Monday, July 19, 2010

Me and All of Japan

Renee, Ricky and Catherine joined Arielle, Stacia and I for a trip out to the "Dirty Obi" shop today. We were on  a mission for yukatas. Akiko is taking us to the festival in a couple of weeks and we need yukata....summer kimono.  Well....... This place is amazing...room upon room of kimonos, obis, yukatas......overwhelming. The summer yukatas were only Y100.  Then he gave me "special price" - I haven't a clue why.



These are cotton. I washed them. Sleeve fell off one and one shrunk a lot....nice bathrobes...the sleeve that fell off was for Krista - I bet she could fix it. LOL

THIS has got to be one of - if not THE - strangest car I've seen on any of the continents I've lived in.

It is HOT here!!! Hot! 84* last time I checked around noon.  The kids and I thought it would be a great day to go to the swimming beach. Several Americans (Navy Seal included) have drowned in the seas of Northern Japan. Because of this, it is now in the SOFA agreement that we will not swim in beaches north of Hachinohe (which is south of us).  This is the ONE beach that we are allowed to swim in - it's a little man made cove.  This being a Monday during the school year, we expected seclusion. We knew it was a long shot, but we invited several friends to join us. Twlya and Mary and kids did. We had a great time......there was quite a stiff wind and so we're still gritty after a shower. LOL

It seems, however, that me and ALL OF JAPAN thought it would be a good day to go to the beach. Turns out today is a National Holiday - Ocean Day. ::snort:: What are the chances????
Marine Day (海の日, Umi no Hi?), known as 'Ocean Day' or 'Sea Day' is a Japanese national holiday celebrated on the third Monday in July. Many people take advantage of the holiday and summer weather to take a beach trip. As it is a modern secular holiday, there are no traditional ceremonies associated with the day.
This really struck us as funny. I bet it's a story we remember and tell for years to come.

We had dinner and then ran to the base to deliver Jared and Arielle to PYOC.  I watched the kids at the park while Renee ran to see a friend of ours and her new baby. She came back and I ran to the hospital, while Renee and Susane visited. Then I had time to visit with Renee and Susane while we waited for PYOC to conclude....Good day. Tomorrow we venture to the Horse Park.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...