27 for the Front Nine

The Palm Lakes Par-3 golf course is a wonderful thing.  Not because you can work on your short game, or because it's cheaper than a full round, but because of the atmosphere that it creates.  It's not pretentious or stressful, and creates a great opportunity for new golfers or rusty players who want to take an hour or so to play some golf.  Nobody is going to make fun of you, or tell you to hurry up; after all, it's a 3-Par.  If you want to play a serious round of golf, go play at Vellano or Los Serranos.

Chip shot

The sunny California Christmas weather was perfect for playing a round of golf - mid 70s, sunny, and crystal clear skies.  Only one problem: the Porter Family is terrible at golf.  Karen tried to marry into some ability, but Thomas has yet to impart his skill to his wife.  The perfect solution was to head to Palm Lakes!  We split into two groups - Thomas, Karen, Stephen, and Kylee teed off first, followed by Chris, Doree, and Lisa.

Follow through

Luckily, most members knew enough about golf, and had swung a golf club before, that there were very few whiffs and strikeouts.  However, we certainly enjoyed watching everyone's golf balls go everywhere but towards the hole!  There's a certain level of anticipation as the amateur golfer addresses the ball, swings it back, and brings the club down - will it be a worm-burner? A shank? A hook? Perhaps the stars will align, and the ball will go sailing down the fairway with a satisfying THWACK!

Thomas was the best, of course - the only one of the group to actually end up on the green in one shot. Kylee had some of the highest arc shots I've seen.  Although they wouldn't go much further than 60-70 yards, she was very consistent.  Stephen and Karen would be all over the place - sometimes making good shots, but more often walking off with a pitching or sand wedge in hand.

Overall, a great way to spend an afternoon.  Relaxing but competitive, and lots of laughs.

The Family that golfs together stays together

Pull!

I'm nursing a bruised cheek at the moment, and it's due to a fight.  The score is: 12-gauge shotgun - 25, my face - 0.  Of course, the clay pigeons got the worst of the deal, as every single one of them ended up broken.

Die pigeon!

Shooting isn't an activity that I've spent a lot of time doing; none of my family grew up shooting guns/bows, so I naturally gravitated to other sports.  However, being in the military has given me the opportunity to at least be familiar with guns and the basics of shooting.  When my brother-in-law, Grant Petruzzelli, suggested that we head to the range and do some shooting during my Christmas leave, I jumped at the chance.

Kid, meet Candy Shop

Eye of the Tiger

The first day I went with my father-in-law, David Lollis, and Grant, while the wives went out to do some shopping.  Dave was like a little kid in a candy shop; telling everyone at the range that it was his first time shooting a shotgun.  Grant and I tried to assume the role of more experienced shooters, with limited success.  We got a 20-gauge shotgun and 25 shells each, and headed to the range.  After a brief demonstration of how to load and fire the guns, we set our stances and started firing.  When the dust cleared, I had barely edged out Grant for the win.  Final score: my 15 hits to Grant's 13.  Dave laid an egg.  We then headed over to the pistol range and got a 40cal pistol and 50 rounds.  We took turns shooting 5 rounds at a time from 10 yards out from a silhouette target, and took our bullet-riddled targets home to proudly show the womenfolk our prowess.

This gun's kinda heavy. . .

I guess old dogs can learn new tricks

We showed the pictures and videos from the day to our wives, and told my parents, and they expressed a desire to also do some shooting.  So, we took the afternoon today to head back to the range with Kylee, my Dad, and my Mom.  We got two rifles to share, and hit the range.  The assistants running the range were very helpful for all of us, giving pointers and tips for better shooting.  Everyone in the group hit some pigeons, though it was a nail-biter for my mom.  She went 0 for 23, then nailed the last two targets to the applause of all.  Kylee and my Dad were quite good - shooting down 8-10 pigeons each.   This day, I rented a 12-guage shotgun to try.  Though I shot better than the day before (hitting 20 pigeons) due to the greater power and spread, my cheek paid the price.

The weather was gorgeous, the kind of weather that only California can offer in December - mid 70s and clear skies.

