Quick Jaunt to Atlantic City

Brian and I made a quick trip to Atlantic City for two days for some R & R. We had a super-terrific, relaxing time. It was so nice to put all of the stress away for a little while. Brian hit a jackpot for $450 and was very happy! Also, his Tampa Bay and my Steelers both won, so that was awesome!!



Now it's back to our preparations. I will try to post one more time before we leave for Japan! 8 days left!!

3 Pack-Outs Complete!! Hooray!

We have an empty house!! Wow! So weird!

I'm going to try and sum up for your how our 3 different pack-outs went. I know you are all asking why 3?

1. Express Shipment: As I talked about 2 posts ago, you can have 1000 lbs that is due to arrive no more than 30 days after it is sent. Ours was picked up on October 6th, so it should arrive no later than Nov. 6th. However, they will not deliver it to you when you are staying in a hotel. We probably won't have an apt/house for at least 30 days. Once we have the lease signed, we can arrange for the movers to bring the shipment to us. Because it is the first things we will use, they are very important items. The basics and lots of clothes. We called the movers to get the actual weight. It was 440 lbs. That amazed me, because it seemed like a lot more. If you are going to send an express shipment, make sure you have the necessities first, then go ahead and add as many boxes of clothes as you can. I could have sent much more of my kitchen stuff too!

2. Long-Term Storage: Wow! We won't see the 2206 lbs we sent to long term storage for 3 YEARS. My husband says that I'll feel like it's Christmas when I get it all back. We also thought that we would say, "What is all this stuff?". There is a lot of items you don't need in Japan. I ended up storing a whole lot of Pics/Mirrors/Decor. I figured that I would want to have some local things to put up. I also wanted to be able to purchase a lot of items in Japan to bring back. I think the largest purchase I will make is a china cabinet, we'll see.... Putting all of this into storage was a little traumatic for me. I was sad to see some of the things go and know that I won't see them for so long. It was also nerve racking to wonder if they will get damaged or not. The packers were very considerate and efficient so I'm hoping not much will be damaged. We left 1 thing out that was supposed to go to storage. I found it as soon as the truck left. Even though I had most of my stuff grouped, I missed 1 small table. Make sure you put anything on the periphery of a room out in the middle so you don't forget!!

3. Regular HHG Shipment (HHG=HouseHold Goods): This is your bulk shipment. All the furniture/mattresses/and everything else that wasn't stored, expressed or carried in your suitcase goes in this shipment. They have to have it at your destination within 60 days. I scheduled this shipment last so that I would know that anything left in the house would be thrown/given out or go in our suitcase. We did very well with getting rid of any throwout/give aways long before they came to get our long term. I have an empty house after this shipment. We kept out the blow up mattresses and the sleeping bags. They will go to Mom's. We kept old sets of sheets to use for a couple of days, then they will be thrown out. I also kept the rattiest towels so we could throw them out. I kept out our most worn t shirts and shorts and stuff to use to paint and clean the house, and out they will go!! We are now living out of our suitcases for the next 45-60 days or so. That's a lot of fun, NOT!

We decided to hand carry all our important paperwork (That's one Large carry-on just for that), 3 laptop computers, 4 FULL cd/dvd cases, a router, a modem, plugs, cameras, ipod, 2 PSP's, 2 PS2's, XBox 360, and lots of clothes and personal items. Good thing we get TWO 70 lb. suitcases each, plus a carry-on, plus a personal item. To add to that, we also have two PETS!! I have no idea how we are to get around at the airports??? HA!

I have an empty house. Brian has already torn out the carpet that is getting replaced. It seems so HUGE. Now I have lots and lots of heavy cleaning to do starting with all the baseboards in the house. I'll be glad to get it all done!

11 Days left!!

American Rover Birthday

What a weekend! My Dad and StepMom came to visit for the weekend! My Bryan's birthday is at the beginning of Nov. Since we will already be in Japan, we surprised him early. We all went on the American Rover Tall Ship for his birthday. It is a 2 hour cruise around the Norfolk Harbor.

We had lunch at Chili's at MacArthur Mall first then wandered over to Waterside to buy the tickets. It is a very reasonably priced cruise. $16 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Bryan's best friend Jerry also joined us! Their favorite part was walking all over the ship and going below deck. They had a wandering musician who sang and played guitar. He sang Bryan Happy Birthday!

The boys had a good time at Waterside sliding down the railings. Bryan's Grandma Linda bought him a digital camera for his birthday so he was happily taking pictures. On Sunday, we went bowling and MOM beat everyone the first game. It was my highest score ever at 178! Bryan won the second game so he was very excited to have beat Grandpa!

We all went for a nice meal afterwards to Buffalo Wild Wing. It was yummy and lots of fun with everyone watching the football games.

