Pet Lost In Japan

We recently had our hearts ripped out our chest... & put back in, when our precious Molly went missing... in JAPAN! We were so lost with the language & cultural barriers (which is our fault) that I was just certain that we had lost Molly forever. She did find her a nice older single lady who did keep her safe & returned her home!

The postman accidentally, in a hurry, left our gate unlocked, so when the wind blew, it just opened up to a world beyond the fence... our Molly took off without even a warning. Being we had (notice the past-tense there) a doggie door, she easily went in & out all day on her own... so when she saw the world beyond the fence, she had to take advantage.

Well, like silly Americans who have an indoor dog, we took her collar off because 1- she was micro-chipped & 2- the constant scratching, thus ringing of the collar was pretty annoying at 3 am. So she set off to see what she could find without a care in the world & without any visible identification!

HOW DID WE GET HER BACK? Well, we weren't sure where to start, so we called the realtor, who's our go-between with the landlord up in Tokyo & he made some calls.

Then after hours of no Molly, & the sun was setting, we went to the city police station to report her missing. We had to use the Yokosuka Police because our "koban" was closed & they spoke no English. They took the report & sent out FYI's to all our local police departments. What we learned was:

1. Though it is required to import your pet to Japan & has to be compatible to their standards, they don't have the ability to scan your pet's microchip! A vet might, but the local authorities do not (as least not in Yokosuka... which is predominately where Americans are in this area).

2. Even if you have their ID tag on them, or a vet scans your pet's microchip, it is a stateside programed chip, so they would have to call America to get your contact information... which we were told they would NOT call... they might call the base to ask if they knew...

3. So because of #2, you need to call the military vet to report your lost pet, who then notifies base security. If you notify base security first, they don't contact the vet...

4. And you need to call the microchip company (Home Again in our case) and let them know so they have an FYI in case someone does call... the part that sucks here is that since we are overseas, they can't help us find our lost pet like they could in the states.

5. There are NO shelters or kennels for the homeless pets.

6. If your pet is reported & have no one (founding civilian) willing to keep your pet until your are notified, they have 3 days & then they are put "to sleep". They kill your lost pet if they can't find you & no one willing to take them in!!!! And this was expressed to us very strongly more than once & with "very strict law in Japan".

As with most individuals who meet & know Molly, our little neighbor lady who found Molly was more than willing to keep Molly if we couldn't be found :D I am glad to know that my Grands (God Rest Her Soul) was watching over Molly & kept her safe.

Sagami-gawa River Koi Nobori Festival

This is an adventure! If you are not able to travel past your comfort levels, it is not recommended. The Koi Nobori Festival held annually at the Sagami-gawa River in Sagami is a local festival that is gradually gaining popularity throughout the region...into globally. (Kanagawa being the region & Yokosuka being the not so local.)

They string about 1,200 carp fish flags over the river in celebration of children! The koi (carp) & nobori (flag) was introduced to Japan was originally for Boys' Day or "Tango No Sekku", encouraging them to grow up brave, strong, & successful, which many Japanese still hold true to this tradition. Today (since 1948) it is now a representation of Children's Day, May 5th, to represent "energy, strength, & perseverance." Adding children's day into the "Golden Week" allowed the Japan by law to have an entire week of vacation! Many corporations extend this into two weeks...

I am personally obsessed with these flags & the little representation of them in other forms. Maybe because I am a new mom to a miracle: a son, maybe because I love gold fish or koi, or maybe it is both! Seeing them flowing in the breeze makes my heart lighten up just as much as seeing big white sails on open water! For me, this was a trip that was worth a little effort.

The traditional order of hanging is: Black = father, red = mother, & then one additional smaller carp for each child. Red & white ribbons are often added to symbolize the water. The Chinese legend says that is a carp swam up river he would transform into a dragon that went to heaven.

http://koinobori.fr/en/les-origines-japonaises-2/

http://homepage3.nifty.com/hinaya/sekku,eng.htm

You don't realize how globally these string of fish are until you see them on a DIY site! http://www.diylife.com/2008/05/05/fish-kites-for-childrens-day/

DIRECTION TO SAGAMI-GAWA RIVER & PARK:
*Note: there is no English out this way, maybe a number or a hello, but that is it. If you are going, take your notes with you, written in print so that they can help.