Eye on the prize

More pictures at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100638891273681.1073741832.12004504&type=1&l=7e32759cb4

Clearly, You've Never Been to Singapore (and Hong Kong)

Alright, time to catch everybody up on what happened over the summer of 2013.  Yes, I was deployed a decent amount (added up, I think it was about 5-6 months, broken up into 3 deployments), but I also got to visit a lot of very cool ports and foreign countries.  The first deployment, I went to Vladivostok, Russia.  The second deployment headed down south to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.  To round out the year, we hit up the famous Asian ports of Singapore and Hong Kong.

Singapore was a surprise visit, so it became a geo-bachelor port call - almost nobody's wife came out to visit due to the short notice.  As a result, the detachment stayed together as a group.  We all got the same hotel, visited the same locations, and generally had the same experience.  Additionally, it meant I got to keep my mustache for another couple weeks. I apologize for those photos.


Singapore was a very interesting city to visit - there are some strange rules, and things that are commonplace in the US or  Japan are illegal in Singapore.  For instance, it's illegal to chew gum in public, bring smelly Durian fruit on public transportation, or eat/drink in trains or train stations.  There are also laws against "outraging the modesty of a woman." Not sure what exactly that would entail, but needless to say, the men were on their best behavior.

We traveled the city exclusively by train and foot, visiting the Botanical Gardens (where we saw the National Orchid Garden, which had more orchids than I can count), Little India, and a park with Avatar-esque towers coming through the trees.  We stayed at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, living the life of luxury in a gigantic hotel with rooftop infinity pool, impressive views of the city and bay, and built in mall/casino!

Hong Kong was a very different type of port call than Singapore, largely because the spouses were there!  Kylee flew down with several of her friends (also wives of the detachment) and met me at the Bishop Lei International House - a small hotel with a stunning view of Hong Kong Harbor.  The next 48 hours were packed full of rooftop bars, fancy dinners, eating dim sum on the top of Victoria Peak, braving the intense night life of Lan Kwai Fong, and taking in as much of Hong Kong as we could.

I could have spent another week in Hong Kong - I felt like I only saw a glimpse of all there is to see, and what we did see was very rushed.  I look forward to more visits in the future!

More photos of Singapore:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100635216328301.1073741830.12004504&type=1&l=951bc6adbc

More photos of Hong Kong:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100635222540851.1073741831.12004504&type=1&l=d1ef906b07

Fuji-San

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to climb Mt. Fuji.  Kylee was in the States, so the three day weekend was wide open.  A friend from the squadron, Steve Aspholm, invited me to join him on our Monday off and climb Mt Fuji, as the season was just ending.  The season had actually technically ended on Sunday, but the trails remain open.  The climbing "season" of Mount Fuji only guarantees that the checkpoint huts along the way will be open.

We met at the squadron at 0530, bringing some egg burritos for breakfast on the car ride up.  The weather was clear and warm in Atsugi, but Fuji was ominously covered with clouds.  We crossed our fingers and drove up to the base camp.  There are several different trails that ascend Fuji-san, so climbing experiences can be quite different than someone else, or even on a different day.  They range from about 4-7 miles one way, with varying degrees of steepness, and the general consensus is that it will take 6-10 hours round trip.  Steve and I had chosen the shortest trail, clocking in at only about 4 miles up.  I was brimming with confidence - no matter how steep the trail, I could hike 4 miles in a couple hours. No problem.

Although it was still warm at the base camp, it was covered in fog and mist.  We expected the temperature to drop as we climbed, so we had backpacks with jackets, long pants, beanies, and gloves.  After topping off our water and a bathroom break, we headed up!  I was really excited to finally be climbing Fuji, and sang the song of the Lonely Mountain to Steve.  I don't think he appreciated it as much as I did.



The trail immediately started climbing, and didn't lessen the entire way.  We set a quick pace, and passed by several other hikers on the way up.  The trail was mostly volcanic rock, with some patches of dirt/scree, and was steep enough that I was basically scrambling up on all fours! As we got higher, the temperature dropped, and the fog/mist started collecting on our clothing - soon, we were as damp as if it was raining!  We passed several groups of people on their way down, and they asked if we were headed to the summit.  When we responded in the affirmative, they laughed and said that the weather got much worse.

