I Done Been TAGGED!

You know, I've read about this in photography blogs - but never did I imagine, even in this tiny little universe that someone would tag me! I'm so flattered... blush.

Elizabeth Pellette tagged me. She's amazing, and she found me through another blog I read (someone who's already been tagged, I'm sure). The rules. Ahem.

1. Link the person who tagged you. (check)

2. Mention the rules in your blog. (check)

3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours. (6? That's it? I suppose I'll narrow it down.)

4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them. (will do)

5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers' blogs letting them know they've been tagged. (will do too.)

Quirks:

1. I'm awful about reading directions. I'm kind of a guy that way - I'd much rather figure things out myself. And then I get annoyed when I can't and I have to take the time to read the stupid directions.

2. I am a food pack rat. I love cooking, and I do cook what I buy - but often my eyes are bigger than our 3 stomachs (hubby, daughter & myself) and I end up with stuff that I would love to eat but there just aren't enough meals in the day. 

3. I'd happily leave the house with a cap on my unshowered head, but I'd never leave without a stitch of makeup on. Even just a little mascara and something for the circles under my eyes. And maybe a bit of blush.... 

4. I'm a bit of a video game junkie. I have a DS, a PS3, a PSP, and a Wii. Hubby bought them, but I admit. I definitely play more than he & Mia put together.

5. I used to read a lot - now I really don't anymore. I am an ADD kind of reader - magazines, websites, blogs, newspapers - not so much novels anymore, and that makes me sad. It's really not because I don't find it interesting or fun - my eyes start closing too soon and it takes me too long to finish a book.

6. I hate mayonnaise. Anyone who knows me, knows this about me. I'm phobic. Really. Can't smell it, can't touch it, and if it comes on my sandwich despite the fact that I ordered it without, I will either send it back or not eat it. **shudder, gag**

Gosh, six other bloggers. HERE WE GO:

Kassia, at Our Life is an Open Blog

Jen, at Sumeba Miyako

Edith, at SENIORITA MOMMY

Ayelet, at Ayelet Like It Is (HA! I will force you to post!)

Ernie, at Ernie Budo's Lab

and Pamela, at her UKreal blog

Sorry if you've been tagged before. Deal with it.

Photos coming OH so soon!

I Haven't Mentioned How Lucky I Am.

When we entered this adventure that is our 3 years in Okinawa, I knew I'd be in for some cultural education, definitely new sights, sounds, foods, and people, but I have to say I'm consistently surprised. I didn't ever dream of meeting the incredibly smart, fun, talented, and amazing people that I've been meeting.

We're all sort of in the same boat here - either military families or State Department or whatever - somehow put here by America or our choice to educate the Americans who are here. It's a strange sort of existence - just about everyone is only here temporarily. This spring and summer, I'm going to lose some of the friends I've made - they're going to head back to the states, or on to their next duty station wherever that may be. It's a sad part of the way it is, and we all know it.

But that being said, with the Internet, email, blogs, websites, Vonage - BLESS VONAGE!!! - etc., we'll all be in touch. If we want to be. I've gotten into photography quite a bit since I've been here, as all of you that read this little blog know. The support, comments, encouragement - they have had a profound effect on me.

At the commissary a few months ago, someone called me by name and told me she loved my photographs - and I had never met her before! She knew someone whose family I'd shot, and had subsequently followed my blog. Whether I've made these friends through my photography (like Suwanee or Annya) or through the blogosphere (like e or Ernie or Pam or even more people who are on their way to Oki and found me before they came!), or just by fate (you know who you are - Mere, Anne, Jen, Katherine, Ebeth, Casey, Sena, too many to NAME I must say...) - I thank you. I deeply appreciate your amazing words and encouragement and I really feel so incredibly blessed to be given the opportunity to do what I'm doing. Even if I am horrible about emailing back - realize that if I could take the time to sit down for coffee once a week with all of you - I WOULD!

Lots of amazing things are to come in my life. I can't wait to hold your hand through my journey... thank you for joining me!

Neglectful. Again.

No excuse. None. Except that I have lots of plans and not much time to just play with the camera - and things are happening, but not really in a bloggish sort of way.... quite. Here's what I have for you. A couple more Ohio pictures - yet more to come, for those who care.

Left: Terri (old old friend of Craig's and his brother Ridge's). Middle: my father, eyeballing Terri's Muffaletta sandwich at Crave restaurant in Akron, Ohio. Right: Valerie - Terri's wife. Who I guarantee has taken better pictures.
Ridge (Craig's brother) leaning up against that awesome old Ford up on the hill by the farm. I think this is a great shot. Though I do rather wish I'd had him take off the sunglasses.