• Go to the Sagamihara Station
• Take bus #17 from bus pole #5... bus pole will be in the middle right by the stairs. (There are other buses that go that way, but 17 will be the least "rural" in transit).
• 30 minute ride to last stop, you will know it is the last stop when the bus pulls into a small rural semi-circle area with stone sign & parks (there may or may not be other buses or people). If you feel like you are getting off in the middle of nowhere, yet a nice neighborhood, you are at the right spot. 310 yen you pay on your way off...
• Leave the bus parking & go LEFT up the road
• Take the FIRST RIGHT only a few yards up...
• Take the FIRST LEFT again, it will have a double mirror pole in the corner... the road you turn onto will be windy &/or curvy looking
• Turn RIGHT at the Yamasaki store or the red & yellow "Y" store.
• Walk straight on that road, no turns...
• Pass a tori gate on your right
• Up the little hill
• POOF! You are there!

STROLLERS -

With no more than 3 strollers per bus you can do this. Also, though there may be stops closer to the park, it will be very hard or impossible to load & unload with the strollers, so be sure to use the stop listed above both ways.

When you get to the park, you will need to walk along the top ridge to your right, all the way down until you get to the ramp that then brings you down to the lower level or the actual "park". You will find restrooms this way too... not baby friendly.

Camera Armor

OK, I am the biggest klutz. An expensive camera is truly the last thing I should be allowed to carry, yet I have a nice one... add the lenses & I have an overly retarded expensive one!

The other day I had to toss my camera down to catch my infant son who was falling from a rock into some rocks (he just learned he could semi-crawl that morning)! I was certain it was all over. The camera was now broke &/or the lens was damaged for good. I didn't care at the moment, ... however once we both stopped crying, I found it hard to keep clicking away knowing it was pointless.

Then I got home, plugged it in to review the damage, & it was perfect! Nothing was broke! Not even a scratch or a blurry image (well besides those from my son being tied to me & kicking)! WHY?

Camera Armor! I had gotten this a few years back as more of an extra grip for my clumsy hands...kind of like a grip for a gun. I never even thought about the product past that point. I have had a few bumps here & there, but this was the first actual test of the armor.

I am now a believer & wanted to share this with everyone! If you have a camera worth protecting, especially you professionals, check this out! You definitely need it in your equipment bag!

Ofunakannon-ji Temple

A newer temple devoted to the events of the Atomic Bomb, nestled away in Ofuna, Kamakura, Japan, right outside the Ofuna Train Station.

This beautiful white lady Buddha is made from concrete completely poured by hand... no trucks. Some of the stones are remains from Hiroshima & Nagasaki. An eternal flame continues to burn here, just as it does in Hiroshima, until all nuclear war weapons are abolished. The symbolism of peace are throughout the entire temple & grounds... though small, well worth a day of just a visit, picnic & reflection.

This temple is not an easy little "just get off the train & follow the crowds" like many temples are in Kamakura... this one actually takes a little thought & some help from the locals, iPhone google maps, or someone else who has been. Once you leave Ofuna Station via the South Gate (not the North Gate which many Yokosuka people will come up at), you cross the canal, take a left to the end of the sidewalk, then a right & an immediate right ... along a very exclusive looking alley way. A few yards in you will see two stone lanterns with a sign in kanji & 300 yen (adults), 100 yen (children). That is all the signing you will find on your way.

As you stand at the base of the hill in front of you wondering if this is possibly the right place... take a deep breath & bite down hard... it is a steep hike up & back down... and not with stairs! I kind of was reminded of Mt. Fuji... straight up!

I highly recommend that you pack a lunch to take with you & spend the day. You can get cold beverages at the temple. Once you are up, it is beautiful!

DIRECTIONS:

• Take the train to Ofuna Station
• When you arrive at Ofuna you will come up at the North Gate (for most all my fellow Japan dwellers) DO NOT EXIT
• Walk down the big center hall way past a lot of yummy little bakeries! Yummm...
• You will now be at the South Gate... EXIT
• Then go to your right towards what looks like the back of the station (STROLLERS) You will find a small hallway to an elevator... it is large enough for 4 adults with 4 single large strollers easily... take it down
• You will come out at an small intersection. You will need to cross the canal (over the bridge)
• Once all the way across take a left down the sidewalk to the first road,
• Turn right at that road/end of sidewalk (you will be looking at a hill & currently construction at that little intersection)
• Then take the next immediate right (before the hill) down what looks like an exclusive alley... remember to be quieter & respectful
• Walk a few yards in & you will see 2 stone lanterns... a sign with kanji with 300 yen (adults), 100 yen (children).
• You will be at the base of a rather steep hill, with determination, strollers can go up! They will guide you at the top where to park them.