Thanks to my parents for a wonderful weekend! Now I am busy, busy, busy getting ready for the movers coming tomorrow to pick up our long-term storage. UGH!

Ready, Set, GO!

We are at the beginning of October! I leave at the end of October! Wow! Yikes! I am at the point that I lay awake at night trying to think if I have forgotten anything. It's a crazy time for us. Busy, Busy, Busy.

We have people calling and coming to look at the house because it is up for rent. Yesterday we had 10 mins. to run around straightening so we could leave for someone to look. That was fun, NOT!

Mom is settled in her apartment now. She seems very comfortable with it now. I am glad that she found a place that she likes. She says her neighbors are very nice.

We had a little snafu with our DLA request. My hubby was in school and had to go to the school admin to do the paperwork. They sent it over to PSD and because they didn't have the page 2 copy with the request, PSD employees denied the request. Hubby had to go complain and they fixed it and we should receive DLA soon. For all of you Non-Navy folks, this is Dislocation Allowance. It's basically a free check to help with any moving expenses that aren't specific. It's a little over $2K. So we are glad to receive it. There have been so many expenses that we didn't expect. We've bought electric blankets, suitcases, pet carriers, extra glasses and contacts, clothes early all kinds of stuff. Not to mention that we lost $3K on my 4Runner. So it is nice that the Navy recognizes that there are a lot of expenses that we run into to make the move.

I finally heard from the ARmy Vet that they received the correct FAVN form for the pets. This means that everything SHOULD go smoothly for my animals when we arrive in Japan. They have one more appt to get a health certificate before we leave.

Michael had his braces off and has one more appt with the orthodontist to make sure his retainer is working properly. Then we will be done with that! He went to the eye doctor yesterday and picked out a new pair of glasses and purchased a year's worth of contacts. We just have to go pick them up when they get them in.

My Dad comes to visit on the 11th and My BFF comes to visit on the 22nd. I can't wait!!

They are picking up our express shipment on Monday. The express shipment can be 1000 pounds. You want to put items in it that you will need right away when you get into your housing. They won't give it to you while you are at the hotel. As soon as we find a place to rent off of base (because no base housing will be available for at least a year) they will deliver it. So we have 1 set of plates, bowls, pans, silverware, etc in there. We have 1 set of sheets for each person, 1 set of towels, washcloths, etc. We also sent an electric skillet, a can opener, electric blankets, and comforters, anything that will make our lives easier before we get our full shipment. What I had to remember is that these are also things that I now have to do without until we get to Japan and into housing. This is mind boggling, truly.

The lady from the moving company that is taking our long term storage came two days ago. Yes, we have 3 different moving companies for the 3 different shipments. Isn't that great! Anyway, she was really nice. She had a little palm pilot type of thing that she entered estimates per room of what we are storing for 3 years. We had estimated that 4000 lbs was going. When she finished she said we were at 3000 lbs and that was a generous estimate. So we're happy that we were under our estimate. We get a total of 11000 pounds. You add the 3 shipments together. 1ooo for express, 3000 for storage. That leaves 7000 lbs that we can take to Japan in our regular shipment. We don't want to have 7000 because we want to buy things in Japan and bring them back. We probably have about 5000 pounds we are taking. So that would be 6000 lbs actually in Japan. Which means on the way back we can have the difference in purchases. On the way back they don't count the 3000 lbs that is in storage. So do you think I can buy 6000 lbs worth of stuff in Japan? Absolutely I can.

I have heard that they have amazing furniture and goods there. They have a huge market twice a year that you can go and purchase items from all over Japan. I can't wait!!

Being Under 45 Days . . .

If you have been in the military and have made a move overseas, I'm sure you know my feelings. One minute I'm thinking about what to make for dinner, the next I'm thinking about why do I still have so many things to NOT take to Japan. At dinner, I'm thinking about the phone calls I forgot to make, after dinner I'm concerned about my son's homework, during his homework I realize I need to be starting my inventory.

There just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to get done. We have to get started on the painting in the house we need to do, but we can't do that until my Mom's apartment is ready. She was supposed to be moved Sept. 1st, and today is the 15th.

I have realized that during this whole process, nothing ever goes how it is supposed to. You have to go with the flow and take things as they come. We have done very well with this so far.

My Dad called me yesterday and let me know he and my Step Mom are coming to see us before we leave. I am very happy about that. I will be glad for the break. The boys will be glad to get some bowling in with Grandma and Grandpa.

My poor hubby has put his 46" TV up for sale on Craig's List. He will be sad to see it go. But he gets to buy a new one in Japan. It's Football Season. Way to go Steelers beating the Brown's last night!!

My hubby only has 9 days of school left. Then he will be in a holding place for two weeks on base. Then he will be on leave until we reach Japan. It will be weird for both of us to be home for a month. I'm sure we will enjoy it. (When I'm not giving him things to do....)