Uncle Ridgie with Mia, in the Ford.
A REALLY cool shot of Craig & Ridge leaning on some kind of farm equipment. And yes, the moment he reads this he'll remind me what this thingamabobber is called, but I'm a city girl and I don't need to remember that sort of thing. I just know the picture makes them both look pretty darned cool.

I just love this picture of Mom with her sons... that's Aine, my mom-in-law, beautiful inside & out. Not sure how I got lucky enough to get TWO amazing moms (and grandmoms) in this life, but I did. And Craig & Ridge really love their mom too, if you can't tell.
Ok - that's it for sharing today.... talk to you soon!

Farm Shots

I'm somewhat back on local time here in Okinawa. I've been editing and working on photos I took in Ohio, both of the Bowman Family Farm and the family members themselves.

Craig's grandparents had a cattle farm in the outskirts of rural Magnolia, Ohio. It has been in the family for nearly 200 years. I said "had" because next week there will be an auction, and the farm has been sold. Most of it, anyway. Craig's uncles and aunt who are still around inherited some land and a couple of them live there in homes now. But the main farmhouse and the working part of the farm will no longer be in the family.

In a way, I'm happy Craig, Mia & I got to visit one last time. This will not be a gathering place for the family anymore. Craig and his brother and sister grew up on this farm, helping to sell Christmas trees, raise the cattle, and of course play and enjoy the amazing time that is outdoor farm life in Ohio. It's a piece of them. And I was glad to take photographs of this keystone in Bowman family history. Below are a few, the full set is here on my flickr site if you care to see it. I obviously didn't put it in any Okinawa groups because the subject matter is different. Family pictures are still to come - these had to be done first so that I could mail out a photo book to the uncles, aunt, and siblings as soon as I could put it together. The pictures in the flickr set are in the book which I purchased from the reliable Apple company.




My favorite pages of the book are two facing pages that have smaller pictures of the details. Here are a couple of my favorites.
I also LOVED this old Ford truck they had on the grounds. This color is amazing, isn't it?


As for Okinawa happenings, well- let's see. Mia's in school and very happy about it. I'll be signing Mia up for some piano lessons soon at the Sunset Music School. Craig went back to work today. We're hopefully going to unload an Air Asia voucher we have for about $275 to someone who might want it (anyone? I'll give you a deal!). And we'll also hopefully plan some kind of family getaway for fun since we had to cancel our Thailand trip.

Summer's comin' - it's getting a little warmer here for sure. At least it's more gradual this time. When we arrived in June last year it was like a smack in the face! Ok - more soon, photos & otherwise. I missed you!

home. sleep. wiggle.

After over 24 hours of travel time we are back in Okinawa. Long trip. More soon - even pictures, but suffice it to say I'm happy to have my bed again. Even though thanks to jet lag I'm already out of bed since 6:30am.

Mia has 2 loose teeth - the bottom middle ones. She's very excited about this and blames the apple she ate one morning for loosening them. I will have to figure out how to get her hands out of her mouth on a regular basis now. And what the tooth fairy gives up these days...

Nee Poo

We were walking in historic Zoar Village in Ohio with Mia, Craig, my brother-in-law Ridge, and his girlfriend Jaime. Mia is a great reader now. She takes every opportunity to practice her new skill and shows off as well. As we were walking down the main street of the tiny town on a gorgeous spring day, Mia proclaimed:

"That sign says NEE POO!"

We were in the middle of a conversation, so the others didn't really hear her or give it much thought, but I was thinking to myself... nee poo? How on earth would she mispronounce something that would end up sounding like that. Nee poo. Neh po. No. Doesn't make sense. She said it again, which prompted me to turn around, and I saw one of these.

We were still walking up to it from behind when she read the flag as that bright sun shined right on through.

The word "nee poo" has now been inducted into the Bowman vernacular. And we may have to test her for dyslexia.

Rest In Peace.

The phone rang this morning, and it was Craig's brother. I could tell by the crackle in his voice that I needed to get him out of the shower immediately.

We got the news that Craig's father was in a car crash today and passed away. We are quickly planning a trip home as we speak.

Mia's doing amazingly well - when we told her, she started crying with us and said, "I want to go HOME, I want to go HOME!" - she meant to San Diego. Poor thing. We all want to go home when something awful happens.

I'm very happy she got to spend the time she did with her Grandpa before we came to Okinawa. I'm also glad he didn't suffer. We should be on our way to Ohio tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.

I also have to mention how very lucky we are to have the family we do - both at home and here in Okinawa. I can feel your amazing vibes and prayers, and not one person who found out hasn't offered their help or anything at all we need. Thank you, from all of us.