STROLLERS, you will want to either have a child that walks or a carrier to switch over to for the grounds.

Just in Time for Christmas!

Thanks to my wonderful friend Missy, I have found a new site that I am too addicted to! Thanks! Like I really needed more help in the shopping department or in the "Oh, I can make that" hobby world. LOL!!

Etsy is an online shopping mall for all of these wonderfully talented individuals who make their own products. It is all homemade. Everything! And I do mean everything; from purses & bags to shirts, to baby stuff, to collection pieces, to home decor! I have yet to see it all! Many will customize this & that with your preferences too. It is amazing! For someone like me who knows what she wants, this site is perfect.

I have now ordered a few things from there & the personal contact I get with the vendor is well worth a little extra change here in & there. If you are looking for something a little different, like you were shopping in a boutique without the boutique prices...

With the holidays coming, you really need to check out Etsy for yourself!

No Twinkies?!!

I am curious...who was the moronic person (i.e. doctor, nutritionalist, etc) that came out & said that in order to eat healthy you have to also cut out all of the "good crap"?

Someone explain to me how a "healthy" diet excludes all psychology, common sense, & rationale? Sure we all think of eating healthy as the green stuff, along with a good portion of lean protein. Cut out the sugars, the sodas, the ingredients you can't pronounce, the salt, etc.

Great! You will be a green lean cutting machine! Right? And your body will be so happy.

But how will you feel?

Seriously?! If you are going to go "healthy" there is no need to cut the sugars, just make it real natural sugar in which your body will digest easily unlike the "fake" sugars. I can go on for days about how skim milk is worse for you due to the process in which to cut our fat & then re-add the nutrients that the fat took with it.

By cutting out the twinkies, the sodas, the "good crap" you are setting yourself up for failure. Your expectations are too high. Sure we all want kids who want to eat the yogurt over the oatmeal cream pie. But what happens when the do get to finally eat an oatmeal cream pie? Binge! Just like you! You will binge.

And just like binge drinking is more deadly than daily drinking, so is binge eating. It does more harm to your body & your psyche than just having a soda a day, a twinkie, or even potato chips in your daily diet. That is the healthy choice!

Proof You Can Learn Anything On YouTube!

Being stationed in Japan comes with its many advantages, but it also comes with many drawbacks...like finding a good dog groomer. I wasn't about to submit my little Molly back to that on base kennel lady, even if for just a day! Plus apparently, she does a poodle shave/cut on any & all dogs. Gross!

Finding one in the area that I live has proven even harder since I can't read half the signs & we are so rural that no one really speaks English.

So I resulted in a hunt to try & do this myself. Thanks YouTube! I was able to go from this:

To this:

All I needed was a little instruction & a lot of patience. Thankfully my Molly has been trained by going to the groomers regularly that she kind of helped guide me along the way with lifting the next paw or turning a certain way, etc.

I just couldn't stand it any longer. Our Lhasapoo had gone from a non-shedding mix to a shedding demon since we arrive in Japan. After 5 years of no hair in the bed...I just couldn't take it anymore, especially with baby due any day!

It turns out that the lightening of her coat each visit to the groomer wasn't her coat but her undercoat. You aren't suppose to shave Lhasa Apsos so short, but we have always had her in the "puppy dog" cut. Hence, the reason I never had a shedding dog! LOL!

She is much happier to say the least, & so are we!

The Unspoken Discrimination Within

I am so sick & tired of the unspoken discrimination within the military. Not that of the activity duty discrimination. No. Not the gay v. straight discrimination. No. Not even the discrimination amongst ranks. No.

I'm talking about the discrimination the military gives spouses. I'm so sick of hearing "no" just because I'm not a foreign national. Yes, I'm a born & breed American. Yes I'm educated. Yes I have common sense. Yes, I'm sane...most days. Yes, I speak English...sometimes fluently. However, why does that automatically make me competent in a way that my foreign national counterpart spouses aren't?

Sometimes I get so removed from the whole military lifestyle that I forget this part. That is until I "need" my service member at home & I am denied that request because I am not a foreign national spouse...oh so fragile & frail! They really play up the system too!

