2008 In Review

I'm going to stroll through 2008 and share memorable moments...

January- Rang in the New Year @ the Faris Farm and had a blast, even when Ginger Faris peed on my lap. Started back to school, celebrated Mandi's baby shower. That was a lot of fun! Jared shaved his face for an interview and looked like a 12 year old. Jared had a nice birthday celebration.

February- On the second day of the second month Jacob was born! Wow, what a day that was. Became well introdued to the Norton hospital complex in Louisville. Lots of snowy weather that month that I loved.

March-On the third day, celebrated our first anniversary! I tried to make a fancy 30 minute meal for Jared that turned into a 3 hour labor of love. It was good. Spent a lot of time at Kosairs, had a freak storm that kept us out of school.

April-Earthquake? Yes, we had an earthquake and it was crazy. Now could visit with Jacob and his mom and dad at their house, yeah! Feeling bummed and for the first time really, really excited about spring and the renewal of the season.

May- Wishing and praying for school to let out. Start my grad classes and waiting until I can add another credential to my teaching license. Starting my flower and herb garden, which I could spend hour of my day tending to.

June-School lets out. We hightail it for our first real vacation together. We spent a couple days in "L.A." aka Lower Alabama, on Dauphin Island where Jared studied for a summer during college. Then we drove to central Florida and had a BALL with our Florida Family. Great fun with great friends who just happen to be relatives! Lovin' inviting friends over for dinner this month. Open my e-mail one day and see a DoDDS school is interested in me! Have a phone interview with a principal from Okianwa, Japan at the end of the month.

July-Whew! "Tentatively" offered a job beginning of July, have a TON of paperwork to submit within 48 hours, then wait and wait to see if I have a permanent job. Trying to keep it on the downlow, but word leaks out. Thankfully receive my orders the day my job was asking if I was coming back or not. Went to the Lake, the best place in the world, and enjoyed relaxing with family.

August-I think I slept that month. Packed up, said goodbye to everything I knew and was familiar with, and went on the first of what is proving to be MANY transpacific flights. Learned future tricks and tips for working with moving companies, developed a thicker skin because I'm starting to work for the government. Also, fortunate to attend my grandmother's 90th birthday bash before we left. Started school in my first classroom that belongs to me and only me! BIG MONTH.

September- Overwhelmed and dizzy a good part of the month. Turned 27, making big plans for traveling throughout Asia. Bruised the car in one of my first driving experiences, but we are all okay. Lonely.

October-Oktoberfest at Camp Butler!! The most fun I've had since we've arrived. Still trying to learn how to live in Asia. Still lonely, but it's kind of getting a little bit better.

November-honestly, a boring month! Took tennis lessons, froze my heinie off in the "cold" temperatures (50s and 60s). Cooked my first turkey!!

December-The most wonderful time of the year! Came to terms with the fact we couldn't go home for Christmas. Beat up by a student, discovered a little one was on his/her way! Introduced to Lester Naval Hospital, which I think is my new favorite place on the island becaues it feels like a "real" hospital. Work was good this month. Maybe because it was a short month? Enjoyed a long break at home with the hubby, who is now EMPLOYED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! December has been a great month, what a great way to top off the year!

Which one do you think?

Which ornament do you think we'll hang on the tree next year?

Baby Sawin, who has been making this Sawin feel slightly icky for a while, will make his/her debut this summer.

Merry Christmas!

Great day!

Jared took today by the horns and got us out and about around Okinawa. Since we have had the Wii in the house, I've seen some of my old Jared popping out-my Jared with interests and hobbies. Unfortunately he missed out on his FAVORITE, fall. Fall entails so much for him-being outdoors, hunting, shooting, campfires, etc. It's stunk, but this is just temporary. Anyways, I heard that the PX at Camp Hansen had a great electronics department and planted that seed in Jared's ear awhile back. Today he asked if I wanted to go, and obviously I did! We also have another interest in Camp Hansen as this is Jared's site he'll be responsible for with his new position. We consulted our trusty Kadena Services map and realized we could take one highway all the way up to Camp Hansen. I was happy because it looked like the road ran along the Pacific for a bit and I'm a sucker for driving past the ocean. It was such a fun ride! Once we were north of Okinawa City, I honestly could feel tension lift out of my shoulders (where I store my tension). It was peaceful, quiet, relaxed. And hilly. Jared said it looked like Kentucky. Then, I saw my ocean and was quite excited. We had a lovely drive to Camp Hansen. Once there, we drove around and were impressed by what we saw. They have what appears to be a newly constructed PX complete with awesome food court, the exchange, obviously, and other vendors like gift shops, military clothing and a computer repair shop. I am in desperate need of a computer repairman. J didn't find a Wii game, but we did buy some Boy Scout popcorn from a troop that must be up at Camp Hansen. They were sweet boys and reminded me of my cousins Will and Ben who must be gearing up for popcorn season. I remember when Kyle was in Scouts and it was that time of year.

