Daytons Day-to-Day

Friday, December 14, 2012

In My Head

1. I love my kids, but sometimes I think about how useful duct tape could be...especially with the girl.

2. I think schools could collect a lot more Box Tops for Education if they were on: coffee, wine, OTC pain relievers and band-aids. And maybe Mott's Natural Apple Sauce. And did I already say wine?

3. I can't remember a time in our life when Alan and I have gone through as many pain relievers (Tylenol, Advil, Excedrin, Aleve...) as we do right now. See #1.

4. Did I tell you we're going to Australia in a couple of weeks? I'm super-excited, but I hope I don't forget to pack pain relievers and band-aids...and maybe duct tape...and maybe wine.

That is all.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Squatty Logic

If you were excited about me blogging again, then you'll probably be disappointed. This hardly qualifies...

When we first moved here, I was appalled to find these:

We call them "squatty potties" because...well, you understand, right? I remember thinking "Why on earth would they have these?!" They do have normal potties, as well. In fact, they have very fancy potties with warm seats and a white noise function and bidets. Then, sometimes they have squatty potties and I just don't get it. Seems barbaric, almost, except that there's plumbing, which means it's not any less intrusive to install. Baffled.

Until last week, when I was reading Real Simple magazine and there was an advertisement for a "Squatty Potty toilet stool." Seriously. That's what it's called. They've taken your everyday stool, which most of us have around, especially if we have kids, and they have marketed it as a supposed health tool that they sell for $35. You prop your feet up while you potty. So you potty like this:

Because, apparently:

Here is their claim:

"The modern day toilet is convenient, but definitely not perfect. While sitting to do our business may be sold as civilized, this position has brought on a number of health problems that plague us today. Squatty Potty changes your anorectal angle for faster, cleaner, more effective elimination."
~source here

Huh. I guess these Japanese people are smarter than me. I still don't think I'll be installing a squatty potty any time soon.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

3 Years!

A few days ago we silently celebrated three years of living on this little island paradise. Three years! I can hardly believe that much time has passed. Arriving here like a giant whale...by the time we leave (we don't know exactly when that will be yet, so don't ask!), the twins will be as old as Adam was when we arrived - maybe even older! That's crazy talk.

We've had so many great opportunities here. Recently, I was invited to participate in a kimono fashion show at our Officers' Club. It took them about 30 minutes to get me dressed! Here I am, being dressed, with the other "models" and the instructor, and making my modeling debut:

We attended our favorite festival a few weeks ago, as well - Orion Beer Fest!

Here we are with some new friends that night, who taught us some of the music (there's a video, but...):

And here's the guy who took our picture:

Finally, here I am with our Co-Commander, who has been so kind as to show us around a little bit:

Honestly, it's a pretty cool life we have here. How many people get an opportunity like this? Sadly, lately, the military presence on Okinawa has gotten a bad reputation due to a few idiots who don't know how to treat their hosts. I am appalled and embarrassed by the actions of these members and I would like to state, for the record, that these two incidents by these three individuals are not business-as-usual for military members here on Okinawa. For the most part, we do our country proud and we represent Americans well. But there will always be that 5% - that take up 95% of your time and give everyone a bad rap. Rest assured that those guys are not your typical military member and we are not proud to serve with them. Despite the inconveniences that have been imposed upon ALL of us due to these two criminal acts, I hope Americans living all over the world are reminded that you are always an ambassador, always a representative and always serving as an example of "America" to your host nation, whoever/wherever that may be. Act like it.