So what if I speak English...I am still in a foreign country too where English is not the main language.

So what if I am American, does that mean that times & situations are less stressful on me?

All I need is one bloody damm weekend in which my husband can help me, the pregnant sane, been emotional stable, military spouse who lives out on in town on the economy, to prepare for this birth of the child that he will be missing! ONE WEEKEND! And I know, I can tell, it is getting really close to this kid coming out...but who cares. I can do it alone! After all, I am afluently speaking American, right? No worries... I don't my service member at all!

Why is that not granted to me, but the lady who needs to go up to the embassy to get her passport re-done can get her husband out of every other important military schedule just to watch the kids because she doesn't want to use the CDC or a friend?

Or the lady who needs her hubby to hold her hand to fly home in an evacuation because she has only met his parents a dozen times with him, but I had to go it alone? It is still an evacuation ...and still my first one at that too!

Or the lady who needs her husband to get her a new ID, but I get handed a stupid piece of paper & sent on my way....to get my first one even I did it alone & at an Air Force Base!

Or the lady who is having a emotional break down at home threatening to leave or whatever, while all I get is left sitting in a pool of hysterical hormonal pregnancy tears while he has to go back to work because of some new emergency?

What am I missing here?

I am really confused. Everyone who romanticizes the military must only be on the foreign end of it. No wonder they have their own cliques, they have their own reality! And then everyone wonders why there is a divide & resentment between American wives & foreign nationals.

I don't care what their culture or customs are. What if I would like to have those same customs & culture? Oh I can't because I am American? Err.....

So sick of it! And people think that the military doesn't discriminate & that the government is fair! HA!

And It Keeps Getting Better! NOT!!!

Do I really need to say more? So who still wants government ran healthcare?

Universal Insurance Plans

Of course this sounds like a great idea & plan. You get to buy an insurance plan in one state, while using it in another, all while you live in another. That would be awesome right?

The question: "Why can't private insurance companies fight for my business like any other service?"

Has one person stopped to think about the reason why instead of just asking?

Because each state regulates health care already, by state statues. Hence the reason if you are qualified for practicing medicine in AR you can't just go to FL without taking another medical board & becoming qualified.

And it is not just medical. The same applies to lawyers & teachers! You can pass your boards in one state but not be qualified to practice in every state.

Insurance is what covers these practices services. So....how is it going to work?

Now we are proposing that we get insurance companies to raise their premiums so that we can use it in any state? How is that the reform we need?

Universal Healthcare & Universal Insurance is NOT the Reform we need!

It's NASCAR, Get Some Balls Back!

Anyone who has been following NASCAR or my recent posts on Facebook, know that everyone is hatin' on Kyle Bush. Why? That is what I want to know!

Yes, Kyle has some bad sportsmanship skills like blaming everyone & everything but himself for not winning a race. But seriously, you have to be a little crazy & unstable to be doing 200 MPH in a car with hardly any body on the frame, spinning around in circles, dodging bad drivers like Michael Waltrip! Well, you at least have to be cocky, arrogant, & have some balls anyway.

I don't see everyone hatin' on Waltrip who causes one really good wreck per race. Yes, every single time...in the Sprint Cup Series, Waltrip is right there...in a bloody wreck! Great personality, horrible driver! But no one is knockin' on him or calling for him to either speed up or get out of the way.

So Kyle wrecked a few people! So what? It isn't like you became a fan or joined NASCAR because of it's safety! I don't remember any of the great drivers being like every other driver. They were all a little nutty, pretty damn reckless, & completely insane on the track. That is why they were great & why you kept coming back for more.

Is that what this is really about? Everyone is hatin' on Kyle because he could be the next "great driver" in history if anyone would just back him?

All you sissies out there complain about Kyle Bush need to get your balls back! It is NASCAR, not carriage rides for the rich & lazy. You need to remember what NASCAR is about. It isn't just about you having loyalty to one driver no matter what, like Dale Earnheart, Jr, but about the wrecks & the crazy drama! It is about seeing a driver take on one of the most competitive sports & making a win out of it, ...no matter how he limps over that finish line. It is about some balls!

At first, for the same reasons you are hatin' on Kyle Bush, that is why you fell in love with Tony Stewart. However, they are two different drivers with two very different styles...and that is what it is all about! Kyle is just puttin' the Boogity back into Racin'! The rest of ya'll sissies need to find your balls before you come back to the tracks!

