MCP Actions

I am entering this photo in the MCP Actions/Color Inc. Win a Gallery Wrap Canvas Photo Contest at http://mcpactions.com/blog. I certify that I took this photo and give both parties permission to use this photograph on their blogs/sites.

Spring Time

Here is a little taste of Japan as Spring emerges. Cherry Blossoms are a big deal hear and they are beautiful. We are going to a Cherry Blossom Festival next week. I took these this evening on the way to Max's piano lesson. The view is of the center of base, where we have a huge traffic circle. The water towers in the background is where we live. (The flag polls usually have an American and a Japanese flag flying together, but for some reason, the day I decide to get my camera back out, they were not up!)

PT-That's for Me

PT stands for Physical Training. The Air Force is real big on being "FIT TO FIGHT." Each year we have to take a physical fitness test (PFT). Historically the testing has been done by one's own squadron (for me the dental clinic is the squadron). Recently the AF has turned the testing over to the HAWC (Health and Wellness Center). This should be a good thing since it becomes more standardized as well as eliminates any favoritism, i.e. letting your friend get away with a pansy push-up rather than a manly one. The only down side to this is there are LOTS of people failing their tests. What is the big deal? It majorly affects one's ability to increase in rank, especially for the enlisted. Also if you keep failing you will be kicked out of the Air Force. Hmmm?

Well what does the PFT consist of? Well, the score is determined by height, waist circumference, 1.5 mile run, # push-ups in 1 minute, and #of sit-ups in 1 minute. Most of the points come from the run. (We even get offered a day off if we get a 100%!) (I'll never get that day off =() Why do I bother blogging about this? I'm not sure since no one will read it! But I have 2 reasons: #1 to give you all another glimpse into the AF and #2 Because I just took a practice PFT on Friday. I actually did really well. I felt great during my run and I attribute it to my increase in healthy eating, since I haven't been running a lot lately. Thanks Merrill! I was able to sustain a faster pace longer without feeling as fatigued. It was very nice. Maybe if I keep it up I will get that day off!

BTW read the previous posts cause it looks like no one read them!

Reenlist

I got to do my first real act as an officer the other day. My dental tech (Air Force for Dental Assistant) was reenlisting and I got to administer the oath of enlistment to her. It was kinda cool actually.
Here is the oath:

I______do solemnly swear That I will support and defend The constitution of the United States Against all enemies, foreign and domestic; That I will bear true faith An allegiance to the same; An that I will obey the orders Of the President of the United States And the orders of the officers appointed over me According to the regulations And the Uniform Code of Military Justice, So help me God.

I'm Awake!

It is only 5:42 pm at home, but it is 3:43 am in Dallas. Unfortunately, I am in Dallas! No I don't need a good night/afternoon rest before crushing the Oral Board Exam for Pediatric Dentistry. Of course not. Well, gotta go toss and turn. Or maybe I'll go down the hall and see if Matt is awake yet!

Notes From Primary

Here are a few of the notes I took during primary (these are 5-6 year olds):

-God told Joseph to take his family to Egypt because King Herald would kill Jesus.

-One girl (C) had a stuffed animal named Zola ad she was sick and then got the priesthood.

-E said, "I didn't laugh cause I love the scriptures."

-And as we talked about things to eat and drink. N said It means no drags (accompanied by a sweeping motion with her fingers). I asked "What does that mean?" N replied "It means no smoking."

-Me: Jesus Made everything.
Child L: He even made "Bob the Builder" the movie!

National Children's Dental Health Month

My popular demand I have decided to offer some free dental advice for your kids. Here are some of the common questions I get from parents.When should my child first see the dentist?

The recommended time is within 6 months of the first tooth erupting or by 1 year old.
Why so early?

