Happy Merry Christmas!

We set up our Christmas tree!  Well, this is the Charlie Brown tree we bought to replace the one that fell apart in Alaska!  

Funny names...

I had KFC for lunch the other day!  The tempura chicken strips were great and the fries were pretty good... And the green melon fanta was great!  KFC should be JFC!!!

I was being followed by a Monsieur....

See his 'stache!

This is the ghost of Christmas present I tried to compare this shrubbery art to!!

You can see it now, can't you?!?

I went float hunting with a friend!!!  I didn't find one.  I got some sea glass and lots of sanddollars instead!!  And tink loved the ocean!!

I helped host a friendship lunch with the Japanese wives.... They made gingerbread houses, we had a combat gift exchange (which was hilarious!!), and had some wonderful food!

We also got a REAL Christmas tree!  It's ok.... Not like Christmas tree shopping in the states.  We didn't get to walk around and compare trees, we literally picked a tree and brought it home.... And they were all the same.  

Turns out, ours isn't bad, but I have to lean my head to the side so it's standing up 'straight!!'

And doc put up the lights!!

Don't they look great?

A neighbor had fun lights!  I can't wait to see if the Japanese do lights, too!  I'll make sure and take pics!

As of 3pm, these were the only trees left in the 'lot!'  I'm lucky I got what I got!

I came home happy about my tree.... So we had panclocks for breakfast.  With boysenberry syrup.  Happy holidays!  Soon I'll be fat and sassy!  Or jolly!!

Hai!

A friend of mine saw the WHOLE rainbow!!  I was so busy that day I was stuck in the car!!  But we have had some beautiful skies!!!  Japan has a different sunset, a different sunrise, and a different sky every day!

This probably a yawn, not a smile... But she's still cute!

Aunt LJ sent Christmas presents for The Girl, but tink thought it was for her instead.... She claimed it!!  

Ramona and I went to the ANOTHER 2 turtles sushi!  This one was in Towada.

And we drove past this bakery on the way out there... On the way back, we pulled in... Everything looked so good!  

However, the mini pastries I bought have an interesting seal... This taste... It warms my what?!?

Actually, it was really yummy!  A flaky pastry with a large apple chunk and cream in the middle!

Very interesting!

This was our potluck Thanksgiving!  NO one walked away hungry!  Even tink got a special bone for Thanksgiving! 

Great turn out!

Then, Black Friday we shopped at the BX and the weasel's den... There was a convention of home based and military businesses.... Plus a huge Burton expo!  We shopped a bit, but relaxed the rest of the day and went to see Catching Fire... Since it was the only attraction on base, it was packed!!

Today we went shopping.  My beloved's brother wants funny Japanese translations... What about funny Japanese fads?? 

Sometimes I'm really glad there is an illustration on everything!  

We also tried a Japanese KFC!  It was very similar to what were used to... But the chicken strips were a tempura batter, the coleslaw was not sweet, and I had that green melon soda again!  

It was delicious! 

We walked through the bowling alley.... 

To this arcade!!!  

(And saw a different kind of fight club!)

And then there was this spastic air hockey game!!  They got like 10 disks to play!!!  At once!

Which one is funnier.... The animal-like full body pj's with the bow tie?  Or the one with the pacemaker and the hood??

Not sure what they were trying to translate...

Then we went to Mr. Donuts!!

It looks like a cream filling, but.....

It was good, it was like a mild Bavarian creme!

Then we went to swan park.  You can't see the swans in the pic because the sun was killer!  They WERE there, though!!

And nic 'n I got new glasses!  Isn't she cute?  Actually, every time we go to the optical shop, the lady hugs Her because she thinks she's so beautiful!!!  (I agree!)

And our friends' kids LOVE nic, too!  

And see this 'lip' and tape in the center of the bag?  This is the 'security device' that all stores implement after purchase... Smert Japanese!!!

Tonight we went out to Italian right outside the gate.  This adorable little cafe had a tiny kitchen, had a limited amount on the menu and specials board, but it was cute and cozy!

This was my carbonara!  It was so creamy and yummy!

See?  It really is a little hole in the wall!

Life is good!!  

And I love checking stuff off (with a smiley face) of my Japanese-bucket list!!

This town...

We finally went to the Indian place right outside the gate!  It is delicious!!  The best flavors are sometimes found in the most unique things.  The mutton curry was delicious!!  But the chicken kebabs were the best!  No, I take that back, I loved their saffron rice!!

Even Christmas stockings are way different in Japan!  This looks like the shape of the tin man's boots in the wizard of oz.  But "Happy Merry Xmos" just the same!!

A friend drove me to these beautiful grounds!  Hopefully next year we can take some family pictures here!  As you can see, a lot of the leaves are gone, but it's still beautiful!

(This was a tori gate!  It had the fountain and cleansing cup on the side!)

It was just beautiful!

And then we found Jesus... Or else the ghost of Christmas present!  I couldn't decide which!

Apparently it's a hotel or 'spa' grounds... An onsen?  Maybe one day I'll go there!

Ramona drove, it was lovely!

Then a couple of a girls had a lovely night out... Walking through Misawa, I apparently found my hangout ;)

It wasn't this place?  It was scary inside!

We came here... Wherever that is!  But the Japanese people inside LOVED us!  They bought us some sake and the owner fed us some yummy snacks!!

Then I went to the cement factory and met moustachio... I'm sure that's this kitty's name!  

But I did pick up one of these really cool cheese boards!!

This morning I went with some friends to the cake house. We enjoyed this lovely milk tea service (I loved the egg timer, waiting for the tea to steep!)

My 'surprise'dessert!!  There was a green tea  and chocolate mousse in the cake!  The mango sauce was delicious, I think it was my favorite part!  But the chocolate swirls were so pretty!

I've had so much fun in misawa!!  I'm glad we're here for a while!!