No More Okinawa.

In Okinawan conclusion, I really did enjoy my time on that tiny island.  Really.  In the months since we left I find myself missing the people and the places and the experiences uniquely Okinawa.

Being that Okinawa Andi no longer exists, update your bookmarks, change your Reader links and please enjoy Andi of Arizona.

My House is a Mess (and other brief updates)!

I am no longer Okinawa Andi, officially and hopefully for the rest of my life.  A new blog will soon be established with a more appropriate name.

I am living in a house that I have dreamed of living in for the last five years.  It has a solarium (fancy-talk for a passive solar sun room).

Last week, I realized my life-long dream of being on-stage with David Copperfield.  Skeeze or not, the man looks good.

If you can't tell, there are about a million and a half things going on in my life right now and the most pressing one is that my belongings (which I haven't seen since April 5th in Okinawa) were delivered and the delivery guys just left.  The bed is put together and the kitchen is unpacked.  Now I just need to wash everything in the kitchen, find the bed sheets and a home for everything. 

Oh, also the TV needs to be put up and the Wii needs to be installed as ASAP as possible.  Parks & Recreation from Netflix won't watch itself.

Who can tell me what is wrong with this picture?

Someone in our family has a sprained tail. :(  So our little baby, who communicates with her tail-flag is somewhat mute.  She got a pain shot and has some pain medication for the next week and then the tail should be as good as new.  Poor doggins.

I Was Right.

I knew I would love Glee too much.

Akira keeps calling me Rachel.  Not sure how I feel about that after watching the pilot.

omg, I love this show.

Because ‘80’s Dan Aykroyd is Love.

Oh, Danny. My hero, always & forever.

Finishing Up.

Our time on Okinawa is coming to an end soon.  Soon, but not soon enough.  Not soon enough, but will a million things left to do.

Matt is on duty today, so I am left to my own devices.  I’ve been cleaning for approximately four hours (to be honest, I have taken a few breaks).  My to-do list for today is long and not much has been crossed off.  Many tasks have been started and left hanging.  I might have Adult ADD.

I’ve finally put my suitcase away and found the postcards we meant to send to our parents.  Oops.  I guess we didn’t have enough time on vacation, either.

I have been listening to three new albums – Illuminations by Josh Groban, Sigh No More from Mumford and Sons, and Come Around Sundown by Kings of Leon.  Joshie-poo has indeed let me down with Illuminations.  None of his songs should include the word “babe” unless it’s a Christmas album.  I have shocked myself and really enjoy Mumford & Sons.  It was Matt’s pick and I’m generally not down with his Alt/Indie picks.  KOL… well, I don’t know.  It took me a while to warm up to Only by the Night, but then I fell madly in love with the album.   I don’t know how I feel about Come Around Sundown.  Maybe a few more listens.  Okay, the music critic is done.

We went to True Grit last night.  Generally, I cannot keep myself awake during westerns. And I NEVER fall asleep during movies. I hate westerns.  Hate.  BUT: I really enjoyed True Grit.  Jeff Bridges is fantastic and Hailie Steinfeld was shockingly good for a newcomer.  Jeff, if you win the Oscar again, I will be: A.) happy for you and B.) really pissed off that you took it from my old boyfriend Colin Firth. 

Okay, okay, I admit I’m rambling.  I just don’t want to finish my chores.  Boo.

The Vacation Rundown.

We love Canada.  We love it.  I would live there.  That, essentially, sums up the awesome that was our vacation.  We spent almost as much time in transit as we did vacationing, but I supposed that’s okay.  We got to see a lot.

Our first stop was Montreal, where we did a significant amount of shopping.  THERE WAS A TRI-LEVEL GAP STORE.  THAT WAS SELLING BRAS FOR $8 EACH.  That alone was worth the whole vacation.  I was in heaven.  We went into three different Roots stores about five times over the course of the vacation just because I knew I needed some Roots-y goodness, I just couldn’t throw down $70 on a hoodie.  I relented when the price fell to $45.  Still a little guilty about it, though.  Anyway, this is us on Mont Royal:

After a few days in Montreal, we headed to Quebec City.  Quebec City was beautiful.  It was a big city that has small town charm.  There is a large section of QC “inside the wall,” a former military fort.  Everything in that area has a lovely old European feel to it.  The food was pretty good and Matt got his second taste of his new favorite desert, sugar pie.  On our walk around town, I took this picture especially for Annie:

Because you should not use Comic Sans if you expect anyone to take you seriously.

