vheC_c6OIgREN90xrZmbEP0j9rWh7PGW8rzc9kkvd6y0f3fxHbaHOOfwu5J0yi7LrCS7tDG2Y4olfKrPhz0yRWUnhMefiwVs41Y/s400/IMG_0584.JPG" /></a></div>proud big sister. :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgPXVl_1fVVvJfodA0majBB4YlAgcIAtY7mDDEhsfAOTNpKb4Y8kHHxCNrBXVXo5ANoRdSQpQuoktP9qzShIFTCjTUQDvc_B-nnF1v99jngqj4g0PenuqEAGdeNWCGesiheVoyKfBa24/s1600/IMG_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgPXVl_1fVVvJfodA0majBB4YlAgcIAtY7mDDEhsfAOTNpKb4Y8kHHxCNrBXVXo5ANoRdSQpQuoktP9qzShIFTCjTUQDvc_B-nnF1v99jngqj4g0PenuqEAGdeNWCGesiheVoyKfBa24/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2vYxZ-JQ9HsWvk3Zq1BXRmUMd4Hs0tL2rex_6zwckCYBP1trNXrfmHaieV4dfpmSCuJ_1WfRc00bRixKywJvWriKHDuNh6JSMt9nY225a3pTYYqtrxzLshMPYGlF5PW58kF6zN33ynQ/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2vYxZ-JQ9HsWvk3Zq1BXRmUMd4Hs0tL2rex_6zwckCYBP1trNXrfmHaieV4dfpmSCuJ_1WfRc00bRixKywJvWriKHDuNh6JSMt9nY225a3pTYYqtrxzLshMPYGlF5PW58kF6zN33ynQ/s400/IMG_0534.JPG" /></a></div>my beautiful new sister!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez-N3poGe_1xtDYXO-dx8ScAIdYZwP_qbDAgQ5xsLhQ7LfKBnEVAsuCq-lZw3Cn4A9knu840EehlyXH1XRLwNfkd2aEk2UG9tzNaMNwfVjDaSwfhInARHE1PA5d80d5o6t2DKq4KfXzY/s1600/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez-N3poGe_1xtDYXO-dx8ScAIdYZwP_qbDAgQ5xsLhQ7LfKBnEVAsuCq-lZw3Cn4A9knu840EehlyXH1XRLwNfkd2aEk2UG9tzNaMNwfVjDaSwfhInARHE1PA5d80d5o6t2DKq4KfXzY/s400/IMG_0430.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Tdub headed back to The Rock while I headed back to Midland for a week and a half to hang out with mom and dad, catch up with some old friends, get some R&R and eat a lot of Chick-fil-A!! I rented a car and headed to the hill country to make the rounds in Kerrville, Boerne, and SA. It was wonderful but not long enough. Feel like I just barely got to scrape the surface catching up with people and definitely didn't get to see everyone I wanted too! (Sorry, if I didn't get to see you!) <br />
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We own a rent house in San Antonio and have this 5 bedroom house fully furnished for single AF guys to live in while they are going thru training in SA. We have needed to un-furnish it for a while now so we could rent it out to a family, but the whole living two oceans away was a small problem in that plan. We knew it had to be done this trip back to the states, one of those things you know needs to happen, but want to pretend doesn't exist. :) Weeelll, Tdub got done with his training mid-Nov and headed to San Antonio to help me and my sweet parents (huge shout out and thank you...there is NO way we two could have done it without them!) that came and slaved away to help us have a HUGE furniture sale (we are talking 8 TVs, 5 desks, 4 couches, 2 dinning room tables, 8 dressers, 5 beds, etc...) and un-furnish the house, clean it and get it ready to rent. a two day sell and few postings we sold everything!! and an added bonus...one of the families that stopped to look at the sale ended up renting it from us, so we never even had to put it on the market! yay! really thanking the Lord for that one!! <br />
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this is me placed and I do mean strategically placed into the car with boxes on top of me leaving the rent house in our cram packed rental car. it has to be unsafe to fit that much stuff in a moving vehicle. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8Y6tvFX1wjBnXVV3hwjHe2WMlSaCp36K33H5PHfxv8Tmm-lf6G_b8oXY131kPFL4TBwzQyub-1EFwguw8TmBPxMfXK97HxW5SvSkpe1XuwLmWIWRaZgmii-TB7hCp3Ooz00xqA7qF_M/s1600/IMG_2928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8Y6tvFX1wjBnXVV3hwjHe2WMlSaCp36K33H5PHfxv8Tmm-lf6G_b8oXY131kPFL4TBwzQyub-1EFwguw8TmBPxMfXK97HxW5SvSkpe1XuwLmWIWRaZgmii-TB7hCp3Ooz00xqA7qF_M/s400/IMG_2928.jpg" /></a></div>We then headed back to the Schrank's lake house to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with my side of the fam. It was a sweet weekend full of too much food, playing Settlers of Catan, jet skiing and boat riding (guess this was the last time on the lake before it got too cold :), drinking coffee on the porch and just being together. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAKWfCtBLuKO7Vu9caY0yR9dXDjfwWMgxhcnx346TnqiaCCxZnvsBIO2ktT-l6UxPELWrBEyphbZIDMOFJQ9WZyvVghq1bI6VGIBLrIPMNdV65oXeY5qhEWEBqzij4P73158Eojy9MoM/s1600/IMG_2952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAKWfCtBLuKO7Vu9caY0yR9dXDjfwWMgxhcnx346TnqiaCCxZnvsBIO2ktT-l6UxPELWrBEyphbZIDMOFJQ9WZyvVghq1bI6VGIBLrIPMNdV65oXeY5qhEWEBqzij4P73158Eojy9MoM/s400/IMG_2952.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGyvVPzG0ZgqyqcIhjh6nj892fU5sQgVJxvYwi10KwMwoTtaKEfh12zOO8DnFQaM6UDxGmeBmLRod0IHy0v5YXCHnhcWLG1U4aqm7y0thcW26RscgTdCAY3OFoX2LQYJQDJi6XvzQJMQ/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGyvVPzG0ZgqyqcIhjh6nj892fU5sQgVJxvYwi10KwMwoTtaKEfh12zOO8DnFQaM6UDxGmeBmLRod0IHy0v5YXCHnhcWLG1U4aqm7y0thcW26RscgTdCAY3OFoX2LQYJQDJi6XvzQJMQ/s400/IMG_2935.jpg" /></a></div><br />
'merica...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjW9SUob3LtMvGPz_w2xrLHi6bTrsxCdGLR9fjQ9qouu8DhiIjyFEe-E36JOInSY-fr6N1-iabTulLumz10XD2RA3xBnofiv2I05DjDD25Qavd1MpGbyGxA3h24RHikF4INxPUEfcDxtE/s1600/IMG_1456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjW9SUob3LtMvGPz_w2xrLHi6bTrsxCdGLR9fjQ9qouu8DhiIjyFEe-E36JOInSY-fr6N1-iabTulLumz10XD2RA3xBnofiv2I05DjDD25Qavd1MpGbyGxA3h24RHikF4INxPUEfcDxtE/s400/IMG_1456.JPG" /></a></div>T-dubs magic...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PpQ5FP7K9XBIAeybEAitmcP7siL3Bov1qr5wal60ChlR_j35WSMmpLv5Bin4mMfowUQj5Zypeq8a6_7nzE9GriAOW_aRXDeuhqHaOMBkP9RIvBT1qNtj-lZTfLerc-yhY-81Xafkd00/s1600/IMG_1478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PpQ5FP7K9XBIAeybEAitmcP7siL3Bov1qr5wal60ChlR_j35WSMmpLv5Bin4mMfowUQj5Zypeq8a6_7nzE9GriAOW_aRXDeuhqHaOMBkP9RIvBT1qNtj-lZTfLerc-yhY-81Xafkd00/s400/IMG_1478.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPeItbHsyb8e6RE8rIIjpY7RxYU0yxs_YY6wxMYVT5O-iSbm2aeK5_qEQi88H-fScQ-k5rcQzQYMAfw17Sq85sMSfYaNLVNuM8L7ILN51_BS09fy0o_kiYpX7AKXpK7DKlJYtB9cUT6c/s1600/IMG_1485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPeItbHsyb8e6RE8rIIjpY7RxYU0yxs_YY6wxMYVT5O-iSbm2aeK5_qEQi88H-fScQ-k5rcQzQYMAfw17Sq85sMSfYaNLVNuM8L7ILN51_BS09fy0o_kiYpX7AKXpK7DKlJYtB9cUT6c/s400/IMG_1485.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi1P4TnJGsY5JTlJF76f5UDuIdG6zrs12wV6_G0RhNlrbU6t2OFkNntz2rpbwg7Z-Sf1l4fcM52sZ7tFxOuKOJrodW8QxDoegwKBHWwBFMATfUdQ032ccoB0aIQicHR6Iz6a-uBQnKjc/s1600/IMG_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi1P4TnJGsY5JTlJF76f5UDuIdG6zrs12wV6_G0RhNlrbU6t2OFkNntz2rpbwg7Z-Sf1l4fcM52sZ7tFxOuKOJrodW8QxDoegwKBHWwBFMATfUdQ032ccoB0aIQicHR6Iz6a-uBQnKjc/s400/IMG_1476.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_kwXtbjVf-4iUkJnvWCDZ9DgLtArp9WPd3R_UYbVUuw7E2k0W8aZQ4I5-RKbUGaCs52lExLl6pXX68UE5rJCfEbSVbpz6OurRofEIMAVhR4Jm0p9hfO1IGujJGuqfnhJcJV7POZvaHM/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_kwXtbjVf-4iUkJnvWCDZ9DgLtArp9WPd3R_UYbVUuw7E2k0W8aZQ4I5-RKbUGaCs52lExLl6pXX68UE5rJCfEbSVbpz6OurRofEIMAVhR4Jm0p9hfO1IGujJGuqfnhJcJV7POZvaHM/s400/IMG_1462.JPG" /></a></div>proud alumni...(if we are home our flag gets flown, first time ever all 4 were flown! thanks, momma!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiec2AK3VgRQc2DEesV92RR7w_VM50XWUYgDk9iJj_VG3rnwVp_l-GbPHlLYsHeX5VE7TtLnDi6J2kWhwpoIDhZ6rSxJ6sUaJ0RRs6_yiWUWB1-ILw3ZJitTmWYlUM9wp6S20KWJn8viUw/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiec2AK3VgRQc2DEesV92RR7w_VM50XWUYgDk9iJj_VG3rnwVp_l-GbPHlLYsHeX5VE7TtLnDi6J2kWhwpoIDhZ6rSxJ6sUaJ0RRs6_yiWUWB1-ILw3ZJitTmWYlUM9wp6S20KWJn8viUw/s400/IMG_1566.JPG" /></a></div>The Schrank-mans.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgrXKqDYUb3dH7LuMpSYiVFXKj-HYB3SJq7fiSfsuFb7diE3j0Xs1oYb1ofNffhhaxK4W0hzQ1XKkJIjMzSm_eVT9ZHXT2DacQyjSvsr_MgdH7Asd2RgO-uBwui_sZ30eg44oJNVc820/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgrXKqDYUb3dH7LuMpSYiVFXKj-HYB3SJq7fiSfsuFb7diE3j0Xs1oYb1ofNffhhaxK4W0hzQ1XKkJIjMzSm_eVT9ZHXT2DacQyjSvsr_MgdH7Asd2RgO-uBwui_sZ30eg44oJNVc820/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcAehDcPcxPIQ9mw4gW4QN28oLqxNZ-jS4-tL_8VhoFTC8BN79kiCV1Ah86ZPc5BJTEScru5BmVCXA4l06F9pDoSEdzZOu1xCCtjxRRwZGMbd9kxd_cn3V7PGPb3jtGpcV6JU68aCzEY/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcAehDcPcxPIQ9mw4gW4QN28oLqxNZ-jS4-tL_8VhoFTC8BN79kiCV1Ah86ZPc5BJTEScru5BmVCXA4l06F9pDoSEdzZOu1xCCtjxRRwZGMbd9kxd_cn3V7PGPb3jtGpcV6JU68aCzEY/s400/IMG_1538.JPG" /></a></div>We said goodbye to Texas and the people we love there and headed to Colorado with the Chapman's to do round 2 of Thanksgiving...not the smartest choice for the hips and booty, but worth it for the family love!<br />
<br />
We were reunited with all of T's brothers and sisters (he is the oldest of 8 kids plus two of us daughters-in-law), his Mom and sweet Grandmother I had never met before! This was the first time we were all together since our wedding 2 1/2 years ago! SO fun and sweet to all be together. It is no small or quiet function when the Chaps get together. We played the first offical "Chapsgiving Games" where the events ranged from a potato chuck to paper, rock, scissors, to a yell off. Tdub got 1st place in the games...guess he felt the need to defend his title as the first born and oldest of the kids since he is not the biggest/tallest any longer. ;) We spent a little over a week in Colorado Springs, hanging out, laughing, hiking, and shopping and eating more Chick-fil-A and Chipotle. <br />
<br />
sweet G-ma.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48JvAgITN71gsKM0mLsG0Q9LzOrOD1q6YuaJmsYb3RKzSpznjMJC7-4QzqYG22_eciJ1r2P1iptSNZaOkuLLFjp6m5y0dzn6XxNGgZnn3VAno7OKx53WWxNkd0-bmC46FPw1JPMTPLko/s1600/IMG_1590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48JvAgITN71gsKM0mLsG0Q9LzOrOD1q6YuaJmsYb3RKzSpznjMJC7-4QzqYG22_eciJ1r2P1iptSNZaOkuLLFjp6m5y0dzn6XxNGgZnn3VAno7OKx53WWxNkd0-bmC46FPw1JPMTPLko/s400/IMG_1590.jpg" /></a></div><br />
T doing his magic once again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRaOoQ7eJ4tGkdiDzcQJDvjREfnKZ-49Ac5kb8OrtGeC4mkaUxuL3flX9DMPrFR5EQ5jldOGy_c5WJs55i2_Jz2g1Lh2iDLlw5pUj0XxzqsOhWrxgxoSY7KX11mTWM4fvhO2FLIsrV18/s1600/IMG_1645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRaOoQ7eJ4tGkdiDzcQJDvjREfnKZ-49Ac5kb8OrtGeC4mkaUxuL3flX9DMPrFR5EQ5jldOGy_c5WJs55i2_Jz2g1Lh2iDLlw5pUj0XxzqsOhWrxgxoSY7KX11mTWM4fvhO2FLIsrV18/s400/IMG_1645.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E0-zyEJBYbOzVPJN1jTJG6FyyU1TUWfdvJRhelwWcTmsRGWVo5ggjsFOCYgGJGO6HG0sN_n1cci1Q2rGm_p5MBG9pg6P2r691uTXmUm-G8Jqt_ufh8OXbLEyrFchP9HYzA9vpxBSfMw/s1600/IMG_1649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E0-zyEJBYbOzVPJN1jTJG6FyyU1TUWfdvJRhelwWcTmsRGWVo5ggjsFOCYgGJGO6HG0sN_n1cci1Q2rGm_p5MBG9pg6P2r691uTXmUm-G8Jqt_ufh8OXbLEyrFchP9HYzA9vpxBSfMw/s400/IMG_1649.jpg" /></a></div>Chapsgiving games:<br />
Potato chuck...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJrUCXOu0VskJN53zcOCL8t-_RNk9EQAdUQQ8Utv5MB8iNXUv6rdla6u39aHBxsvWbnW9cvyKlGWs9u0cYyIMHh82GDT-cG2JZuLdgxUBvRzm_Kb2Vo7X-W_vevu2le_g7Tq2s89-0CE/s1600/IMG_1618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJrUCXOu0VskJN53zcOCL8t-_RNk9EQAdUQQ8Utv5MB8iNXUv6rdla6u39aHBxsvWbnW9cvyKlGWs9u0cYyIMHh82GDT-cG2JZuLdgxUBvRzm_Kb2Vo7X-W_vevu2le_g7Tq2s89-0CE/s400/IMG_1618.jpg" /></a></div>drawing on our heads...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNeesbyC_cAA_Vm8XcKlUInl0gh7MiTfQIIU04xOk2lB6y98Q0s2XDs96WRPqt8I0f8PyOEBd5MCeXNZV7p1MuJhAyoG0Olb3QKdPD5CSYaHPxxRh1Pr5MAqBIRookRicJRyiQJnPWzI/s1600/IMG_1686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNeesbyC_cAA_Vm8XcKlUInl0gh7MiTfQIIU04xOk2lB6y98Q0s2XDs96WRPqt8I0f8PyOEBd5MCeXNZV7p1MuJhAyoG0Olb3QKdPD5CSYaHPxxRh1Pr5MAqBIRookRicJRyiQJnPWzI/s400/IMG_1686.jpg" /></a></div>the great scream-boli...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMUkCfUgKVfuEGqNhYgCfE4o0UHTcTsTiYqZntsPWXvymFbzfYW9L6G9Lqn8ZlyhnFqSd-qjTFIOYd275E1RILI8M7pP8tu6VkTm4NXvBqu8_gnFey3mjyG_lbGoHBHobOfd5pJjTLRY/s1600/IMG_1695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMUkCfUgKVfuEGqNhYgCfE4o0UHTcTsTiYqZntsPWXvymFbzfYW9L6G9Lqn8ZlyhnFqSd-qjTFIOYd275E1RILI8M7pP8tu6VkTm4NXvBqu8_gnFey3mjyG_lbGoHBHobOfd5pJjTLRY/s400/IMG_1695.jpg" /></a></div>paper, rock, scissors...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa6eVq8xuUdaGB44INjgp17UwoV2FW_qs4rnsGLykFw-pVRBCLqTXt1hQpzkvgMxcEoX5lIOHpJ_yNyYdzjZiXkt68eTDzAjmhj85JKM5DbVP4Ptjq1KTNo-OP1zhF4DuPu3A1G2p4Os/s1600/IMG_1724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa6eVq8xuUdaGB44INjgp17UwoV2FW_qs4rnsGLykFw-pVRBCLqTXt1hQpzkvgMxcEoX5lIOHpJ_yNyYdzjZiXkt68eTDzAjmhj85JKM5DbVP4Ptjq1KTNo-OP1zhF4DuPu3A1G2p4Os/s400/IMG_1724.jpg" /></a></div>#1 and #2...in birth and in games.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2EjioPX5FaQm208gchiAKxVKdW_ASNAFDfaY6z5EjfefMdayjIk_U5yg4GVnGYJ05aZ_TI4chYRpoekWEGvzYsTPt4XuDs50u3ds9XISTMXnFeiKkAiF2m55EsjpXBJ6SEOt5JNR0FY/s1600/IMG_1729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2EjioPX5FaQm208gchiAKxVKdW_ASNAFDfaY6z5EjfefMdayjIk_U5yg4GVnGYJ05aZ_TI4chYRpoekWEGvzYsTPt4XuDs50u3ds9XISTMXnFeiKkAiF2m55EsjpXBJ6SEOt5JNR0FY/s400/IMG_1729.jpg" /></a></div>closing ceremonies...you can't make this stuff up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3qe08hF7eh7QGYPoUHauE4mOUCCBoAuSTuKiVzerKfK4AcSyzT9d54wTuIt2AAJRvbbo7hEuhQJ4oA-b03A9MFLKux6eOYEskZ-mkzrNSfrj0Li6_TKA9u1MNNq9kB5gH5l_TRZfrt0/s1600/IMG_1745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3qe08hF7eh7QGYPoUHauE4mOUCCBoAuSTuKiVzerKfK4AcSyzT9d54wTuIt2AAJRvbbo7hEuhQJ4oA-b03A9MFLKux6eOYEskZ-mkzrNSfrj0Li6_TKA9u1MNNq9kB5gH5l_TRZfrt0/s400/IMG_1745.jpg" /></a></div>'da champ.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJuSYSH0VzxK9dzPkDNsZig-c5R6dspKhZbWzDmZrvFUvvQ3ngJAxQEtVYo2G6hcJQQoDCWGafBhjT-oziHN8J6qcwUg_Ft848lKA9CsLRCM5snt5FKv2MukAjEntWnsiq4oPIv46jlQ/s1600/IMG_1751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJuSYSH0VzxK9dzPkDNsZig-c5R6dspKhZbWzDmZrvFUvvQ3ngJAxQEtVYo2G6hcJQQoDCWGafBhjT-oziHN8J6qcwUg_Ft848lKA9CsLRCM5snt5FKv2MukAjEntWnsiq4oPIv46jlQ/s400/IMG_1751.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivi72m8Mled7QOxMVomfFO331t8Fu8wS4Sq2XXpFS-ElLV_VpaMWLdhVqdEXEwk7bjV8rOmCNiqoXqVeaF5pokJJ8kRfmQ12hx0xm7LjXlKjolDrBcr9S6M1iPXBRpL_CgfN04hd8_qI/s1600/IMG_1613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivi72m8Mled7QOxMVomfFO331t8Fu8wS4Sq2XXpFS-ElLV_VpaMWLdhVqdEXEwk7bjV8rOmCNiqoXqVeaF5pokJJ8kRfmQ12hx0xm7LjXlKjolDrBcr9S6M1iPXBRpL_CgfN04hd8_qI/s400/IMG_1613.jpg" /></a></div>T very reluctantly fulfilling his Grandma's one Thanksgiving wish...to play the violin for her. it was truly a Thanksgiving miracle. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVWtGM_L6exEJ5pUjmCX96EdXv5Y4oOAWqyzSa88UR-bEDTzM2p1gZN_fGwOIZTxVt2_J_sy6kfHSDdx4trhAC0_tmcCZmeqPfVYkOoRPagNWIFMUKx9u7cScSzm6nZEH8rTG2GDc8Qk/s1600/IMG_1699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVWtGM_L6exEJ5pUjmCX96EdXv5Y4oOAWqyzSa88UR-bEDTzM2p1gZN_fGwOIZTxVt2_J_sy6kfHSDdx4trhAC0_tmcCZmeqPfVYkOoRPagNWIFMUKx9u7cScSzm6nZEH8rTG2GDc8Qk/s400/IMG_1699.jpg" /></a></div>this is why we can't have nice things. keepin' it classy. (I have thrown away all his pearl snap shirts so he can no longer rip his shirts open in 2 seconds.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8puVytVWkJTTbywqUmm5lCMwNYOuzZ_Q7EeLhmVN3YDyJRPvWAG7qj8XEi1RoVwAStHPW5EW0L3ob9AeG_4Oi_Xbm3MBc9pJZaFMKAQvBejGZHoBB9Br1Z7kGmU_LothpCg8biMzomLs/s1600/IMG_1657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8puVytVWkJTTbywqUmm5lCMwNYOuzZ_Q7EeLhmVN3YDyJRPvWAG7qj8XEi1RoVwAStHPW5EW0L3ob9AeG_4Oi_Xbm3MBc9pJZaFMKAQvBejGZHoBB9Br1Z7kGmU_LothpCg8biMzomLs/s400/IMG_1657.jpg" /></a></div>she kept us laughing the whole week. oh golly! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7qBINiz0ryoUtLPTbiDwKmQPT3AOl0zwDkIcm6g6QYSaf5vPGHe8ctH-sx_UEGosuSCJ6Vf9kTBRCFIjEEzY7OX_4v-yPVMb_PHL-ynfg4ETOimANbcmRMHpt0jlt6Po19JIcuSUd1g/s1600/IMG_1682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7qBINiz0ryoUtLPTbiDwKmQPT3AOl0zwDkIcm6g6QYSaf5vPGHe8ctH-sx_UEGosuSCJ6Vf9kTBRCFIjEEzY7OX_4v-yPVMb_PHL-ynfg4ETOimANbcmRMHpt0jlt6Po19JIcuSUd1g/s400/IMG_1682.jpg" /></a></div>wanna-be hipsters.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowlyC8A8-XxCRh5JZYix8c05wzDIqPldONy5JXXvMNL7twzE6PMJGkD0f-KF4qEWRcqm_ftB81eGhwM3Mgs073ZgbZQqxSj5faEz6B5D4RMKHozIYT9HVeGMfODkekn5ZOXI8NTqFdx8/s1600/IMG_1665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowlyC8A8-XxCRh5JZYix8c05wzDIqPldONy5JXXvMNL7twzE6PMJGkD0f-KF4qEWRcqm_ftB81eGhwM3Mgs073ZgbZQqxSj5faEz6B5D4RMKHozIYT9HVeGMfODkekn5ZOXI8NTqFdx8/s400/IMG_1665.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zb9BK8BmqYo0Q1BTP1_jfs-fsfCHeBbtDDytNX-bxQhgH04cV2J-wvLt4e5ZtbdZj580AyNftBD-VwIpMDi1bsSSw0bp3huBS4gz8wKCMrS_LRQgBl9ZpUBQf2dnse-6hAa8DIH_10w/s1600/IMG_2081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zb9BK8BmqYo0Q1BTP1_jfs-fsfCHeBbtDDytNX-bxQhgH04cV2J-wvLt4e5ZtbdZj580AyNftBD-VwIpMDi1bsSSw0bp3huBS4gz8wKCMrS_LRQgBl9ZpUBQf2dnse-6hAa8DIH_10w/s400/IMG_2081.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcA2dqlHy4gpHRYAhTVUWqqr6IYrHUZLZg7ZsaMW-YZ0kWs9ao0Lza6sjP6sxbLfb3y1fCx_68gyr70sdfvlLDun42nVI5D7vWC3XbvT4yZB1hafZbBQHoGjurJSHLQk540h-hwzVEds/s1600/IMG_1877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcA2dqlHy4gpHRYAhTVUWqqr6IYrHUZLZg7ZsaMW-YZ0kWs9ao0Lza6sjP6sxbLfb3y1fCx_68gyr70sdfvlLDun42nVI5D7vWC3XbvT4yZB1hafZbBQHoGjurJSHLQk540h-hwzVEds/s400/IMG_1877.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8tbFW3GE_MWR8JKq62m6lZe3A3qAZtbvnIZloqqHCC0lcq8MxnUIGpB79yRRoS06txkagedZct8uF4Mv6qItsHa_abL3yqQKp-7Q4ZL4yh9TD36yf2TIVVjIO5969SV-WGTzFx8o1eU/s1600/IMG_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="243" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8tbFW3GE_MWR8JKq62m6lZe3A3qAZtbvnIZloqqHCC0lcq8MxnUIGpB79yRRoS06txkagedZct8uF4Mv6qItsHa_abL3yqQKp-7Q4ZL4yh9TD36yf2TIVVjIO5969SV-WGTzFx8o1eU/s400/IMG_2019.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj27b4zDS6KlIl34XSuNgCVAX9cSuEwj9V9xtOoia9Qd88DGrVhdAxKQUQIMvHAqCx17gtUnwL4f298w3yT51GrD_Ac7nOhLwpjmjR83OMhACNePelDRU2VE837k9yAJKeNmV0N2Dyh4/s1600/IMG_2112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj27b4zDS6KlIl34XSuNgCVAX9cSuEwj9V9xtOoia9Qd88DGrVhdAxKQUQIMvHAqCx17gtUnwL4f298w3yT51GrD_Ac7nOhLwpjmjR83OMhACNePelDRU2VE837k9yAJKeNmV0N2Dyh4/s400/IMG_2112.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9RhyphenhyphenEu6U2Cb7NcRUsFEGcxB3QjmU6lNKSdLnFAkf1wCEAAIby0fgBMTl2e_rYryE1jqmgSJE6ssAkhyOKOGekIDtdIc6BO9K1-chmBYmxRk9TTfpmvA9UNP3lHlsjcNluq3jGj5FNEc/s1600/IMG_2181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9RhyphenhyphenEu6U2Cb7NcRUsFEGcxB3QjmU6lNKSdLnFAkf1wCEAAIby0fgBMTl2e_rYryE1jqmgSJE6ssAkhyOKOGekIDtdIc6BO9K1-chmBYmxRk9TTfpmvA9UNP3lHlsjcNluq3jGj5FNEc/s400/IMG_2181.jpg" /></a></div><br />