So we can keep you from making any early mistakes. J/K Too make sure the parents know how to care for the teeth, diet habits, catch any problems early, basically to educate the parents and to acclimate the children to the happy world of dentistry. (Imagine how much easier it would be to fix a cavity on a 3 year old who knows you and has already been to the office 3 or 4 times for happy things, rather than have to do a filling at the first visit. Much easier.)
When should I start flossing my child's teeth?

Now! Well, as soon as he has two teeth that are touching and the brush cannot go in between. I recommend the Reach Access Flosser. It's great! And yes you should floss them. And yes you should be brushing their teeth for them too, believe me you are only fooling yourself if you thing your kids are brushing adequately. (I'm sure some of them are but most are not.)
Fluoride?

Yes fluoride is safe and I support water fluoridation.

And one last question because I'm getting really angry with the dell tech support guy named Mithun! I hate talking to these people! (My blogging seems to keep being interrupted by my anger issues these days.)

Cavities is not as much based on how much candy/sugar/carbohydrates you/the child eats, rather on the frequency. Example, drinking a coke all at once is not too damaging to the tooth, but the same amount spread throughout the day will have a much more damaging effect on the teeth. So try to control and limit the amount of times the kids are snacking and drinking between meals and only let them/you drink water between meals.

Well, if you have any dental questions, let me have 'em!

Sammy oh Sammy

I had a great blog planned:

It starts with how cute Sam was on Sunday. He wanted to wear some Khaki shorts and a vest with his blue shirt to church. We convinced him he would be too cold and for once he actually listened without a tantrum. Then at night he came to me with some clothes in hand asking if he could wear them as PJs. I assented without much investigation or thought. This is the result:

He looked so cute and silly. I hadn't realized he had a sweater vest in hand.

Then tonight M. was at piano and Sam had been good during dinner and helped me get the little boy into bed, so I took him down stairs to make JELLO pudding. IT was a fun activity together.

Then we ate it in the family room as a "picnic." A great evening with my boy!

BUT the post in my mind was a little ruined and turned out like this:

Sam wouldn't go to bed tonight and lost his "cuddle privilege" and fell a sleep SCREAMING/SHRIEKING while I held the door shut for 20 minutes! So I don't feel like blogging tonight.

Funniest Thing I've Read........since Em's last post

Em just forwarded this to me from her Google Reader. My brother Dave and I, especially him, would make fun of these non-parable parables shared in sacrament meeting. (Especially him, did I say that already. He can be a little irreverent at times). This one had me loling.

A Parable

via My Religious Blog by Gatsby on 2/21/09

Do you like parables? I like parables. I don’t always remember all of the details of the story - which is fine because often when we hear parables in talks they are different each time anyway. As long as we remember the lessons being taught, which is really the point of the parable after all, isn’t it? So anyway today I thought I would share with you one of my favorite parables in case you want to print it out and share it in sacrament meeting:

One time there was a guy in the mountains. Or maybe it was a young man. Like an Indian kid or maybe it was a lady. Anyway, they were outside and in a rural setting. Maybe in a mountain or by a river. Or was it at a park in the city?

The point is she was outside and heard a little voice say “hello” and he looked around and saw lizard – or it could have been a snake. Or a rat. But either way, it had developed human speech and learned a rudimentary form of English. And it said “pick me up” and the Indian boy was like “no, you are a rattle snake. You will bite me if I pick you up” Or maybe it was a scorpion and the kid said, “you will sting me…” Or maybe it was an eradiated rock.

But the rat was like “no, I won’t. I am a nice scorpion, now give me a kiss and I will grant you three wishes” and the girl didn’t want to, but the lizard convinced her to eventually, so the man put it in his pocket and carried it down the rocky cliff and when he got to the bottom of the cave, she took the sharp toothed marsupial out of her knapsack and it immediately sunk its teeth into her fleshy calf muscles.

So the old lady looks down at the badger and says “you said you weren’t going to shoot me.” And the magic rock says “look Poindexter, you knew what I was when you picked me up” And the boy was like “well what about my three wishes?” and the rat said “nah. I changed my mind about that” and then it slithered off and left Brer Bear to bleed to death.