We had planned on two full days in QC before heading to Boston to see Evan, but the nor’easter had other plans.  So, we left Quebec City after a day around 1630 (when it was pitch black) and got to Evan’s place about 0100.  And then Evan passed out the Zimas we really started having fun.  Oh, Evan.

If you don’t remember Evan, he was practically Matt’s live-in boyfriend during the World Cup last summer.  He’s also pretty lucky because there are two, maybe three of Matt’s friends that I like enough that I would interrupt our vacation to spend a few days with.

Since most of Boston was snowed in that first day, we pretty much had the city to ourselves.  We tromped around in the snow, learning Boston facts and trying not to lose feeling in our extremities.  After a lovely progressive dinner of clam chowder (omg, the waiter said “chow-dah”) and oysters (and a shrimp burger for me), we tra-la-la’d off to TD Garden to watch the Celtics beat the Kings.  I think it was the Kings.  Is there a Kings in the NBA?

Our second day in Boston was awesome because Evan gave us a sweet tour of his alma mater, Harvard University.  He even kindly endured my questions, such as “So, did they sort you into houses (dorms) by random, or did they have a sorting hat?” and “Would Professor Snape put a spell on you if you didn’t finish your homework?”  But seriously, look at these pictures – Harvard is the closest thing the U.S. has to Hogwarts.

Finally, we returned to Montreal for some hardcore shopping and the Biodome.  All in all, a spectacular vacation.  Matt says his favorite thus far, although my vote still falls with Buenos Aires.

Quickly.

Canada is my new favorite place.

This is Matt's new favorite song.


And some GSP eye candy (ins a Habs jersey, no less) just because I didn't see him, only his hometown.  Oh well.

Montreal.

Tomorrow, we head out for Montreal.  I've got my Kindle, my iPod, my passport, my insulin and I think I am ready to go.


We will also spend some time in Boston with Matt's BF, Evan, taking in a Celtics game and doing very Boston-y things.

Did I mention we will be freezing our tushies off?

Pictures may or may not come in the future.  They will probably be posted once I quit my job and return to the leisurely life of  an unemployed woman.  Sometime before the Oscars (so I can get my party on).

Anyway, I'm rambling.

Matt + Andrea + Kindle = Flying to Canada tomorrow.

FInally, A Kindle.

As I suspected, Matt got me one for Christmas.  I love it so very much and I have been playing with it all weekend.  I've already downloaded more (mostly free) books than I can possibly read.  It is as wonderful as I has hoped. 

andi <3's kindle

I hope your Christmases were equally as thrilling.

So much for surprises.

Scratch #3 on the last post.  Matt is a terrible secret keeper.

Bring it on, Christmas.

-Christmas tree up and decorated? Check.  Witch candy canes from last year? Check.
-It's a Wonderful Life watched by the light of the Christmas tree?  Check.
-Hopes of ever owning a Kindle dashed? Check.
-Holiday parties avoided? Super-check.
-Christmas music in the car? Check (six weeks ago).
-Warm beverages daily?  Check.

Well, I'm ready for Christmas.  What about you guys?

Pre-Birthday Ball Pictures.

The shoes add quite a bit of glamour, right?

Just another day.

Waity Katie Waits No More...

Finally, Wills has gotten over me.  Its about time, considering I've been married for almost five years now.

Mom and Dad and Angel.

So, last month, my dear family came to my island for a brief visit.  We tried our best to keep everyone busy and happy and even squeezed in a typhoon.  Unexpected weather, FTW!

Regardless of the sog late in the week, we still made it around to a few of our favorite places, LIKE:

THE BEACH!

AND KATSUREN CASTLE RUINS!

AND THE AQUARIUM!