They were right.  Soon, the wind was whipping around us, driving pellet-like rain into our faces.  Added to the ever present fog, the volcanic trail made it look like I was in Mordor, climbing Mt Doom!  I was underprepared for the rain with my hiking pants, and they were soon soaked through.  Luckily I had a waterproof jacket on, so my upper body was warm and dry.  Undaunted, we continued onwards and upwards.

We eventually reached the summit, cold, wet, and tired.  Victorious! Unfortunately, the clouds had not yet lifted, and we could barely see 100 yards.  We decided to finish the trail that goes around the circumference of the volcano summit.  The wind had gotten even stronger at the top, and several times we felt like it would blow us off the mountain!  Good thing we had our hiking staffs to stabilize ourselves.

We got a hot bowl of ramen at the one noodle shop still open on the peak, and then headed back down.  Going down was much quicker, though my legs were still shaking by the time we reached the parking lot.  We were still soaking wet, but that mattered less as the temperature rose.  I started warming up again, my cheerfulness returned, and I was annoying Steve with songs once more.

The total round trip took us about 4.5 hours.  Not bad for a first time!  I definitely want to do it again, but this time I'm packing waterproof pants, and praying for a clear day.  I'll post pictures soon!

More pictures here:

Upcoming posts!

Sorry it's been so long since we updated the blog. Rest assured, it's because there was so many exciting things going on! Here's a quick recap of some of the blog-worthy events that we'll be writing about.

- Stephen climbing Mount Fuji
- attending a Grand Sumo Tournament
- Port calls in Singapore and Hong Kong

Hope you all are doing as well as we are!

G'Day Mate!

Let's put another shrimp on the barby!  Kylee and I just returned from a 10 day trip to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.  I had port visits there, and Kylee was able to find reasonable plane tickets to fly down and join.

The Melbourne city lights

Kylee flew down with her friend Charlotte, who is married to another pilot on my detachment.  They had several adventures on their own, including scrambling for a last minute visa, and an international flight that didn't offer any free drinks or food!

I did not expect the temperature in Australia, especially Melbourne.  Of course, it was winter in the southern hemisphere, but that doesn't really sink in when you're dealing with 90+ degrees in Japan, with high humidity.  Luckily, I had packed a jacket with my civilian clothes, and Kylee was nice enough to also bring another light jacket for me.  Sydney was about 15 degrees warmer than Melbourne though, so I was able to wear some shorts.

We did too much to write about everything here, but I'll try to hit some of the highlights:

The Redcoat's are coming!
Oh, wait. . .

Scrub, scrub, scrub!

Melbourne: Walking along the Yarra River and the South Bank Promenade, going to the highest public viewing point in the southern hemisphere (88th floor of Eureka Skydeck), touring Cook's cottage, getting dressed up all fancy and then eating at a burger joint, and seeing the grand cathedrals like St Paul's and St Patrick's.  We also visited the Old Melbourne Gaol, where Kylee enjoyed being treated like an inmate being put through processing, and learning about the history of many famous Australian criminals.

Sydney: Going for runs through the Botanical Gardens and across the Sydney Harbor Bridge, walking through the bars and restaurants of The Rocks, touring the government house of New South Wales, and course going to an opera (Don Pasquale) at the famous Sydney Opera House.  We also took a train to Blacktown and visited a wildlife park, where we got to pet wallabies, koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas!

It was an amazing trip, and we thank God for giving us the opportunity to experience another country's sights and culture.

The Don

More pictures can be seen at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100599448098121.1073741828.12004504&type=1&l=4bab6ef41e

Flying south for the weekend

There's a little mathematical equation that is used among HSM-51 pilots to describe their time here in Japan. It goes like this:

There are 52 weekends in a year. The pilot is likely to be on the boat for about 60% of those weekends. Of the leftover free time, half of it will be dedicated to SDO or squadron events. That leaves the pilot with about 10 weekends during the year to actually see Japan.