(You made me get my redneck out...shame on you!)

Living Under Constant Scrutiny

The other day, while I was in a deep coma with my "love seat therapy" session, the doorbell rings...again. Everyday for a week now at about 10 AM, that thing is being pushed by someone. So I was ignoring it & hushing the dog quietly. I had drool down one side of my face along with indentations from the pillows & hand, and was still in my P.J.'s.

"It" didn't go away, like others. NO!, instead it rang the thing again! So I figured it had to be important...right?

With the door barely cracked to keep the dog in & to hide my appearances, I see two Japanese men dressed alike, one with a bag brief case thing showing me his ID. (Have I ever mentioned Japanese poor dental hygiene?) Once they realized I was "english" & spoke no Japanese, they turned to leave in complete confusion. I am not really sure what they were confused about! We have a Dodge Nitro with pimped 20" rims in the drive...it screams American!

Anyway, I called my landlord liaison to see if he sent someone over for something. He said no, but said it sounded like Jehovah Witnesses. WHAT!? In Japan? You have them too? Great! Now I do need to learn some Japanese! LOL!

He also tells me that he hasn't "heard anything about" us in a few weeks now. WHA-what-what? "Heard anything about" us? People call him to tell him about us?

Apparently yes! A neighbor called to tell him that we don't pick up after our pet when we walk her. LOL! (Thankfully our landlord liaison knows better & never called to tell us this.) But I was upset! First, we hardly walk our dog, because we all all lazy, including the dog. Two, we have these pink little doggie poop bags we use ALL the time! You can't miss them! Hot Pink! And the poop on/in our concrete yard, well it can sit 24-48 hours before my big ol' pregnant belly can get bent over to pick it up! After all it is "our" yard. Fourthly, I have a water bill that clearly shows that I wash down our concrete yard way too often! Fifthly, she only poops once a day since we have been here anyway & in the same spots!

However, this is the pure essence of the Japanese. They have this great face-to-face with you. All smiles, "konnichiwa" & bows, but behind your back they are watching you with an eagle eye. They don't much trust Americans, and in the last 5 years, around these parts, Americans have left a really foul taste in their mouths...so it can be partially understandable. But to be going out of their way to make up some crap to complain about...OH the glory of living in J-town!

I remember the last time B was stationed here. The little old lady that lived behind us used to come into the house & just walk through it & then back out. Once I started cleaning up after 4 generations of dirty American boys, things were "miraculously" getting done...like the yard being tended to & all. She also kept an eagle eye on those in that house & was reporting back to the owner.

Now that I think about it...it is always the older folks....

Amazon Boycott!

Once I learned of Amazon's new APO/FPO shipping policies & also learned that it is strictly Amazon.com with the issue, I started to do some work-a-rounds. For Example:

I wanted a Microplane Cheese Grater (the best on the market!) but Amazon.com could not ship it to me for whatever category it fell into...gourmet cooking items? So I thought, let's see if this is Amazon or Microplane. I went to Microplane.com & ordered my grater & got it here in less than a week! THANKS MICROPLANE! Thus, it is definitely Amazon with the issue, not the companies of the actual products. I have done this with a few items.

However, one item that I cannot do this with is the one product that is strictly Amazon: the Amazon Kindle DX. I can get all the accessories shipped here or to the States no matter my billing address, but I cannot get the Kindle here or in the States because of my billing address? Yes! Here is Amazon's response:

" Hello,

In regards to your inquiry, it seems that the Kindle order has already been canceled, as we have tried billing your credit card three times. Canceled orders can't be reinstated. I looked at your credit card and found that the billing address is an FPO address, and that is preventing the order from completing. As you already know, the shipping and billing addresses need to be a U.S. based billing address, and FPO address can't be used.

As a suggestion, you could purchase an Amazon Gift Card and have your friend that you are shipping it to redeem it to their account, purchase the Kindle using their information. They will then be able to send the Kindle to you.

I hope this information helps.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question: "

Yes, I have some bloody questions!:

• First, are you saying you split my order up to move the Kindle to it's own "order"? Because every other email I have received showed the Kindle DX & the Belkin Sleeve on the same order...as one order...under the same order number in reference. So you purposely are not shipping the Kindle to or for a service-member?