AND COCOK'S SPA (the K is silent)!

We had a really great time just hanging out and showing them around our daily lives.  Next time we see them, we'll be back in the U.S. for GOOD :)  YAY!

P.S.  I will add pictures from the Birthday Ball and the Most Beautiful Dress Ever soon.  And not like how I said in my last post I would update soon.  Actual soon.

Typhoon Chaba:

Thank you for coming while my parents are visiting.  At least we have two or three days of sun - and enough time to get our toenails prettified.  Pictures soon.
xoxo-Andi

I Am A Terrible Blogger.

Three things:

1.) Dude, work has been stressful the last few weeks.  Everyday, I come up with a new reason to join the ranks of the Okinawa Unemployed Spouses Club.

2.) Birthday Lunch Pictures

It was really windy.  Also, pardon the excessive boob-age.

Oh, Akira.  My Japanese twin.

The other third of the ARA trinity was there, but she refuses to be placed on the internet.

3.) My family is coming to visit me!!!!  Yayayayayay!  And I think I have sprayed and wiped my entire house with Windex Multi-Purpose Cleaner.  WOOO!  Cleanishness!!

The Last Great Vacation.

Well, it's been decided.  Our Travelocity Sucks vacation is set in stone. 

We are headed to Montreal, Canada.  In the Middle of January. 

It was our only cool option....  it will be a VERY cool option.  (Mom, can you bring any of my winter gear that might be laying around when you visit??)  But I am thrilled for some snow.  And some hot beverages.  And possibly some NHL originals.  Mmm.... good stuff.

Let me know if you know of some good stuff to do in the coldest country in North America during one of the coldest months.  I'm excited.

Yaaaaaay!

Look at what day it is:

Yep, thats right - I am 27 years old today.  I was lucky enough to have Matty come back early from the exercise to celebrate with me (or maybe it was to go to some special class - whatever.)  I took the day off of work because I needed a mental health day and I am excited to just relax.  I made my frozen blueberry bread and creme brulee coffee for breakfast (while watching SpongeBob).  I opened my gift from my in-laws and was thrilled to find they thought I was an extra-small.  Nice.  And later on I am heading to the BIG EXCHANGE to maybe go buy some cute boots I saw a couple weeks ago.  We'll see if they are still there.  Cross your fingers.

Anyway, I better get on with my birthday festivities.  I just thought I'd remind you that I'm older and more mature now.  xoxo.

Ubuntu.

As I have said before, I am not a Mac person.  I prefer the unpretentious easy usability of my PC.  I do not judge you for using a Mac, unless, of course, you start preaching at me from the Church of Steve Jobs.  I love my PC - my beautiful, sexy, amazing Dell.  She's hard not to love. --->

Before fate and AAFES Online brought us together, I spent the previous five years using Anna, my hard charging Toshiba laptop.  After two years of college and three years of being my family's home computer (including six months of TBS!), Anna was tired.  Really, really tired.  She was no longer quick with anything.  Even with an external hard drive to store all our TV shows and music, Anna was lagging.

So when Matt returned, and I had hooked up our wireless internet, Anna got shelved in favor of Matt's desert laptop (another Toshiba, of course).  No big deal, right?

Then, as Military members are wont to do, Matt had to leave the island for a while, taking his laptop with him.  And I realized I am not a one computer kind of girl.  I have my desktop upstairs, but what about when I am watching TV and I want to get a little more info on something?  I could not be expected to go all the way upstairs just to check it out.  What was I to DO??

Then, I remembered reading this article, about how to revive an old laptop with Ubuntu.  It's a completely free Linux based (don't ask me what that means) operating system.  All I had to do was burn it onto a CD (I used my desktop for this) and pop the CD in my laptop to try it out.  Ubuntu allows you to try the OS before fully loading it onto your computer.  It was in the trial mode that I found the new gaming love of my life - gbrainy.

Now, I haven't used my Ubuntu machine for much more than some web surfing and a little gbrainy playing, but I am really happy with it.   So basically, what I am saying is give it a try and if you're looking to speed up an old computer, it's worth a shot.