My stomach must be a bottomless pit, as I have been HUNGRY the past three days. I was complaining to Jared and secretly hoping he'd take me out for dinner. He did! We got to try a Yakiniku (Korean style barbecue) restaurant across the street from our housing office. We jokingly dubbed it Paparazzi Pork as there are dozens of flashing strobe lights across the restaurant and sign. It was quite the experience! I thought they'd speak a bit more Engrish than they did, but that was naive Katie. We had a ball! We'll be bringing guests there when they make the 23 hour trip to come and visit us.

After finally feeling satiated, we headed to the Kadena BX. My boy is now a Wii bit obsessed! He finally found some helicopter game he's interested in and is playing it as we speak. I never really knew Jared during the video game playing years, but he must have been like every other male I knew during that time-obsessed.

Our Christmas Day '08

Well, we did it.

We survived our first Christmas day away from home. Away from a nation that recognizes Christmas. Away from Grandma Joan's beef and au jus! Oh, the difficulties!

We had several good cries on Christmas proper, but picked ourselves up by the stockings and dressed up (sort of) to head to base for Christmas dinner. The O'Club was offering a nice, themed Christmas dinner that was the only thing that sounded appealing to me. I made a lovely lasagna, but it grew old after 1 pm. We headed to the O'Club in the rain (apparently that was the same as home!) only to find the longest line we've ever encountered when waiting to eat. My growling stomach was NOT having this. Plus, the meal ended in an hour. We would still be in line in an hour. Jared looked defeated, but me being me, I found an alternative solution. I converted my hard earned cash into yen (painful with the poor exchange rate!) and we took one more lap around base to find ANY options for a Christmas meal. Suddenly, I blurted out "McDonald's!" They are always open, it's their slogan. We tore out Gate 2 and had ourselves a meal for the lonely expats-Big Mac, fries, ginger ale for me, Coke Zero for my beloved. Now, I must preface with saying I don't remember ever ordering a Big Mac in the States. I am more of a McChicken kind of gal, but ole' Mac daddy was number 1 on the combo, and easily identifiable on the menu. There was some sort of teriyaki chicken (hello sodium and swollen fingers) and breaded shrimp sandwich (ick). Plus, the ketchup TASTED LIKE KETCHUP!!! This was NOT the case in Germany, so I was so excited.

After our big meal we headed home. We played the Wii, reminisced about Christmases past and called my mom. I realized after I dialed that I should've called my grandmother's, as that was where everyone was at that time, but I didn't want to hang up after all the effort-I could leave a cherry holiday message on the machine! I was shocked when my mom answered, sounding awful. Apparently sometime after hanging up with us on their Christmas eve (our Christmas morning) and that call, she came down with the flu! It sounds like she is on the road to recovery, but darn the luck!

We survived our first Christmas day away. Saying it was hard is the lamest understatement I could make. Plus, to me, Christmas is more than the day but the entire season. I know this is the place for us to be, for so many reasons, but it's not exactly easy to rationalize when you are crying for memories from Christmas past. I'll let you know how it goes until after Jan. 1. We are so going home next year though! I'll eat Cheerios all summer long if that means we can make it home next Christmas.

Marley and Me

Just walked in the door from the 7 pm showing of Marley and Me at the Kadena Theater and I'm still fighting that welling up feeling in my throat. Goodness, this movie got to me! Laughing, crying, reminiscing, hoping...good movie! I didn't have the highest hopes for it, as I am not a J. Aniston fan (I think she plays the same character over and over) but Owen Wilson did a fantastic job! Plus the various Marley's were quite charismatic!

If you have ever owned a dog, or had a family member who happened to be a dog, head to this one. I know Jared and I both miss our Eli & Socks, respectively, as well as good dogs we've loved who are part of our history.

