I've been off having fun!

I'm sorry I've been off the map for so long.  I've been off having fun!  Before Russ left for 2 months, we went to Hirado island on an MWR tour.  That was cool.  We got to see a castle and William Adams' grave.  I ate Whale sashimi and ramen.  It was delicious!  Don't worry, it wasn't an endagered variety of whale, and think how many people can eat one whale.  Russ went out to sea on the 25th of April. 

In early May, I finished grad school and got my Masters' Degree.  Woo Hoo, but you already know that.  I also applied for a position teaching algebra at UMUC (University of Maryland University College.)  I got that job, and I start in the end of August.  I'll be an adjunct instructor for two courses for 8 week terms.  I'm really excited about that!

In mid-May, Jean came to visit from Indiana.  We had fun running around Japan.  We took the MWR tours to Hirado and the Dazaifu shrine bazaar.  The bazaar is a huge, really nice flea market with all kinds of antiques and such.  Like a lot of the wives over here, I collect Obi.  So, I bought a kimono with matching obi and three more obi and a darling $10 kimono that is not fit to wear in public.  I use it as an extremely comfortable bathrobe.

Jean and I also rented a car from the autoport and drove up to Osaka with stops overnight at Iwakuni both directions.  We also stopped at Himeji castle.  That was beautiful!  In Osaka, we saw some shrines and temples and had dinner with Norio 3 nights in a row.  Unfortunately, we never could get that meeting together properly.  I was really upset that I couldn't even get it right once!  Oh well, I hope I get to see him again soon.  We also took a side trip to Nara.

Since then, I've been busy just living everyday life while the ships circled off the coast of Myanmar.  About a week ago, they were finally sent home with a port call in Pattaya, Thailand.  I got myself on a plane and went to see him.  We had a fabulous time!  We rode elephants, Russ hugged a bear, and I got to bottle feed a tiger cub!  I'm home now and getting ready for Russ to come home soon.

I'll talk to you all soon!