So when I (Kylee) managed to squeeze my way out of working for Ichiban (spouses store) on a Saturday, Stephen and I jumped at the chance to travel down the Izu Peninsula. Our destination: Shimoda.

Shimoda is only a 3 hour train ride from Yamato, so we packed our bags and headed out the door at 7am on that gloriously free Saturday morning. We managed to take a wrong train at some point but got right back on track eventually. That's quite a common occurrence when there's about a thousand different train lines going all over the Kanto plain. Once in Shimoda, we walked around the "downtown" area to get acquainted with our location before catching the bus to a popular surfing area called Shirahama beach where we climbed on the rocks, relaxed with a good book, and just enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. I use the work "peaceful" because we were basically the only people on the beach. And of course it was cloudy and cold (our luck). Coming from California, I was surprised to see an empty beach on the first weekend of June but then Stephen quickly pointed out that when you're on an island beaches are dime a dozen. Not such a prime location as it is in California. Also, the Japanese don't like to be tan so they tend to avoid the sun, i.e. beaches. Which made for a very romantic and private getaway for us.

We stayed in a traditional Japanese hotel complete with tatami floors, yukatas to wear (like robes), and a tea set. Our room had a balcony which looked over our "private" beach. When getting ready for bed we had to pull out the mattress, pillows, and sheets from the closet and did our best to make a bed the way we thought it should go. After some guessing and playing around we eventually made a comfortable japanese style bed on the floor. A very cultural experience indeed!

During the evening, we strolled down Perry Road, named for Commodore Perry who catalyzed trade between Japan and the U.S. in 1854 (also a Naval Academy alum). Represent! Perry Road is full of little restaurants and shops that look like they would get good business during their open season but that doesn't begin until July so we sort of had the whole town to ourselves. It was actually a bit reminiscent of our time on Catalina Island.

The following day we walked through the park overlooking the Pacific ocean which was full of blooming hydrangeas. There were flowers bigger than my head! It was the perfect time to visit.

This small weekend away showed me how I need to be more meticulous about keeping my weekends free for when Stephen is home and how exactly to plan those weekends so we don't end up 3 years from now regretting not having traveled.

More photos available at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100583130533651.1073741827.12004504&type=1&l=b6a3001351

Ten-en Hiking Course

You would think with a country as populated as Japan, there wouldn't be much room for nature.  When we left San Diego, we thought we were leaving behind beautiful hiking trails, fresh air, and the great outdoors.

We were wrong.

The Trailhead

Japan does have a huge population, but they're all centered around the cities.  In those cities, everything is set up to be very space efficient.  Therefore, there's a surprising amount of space in certain areas, and hidden on ridgelines and in valleys.  The Ten-En Hiking Course is a perfect example.

Located in Kamakura-shi, the entrance to the hiking trail is all but impossible to find.  We were lucky enough to find directions to it on a blog post (much like ours!).  To help out other people looking for this beautiful trail, I'll post the link to the directions:

On the trail

http://en.japantourist.jp/view/kamakura-s-tenen-hiking-trail-do-this-hike-as-if-you-were-a-samurai

The entrance is hidden next to a very normal looking house - although there are signs that direct you to the trailhead, it's very easy to miss.  Even if you enter at the other end of the trail, it's through a large shrine and up a series of stone steps.

View of the hills above Kamakura

Once you're on the trail, however, you feel as if you were immediately miles away from the city.  The foliage is thick and green, and you can usually only see up the next bend in the trail.  In many places, the ground cover overgrew the trail, and you'd have to push your way through leafy ferns and grass.  There's rocks, trees, plants, scenic vistas on the ridges, and everything you could wish for on a 2 hour hike.

 It's not particularly strenuous, though there is some altitude gain, and the path is not paved (thank goodness, it felt good to be hiking on actual dirt).  If you pushed the pace, you could probably finish the route in a little over an hour.  Or, you can take your time, explore side trails (we walked 10-15 min down some forks to see where they led, and didn't see an end), and extend the hike to a couple hours.

