Ever since the earthquake, at least once a week if not more, I get a question from someone asking where our family lives compared to the Fukushima power plant or what's the air like where we are. One of my cousin's even asked me, for my town name so he could look at it on google earth the other week. @_@ I know this comes from...just a lot of folks being honestly worried. And so I took this picture this morning from the Geiger counter, I check every morning that shows the readings of the radiation particles found in the air. Now if you live in Japan, you probably can figure this map out easy peasy. But for those of you not in Japan. I'll explain some. Now if you look at the bottom left area you'll see Yokohama on the left side of the bay and then on the other side of that bay it says Chiba. I do not live around those areas at all. We used to. Okay...so now look back at the picture up above and go towards the right you'll see 3 names...Narita...Sanmu and Katori. We live someplace (not gonna say exactly) but we live someplace between those areas. On the bright green countryside colored area on the map up above. Our area has been testing same as everywhere else and does daily readings but our air is so clean it isn't even registering. Why our air is coming out so clean, you know. I don't even question it anymore, I just am thankful it is, what it is. And breeze wise we seem to be located in a very good spot because nothing has gone our way (knock on wood it stays that way) and we do check daily. We check the Geiger counter every morning. So, anyway hopefully this will give my family a sigh of relief at least, reduce some of their worry and stress about us here.: ( But hopefully the visual up above will ease my family's worry even by a little. Hopefuly Tepco can get a better handle of the reactor soon and then everyone can breath a huge sigh of relief as well. 
Nope not even registering a thing down here. We don't live on the light green area but on the dark bright green area. Anyway, in other news. The city nearest us, they got their water turned back on last Wednesday. That was the happy talk last Wednesday during Noah's swim class. So that's a positive good thing. Also the roads in the city nearest us are now about 50% fixed, so while they're not totally done, they're really working hard to get things back to normal. Life is pretty much back to normal here in our part of Chiba. The cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere and me seeing them this year..... gives me hope. That Japan will recover and rebuild and be better then ever! 
Last Friday, I baked an apple crisp/apple crumble. 
It came out pretty good. I'm planning to bake one this Friday as well. 
Last Saturday we had family movie night. 
This Monday, after I sent both Branden and Noah to school. I ran to the laundry mat. I did everyone's bedding from our house. 
I was the only one in there. yep, just me, myself and I. 30 minutes for the wash and 8 minutes for the dryer. I read a magazine while I waited. 
Hmm, half day at Noah's school. He gets/got out at 11:40am. And I just threw the laundry into the dryer, glanced at the clock and realized. I was really pushing it.... time wise. After they dried, I went directly with blankets in the car and everything to the yochien. I was right on time. Phew. Took Noah to Mc D's afterwards for 1 shaka shaka chicken (100 yen) and 1 cheeseburger. He ate watching cartoons while I went upstairs and made the beds. I came down and boiled 2 eggs for myself and I had an egg salad sandwich for lunch. 
I haven't blogged about my healthier 2011 lately. Or weight loss. I've not stopped with the exercising at all. Have been going strong since January 10th is when I started Spark. I have lost a total of 13 pounds since January. I am in a few groups on there and spend a lot of my free time (if I get any) on Spark. One group I belong to, keeps track of their "fitness minutes" sort of compete against one another in the group, who logs more fitness minutes. We're all friends, so we are obviously actually not enemies or rivals, we're actually motivating each other. I was in 4th place when I took the picture a few dyas ago, at 465 fitness minutes for April. And right now, I have about 550, this pic was taken a day or so ago. 
Here it says I am ranked #4 for my group. So, it keeps me motivated a lot. And I actually feel happy waking up in the morning and see...OMG! So many of my friends worked out while I was asleep, they knocked me to 6th place! A couple of the girls will leave me an email or a PM (private message) saying....catch up! And so all day if I get bits of free time here and there, I will be treadmilling or Doing the Wii, or Jillian Michaels. and then by the time we're winding down here at night in Japan. I'll leave a little cheeky note saying....I caught up and passed ya! Now it's your turn. And so we sort of feed off each other and motivate each other in a positive way. Last night before I went to sleep I was in the #2 spot. But this morning I was knocked back to #4 again. ; ) Anyway...enough talk about that. Nutshell on that...my exercising is going great, my portions are doing great too. 
