Found myself waking up around 5 am as the sunshine hit the windows about then. This would prove to be the case for most of the trip, so just decided I'd work on my blog and get computer stuff done. Went to sign in on the blog and the sign in was in Japanese, and I was unable to sign in. So decided to email my mom every day and write the blog when I got home. That's what I'm doing now...
At a reasonable hour, got up (everyone else was still asleep) and took Marty for our first neighborhood walk together. It's a strange little neighborhood by American standards. Very small front yards, but interesting. Several others out walking dogs at this time of the day, a smile and nod will have to do as I have no conversational (or other) Japanese language skills. Marty is strong, much more so than Max, and that will take some getting used to. He has a pretty regular route that he showed me...
Back to Scott's and soon everyone else was getting up, we had breakfast, and then were on our way. Our first stop was to the base. We had to stop and get passes for Steve and I, took a bit as there was a line. Finally were set there and on we went. Misawa seems similar to Spang in many ways but different as well. First there is the difference of driving on the opposite side of the road. Then there are the signs in Japanese and English. But otherwise it's a military base with much the same stuff as we'd seen on our last trip to see Scott.
We were able to stop at a jet hanger that is a restricted area, but Scott was able to get permission to bring us in. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the flightline but got to see a jet and also quite a few of the different missiles that Scott works with. It was pretty much the only taste of Scott's work we were to receive as the bomb dump was off limits. We did drive by it, though, and got to see Scott's "piss-pot" that he had made in Jordan and that was on display outside the bomb dump (though within the fenced area.)
Shopping at the commissary was next - first the "department store" section, then the grocery store. We didn't need a whole lot, but did buy some more pizza as well as some diet coke and some snacks. Also stopped at a base ATM and still weren't able to get any yen with Steve's card. Will have to call later to see what's going on. Then on to Burger King (still on base) so that Steve could get some American food. Not to say the rest of us didn't enjoy it too...
Then stopped at the clothing store on base as that was where Steve was able to find souvenir t-shirts back in Spang. He was out of luck today, out of his size, but I found a nice one, as well as a wooden holder for my coins and two challenge coins as well. One was for Misawa and the other was an Air Force Mom coin. Between my two boys, my birthday was covered!
Back to Scott's after that, picked up Marty, and we were off to Sand Dollar Beach. A great afternoon of walking the beach, looking for shells and sand dollars. Mostly shells at first near the parking area, but the farther we walked, the more sand dollars we found. First ones were partials, then whole ones with some middle holes, then finally we were getting perfect ones. Lots of nice scallop shells too. Scott and Marty had a great time together, getting to run and play in the ocean's edge. The Pacific Ocean from the other side is beautiful! I think Scott is starting to realize, if he hadn't already, that goodbye time with Marty is getting closer. Trina and Eric found so many shells that they also "found" a bucket to carry them in. I found quite a few as well, and had a plastic bag to carry them back in. There was also quite a bit of garbage on shore, washed up from the ocean. It's a shame to see what is carelessly (or purposefully I suppose) discarded.
Got to see the beginning of the sunset on the beach, then headed back to Scott's to drop Marty off. Then we were off to a Japanese restaurant in Misawa for yakiniku, which was a grill your own meat and veggies restaurant. When Scott had described it, I thought it would be a great place for my belated family birthday dinner. I was right! We chose to sit in the Japanese section at a low table. Custom is to take off your shoes at the entrance to that section. After situating ourselves, we went back to the area where we chose the meat and veggies we wanted to grill, right at the table. Great food and a great time with my entire family, including my future daughter in law. Steve was the only one who didn't enjoy it. Even though he could cook his own meat to insure that it was cooked to his liking, he also worries about radiation levels from the Fukushima incident of a few years back and only ended up eating a few shrimp and some eclairs. A waste of the boys money, grrr.... but we're in Japan and I'm trying not to let his choices bother me. My first attempt at chopsticks on this trip - I have a ways to go to be proficient but I didn't starve.
Back to Scott's afterwards where we just hung out for the rest of the evening. So nice to spend time with everyone together.
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