There was a rather large damper to the end of our trip...we went hiking for a couple hours with two of T's brothers. I had put my purse in the trunk of our car to "hide it". Now let me pause and say I had been traveling for a good 5 wks by this point and ladies you know what happens when you travel...your purse isn't so much a purse as a small suitcase that becomes a catch all for anything and everything you may need while traveling...well this was the state of my "purse." <br />
<br />
this is me before the hike:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczf7YKac0F7Mrj96n6weR0DXOrGw9p3IkfRkGuFz0zQAH2-TUub6AQY57fK-4X8catXcwTGOAVz6btcipnWzJsvH3Kwy_fiaxSA_pSL2PJeZiykP4rVOEY2pC5Dbu-pctfB5AguiVeDQ/s1600/IMG_2985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczf7YKac0F7Mrj96n6weR0DXOrGw9p3IkfRkGuFz0zQAH2-TUub6AQY57fK-4X8catXcwTGOAVz6btcipnWzJsvH3Kwy_fiaxSA_pSL2PJeZiykP4rVOEY2pC5Dbu-pctfB5AguiVeDQ/s400/IMG_2985.jpg" /></a></div>this is me during the hike:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEKzYfPjJEvfQfTo9QEybjdlRu6JxuiAQVJ8Zfkr5F7IzkBvb4P7SK2a-yBSvm7mDDUM6BSVURg1hgycTPlfPULTlVXpZyaYa4fhCZYeW9iUNbpbxkcKZ9CwAPduKoiWH-rqWgPsRMhc/s1600/IMG_3002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEKzYfPjJEvfQfTo9QEybjdlRu6JxuiAQVJ8Zfkr5F7IzkBvb4P7SK2a-yBSvm7mDDUM6BSVURg1hgycTPlfPULTlVXpZyaYa4fhCZYeW9iUNbpbxkcKZ9CwAPduKoiWH-rqWgPsRMhc/s400/IMG_3002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6p8TdwmSSDrMvtGV8kE-IGS9qYWJjMk2T07_DE8ox-5WA-NgJkaseI2CCliGPZTiqs0fsqUvU_1tW5Kevs9DzFKqI-ZyFhV8qgAFXDnIMVkuFXA-ilhJtrFw6PMkZDouNzl8HK1xOOg/s1600/IMG_2996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6p8TdwmSSDrMvtGV8kE-IGS9qYWJjMk2T07_DE8ox-5WA-NgJkaseI2CCliGPZTiqs0fsqUvU_1tW5Kevs9DzFKqI-ZyFhV8qgAFXDnIMVkuFXA-ilhJtrFw6PMkZDouNzl8HK1xOOg/s400/IMG_2996.jpg" /></a></div>We came back to our car after being on the hike for about 2 hours and popped the trunk to retrieve my purse and it was no where to be found. *stomach drops here* look again...yeah...still no where to be found. *blood rushing, panicked face, maybe a few small cuss words here* mind starts racing...ok what all was in my purse...uhhh, ipod, ipod nano, iphone (let's hope the robbers like Apple products), headphones, sunglasses, handmade leather wallet from China, scarf T got me from Nepal, cash money, American and Japanese drivers license, credit/debit cards, my military ID and the list goes on and on and on...ugh. From the same parking lot, same time frame there was a car stolen also, they believe the snatchers were hiding in the bushes and watching people leave for their hike and then went in for the kill. The police came out and filed a report, he said they would probably take the valuables and drop the purse so that is all we would get back...I'm thinking Mr. Policeman, no offense, but pretty sure they ain't gonna drop my super cute red leather purse with a huge flower on it. I don't care who you are, it's cute. :) <br />
<br />
this is me after the hike:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINtxNArLJP3UeupqtKSwFFhxuOwgcBzqlbaqvNnivYy0nUyg-2fEeKg17FUiqEX-H_5DbSycLtqs5pMCPHssW39kf-9UpSi3ieuBUpZvyslP1gumDb9Z2xegmgdZGZdC-GRb0VSELte4/s1600/IMG_3004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINtxNArLJP3UeupqtKSwFFhxuOwgcBzqlbaqvNnivYy0nUyg-2fEeKg17FUiqEX-H_5DbSycLtqs5pMCPHssW39kf-9UpSi3ieuBUpZvyslP1gumDb9Z2xegmgdZGZdC-GRb0VSELte4/s400/IMG_3004.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6MVi5i8tWD3cfIQDw2TERaK5O2IgLLVa9TetUFPHkC9M0R8kUDuTLHT4AXyHZb21jZSDvt2oGInGmsLuS3fut93prYNW2v5338ikNFtfL3-ifDhULECp8MA5h-X1WPhEmDKC_BVuTTE/s1600/IMG_3007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6MVi5i8tWD3cfIQDw2TERaK5O2IgLLVa9TetUFPHkC9M0R8kUDuTLHT4AXyHZb21jZSDvt2oGInGmsLuS3fut93prYNW2v5338ikNFtfL3-ifDhULECp8MA5h-X1WPhEmDKC_BVuTTE/s400/IMG_3007.jpg" /></a></div>After feeling sorry for myself and sick to my stomach I was able to give thanks and see some perspective that it is just "stuff" that was stolen. We were not harmed or hurt and the <i>only</i> thing that was not in my purse that was of importance was my passport. Definitely thanking the Lord that it was in my suitcase or I would still be sitting in the US waiting for a passport to be printed. The worst part is just having to replace everything, it takes a long time. We make a jokes about it now, Tdub will ask, "have you seen the camera case?" oh, yeah, it was stolen. Where's our full Subway stamp card? oh, yeah, it was stolen too... I'm sure we will continue to discover what is missing for a long while, but trying to keep the perspective that I can be sad, and feel violated and miss my super cute red purse with a flower on it but the bigger picture is it is just <i>stuff</i>. Praying that this is used in their life for good, somehow. Maybe just that they could see that this was a <i>person</i> with a life that they took a part of and not just a purse they stole. Just wish if they had really wanted that Chipotle burrito and tank of gas that bad they would have just asked.kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-79623697250680733742011-06-01T02:29:00.003+09:002011-06-12T17:20:44.717+09:0072 kilometers.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZpXBSIM0jH6mZ1MPfkj8mbU4f4CGYxavbOpGcivyOmH9eernyYesI3gc08oq66IKF3Ka6TCAKRIjRt-vujO8mvgbMaearG5D_FaV2d2yynBaGKpq4goO3xJ3jT4wdl9_hpKG1Qax12Q/s1600/IMG_3563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZpXBSIM0jH6mZ1MPfkj8mbU4f4CGYxavbOpGcivyOmH9eernyYesI3gc08oq66IKF3Ka6TCAKRIjRt-vujO8mvgbMaearG5D_FaV2d2yynBaGKpq4goO3xJ3jT4wdl9_hpKG1Qax12Q/s400/IMG_3563.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
4 1/2 months of training. gallons of water. tons of snicker bars, bananas, whole wheat bagels with peanut butter and honey, glasses of chocolate milk, and glucose chips. 2 pairs of tennis shoes. one 9.0 earthquake. new socks, sportsbras and running tights. hurting hips. sore muscles. many days-o-ponytails.<br />
<br />
one day. 45 miles. 2 cheerleaders. 1 cowbell. 3 lakes. one mt. fuji. one finish line. one happy girl. <br />
<br />
I'm proud to announce I'm an Ultra Marathoner. my first and quite possibly my last, but I will forever be able to call myself an "Ultra Marathoner"...it just takes one right? <br />
<br />
Training for and completely this race was a goal I set for myself back in November. I had no clue the time and discipline it would actually require. I learned so much about myself, what I <i>can</i> do and <i>am</i> capable of. It was a spiritual experience for me and drew me closer to my Creator and God, enjoying His nature and beauty and relying on Him to push me through. I found out that I am a runner. I found that I can run much farther than I think I can. I found that I can survive for 35 miles running without needing music. I found out that having support encouragement and love from your loved ones is the thing that makes it possible to keep going. I found out that if all you eat for 10:30 hours is snickers and bananas you may never eat them again. I found out what it felt like to be the minority (only 5 other foreigners that I saw, and I came with them) in another country, with a language you don't understand, and feel overwhelmingly encouraged and somehow feel like you belong here. I found out that my new sports bra and new socks are clutch...no blisters! I found out what it felt like to be at the end of myself and have to rely on something bigger than myself. I found out what it feels like to start running and finish running across the same line 10 1/2 hours later. <br />
<br />
This race for me was...Epic. Wonderful. Hard. Emotional. Beautiful. Sweaty. and so very Sweet. You have no clue what to expect or how to gauge what this will be like or how to pace yourself or what you'll need for reserve, or if you'll make it back to this start/finish line later that day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd7E600jA-RFCeu903atbqMcbOk5CA0qtapYuTdT9wlNaIrH3HVCS9-nVLnLB6ZobtSY3yv_kprnUGX8591hUfVic5cZqnNb67pE-n2Oty94xfottuZvAE8irlPugC6W0R-JH_yygbTI/s1600/IMG_3445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd7E600jA-RFCeu903atbqMcbOk5CA0qtapYuTdT9wlNaIrH3HVCS9-nVLnLB6ZobtSY3yv_kprnUGX8591hUfVic5cZqnNb67pE-n2Oty94xfottuZvAE8irlPugC6W0R-JH_yygbTI/s320/IMG_3445.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixNCtH8l2FDYmY3LsFWTvU9gxaearmx30bTQ6qhwkj4LM4p9HQalS-TTOJ6uSpOSTK3b-wmKzkmFnejWhUNrBURoAXVO7qF2ZGa5flp80-6CzHINvYL3v-IoNjCu3CUa-EbRwfQepx9E/s1600/IMG_3450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixNCtH8l2FDYmY3LsFWTvU9gxaearmx30bTQ6qhwkj4LM4p9HQalS-TTOJ6uSpOSTK3b-wmKzkmFnejWhUNrBURoAXVO7qF2ZGa5flp80-6CzHINvYL3v-IoNjCu3CUa-EbRwfQepx9E/s320/IMG_3450.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>The first 30k and last 10k were the hardest for me. At the beginning it seems overwhelming and all you can think about it is how far you will be running. reality sets in. At the end it seems so close, yet so far away (especially when you're last 5k is straight uphill...who designed that race anyways?!). For me the best part of the race and most enjoyable part was about 40k-60k (25-38 miles). I hit my groove and great pace, looked down at my garmin and was running like 9 minute miles. I couldn't believe it. <br />
<br />
My precious mother had come to Japan only 2 days before my race so she could be there to support me and cheer me on. So she and Tdub drove to Mt. Fuji area early that morning and found me at about the half marathon mark. We were just running on the side of the road so they were able to drive and follow me the whole rest of the race. I got to see them about 7-8 times along the course and honestly that was kept me chugging, knowing that they would be around the next bend, with cowbell in hand, smiling faces and cameras clicking to cheer me on.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwEWfVdRBCEHJoaRPr9oYZakoPEYRgWRZcOYoCyWE8O80NrXl2J8A8UcIVoVG8pI_xnMyxUWz2sdZRzhBGLrIb-2lyW6OE3bDFPHU-qwNF3yw6dFrH5iPDfMKszRlv6wS5bBXzlYdYIg/s1600/IMG_3527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwEWfVdRBCEHJoaRPr9oYZakoPEYRgWRZcOYoCyWE8O80NrXl2J8A8UcIVoVG8pI_xnMyxUWz2sdZRzhBGLrIb-2lyW6OE3bDFPHU-qwNF3yw6dFrH5iPDfMKszRlv6wS5bBXzlYdYIg/s320/IMG_3527.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I quickly realized that mom had not just come to Japan to encourage me, but rather all the Japanese runners as well. She was ringing her bell, waving, yelling in English her words of encouragement. And they LOVED her. Japanese people are very private/quiet people and even if they yell and cheer (except at baseball games) it is no competition to a Schrank/Chapman octave. so at first I personally was a little worried if it would annoy them or make them nervous. Even though they most likely couldn't understand her English words they were so appreciative and would wave back and thank her and Tdub for cheering them on.<br />
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T and Mom came up with nicknames for some of the runners because they saw them running in my pack for most of the day. My mom would not quit ringing her bell or leave a spot until there was a break in the runners because she "didn't want anyone to feel left out" if they stopped cheering while runners were coming by. That accurately defines my mom's spirit and character. She is a cheerleader and fan of all people. She loves and supports and encourages well. She was so popular with the Japanese peeps, a man at the finish line told her in his little English that her bell is what kept him going and it made him very happy. He requested to have his picture taken with her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbpFpPRQxaw-8pWie08pggYhvy8_pvYOez_b2npWa6aZpZoSuu0wREwvodqN5pftj_9rTeyP9XJQbgYNXJQZXMOgNfWbNAucNNJjmFZB9BkSPOzzTadz3KjdpJW0ClLXP13rj3E-8i-0/s1600/IMG_3601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbpFpPRQxaw-8pWie08pggYhvy8_pvYOez_b2npWa6aZpZoSuu0wREwvodqN5pftj_9rTeyP9XJQbgYNXJQZXMOgNfWbNAucNNJjmFZB9BkSPOzzTadz3KjdpJW0ClLXP13rj3E-8i-0/s320/IMG_3601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Mom and Tdub were well known along that course that day. Maybe for their bell, maybe for their English, maybe because they were the only white people out there cheering. But I think more than that...they were known for the love they gave to perfect strangers in a country that is still hurting from March 11th and needed a friendly smile and a bit of encouragement. I was encouraged that day by the both of them, more than they will probably ever know, and I am confident I was not the only one. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNGCA1JQl1xsHKceNr_-PC8EbC2ZUQRaEsb0G5uP-K7Tv0wrr5G9syHUWQ6JkBkWDWOW6aG5a2dEk85ARTbC7WNob904w-bWX_8LkwFEUwiqBBvNBOGWctL3HHUZOgUmvBm37sLacxx0/s1600/IMG_3451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNGCA1JQl1xsHKceNr_-PC8EbC2ZUQRaEsb0G5uP-K7Tv0wrr5G9syHUWQ6JkBkWDWOW6aG5a2dEk85ARTbC7WNob904w-bWX_8LkwFEUwiqBBvNBOGWctL3HHUZOgUmvBm37sLacxx0/s320/IMG_3451.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyPZhEzMzkONDQ_cb5xeaUkYnUts0E7sFN_mzdf3BBIpFvfzGRAlfuuGtiYreRkvsCp1lvegcqqCgqqwJAtDYx1zgn0ouwuFgN7SU8SDt1bWe-hSM1tExmglJ-oxb_yh94TGIhcVlZrM/s1600/IMG_3555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyPZhEzMzkONDQ_cb5xeaUkYnUts0E7sFN_mzdf3BBIpFvfzGRAlfuuGtiYreRkvsCp1lvegcqqCgqqwJAtDYx1zgn0ouwuFgN7SU8SDt1bWe-hSM1tExmglJ-oxb_yh94TGIhcVlZrM/s320/IMG_3555.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvPkJ1IRSUu57esOS3UIP0eg0VDaOnc1O3XkAGfxSiq1E_qs-YeX0iYcWJFAyrq5pDyUlqiOhB8hkti49jDMp2Ut2nmyjdhxuhbjDiAJZr3eqM8o1sshMvvbdepmj0zvmq87GYRFpAxU/s1600/IMG_3499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvPkJ1IRSUu57esOS3UIP0eg0VDaOnc1O3XkAGfxSiq1E_qs-YeX0iYcWJFAyrq5pDyUlqiOhB8hkti49jDMp2Ut2nmyjdhxuhbjDiAJZr3eqM8o1sshMvvbdepmj0zvmq87GYRFpAxU/s320/IMG_3499.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>At Marathon Distance...stopping for a little lunch with the fans...<br />
