Yokosuka Gazette 11/10/13
Welcome to a late edition of the Yokosuka Gazette.
It's early Sunday morning here in Japan...looks like another rainy day. Sigh. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and the kids had Thursday AND Friday off, so we're going on day four of "family togetherness and fun time".
This week was as busy as last week. I had COMPASS training on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I'm still not exactly sure what it is that COMPASS does, but they do serve a good breakfast and lunch and I won the prize for answering the most questions on Tuesday. I learned some things and got to know a dozen new faces (two of whom turned out to be spouses of CDW sailors). We learned about Navy traditions, finances, deployments, relationships, benefits and appreciating the local culture. It was useful-ish, if only to say that I've done it and now can pass my Grade A Navy Wife Skillz on to the younger generation. Talk about some confused young ladies...holy Moses. I came into this game after being an independent, single lady (cue the Beyoncé), so I knew how to take care of myself fairly well. A lot of these young wives are barely out of diapers...I mean, HIGH SCHOOL. Hubby sails away on the USS WHATEVER DDG-32 and she doesn't know how to pay the bills.
Oh no, girlfriend. Git yo bad self a power of attorney and buckle down! Better yet, get your husband to put YOUR name on the bills.
Anyway, I need to help these ladies, obviously.
Tuesday and Thursday we had our first rounds of flag football and cheerleading. This involved Hans, William and me dragging the lawnchairs out to the field along the sea wall and watching them for an hour. Twice. I don't think there is a colder place on the face of the earth than that field, except maybe for Fenway Park. Side note: Hans and I went to Fenway Park in 2002, in MAY and I have never, ever been so cold. Apparently Fenway Park is devoid of any sort of warmth. We were forced to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a Red Sox jacket that was worn exactly ONE time (my apologies, Michele).
Anyway, it is cold along the sea wall, what with those sea breezes. Hans thinks it unreasonable of me to expect to go over there and sit in comfort and warmth without my hair blowing all over the place. I'm telling you, hair blowing all over the place gets my dander up, for reals. I could never live in Chicago and because I just wrote that, our next duty station will be Chicago.
By Thursday's practice, I had gotten wise and dressed warmly and even brought along a blanket. I swear, it was over 60 degrees at home and probably 50+ on the field. I am ashamed to admit that I was a Minnesotan once upon a time...
Hmmm, what else happened? Annika got a haircut. She got some bangs. Miss Sara has been gone since Wednesday...I was just getting used to dropping Will and being free as a bird and Sara decided to go visit her husband at a port call. The NERVE of some people, messing with my schedule! No, Sara is wonderful and amazing and William doesn't bite people when he's around her, so Sara can go on vacation so long as she returns. Please Sara, come home!
Parent-Teacher Conferences were Friday and yes, I'm capping that because it's an important event. OK...we had nothing but compliments this year. The only thing that Annika's teacher could dredge up was that sometimes Annika's desk is a little messy (whaaaa? shocker!). She was so complimentary of Annika's leadership skills and the way that Annika writes stories and asks to read them to the class. Her classmates apparently beg to be in her next saga. No problems with other kids in the class. Oh Annika...you are such a trial at home, but SO good everywhere else. Why is that? Who is the true Annika? It makes me wonder.
Josiah's teacher has been a bit of a tough nut, so I was worried she might have a litany of complaints about him. Such as: he refuses to read fiction, he doesn't always complete his reading log, he is weirdly independent and spends whatever free time he has making lists of all 600 Pokémon, categorizing them differently every time.
(Side note, last week saw a refreshing return to geography as Josiah categorized all 204 countries by square mileage).
But even the crusty Mrs. Smith had pleasant things to say about Josiah and we left school feeling slightly smug and a little gobsmacked.
Oh-and on Thursday, they all three had to stay in the childwatch at COMPASS because Hans had meetings. When he came to pick them up, one of the ladies came out and said "Are those your children?".
Oh crap. Cringe. Nod.
"They are so GREAT! They had so much fun, they were so sweet!".
These kids? THESE. KIDS? The ones over there screwing around with the drinking fountain?
Affirmative.
All in all, it has been a good week for the parenting team of Hans and Rachel. So nice to feel a little satisfaction in a job well done.
Well, for this week, anyway...we'll see what next week brings.
It's early Sunday morning here in Japan...looks like another rainy day. Sigh. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and the kids had Thursday AND Friday off, so we're going on day four of "family togetherness and fun time".