These are yummy. I've been on a yuzu eating kick lately. Noboru doesn't care for these so much. But I love these. They've been my 1 guilty pleasure. I'll find myself go to Yacs drugstore and get a pack or two once a week. 
At the first day of school. Noah brought home a sakura. Because now he is in the final year and the final class, the sakura (cherry blossom) class. 
These little things I am saving into Noah's yochien box. So he can see when he's older. : ) 
Friendship letters. Noah gets so many of these at yochien. Which means he is also writing many of these in return. @_@ Many trips to the Daiso for me, to buy paper sets for both the boys. The funny things is watching the progress of these letters. When they were red badges, they wrote mostly pictures and no words. Then last year they wrote crazy (just learning to write type words; ) And now this year, they all seem to write beautifully. I do save all these letters for him in his yochien box. Same as I saved Branden's. Though now Branden likes to keep his locked in his desk. ; ) 
Noah was selected to be one of the guardian angels yesterday (that's what it says on this paper) for today if he could show up early at school by 8:30am so he can help the new kids get adjusted at yochien. He's a sweet kid, Noah is. Very kind and very helpful. So anyway he will be doing that this morning. Only a handful of kids were chosen for the job. He was so proud being asked. And I recall when it was Noah who was the little one with a guardian angel a few years back. Anyway what else.....anything last minute to add or throw in here, hmmm. (thinking) Oh yes, I nearly forgot.....We are going to Osaka for the first few days of Golden Week this year. I am really excited. We haven't been to Osaka in a very long time (like years). I can barely wait to see Noboru's grandma (she is so fantastic and short and cute : ) And Noboru's father who as you know was in the hospital for many many years. Came out of the hospital and came home mid December. So, I can't wait to see him. I can't wait to see my SIL (sister in law) and my MIL. And my niece. So, we're all pretty excited. Our first thought was to fly, for us it's cheaper since Noboru works for an airline and we code share with other airlines etc. However how would we get around in Osaka once there? That was the issue for us and why we deicded to drive. Noboru wants to go to places where public transportation just doesn't work, like the middle of a mountain where his family graveyard is, for example. So he can pay his respects to his other grandmother (fathers side). Etc etc. So, we decided to drive. It'll be like we're the Griswald's and it's the movie Vacation! : ) Except we're going to Osaka and not Wallyworld! ; ) We will be staying 2 nights. We are staying at a hotel, since we have those free stay vouchers. 4 a year remember. And we didn't use 2 from last year so they are null in void. But we got 4 more starting in April, so this month for this year.... And Noboru doesn't want to lose these vouchers by not using them, so that's why we're staying at a hotel. that way it'll knock 2 nights off. And then we'll have 2 vouchers left for the year.
Other plans for Golden week....just staying home. A family BBQ no doubt. And just resting here at home.
Plans for this week? Just sending both the boys to school as usual. Kumon and swim club. Same ol' same ol' regarding all that. I cleaned the entire downstairs Sunday, even mopped the kitchen floor. Monday as you know I did the blanket washing for the bedrooms upstairs. And this week, in little bits here and there I am now trying to tidy up the upstairs. Wednesday/today we are planing a family BBQ. It was originally to be last Saturday but it rained so we have been delaying it and are looking forward to it today. And tomorrow, I have my driver license renewal class from 9:30am. @_@ Noboru went to this class 2 months ago and he said basically it's a lecture, and you do have to circle a few things in the pamphlet, also Noboru told me this....that 1 lady had her head down while the instructor was talking (cat nap perhaps, I don't know) and so the instructor told her...you aren't paying attention so just leave! The lady was shocked but he was serious and so he had her leave right then and there. Anyway, I'm glad Noboru warned/told me that though, and so I know tomorrow I will be paying 100% attention, I was planning on it anyway but now I'll make doubly sure. I'll be like @_@ the whole time. ; ) I won't take my eyes off the instructor at all. I will just follow him with my eyes, if he walks to the right of the class, my eyes will follow and if he walks to the left.... again my eyes will follow. lol. Anyway that's what Ill be doing tomorrow after I get Branden and Noah sent to school and obento made tomorrow morning. : )
An update on us. The day after we got back. I had to go to the police station. My license needs renewing and since I've never had a ticket, I just needed to take an eye exam and fill out a form at the police station in the city Noah's yochien is in. So, I did that and I now have a drivers ed class to take mid April some time. What else. Branden needed to get new glasses his old ones looked like they were getting a bit too small. Also, do you recall how Noboru took big hunks of grass off the back yard? How when I was hanging clothes I nearly tripped fell and killed myself because of those lovely missing grass areas. Well he said since Spring has Sprung. He wanted to get some sod/grass. So, we went to the local DIY. The one with the horrible crack in the base structure of the building. Anyway it was being sold for 50 yen each pack. @_@ Why? I asked the lady. She said, because the city doesn't have water yet still and the grass is basically dying. So instead of just throwing it away...if they can sell it to someone who can take care of it. That would be best. I said...wow sounds like a sad way to buy grass...I don't think we should. I scrunched my face looking at Noboru asking what he thought. She interrupted and said just one more time....if it doesn't get bought it will be thrown away. Hmmm. Fair enough. So we bought it. And will promise to give it a good home. Weird way to end up with grass, I know. But yeah that's the story. 
