Overload and Overcome!!

Information overload.  To fast, to much noise, to many people rushing here and there.  Driving 90mph, talking on cell phones, texting, and holy cow.

Everything here seems to move at lightning speed.   The kids and I are still trying to adjust to the fast paced life of America.  One consequence of living outside of the US for 13 years.  Are we the only country that moves this fast?  Shops this much?  Are we the only nation that rushes from sun up to sun down, determined to reach I don't know where?

We seem to spend a lot of time at home these days.  Even the few trips to 6 flags have taken their toll.  We LOVE going, but it just seems so fast.  The kids and I went with a friend last week, and as we were walking I noticed a lady with one of those ankle monitor bracelets on. She had on shorts, and was in no way trying to conceal it.  I did a double take.  I found myself thinking far to long about her.   For a split second I had the fleeting thought, oh, to be home again..  Then reality set it.  Japan is NOT home.  It was for a while, but if I think objectively about it we will probably never return.  We are home.  As home as a military family can get.  Home is overload.  Fast paced, shopping till you drop USA.  ( I really still HATE to shop, that will never change)  Home is being less than a days drive from family.  My kids getting to spend a wonderful week with Grandma and Grandpa.  Hanging out planting flowers, and swinging to the sky for hours.   Loading the kids up in the car, and driving into WI to spend the day riding ponies, and feeding baby animals.   Shopping in bulk at SAM's club.. Boy, they really have it down there don't they? Every isle has a different food you can try.  Piper ate 3 cups of green beans, a Popsicle, fruit, crackers, and ended her trip to Sam's with 2 slices of bacon.  Really who needs to cook these days, just spend the day walking around Sam's..   Groupon!  If you have never heard of it, google it.... OK?  Are you back?  SEE!! Isn't it great.  I told you so!

Making the decision everyday to be present in our lives is something we all need to do.  Enjoying IL, and always remembering our time here is limited.  IL will be like any other place we have been voluntold to live. To that end we have decided to become American tourists!  

The Midwest is full of wonderful things to see and do.  Did you know there is a park not far from where I live.  It's the Jelly Stone National Park.  Yogi Bear!!  And, if Yogi Bear is real, then I will find Smallville!   Door County is a days drive, with amazing looking beaches, and quaint little Main St. towns.  Less than 30 minuets from my home is Chicago.  We will be spending a lot of time there.  Museums, the theatre, and really what is Chicago without food.  The Chicago Dog has already become a favorite of half my house.

It is time to embrace living in America. As we go about living our daily lives we have to remember that we are blessed to experience so many beautiful and wonderful cultures.  Starting with our own!  

Sure there will be a lot of the regular, mundane days where not much exciting happens in our lives..  Just as it should be at Home!! :)

New Digs!! Day 1...

Yep, I am back!  It has been a while.  A lot has changed.  So, let me catch you all up.

 We are living life in the suburbs, kids are in semi-normalish public schools (I plan an entire post on public school).
My amazing husband is back in bootcamp. Now he is the bootcamper and not the bootcampy.  Still there from 4am-10pm but they let him have his own coffee cup, so I think this time around will be a bit better.  Redbull gives you wings, Ian will be the test case.

I am in between jobs. Will start back to work here in a few weeks, provided I can convince myself I won't die driving in 100 feet of snow.  To help pass the time, I have started a garden, mostly for our new dogie to eat all my broccoli.  But, hey the tomato's are looking good.

The big kids are all doing good (by teenage standards) one is in drivers ed, the other is hanging out with his new girlfriend.  That is not something I will be blogging about.  Mostly because every time I think about my Noah dating I break out in hives, and find myself drinking way to much Vodka to type...

The Little's are well.. still little.  Peyton will be starting second grade in the aforementioned public school, and has several little people his size in the neighborhood to pal around with.  They seem to spend their days going from house to house begging for food.  Piper is almost 3 and good at it.  She occupies her days yelling at the teenagers, and dancing.  *insert Vodka here*  They have all kinds of flavors here in the good ol' US of A!

We all miss Japan, mostly we miss the food and our amazing friends we made while there. I miss that life.  We hope to someday return, but for now the suburbs it is.  I will adjust in time.  I HOPE!  If not there are always medications to help me through.    I have learned a few things about myself in this latest move.  I HATE the mall.  Shopping is just not my thang.  Walmart is right up there with a root canal.  I have a feeling in no time my groceries will be delivered. Amazon.com is marvelous...

Writing is still something I do daily.  The ol' notebook/pen style.  I have started writing more seriously these days.  I don't want to delete my old blog, but blogging needs to happen...   One can only express so much on Facebook.  Today I spent some time reading about DOMA.  OMG!!  I found myself yelling at my computer.  Are people still really that full of hate?    Are we not past all this nonsense yet?

OK, so now we are all caught up with me.. How are you all?  What's new in your lives?