Sea Salt Kettle Chips - lunch for champions! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUstnxhKUb_Lmd7THQbQfRih-csxtUCWVdNeTf_smLpoTaU38okbi3wyd2QGKGWxHKapcu8LIWNtTo-pj1wIccvzX3T4EWgY1ZENB_gu9VwTvqndInfzm1Ar45qkLG7hUtaoCjdC7AxNg/s1600/IMG_3514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUstnxhKUb_Lmd7THQbQfRih-csxtUCWVdNeTf_smLpoTaU38okbi3wyd2QGKGWxHKapcu8LIWNtTo-pj1wIccvzX3T4EWgY1ZENB_gu9VwTvqndInfzm1Ar45qkLG7hUtaoCjdC7AxNg/s320/IMG_3514.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EOT6kiPbLokeSG_fuP2aAsHfBcgXlrowvoD-QC3FwmO4bndpT6IHmwT-dml7llcyYLumoJIE7i28hsXr_UEE0Bej-9XKMOVZtGlKBznCz65IiuwqdLPSp7I_e_vYRUuK0NfJ-QrxIIU/s1600/IMG_3517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EOT6kiPbLokeSG_fuP2aAsHfBcgXlrowvoD-QC3FwmO4bndpT6IHmwT-dml7llcyYLumoJIE7i28hsXr_UEE0Bej-9XKMOVZtGlKBznCz65IiuwqdLPSp7I_e_vYRUuK0NfJ-QrxIIU/s400/IMG_3517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Back on the road again...19 to go...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDpy2P4CSqqS-DvhQDKthW0kUm-yoozn_eWPeglU47WJrsyC8HSrQy5BYLm9ZqkXsYy_R3a6bwfZXgtAIRIYt8BA9IhfZaUvE_PN2kYNVOsMw12oKfgRGXFBAmrg1Xf6IcgYccAps6hE/s1600/IMG_3524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDpy2P4CSqqS-DvhQDKthW0kUm-yoozn_eWPeglU47WJrsyC8HSrQy5BYLm9ZqkXsYy_R3a6bwfZXgtAIRIYt8BA9IhfZaUvE_PN2kYNVOsMw12oKfgRGXFBAmrg1Xf6IcgYccAps6hE/s320/IMG_3524.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>some of the costumed friends that T and Mom made friends with. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFuH0Kjo5RhPWuC_oBv3fAll8tKHiLMIgX80VRQvwKVxH6dfnj-A5WFPn2dy9Vcq4-QZv4cdcZ4qlvpEDHWTOJf6ucuVKs1l1tPi80AiprQCYD0GxQu_jegFiTL5WZBAMQrOeyTvFBqU/s1600/IMG_3551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFuH0Kjo5RhPWuC_oBv3fAll8tKHiLMIgX80VRQvwKVxH6dfnj-A5WFPn2dy9Vcq4-QZv4cdcZ4qlvpEDHWTOJf6ucuVKs1l1tPi80AiprQCYD0GxQu_jegFiTL5WZBAMQrOeyTvFBqU/s320/IMG_3551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybKilfEMl-Wz9haqRDkzVnmiKTlFmILtah86GLWgAtjRE6YUTqcZfkvxZzF0unSrytZarPez3J8ORcLhHpb3p8plMlRI6ZnDBQFRSqNaCB9b3M59I9Sn09mWkpcAlczfomqU5UWwR60g/s1600/IMG_3599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybKilfEMl-Wz9haqRDkzVnmiKTlFmILtah86GLWgAtjRE6YUTqcZfkvxZzF0unSrytZarPez3J8ORcLhHpb3p8plMlRI6ZnDBQFRSqNaCB9b3M59I9Sn09mWkpcAlczfomqU5UWwR60g/s320/IMG_3599.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jWo1Sw2d0VQED70dsQvmLorT703psKV536EwAZIcnbvrvxxu7AG0TX7ep_BGdUaepH-hWzujUWupDGujESk9lmTV2gPkuV56q3Ubeum-FFvhTNNeJCjM8SidfpkSxR0OUomog_8nOGw/s1600/IMG_3598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jWo1Sw2d0VQED70dsQvmLorT703psKV536EwAZIcnbvrvxxu7AG0TX7ep_BGdUaepH-hWzujUWupDGujESk9lmTV2gPkuV56q3Ubeum-FFvhTNNeJCjM8SidfpkSxR0OUomog_8nOGw/s640/IMG_3598.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"pray for Japanda" clever, panda man. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18RBjz7-ieWL-JHTuW3ibZRf_igxFCeJN2KttutuhcZj2xGayBLg1kp8DjkRD19t-AOxrN39dvToWmDBgN6ErM0ojXfyURzaIOLlqhnfvxtQd_JHP0IOc3bOoaPB8dMckQXH9-sG4nZ4/s1600/IMG_3520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18RBjz7-ieWL-JHTuW3ibZRf_igxFCeJN2KttutuhcZj2xGayBLg1kp8DjkRD19t-AOxrN39dvToWmDBgN6ErM0ojXfyURzaIOLlqhnfvxtQd_JHP0IOc3bOoaPB8dMckQXH9-sG4nZ4/s320/IMG_3520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhix7Ie9BdU3bJwWWv1VAtIA4uTIT2QSGYHxEitgibWrm6VBLqOtEbSUJUKYRo-GKCMX8BE1gZBEZCh3URK5zXEHVlADJzj4nMFMvCrwWvdh66cw19OYo9JgbDQ85gz0LKi0hyFIgdzuOQ/s1600/IMG_3534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhix7Ie9BdU3bJwWWv1VAtIA4uTIT2QSGYHxEitgibWrm6VBLqOtEbSUJUKYRo-GKCMX8BE1gZBEZCh3URK5zXEHVlADJzj4nMFMvCrwWvdh66cw19OYo9JgbDQ85gz0LKi0hyFIgdzuOQ/s320/IMG_3534.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">have NO clue how this guy ran in this the whole way! I would like to mention, I beat him and his lighted wings across the finish line! ha! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">run your buns off!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-EXmCxfLC-jgj4aBU7fJFhFLxFeqeQl81CfNGHTn2ebjkuDNnUY8Ee52KAvf1Tyf_E6-ZTvqtIwyTHNsqViu1KfluBHAPCTMFzswoBjbTsf1aPZnXNz1H5IT066CNXyEqrj7YR5Q7vE/s1600/IMG_3541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-EXmCxfLC-jgj4aBU7fJFhFLxFeqeQl81CfNGHTn2ebjkuDNnUY8Ee52KAvf1Tyf_E6-ZTvqtIwyTHNsqViu1KfluBHAPCTMFzswoBjbTsf1aPZnXNz1H5IT066CNXyEqrj7YR5Q7vE/s320/IMG_3541.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i'll meet ya at the finish line. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsCo-ufJ4LDs0h6DuFm4buuy6B4x0luH_os_vR3BTqkm4L7SiMrEMQSjwwrMEfksRqhL9o8s94aDCeIX6AkYqT5dvzPwPJF0S6rsvX42jd-a6TRZ6I_OF_Ui9ggxtHWR-Nhx1BqWYjfE/s1600/IMG_3625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsCo-ufJ4LDs0h6DuFm4buuy6B4x0luH_os_vR3BTqkm4L7SiMrEMQSjwwrMEfksRqhL9o8s94aDCeIX6AkYqT5dvzPwPJF0S6rsvX42jd-a6TRZ6I_OF_Ui9ggxtHWR-Nhx1BqWYjfE/s400/IMG_3625.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she's always been my #1 cheerleader and fan. i love you, momma. thanks for your continued love and support, couldn't have done this without you. promise. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJrS5Yek3IdH-ADLhnO5xyocSid8VmIjl7kPFS0BaB72GaeIh7H3lccnOGMm-MvNoZj39j3EpGHJJ9JM-XfotiHwMvKbUo0X5o6V5Z9DCm6IPXmiDiNitBcRycGP8yaWkZgkrOFs_wa4/s1600/IMG_3628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJrS5Yek3IdH-ADLhnO5xyocSid8VmIjl7kPFS0BaB72GaeIh7H3lccnOGMm-MvNoZj39j3EpGHJJ9JM-XfotiHwMvKbUo0X5o6V5Z9DCm6IPXmiDiNitBcRycGP8yaWkZgkrOFs_wa4/s320/IMG_3628.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it may seem that i am saying a cuss word here. i was delirious. i may have been. :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5QhfK48ivl8EcPga6uI7lPWxTIRb63Nj-qtlM7n6KPoUxVip06bBx2ccK6Vy5VhyphenhyphenDfVR8Bya5afblE_y0tyLEJ2fJBPIhF4XihXfWXtS5Spll_0on5xH3S0wKZh0CEvQcbCjnDse_FU/s1600/IMG_3629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5QhfK48ivl8EcPga6uI7lPWxTIRb63Nj-qtlM7n6KPoUxVip06bBx2ccK6Vy5VhyphenhyphenDfVR8Bya5afblE_y0tyLEJ2fJBPIhF4XihXfWXtS5Spll_0on5xH3S0wKZh0CEvQcbCjnDse_FU/s320/IMG_3629.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exactly how i felt. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRzuGZqaCKfdXyxqKlx0OCmYia6VoKtCqWiF1psTOa662COjM0CYvCRTReqQOYMqpME6JPabnSK8lhEJUCA5Zn0WWV6t2IlbBF4KmDmeP7Z0TbQZio3ZD28dHweiuCpZPGO0iYqQ44TI/s1600/IMG_3635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRzuGZqaCKfdXyxqKlx0OCmYia6VoKtCqWiF1psTOa662COjM0CYvCRTReqQOYMqpME6JPabnSK8lhEJUCA5Zn0WWV6t2IlbBF4KmDmeP7Z0TbQZio3ZD28dHweiuCpZPGO0iYqQ44TI/s400/IMG_3635.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two of my favorites. thanks for ringing loud, yelling big and loving me. you should hire yourself out. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8l9akYZ8t1zOYqt83uZCGiUADCRif2v_uJPf9quYftY3J-WTwG9yoS1EHMjDA68gazv8WwF482SPlZvZLuj_ZpogTvD2EHs4zvs6e5j5-MkHy0-vYA-rMNVsAWkLwqLjlPNJbUXaZPw/s1600/IMG_3636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8l9akYZ8t1zOYqt83uZCGiUADCRif2v_uJPf9quYftY3J-WTwG9yoS1EHMjDA68gazv8WwF482SPlZvZLuj_ZpogTvD2EHs4zvs6e5j5-MkHy0-vYA-rMNVsAWkLwqLjlPNJbUXaZPw/s400/IMG_3636.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxubSDmcr07CFu7yzqPpI-8cax5jnDnG6b8kcQlVvjSiSG1sMcId3sjDZpdDLi8BtAsW7-EdTpBLCuIe3dhz8ENvCadQzhMMaVY3-dkHmLvq48p88t9FlLTB5HBuMSs5EO5fi6z40g48A/s1600/IMG_3639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxubSDmcr07CFu7yzqPpI-8cax5jnDnG6b8kcQlVvjSiSG1sMcId3sjDZpdDLi8BtAsW7-EdTpBLCuIe3dhz8ENvCadQzhMMaVY3-dkHmLvq48p88t9FlLTB5HBuMSs5EO5fi6z40g48A/s400/IMG_3639.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">proof there was a mt. fuji involved. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0RXvcX0beLiYPr2BzQbzjcUXH_enOzs08pmdUGYy_ZKvA9DfZ_vHViAANxZVFqhONY7RFRYJxpIXjuds7Ta8LsvyU04YfrjA2RoXs1qklrSQw67F6Cy_T-Ko0AG-HOWBJKl_1fao__g/s1600/IMG_3644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0RXvcX0beLiYPr2BzQbzjcUXH_enOzs08pmdUGYy_ZKvA9DfZ_vHViAANxZVFqhONY7RFRYJxpIXjuds7Ta8LsvyU04YfrjA2RoXs1qklrSQw67F6Cy_T-Ko0AG-HOWBJKl_1fao__g/s400/IMG_3644.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">to be honest, the medal made it worth it. bling! bling! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIzPnSn5-esuTgBsHVFd_TR7c1-cOENgyATdgyKo2lmqk8yQf0kCdmF8iIS9z6v6MNkxlkqvNPmef3FPeF_XefKMCXMtElnx1d_E_XcOH_D9KVkBvmpOig7YFZhfCSrx-vG47-uG92vQ/s1600/IMG_3650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIzPnSn5-esuTgBsHVFd_TR7c1-cOENgyATdgyKo2lmqk8yQf0kCdmF8iIS9z6v6MNkxlkqvNPmef3FPeF_XefKMCXMtElnx1d_E_XcOH_D9KVkBvmpOig7YFZhfCSrx-vG47-uG92vQ/s320/IMG_3650.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vuQOmmYd0YRTwDc1fgvRyyoGBl_ymC7bdd7gTV-a1EthoHuRk3aTcyMiT9Y5x_zLIovOwWDZHM5Z-HQbx-yKsFNxtpynf9_EMsosdqdh1lomuZ8vXvUQCVfUTyGfeF3Fp5XMpv7ls5E/s1600/IMG_3655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vuQOmmYd0YRTwDc1fgvRyyoGBl_ymC7bdd7gTV-a1EthoHuRk3aTcyMiT9Y5x_zLIovOwWDZHM5Z-HQbx-yKsFNxtpynf9_EMsosdqdh1lomuZ8vXvUQCVfUTyGfeF3Fp5XMpv7ls5E/s320/IMG_3655.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">thanks, T for believing in me. your love and encouragement and kicking me out of bed to go run over the past 5 months has kept me going! </td></tr>
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I am thankful for water. I am thankful for tennis shoes. I am thankful for legs and strong bones. I am thankful for sweatbands. I am thankful for family. I am thankful for cow bells. I am thankful for medals in the shape of Mt. Fuji with little pieces of faux bling on them. I am thankful to the Lord for the ability to run and the strength He gives to finish strong. He gets the points for this one.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Heb 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As I reflect on the race and what I was feeling and thinking during the race it all seems a blur. But something that I have come to realize is that the same place I <i>started</i> the race was the very place I <i>finished</i> the race 10 1/2 hours later. I ran 45 miles in between touching that line again. I didn't end up in a different place. Now, that is just the way the race was set up, and it was great, I get it. But it causes me to think about how we "run around" through life. I don't want to be running around in circles hitting the same line over and over again. I want to end somewhere different. some place new. somewhere I'm changed. Somewhere I've made a difference. I don't want to just "run through" life, but be intentional with my direction and have purpose in my "running". I think it would be a shame for us to finish where we started, just running around aimlessly. I hope I will learn to "run" with purpose. I want to finish somewhere different. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
May we be known for, the love we <i>give away</i>. It can come in many different forms, sometimes even in the form of a small ringing bell, a little wave and a sweet smile. The great thing is...love is bilingual.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">word. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNDmnmWYm6sogrwuuj2FGPJ1h-1UAQwuF8tf6rjxRvJ013NTWDLRJ1htmAvRm0AeAxcs5MQQBXJEXNqNmDBC6ORpMttxYpK0VQBjqWu5qxMho27Y4Z8i1evu6FUkP10bm24UZjNAWoWU/s1600/IMG_3648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNDmnmWYm6sogrwuuj2FGPJ1h-1UAQwuF8tf6rjxRvJ013NTWDLRJ1htmAvRm0AeAxcs5MQQBXJEXNqNmDBC6ORpMttxYpK0VQBjqWu5qxMho27Y4Z8i1evu6FUkP10bm24UZjNAWoWU/s400/IMG_3648.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</a></div>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-88779871586960489362011-04-08T17:47:00.001+09:002011-04-08T23:01:44.499+09:00you have a voicemail...4pm. Monday afternoon. <br />I was working in the Crash office. on the phone contacting individuals here in Japan to see if they could volunteer in different ways and partner with Crash. after one particular call i noticed i had a voicemail in my inbox. so i pushed play and the message went something like this, <br /><br />"Hi Kate, I'm Scot and I'm here working in the Command Center for Crash Japan and I found your name on our database and I was wondering if you would be interested in joining my team to go up north and set up a camp for the next two weeks. we leave tomorrow morning so let me know as soon as you can if you're able. thanks." (beeeeeep)<br /><br />uhhh. wait. what?!? <span style="font-style:italic;">I'm</span> working in the command center at Crash Japan finding volunteers to go up north on teams and some dude is calling me? I just had to laugh. Sometimes God works in funny little, peculiar ways. I had to ask who this said Scot was, (come to find out working only two tables away from me) went and tapped him on the shoulder and said...hi, i think you just left me a voicemail? :)<br /><br />After thinking and praying quickly about it and talking to Tdub about it we both felt it was what God was asking of me to do. There has been no fear for us through this whole disaster and for me my heart has longed to go since March 12th. I realize that it's not everyone's heart and desire to go and that is <span style="font-style:italic;">totally</span> ok, but for having such a strong pull to go and help I knew I couldn't let those desires just fall by the wayside. I really felt like the Lord was telling me to "wait" (worst answer <span style="font-style:italic;">ever</span>) and that there would be a time He would have a place for me at the perfect time. <br /><br />That voicemail stirred a whirlwind of emotions in my heart and of clothes flying in a suitcase. I was excited, nervous, overwhelmed, and caught off guard at the speediness of this assignment. I am on a "leadership base camp team" that consists of 3 other people. 3 other men, 2 are Japanese and bilingual! thank the Lord! We are a "leadership base camp team". Our role is to set up the base camp here, find the work, contacts and places to get plugged into what's already happening here and not reinvent the wheel. So that teams of people can start cycling through this area to offer relief. A lot of what we are doing is administrative and planning, preparing, and assessing probably not as "hands on" as I would enjoy, but we are setting the foundation for the year to come and that has shown itself to be a large task. :) <br /><br />I left Tuesday morning at 8am to meet up with my team at the Crash command center for briefings and to load up and head up to our base camp. Now when I say "base camp" I use this term lightly because those words make me think of a dirty tent in the middle of some rubbish with no showers and a hole in the ground to tinkle in. This base camp in particular is actually being stationed out of a bed and breakfast. It's name is "House of Rest" and that is just what it is. So peaceful, comfortable and quaint surrounded by trees and mountains. It is owned by the cutest little Japanese couple you have ever seen. Kondo-Sensai and his wife Yoko-san had this little sweet haven built 29 years ago. They are both Christians and built a chapel behind the B&B that is open 24 hrs for whoever might want to use it. Their whole neighborhood has been built up around them and although they are too humble to say it, I think it's <span style="font-style:italic;">because</span> they settled here. They are leaders and well known in this community called Nasu. It's a resort town in the mountains. It is south of Sendai and the Tsunami didn't make it here, so all the damage that is around is from the earthquake. This is a retirement community also and many people had much damage to the inside of their homes but because they are too weak cannot move furniture or things and get resettled. Because the Japanese culture is to show yourself put together and such a high level of perfection, they will not allow even their closest friends to come in and help them get cleaned up. Plus the aftershocks and continued earthquakes are still so strong they feel there is no point to clean up, for fear it will just happen again. We are trying to locate and reach those people and help them, as they will be more willing to let a gajin (foreigner) in to help. <br /><br />More than that, this is the area that all the people from Fukushima have evacuated to. We are safe here (monitored constantly) and the radiation levels are actually less than Tokyo because it is not down the coast from the plant. But thousands of people were told to leave their homes on March 11th as a precaution, because the tsunami was coming towards them, and then the plant got messy and they have never returned home. Many did not take even their wallets with them because they thought they would be home in 30 minutes. and here we are 4 wks after and they are still living in a shelter with 2,000 other people. this is home. Most are living in uncertainty as they don't know if their house is still standing and if it is will they ever be able to go back "home" because of the plant? So, what do you do? Do you relocate to a new area, try and find a job to support your family, do you wait to see if you'll be able to go back, but when will that even be? How do we start over? Most will need everything. Some of our connections have husbands or dads working at the power plant, the reality is they may never see them again. When you start to see faces and hear stories, it is no longer just numbers in a shelter or 50 men that are working at a power plant. this is real lives, real trauma, real hurt, real hearts. <br /><br />We are starting to see, that the emotional, spiritual and mental care of these people are probably what this particular base camp will specialize in. Sending counselors and people that can speak the language to build a