• Are you now saying that I cannot use your site to ship any items because my "billing" address is a military address?

• Are you suggesting that because of my billing address that I will not be able to use your site to ship any gifts (i.e. Christmas & birthdays) to the States, which is where this order was going?

• Are you suggesting that you have been in error with shipping to anyone who does have a military address, since many still have received items from you recently here in this overseas military community?

• Or are you simply suggesting that I, me, personally, cannot get items from you, however, everyone else can?

Amazon, when a product that is solely manufactured by you, such as the Kindle, it should be exempt from any "policies" you have in place. Secondly, you are limiting your customer base by handling this product by such "policies".

Thirdly...I am boycotting you from now on! You will no longer have my business, and I will continue to spread the word about your bad customer service & foul attitude towards military service-members and their families.

Health Care Reform...that is actually Reform!

A friend sent me another link. Apparently I am slow at finding my own links...LOL! But this time it was definitely something of great interest. If you were not a Whole Foods fan before now, you might very well be now:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html

Finally spoken with common sense & actual plans that equal solutions instead of some mambo jambo crap that the White House has been trying to shove down our throats & then disguise as something yummy.

I am especially a found supporter of the medical care dollars that you can earn & that also carry over to the next year. Money you can use how you want! Awesome...so you aren't stuck with only mainstream medical options because your insurance won't cover the Chiropractor. Now you can get the money to go see some of the more alternative mainstream medical options. What an amazing idea & great plan! Go Whole Foods!

Mix The What With The Huh?

I am not sure why exactly Women's Lib had to go as far as it did. I am positive that I still need a "Prep School" for wifery-hood!

I have been blessed with a husband, though at times truly didn't get the whole picture, has over all been very supportive me being a stay at home wife; just a wife, no children for 6 years! He has let me adventure in a number of interests, all of which have ended up lesser than planned or a complete bust, with little complaining & a lot of encouragement. This has been a blessing in disguise as it has taken most of those 6 years for me to be comfortable with being a stay at home wife & a woman true to herself & her God given roles in today's western society.

So today I sit here counting this blessing & I waste an entire work day researching "cooking" I realize that maybe a little "Prep School" would have been nice. It might not have taken me 6 years to figure out how to pre-make meals & freeze them with a smile on my face and a sense of accomplishment. Prep School might also have helped me with etiquette & some tack, how to iron sheets without them touching the floor & getting dirty, and how to be more supportive of my husband so he can do his job at the best of his abilities all while saving us tons of money!

Sure that sounds completely old fashioned. So 1950's right? You are right, it is dated & us ladies sure have moved on...but to where? We, an entire society, has lost so much by women trying to be men too, including real men! It really is no wonder why the lines are blurred. Am I sexiest...at times, yes, yes I am.

But I am really curious, how the heck is a home to be made and provided if the individuals in it have no idea what they are doing? Seriously, I never knew that being a wife, a mother, etc. took so much knowledge. Knowledge that was once common sense that now needs a "google" search to help you figure it all out!

Seriously, I have no confusion as to why the divorce rate is so high. No confusion at all! This world is being ran by men from both genders. Scary! Where have all the women gone?

I'm Not A Racist!

I'm not a racist, I genuinely don't like you!

I am so Obama'ed out! He is on every bloody channel telling us more craziness than we can keep up with. Then you add the media hype & suddenly we are looking at the 1950's all over again! I'm a racist, you're a racist, we're a racist three!

I don't have a problem with a black man being president. Heck, paint him purple & call him Barney; as long as he's honest, has a loyalty to this great nation, & a dedication to leading it, I'll call him the president. However, that is not what BO stands for. Instead...

What I have a problem with is that my immigrant ancestors came to this great country for the promise of freedom. That was not just freedom to say whatever they want or to make a health are choice. It was the freedom to finally make their way in this world without an overhead government there to rape them of all their hard work or imprison them in their own lives. My ancestors, like every American, sacrificed every thing, took a big leap of faith, & survived on hope to make their journey to America for both themselves, their children, & their descendants for ALL generations that follow.

This country was founded on principles unlike any other nation for that exact reason...oh you need me to draw it out for you? OK...America wasn't created nor meant to be like any other nation! It was meant to stand on it's own, separated from tyranny & government control, & to serve a leader and a beacon of hope to ALL other nations. It's entire purpose was to be DIFFERENT! It has proven that possible for over 300 years! Yes, not perfectly but it has done well in the right hands of it's own people.

