When Being Vauge is as Detailed as You Can Get!

I am Sam.
Sam I am.
Do you like OPSEC and ham?
I do not get it, Sam I am.
I do not get OPSEC and ham.
We must use it here and there.
We must use it everywhere.
You CAN share it in a car.
But you CANNOT in a bar.
You CANNOT share it in a text.
You CANNOT share it at the NEX.
You CAN say it in your house.
But should NOT tell a random spouse.
You CAN say it in the shower.
But do NOT go sharing at happy hour.
DON’T make the Ombudsman sweat.
DON’T post it on the internet.
You CANNOT share it in a tweet.
That would not be very sweet.
Beware of Facebook and Myspace and Tumblr too.
It’s tempting to let your feelings through.
You Cannot tell it to a friend.
NOT even at the very end.
It is a privilege to know a date.
DON’T tell ANYONE or they may be late!
Oh, I get it, Sam I am.
Now I get OPSEC and ham!
I will not tell anyone. I will keep hushed until they’re done!
I will not tell him or her. I will not tell my dog with fur.
I will not tell my child’s teacher. I will not tell any creature.
Thank you, THANK YOU, Sam I am.
Thank you for clearing up OPSEC and Ham!!

-Author Unknown

 

I would venture to say that most people know someone who has/is/will deploy. It can be a tough and emotional  time for all of those involved but it is also important to keep the service members safety in mind! I think all spouses/family/friends are guilty of breaking OPSEC in one way or another so the above poem is always a good reminder! OPSEC is short for Operations Security is a way of protecting information that can be used against us, (names, dates, numbers, locations). Think like a bad guy, if you were to read or hear what you post or say could it be used against you and your family?  Here are a few questions that can't be addressed publicly that I hear ALL too much:

 

- Where is he/she going? 

- When does he/she leave?

- When does he/she come home?

- Is he/she going alone?

 

SpouseBuzz by Military.com has an article on 6 Surprise OPSEC Dont's its worth a read and may help some understand why questions go unanswered or the answer is vague!

 

 

Now it is time to start getting ready for our trip! America get ready the kids and I are coming!!! I still think I am completely nuts for flying alone with 2 children under 3, I'm sure there will be funny/horrible experiences to blog about upon our return!

 

Until Next Time,

XOXO

Jenn

 

 

Nope, No Resolution For Me.

I haven't been on here much. Lots of family time and keeping busy with the kids. The end of the year ALWAYS seems to fly by. I swear it was just Halloween and now I sit here writing January 1, 2014! As with the last 3 years, Zack and I didn't spend New Year Eve together due to him being on a night shift. But last night I was able to hang out with a few of my friends to ring in the New Year! When you are thousands of miles from "home" its nice to have a few quality friends who you can share holidays with.
When Zack got home this morning he said "Ok, what's your resolution?" I responded with "I don't make those." And he was slightly shocked but here is why I am not a Resolution setter:

First off I'd rather not feel like a failure. I've done it before - set a goal that I failed to reach. Really it doesn't make you want to try harder it makes you feel like your terrible for not being able to reach it. All these "I'm getting to the gym EVERYDAY" resolutions, let's be honest half of those people wont do it, maybe for January but not for 12 whole months.

Second, People aim TOO high. I'm not saying that everyone who makes New Years Resolutions make unrealistic goals but a lot of people fall into the trend of making big generic goals that aren't personal enough to cater to themselves.

Third, This ties into my first two reason: I don't feel like there should be a "holiday" in which we set goals. I am a fan of setting smaller goals throughout the year. For myself its easier to take a look at what has happened the prior month and make a smaller goal to help make adjustments. Setting a goal that is too high makes it easier to fail. A huge generic goal for me does little good because I need it to feel personal to work on accomplishing it.

Zack had told me he will make me stick to mine and I said No. But with that I haven't thought of what my next smaller goals are yet. Right now the only thing on my mind is making it through our States Trip. As I will be flying internationally with both kids BY MYSELF! Once that stress and fun is over then I will buckle down a little more on goals. I do need to get better about setting and accomplishing goals.

For ALL of you who do make New Years Resolutions, I wish you the best! Just because I don't set them doesn't mean I don't support those who do.

2014 will be more than interesting for our family. We have an international trip coming up, we will be without The Man of the house for a bit, and we are coming up on our halfway mark here in Japan! I know the year will be full of stressful times and happy times but plan to make the best of it. And I hope you will do the same.

Here is our 2013 in Review:

 

Until Next Time
XOXOXO

Finally Got a Touch of Downtown Tokyo!