We continue to meet some very nice people who have already been to Japan. I would still say 95% of the people LOVED Japan. That is very encouraging in these last months before we go. I have noticed that I am getting more anxious and a little sad. I will miss my family and my pets I'm leaving with my Mom. I know it will be hard missing them. Thank goodness for email so that I can get pics of them whenever I want.

The pet process has been a little easier than I thought so far. We are still waiting on the vet to correct our FAVN certificate with the wrong date on it. Dolly will be with me on the plane until we get to DC and then she will go cargo with Mr. Jenks for the ride to Tokyo. Brian thinks this will cut down on my stress. (SURE IT WILL!) I'll be biting my nails the whole way over the pacific!!

Within 75 Days

August. Wow! That came up fast! I don't believe it, in less than 75 days, my family and I will be MOVED to Japan. It's sinking in quick. We were able to complete more items off of our list. We signed with a property manager to rent our home while we are away. We purchased two more huge suitcases for the trip. We received our travel arrangements and are flying from DC to Japan and made the arrangements for the pets to be on the plane with us. We purchased a soft-sided crate for my puppy to go on the plane with me. I cleaned out more stuff and gave it away or sold it.

I was very excited to start a new Forum on Proboards entitled Atsugi Navy Families, http://atsuginavyfamilies.proboards56.com. I have not been able to find a good site for networking and support of Atsugi families. So I created one and have had good response from other wonderful people going to or already at Atsugi. My goal is to make it so when people search for help for PCS'ing to Atsugi in the future that they will find our board and it will help them immensely with their research and move.

We were so happy to have Hunter for 10 days in a row! We had so much fun together. She really loves to watch me cook. I always try to tell her how I make everything, in case any of it sticks! For some reason, she loves to peel potatoes with her Dad. We had a large Luau/Pirate Pool Party for Hunter and Bryan last Saturday. I had about TWENTY 12 year olds running around my house. 10 spent the night! The girls didn't fall asleep until 4:3o a.m. Yikes. It took me almost 3 days to recuperate. Hunter and Bryan both had a wonderful time!

My Grandma turns 80 this month and my bestest friend in the whole world turns 39. Don't tell anyone I'll be right behind her in April. That's okay, I'm just gettin' better!

My hubby and I went to Glazenfyre in Chesapeake, VA for a Luau Night. Glazenfyre is a ceramics shop run by two wonderful people, Scott & Diana. I painted a cat to look just like my own Mr. Jenks. Brian painted a mosaic tile. It was lots of fun and a nice way for Brian and I to spend some time together.

We are STILL trying to sell my truck. Amazing to me because it's such a wonderful car. I'm going to miss my 4Runner so much!

Hunter and Bryan are doing extremely well in Gymnastics. I am so impressed with how much they are learning. Hunter is working on her back tuck and Bryan has started working on layouts. They love it and it's so nice to see them working hard and getting rewarded.

Michael starts college this week! Yes! I have a kid in college. Wow! It's so hard to believe. They grow up WAY TOO FAST!

The rest of August will find me packing and sorting and starting to inventory. Mom moves into her apt. on Sept. 1st. She has already started packing. We also are filling out the paperwork so we can get our absentee ballots to vote. I have to start looking into the advance notification form to send to Japan for the pets arriving at Narita International in Tokyo. They have to have it 40 days in advance.

Again, busy, busy, busy. But, it's good Busy. And I am very thankful for everything in my life. God has blessed us immensely and I never take it for granted.

Family, Friends, and Fireworks

4th of July has always been a richly celebrated holiday in my family. My oldest son's birthday is near the holiday so we usually make it a combo party. This year, like many years past, we travelled to Georgia to spend glorious hours with our loved ones.

I also took this time to say good-bye to my extended family for 3 years. I cannot believe how big my nieces and nephews and cousins have gotten. It made me the saddest to think how much more they will have grown by the time I see them again. Luckily, my family is very good at showing the youngest ones pictures of us so that they remember who we are. Although I will forever be known to my youngest nephew as "the one who bought me my Little Einsteins video". hee-hee.

A wonderful man at the end of my Dad's street in Grayson, GA, let off a fireworks display for the whole neighborhood and more. It was the largest private display of fireworks I've ever seen. Actually the only larger public display I've seen was at Disneyworld on 4th of July. It was amazing.

We also visited the World of Coca-cola in Atlanta. It was a lot of fun. We especially liked our encounter with the Polar Bear.We were glad to return back home again. My animals missed me.... This week we are putting my car up for sale, sniff! I will miss my beautiful 4 Runner so very much. Since I am not working now it doesn't make sense to keep that payment and insurance and the gas prices right now.

Love you to my family for making our trip to Georgia so wonderful. I can't wait to see the Fireworks displays in Japan.