We took it home. 
Our town has it's own water well, so we watered it and it's growing now and thriving. So I guess nice story afterall. ; ) 
We took Branden to the eye doctor. The exam itself took about an hour. Then we went to the glass store. His frames pretty much look exactly the same but they're for adults now. 
This canal in that small city nearest us. They used to have little boats all up and around but now the canals have all but dried up. 
The yogurt has returned to the stores for us here in the countryside in Chiba. 
Have been buying lots of frozen veg or veg grown in far far away places. ; ) 
As you can see no limit 1 milk signs. The milk shortage has lifted where I live. But then we live in the countryside. Foods pretty much back to normal here. 
We leave for the airport at 1pm today. It's 11:46am here now. Hopefully I can jot down everything real quick. If anything is spelled really off or anything I'll fix it after I get back home this evening or if I'm too tired I'll fix it tomorrow. So just in case...forgive me if anythings way off. I am in a bit of a rush now. So where was I.....Wow 15 days later. Anyway let me catch up with you all real quick. Noboru had given me.... given the exchange rate, about $1100.00 US. And two of the family credit cards, which I didn't use. And he said, this isn't much since we have no idea how long you'll be gone. But it's a start. I said...no no it's plenty. And with great sadness we quickly left to the airport. We quickly got our tickets and before you know it, he hugged and kissed us all and we were going through the TSA. We caught the escalator down and through immigration we went and to our gate. In the airplane. There was a family to the left of us flipping through a Guam vacation book. A group of boys 3 rows ahead of us, a school trip perhaps? About 8 boys total, so who knows, could be just friends on a trip, they looked about 18 years old 20 years old tops though. Meanwhile both Branden and Noah slept the whole flight. And I stood awake. Just thinking. Feeling sadness for Japan. Missing my husband already. Sort of feeling shell shocked. We arrived and met up with my dad. It was late. I hadn't eaten all day or on the flight. So we went to Denny's. The kids happily ate their kids meals. And I meanwhile told my dad all about the earthquake. All about the food shortages. The damage of the city nearest us. Just everything. I ate half of my omlette and potatoes and toast. And we left. Everyone went to sleep. 
If this trip was just that...a trip. I think I would have enjoyed my 15 days with a light heart. The fact that this wasn't really a trip. This was more an evacuation. So, I didn't enjoy myself as much as I would have under normal circumstances. The truth is....at least 90% of Noboru's coworkers evacuated their wives and kids someplace. Most of them who are from Osaka or far away from this area sent them there. So many of his coworkers sent their families to Hokkaido, Okinawa, About 5 at least we know sent their families to other family members in Osaka. And still. We know of at least 2 of his coworkers who sent their families to Hawaii. In fact the roommate of Noboru's, Yusaku. He sent Keiko and their 2 kids to Honolulu immediately he rented a condo for them right away. I think they left Japan the day after we did. And they'll be there until April 4th, I think. Yusaku is flying down there to pick them up fly back with them and bring them back to Japan. A few of Noboru's coworkers went to Guam same as us. Basically all of Delta sent their families out whether to other places in Japan or overseas. The day I flew out. We called Jun. We asked Jun if he wanted to send my SIL S and my niece M with me at my dad's house. They said no thank you. That she wanted to stay. And that was okay. At least we asked. She's my sister in law though and I do love her and my niece, so that's why we asked. Noboru said, try not to be sad. Try to enjoy your time and let the kids have fun. And just take a load off. A place with no power outages and food shortages. Where the kids can just go back to being kids for a while. I agreed. The next morning, we had breakfast at my dad's condo and then we left. We went to the morning matinee, I think it started at 10:30am. We watched Rango. It was funny. The first showing of the day is only $5 for any age. So we took advantage of those first showings of the day. After Rango. We had lunch and then we looked at the movie section from the paper and realized at the other movie theater, the first show of the day started at 1:50pm. So, since we really had nothing else to do. And with it being just $5. We drove the short distance to the next theater. And went to see, Mars Needs Mom's. 
