Cape Shiriya, Another Weekend in Paradise

Brett, lookout! There's a huge horse behind you!

Oh wait, there are wild horses everywhere.

It's another weekend adventure with the Millburns. Weekdays here can be pretty draining. The sun rises at 6 and it gets dark at 3:30. It has been COLD with constant gray skies. But life in Misawa also has so many benefits: no chain stores, no constant advertisements, you don't really need a cell phone (at least we choose not to get them), and there is always something different to notice in everyday life. However, the downside is: there are no chain stores, everything is in a foreign language, and sometimes you feel like if you leave the air base you are in no man's land (not to be confused with no man's canyon, we can leave here (but we would still need a plane or helicopter)).  So the weekends are a vital time to get out,  recharge, and remember to be grateful for this experience.

Here we are at Cape Shiriya where wild horses live.

 

We've been blessed with  good friends. Here are Susan and Jeff. He works with Brett. Susan keeps me sane. And their cat lets Marie chase it. It's a good set up.

I would like to note the little red mark on Marie's cheek. It's actually star-shaped and she's had it since birth. Didn't Rainbow Brite have one in the same place?

Marie is WAY into rocks. These shells count as rocks, right?

Japan is so ugly.

And this is a statue dressed like Mario... that is important to the Japanese.... oh man. Sorry, I wish I could tell you more about these statues, but I can't. I HEARD they are to honor deceased children, but I don't know for sure.

Well, I better get back to Marie. She's sick again today. But it's not so bad. Brett came home to watch her while I had a doctor's appointment. When I came back she was eating pumpkin pie. She eats one bite at her kitchen table and then runs back to the TV to watch cartoons with her puppies, gets up for another bite, and has been repeating that cycle for the past hour. There can't be that much pie in her bowl...

A small blog tribute to her puppies:
For the record Marie says Pink Puppy has been named Mommy. I didn't influence this, however I notice Pink Puppy is wearing an apron and never leaves the house. Yellow puppy is Daddy. He goes EVERYWHERE and makes a jingle sound. Not jealous, but this girl sure likes her dad. In consolation though, he has seen his share of nasty airport & grocery store floors. Sorry Brett. Brown puppy is Marie. Not sure why, but  seems like a natural fit. And blue puppy- I am trying to get her to say it's "baby sister"- but all i get is silence when I try to solicit that idea. Well, we're workin' on it.


That is all from the land of the rising sun.