relationship, listen, counsel and help emotionally will be what they need. They don't have a ton of long term physical needs, but the mental trauma of not only the earthquake and tsunami but also everything surrounding "the fukushima power plant" will haunt them for a long while. More than 2 million Fukushima residents are expected to live in constant fear of perceived danger. We talked with a woman who had started some counseling for the Moms that were evacuees and asked them how they felt. They said they felt like they had a stamp on the forehead because they were from Fukushima. They felt like they were bad moms because they wanted to go back, but they just wanted to start normal life again and go "home". "Home" looks really different right now for about 80,000 Fukushima residents that have evacuated. and it may never look the same again. <br /><br />I love something that the Kondo-sans (the couple we are living with, and take note that I think they are close to 70 yrs old, when most people are winding down and retiring) said a couple days ago..."we have been here for 29 years living and working and we believe that those 29 years were just God preparing us for this one year that's ahead." May I follow the Kondo-sans example and let my life be in preparation for something bigger. <br /><br />P.S. and listen to your voicemails. once in a while they are kinda important. ;)kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-12432218899702395532011-03-27T21:22:00.003+09:002011-03-27T23:18:44.726+09:0016 days......after the earthquake. so much has happened. so much still to be done. <br /><br />Sorry this post is a little later than I would have liked to have had it up. This week has been full for the Chapman household. Tdub has been on several flying missions. I have been traveling about an hour away to the CRASH command center to work most days. I have taken up three full car loads of donated supplies from the Yokota Air Base family. Thanks friends! I know there are many packages on their way and I am soooo excited and grateful from the response from the caring stateside peeps. Your love and encouragement and desire to help has been such an encouragement to us here in Japan. Thank you. You can continue to send, I updated a few things on the link "send some love." so please check back as I will be updating, but I know the needs will be great for a long while, and will change as time goes on, but there will still be needs. <br /><br />http://tdubandkate.blogspot.com/2011/03/send-some-love.html<br /><br />I have been mainly working on helping the Volunteer Coordination Team. We have been inputting over 800 volunteers that have signed up online to offer relief into a data base. Right now, we are specifically sorting through the many names and locations of these people and finding teams of people that have transportation, financial support, know the language and have supplies to go up north. Because everyone is still in "rescue mode" and there is really nothing to speak of set up, teams at this point have to be pretty self sufficient and be able to support themselves. Crash set up it's second (out of 5 planned) base camp in the north this weekend!! <br /><br />As I have been inputting data all day long I have been moved by the care, love and gentle attitude towards Japan. <span style="font-style:italic;">So</span> many people from <span style="font-style:italic;">so</span> many places in the world care about Japan's devastation and desire to help in a real way. I think the world wants to see Japan overcome this. They are rooting for the Japanese people and their hearts have been broken. There have been so many gifted and amazing people with wonderful skills and beautiful hearts that have volunteered themselves. Doctors and EMT's. Counselors. Psychiatrists. Engineers. Electricians. Plumbers. Carpenters. Architects. Photographers. Retired military. People that can speak 5 languages. tons of willing hands and able bodies to do <span style="font-style:italic;">whatever</span> is needed. We have seen some very interesting and sweet offers as well...which keep it lighthearted and give us a little break from the intensity and computer screens. Among a few...we have a hula dancer offer to come and give a positive distraction from the devastation. A balloon artist to come and make balloons for the children. and a young guy that willing to come and give his life and go work on the reactor. I have also been encouraged by so many believers that are scattered all around the world. So many people that love people and love Jesus. They want to bring <span style="font-style:italic;">Hope</span> to the Japanese people. I have been humbled to be in the command center with tons of amazing people that are working hard, behind the scenes, many who will never go up to the north to pass out bottles of water, but are making it happen and bringing relief and hope to this nation. <br /><br />I have to be honest, working in the office, at a computer for 12 hours is a bit hard for me. And my heart has wrestled with this because I want to be out there on front lines, handing out clean water and warm hugs. But I know this is just as important and where I am supposed to be for right now. I was encouraged to find a Japanese team among all the emails on Thursday, got them into contact with a bilingual, and the team is ready to go and will be going up north hopefully in the next couple days. So, for reasons like this, I'll keep searching through emails for another week. :) <br /><br />I got to go to a stadium arena in Saitama (about a 1 1/2hrs) on Friday with a few other people. The Japanese government has evacuated 2,000 refugees from Sendai to this arena. We went without permission or really a plan, but with a 1,000 individually wrapped cookies and a smile on our faces. I'll write more in another post tomorrow and show some pics. <br /><br />Tdub has been in and out, sleeping, on "crew rest" waiting to fly missions and flying missions. He has been to Misawa (an AF base up north) to drop off a plane full of gas, down to Okinawa to collect more gas, taken passengers that were stuck here at Yokota back to be reunited with their families in Misawa, and yesterday flew three times to Sendai and back to deliver water. His squadron is in charge of flying 1.5 million pounds of water to Sendai. Here is a link to the video about it. (Col Rapp is Tdub's squadron commander)<br />http://www.yokota.af.mil/shared/widgets/popup.asp?url=http://www.yokota.af.mil/shared/xml/rssVideo.asp?mrsstype=2&id=190&cid=257&cnt=12&pos=0<br /><br />here is a picture of Tdub (click to picture "3", he's on the top left), barely, getting his crew and plane ready for Col Feather (our base Wing Commander...for those of you that don't speak military...he's like the "head honcho", "top dawg", "the boss" of the whole base. :) <br />http://www.yokota.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123248768<br /><br />I am very proud of my hubby, he has been working long, weird hours and is doing it with grace, leadership and integrity. He was interviewed and videoed yesterday by Reuters. We'll let you know if they post anything of him. <br /><br />Crash relief is set up to shoulder the weight of the relief efforts to enable churches and pastors up north to be the ones offering relief to the Japanese people. So that they can be the contact and build the relationships with the people, rather than that being a few strangers faces handing them a blanket that will be in and out in a few months. They will be there for the long haul. I think that is a beautiful plan for loving people for the long term, not just a quick fix. to help people through not only the physical disaster but the emotional disaster as well. Some hearts will not be healed, or minds repaired or families restored with a quick band aid, most of this will take months, years, a lifetime. and I love to be partnering with a group of people, that love people and want to see not only their houses and farms restored, but most of all their hearts, minds and souls. <br /><br />below are a few links to some very powerful, real, raw pictures. these are from Reuters.com. i found myself crying through most of these slide shows. I hope my heart never stops breaking or hurting for people. but may our broken hearts not be in vain, but cause us to pray, care and love a little deeper. <br /><br />http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2JQY6#a=3<br />http://jp.reuters.com/news/pictures/rpSlideshows?articleId=JPRTR2JYUE#a=1<br />http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2JVZC#a=1<br />http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2KDND#a=1kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-57291341921240397752011-03-20T22:55:00.012+09:002011-04-08T19:54:47.659+09:00send some love.** Thank you so much for the love and prayers that have been sent to Japan from around the world. At this time, at least for right now, I cannot ask for any more donations to be sent. If you have sent something already, that is fine and I will get it to Crash and survivors that have needs, it won't go to waste. Japan's government is working hard to take care of their people and are doing a good job, but with that it is becoming a little harder for relief organizations to get in and volunteer and donate supplies. They are not accepting help in some places or already have enough. If you still have a heart to give and want to support Japan, please give think about giving monetarily, which will help relief organizations set up recovery for the long haul. Helping people rebuild their lives. There are many great relief organizations. We have chosen to partner with Crash. They are setting up for the "recovery period" (which will be at least a year) and are setting up a plan for people's emotional and mental recovery as well as their physical. www.crashjapan.com Thanks again for caring and I will let you know if anything changes. **kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-2121639915782778982011-03-20T22:50:00.003+09:002011-03-20T23:50:45.169+09:003.11.11Konnichiwa loved ones,<br /><br />Where were you on September 11th? <br />I think that is a question we have all been asked and can answer pretty easily because it was a significant moment in time for us. I think everyone in Japan could all agree that we will always remember where we were on March 11th when natural disaster hit Japan. <br /><br />Where was I on March 11th? Tdub had left early that morning for a 2 week trip to Thailand, and I have training for my first ultra marathon (yes, first mistake :) and was out on a long run Friday afternoon. I felt really weird throughout the whole run and like something was off. My legs were super fatigued within the first quarter of the run and at one point I even started running sideways and thought it was a bit weird, but kept on. I stopped at a red light crosswalk and I looked down at my feet and legs and were shaking like crazy. I was about 3 hrs into my run at this point and thought, "I think i'm about to pass out because I'm really fatigued". I finally got back to base only to discover my friends and neighbors standing outside my tower telling me I had "missed" 3 earth quakes. It all began to make sense but the way they were explaining how scary and big the quakes were I couldn't believe I didn't feel them more. We are on the 5th floor of a tower building and when I walked into our house it looked like it had been ransacked and robbed. Almost everything had come off shelves and we had quite a few vases, picture frames and candle sticks damaged and shattered. Just thankful that we were not broken or shattered. Just <span style="font-style:italic;">stuff</span>. <br /><br />I wanted to share a little of my heart. Where Japan's at, where I'm at, and what I've been processing through. This past week has changed me. I believe it's been for the good. The 9.0 earthquake that hit Japan with the ginormous 23 foot tsunami waves to quickly follow left all of us in Japan and the world speechless. Many people homeless, helpless and hopeless. Some things that were important to me when I woke up on Friday (March 11th) morning were no longer all that important at 4pm that afternoon.<br /><br />People. People became the priority. Not stuff, not jobs, not homes, but people. I became worried about my friends and community here on Yokota making sure they were all ok, but more than that the people of Japan who just had their lives ripped away from them by a quake and a wave. I have been consumed with thoughts, feelings and prayers for the Japanese people and it's hard to even focus on anything else. My heart is aching. Today there is a death toll of 7,600 and still over 11,000 people missing. There are 1,000's in many little villages and places throughout the north without anything. Everything they had was washed away. Even most of the shelters have had no electricity and just a day or two after the earthquake and tsunami they were giving out 3 tablespoons of rice per person, per day because they did not have enough supplies, food and water for that many people. They are cold, they are hungry and they're hearts are hurting as they grieve the loss and unknown place of loved ones that are still missing. Life has forever changed for Japan. Even though we sit 200 miles away from the disaster it has affected all of Japan emotionally and economically. Most areas and towns close to us look a little ghost-towny. Most restaurants and grocery stores have closed because they have run out of food to provide and the trucks that would be bringing them supplies have no gas to get to them. Miles and Miles of parked cars sit in lines outside gas stations that are out of gas, as they hope that a gas truck will come refill the station for them to receive their 10 liter of gas. People can't get to work or school because the trains aren't working in order to conserve energy and they don't have gas in their cars to drive. With the power being out in many areas it is hard to carry on normal life and the economy and atmosphere around seems sad and a little frantic. Japan has had 650 earthquakes since March 11th. Most people are not able to carry on with normal life because their world keeps shaking and the feelings and images from Friday the 11th are not far from their minds.<br /><br />It has become harder and harder to just sit here and watch the images flood past, listen to the news, and skim facebook. I have felt so helpless, but still full of hope for these people. Because I know the One that can bring hope and healing and is mighty to save. Physically it's like I'm so close, but not really close enough to do anything about it. The roads have not been working until recently to get up to the north and then with the radiation scare (which is currently stable and under control and they are working hard to cool the reactors and doing a great job) the Japanese government was not allowing people into the area. The rebuilding of Japan will take tons of workers, tons of money and tons of time. This will be an ongoing process for many years to come.<br /><br />I am not trying to be debbie the downer, but paint an accurate picture (as I do not think the news is not giving you a completely accurate picture of what's going on and blowing things way out of proportion and focusing on all the negative, rather than rejoicing in the good things too) of what it looks like here and be a voice for the many 1,000's that are in need. There are so many good things already happening here in Japan. People care about people and immediately we had many personnel from other countries land at our base in order to offer relief and assistance. Our base, and Tdub's squadron are sending out C-130s and many other planes, landing on what's left of Sendai airport taking gas and kerosene for heaters, bringing blankets, fresh water, etc. Samaritan's Purse donated 93 tons worth of supplies and donations and our base was able to transport those supplies out for relief. The women on this base have opened their closets and pantries and shopping carts to donate and I was able to take one very full car load up to CRASH tonight for them to take to their base camps and have enough to take another full car load tomorrow too. Japanese families are still being united. There are 380,000 victims in 2,200 shelters and while that ratio is high those people have a roof over their heads and a place to be able to receive food and water as the supplies get to them. The Japanese government has been working hard in so many ways, but a priority has been to get a working railway to the north and they have been successful. Staring Friday there was plans for 10 planes filled with fuel and 15 trains full of fuel to be taken north, so that people can get in and out of the north to bring supplies and help. The Japanese people are opening their homes and lives (which is not Japanese culture) to help feed and clothe one another. One postal carrier was riding his bike around with undelivered mail in his basket from house to house (some that were half washed away) to see if the residents were there so he could give them their mail. Another man from a barber shop was going to different shelters to cut little boys hairs. A high school choir traveled to shelters singing for the refugees, they were deeply moved by the performances. A baby that had been swept away from her mother's arms was found in the rubble and reunited with her parents days after the tsunami. The first teams have arrived in areas with victims and shelters and have set up base camps and are beginning to bring relief to these precious people.