This one was in 3-D. 
Inside the movies, we saw the poster to the upcoming movie for this Summer. The Smurfs! I will watch this...this Summer for sure. I can't wait. 
On the way out of the movies we took a stop for some cupcakes. 
One chocolate cupcake for each of the boys. This bakery makes some delicious stuff. They baked Noah's birthday cake when he was 1 year old. It was so good. 
The boys ate their cupcakes in the car on the way to the beach. After watching 2 movies that day. A nice walk along the beach was right in order. Both Branden and Noah started collecting shells. And so we had made a plan to spend the entire day the next day at the beach. So, we went to Kmart and bought some snorkeling gear for the next day. 
Looking for shells. 
After getting some snorkeling gear from Kmart we decided to take a drive all over the island. 
So the next morning, we all woke up early. And at 7:30am we decided to go and have breakfast at Wendy's. With chocolate milks and breakfast the kids filled up. 
And so did my dad and I. 
And there we got us a spot. And from 8am to 2:30pm we spent the entire day there. 
Noah and Branden collected so many different sea shells. 
They also drank some fresh coconut milk. We also had some Vitamin waters to drink as well. After an entire day spent at the beach. The kids were starved and...we went back to my dad's condo. And the boys showered in our shower in my room. And my dad meanwhile showered in his shower. Having 2 showers definitely speeds things up. : ) Then I showered and we all got dressed and we decided to go and have some lunch at the mall. Swimming that long makes a person really hungry. 
I had KFC, 2 pieces of white meat original recipe and mashed potatoes and mac and cheese and a biscuit. That peanut butter pie was for the boys to split. They love peanut butter. And that strawberry shortcake was for me. 
Branden is now eating an adults combo from Taco Bell. He had the 3 tacos and soda combo. 
Noah got a kids meal plus 1 extra taco. He was so hungry too from all the swimming. 
After 3 tacos, Branden was still hungry. So he had chili cheese fries from Taco Bell. He can now eat the amount of food Noboru eats. ; ) But again he swam so much no wonder. 
Hmm, it was 4pm, what to do. My dad suggested a movie. Yeah that'll keep our minds occupied. And keep us busy so that sounds like a good idea. So we went. 
They sell Vitamin Water at the movies. So I had that. 
Every day, we spoke on Skype with Noboru. We emailed about twice a day. Both Branden and Noah missed him so much. "daddy, I miss you, I wish you were here" Noboru would say "I know I wish I were there too, but if I left how would the other families be able to leave and fly out?" "I need to stay here so other families like you and mommy can safely leave" I know daddy, I understand" : ( Noboru reads the boys a bedtime story about 3 times a week and I read them a bedtime story about 4 times a week. They greatly felt the absence of Noboru. And again it wasn't like we all happily went on vacation. This was something entirely different. After the kids would go to sleep. I'd sit on the skype phone, Noboru and I looking at one another on a flat screen. Talking about...radiation levels. Water safety, gas shortages, food shortages. How many earthquakes he's felt since the previous day. How many power outages they've had. Noboru told me...I've been sleeping in Branden's room. I asked...why? He said. "Because our beds too big and too lonely to sleep in there alone, so while you're gone I prefer sleep in Branden's room" Okay....I understand. : ( Me sitting on the phone one night crying..telling my husband. I should be there with you. Our wedding vows said...for better or worse. I wanna be there with you. Noboru saying...no be logical. This isn't about us...it's about our kids! Watching each others faces and me sobbing on skype...I know...I know. The simple fact is...I married my best friend. He really and honesly is my best friend is the whole world. And I'm his. And like I said. It wasn't an easy thing or choice. Noboru was happy because he felt his duty was to protect us. Same as his coworkers did. So while he missed us and couldn't even sleep in our bed. He was happy we were safe. Meanwhile, I felt greatly conflicted. I think that's why we kept so busy. I asked my dad one morning while the boys were asleep. "dad if you were still married to my mom, and this same exact thing happened, would you leave her?" he said....no. My dad also added, but Gina...you did the right thing. Think about the boys. So, yeah....this wasn't like we had this happy nonstop laugh of a time. The boys I made sure had fun, didn't think about the troubles in Japan. I meanwhile felt conflicted inside. And being without my husband, I felt like I had this whole in my heart. Like something was missing. I wish to god this was just a little vacation. Just going on Spring break. It just didn't feel that way. 