It was a wonderful find, and we look forward to discovering other hidden gems in Japan!  Find more pictures located here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100583129071581.1073741826.12004504&type=1&l=09187b1b5d

Keep hiking!

The Wheel Turns

It's how you can rediscover old passions and enjoyment in activities that you haven't done in a while. For me, it was heading back to the climbing gym and getting back on the rock. I forgot how much fun and challenging it can be to get to the top of a mere 15 feet.

It helps to have people around you who are passionate about be same things though - I can thank Matt Petersen for reinvigorating my desire to climb. We'd talked about climbing in the past, and finally went out to discover some Japanese climbing gyms. The first is called Stone Magic, and it's located near Machida. Matt and I took the odakyu line from Yamato up to Machida, and then transferred to the jr line to fuchinobe.  It's about a 15 min walk from fuchinobe.

The gym itself is pretty solid - quite large by Japanese standards, and has over a hundred top rope routes, including a natural rock pillar in the middle of the gym. The back wall is dedicated I bouldering problems. Most of the routes and problems are out of my skill level right now, but it's motivating to get better.

The second gym is in Yokohama, and it's a dedicated bouldering gym. Take the sotetsu line express to Yokohama, and it's a 10 min walk from Yokohama station. B-pump Yokohama is smaller than Stone Magic, but has a lot more boulder problems. There are two floors, with the top floor offering the most advanced problems.

The rating system is different than the US, using a straight numbering system. 10 is the easiest, and 1 is the hardest, with each route color coded to a number. Both gyms have the chart posted on the wall, which makes it easier to remember. Of course, routes are inherently subjective, and some routes are easier or harder for me, just due to my height. Reaching problems are hard, but I'll struggle on an easier route that requires more technique.

My goal is to go climb at least once a week, either gym or outdoor. It helps that they are open later (they don't close until 2300), and it's usually cheaper after 1830 anyway. Depending on schedule and how motivated I am (and how willing Kylee is to let me climb), I could easily head there after dinner for a hour or two.

All in all, I'm excited to be climbing again, and I hope to head outdoors sometime when I come back from deployment!

Nixon Alexander

Golden Week. The time of year when most Japanese people take off work to travel because it contains 4 national holidays! Kylee also took advantage of this time to visit her nephew in California.

 Even though there were many pictures posted, videos watched, and skype sessions chatted, there is nothing like seeing your first nephew in person. I know it's a very "auntie" thing to say, but Nixon is seriously the best looking baby around. And his mom is stunning as well. Most mothers of a 6 month old baby would look worn out and barely alive. Yet, somehow, Courtney is even more beautiful than ever. It's as if she is fulfilling what she was made to do.

Those three weeks in California were mostly spent bonding with Nixon. Playing, dancing, going to the park, even taking naps together all helped him to get to know his auntie. It was wonderful to see him actually begin to recognize Kylee more with each passing day. Maybe that's why she misses Nixon now more than ever.

Until next time!...

From Russia, with Love

Добрый вечер!

(That's "Good Evening" in Russian).  Apologies for the long absence from the blog, it's been a busy time here in Japan.  Stephen was gearing up for his first deployment, and Kylee was keeping busy with social events, spouses club functions, feeding Stephen, cleaning the house, and working.

However, now Stephen is back from deployment, and we're settling back into a more normal schedule. He returned last Monday, and was full of stories of his first time at sea.

The time at sea was packed full of flying, getting all the qualifications and requirements that a detachment needs.  It was also a learning point for Stephen, as he got used to the different lifestyle - working out, sleeping, and eating, all at work, took some time to get familiar with.  Luckily, it was with a great group of people, which eased the transition.

It was also a great port visit, as he pulled into Vladivostok, Russia, for his first port call in the Navy.  Unfortunately, he came down with a cold the night before pulling into Vlad, resulting in the loss of his voice!  It was an interesting time walking around the streets of Russian, unable to speak above a whisper without his voice cracking and squeaking.  The Russians must have thought Americans just don't talk at all. . .

