Zipping Thru 32!

Alan's such a little stinker.  Not only did he plan a surprise pre-birthday dinner for me on the eve of my birthday, complete with Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, but he also took the day of my birthday off of work and had a special surprise for me that afternoon!  We visited Onna Villiage here and did the Forest Adventure, which is a series of zip lines and an adventure course.  So.  Much.  FUN!!  Here I am, ready to go!

After about a five minute safety "brefing" by a kid who looked to be about 17, wearing a high school track ball cap (given in very broken english, I might add), we were tested with a baby zip.  Once we passed (which we both did on the first try), then we were sent on our way!  In the video below, after I pass, you can see the sign behind me that says "Try Again" for the people who don't pass.  We don't know who those people are, but if they can't pass that baby zip, I think the "Try Again" sign should be pointed toward their car.

This next video is, I believe, of the second zip that we did.  It was kind of down in the jungle, which was cool.  And it was a fast one, which was fun.  What wasn't cool was that there was a sign posted, saying "Front Confirmation!!"  What do you think that means?  We still don't know...but the two exclamation points lead me to believe it was important.  We lived.

Here is one of Alan showing off, along with a semi-decent view of this little slice of paradise.  Livin' the dream, people...

This next video is a little longer, but it's a multi-tasker!  Alan got video of me going across a long zip and then he held the camera while he went:

Here's another multi-tasker for you.  This one was a really fast one and just happened to be the final zip of the jungle course.

After the jungle zip course, there was an "Adventure Course."  There were a lot of fun, challenging components of this, but I had trouble uploading some of the other videos, so there will only be one video of this portion (I know you're super-bummed about not getting to watch more of this).  Here I am doing a really crazy thing called the Tarzan Swing.  It's kind of a mix between a bungee and a zip, swinging into a net.  Seriously, you are all lucky I'm here to type this.  Not because I could have died, but because I might still be standing there on that perch, scared to jump, two days later.  Alan wanted to do this one again.  I did not.

It was a great day and I so enjoyed my surprise.  A great, big "THANK YOU!!" to my darling husband for arranging it - although I know he was also stoked to do it, so it was like a little gift to himself as well.  Nonetheless, very fun.

My Cup Runneth Over

I'm working on a blog about my fantastic birthday surprise, but it's taking a while to get all the videos sorted out, so I'll post about this fantastic instead! 

A couple of Saturdays ago (June 4th), Susan G. Komen for the Cure held a Global Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C.  Nearly 40,000 participants traveled from all over the world to D.C. to participate, but teams were formed remotely all over the world, as well.  I decided that I did not like missing the Race for the Cure last year (a race I have only missed three times in the last 13 years), and since there wasn't one here, I would make one!  So, I formed a team to participate here, on Kadena AB, in the Global Race for the Cure.  The team was small in size (20 people, officially, although double that showed up), but HUGE in generosity and spirit.  Our little team raised $1840 to support breast cancer research and treatment!  That was enough to garner a #3 ranking in the "Armed Forces" division!  I was so proud to walk and run with all of those amazing people and even more proud to share the stage with two other survivors.  I can't wait to do this again next year and am so excited about striving to make it bigger and better.  Thank you to any of you reading this who came out to support the cause, or sent in a donation to support the cause.  YOU made all the difference in the world to me that day.  My cup runneth over.

Thirsty?

One of the first things we noticed when we arrived in Okinawa was that there were a lot of vending machines.  A lot.  You can find them everywhere you go, and they are stocked full of anything you might want.  Water, juice, soda?  Check.  Coffee?  Hot or cold?  Milk or no milk added?  No matter what - Check!  Tea?  What flavor?  Hot or cold?  Check!  Juice with actual bits of fruit floating in it?  Check!  When my Mom was here, she loved trying all the different coffees.  Since then, we've grown accustomed to the convenience of the vending machine.  I actually enjoy some of the hot coffees and one tea in particular, and Adam has gotten adventurous, trying a few different juices.  These machines are not only found in common, public places, but often on the side of the road.  And it doesn't even have to be near a business!  Literally on the side of a road, all by itself!  Sometimes, they're just on the sidewalk, right outside the front door of a home!  I decided to snap a few pictures over the last couple of months of interesting vending machines we saw.  Here's what I've got so far:

These three pictures are a few that I see just between the base gate and Adam's school (probably about a mile, and only on two roads)

(those two above are actually right across the street from each other)

So easy, a four-year-old can do it!

 One is hardly ever enough - they like variety!

Literally in the middle of nowhere.  How is it even plugged in??

(Kudos to my friend, Amanda, for this pic!  We actually saw one like this driving out to Miyagi Island, but it was before I had the desire to snap pictures, so I'm glad Amanda did!)

In an abandoned parking lot.  I guess the guests of that hotel could walk on over for a coffee...

Again, nothing around but the road...

Another abandoned lot along a road... 

Again - where's the power?  Judging by the lean on this one, Songda probably relocated it.

For the shopper who really wants options - this was in the corner of a random parking lot:

Along a road - the cement structure appears to have been built for the sole purpose of housing the

vending machine. 

If you haven't had the urge to try a drink yet, then maybe this will help:  BOSS Coffee is endorsed by the one and only Tommy Lee Jones

 

Shaken or Stirred?

Since it's all typhoon-y outside, I figured I'd get back to the list.  Next up: Something I bought recently.  I buy a lot, honestly, but I figured you all didn't want to hear about Huggies.  So, I decided on a recent "big" purchase that Alan and I made.

Recently, Alan and I decided to buy a bar.  We have been looking at them since we moved here and just never came across the right one at the right price.  We wanted one that had some Asian influence, but wasn't overly ornate and lacquered to death, which a lot of Japanese furniture tends to be.  Well, we finally happened upon this one, at the right time and at the right price:

Here it is on the inside.  Don't worry about the eyes of the truck you see - I can assure you, I did not drink and drive:

It really is pretty and the top of it, when it's unfolded, has black marble.  Stop on by and we'll serve you a drink!