<br /><br />I am also so thankful and am praising the Lord for the safety and provision He has blessed us with here on Yokota Air Base. Clean air, pure water, electricity and power, heat and roof that I can sleep under. Our base commanders and officials are working very hard to keep us updated and taken care of, as well as constantly checking our air quality and safety. I do not take these things lightly as the story is not the same for most of our northern neighbors. I believe I have been blessed to be a blessing. I am so thankful that we are here in Japan for such a time as this. I am not scared, but have a constant peace that I know can only come from the Holy Spirit. The only thing my heart is stirring and anxious for is to get up to the disaster and begin helping in relief. I have had the impression since the first day when the earthquake hit that this is the reason I am in Japan. This is why God has placed me here. I have no doubt about it. My heart is heavy and burdened to go to the people of Sendai and surrounding towns and areas sometime soon to offer supplies and immediate needs to the people, but more than that to love on them and bring them The Hope. My Japanese is very limited and so I hope to be the hands and feet and free others to be the mouth speaking the Great News!<br /><br />I have been praying and trying all week to find organizations that are offering relief and accepting volunteers, but because it has been almost impossible and not allowed to get up towards Sendai until recently many relief organizations are so in the beginning stages of even knowing the needs yet, much less looking for people to go. Thursday I was so encouraged because I traveled to Tokyo with my friend Edie to the headquarters of CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope).<br /><br />CRASH is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world. CRASH equips and prepares churches and missions to be there to help their communities when disasters strike and coordinates Christian volunteers to work with local ministries in the event of a disaster. The mission statement for CRASH is to equip Christians in Japan to be ready when disaster strikes to show the love of Jesus in practical and effective ways. Their method is to provide a model of action, accurate information and volunteer training to a broad network of churches and ministries across Japan.<br /><br />About the disaster, CRASH Japan director Jonathan Wilson made the following statement: "Many of us are wondering how we can best respond to the news of the earthquake and tsunami that have devastated Japan. As the television screens pour out images, we pour out our hearts to the Creator to take care of this great nation. CRASH Japan, a non-profit established for just a time as this, exists to help victims of disasters. We have experienced people who know the culture and language on the ground ready to assess the situation and take appropriate action."<br /><br />What can you do?<br /><br />PRAY!<br /><br />- Pray for the relief workers and organizations, the missionaries, medical personnel and teams that have already gone into the disaster areas. May have the essential resources needed to provide good care for the people.<br />- the military men and women that are working around the clock here on base and also off to support the mission at hand<br />- for the community here on base, that they would have wisdom and discernment on whether they should evacuate or stay and do what's best for their family without panic or craziness<br />- that the reactors would continue to remain stable and that they would be able to cool them enough to get the vials out and no more would be affected by the radiation<br />- for the Japanese and American government as they work alongside each other and make decisions and plans for coming days and years<br />- for CRASH as they continue to plan and discern when and where to set up base camps around the disaster, for the people that are working around the clock to plan, answer phones, collect items, funds, gas, etc and for volunteers to be willing to go into the disaster areas and begin to provide relief<br />- discernment for me and Tdub as we decide when and where or if I should go to offer relief up north and that in the process would stay safe, but also be affective and used.<br /><br />GIVE!<br />There are many worthy relief organizations out there, but I am partnering with CRASH right now because I believe they are caring for people physically and emotionally, They are doing a lot with a little and are going in for the long run to help people get resettled in their communities, and having people take care of them for the long haul not just for a couple weeks. You can give financially online to CRASH at www.crashjapan.com giving financially is the best option for all relief organizations because they can do and buy with the money as the needs change in treating the disaster and with people's needs.<br /><br />SEND!<br />I will post in another post on how what you can send if you desire to buy supplies and send a package. It is very important you stick to the specific needs or the supplies you send may go to waste as they may not be needed. :)<br /><br />This came to me today as I was thinking and praying. Japan is often known as "The Land of the Rising Sun". Well, I am confident that it is becoming "The Land of the Rising Son". (yes, a little cheesy I realize) I know that Jesus is in the business of bringing beauty out of ashes, and I know that He has not forgotten about Japan or these Japanese people I have fallen in love with. He is in control and "will work all things together for good for those that love Him". As people need hope and healing and hear the message of Jesus and His unconditional love my prayer is that His name would rise in this country and He would be worshiped, honored and glorified.<br /><br />Loving on Japan.<br />Kate Schrank Chapmankate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-36768298995220800352011-01-26T18:24:00.015+09:002011-01-27T21:44:03.669+09:00man vs. foodit's been confirmed. food eating contests are universal. you don't even have to speak each other's language to understand one another and compete by shoveling food into your mouth at a very rapid pace. guess you don't need to speak each other's language because you don't have time or room to speak at all. works out nicely. <br /><br />tdub had the pleasure of competing in an Udon noodle eating contest earlier this fall. Udon noodles are Japanese noodles, they are the thickest wheat flour noodles and very chewy too. they are served cold (don't recommend) or warm in a soup like liquid. however, don't know there was any hope of these noodles being tasty served on a platter, in bulk, cold and sticky. tdub and his 3 other team mates did a great job and tied for 5th place out of 13 teams and ate almost 3 kilos. they were the only gaijin (foreigner) team represented and their team name was the "Hungry Pilots" but of course in perfect "Engrish" style and lost in translation over the loud speaker they were the "Homley Pirates". awesome. i love japan. i love that Tdub can say he was in a noodle eating contest in Japan and he was named a "Pirate". <br /><br />the reigning champion. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fl4-bCa1e1xXEbBh8TPeAcY8f7dcT-FEsVwq6BzR-BO8NfZ_kU7ipqKJZqyQmdcQ2xTU29K6ffMzTAYA7xHAIhCVB8ZpeTbqhoBt4yy_CJOOJvAU8w6wur8DhFQjr24P0hra8LMXV28/s1600/IMG_3144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fl4-bCa1e1xXEbBh8TPeAcY8f7dcT-FEsVwq6BzR-BO8NfZ_kU7ipqKJZqyQmdcQ2xTU29K6ffMzTAYA7xHAIhCVB8ZpeTbqhoBt4yy_CJOOJvAU8w6wur8DhFQjr24P0hra8LMXV28/s400/IMG_3144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566434980329746850" /></a><br />the Japanese will dress up for anything. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIupbpoh1Zp8FlnhVu1DNz4tTpC9wHj0hqfheLoCNwLjH6fQeEt7T4roYI36WFGaXg5lyDXetsHjGAQe3i5fxOeDdHzDaPtP2CHg6gk53j-hR3ovwQdxZF4KoiNJzKZquHUuJnr6HfWgw/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIupbpoh1Zp8FlnhVu1DNz4tTpC9wHj0hqfheLoCNwLjH6fQeEt7T4roYI36WFGaXg5lyDXetsHjGAQe3i5fxOeDdHzDaPtP2CHg6gk53j-hR3ovwQdxZF4KoiNJzKZquHUuJnr6HfWgw/s400/IMG_3155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566434972931099298" /></a><br />anything. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKK2OLfCld9vCLQMtYukzihP_AKbrUE1z-ZTQNDsiCjOWgsFaENxPEe_XLNMc2t_HP35l94hdO8uxlqazGmbI3EyyB8rk0vYLr_37dvbw_gz7A0vbSUytViiB6mWLkef9Nt-mwz8ezEgU/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKK2OLfCld9vCLQMtYukzihP_AKbrUE1z-ZTQNDsiCjOWgsFaENxPEe_XLNMc2t_HP35l94hdO8uxlqazGmbI3EyyB8rk0vYLr_37dvbw_gz7A0vbSUytViiB6mWLkef9Nt-mwz8ezEgU/s400/IMG_3156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566434968328172978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm8p_lnzK-O8Nd9o7I6qbV5g2_T_L7V69dQEmjK1tr3AaOzhxgks93_ytjqoPSq-rYFpY5kaUAGGGRZe1szqw08YryaMPM0b5U16yAxNgQAUcWG2hNWuMqebp7K6usCv03z8FGgi7NDM/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm8p_lnzK-O8Nd9o7I6qbV5g2_T_L7V69dQEmjK1tr3AaOzhxgks93_ytjqoPSq-rYFpY5kaUAGGGRZe1szqw08YryaMPM0b5U16yAxNgQAUcWG2hNWuMqebp7K6usCv03z8FGgi7NDM/s400/IMG_3168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566434965158163810" /></a><br />and the <span style="font-style:italic;">boring</span> westerners. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsMHeweCesiN3FuftsokKnB3rrmp8rYKwDLNclKD8DDgpMlN5hInlPflsq6J5aPGpF_SHCngO8jMH2gHtcOl1l4LVC3Nj2FylcmRoHk9ggPRp2-xetMgZ54WmRw3Y4RLXHKBoIlTMj7k/s1600/IMG_3160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsMHeweCesiN3FuftsokKnB3rrmp8rYKwDLNclKD8DDgpMlN5hInlPflsq6J5aPGpF_SHCngO8jMH2gHtcOl1l4LVC3Nj2FylcmRoHk9ggPRp2-xetMgZ54WmRw3Y4RLXHKBoIlTMj7k/s400/IMG_3160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566825701875232370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkq2Nyrd_9jJFFdMWn3ZkNS4q84toNzWKbssH1giTaZJZdwJMdqeYyfbKsSbWaezo0pwbNthKpvuMGEYwWywzuHvue0x1MwW7TCzTuMhgnskied0LvQPVMu8bb9CvuTRZymwKvqeLntSA/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkq2Nyrd_9jJFFdMWn3ZkNS4q84toNzWKbssH1giTaZJZdwJMdqeYyfbKsSbWaezo0pwbNthKpvuMGEYwWywzuHvue0x1MwW7TCzTuMhgnskied0LvQPVMu8bb9CvuTRZymwKvqeLntSA/s400/IMG_3163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566825699437814002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRKshoqMdoqCygLawuy44cyIVYiPsq1QTH8X1C5fUtmwMmqsDZMYSmE5sowg5PCH8-f30SccquLrPqVrEo8h9BX57G2xNCJNdnfHOC0JL2F68vSBCXIkN2jlecpWSaAK20fvVtMXQ1Gs/s1600/IMG_3173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRKshoqMdoqCygLawuy44cyIVYiPsq1QTH8X1C5fUtmwMmqsDZMYSmE5sowg5PCH8-f30SccquLrPqVrEo8h9BX57G2xNCJNdnfHOC0JL2F68vSBCXIkN2jlecpWSaAK20fvVtMXQ1Gs/s400/IMG_3173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566825692735226210" /></a><br />tdub stickin' out his belly, showing off the "storehouse" for all those noodles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlpXRDDyCQXLs5pushFHDEa3ydu00EfRZpXU2_xWV3lTk7_cHo5oqSIfjbLQfSaAQHcfR5XIWtDsPPYwFUY4XZJFc9gKUBSP_hR8h75DoyeDoXOTHeZO4OfREDCyQEC6OamBHygws970/s1600/IMG_3175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlpXRDDyCQXLs5pushFHDEa3ydu00EfRZpXU2_xWV3lTk7_cHo5oqSIfjbLQfSaAQHcfR5XIWtDsPPYwFUY4XZJFc9gKUBSP_hR8h75DoyeDoXOTHeZO4OfREDCyQEC6OamBHygws970/s400/IMG_3175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566825691666697394" /></a><br />matt and tdub getting fired up. does anyone have a bandaid?...cause you are cut! not sure how those biceps will help with your noodle eating skills, but at least you'll look good doing it. ha! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9fRWyb42oJfhaUT0ha5ZooNG7VffD8kKh_Sab0RialHevEInpOpIhpL-XS2WBHl_X-Ni5K1lzLJaKU-sNcrUREksmWDM0NOMrJ2r9oL1hIISyLIRirmbehrIOyHLmBPY_lvbagwPWKE/s1600/IMG_3179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9fRWyb42oJfhaUT0ha5ZooNG7VffD8kKh_Sab0RialHevEInpOpIhpL-XS2WBHl_X-Ni5K1lzLJaKU-sNcrUREksmWDM0NOMrJ2r9oL1hIISyLIRirmbehrIOyHLmBPY_lvbagwPWKE/s400/IMG_3179.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566825685631860802" /></a><br />susie was first up to bat. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchY1PCm25reIZZTW0LILdRe7fkPH2wSAVibHhzuNUKYvBxXlflyCbqRS8-zf-HKDTSFD3oYUwliXMMCEtFMAyXnfmZpm7i8yf_0V1olr7FSK2v40ZciNZPgTDwcMIK_LhS4iLltp0Ajo/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchY1PCm25reIZZTW0LILdRe7fkPH2wSAVibHhzuNUKYvBxXlflyCbqRS8-zf-HKDTSFD3oYUwliXMMCEtFMAyXnfmZpm7i8yf_0V1olr7FSK2v40ZciNZPgTDwcMIK_LhS4iLltp0Ajo/s400/IMG_3203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566828380097547298" /></a><br />matt was up next. and ate like a champ. they all thought it was hilarious that the "pirates" were using a "fork". <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoGyS29YDWMmhpt6Xxyw2xaOG6hQNiQe5rlHQJnlobxjDdPTdOmoMjd_hnx5ToPdQb6eapfc6yBtX76KIWCCxN7ta-5l-RZv3uIJo-Ba08NoSOFAucIGH8hyphenhyphenxyNGzD0lt_xJKFItzVRU/s1600/IMG_3219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoGyS29YDWMmhpt6Xxyw2xaOG6hQNiQe5rlHQJnlobxjDdPTdOmoMjd_hnx5ToPdQb6eapfc6yBtX76KIWCCxN7ta-5l-RZv3uIJo-Ba08NoSOFAucIGH8hyphenhyphenxyNGzD0lt_xJKFItzVRU/s400/IMG_3219.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566828376122095634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_sLP3tpDXsbyZijHChGWlA47Vsn-gH5z-jfhi7ZZQ_dJ4Cn58-lXhYn9-_ycP28GD95fNprwChC5ffgaeZ_f0FOOumV_VKT8nfzUytpwV1lbb3F_cTkbIFpvfZCC6VbZEpxLl2g497c/s1600/IMG_3228.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_sLP3tpDXsbyZijHChGWlA47Vsn-gH5z-jfhi7ZZQ_dJ4Cn58-lXhYn9-_ycP28GD95fNprwChC5ffgaeZ_f0FOOumV_VKT8nfzUytpwV1lbb3F_cTkbIFpvfZCC6VbZEpxLl2g497c/s400/IMG_3228.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566828368978613378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt4wsHBCYwkpWFTV_RBk_9Ce3iQNwPAHNTsHVjNA-kM1tGQCmLi2py5R859iPPBCr17DbDRMEWjJY2pUoKxBEDkMILr_P9hrOb3-3s3kY_5N-DtwhqJ3JA16WekN8Cbs3gfijVS9wHig/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt4wsHBCYwkpWFTV_RBk_9Ce3iQNwPAHNTsHVjNA-kM1tGQCmLi2py5R859iPPBCr17DbDRMEWjJY2pUoKxBEDkMILr_P9hrOb3-3s3kY_5N-DtwhqJ3JA16WekN8Cbs3gfijVS9wHig/s400/IMG_3233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566828366235728642" /></a><br />chopsticks. really, dude?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxvN-Uk7u_ACKdXdHpYipzQl4YFlMs1d6gmnRAekwJqew8mJ0dpS-Uxs5mwavsf7vGIWolqga0zjh87E7mls273QuGbkLCk1Ho341sHtRy-EjV9Cre6Tod2zgHLMGBx_28WPGlTANLXg/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxvN-Uk7u_ACKdXdHpYipzQl4YFlMs1d6gmnRAekwJqew8mJ0dpS-Uxs5mwavsf7vGIWolqga0zjh87E7mls273QuGbkLCk1Ho341sHtRy-EjV9Cre6Tod2zgHLMGBx_28WPGlTANLXg/s400/IMG_3211.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566828363018897666" /></a><br />ready.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjm3Ts6MVtQzl8Ubd0TDk4RNdW7MORmKb5UumA1KXR1Vr3XUBd_-V1k3K9mODi7SWB2tsFOsYS3YQkzmvp7UyHw_xdUwZOamHXZA5RbphOA_Y8X_wsZEQb0q5aKLyAoIyJa-tDEsxNws/s1600/IMG_3263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjm3Ts6MVtQzl8Ubd0TDk4RNdW7MORmKb5UumA1KXR1Vr3XUBd_-V1k3K9mODi7SWB2tsFOsYS3YQkzmvp7UyHw_xdUwZOamHXZA5RbphOA_Y8X_wsZEQb0q5aKLyAoIyJa-tDEsxNws/s400/IMG_3263.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566833203562141650" /></a><br />set.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduVfrGJpXTCE5YRR4i27uJlvJYVuwaHq-ltT_paTsQdRyBb4i-Xm5AqPefdUoG_Ikr_mgeeyF8nS-Sz69loAtzyWALUPS5FEXxoOxzh5VZRU7ddU1V3mQa_yTIln__DfRDaaaIFt9jnA/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduVfrGJpXTCE5YRR4i27uJlvJYVuwaHq-ltT_paTsQdRyBb4i-Xm5AqPefdUoG_Ikr_mgeeyF8nS-Sz69loAtzyWALUPS5FEXxoOxzh5VZRU7ddU1V3mQa_yTIln__DfRDaaaIFt9jnA/s400/IMG_3272.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566833193051040850" /></a><br />go.