We have now lived here for just over 13 months and have yet to see any shrines/temples and downtown Tokyo (we did dinner in Shibuya and that's about it). But October 5th the hubby and I took a trip into Tokyo through the base (ITT's Tokyo Culture Tour). A friend watched the kiddos for us so we could enjoy a much needed day together! Of course it decided to rain but I was able to cross some things off my Japan Bucket List!

Our first stop was the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emporer Meiji and his wife. We were even able to see traditional wedding being taking place with the Priests and Maidens in traditional clothing!

The Hubby in front of the HUGE Torii

 

Cleansing the hands before going into pray 

 

I didn't want to be all up in the wedding parties personal business,

so I zoomed in as best as possible and the rain didn't help.

I even bought an Omamori (or charm) for the protection of the kids! A picture can be found on my Instagram: See the pic here! I really want to go back and check things out when its not rainy and chilly!
Our next stop was the Tsukiji Fish Market, here is where they auction HUGE tuna and sell seafood, the auction happens very early in the morning but vendors are set up selling meals, raw seafood, veggies and more. It reminded me a lot of a farmers market. This was our lunch stop and we choose Sushi- by far the freshest and best seafood we have had yet! There were other small Ramen shops but we couldn't visit the bay and not eat Sushi, that's like going to the movies and not getting popcorn!

Some of these crabs were SEVERAL hundred dollars a piece!

That's some Fresh Fish!

Onigiri (Rice balls with seaweed & fililngs) 

Each awning was a little shop,

some were food places with only 1-2 chairs and some had goods

Big ole pot of seafood soup

Zack enjoying a $6 plate of Tuna (he had 3 of those!)

This delicious California Roll had Raw Tuna, Avocado, Crab, and it was rolled in Salmon Eggs.

I could have eaten like 4 of these!

My dessert was Asian Pears on a Stick

If you haven't had an Asian Pear you are missing out!!!

SOOOO many people!!!

 

After lunch we headed over to Hama Rikyu, a beautiful park with seawater ponds, flowers, and teahouses all tuck away between skyscrapers and the Tokyo Bay! I MUST HAVE OUR FAMILY PICTURES TAKEN HERE!!!! Tokyo Travel has a good article on it here. Even through the rain and mist it was gorgeous!

 300 year old Pine Tree!

One of the LARGEST Black Pines in Tokyo!

The Rainbow Bridge is over there

<3

Love the ponds with Skyscrapers in the background

Rain Chain, I want one before we leave

Crazy big Aloe plant in the middle of the flowers

Former Inabu Shrine

 

From the Gardens we hopped on the water bus and took a river cruise through the bay up to Akasuka.

Even though it was a drizzly day it was still fun to take the cruise, although the guide did say on a clear day you can see a lot.

Back of the Tsukiji Fish Market!

Where all the seafood gets unloaded for the auctions.

Crazy little island with skyscrapers!

Pulling a barge in.

 

 

Once the cruise was over we walked over to see the main attractions of Akasuka, Tokyo! Sensō-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple which is also Tokyo's oldest Temple! There are tons of small shops with candy, food, swords, fans, and many other knick-knacks, definitely a place I will have to come back to for Christmas gifts. We weren't given a whole lot of time and so I felt a tad rushed to see it all and check stuff out, on a nicer weather day this maybe a good destination to head back too! There is also a smaller Shinto shrine on the temple grounds so it was cool to go from seeing the huge Meiji Shrine to the smaller Akasuka Shrine. We did get to try some amazingly delicious treats! One was a rice cracker they dip in warm soy sauce and wrap a piece of sea around it, and the other was a small deep fried ball of heaven! This ball of goodness I think is Deep Fried Manju, its a warm doughy ball stuffed with filling, Zack got the original which had anko (sweet bean paste- they put it in everything here) but mine was Pumpkin *just looking at the picture below and typing is making my mouth water and making me want to go back for more!!!* 

 

Sensō-ji Temple

 

 Sea of Umbrellas around the incense

 



Incense

The Temple

 

 Inside the Temple

 

 

I received a bad fortune so I tied it up to stay there.

 

Five Story Pagoda

 

A shop with swords

 

The Rice Cracker Vendor dunking it before the nori is wrapped

 

 The reason I gave up using an umbrella, cause everyone else was and I was tired of getting stabbed in the face!

 



SWEET HEAVEN *drool*

 

 

 

Akasuka Shrine:

 

 
 

 


Overall it was a great trip! I would definitely recommend that ITT tour, and now I am more confident is where things are if people come visit us we have some cool things to show them!