When the Marines are away...

the wives will play! Yes, I know it has been a while since I updated this blog. Blame national security - I couldn't tell you what Jabbar had been up to until he got home.

As you may or may not know, Jabbar went up to the northern most island of Japan, Hokkaido, for a training exercise last month, leaving me home, alone, in a 3 story house for 3 weeks and 2 days. But, no worries! I found many a way to keep myself busy. To include attending a basic Japanese language class. It was much more helpful than the survival Japanese class I attended so, I guess I learned a thing or two and yes, I am proud to say, I have used a little bit more Japanese since the class. When I wasn't in Japanese class, I also became a member of the Southeast Botanical Gardens. So, in case you were wondering what happened to my promises of more pictures, don't worry! They are on the way!

I celebrated an early Thanksgiving with the single Marines that were left behind when the other Marines went up north, got a new pedi with snowflakes (probably about the only snowflakes I will see here on island considering it is December and still 70 degrees!), celebrated the real Thanksgiving with new friends, made plans for spending new year's in Sydney, found out that I passed my CMP (certified meeting planner) exam, visited a tourist spot called Ryukyu Mura (where I came face to face with a Habu snake! Yikes!), attended a "Spouses Roundtable" (which I will never again attend), and volunteered (or volun-told, depending on how you look at it) to help with what is called "mandatory fun" (otherwise known as Jabbar's regiment's holiday party).

Whew! Yes, while my Marine was away, this wife was definintely out playing around! And after all that, Jabbar finally came home. We attended one of his lieutenant's birthday parties that was also simultaneously a going away party for another lieutenant (Service Alpha's Schmidt, if you have been keeping up with this blog).

A new phenonmenon in this new marine wife life that I am leading is the increase in volunteering that I am doing. The interesting new term that I have learned is that more than a few times, I have been volun-told to do something. For example, I am finding myself more and more involved with Jabbar's unit. From stuffing goodie bags for kids for the holiday party, I also found myself baking over 150 cookies and decorating for it. Today was the big holiday party and yes, it is exactly as it sounds - mandatory...fun?

Jabbar is back and back to work as usual. However, to find out more about what he was up to the last few weeks, check out these links:

http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/081205-weapons.html

http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/081212-yausu.html

http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/081212-comrel.html

http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/081212-invite.html

http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/081205-med.html

As for me, I continue with my second stage of Japanese classes tomorrow. We are also attending an Australia tour briefing this week in preparation for our travels the day after Christmas. We are quite excited to spend new year's in the first place in the world (that is televised) to ring it in and never fret! Many pics to come!

Happy holidays!