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBv155A7HamxGM6uDQyRdguCgYqnuzIBOft9PuNyx6JzXetQByfr5TZ6PzqzoOitDGzRW4GxLlnk2yYjW82UaPbVnNNuZe7EInTbG7HzqAH1QyiUIcu8JyVDvK9suEW8l3RM4o0ndI_cI/s1600/IMG_3291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBv155A7HamxGM6uDQyRdguCgYqnuzIBOft9PuNyx6JzXetQByfr5TZ6PzqzoOitDGzRW4GxLlnk2yYjW82UaPbVnNNuZe7EInTbG7HzqAH1QyiUIcu8JyVDvK9suEW8l3RM4o0ndI_cI/s400/IMG_3291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566833188528739698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTOjI_CaztQG7FYaLRMI6ijEGi1PC0S41sfozsH_es0s_H74uJf1UqQWM4d5Xf4EHj00S9ZVpHDusBm-ddO5m6bXN4FfclObuTVk8S5Ft-xhNnXinjEChGWrTRCbCVQEQMILc0RV9d9c/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTOjI_CaztQG7FYaLRMI6ijEGi1PC0S41sfozsH_es0s_H74uJf1UqQWM4d5Xf4EHj00S9ZVpHDusBm-ddO5m6bXN4FfclObuTVk8S5Ft-xhNnXinjEChGWrTRCbCVQEQMILc0RV9d9c/s400/IMG_3289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566833182575512450" /></a><br />chipmunk cheeks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZcwVpu2kcLPzVWuUNhDDO69KYSNgGUMpwXBVPNKccWVWAUVYYxVN-5aFX6jchmhgcjyMbiAy_nlx2UkGY63eHfhiEMmt91IAJxdwukE364hGeyN5b0EcVvnf_Z9FSBiLWdXVzGqvOfE/s1600/IMG_3329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZcwVpu2kcLPzVWuUNhDDO69KYSNgGUMpwXBVPNKccWVWAUVYYxVN-5aFX6jchmhgcjyMbiAy_nlx2UkGY63eHfhiEMmt91IAJxdwukE364hGeyN5b0EcVvnf_Z9FSBiLWdXVzGqvOfE/s400/IMG_3329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566833178676593842" /></a><br />not feeling so hott.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrGX3UrrOufnv4pGGvMcGdLOOc_CRZm1kGl3kB0xvGQt2cy1FKdNirJ4pKexLHJqxqf7IHK2_K_J1Pik4BOW0MyVnYrfaGRy5oakc4t10nseqhxAFJxe3lHYMbtfQNZbwkIHE1MENeRc/s1600/IMG_3309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrGX3UrrOufnv4pGGvMcGdLOOc_CRZm1kGl3kB0xvGQt2cy1FKdNirJ4pKexLHJqxqf7IHK2_K_J1Pik4BOW0MyVnYrfaGRy5oakc4t10nseqhxAFJxe3lHYMbtfQNZbwkIHE1MENeRc/s400/IMG_3309.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566840734382636354" /></a><br />is he gonna blow?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D5i_L7MgLgrnytNmkHOCOxRxL5NUXohVmQXs1VoW9JwWAmFC3AYN-_2pcPkRQilupJy91HwCwCHn86C3q9BiNNGKosgnNjrZAJUZzJZvvdqVkBzButihO70IkcwBaoHhMiHXCd5JK38/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D5i_L7MgLgrnytNmkHOCOxRxL5NUXohVmQXs1VoW9JwWAmFC3AYN-_2pcPkRQilupJy91HwCwCHn86C3q9BiNNGKosgnNjrZAJUZzJZvvdqVkBzButihO70IkcwBaoHhMiHXCd5JK38/s400/IMG_3310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566840732578811794" /></a><br />got a handle on and pushing on!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5xKuvlrVZNx1pDVnBiqKfiN_4Fp6z2NU7b-khPMpC8At0Zhxs349CtthsWwF8huAaEhIssp2TsxuYkAKz1dkKcg7TAxXvR2HcnxojER1YfgiefyJiwNASwUC2RpB6J8q3xi_6eei-VE/s1600/IMG_3331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5xKuvlrVZNx1pDVnBiqKfiN_4Fp6z2NU7b-khPMpC8At0Zhxs349CtthsWwF8huAaEhIssp2TsxuYkAKz1dkKcg7TAxXvR2HcnxojER1YfgiefyJiwNASwUC2RpB6J8q3xi_6eei-VE/s400/IMG_3331.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566840720627809890" /></a><br />uhhh...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwReOurf64JPFOqocTXOQCwnxV2OCtnXJH9zdu6nQdrqthqzzDNfSSJ6deoSMt-doo89oXlYv3Qx28xww_dnjcK3kY6jemKhvBynnly-M7Pl0RJJrgPfRYPjDz5LkHX9xAg3Dgbdpjiw/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 379px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwReOurf64JPFOqocTXOQCwnxV2OCtnXJH9zdu6nQdrqthqzzDNfSSJ6deoSMt-doo89oXlYv3Qx28xww_dnjcK3kY6jemKhvBynnly-M7Pl0RJJrgPfRYPjDz5LkHX9xAg3Dgbdpjiw/s400/IMG_3337.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566840718425882306" /></a><br />breathe. stretch. shake. and let it go. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TN-CkuotidE-kKqim7HiNNKYTQ0hLe6bG75A-8tO3jjO_icAulxpT-EiWZhk5kciszvyDo_WerqujtaLJnQzj-4vq2wzVivwnNNh3eprbM24YLff0-22AYLrNGjmA32SLjrq1r4K-cA/s1600/IMG_3338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TN-CkuotidE-kKqim7HiNNKYTQ0hLe6bG75A-8tO3jjO_icAulxpT-EiWZhk5kciszvyDo_WerqujtaLJnQzj-4vq2wzVivwnNNh3eprbM24YLff0-22AYLrNGjmA32SLjrq1r4K-cA/s400/IMG_3338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566840713582436146" /></a><br />Time! Aaaand we're done. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNiz73mvXkAbxncOch7YtcrdJJtamVAYMAsj5sLsOfT_O8vRRBPOkpb6V5VMzyxuk_Jt34NJQmPAQyRzSFttOjSxjCPVBe9OPhwzi7gp3ky0uudy_npQQVLHzDHlZ1tavuzNE0Fu5OfI/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNiz73mvXkAbxncOch7YtcrdJJtamVAYMAsj5sLsOfT_O8vRRBPOkpb6V5VMzyxuk_Jt34NJQmPAQyRzSFttOjSxjCPVBe9OPhwzi7gp3ky0uudy_npQQVLHzDHlZ1tavuzNE0Fu5OfI/s400/IMG_3352.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566842381993362002" /></a><br />3 kilos down. 2 kilos still on that platter. An Atkins diet nightmare. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMERpzT4psrJF0ZKi3b1gZQy-oIrWKYVhvn777-yCo5fMBCv1WPVIeHyFMR1_D4P-FBzU7rlxWlZ3Th9XhlwJRPQurt_WJ-x7WEaxFz7aWL4VeAhOqoj9qFNLeMKU122u09j3eUzYLqdg/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMERpzT4psrJF0ZKi3b1gZQy-oIrWKYVhvn777-yCo5fMBCv1WPVIeHyFMR1_D4P-FBzU7rlxWlZ3Th9XhlwJRPQurt_WJ-x7WEaxFz7aWL4VeAhOqoj9qFNLeMKU122u09j3eUzYLqdg/s400/IMG_3361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566842375650838498" /></a><br />i'm with the band. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijppXLlnoIpYQ4BgXVXMlIZdeL6AP2DzAVuLrfeCmo35SQfiH-17Ip5S-SirKgP28OXbjv_CVZxZ_8N3PCp36jn3OCoapa0JnOEA1dP6UgbYMZg3TFkXfkA0ahHd7bRHFF_5GP77z-jXA/s1600/IMG_3363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijppXLlnoIpYQ4BgXVXMlIZdeL6AP2DzAVuLrfeCmo35SQfiH-17Ip5S-SirKgP28OXbjv_CVZxZ_8N3PCp36jn3OCoapa0JnOEA1dP6UgbYMZg3TFkXfkA0ahHd7bRHFF_5GP77z-jXA/s400/IMG_3363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566842371912068434" /></a><br />all the teams lined up. you'll notice the winning team finished almost 4 kilos. fattys.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK7MkuqwKruocxgEU8FjzLt09-ESq991LFL40MQBtyEmEqCoDDkPJRwy8y3LHXDGaQx-9hJM0vrcLusLDcgvnQsiY2GRKNbzKtER2NTRgS5dtqvhDlcALqxEosL1Qm5LKzDH2Rh9dMro/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK7MkuqwKruocxgEU8FjzLt09-ESq991LFL40MQBtyEmEqCoDDkPJRwy8y3LHXDGaQx-9hJM0vrcLusLDcgvnQsiY2GRKNbzKtER2NTRgS5dtqvhDlcALqxEosL1Qm5LKzDH2Rh9dMro/s400/IMG_3384.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566842366958572162" /></a><br />i asked Tdub if he wanted noodles for dinner. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36bGMqjT7cut5BgTyVKj1Cihj41zozttomXq8rMXymLQvyELx91lcVvpJzxw9Csgnt6o43cQNtWef5n8EvszU5_jNJ_46O7d5WXN4J7D0JNfIWdjdc_SqVDGk7MhkesGnO2jRFOcH-HM/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36bGMqjT7cut5BgTyVKj1Cihj41zozttomXq8rMXymLQvyELx91lcVvpJzxw9Csgnt6o43cQNtWef5n8EvszU5_jNJ_46O7d5WXN4J7D0JNfIWdjdc_SqVDGk7MhkesGnO2jRFOcH-HM/s400/IMG_3402.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566842358009357426" /></a>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-12963928892960317412011-01-26T18:07:00.004+09:002011-01-26T18:24:49.937+09:00fancy shmancey.we love tokyo. we love nice hotels in tokyo. we love good food. we love good wine paired with good food. we love friends. we loved this night. <br /><br />with all our husbands so often deployed and TDY it is so nice when everyone woman has a date (aka their husband is actually home) and we can all go out and enjoy a nice evening together. :) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgD3cBgGNXVBkXuG9il1Ae9xLErnH-x7hDq6x2i7cgfPZugVExABqHlHja4ypN1X55_e3cdt5dUG9jeuvZgmbHkdzu5etxxwlWVJ2Q096nPyCNGdlC9m2k75MGm4NUyjxX53Uh_c1Rno/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgD3cBgGNXVBkXuG9il1Ae9xLErnH-x7hDq6x2i7cgfPZugVExABqHlHja4ypN1X55_e3cdt5dUG9jeuvZgmbHkdzu5etxxwlWVJ2Q096nPyCNGdlC9m2k75MGm4NUyjxX53Uh_c1Rno/s400/IMG_2703.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566422749754402674" /></a><br /><br />kyle telling us how he felt about the wine. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVb6Z1WvW2QeH4c2HKSpLR6jy5yEbfJ8GbYPuBdnuLGycqHmFHpIwaRI2AsASqFVT4M26aWXrU4JvC5PWDNGnRo7Or53JolsDSz01u_dlQOSltORKs_GHJl2BQKC03L3SvZO9wFEKduo/s1600/IMG_2706.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVb6Z1WvW2QeH4c2HKSpLR6jy5yEbfJ8GbYPuBdnuLGycqHmFHpIwaRI2AsASqFVT4M26aWXrU4JvC5PWDNGnRo7Or53JolsDSz01u_dlQOSltORKs_GHJl2BQKC03L3SvZO9wFEKduo/s400/IMG_2706.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566421631854663314" /></a><br />where i come from, one glass is enough. and they didn't even serve us box wine. weird. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyB91LxqsH8vZ_x0NOmc15eTOKrvPtNm9c7GrqE9EXmLMvzam5P3qCWte_UFH4Eyt8qMMMeoxF3FOsEAsiOXoixxK_foLO13_qLaOWI1uoYQV23XiWszUMXMUpHcRr88ma_5Wb9hvuWsM/s1600/IMG_2697.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyB91LxqsH8vZ_x0NOmc15eTOKrvPtNm9c7GrqE9EXmLMvzam5P3qCWte_UFH4Eyt8qMMMeoxF3FOsEAsiOXoixxK_foLO13_qLaOWI1uoYQV23XiWszUMXMUpHcRr88ma_5Wb9hvuWsM/s400/IMG_2697.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566421626462077042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1vXC5uYmH7YcTeWjAZ-wcodmF9QXaaqe01OwA57_UmPi96VtaQ5URTEFO8NY_d3FwSCOhDAOor4p2qiLzctaOYhLDxEzA0j_Z7qqDUR1lbIrnIr2XLIE3XjIMj0p7VAv4rxRRweVeuQ/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1vXC5uYmH7YcTeWjAZ-wcodmF9QXaaqe01OwA57_UmPi96VtaQ5URTEFO8NY_d3FwSCOhDAOor4p2qiLzctaOYhLDxEzA0j_Z7qqDUR1lbIrnIr2XLIE3XjIMj0p7VAv4rxRRweVeuQ/s400/IMG_2711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566421621756890530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqcTJltOFT5F8S7b9p9M0Uh1iYGEsq8var2SRBoYAWpj997-eE6wYPWZ9b409YZU5ZSkGgIxUOhZO2mIdwLgVw6FLYZS5AMj0IkIku02giNFwDzT9blvzom97rwNb-C3JXwihXM8KaJk/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqcTJltOFT5F8S7b9p9M0Uh1iYGEsq8var2SRBoYAWpj997-eE6wYPWZ9b409YZU5ZSkGgIxUOhZO2mIdwLgVw6FLYZS5AMj0IkIku02giNFwDzT9blvzom97rwNb-C3JXwihXM8KaJk/s400/IMG_2714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566421613110000802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzcNczQUpF80mH_QGHks5ge7JuPVJT5I154sRpvCUkqZZWlaxcrPy2QEQdbr6wQLbRw2aE4ZHp-jnmw1zzBQGsuHVDJ3fbz57mQl7rrdUTmWMJtdJnhEdOy22g4O4LdGajeLpl4Yu5aQ/s1600/IMG_2718.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzcNczQUpF80mH_QGHks5ge7JuPVJT5I154sRpvCUkqZZWlaxcrPy2QEQdbr6wQLbRw2aE4ZHp-jnmw1zzBQGsuHVDJ3fbz57mQl7rrdUTmWMJtdJnhEdOy22g4O4LdGajeLpl4Yu5aQ/s400/IMG_2718.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566421612751885186" /></a>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-74995996040481524632010-12-30T11:06:00.015+09:002010-12-30T15:04:16.938+09:00Hakone.We traveled about 2 1/2 hrs by train to get to the Hakone area. It is a national forest area, the leaves were just barely starting to change, it was beautiful and a sweet oasis from the city life. Hakone is known for it's modes of transportation. You can buy a 2 day pass that lets you get around the Hakone area using any transportation you like...cable car, city buses, ropeway, sight seeing cruise, mountain train. Because Hakone is up in the mountains it is also a very popular onsen area. <br /><br />Onsen's are traditional Japanese bath houses. They are like hot spring baths, some have natural spring water and others are man made. Some westerns really enjoy going (like Tdub and I) and others will never step foot in an onsen. One reason for the division: nakedness. No clothes or bathing suits are allowed inside the hot baths. Boys and girls are divided, but you have to get nakey! And some people don't want to get naked. I will be honest, it was a little weird for like the first 5 minutes I did it, but then you realize, everyone else is naked and no one is looking at you, no one cares. It is actually a really freeing and beautiful thing. Growing up in America and feeling like nakedness or the human body always has to be distorted into something perverted or sexual the thought of being naked, taking a bath with a bunch of other people was so foreign, I couldn't even imagine how that would work. But to the Japanese people, this is a tradition, a given, a very normal bath. Because people's houses are so small in Japan, many people in old Japan would come here to bathe and relax, it is still a very popular past time, but used more now as an outing or relaxation experience. There are rules to using the onsen, and if not done properly or follow the rules you can be kicked out. I think they will let you put your clothes on before they kick you out. ha! <br /><br />We stayed at a traditional Japanese hotel, called a Ryokan (yes, you sleep on the floor). They served us a very traditional dinner and breakfast. Of course, Tdub was in heaven having raw fish and octopus for dinner and breakfast. I was ok at dinner, but was hard to eat again the next morning. Where's the cinnamon roll, yo? They spoke no English, so one of my Japanese students had to make the reservations for us. I have been taking Japanese lessons for the past few months, so I was very proud of myself when we actually were able to communicate more in Japanese than in English! I felt like a Japanese rockstar. :) Hakone is a must see while in Japan. <br /><br />of course starting the trip off right with sushi!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RFTckfFjRDPP9OazSMJ6yxsdkeFdeN6FNcvdBbVmcCSp0Ah9lx09PDQGWGgmGvKE8sIra13QPtwxbX9h1KmkFumUp3aVFrGoUxdVD4OhBQjwm0wpyFz25jOsznuC4FbtBbYzqQNGqkg/s1600/IMG_2313.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RFTckfFjRDPP9OazSMJ6yxsdkeFdeN6FNcvdBbVmcCSp0Ah9lx09PDQGWGgmGvKE8sIra13QPtwxbX9h1KmkFumUp3aVFrGoUxdVD4OhBQjwm0wpyFz25jOsznuC4FbtBbYzqQNGqkg/s400/IMG_2313.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556296131884846146" /></a><br />waiting for the mountain train<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4YpIhZR41Qhj4bFC10ikaH_R9O0I2WJwMPTvHRWCA8Vt0dIGT0zZez3wtwwIGa7LR6F_PQA_-VIg2GoV7syI5aSwMcxzugsk4-F_IKzrEWFvg-TbVjLAZ173xVSifoihRDUvo40EaYg/s1600/IMG_2314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4YpIhZR41Qhj4bFC10ikaH_R9O0I2WJwMPTvHRWCA8Vt0dIGT0zZez3wtwwIGa7LR6F_PQA_-VIg2GoV7syI5aSwMcxzugsk4-F_IKzrEWFvg-TbVjLAZ173xVSifoihRDUvo40EaYg/s400/IMG_2314.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556296128396255970" /></a><br />the train had the cutest little school girls you have ever seen. they were so tired from their day at school. i felt like i was stuck in the middle of a Madeline book. :)ha! (just an informational side note, the backpacks that all the Japanese kids have to wear to school cost $300.) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiIhKnGrFF52c_vUqD5ZaLEhyphenhyphenWxYr099tuaQXOaQOn8JVX8BD9RQkfnn6s0Vufc_0JwbNU1FinV_Me0KEx3yYEaba4pO_u8bp8SpvlbvG0xDbyFJi6Bhq9pUDXaScGh0zTOjN-n5coAs/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiIhKnGrFF52c_vUqD5ZaLEhyphenhyphenWxYr099tuaQXOaQOn8JVX8BD9RQkfnn6s0Vufc_0JwbNU1FinV_Me0KEx3yYEaba4pO_u8bp8SpvlbvG0xDbyFJi6Bhq9pUDXaScGh0zTOjN-n5coAs/s400/IMG_2323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556296116290120466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0rDH4xXrH7_dD8otEtCeCwAV3ZFBigMQhNrB9hJByv_O27d7HWDz3-xSB1fwE6HARhMXY60vldFLiaVisE1rerBCurebgrH4QRi7EZjXXEcr8uEaqVYYUjnRq0wRWt-4UilIVuJdJPE/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRhmEUDRi0BVvQwbe6bT_NS1hRPqppetNVZKMCR3C3XOfCJyrVylDY7qxZh6kwTA_qqox59Zmf-_O7XZcqfuM8Pzh8Mktthpl5vasM_cCwD6381dQ-FEuGFL-kZ8nF-qNw0TIVEO2hww/s400/IMG_2345.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556298639522523698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01UI0vVg-aGhxd4qnKU5nxMUSRHo4slmAP-mPiTOhvvvh_Y9p1kYIbhjYXUhEfuIJ2TkW6_p4HmsIJMt6n0Wcl-TRJ98sO26YfpvjPHp16wgv4p95gVF8aPUJ-rEZG9sUmZZOeIFoBwo/s1600/IMG_2346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01UI0vVg-aGhxd4qnKU5nxMUSRHo4slmAP-mPiTOhvvvh_Y9p1kYIbhjYXUhEfuIJ2TkW6_p4HmsIJMt6n0Wcl-TRJ98sO26YfpvjPHp16wgv4p95gVF8aPUJ-rEZG9sUmZZOeIFoBwo/s400/IMG_2346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556302925183318322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJFwL-lNxz8lzk-ykA8jcoR8S85qlHcyr77VeBGOvoX5Gr6e44QEbASDYLdRYuJbeVXIucFjh0RbwM7tsMRABHJO9jgt1Jsf0wOMUOn3Xher1gOplQ2KSczKkKP48S9RZ2ytZ5sGFsWU/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJFwL-lNxz8lzk-ykA8jcoR8S85qlHcyr77VeBGOvoX5Gr6e44QEbASDYLdRYuJbeVXIucFjh0RbwM7tsMRABHJO9jgt1Jsf0wOMUOn3Xher1gOplQ2KSczKkKP48S9RZ2ytZ5sGFsWU/s400/IMG_2376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556302919683915266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuyPhknvZBDvmVsHkHpTjWdAgG4eNIGK370maz2etodz39sqyFdIRmgras9Q0uUXNjwzJwnvBh0JI29B6Pjuwh155i3MGomxjX1RFvaMjezP3DzRSl4kPy5Fb_Bosz59yvwbthf8VCbo/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuyPhknvZBDvmVsHkHpTjWdAgG4eNIGK370maz2etodz39sqyFdIRmgras9Q0uUXNjwzJwnvBh0JI29B6Pjuwh155i3MGomxjX1RFvaMjezP3DzRSl4kPy5Fb_Bosz59yvwbthf8VCbo/s400/IMG_2377.