In the morning, the kids woke up, we made breakfast at home that day. And we spent another entire day at the beach. After a day or two, the kids started to stop worrying so much about Japan. And started to just be kids again. And that was what we wanted. Once while we were there like the day after we got there, Branden had asked me..."mom are my friends going to die?" I said imediately...no! They will be fine. It was that worry and question that made me glad we were in Guam. For the rest of the trip we really didn't speak about anything related to the problems in Japan around the boys. Though we spoke nonstop about it while they slept. My dad and I would speak about it when the kids went to sleep. Or Noboru and I would speak about it after the boys went to sleep. But we wanted them to be somewhat shielded from it. So in that aspect us being there was the right thing to do. 
Noah just being a carefree kid. He really needed it. 
Branden too. 
Guam on the other hand. Was doing so much to help Japan. In one day they had collected over $50,000 dollars. They were raising so much to help the ones in Tohoku. And other areas. I saw on the American news how much help and aid the US mainland was doing too. Actually all over the world. That was the good that came from this...if there is anything positive to say. I would say the help from others was amazing. I donated $50 to the American red cross for Japan in Branden X's name and another $50 in Noah X's name. I wish it were more. But it felt good to make those donations. 
Another day we went to the swap meet/flea market. 
Island bananas. 
See that orange hat hanging on the right of this picture? I bought that for $3. 
So many fruits and things that are from Guam that the kids and I've never seen. 
After the swap meet, we went and picked up some Easter things for the boys. I mean after a while I sort of decided, no matter what my sadness is. I still have to move on. To live. My dad had kept asking me. The few times before we were at Kmart. Are you sure you're not going to get the kids some Easter stuff? Nah I'd say. And after like the 3rd time of saying nah not now. My dad waited to tell me after the boys went to sleep one night and he said. What happened and what you went through was bad, but you can't stop celebrating Easter because of it. You can't stop being like before. You were one of the happiest persons I ever known. You got to go back to being like you. That twinkle in your eye...that seeing the positive in everything. You need to get back to that. My dad is able to tell me things...most people couldn't get away with and I slept on it that night. And yeah.....that following day, after the swap meet. We went to Kmart. And I sort of started living again. I didn't want to walk around feeling glum anymore. Or thinking about all that was lost for so many. I know for my own families sake. I needed to live and smile. And so for my families sake. I had to shake whatever sadness I was feeling since 3-11. It's not like I wasn't going to feel sadness for those that were hurt and loss so much, I still feel it. But I couldn't let it affect my own day to day life anymore. Do you know what I mean. And believe me...it was hard. I needed that push from my dad. And so for me...being here helped me too. 
Another movie. The cheapness of the movie ticket prices. And the fact it was a nice cool place to spend 2 hours. Because Guam is a hot tropical island. Plus the boys are fluent in English and Japanese. So they understand the movie completely. I actually think and know they prefer English. So movies are easy for us. 
Smiley kids. They sure did enjoy all the movies and all the days spent on the beach. 
My birthday was March 22nd. My dad wanted to get me a cake. And I said no on the cake. It just did't feel right celebrating my birthday without my very best friend and husband. : ) So, we went out that night and had a birthdaydinner. And we celebrated. And enjoyed. And the kids laughed. My dad was amazing. He never runs out of enegry and he made us smile every day. He helped me out of my funk. He was greatly protective over us while we were there. He worried about us a lot. And helped us and kept us busy. Every night after the boys would go to sleep. My dad and I would watch TV. We'd watch crime shows like the First 48. Or Intervention on A and E. We'd be making commentary about the shows we were watching. Being here raised our spirits tremendously. 
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