I would say it doesn't take a genius to recognize a snake, but then again we wouldn't be in this mess if it were so simple. Maybe we are all blinded by comfort & security that our neighbors will make the right choices so we don't have to. Or maybe we have all been spoon fed tiny innocent lies that looked like truths for so long that we are simply poisoned with the wrong belief structure. Either way, it's time to start looking inside ourselves for answers. Do we want to be Germany, Russia, France, England, etc. And if you answer yes, then MOVE! IMMIGRATE just like your ancestors did. Don't ruin this great nation because your are straight up lazy & scared!

As this great nation starts it's tumbling downward spiral to becoming just like everyone else because our president is a reflection of our own selves, I wonder:

After 4 years of "change" will there be room for "change" again? Will we be able to undo the damages done? You can always let out the reins, but tightening them back up once that horse is in full gallop is damn near impossible, especially if untrained.

Do I, like my ancestors who came here to escape, need to start shopping for my escape? Do me & my family need to sacrifice everything & try to start over somewhere else? What would my ancestors do right now? Wait it out, then see? Join the cause & fight for their county back? Or pack up & go back to their old countries?

Why Americans, why are we so easily giving up? Are we that lazy & scared? Have we really lost all our marbles? Or did we let that horse start galloping & don't know how to get the reins tightened up again?

How Patriotism Died & Where It Begins!

Green = NO New babies?

So a friend of mine sent me this obscure article, that has more than one issue of interest in it, but the point was clear:

If we crazy Americans will stop having babies we can save the world!

Really? That is news to me, or is it? I have to say once I read the article it was eluding to some rather important facts, however, facts that were completely misinterpreted & misconstrued.

Yes, Fact #1: (sourced from gDiaper.com) is that out of all the landfill waste, the 3rd leading contributor is indeed disposable diapers. Interesting when only 5% of the entire population uses disposable diapers. However, that is not segregated by infants & elderly. Just a total calculation.

Yes, Fact #2: Americans, more than some, however not all, other countries are a society of convenience & luxury. Disposable diapers are consumed greatly by Americans. However, the UK & Britain, etc also use disposable diapers. So I am thinking that not just Americans can save the planet over the disposable diaper debate. And has anyone seen the latest trend on reinstating the use of cloth diapers? Mothers throughout the States and around the globe are clothing things up these days! Has anyone done research on the water waste & consumption that this takes or gas/electric? Hmmm...?

Yes, Fact #3: The plastics used in one disposable diaper can take up to 500 years or longer to decompose, just as much as a regular plastic bag you picked up at the grocery store today. However, some disposable diapers take only 75 years or less to decompose. (I've yet to find stats on which kind is better & decomposes faster outside those with less chemicals used to create the diaper seem to be the leading winners right now.) Plastic bags are either the #1 or #2 leading contributor to landfills & ocean debris. So diapers alone are not going to help us go "green" & save the world. Someone really needs to inform Japan of this who uses plastic bags & wrappers on every individual little item and they have an amazing recycling program!

Yes, Fact #4: A new child does create more carbon emissions than just with their dirty bums. They now need transportation, cleaning, etc. The running around, cleaning, & caring that is added up over a child's life can make a very small dent on the environment, but again, not anymore than those big manufacturing companies. Let's not be retarded in our thought processes people!

First it was the Women's Lib that ruined the image of women having babies, turning it into something that was "bad, wrong, unnecessary, & stunting" to a woman. Now we have government officials after us? When will we open up our pretty little eyes & see that we don't need help with infertility/fertility issues? And has anyone asked Japan, for example, what it is like to have a society start to decrease & die off because of procreating discouragement?

Are we really aiming to make Americans extinct?

The Once Prestigious Amazon.com Now Letting Down Those Who Serve!

I have been on a online shopping warpath! I can't get what I need or want here in Japan on the economy, I can't get it at the NEX online or here on base, & I now can't get it with Amazon!? What kind of horse-poo is that?

The once prestigious Amazon.com that promised many overseas Americans a way of getting what they need & want has limited their shipping policies to very limited goods. You can't even get a cheese grater through them, or cutting boards, because they fall under "gourmet cooking" items! Seriously? 4 cutting boards at $14.95 are "gourmet" now? Wow! I sure am behind the times.