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556302918809992562" /></a><br />lookin' hott in his yukata<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_M6er3pqMssW4r4WlGPSuJVnOJUjtpcI1gJkxuZyuVS_eD4MfFzhy7WFS_aUYlo2RljosmptIpemwVhSWhy6URTOz5LtnsmJkiO3xZln3ds8k6txM0K401Fe2MCOCSG5q05PSZyPNjg/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_M6er3pqMssW4r4WlGPSuJVnOJUjtpcI1gJkxuZyuVS_eD4MfFzhy7WFS_aUYlo2RljosmptIpemwVhSWhy6URTOz5LtnsmJkiO3xZln3ds8k6txM0K401Fe2MCOCSG5q05PSZyPNjg/s400/IMG_2353.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556302908517680226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZt7P8gGZEFS62Sa2tRrE-n9ZLP1V8ovRGk-nV6qzKrqRJSodkzoy9CuisYfEvwoS0qiQKO7aWMbjV3jW_qxsn_r01-jJvH9FePs5ziLV27ku_r1_0ix2H25U6qrcyXetV6_wwJCzLt0/s1600/IMG_2364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZt7P8gGZEFS62Sa2tRrE-n9ZLP1V8ovRGk-nV6qzKrqRJSodkzoy9CuisYfEvwoS0qiQKO7aWMbjV3jW_qxsn_r01-jJvH9FePs5ziLV27ku_r1_0ix2H25U6qrcyXetV6_wwJCzLt0/s400/IMG_2364.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556302903813181650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFwA_BNqgc2jK0vRxR3Ak9EZXzNM-2iPF7W1PHXqSD0nYgC1I6r4WlYUny-65DzZtPIFfomEvOe3MgQTfnJQb44PxpvC-Fr1aeShtElCj-hclNv-r6IErTy7lSVrqWrWFsYaXOtJ7tmg/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFwA_BNqgc2jK0vRxR3Ak9EZXzNM-2iPF7W1PHXqSD0nYgC1I6r4WlYUny-65DzZtPIFfomEvOe3MgQTfnJQb44PxpvC-Fr1aeShtElCj-hclNv-r6IErTy7lSVrqWrWFsYaXOtJ7tmg/s400/IMG_2356.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556304743981210786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7FyLIOqhnTixbYlQ0J8ZVWC2z1UGyVmtbDfNSOBC-jP4Xzt9uloMD9zoYbFL62_vBVqqDLOoCE0Rpede0n1l-xdsYfjqFXh40YHCp-MEOcwkEnVMaO6itK-_8otU2PBDic4dJw9mL0w/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7FyLIOqhnTixbYlQ0J8ZVWC2z1UGyVmtbDfNSOBC-jP4Xzt9uloMD9zoYbFL62_vBVqqDLOoCE0Rpede0n1l-xdsYfjqFXh40YHCp-MEOcwkEnVMaO6itK-_8otU2PBDic4dJw9mL0w/s400/IMG_2371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556304738451868610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIw8BQizroDXy_f1HhDDD4S4ruL27nJw0_fTcfMZKPmIC7i7mdg8y2hWTp6P8DSgTwxGNAAiiR3CbReHz-kjfVJjTXzSewtGKTYkIsL6nAx9UCvEehVnGo77el5bF9QnsL9kKq3ZGeVo/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIw8BQizroDXy_f1HhDDD4S4ruL27nJw0_fTcfMZKPmIC7i7mdg8y2hWTp6P8DSgTwxGNAAiiR3CbReHz-kjfVJjTXzSewtGKTYkIsL6nAx9UCvEehVnGo77el5bF9QnsL9kKq3ZGeVo/s400/IMG_2374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556304732261618018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJE4-RmQvFJhPdRlYsk7RtpMbKBwu97UtvM24eWy_93sy0GgneJ76YfDvgpRYtnlb_y38lSztMoW48mrrGfyCIJJAW728MQZ4HvT85mDx-j_q-FKGDaxFu7BhjzBn46Vx8h5yQ6ytlwY/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJE4-RmQvFJhPdRlYsk7RtpMbKBwu97UtvM24eWy_93sy0GgneJ76YfDvgpRYtnlb_y38lSztMoW48mrrGfyCIJJAW728MQZ4HvT85mDx-j_q-FKGDaxFu7BhjzBn46Vx8h5yQ6ytlwY/s400/IMG_2383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556304724001210418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqshckhi68HbuzS7DyVJ953hLdPYm6I1-fYKb2sJiPrnNerMwjIfUot6Uth6g6uUAuQprCXmRGHZkfAhC_3pN7btOy137f48V2AHUsFmVjLMA0VXpW2Tpg3L7PsWtDL9b2lje8uZrVtg/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqshckhi68HbuzS7DyVJ953hLdPYm6I1-fYKb2sJiPrnNerMwjIfUot6Uth6g6uUAuQprCXmRGHZkfAhC_3pN7btOy137f48V2AHUsFmVjLMA0VXpW2Tpg3L7PsWtDL9b2lje8uZrVtg/s400/IMG_2396.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556304722234438754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUoUrNcZ14rBeLunUJfp0A-GqBwi_ledsOtCQloLoWlqWKS9yTKlKdlYlLX_neYJIFHCmKx3SnTbiffQTUf8uLYuJAASz8sDyrRrS8165FpnKrnnBKfGmWJYmZQUQAttSD_pveTNbq88/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUoUrNcZ14rBeLunUJfp0A-GqBwi_ledsOtCQloLoWlqWKS9yTKlKdlYlLX_neYJIFHCmKx3SnTbiffQTUf8uLYuJAASz8sDyrRrS8165FpnKrnnBKfGmWJYmZQUQAttSD_pveTNbq88/s400/IMG_2407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556318578367816258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoTX3ZmmB1XqMQuFkD66X4attrkwJGF6LYeXI1ch9MShbOpn7uPmT8PsXoaCWU_BQiO2JPNwnH-2xcqo7j5AoaXFNLl2JoTHtlMWEEJmhyctacJp_90TtybxktiXUGlvAwupdHax6tNE/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoTX3ZmmB1XqMQuFkD66X4attrkwJGF6LYeXI1ch9MShbOpn7uPmT8PsXoaCWU_BQiO2JPNwnH-2xcqo7j5AoaXFNLl2JoTHtlMWEEJmhyctacJp_90TtybxktiXUGlvAwupdHax6tNE/s400/IMG_2413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556318568185463410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWJ7u5J9QYUNXC4xHY-XaWllCGEt90-o_PLRXN63i54g60SdxXexBWhxCYj6yjgyohOi_A88lehoDP9B-B-N1PyyhKHp79gqRAoARtOrj1HXU2Ky3A_jngh8yrqyBUMG_dMuqlDnOUiI/s1600/IMG_2409.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWJ7u5J9QYUNXC4xHY-XaWllCGEt90-o_PLRXN63i54g60SdxXexBWhxCYj6yjgyohOi_A88lehoDP9B-B-N1PyyhKHp79gqRAoARtOrj1HXU2Ky3A_jngh8yrqyBUMG_dMuqlDnOUiI/s400/IMG_2409.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556318563939456002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi8hKAWquJwPJo-bR4-_kPpa7KL50Bvkwh9xzKFHbu0hmWkgGSJn65jZ382r4MioWxnYoq91oxGzYAdunha1EUORYsex_-_asyF_w9BCCjYP1DfrRlY43dpyIBko2yPgCjG6dqKWmpuQ/s1600/IMG_2429.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi8hKAWquJwPJo-bR4-_kPpa7KL50Bvkwh9xzKFHbu0hmWkgGSJn65jZ382r4MioWxnYoq91oxGzYAdunha1EUORYsex_-_asyF_w9BCCjYP1DfrRlY43dpyIBko2yPgCjG6dqKWmpuQ/s400/IMG_2429.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556320122038602754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5EYSvQhT0UYsTUGIRV5LtlHFHec_uH7tRMDXqqUmuWLkRsUVXC1pef34exTngdiPRnBeBbfYEWI6Y5dhc8TYi_jqJk1BJh05tvIDnaiFpERM0LDdnpWuj1tl5U5yKRj8atzwTdRfLWA/s1600/IMG_2433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5EYSvQhT0UYsTUGIRV5LtlHFHec_uH7tRMDXqqUmuWLkRsUVXC1pef34exTngdiPRnBeBbfYEWI6Y5dhc8TYi_jqJk1BJh05tvIDnaiFpERM0LDdnpWuj1tl5U5yKRj8atzwTdRfLWA/s400/IMG_2433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556320116980309602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPlG9ghyphenhyphenvmntA8SB0hOjQM_PI_aXL7FKTJcD0ExvNOUjQ3enosLKIGVRlU3J0Grxbv1khlnbZ4A_l1Jz_G1nvPe78H4jQmHFLGA5vmxNmQ-TpRnGZ29b_MCQ_Jc_X47GvGx0HkgL1i_k/s1600/IMG_2439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPlG9ghyphenhyphenvmntA8SB0hOjQM_PI_aXL7FKTJcD0ExvNOUjQ3enosLKIGVRlU3J0Grxbv1khlnbZ4A_l1Jz_G1nvPe78H4jQmHFLGA5vmxNmQ-TpRnGZ29b_MCQ_Jc_X47GvGx0HkgL1i_k/s400/IMG_2439.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556320109602450610" /></a><br />wouldn't you hate to be a middle schooler on this field trip?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv9P4aH9ziOKK-_sn2v7fD0Ty3uKb7UAFoaD9q5Kot6lPRUS5pOuZPyLgrBmQ2zm3J70f9RGKkKUiZTKwj8SfN0JlyR8xLC2W5Wnb8CmhrJz9Sco8GYILdyEVG93whvudu3DWkO-ig7M/s1600/IMG_2445.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv9P4aH9ziOKK-_sn2v7fD0Ty3uKb7UAFoaD9q5Kot6lPRUS5pOuZPyLgrBmQ2zm3J70f9RGKkKUiZTKwj8SfN0JlyR8xLC2W5Wnb8CmhrJz9Sco8GYILdyEVG93whvudu3DWkO-ig7M/s400/IMG_2445.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556322429747461394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiAS61d6i6JQzgXoIyOMa85t3RWGqwUyKOXWH3kKrNvuvfK7J3vcc8YEeFKxN_hMFnWBtf4yvuosjo4tkTm_z6y2Z0-nEgO6RElkSvKBY0CHVPlDgqipNwMtHqVCTNee0IvGp_2d0wRw/s1600/IMG_2450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiAS61d6i6JQzgXoIyOMa85t3RWGqwUyKOXWH3kKrNvuvfK7J3vcc8YEeFKxN_hMFnWBtf4yvuosjo4tkTm_z6y2Z0-nEgO6RElkSvKBY0CHVPlDgqipNwMtHqVCTNee0IvGp_2d0wRw/s400/IMG_2450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556322425575725970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAV77hfP5QqldKF7KUldNN1v5Rs002cyQhu_MDVwLQB1w_NVSfG9inWGBdo5Nmz2XeYhcYVf1qGkhkmNTkHZwGZTgPR1J0hIYWN9B1GOurEt8p3kRD0c_fsgglhUlks4Pd8pn-5UsFwU/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAV77hfP5QqldKF7KUldNN1v5Rs002cyQhu_MDVwLQB1w_NVSfG9inWGBdo5Nmz2XeYhcYVf1qGkhkmNTkHZwGZTgPR1J0hIYWN9B1GOurEt8p3kRD0c_fsgglhUlks4Pd8pn-5UsFwU/s400/IMG_2452.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556322414644619410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIrCpDyGePsUm5-tQ4TJ1yNoujtzKsX7_d-yUvh0P0-9d-7WtNFznrM8i48J__yHxHWk6Og4mxZMxs6_BLcVK0jc4U52yhBRyhr1KkDckDAonux2FAYShGr21u_gH1nqaLWH07m4Me6I/s1600/IMG_2483.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIrCpDyGePsUm5-tQ4TJ1yNoujtzKsX7_d-yUvh0P0-9d-7WtNFznrM8i48J__yHxHWk6Og4mxZMxs6_BLcVK0jc4U52yhBRyhr1KkDckDAonux2FAYShGr21u_gH1nqaLWH07m4Me6I/s400/IMG_2483.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556323672794211346" /></a><br />these boys "interviewed" us in English for a school project, they could read the questions ok, but had a hard time understanding our answers in English so we started answering them in Japanese. I'm sure it defeated the purpose. ha! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxfWy703eS0xTQxhBqRPgJiw_D6HKzxm9Vv3FXoAS9gDWOLtSiH1ECigcjXrNbPUxNqKciFAHm4_ei96I_1-ugPmHkNPEQNoYgM1FMwA80bL0HVsxK6QmYVWlzscZbVd-MTuCPLl9wE4/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxfWy703eS0xTQxhBqRPgJiw_D6HKzxm9Vv3FXoAS9gDWOLtSiH1ECigcjXrNbPUxNqKciFAHm4_ei96I_1-ugPmHkNPEQNoYgM1FMwA80bL0HVsxK6QmYVWlzscZbVd-MTuCPLl9wE4/s400/IMG_2466.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556323668868865058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQLi8rCfiP4_uvdKAIwT77q3R5bIs06GW-rZHna4eXsRyCEYK3UykQgg4H2CTkBNvWT7b_KYffi4ZBsLS244vJOe-oYiNdv2FcA74UOhC-AfqcBUZ55crJ2E3E6BeLLAQIpzd72MKFOk/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQLi8rCfiP4_uvdKAIwT77q3R5bIs06GW-rZHna4eXsRyCEYK3UykQgg4H2CTkBNvWT7b_KYffi4ZBsLS244vJOe-oYiNdv2FcA74UOhC-AfqcBUZ55crJ2E3E6BeLLAQIpzd72MKFOk/s400/IMG_2469.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556323667929691890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLW9giq-gwjtqPbOW3AmKc13kLoW8zKIeJnTyfm3YP9ZQN9Jmt1CZWpJDA6YJjupCPhl7OAl3BLFtclsliiBONHcoWp076fqeiruoDiqBURD83eTwi2vxFetvQxt_FoF7DnMeoGIgmtw/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLW9giq-gwjtqPbOW3AmKc13kLoW8zKIeJnTyfm3YP9ZQN9Jmt1CZWpJDA6YJjupCPhl7OAl3BLFtclsliiBONHcoWp076fqeiruoDiqBURD83eTwi2vxFetvQxt_FoF7DnMeoGIgmtw/s400/IMG_2472.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556323659682090514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8wIn9wg_u8Y36Lz1BMM5Xb46V-oloxdgLKZhlzyP9mUt2RZRDPv-ag1vxua_eB81gdxQ8UnqpEmInag82LT7tzqKxtef_ZKwSAKWMNdXYS4CEsyJeK_KhVGS5cs5LuFigZsgqI5hACE/s1600/IMG_2498.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8wIn9wg_u8Y36Lz1BMM5Xb46V-oloxdgLKZhlzyP9mUt2RZRDPv-ag1vxua_eB81gdxQ8UnqpEmInag82LT7tzqKxtef_ZKwSAKWMNdXYS4CEsyJeK_KhVGS5cs5LuFigZsgqI5hACE/s400/IMG_2498.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556326661698430562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXgnmpIarFw9y1YLuR6zqsdiSU2dxKM0-On_93WwIri1SG7oA2CDybUNMjzAZjvT1X3D0Bmyq5R5Txotf2CxUS5xxRTSVzQ_4OZrasSgtvr2l5GGvUaq8ls4kkfPa5a7bK6PMS40LQps/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXgnmpIarFw9y1YLuR6zqsdiSU2dxKM0-On_93WwIri1SG7oA2CDybUNMjzAZjvT1X3D0Bmyq5R5Txotf2CxUS5xxRTSVzQ_4OZrasSgtvr2l5GGvUaq8ls4kkfPa5a7bK6PMS40LQps/s400/IMG_2465.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556326651211048002" /></a><br />on the cable car<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_-kXHPqb8o31pkH4CRukiYCOJPpKQ42pZA7NEk1E62KfwJQuooduw4WTfQfoZcKQZ-WMzNiVPwtifMgzdmXykY5nSaUKBh_uDFA5NR8RW9NdmKMqTNvZ6kCAsMZxHuPMy0tmhJIvifw/s1600/IMG_2503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_-kXHPqb8o31pkH4CRukiYCOJPpKQ42pZA7NEk1E62KfwJQuooduw4WTfQfoZcKQZ-WMzNiVPwtifMgzdmXykY5nSaUKBh_uDFA5NR8RW9NdmKMqTNvZ6kCAsMZxHuPMy0tmhJIvifw/s400/IMG_2503.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556326647742224898" /></a><br />some good Engrish.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9agdY7Gt4fwwZgrFsr_eAkIkjox8xNznZU3IGm7d8DFj3fpnScuFzf7ET7CNN_quma1lwPSaeiX9A_p2jELdgr8u_AZInhy1VZgjE-W8GYdy1strh77miT_OgGUg2NkYja1HiEjXOl7s/s1600/IMG_2512.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9agdY7Gt4fwwZgrFsr_eAkIkjox8xNznZU3IGm7d8DFj3fpnScuFzf7ET7CNN_quma1lwPSaeiX9A_p2jELdgr8u_AZInhy1VZgjE-W8GYdy1strh77miT_OgGUg2NkYja1HiEjXOl7s/s400/IMG_2512.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556326638983667762" /></a><br />Owakudani is a very popular spot, it has very hot, sulfur springs. They put eggs into the baths and the hot water cooks them and turns their shell black. It is said you have good luck for the year if you eat a black egg. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-aq56b5gxQGredS_puZTDuxcHZ20mr_BhNDlQU9RPylY95K4reBZaVPAVgsHD5ssu9jcm0rinBBsN3K9-LMFLwYcB6vRXtZ2SPpCWocpxF2902ZTP_8Q-OZmG-fr8kkfMGITl4DYgHs/s1600/IMG_2521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-aq56b5gxQGredS_puZTDuxcHZ20mr_BhNDlQU9RPylY95K4reBZaVPAVgsHD5ssu9jcm0rinBBsN3K9-LMFLwYcB6vRXtZ2SPpCWocpxF2902ZTP_8Q-OZmG-fr8kkfMGITl4DYgHs/s400/IMG_2521.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556333330465140370" /></a><br />soooo stinky!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOlyGvN56CMq5P6I9xx-CqlEJ40bP6MFQY1VpSeSROIB88djFaDVac-siNTs3E6-IULVWmrDjA-rTyK0Ce4gntqD7idNg1fqWRnTqPbgmHeOIsDV0kQLNFkGcqyi3GVORoPSp65pAjjc/s1600/IMG_2528.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOlyGvN56CMq5P6I9xx-CqlEJ40bP6MFQY1VpSeSROIB88djFaDVac-siNTs3E6-IULVWmrDjA-rTyK0Ce4gntqD7idNg1fqWRnTqPbgmHeOIsDV0kQLNFkGcqyi3GVORoPSp65pAjjc/s400/IMG_2528.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556333320827234178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTmoQ7RvlNWWZFPodUDIBt1td_ToLvLXD_pa7EwaXPiGyfrkc2VZskklCBK7Cnh0qjowvP5hpq8Qarrmd41kGX_z8TxVCVjEyZh_oU2VMbkKk6H7cWNIXQXLVmCns7ZxAGdhgD1K9wlo/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTmoQ7RvlNWWZFPodUDIBt1td_ToLvLXD_pa7EwaXPiGyfrkc2VZskklCBK7Cnh0qjowvP5hpq8Qarrmd41kGX_z8TxVCVjEyZh_oU2VMbkKk6H7cWNIXQXLVmCns7ZxAGdhgD1K9wlo/s400/IMG_2524.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556333315797301730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydbH2HMv-4N6QxunFOiOGc_b_64bxDdaAaZcV3tOLhIS9Zr0GREO3u8AUSyLHn_BqBnQa2kGLtFjPfXqxqE9ZI5JCSNz16LUw-9knMezGlIYALU3tpoL0jcYgVobyxP2RNoS8AEr_4S4/s1600/IMG_2532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydbH2HMv-4N6QxunFOiOGc_b_64bxDdaAaZcV3tOLhIS9Zr0GREO3u8AUSyLHn_BqBnQa2kGLtFjPfXqxqE9ZI5JCSNz16LUw-9knMezGlIYALU3tpoL0jcYgVobyxP2RNoS8AEr_4S4/s400/IMG_2532.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556333306908697106" /></a><br />be careful!! very "Dengerous"!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLDJFWOMUIKZqcxWdJR_HIO2sYF4Rdy77yYNJeoIhYDEVyAt_j8pNIVfaCPb4ojFNuuL742oqiKbch5s7P4v64qavhEJt9HMnsjd7fdnIa_aF3A58QMiW4aGJoS1xk_PoWiCHYEgyQpE/s1600/IMG_2525.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLDJFWOMUIKZqcxWdJR_HIO2sYF4Rdy77yYNJeoIhYDEVyAt_j8pNIVfaCPb4ojFNuuL742oqiKbch5s7P4v64qavhEJt9HMnsjd7fdnIa_aF3A58QMiW4aGJoS1xk_PoWiCHYEgyQpE/s400/IMG_2525.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556333302775588162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpEDykhNeHZNDEiMwOGpzrL-43wRSi1hixPG_VrMt5PPwqEZUKceS_iaL8-gLfGaVIdBWqWLXHpx3EITVkNZv_Htro48eDqzw1NieFSQGIxCc9HNrwjJq2cM8NNC3769_ZXCAU44ZlpU/s1600/IMG_2541.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpEDykhNeHZNDEiMwOGpzrL-43wRSi1hixPG_VrMt5PPwqEZUKceS_iaL8-gLfGaVIdBWqWLXHpx3EITVkNZv_Htro48eDqzw1NieFSQGIxCc9HNrwjJq2cM8NNC3769_ZXCAU44ZlpU/s400/IMG_2541.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556335458439247394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYD1nkdpqbLZU7dNO2UqD7x02hwnmqsrkuhOLa2QU2LLOpQd8WUVmqwka_Z0O0A61KUGfscJCMpHt4pu86HMfNo25GEmBjhyIkN0nPwuXsqqWNny08Qxd8ulCBo0CfM8sYGW0QfQ9tj5Q/s1600/IMG_2542.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYD1nkdpqbLZU7dNO2UqD7x02hwnmqsrkuhOLa2QU2LLOpQd8WUVmqwka_Z0O0A61KUGfscJCMpHt4pu86HMfNo25GEmBjhyIkN0nPwuXsqqWNny08Qxd8ulCBo0CfM8sYGW0QfQ9tj5Q/s400/IMG_2542.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556335453408292754" /></a><br />sooo of course we had to buy some.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmNd-TU6uNL9aZxIJ8PdtGSYRrk24CLPCPAAkXCezrn3NYm6bJ-wWG_71s88pA1kchzuJASt3f-aYEwrMec5kSmTyADLuVpaizhFr_ntqRIcAPdxrgcm8pnzdwD_O4TBbzq0F9lvr_wU/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmNd-TU6uNL9aZxIJ8PdtGSYRrk24CLPCPAAkXCezrn3NYm6bJ-wWG_71s88pA1kchzuJASt3f-aYEwrMec5kSmTyADLuVpaizhFr_ntqRIcAPdxrgcm8pnzdwD_O4TBbzq0F9lvr_wU/s400/IMG_2540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556335448062566274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf41Cn6oGdxN4V7qPgfUnM2TjWnGwCRt6UaMpOzoUSqeN32sVQGL27ui9Wf4LGpFUEP5qiaeCTb_qw8NLPQuwdOrLLhmd3XDW1AVJlbFuWggeBf0_PT8lufo9h_-eNp8miXXKgZ3cMNow/s1600/IMG_2546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf41Cn6oGdxN4V7qPgfUnM2TjWnGwCRt6UaMpOzoUSqeN32sVQGL27ui9Wf4LGpFUEP5qiaeCTb_qw8NLPQuwdOrLLhmd3XDW1AVJlbFuWggeBf0_PT8lufo9h_-eNp8miXXKgZ3cMNow/s400/IMG_2546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556335438468848130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LzNWhTiU3CyoI-To_rMdPGFaJFzYRSrHgjaCAEF1JnPrEJtKsaHuDRx6ezrycVVaBBmSL-4Hw9JvJnbbyBlQTnHqNtWoe4EzgYFJkiB_qHPMBFx99r5GcbX1BqgHBAtvtT1UmKsq4ok/s1600/IMG_2548.