This week was as busy as last week. I had COMPASS training on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I'm still not exactly sure what it is that COMPASS does, but they do serve a good breakfast and lunch and I won the prize for answering the most questions on Tuesday. I learned some things and got to know a dozen new faces (two of whom turned out to be spouses of CDW sailors). We learned about Navy traditions, finances, deployments, relationships, benefits and appreciating the local culture. It was useful-ish, if only to say that I've done it and now can pass my Grade A Navy Wife Skillz on to the younger generation. Talk about some confused young ladies...holy Moses. I came into this game after being an independent, single lady (cue the Beyoncé), so I knew how to take care of myself fairly well. A lot of these young wives are barely out of diapers...I mean, HIGH SCHOOL. Hubby sails away on the USS WHATEVER DDG-32 and she doesn't know how to pay the bills.
Oh no, girlfriend. Git yo bad self a power of attorney and buckle down! Better yet, get your husband to put YOUR name on the bills.
Anyway, I need to help these ladies, obviously.
Tuesday and Thursday we had our first rounds of flag football and cheerleading. This involved Hans, William and me dragging the lawnchairs out to the field along the sea wall and watching them for an hour. Twice. I don't think there is a colder place on the face of the earth than that field, except maybe for Fenway Park. Side note: Hans and I went to Fenway Park in 2002, in MAY and I have never, ever been so cold. Apparently Fenway Park is devoid of any sort of warmth. We were forced to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a Red Sox jacket that was worn exactly ONE time (my apologies, Michele).
Anyway, it is cold along the sea wall, what with those sea breezes. Hans thinks it unreasonable of me to expect to go over there and sit in comfort and warmth without my hair blowing all over the place. I'm telling you, hair blowing all over the place gets my dander up, for reals. I could never live in Chicago and because I just wrote that, our next duty station will be Chicago.
By Thursday's practice, I had gotten wise and dressed warmly and even brought along a blanket. I swear, it was over 60 degrees at home and probably 50+ on the field. I am ashamed to admit that I was a Minnesotan once upon a time...
Hmmm, what else happened? Annika got a haircut. She got some bangs. Miss Sara has been gone since Wednesday...I was just getting used to dropping Will and being free as a bird and Sara decided to go visit her husband at a port call. The NERVE of some people, messing with my schedule! No, Sara is wonderful and amazing and William doesn't bite people when he's around her, so Sara can go on vacation so long as she returns. Please Sara, come home!
Parent-Teacher Conferences were Friday and yes, I'm capping that because it's an important event. OK...we had nothing but compliments this year. The only thing that Annika's teacher could dredge up was that sometimes Annika's desk is a little messy (whaaaa? shocker!). She was so complimentary of Annika's leadership skills and the way that Annika writes stories and asks to read them to the class. Her classmates apparently beg to be in her next saga. No problems with other kids in the class. Oh Annika...you are such a trial at home, but SO good everywhere else. Why is that? Who is the true Annika? It makes me wonder.
Josiah's teacher has been a bit of a tough nut, so I was worried she might have a litany of complaints about him. Such as: he refuses to read fiction, he doesn't always complete his reading log, he is weirdly independent and spends whatever free time he has making lists of all 600 Pokémon, categorizing them differently every time.
(Side note, last week saw a refreshing return to geography as Josiah categorized all 204 countries by square mileage).
But even the crusty Mrs. Smith had pleasant things to say about Josiah and we left school feeling slightly smug and a little gobsmacked.
Oh-and on Thursday, they all three had to stay in the childwatch at COMPASS because Hans had meetings. When he came to pick them up, one of the ladies came out and said "Are those your children?".
Oh crap. Cringe. Nod.
"They are so GREAT! They had so much fun, they were so sweet!".
These kids? THESE. KIDS? The ones over there screwing around with the drinking fountain?
Affirmative.
All in all, it has been a good week for the parenting team of Hans and Rachel. So nice to feel a little satisfaction in a job well done.
Well, for this week, anyway...we'll see what next week brings.
Comments
Annika looks so grown up. My goodness, she has become a young lady.
Noko is a beautiful kitty. Perhaps he finds the top of the refrigerator a cozy, warm home.
Glad to hear all went well with teacher conferences and that Josiah and Annika are enjoying their activities. We finish soccer this weekend (after two more games today ... ugh) and start basketball on Monday. There is only one problem ... it looks as if St. Patricks thought that it wold be a good idea (and easier for me) if they put the boys on the SAME team. They do not know what they have in store for them ... and they are unable to change the situation. They will be glad to hear that we will not be here next season!
Missing you guys ...