The $8.75 Tire

I'm neglecting the blog again, I realize. But I'm now DONE with the yearbook, so I'm back in the comforting arms of my own personal photography & writing. I promise to be better. Really.

That being said - quick story, and then I have to get back to editing the pictures I've taken since we've been free of lockdown so I can post them here & on flickr.

I had a flat tire a while back and Craig got a patch kit and fixed it. The thing actually lasted for quite a while on the patch, and yesterday I took it in because it was flat again. I took it on base to the auto shop and said, "I have a flat tire, and I need a new one." NOT, "I want to get it fixed," or, "Could you look at my tire?"

"I need a new one."

I proceeded to tell them it was the back passenger tire instead of the back driver's side tire (dang you for putting that wheel on the OTHER side...) but obviously they only needed to look and then laugh and probably make fun of me in Japanese.

About 30 minutes later he said, "It's done, ma'am," and I jumped to pay.

"That's eight seventy-five."

I figured I hadn't heard the "forty" or "eighty" or whatever in FRONT of the "eight". But no - after I slid the card through the machine, he handed me the receipt to sign and it said $8.75. Dude! I walked out and looked at the tire - shiny and nice, unlike the others. I just got a tire for under nine bucks! DANG!

So I called Craig from the parking lot to tell him it was done.
"What's the damage?"
"Are you ready for this?"
"Oh God what...."
"$8.75."
"WHAT?!"
"I know, right?"
"Did they give you a new tire? Or patch the old one?"
"It's new... I looked."
"Dang, I thought you'd say it was like $200 or something..."

This morning Craig called me from the car on his way to work. He looked on his way to the car, and it's my old tire, patched. Cleaned up - but not a new tire.

I thought I'd blogged this, but last summer after food shopping with Mia at the commissary we came outside to a dead Nissan Cube. Wouldn't start. I tried for a long time, even found someone in the lot with jumper cables after trying to buy a set at the PX and not FINDING them. I swear on my life I put that thing in park. I even jiggled the gear shift to make sure. Mia, our groceries, and I took a cab home. That night, we came back on base in Craig's car and he swiftly put it in park and started the car up fine. Of course. What can I say - I'd been driving a stick for a long time before coming here and returning to an automatic transmission!

I hate it when he's all "me and my testosterone will take care of all things automobile related... how did you survive without me when I was deployed?" Well, honey - though you can detect a car that isn't in park, and a patched tire - you can't make a ponytail or a grilled cheese sandwich, so NANNY NANNY FOO FOO!

Vitz for Sale

My friends, Edith & Trinity, moved here in
October and 3 weeks later their 2-year-old son was diagnosed with
Leukemia. (I blogged about this when it happened.) They were flown to Hawaii immediately to start treatment.

Trinity is here for a week right now to work with TMO and get checked
out. (nice timing) He has a car to sell, and is desperate to do so super quickly. If you live on Okinawa and have interest in a car or know someone who might, read on....

It's a 2002 Toyota Vitz, 4-door, kind of a greenish-silver color. It
has a GPS and is pretty loaded up and in fantastic shape. He bought it
for $4500 and is selling it for $2500 to dump it QUICK. If anyone is
interested or needs more details, please comment on this post and it will show up in my email - I can put you in touch with him. Thanks, local peoples!

Bzzzzz....

That's the sound a busy bee makes. I'm busier than that. But I wanted to post a few things, so here we go.

Everything is going great, just crazy - WELCOME HOME, JAKE! First order of business is to welcome home our dear bro-in-law/uncle from Iraq after 15 long hard months. Have a fabulous reunion with Courtney, Jake - we can't wait to talk to you and maybe one day plan a visit.

Another week has passed me by, and it was filled with a couple of lunches out, preparing for the kid's birthday and party, soccer practice, rain rain rain, wind wind wind, and lots of taking pictures! I'm so happy to have found my new job and new team - it's all so fresh and fun. It's still hard to imagine I only got here 3 months ago - so much has happened, and I was just thinking how hard and sad it will be when some of these people I've met, who maybe only have another year here or less, leave to go back to the states. That's probably the thing I dread most (besides hours and hours on a plane + jet lag when we visit home), and that says a lot about the caliber of people I've met so far. But enough about that for now.

I find that I not only do I love so many of the funky cars here, but I love the variety of them. A guy who owns a club in American Village here has this classic (shipped here from the states, no doubt) -
And it's funny how many Minis you see out here - I'm quite surprised Craig didn't buy one - I think he might eventually sell his to get one since it's pretty worth it here with his commute.

So this weekend it's Yom Kippur (yes, Jewish High Holidays have been upon us) and it does always render me somewhat reflective. I'm so thankful for all the blessings I've had in the last year - my family's health, my husband returning home in one piece, the opportunity to travel and experience these incredible things, and so much more. Going forward, I hope to enjoy the time we have here in Okinawa and do some traveling in the area. I love taking pictures, and hope that can grow into something fun and fulfilling for me. And I wish happiness, success, and health (not necessarily in that order) to all my loved ones - thank you for your wonderful warm wishes and thoughts!

In the coming weeks - Mia has her 6-year checkup, I finish the training part of things and THE Studio will launch and we'll have REAL clients! YAY! Craig has a very long hump on Mia's actual birthday, so hopefully we can celebrate after that. My dive buddy Scott just made Chief (CONGRATS!) and we can finally make a date to DIVE next week! How I've been jonesing for that. I hope to try more restaurants, make a few more friends, and of course, take more pictures of this fabulous place we get to enjoy for a few more years. Oh - and of course, we'll be watching lots of new fall TV! So far, I'm excited for a few shows, but I'll let you know what's really worth your while. Right now I'm loving Damages, Madmen, and the new episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm (Welcome back, Larry!!).

For winter break we're considering a trip to Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand or Cambodia. (any votes for one or another? Bear in mind, there IS a kid involved here....) I think mainland Japan will have to wait for summertime because we don't have winter clothes for it! And you know the kid will want to do Tokyo Disneyland - must save up for that one.

Ok - off to sleep. Hugs & loveys.