These are a few of my favorite things

I am listening to Christmas music non stop as long as seasonally appropriate, so while listening to Julie Andrews, I came up with my own list of favorite things, obviously in no particular order:

1. Jet travel. It makes it so much easier to quickly go around the globe.
2. Globes. I never really appreciated globes until I moved to a place I had to use a globe to find.
3. Pineapple upside-down cake yogurt. Yes, it sounds absolutely disgusting, but it's surprisingly really good!
4. The Office (television series). Always makes me laugh, no matter what. Plus you can watch over and over and pick up on something new each time (at least I can in thanks to my non-observance).
5. Skype. Lifesaver.
6. Christmas trees. They are my favorite symbol of the season, as they remind me of home, but are also reflections of individual family holiday celebrations. Take my tree for example, I have a hodge podge of ornaments, multi-color lights, and no tree topper or skirt. My interpretation of this: Christmases are made of memories from the past while continuing to add memories from the present. Multi colored lights reflect a playful, childlike sense of Christmas wonder (and the fact that I didn't want to go out and buy new white lights that apparently didn't make it across the Pacific),lack of formal tree topper and perscribed tree skirt indicate poor packing skills, as well as flexibility and continued need to celebrate Christmas creatively.
7. Slippers. We have no carpeting here and the floors get mighty chilly. I now love a good pair of slippers (which I hope to purchase today!).
8. Kosair's Children's Hospital in Louisville. Not like a favorite place to hang out, but the wonderful people they have working there adnt he wonderful things they do on a daily basis.
9. My family. They love me and I love them. They understand me and have made this move here SOOOOO much easier than it could've been. I really miss them, more than I ever thought I could.
10. My friends. Again, they love me, for reasons I don't always know. They are loyal and I miss them so much.
11. The obvious one-Jared. He really loves me! He must be crazy. If you ever want to see how your relationship can grow, move across the world where you know absolutely no one. You'll see how it grows.

Dear Santa

**If I were to write a letter to Santa, it would look like this**

Dear Santa,
Hi, how are you? I hope you and Mrs. Claus are doing well at the North Pole. By the way the weather is behaving in parts of the States, you and your reindeer will notice no change at all when you are flying over the majority of the nation!

Speaking of that, Santa, Jared and I moved this year. We are now in Okinawa City, Okinawa. Near Nakagsuku Bay in the Takahara district. Jared hung Christmas lights on our balcony (we are on the fifth floor) so hopefully that will help you find us. I will leave the balcony door unlocked so you can come in, as there are no chimneys here. My mom always said Santa knows where you are on Christmas Eve, but I want to provide you with the most help I possibly can.

I really don't wish for many material items this Christmas. The main thing I want is health-health for me, my family, my loved ones, and people I have yet to meet. Is that a sign I am getting old? I would love two round trip tickets to Chicago, Indianapolis or Louisville, but I know those are difficult to make in the workshop. I want my family and friends to have a great time enjoying the season, and the rest of the year. I also want lots of surprises (as I have asked in all my years of letters to Santa).

Well, I hope you have a very productive December 24-25, and I'll write you again next year, Santa!
Love,
Katie

A dual income household!

Yes, we are finally dually employed! As of January 2009, my husband will be employed by the Marine Corps Okinawa! He has an awesome job that will offer him so many opportunities for growth, and travel! He'll be traveling to Tokyo, San Diego and elsewhere for work, and accruing frequent fliers miles (even better to visit Indiana!). I am so, so, SO proud of him!!!

All these poor schmucks are stuck here with us this Christmas

I can't believe I muttered that the other day. We were coming back from an appointment yesterday and Jared was commenting on the lack of cars on the road at that time of day. We were talking about the luckies who were fortunate enough to go home for the holdays and there was this one sad looking fella in the car next to us. Sigh.

As I write this, it is a breezy 69 degrees and my hair is blowing in the breeze. Nakagusuku Bay looks absolutely GORGEOUS and birds are going crazy outside my window. The palm trees down the block are swaying. If I didn't have my Perry Como and Bing Crosby on, you could forget it was Christmas Eve! I know I should NOT complain, and I really try not to complain. At home it has been nasty weather-nasty weather that I love. Cold, cold, cold, snowy, windy, the weather that chills you to your inner core. I tried my best to wear a green sweater while cooking today, but was sweating so much I had to change into a short sleeved number. That doesn't feel like Christmas! However we are carrying on Mulcahy-Robbins Christmas Eve tradition and I've prepped hors' devours for us to enjoy before Midnight Mass. Jared bought his heffeweise so I'll be his DD to mass. Doesn't that just sound lovely! ;)

I have plenty of ideas for Christmas related blogs I'll be writing in the next 36 hours. Enjoy.

Go Jared!!

My husband rocks.

Also, tomorrow is my last day of work for the year!!! Christmas vacation begins promptly at 3:06 tomorrow afternoon. Wahoo!

