Memories of Okinawa

I have a friend who has been known to push my buttons and we disagree on just about every facet of life, but we found common ground after I shared my Okinawan experience. It brings tears to my eyes for some reason. I hope you enjoy it...
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Rebecca you should know Okinawa is my second home. Once there visit Camp Kinser and then find the only three towers on the roadside facing the sea, a short distance from the gate.
Then, find the center tower and go to the 5th floor room 503. You will be standing outside our old home.

We weep for it.

Fortunate you are to visit and I hope you have had a wonderful trip.
Pay my respects to the hermit crabs on the shore and the tiny octopi in the shallows near the old grounded frieghter, which we have walked out to, but I understand you cannot any longer.

There are ghosts on that island, many of them, and other spirits too.

On the night we left, we vowed that when we die, resting under the sands of Okinawa would be the best place of all. We would watch the sun rise and set, and whisper to people, spirits, and hermit crabs until we had no more eyes or lips.


Okinawa is the best kept secret on the world maybe.

Lucky Rebecca.

Schwab, Hansen, Butler, Gonsalvez, even the Air Force's Kadena are all nice too but the magic lies on Kinser because of some ruins your family may or may not know about. At least, we assume that's why the ghosts are so thick in the winds there, and in the sans and shallow waters.

My anniversary flowers

How beautiful are these?

Happy Anniversary, Gleeby!

Our 2nd Wedding - September 9, 2008

To my dear husband and best friend...I love you with all my heart. You are my soulmate and best friend. I couldn't have asked for a better life...I look forward everyday to being with you and growing old together.

Sept 9, 2003 we were remarried in Clarkville, TN. These are the pictures from our ceremony presided over by Judge Joe Creek.

We were married February 14, 1998 and divorced in 2000. After much soul searching on the part of both of us...we found each other again and rekindled a spark of love that had never gone out. It burns brighter and brighter every day.

You can read more of our story in reMarriage magazine (www.remarriagemagazine). It's a magazine started by a dear friend of ours that is aimed at remarried couples and some of the struggles that come up with blended families, ex-inlaws, etc. Please check it out.

Below are some pics from our first wedding! Wow...we look so young :-)

Trader Guiseppe

Greg needed some more of his special chocolate covered raspberry and orange sticks at Trader Joe's. So off we go. He stayed in the truck with the boys and I "ran" inside. If you like Trader Joe's then you know there are few short trips inside. I get a few things, including their extra virgin olive oil - it's from the Trader Guiseppe's area. I come across blood orange soda. It was a must buy. Granted it's not like tasting a real blood orange from the hills of Sicily...where they originated. Several countries are now growing the blood orange, but they don't taste as good as the original, right Hollie?

Drive Thru Etiquette

1. If this is your first time to a restaurant, do not use the drive-thru. This is not the time to "get-to-know" the restaurant or ask questions.

2. Know what you want before it's your turn at the squak box. Again, not the time to sit there and decide what you want.

3. Have your money ready. There are signs at tons of drive-thrus saying please have your money out and ready.

4. No special orders. I can accept the bean burrito with no onions, but nothing unique. We do not have time for that.

5. I polled some co-workers to determine the amount of time it is acceptable to wait at the drive thru after paying and receiving your order. The median time is 30 seconds. That gives you a moment to rifle through your order, put your change in your purse and shift into drive. I'm totally amazed at how long people chat with the employee or put on lipstick or whatever.

6. If you have a Cummins diesel big arse pickup truck or a 79 Volkswagen Dasher with blue smoke piling out of your exhaust pipe, shut off your engine at the window or forego the drive thru all together. Again...common courtesy.

7. If you are at a Starbucks drive thru, your maximum order (especially in the morning) is 2-4 drinks. Once again...common courtesy.

I reserve the right to come back and edit this or whatever. I really think that people have lost all sense of common courtesy and respect for others. I meant this to be a funny post, but I think it's dark and not funny. I probably need to lighten up.

Starbucks Oatmeal

I decided to test out Starbucks new oatmeal. They are trying to introduce healthier breakfast alternatives according to their website. I get my usual drink, although it has morphed into a venti this week as I'm dragging. TGIF. There is absolutely nothing special about this. Nothing whatsoever. It was bland and then the next bite I'd get a hunk of salt or something like that. Yuck. The price is $2.25 for this container of goo. You are better off bringing in your Quaker instant oatmeal or some nice steel-cut oats.

And the kicker is....they give you this spoon meant for a peanut buster parfait. This is a dainty cup of oatmeal. Do they really think the cup is that big? I asked for a different spoon and she said that is what comes with it. Oh, excuse me. I don't want to stray from the "formula."

We grew up on oatmeal and my mom is a fine connoisseur of the oats. I think the best on-the-go oatmeal was at the Library of Congress. It tasted so good...especially after walking a 1/2 mile from the VRE train in 10* weather. Hmmmm...the good 'ol days :-)

Pet Hair Lifter

Okay, people. I buy this sponge - The Gonzo Pet Hair Lifter - at the impulse buying section of the checkout line at Linens & Things. The L&T at the South Hill Mall is going out of business, so they are having some decent deals.

I didn't think it would work. OMG...not only did it pick up hair, but dirt that I didn't know was there!

Coby and Tucker give it 2 dew claws up!