However, it was still a great time, full of culture and fun.  Going out into town and finding Russian food (surprisingly hard to get; most of the food seemed to be Chinese or pizza! Though we did eat some really tasty borscht), discovering cool little cafes and coffee shops, and browsing the stores for Russian souvenirs.  He ended up buying a bottle of Russian vodka and a pipe/tobacco for himself, and a container of Russian tea and chocolate for Kylee.

Although the deployment was a lot of fun, it was long enough.  Stephen was ready to return home, and Kylee was looking forward to having him home.  He returned home to a Welcome Home sign, and a plate of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!


I apologize for not posting any pictures, but it appears they somehow got deleted from my phone, and didn't save to the computer.  :(

My Cup of Tea

Being in the military can be really tough sometimes; missing family gatherings, having to really stretch our comfort zone, knowing the member can deploy at a moment's notice, etc. But there are some awesome opportunities that come our way because of this lifestyle. 

My (Kylee) most recent adventure was an outing I took with about 8 of the other wives in Stephen's squadron to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. We all took the train to Yokohama, which is a nearby big city comparable to Tokyo, and made our way up to the 67th floor of Yokohama Landmark Tower. It is the tallest building in all of Japan! 

As we entered the tea hall, we walked along a set of stones which really did require a bit of balance. Walking on the individual stones is meant to force your body and mind to begin to slow down in preparation for the ceremony. We then each took turns cleansing our hands and face at a natural spring just outside the tea room. My dancers eye took note of every specific thing the Japanese woman did so that I would do it just right. First, she lifted the ladle with her right hand and scooped the water to pour on her left hand, switched hands and rinsed her right hand. She then scooped water into the ladle again, rinsed her left hand again, switched hands but then used the remaining water to rinse her mouth. If there was any remaining water, it was poured out by bringing the ladle toward her chest. This may sound unnecessarily detailed but everything she did was planned and done to perfection so therefore I did my best to perform perfectly as well.

After removing our shoes, we entered the actual tea ceremony room and sat on our knees for the remainder of the ceremony; about one hour. My legs were totally dead! The Japanese woman brought out to each of us a light meal of rice sugar cookies in the shape of a bird and flower and a potato puree with bean paste that was shaped like a plant. When handing these to us, the woman carefully bent to her knees, placed the plate in front and then bowed with her hands in the shape of a triangle on the ground in front of her knees. Again, my eye caught all these details and did exactly as she did. I found it completely fascinating and rewarding.

The actual making of the tea is also extremely lengthy and detailed so I will not bore you with that but I will say what a perfect glimpse into the Japanese culture it was. The four principles of the tea ceremony are harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. Everything from the foot that enters the room first, to the number of sips in which the tea is consumed, is intentional. I saw how there was a right way to do every move, the honor that comes from performing correctly and the devotion that was at the center of this art. To quote the teacher, "The principal underlying the art of tea ceremony is the discipline of ourselves to achieve quiet taste and modesty, giving up luxury and arrogance. With this spirit, the host and the guest blend harmoniously to take part in the ceremony."

There was a moment during the ceremony in which I had a reality check. I suddenly realized how incredibly blessed I was to have the amazing opportunity to witness a part of history. I cannot thank God enough for His blessings. 

Valentine Dinner Escoffier

As a wonderful Valentine's Day treat, Stephen and I went to the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo. The New Sanno is an American-style hotel provided for military members and their dependents to enjoy. On this weekend in particular they offered a Valentine dinner escoffier. I have heard it is extremely difficult to get a reservation for considering they begin booking 6 months in advance. However, God was good and somehow made an opening for us!

On Friday, February 8th Stephen rushed home from work, changed, and we caught the first train leaving Yamato Station and headed for downtown Tokyo. A quick one hour later, we arrived just in time to freshen up in the room before heading downstairs to the ballroom where there was even a professional photographer taking photos for guests. We were lead to an intimate table for two which displayed personal name cards, 6 small glasses of wine, and several multiple sized forks. This of course got us talking about proper etiquette so we had a good time sharing etiquette knowledge and pretending we were an older, rich, British couple :)

I would love to give you every detail of the dinner but this blog would become a novel so instead I will attach the menu at the bottom of this post. But I will tell you that it was THE most incredible meal I have ever had. We received a wine pairing with every course (8 total) and descriptions to accompany it. There was also a band of string musicians present to round out the beautiful evening. We savored the food and conversation for a whole three hours!

