Don't plan on swimming at a pool in Japan with a tattoo

http://japandailypress.com/the-view-of-tattoos-in-japanese-society-295623

This was a surprise, but I guess you will be asked to leave a public pool or bathhouse if you have a tattoo. They are becoming more popular with the younger generation, but still not as much in the states.

Not much going on here. Run this morning, language lesson and then off to the kennels to work with the doggies.

Forever a Sailor's Wife

No my husband doesn't sail on ships anymore, but he still does travel quite a bit and always has in our marriage. I knew this signing the dotted line and have no regrets, but this time I am in a foreign country waiting for him to come home and it has been a bit lonely and quiet at night.
Well, he is on his way home and lucky me I am getting presents. OK, just stuff I can't get in Tokyo, but  oh so happy! My new Toms also.

Many people park and run across the bridge

While we are here I will tell you about the photo and add some more. We went down to the Yokohama area when Avery came to visit and walked across the Rainbow bridge. The are was a fort at one time, but all tourist now even for the locals. Shops, restaurants and a beach. The walk across was beautiful and we took the monorail back for a different view. This area is close to the Haneda airport.

City running

 I have become a city runner! Look at all the stuff I now carry when I run. Wait I forgot to include my iPhone for maps in case I get lost.
The key to get back into the apt and use on the elevator, the only way to get in and the Suica card.
Suica card is for the train, but can also be used at the vending machines for drinks.

These are everywhere and only drinks. I haven't really seen any that have food.

This is the hill going down to the trail. Doesn't look too bad, but goes around the corner and always fun coming back after 6 or more miles. 

I am grateful for the trail. We didn't know it was so close when we moved into our apt. Most of it is flat and along the river. It is lined with cherry trees and looking forward to next April when they are in bloom. On a daily 6 miler I may have to stop for 2 full light cycles at the most-timed total of 4 minutes. Not too bad for the city. 

This trail is along the Meguro river and goes on for 15 miles from what we can tell from the map.

Reservation is reservation in Japanese

To start the Japanese language has a ton of english words that they use on a daily basis. They don't always sound quite the same, so you have to listen, L and R is hard for them.
I mention reservation because it can be hard to get into a restaurant for dinner on any given weekend. Ok, you say it is the same in the states, but the Japanese will spend 3-4 hours at a table. YES, we went out one evening and saw a ton of empty tables, but they won't sit you because the turn over is so much slower for the Japanese people.
You see they don't tend to entertain at home in the city because apartments are so small. Much of the entertaining is done in restaurants and hours long.
Wayne and I went out one late afternoon and were told there was a 2 hour time limit. We didn't understand at first, but now are aware.
We are learning and Open Table works here too!!!
Thank goodness

For all of you House Hunters tv fans

Well, so many of you have asked for photos of the apartment here they are. Quite a few of my friends watch a show called "house hunters international" and yes, the housing can be very small in Tokyo.

 Entry way-tons of storage and my pantry

 Kitchen, gas stove and all brand new. We are the first tenants in this apartment.

 Same old dining room and where Wayne and I have all our meals. I also study my Japanese here.

 Wayne's office-4th bedroom and right off the living room

 Our deck that looks out over the courtyard. Very quiet and not many people use theirs.

 Living/dining room view from deck

 Guest bathroom

 Guest bedroom/Queen bed and tons of room-Ready and waiting

 Sewing room with futon couch for more sleeping

 Master bathroom and Master bedroom-tons of room

We are blessed to have corporate housing and even though I don't have all of my things with me I have plenty of room and still 3 toilets to CLEAN-lucky me.Ha!
Well, boring, but it gives you an idea and would love to have company.
I have become a master of the trains, grocery stores and I love to explore. I have found some strange shopping, but fun too.

 Miss, my Grady and his silly sniffing

Miss, Krista giving me "that look" and Niki just grinning and on stage.
The best part is knowing we will have more adventures and fun in the future. Who knows where?

Just a quick glance at other Westerners in Tokyo

Living in the states my whole life and growing up in NY I am use to seeing all kinds of people, races and ethnicities. As a 50 something I really didn't think about how a person could stand out until I moved to Tokyo.

Westerns only number about 1 % here, so a curly haired blonde white lady tends to stand out a bit on the city. Of course, I look like a tourist except I seem to know where I am going now and I have an iPhone. You must have a phone from Japan to have one that works. 

The funny thing is when one westerner sees another and is a  resident there is the tendency to ignore each other. There is the quick sly glance and then the downward look. When I first moved here I would do a quick nod or hello, but not welcomed at all. I have now taken on the same code and decided that I will not do this anymore and just try to make us part of a club.

I don't work outside the home and volunteer in a place where Japanese is spoken, so I can go for quite a while before I have a conversation with another English speaking person. Especially hard when my husband is traveling. I am taking language lessons, but it is slow going. 

I don't really expect people to just talk to me because I am american, but now laugh when I see other westerners and " the glance"

God has a plan

http://youtu.be/aKgVORwSv9E

I will rise to the occasion. Wow I did this all on my own. My kids would understand. God really is answering prayers

Okinawa beach down-how many to go?

Okinawa for the beach and a few days to unwind. Beautiful beach, fun, but not much else to do there. I am glad we went, but will now try to see other beaches in Asia.

I love the beach and miss the water terribly, even a pool would be good. It's been 3 months that we are here in Tokyo and some days I just feel like I will count down the time. 

This blog is going to be the good and bad of being here. I know people don't want to hear that, but moving away from everything you know is something I have had to do many times and it is a process.

Every time it is different,the past I had children, animals to take care of and as much as it may seem great to others apartment living is a major adjustment.

Well, I have grumped and started this with the beach, so I can actually be positive and move on from this gloomy Tokyo day. 

In future posts I am going to show what, where and how I am living in Tokyo. Tomorrow I will start with photos of the apt.

Blessings

sleep?

I never seem to sleep more then 3 hours at a time since I moved to Tokyo. I always had sleep issues, but it seems to have gotten worse here.The 4am sunrise doesn't help much either. Will I crash? It has been almost a week of little sleep. AAAARRRGGGHHHH!Next fun thing to do-doctor in Japan.

HOT Tokyo

A cold beer is nice with the weather in Tokyo right now. HHH-hazy, hot and humid and city living adds up to sweaty people everywhere. Many women use umbrellas to keep the shade off of them, but they don't pay attention, so be careful or you could lose any eye.
I have been here for 3 months and one thing I can say is people are the same everywhere. Not many people talking and walking on cell phones, but they all text, so pretty much the same as the US. It hasn't taken me long to carry my umbrella and a washcloth in my handbag at all times. Washcloth is to wipe sweat from face-everyone does this.
I had a language lesson today, so off to study and a volunteer day at the JGDA kennels tomorrow.
By the way the beer is fake, but damn looks good!

Well, I am playing around with this blogging thing for friends and family. It'll be stories and photos from the day to day living and travel for the next 2 years in Japan and Asia. Nothing earth shattering I hope, but an insight to the sights and sounds and how it fits in my life. This photo is the road outside our apartment and we have to walk up this way to almost 90 % of our daily travels. It goes to Shibuya station and the busiest crosswalk in the world. Just a test here and hope it works for all of you.

do i really want to do this?