To rub more salt into that wound, the Amazon Kindle cannot be shipped to an APO/FPO address under the "computer" items limitation. Really? So those who can really get the best benefits & use from it, sailors aboard a ship stationed way out to sea, can't get this product?

Below is what Amazon's policies are for shipping:

Shipping Restrictions

Warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions prevent us from shipping certain products to all geographical locations. In addition, some items too big to ship to a P.O. box must be shipped to a street address. You'll be notified while placing your order if we're unable to ship specific items to the address you've selected. Below are some general guidelines for items shipped by Amazon.com to the following destinations:

• Alaska and Hawaii
• APO/FPO Addresses
• U.S. Protectorates (including Puerto Rico)
• Prisons
• International Shipping Help

If you are purchasing an item from Amazon Marketplace, read about Marketplace shipping restrictions.

Books that require special handling because they are extremely heavy (for example, multi-volume sets) can be shipped only to locations within the U.S. Please also check the product detail pages for this and any other item-specific shipping restrictions.

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Alaska and Hawaii Addresses

Most items can be shipped to Alaska and Hawaii addresses, except:

• grocery items
• gourmet food items

Additionally, some items from our Tools & Hardware and Outdoor Living stores can't be shipped to Alaska or Hawaii if they are extremely heavy, oddly-shaped, or considered hazardous. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility and available shipping options. Only specific shipping options may be available for some addresses. Available shipping options will appear at checkout when you enter a shipping address.

APO/FPO Addresses

Most items can be shipped to APO/FPO addresses, except:

• cell phones and service
• computers
• furniture
• grocery items
• gourmet food items
• outdoor living items
• Target@Amazon.com items

Additionally, some apparel, camera and photo, electronics, health and personal care, housewares, jewelry, software, sports, and tools and hardware items cannot be shipped to APO/FPO addresses. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility.

Learn more about shipping to APO/FPO addresses.

U.S. Protectorates (including Puerto Rico)

Only the following items can be shipped to U.S. Protectorates:

• baby items
• books
• DVDs
• music
• software
• toys
• VHS videos
• video games

Learn more about shipping to U.S. Protectorates.

Prisons

Amazon.com delivers to penitentiaries, but we strongly suggest you contact the prison first to confirm that they accept deliveries and to note any special regulations the prison might have. Some prisons don't allow delivery of hardcover books. Others place a limit on the number of items contained in a package.

We're unable to affix any special labels or instructions to the packages and on the outside will indicate only the destination address, our company name, and our return address. We also cannot allow gifts to be sent anonymously to inmates; the sender's billing address will appear on the order invoice.

Because inmates cannot sign for deliveries, packages must be sent via U.S. Mail. While Amazon.com often sends packages via U.S. Mail, we also use UPS and FedEx. There is no way for customers to request a specific shipper. To avoid delivery problems, you might consider having the items shipped to you and then shipping them to the penitentiary via U.S. Mail.

I understand that many countries depend on us silly military Americans to be their middle class, heck so to most of the cities in the States that you find these bases. However, as loyal patriots, we often like to support our own companies & that includes our own online companies. So why are there so many restrictions on online shopping? And why so many more here lately?

Believe it or not, as rumor has it, & backed up by the horses mouth, the Military Postal System is not here for us silly dependents & families. They offer us mail as a "cordial benefit"; as an extended service. Thus large packages, multiple packages, at home businesses, etc. are not to be shipped through them. (TOO BAD BOZOS! I have a baby on the way, I am getting multiple packages from the same place whether you like it or not!) And like a dentist told me, I "should not be wasting the taxpayers dollars to spoil myself" while living abroad. HA! Really? Spoiling? That is what my online shopping is? It is spoiling myself now?

Funny! I thought that MY online shopping was me trying to get the best product for my husband's very hard earned dollar...like most any other American. And last I checked, those "wasted" tax dollars aren't me using the military postal service with paid shipping & handling, but are being ate up in the Capitol for stupid government programs...that aren't military!!!

No matter what branch of service these men & women serve, as well as their families who support them & make just as many sacrifices, these are the individuals that should be able to receive ANYTHING online! They have all earned it!

P.S. Did you read all the shipping policies...Prisoners can get Amazon shipments WITHOUT ANY restrictions other than it has to go through the US Postal service.

Nice huh? Prisoners have more rights than those who serve this country! Amazing!!