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LzNWhTiU3CyoI-To_rMdPGFaJFzYRSrHgjaCAEF1JnPrEJtKsaHuDRx6ezrycVVaBBmSL-4Hw9JvJnbbyBlQTnHqNtWoe4EzgYFJkiB_qHPMBFx99r5GcbX1BqgHBAtvtT1UmKsq4ok/s400/IMG_2548.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556335440129984946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDorfkZZbOPC-bF6wLm6AAEvv0Cz46euUQq_RxXFQQHMzYn6yg-LPU2EGichveyba6HdZ2yfi40km9bGmxbmu3n22r1Hd03U_oPt154NRwHWPPSUzhtSOWeHR1edxYg-8cT-gF-HY1xM/s1600/IMG_2549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDorfkZZbOPC-bF6wLm6AAEvv0Cz46euUQq_RxXFQQHMzYn6yg-LPU2EGichveyba6HdZ2yfi40km9bGmxbmu3n22r1Hd03U_oPt154NRwHWPPSUzhtSOWeHR1edxYg-8cT-gF-HY1xM/s400/IMG_2549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556344071495892178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSDYV0j3E3IWBA4nohSQYZIAXUTuCgH62FxN5T8tx6_Pgdo7cwC9NR5wvImuimr8bfShrgN0tUImcCV1FwLEWHlxlGXZ8ggS0GOLRbZ9z0EuKIeJJwrC4XJxM5zosviwJeKiYwqXs0io/s1600/IMG_2553.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSDYV0j3E3IWBA4nohSQYZIAXUTuCgH62FxN5T8tx6_Pgdo7cwC9NR5wvImuimr8bfShrgN0tUImcCV1FwLEWHlxlGXZ8ggS0GOLRbZ9z0EuKIeJJwrC4XJxM5zosviwJeKiYwqXs0io/s400/IMG_2553.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556344067122107586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9q_xgzUgZg7YeXo7cZBU55LCaJm5NAyM3AiZJ46ptzIF-OosY58hYNwRF4rlSuDo28coxsGaWVjbO0ETLuDawgFngAZ_l3fCqumFSJT8LvdI1pKCfZmK-o96DGRwPE3Jt-xLsr45oGzY/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9q_xgzUgZg7YeXo7cZBU55LCaJm5NAyM3AiZJ46ptzIF-OosY58hYNwRF4rlSuDo28coxsGaWVjbO0ETLuDawgFngAZ_l3fCqumFSJT8LvdI1pKCfZmK-o96DGRwPE3Jt-xLsr45oGzY/s400/IMG_2555.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556344064067014674" /></a><br />delish!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bXqrvfhaqaf0Eqsa8WPlXXEhW0TpcvK0zHWMqixcyLctOVBLmyguZY0iNV4izeIooBJlixpAn2fcHcCqVuJ5ZSeyWOQWqNFcwpRpIi81iE8GAz8hcylTCHa1qUEHt4Ho7H9vy4SS8Y8/s1600/IMG_2557.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bXqrvfhaqaf0Eqsa8WPlXXEhW0TpcvK0zHWMqixcyLctOVBLmyguZY0iNV4izeIooBJlixpAn2fcHcCqVuJ5ZSeyWOQWqNFcwpRpIi81iE8GAz8hcylTCHa1qUEHt4Ho7H9vy4SS8Y8/s400/IMG_2557.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556344079344149314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pCRPgTGSVX5ONxo1p-jCCVUsyv-Rg6PxMdbN7gJqGM0G_vy9F4Hynm9OFWyXVhGm8DD4K3K1VbAvVtdnU-nRj0aIY8Ob86mSIUm-1Ghf7HmKgh4SfQEuKebsYnDkoPE0QcST0cnTXL4/s1600/IMG_2561.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pCRPgTGSVX5ONxo1p-jCCVUsyv-Rg6PxMdbN7gJqGM0G_vy9F4Hynm9OFWyXVhGm8DD4K3K1VbAvVtdnU-nRj0aIY8Ob86mSIUm-1Ghf7HmKgh4SfQEuKebsYnDkoPE0QcST0cnTXL4/s400/IMG_2561.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556344074833548178" /></a>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-68483018722302405612010-12-30T00:22:00.010+09:002010-12-30T11:00:46.914+09:00toolin' around tokyo.during the two weeks we did a few of our favorite things:<br /><br />1. drinking coffee together and reading books. (p.s. <span style="font-style:italic;">Radical</span> is awe-some if you're looking for a new read.) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmIbnXQtQwn0-btBz5IEPSXv9Aw_ShhbgQ9QaRmd7I6MIwj6hdcVew7Ikj23ISqrtVszMo4M0q-rwr5KGd7CH0iixeIWM8_-PM10_X4ske2zVQNwu7MV8_O2ZBxVUx0hgejZQld4L5kw/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmIbnXQtQwn0-btBz5IEPSXv9Aw_ShhbgQ9QaRmd7I6MIwj6hdcVew7Ikj23ISqrtVszMo4M0q-rwr5KGd7CH0iixeIWM8_-PM10_X4ske2zVQNwu7MV8_O2ZBxVUx0hgejZQld4L5kw/s400/IMG_2219.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556126421763680722" /></a><br /><br />2. eating. (specifically any kind of food, but this tonkatsu was abnormally delicious.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5aLdMBVbeRgPmMpU43AImMa7WOnjN_amk3wlG2z5GLLJDQv15I8KV8C24nzfY3QuZ8rKWutwDxIlgalJzXUoPMzTqJkU_lqgKw_gChmREYsIozPgKsXmoWp0IEbvWxEaymOxVlHEkmo/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5aLdMBVbeRgPmMpU43AImMa7WOnjN_amk3wlG2z5GLLJDQv15I8KV8C24nzfY3QuZ8rKWutwDxIlgalJzXUoPMzTqJkU_lqgKw_gChmREYsIozPgKsXmoWp0IEbvWxEaymOxVlHEkmo/s400/IMG_2226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556126419571291794" /></a><br />3. broken umbrellas. well, not really, but then it means we get to share. :) ella ella ella eh eh eh...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9O2OhDi-4CVCPwm4SSx8LztSNsNvEKOHC7Pcgg7UOgQW76NPrPVbCq_OQ0x-qV7GClkUwUMqa6wz17DSoupLDmtagPyC0-cFcfsGgEk-qXPvrkXSR1XtqToPPi6YtL8HK2C5ZHoIVzU/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9O2OhDi-4CVCPwm4SSx8LztSNsNvEKOHC7Pcgg7UOgQW76NPrPVbCq_OQ0x-qV7GClkUwUMqa6wz17DSoupLDmtagPyC0-cFcfsGgEk-qXPvrkXSR1XtqToPPi6YtL8HK2C5ZHoIVzU/s400/IMG_2232.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556126411072352786" /></a><br />4. breweries and the beer they serve. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjha2rJ6dI5mz9otXzjju2KpEIL0OuelUJ-lvLWcfWMMFYFkAPzJVmyzt2YIo2jtsT8i6nxS1zgYD6ru_wayIvxMgcyPiIqFQoCa30KuFXZ4u_U78eDTeHWosG_rnYclzS_Ss_dcofORJA/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjha2rJ6dI5mz9otXzjju2KpEIL0OuelUJ-lvLWcfWMMFYFkAPzJVmyzt2YIo2jtsT8i6nxS1zgYD6ru_wayIvxMgcyPiIqFQoCa30KuFXZ4u_U78eDTeHWosG_rnYclzS_Ss_dcofORJA/s400/IMG_2237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556126406116530306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2_U98ZEnGQuVAVzx4NqK-ALIQIROsObR0ebQ_3fr1pH_yzSrlUHMpxtCJ_WOpw3NoIHb9sa4tcrkopybqEmgCN2td15HGFpBRjZ5UOk6FJ_pOticJYLa923BNTRn0GA400JodXEcB3g/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2_U98ZEnGQuVAVzx4NqK-ALIQIROsObR0ebQ_3fr1pH_yzSrlUHMpxtCJ_WOpw3NoIHb9sa4tcrkopybqEmgCN2td15HGFpBRjZ5UOk6FJ_pOticJYLa923BNTRn0GA400JodXEcB3g/s400/IMG_2238.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556126401795373250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJexXn-xEh6N7q-tSXwCzy0kIVLfnqIXnKPFw8Kcj-vdAgScled8X8IvJKwwoZPnhBL6DkZOvibyD0OhwePxFtR0h6vAmWoL4RZWL_VCUmsOR9XFKvPzEt_gLk2Genv83vITUBxuBRFPM/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJexXn-xEh6N7q-tSXwCzy0kIVLfnqIXnKPFw8Kcj-vdAgScled8X8IvJKwwoZPnhBL6DkZOvibyD0OhwePxFtR0h6vAmWoL4RZWL_VCUmsOR9XFKvPzEt_gLk2Genv83vITUBxuBRFPM/s400/IMG_2253.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556130140135676130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKAgZxTqA7DFoiSQTMjFquyLxBgph3ctfVNWFC-lT6pcsnc4Tq6iE4_qciDa-FLixbEDkfWa9eb4S11h_Eh6N8Fry7cB4ThSwygGoNvj08Fd_lZX_LHuaWimqWB4vME4LwWEs8-y7j_Q/s1600/IMG_2246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKAgZxTqA7DFoiSQTMjFquyLxBgph3ctfVNWFC-lT6pcsnc4Tq6iE4_qciDa-FLixbEDkfWa9eb4S11h_Eh6N8Fry7cB4ThSwygGoNvj08Fd_lZX_LHuaWimqWB4vME4LwWEs8-y7j_Q/s400/IMG_2246.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556130134614909874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8GgZpAybUZDiyBaoD8lNO-qWT_d1GBAKprq6-NimvIxSB7glOujKPaDas-6wosPN69Cmttui7vksTUw-BFfkuMdSkS1V9vXnE2P5ZW_nrieXAP8Fh5bBDilt8npXoQqGEBmjxNVbH34/s1600/IMG_2262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8GgZpAybUZDiyBaoD8lNO-qWT_d1GBAKprq6-NimvIxSB7glOujKPaDas-6wosPN69Cmttui7vksTUw-BFfkuMdSkS1V9vXnE2P5ZW_nrieXAP8Fh5bBDilt8npXoQqGEBmjxNVbH34/s400/IMG_2262.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556140770888514546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBX700f_WAFbtCTvTjvzcbwYsMj5nz1lka9jIb-hMyL6N1F0F8VHlJsWwUl9Z-OMmVgw9nZ3XKv7dhlR7MHztOrcKfGRtVbLw9qTU4GxQHFJ0cDNKTI1MqkwHpXz7dKotzyUvbMCHSbM/s1600/IMG_2266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBX700f_WAFbtCTvTjvzcbwYsMj5nz1lka9jIb-hMyL6N1F0F8VHlJsWwUl9Z-OMmVgw9nZ3XKv7dhlR7MHztOrcKfGRtVbLw9qTU4GxQHFJ0cDNKTI1MqkwHpXz7dKotzyUvbMCHSbM/s400/IMG_2266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556140762212190882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTs9unXTgqotL9uimkkuTCDVX7Eij_hPKiXuS7P4X0HZE3cHa5i35waqaUWc-Ninl23EkA8z-sZUCc5wpSSEk8wOeeD3LYzrlL3cujHVSnCVHeaIlxNBZ6SiYzsttHncEplY8o_dw980/s1600/IMG_2259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTs9unXTgqotL9uimkkuTCDVX7Eij_hPKiXuS7P4X0HZE3cHa5i35waqaUWc-Ninl23EkA8z-sZUCc5wpSSEk8wOeeD3LYzrlL3cujHVSnCVHeaIlxNBZ6SiYzsttHncEplY8o_dw980/s400/IMG_2259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556140755575348546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhbwEyQMZMw_Ww3010mbubJ4gYOC3HMQDJYfBQI6PZffBUEb61x8tY5MJGNTs7NlupWHsoRgWxrnzUS2kG4WyuLao21xlOs1OPHkJqRIo-0Y-lx9G6ouz1OmzsaI6U63glmdNbBiYYfI/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhbwEyQMZMw_Ww3010mbubJ4gYOC3HMQDJYfBQI6PZffBUEb61x8tY5MJGNTs7NlupWHsoRgWxrnzUS2kG4WyuLao21xlOs1OPHkJqRIo-0Y-lx9G6ouz1OmzsaI6U63glmdNbBiYYfI/s400/IMG_2270.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556140746449777410" /></a><br />the cutest little old men you've ever seen. i just had to ask for their picture. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNkr-9Y2VsgvV2xYX8D2jwFFMYhUnHj5ELMCrSfWlUjuSFfn0eE3ow6P1b1kDMcF2saaBqdvmzPFXCZseeqhYZa_dqBR-pux_1TmVibCju1QcTksVn8Fx5tSBEawl_m_TT2dNH2xcmVA/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNkr-9Y2VsgvV2xYX8D2jwFFMYhUnHj5ELMCrSfWlUjuSFfn0eE3ow6P1b1kDMcF2saaBqdvmzPFXCZseeqhYZa_dqBR-pux_1TmVibCju1QcTksVn8Fx5tSBEawl_m_TT2dNH2xcmVA/s400/IMG_2273.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556141484855452482" /></a><br />and then they wanted a picture with us. :) you know i was SO excited. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8GgdudWfPNuX9mmUrOV99uOuTIBnabZxS0_0OCWI-rXBIqkg-dU0flmSHgtU46B7ek57ZA_LNRLa-Ko-7WtAtphYVTFPR-EFK2KQCG5xOT2J5mkDYi0aCKcP2FTVsAtq2GMlkyBcIGY/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8GgdudWfPNuX9mmUrOV99uOuTIBnabZxS0_0OCWI-rXBIqkg-dU0flmSHgtU46B7ek57ZA_LNRLa-Ko-7WtAtphYVTFPR-EFK2KQCG5xOT2J5mkDYi0aCKcP2FTVsAtq2GMlkyBcIGY/s400/IMG_2275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556141489444522690" /></a><br />5. dinner and staying at the New Sanno (a navy hotel...so nice) and it was Beatles night. Japanese Beatles that is. :) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o5PcyQ22TMUnHNxJr4hixr7xV0k4eYOA1jCDAMkqzmHUs16LBKn66ob8e220ypq4MDFYcChoIbqPgZ3HfTiEOHQThRnqNsUwRDHi-yb8q7W0iaNel_0q0IFtHrUmc6QpohwgwupunPw/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o5PcyQ22TMUnHNxJr4hixr7xV0k4eYOA1jCDAMkqzmHUs16LBKn66ob8e220ypq4MDFYcChoIbqPgZ3HfTiEOHQThRnqNsUwRDHi-yb8q7W0iaNel_0q0IFtHrUmc6QpohwgwupunPw/s400/IMG_2674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276889857026546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIlHoV_lTqPWOR6BAwlhktwaXB7xabLrCODfaqqkS9IrTGRTqoiJsXWnfRURFvsn941Zv_exwupUb3bRZJiENY3MU64fYL9mlKbRhpJVE65i-XDNxpDILk-VxhkkQ0hrkRy1wfyRkRws/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIlHoV_lTqPWOR6BAwlhktwaXB7xabLrCODfaqqkS9IrTGRTqoiJsXWnfRURFvsn941Zv_exwupUb3bRZJiENY3MU64fYL9mlKbRhpJVE65i-XDNxpDILk-VxhkkQ0hrkRy1wfyRkRws/s400/IMG_2688.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276886349747426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i6JIMGCCUNBu4dAQpkYmAUh4oKH2X6gNURQ3ZzLQfYb7zGqeBaXSeJkbm0P0ddqc7w-lLvGir_IwI05ScnZhgLDglxAmgfnHXxBcICRW3JuSylYB4N_VWBg-TTvR93r1g-neNX1SzWw/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i6JIMGCCUNBu4dAQpkYmAUh4oKH2X6gNURQ3ZzLQfYb7zGqeBaXSeJkbm0P0ddqc7w-lLvGir_IwI05ScnZhgLDglxAmgfnHXxBcICRW3JuSylYB4N_VWBg-TTvR93r1g-neNX1SzWw/s400/IMG_2681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276881600089922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5j0dnWz63IXf2lznI1yKhDHnLembkVoeRwLJ676Wn24-DckEPkjYJDIQHIQZrUToI4aVqP8P6jnfrHUWfPEDQIstKrsn3ToUkaBbe_5D4IlMs5z1-0sgvd9oXmpDAZB3VCheT0vbhUM/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5j0dnWz63IXf2lznI1yKhDHnLembkVoeRwLJ676Wn24-DckEPkjYJDIQHIQZrUToI4aVqP8P6jnfrHUWfPEDQIstKrsn3ToUkaBbe_5D4IlMs5z1-0sgvd9oXmpDAZB3VCheT0vbhUM/s400/IMG_2683.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276878118392898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAPy32n3089GuZFjn5H4XioYdnuf9FaiRV9h0wdK4ZiO-C-kbaZdYbXo_Opm_sEkw-ucn8GjbbAM5NuOScpqioKluQiNWfe22hOGi3z7vIt_s-DdpATl-c9KCKvb5wPmeZJ1HIi2km60/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAPy32n3089GuZFjn5H4XioYdnuf9FaiRV9h0wdK4ZiO-C-kbaZdYbXo_Opm_sEkw-ucn8GjbbAM5NuOScpqioKluQiNWfe22hOGi3z7vIt_s-DdpATl-c9KCKvb5wPmeZJ1HIi2km60/s400/IMG_2685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276870839201346" /></a>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080282624592374563.post-37667118071875696622010-12-29T16:07:00.005+09:002010-12-29T16:31:15.337+09:00roller coaster of love...Next stop on the Train-o-fun, the very famous Fujikyu amusement park. 3 of it's coasters have held Guinness Book of World Records. Eeeeek! We both love roller coasters and have ridden our fair share, but we both agree these were the most thrilling tracks we've ever ridden. if you come visit we will take you here. promise. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGUy2rPDD2JEIb52ZA6GVK2l5WhzVeJYF1AGqv0mlw7n6wZH9TZ_Xec7swjdOsy3IcIu_DGASssjMm9NDs1XpzTfK2UHhSOKUfQko5O6N9bIpWMbuqk3aVsbA_fX7stl9HehURc-8S_Y/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGUy2rPDD2JEIb52ZA6GVK2l5WhzVeJYF1AGqv0mlw7n6wZH9TZ_Xec7swjdOsy3IcIu_DGASssjMm9NDs1XpzTfK2UHhSOKUfQko5O6N9bIpWMbuqk3aVsbA_fX7stl9HehURc-8S_Y/s400/IMG_2615.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556000558306182674" /></a><br />ready to ride!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnb9coYB8GXWikMeWIB589mvVElhZxPoHcWav_hz95frYKUIEsyn87PkegWYgFOpT0YLbNrUz3iUksjeDPHaAvBpAcrPNe42JgfInXnDgSbBUf7Idn39AfvcwwGNpdgFolJDUlfDVK10/s1600/IMG_2616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnb9coYB8GXWikMeWIB589mvVElhZxPoHcWav_hz95frYKUIEsyn87PkegWYgFOpT0YLbNrUz3iUksjeDPHaAvBpAcrPNe42JgfInXnDgSbBUf7Idn39AfvcwwGNpdgFolJDUlfDVK10/s400/IMG_2616.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556000554428423010" /></a><br />how do you feel right now?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwSlFsElFqL-mMG0Lu-oUIZ-aVuiVIphiQUkC_z4FIwwFRIFVi71mP-mdb61jecQwRbv1vCJVDDXmXnbV5EogUwp_eKqkxSvPqTpBK3nYgUEUPuDQ-7di-ZcGOfyFPNWqBXpuwk143-g/s1600/IMG_2623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwSlFsElFqL-mMG0Lu-oUIZ-aVuiVIphiQUkC_z4FIwwFRIFVi71mP-mdb61jecQwRbv1vCJVDDXmXnbV5EogUwp_eKqkxSvPqTpBK3nYgUEUPuDQ-7di-ZcGOfyFPNWqBXpuwk143-g/s400/IMG_2623.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556000552930473634" /></a><br />and you?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZq6KzqG0W8UoTnHhEai-hnJ0gfUTYJIrbR2HMh6zn3WWY-Vf-7XG6shPvoLFh-AlXSBs7sQIsL4n4CRSYX9KLYuFm_3MLAGzZOmhMLD10ekP6gJyJCSeXr65OxxRkeXj1tPi1773iRY/s1600/IMG_2624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZq6KzqG0W8UoTnHhEai-hnJ0gfUTYJIrbR2HMh6zn3WWY-Vf-7XG6shPvoLFh-AlXSBs7sQIsL4n4CRSYX9KLYuFm_3MLAGzZOmhMLD10ekP6gJyJCSeXr65OxxRkeXj1tPi1773iRY/s400/IMG_2624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556000542675600242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvWCA3c7OWD9Cd0So3FSuCJP6GDJJ0nsGkr95aWb8_s8yNbzGgz40_zYUTWi-tPcO2ihbikRl4Q7o4JnJTw4DmAgkBijI8n602AOYxYSw0DLQjWq_OXLfwMxhZyYZIl9R_6RGsrIMy6E/s1600/IMG_2632.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvWCA3c7OWD9Cd0So3FSuCJP6GDJJ0nsGkr95aWb8_s8yNbzGgz40_zYUTWi-tPcO2ihbikRl4Q7o4JnJTw4DmAgkBijI8n602AOYxYSw0DLQjWq_OXLfwMxhZyYZIl9R_6RGsrIMy6E/s400/IMG_2632.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556000538899500642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS6Mm9KElSM76ljYze0aW00FpuOmynnzQKdHed2NVapt-zwiPoPd5PG72hSvDm8wkmMO1YvwLtSnL9EaBU-BpphfL_OPja7ILbLbuZfbHLozxIb45O9i8Z3exUqd5L4B_Y56BksKbiXI/s1600/IMG_2628.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS6Mm9KElSM76ljYze0aW00FpuOmynnzQKdHed2NVapt-zwiPoPd5PG72hSvDm8wkmMO1YvwLtSnL9EaBU-BpphfL_OPja7ILbLbuZfbHLozxIb45O9i8Z3exUqd5L4B_Y56BksKbiXI/s400/IMG_2628.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556001888278672994" /></a><br />not sure why we got such a kick out of "Thomas in Thomas Land", but we did. ha! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuADV8Ynk-uNuoLhJ77SBVwVWr8WV0WoRtX1gS_U5c_lSSBM9ss2aoni0OGS_ea_TSPkcmNxxg58nkCU-19-WvXxasIncYBE8T-0_TMKx3Vv9wvpYfcCle2F1LX-_twASdIYlSid9Ca74/s1600/IMG_2646.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuADV8Ynk-uNuoLhJ77SBVwVWr8WV0WoRtX1gS_U5c_lSSBM9ss2aoni0OGS_ea_TSPkcmNxxg58nkCU-19-WvXxasIncYBE8T-0_TMKx3Vv9wvpYfcCle2F1LX-_twASdIYlSid9Ca74/s400/IMG_2646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556001890910305842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDwFrOIUVhogn1NeaFKpinT_p2RwviqTTP2FIHPEwpX5Q_MDycA1ZyQb-yhO4WuJVQAxtM73Auf0VrZBArUV_fthjGpKBGIr8yN_P2JNWR9NnmXp41hhNbyh79uLqdezlwJqq-pWMwbc/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpJjcPWqMChHaPJTZ20BnxhyK67FQ1QO-kyTxRXhHj8Y69o3gKbU2bv8Bt5sQ0voIBzCJKTKbLB6FjgmzLJzRQwVjIEcCm3pqCBELUKrGC8x3PMNY2m6HcFi8IGa-SeR2qnj-uydgNE4/s400/IMG_2663.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556002968995703234" /></a>kate chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10376102444961496518noreply@blogger.com0