The New Place in Town

I'd tell you the name, buuuut...

A smiling employee greeted us at the door and the rest of the employee's yelled a welcome when we entered.  They seriously have the best customer service here!!!

Sam just wants a Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  (Is that too much to ask?)

Notice the tissue box...most restaurants have these on the table in place of napkins.

Contemplating the menu...

at least I know my order will make me serenely happy!

Gabe and I will have the Gyoza and Rice...

"See these?  They're MINE!"

Doug ordered some sort of Ramen.  (The main offering at this particular place.)

Extra noodles for Sammy:

"I'll eat it.  And I may even like it.  But I WON'T smile under any circumstances!"

It may not have had Grilled Cheese, but we liked it anyway!  Can't wait for my next lunch date!!!

P.S.  Don't forget!!!  You still have a few more days so don't forget to enter the contest HERE!

"'Live Forever' Might Be You!"

For those of you who are just using me for my Japan, here's a little photo essay of a recent lunch date Doug and I had off base.  (Obviously this was before we got two feet of snow.)

Introducing Cafe Live Forever:
Like many restaurants near the base, Cafe Live Forever caters to both Japanese and American patrons...but seems to try even harder for the American customer.  Not only do they offer menu's in English, but also some American-ish-style menu items.  Consequently, it was filled about half and half with Americans and Japanese.

The menu also offers an explanation for the restaurant name:

While waiting for my order, I took a closer look at the decor.  The pink flowers below are called "Live Forever".

I ordered the Mushroom and Chicken Pasta on the recommendation of an Airman at the next table.  It was actually very good, though I admit I didn't try the side salad.

Doug had the...I think....Sweet and Sour Pork?  I'm not exactly sure, but he did enjoy it!

After we ate, we ordered some of their famous scones to take home with us.  This time we tried the caramel.  They were good, but the chocolate is still my favorite.  The scones come with a little cup of butter and whipped cream to put on top.

Gabe was just there to look cute.  He's good at that!

So there's a little taste of Japan for you.  I'll try to post about an "off base" activity at least once a week now.  

Happy?

Alright then.  

GOODBYE!

Just Another Day in Japan

Friday's schedule:

6:15 Doug was already “In Formation” for a 2 mile “Readiness Run” with half the base.
7:12 I drag my sorry bottom out of bed 22 minutes after the alarm goes off.
7:30 Doug takes Sam off-Base to a friend who will later take him to preschool.
7:45 I feed Babers breakfast, check Max’s homework, and pack a diaper bag and some snacks. Then head upstairs to see what can be done with my hair. (Not much!)
8:00 Doug arrives and runs in to see what he can do to get us all out. We’re now officially late. Max gets ditched with the neighbor who will walk him to school. I rush out in a disorganized frenzy hoping I haven’t forgotten anything crucial like a binky.
8:30 Doug, Gabers and I all boarded a bus for the compulsory Hachinohe Tour.

Our first stop was a large FISH MARKET: A Fish Market with LOT’S of SAMPLES. (The breakfast of champions!) We were asked to be polite and be daring!First offering: Dehydrated Squid. My first and last sample. I can be daring with the best of ‘em, but I draw the line at what was offered next: “squid in guts”. (Sometimes allergy stuffiness is a blessing!) Aside from trying many extremely gross samples, Doug brought home two edible souvenirs.  (More on that later.)

Next stop, a Shinto Shrine. It is said (at least by our tour guide) that in Japan, you live Shinto and die Buddhist. Evidently, Shinto covers the partying and good times, and Buddhism covers dying and the afterlife. (And there you have "Japanese Religion and Culture in Six Seconds!" by Emily)At the shrine we were taught the proper way to enter the holy area, as well as the proper way to offer a prayer. We were told that the Shinto gods don’t mind if you come from another religion; they’re equal opportunity acceptors of yen and givers of blessings. So Doug and I both offered a prayer for X chromosomes that mix with X chromosomes. 

(You know, the usual.)

Next:  Train Station.  We learned how to get to Tokyo on a bullet train and how much it costs. (A lot.)

Last stop:  Hachinohe Mall for a little shopping and lunch.  I had some pot stickers.  Doug had a curry and rice dish.  Gabe had what we had.  And Wheat Thins.

14:25  We're back!   Doug stays home to wait for Max, I head to North Base to pick up Sam from Preschool.

18:30 Doug prepares dinner on the grill for us and our new compulsory friends the A's:

Grilled Salmon (Yum!)  

(Fortunately without the eggs shown below.)

and Grilled Squid. (BLEH!!!)

I may not appreciate the squid, but "J" & Gabey LOVE it!  (Yes, J has a tentacle hanging out of her mouth.  That's TENTACLE!  "N-T!")

I'm pretty sure Gabe thinks this is an alternate form of Binky.  He chewed on it for a good 20 minutes.

(Please try not to throw-up.  This blog does not endorse that type of dieting.)

21:30 Exhausted blogging commences
22:13 I realize I've been staring blankly at the screen for the past six minutes and go to bed.  

This post will be finished and published at a later date.

--The End--

Three Cheers for 100 Yen Sushi!!!

Labor Day was cool for a few reasons:

1)  No School/No Work

2) Pancake Breakfast provided by Church Activities Committee  (No cooking!)

3)  We went to "100 Yen Sushi" for lunch and it was freakin' awesome!!!

Here's how it works;  

You go in and they seat you in a booth.  

On your way to the booth, you stop by the restroom to take your son potty. 

You go back for your camera and enter the bathroom again to take some video this time, all the while hoping no one comes in to see you filming the sink.  But that'll be a whole 'nother post.

You watch as marvelous little dishes of food glide by your table on a conveyor belt.  (Some are more marvelous than others.)You grab whatever you want to eat, and you eat it.  (Cantaloupe and Chicken Nuggets are available for the kids.)  Make sure you grab the plate too, not just the food.  That's how they know what to charge you.   They just count the empty plates! (Most items are 100 Yen.)For special orders, like say dessert, use the little order screen at your table.  

Your Pink Frappe will be delivered shortly via Bullet Train.  The perfect finish, to a perfect meal!!!
Cheers!

Want another taste?  Here ya go!

Don't disparage my video editing techniques...I'm new at this!