It was the perfect first Valentine's date as a married couple.

Menu:


APPETIZER
Duck Pâté
Robust Mixture of Force Meat, Seasoned with Fresh Oranges, Brandy, Pistachios Nuts and Truffles, Served with Dijon Mustard and Cornichons
SOUP
Consommé Mirei
A Rich Beef Consommé Garnished with Shiso Leaf and Gold Flakes
SEAFOOD
Fruits de Mer
Array of Seafood Combining Scallops, Lobster and Shrimp, Arranged atop Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Resting in a Pool of Lemon Zest Butter Sauce, Garnished with Japanese Beans
GAME
Roast Quail
Boneless Game Bird, Filled with a Herb Flavored Filling, Studded with Sun Dried Cherries, Nestled atop a Porchini Risotto and Served with a Natural Sauce, Accompanied with Fresh Asparagus
SORBET
Passion Fruit
ENTRÉE
Filet of Beef
Tenderloin Filet, Pan Seared and Served in a Cordon of Madeira Sauce, Garnished with
Grilled Polenta and Array of Baby Vegetables
SALAD
Caesar Salad
Fresh Leafs of Romaine Lettuce, Tossed with a Rich Dressing Flavored with Garlic and Fresh Lemon Juice, Garnished with Smoke Salmon Jerky
DESSERT
Chocolate Heart Shaped Gateau
Served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Resting in a Pool of Grand Marnier Sauce, Garnished with Fresh Strawberries

---

WINE SELECTION
APPETIZER
Pinot Grigio, Santa Margarita, Italy
The wine boasts a fresh, clean fragrance that is followed by a crisp, refreshing flavor with hints of citrus fruits. This dry white wine has a straw yellow color. It is clean, intense aroma and bone-dry taste with an appealing flavor of Golden Delicious apples.SEAFOOD
Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Jacob Zimmerman, Germany 
This Riesling is delightfully off-dry, with crisp green apple and fresh grapefruit flavors. Perfect balance between crisp acidity and ripe Riesling fruit is found in this Mosel wine.GAME
Cabernet Sauvignon, Francis Coppola "Director's Cut", California
Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This wine delivers a bouquet of blackberries and sweet cigar box along with rich flavors of cherries, currants, and cassis embellished with a hint of anise and vanilla. While dazzling on the palate now, this wine has the structure and dimension to gain complexity in the years to come.ENTRÉE
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cuvaison, California
This wine has a bright core of boysenberry and black-cherry fruit rimmed with cocoa, toffee, and black currants. Firm but forgiving tannins portend an age-worthy Cabernet while the bright fruit and long finish invite early drinking.
DESSERT
Moscato d'Oro, Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley, California 
IIntensely fruity and floral, yet light as air on the palate, the sweetness of the Moscato d'Oro is impeccably balanced by crisp, mouthwatering acidity. This elegant expression of orange blossom, white peach, fresh apricot and rose petal is
interwoven with an unmistakable touch of honey. The clean, citrusy finish is enlivened by a soft, subtle tingle of effervescence.

A Different Kind of Beautiful

I (Kylee) just had my first haircut since living in Japan. Wow! The Japanese salons sure do know how to treat a girl. The service (like most Japanese businesses) was top notch. I was welcomed as soon as I walked into the door; "Shisaimaseeee...!" They took my coat, purse, and scarf to the coat closet, brought me yuzu (Japanese orange/lemon fruit) tea, gave an incredible head AND shoulder massage.

When the hairstylist first saw me I could tell by the look on his face and the question "May I thin your hair?" that he was not used to working with such a mass of mane. Of course I quickly objected so he asked a female to come over and help him so I then had two people drying and straightening my hair.