Oh, we love the Wii!!

I must admit that during my lunch break, I was wishing I could practice my golf swing on the Wii! When I finally made it home, I went straight to the Wii, even before checking my Facebook. That lets you know how much I love it!

Jared and I went to the BX tonight to shop for a couple of items, but he seemed to gravitate towards the electric section like a 10 year old boy. We are excited to explore the new world of Wii!

Wii wish you a Merry Christmas!

Oh, how I love the holiday season. The last week of November through the second week of January are magical for me. I am going to add December 13 as an especially magical day, as we "gave"(?) each other our Christmas present for the year-a Wii! I think we are the last people we know to own a video game system, but we have loved the Wii, playing it at Kevin and Jessica's, as well as Terry and Debbie's house. We finally have one!

We played bowling, our favorite, and our times at Emery Lanes here on Kadena are paying off! I also tried tennis, wondering if my tennis lessons would help my little "Mii" (who honestly does look like me!). Yeah, not so much, I didn't exactly hit it out of the area on the game, but I had a lot of missed hits. It's a lot of fun though! I'm thinking that since we are stuck here for Christmas we will develop some mad Wii skills. Kevin and Jessica, watch out for us when we get back to Indiana!

We found a chiropractor!

My dear husband has been in great pain since Friday. Thursday night he slept "funny" and his back felt a little off. He went to the gym, per his morning routine after dropping me off at work, and was in pain after he got out of the shower later that morning. By Sunday he is in misery. Thanks to some awesome co-workers, I found an American chirporactor here on the island, in fact in an area I actually knew! We've visited Dr. Holliday twice this week, and will probably be back later this week. He is AWESOME! Turns out Jared dislocated a rib, but it and all ribs are currently where they are supposed to be. We hope it stays this way.

It's only Wednesday, but I'm exhausted! Yesterday wasn't the best day, today was better, tomorrow will hopefully be AWESOME.

I've been a big girl, push my stubbornness away, and go without chauffer since Saturday. With Jared out of commission, if I want to go anywhere I either have to walk, or suck it up and drive. And I haven't hit a pole, yet!

Have a good rest of the week!
Katie

Zum Guburtstag, Jessica!

Or, as my neighbors say, Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu!

My dear, dear Jessica is 27 (we think) today! If you don't know Jessica, you really need to get to know her. She is a spitfire! She has your back and if she feels that you (or any cause she has a passion for) is not receiving the best possible attention/care/treatment she has a way with words to let herself be known! Oh, she is a loyal friend, a caring friend. And oh do I miss her. I still have plans for her and her dear husband, K-Fed, to move into our apartment here in Okinawa.

Jessica is one of those friends you can create an intimacy with she KNOWS your family, you KNOW her family. She'll be Jared & Katie delegate to family gatherings this season, as well as other important events we aren't able to make throughout the year. And goodness, do I miss her.

Happy Birthday, Jess! I love you!

*I know I previously posted this pic for Kevin's birthday, but it's my favorite picture of them, so I'm posting it again.

Tennis Lessons

I took tennis lessons during November. Jennifer Capriati has no reason to be concerned about me, but I had fun. I had several "home runs" and hit the ball out of the court during the lessons, but I also had a couple of really good hits! I'm looking forward to learning more. Jared enjoys tennis so I want to build my skills so we can have a competitive match.

We need(ed) a little Christmas, right this (that) very minute.

Again, I'm trying the song things as a title. I don't think it works for me, but I enjoy trying.

Still trying to make it feel like Christmas. Looks like we are here for Christmas, so we are going to make the best of the situation. No Mulcahy family wine tasting. No New Years Eve at the Faris Farm. No 36 nonstop hours of Christmas music on WMPI. It's going to be okay though. We are going to burn up Skype and talk, talk, talk to everyone at home. Hopefully we can share our Christmas adventures with them as they share their adventures with us.

Jared was quite a good boy today and surprised me! He hung Christmas lights our on our balcony! I was so surprised and thrilled-I really feel like it made my Christmas! My Christmas cd's were in the box(es) misplaced (in long term storage instead of here, as I asked) in moving, so I've been downloading music off the internet to play. My mom always played Christmas music from the stereo in the dining room and it's a favorite memory of childhood. I've got my Andy Williams, Bing Crosby and Carpenters Christmas!

The lights came up at the perfect time. A pivotal time when I didn't know if I was going to be sulky and pout, but now I know I'm going to be the big girl that I am and make the most of my time here. But you better believe that if we get to go to Europe, or a two income family, we WILL be home at Christmas!