The actual haircut itself, however, was not top notch. I should know by now not to expect what I normally would see in the U.S. but I keep forgetting. Usually, I would walk into a salon looking like a mess and walk out looking fabulous with big, voluminous, curly, sexy locks (courtesy of Michele Rogers). But that is because I think big, voluminous, curly is beautiful. In Japan, that is NOT beautiful. Beautiful is smooth, thin, straight hair. So when the hairstylist faces me to the mirror to view his masterpiece I was definitely surprised to see a very simple style. Of course I smiled and thanked the gentleman 4 to 5 times (as is part of Japanese custom) but it was a great lesson in the subjectivity of "Beauty". What I saw as "plain, simple, easy-to-do-myself" he saw as truly beautiful.

I know we have all heard the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", but we really should try to believe it. It has been a lifelong battle to give to God all my self-image issues and I know it will probably continue to be a battle, but now I see that He is using my time in Japan to help me see that I AM beautiful in His eyes and He is the Truth. God made me fearfully and wonderfully, and whatever self-loathing thoughts Satan whispers in my mind can be extinguished by that very truth.

Thanks for letting me get "preachy" ;)

Zoorasia!

During the week, its work time.  However, we've been pretty diligent about going out each weekend and doing something new or different to try and experience the max amount of Japanese culture.

Last weekend was Martin Luther King Weekend.  To celebrate Monday off, we went to a zoo in nearby Yokohama.  After taking multiple trips to the San Diego Zoo during our time in California, expectations were low for a zoo named "Zoorasia".  However, we were pleasantly surprised to see that they had quite a good selection of animals, and the park was very viewer friendly!  Most animals were active and in places where they could be easily seen, but the enclosures were large enough that they didn't seem cramped.

The zoo was set up with different regions of the world in different parts of the park, but there was only one path to walk on.  Although there were several shortcuts, you merely had to keep walking along the main path and you were ensured to see each animal.  This resonated with my mentality of "I'm going to the zoo to see animals, and I'll be darned if I'm not going to look at every single one."

Since it was a Monday, there were hardly any guests at the park.  We had front row seats at each enclosure, and could stay and watch an animal as long as we liked.  This was perfect for the animals that were active, like the polar bear, or the Japanese Macaques (monkeys).

Our favorite animals to watch were the Macaques (what I wouldn't give to be able to climb like them. . .), and Stephen also really enjoyed the Red Panda (It's so FLUFFY!).  Kylee could have watched the seals play in the water for hours, or laugh at the elephants drinking water from the trainer's hose.


All in all, our first Japanese zoo was a very memorable experience, and a place to make sure and visit again and again.

The Movie Experience!

After just two months of living in Japan, we have already learned to expect that whatever food/place/idea we encounter will most likely not be what we are used to in the states. It's as if the Japanese try to make something American, and they get close, but it's just not quite the same. For example, we went to a wonderful Christmas light fair and they were selling hot dogs. It sounded delicious so I bought one; only to bite into it and discover the dog was of a very different consistency and taste than what we are used to in the states and they also put mayonnaise and lettuce on it! Close, but not quite right.

Les Miserables, the movie, began playing in theatres out here so of course we went to go see it. We walked in assuming to have the same experience as an American theatre but quickly remembered we should expect something just a bit different. First of all, we bought our tickets from an automated machine (completely in Japanese). There are no attendants to buy tickets from. During the ticket process we actually were asked to select seats. Apparently the movie theatre has pre-ordered seating like a stage theatre. Not knowing this ahead of time we ended up with the two seats in the front row on the aisle. No joke. Secondly, there is absolutely no noise made in the screening room before, during, or after the movie. I was very grateful for this as it made the dramatic Les Miserables that much more real and enjoyable. However, I (Kylee) slipped back into "American mode" just after the movie ended and said in my Lollis-level volume "Wow! That was amazing!" only to realize quickly that every person in the theatre stays seated, and silent, until the very end of the credits. Yes, quite embarrassing. Thirdly, the price of one movie ticket is a whopping 1700Yen (~$19.50!).

We are so grateful for this opportunity to learn about another culture. As we have new adventures in Japan we see there is more than one way of doing things. No way is the "right" way. It's just different perspective.