The moral of this story is that sometimes sin can feel good - in fact depending on what sin we are talking about, sometimes it can feel REALLY good. But in the end, you will go to hell if you are nice to the little jungle creatures.

Also I think the boy’s last words were “it mattered to that one” because the poison had reached his brain and he had become delusional.

Prayer

Yesterday, Sam got a scratch on his big toe from the sharp metal corner at the bottom of the screen door. It laid him up for a good 2 or 3 hours. Again this morning it produced some good screaming as he changed the band-aid.

After church today we were eating lunch and he said, "Jesus can fix my toe." (This was said with a I know it all inflexion in his voice.)

Em told him, "That's right. Do you want to say a prayer and ask him?"

"Yeah," he replied and added as he hurried away to his play area under the stairs, "I'll go somewhere where there is peace and quiet."

A minute later I heard him shouting Jesus' name a few times. Then he came back and muttered, "I called him but he didn't come."

Of course we then discussed how it all works and that He can answer our prayers in different ways then we expect, but it was quite adorable to witness the sweet faith of this child. Its nice to see that he is learning something at church. Thank you Brother and Sister Haltli!

Em's Only Birthday Wish

I thought I would publicly announce that it is not easy being a Stay At Home Mother. (This is what she has been waiting to hear for 7 years and two months.) I tried it for the past week and a half and it turns out it is hard. I started out strong. I got the floor swept and mopped. Vacuumed the stairs and upstairs (down stairs had already been vacuumed after the poop terrorist attack). Had the kids on a good schedule, sent Max to school with a lunch everyday except the day they had whole wheat cheese pizza. Then I started running out of steam. Time slipped away more and more with out as much getting done. Motivation started to decline and my patience wained a bit. What I did learn, beyond it not being easy (However, Emily, I never did say it was, you just always think I think that!), is that it is very important and worth having my wonderful and beautiful wife staying with my kids. It takes a lot of self motivation and planning and it is easy to get into a depressed slump. They get gain so much from being with her. She is so filled with love for them and they get so much nurture therefrom. (I like that word)

Now I know many people are in many different circumstances and many people work for many different reasons (so no one get OFFENDED, OK!). Each day I walk past the Base's CDC, Child Development Center or daycare, 4 times. I often see the cute kids playing there after school or the workers taking the little babies/toddlers for walking in giant strollers or wagons and marvel at how sweet and cute the kiddies are. Then my heart sinks a bit when I see the parents drop them off early in the morning and pick them up late in the evening. I then am so thankful that we have been blessed to be able to have Em stay at home with our boys. She is the greatest SAHM ever and the best wife too!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*I'll still hold out that it is harder being a working SAHD. =)
**These are our good freinds Merrill and Janeen!

Its all about Packaging

The Japanese take great pride in their packaging and the price demonstrates it. They have great presentation in the stores for their apples, grapes...everything. We saw this lovely cantaloupe yesterday! Max was totally hooked, but I didn't cave. It was 1980 Yen. At the current rate of 88Yen to the $ that's $22.50!!!

Sleedin'

Stop me if I've posted this before...
The base has a really cool sledding hill. I guess its really a ski hill, but then it would be a lame ski hill. So I'll call it a really cool sledding hill. Its so much fun. Good pitch to the hill, great length for a long fast slide down the hill. Amazingly the boys haven't complained about walking up the hill, as I had expected, even when the hill was iced over and we kept slipping on the way up. The first time we went there I was pleasantly surprised to find they have the hill lite up at night. Yesterday we had the whole hill to ourselves. Sam is so funny, after being sprayed in the face by the powder a few times, he figured out if he laid down and tucked his face in he'd be fine. He looks like a little black ball flying down the hill, with no idea of where he is going.And of course there was the HC.

Keep Your Inner Groin Soft

Yeah, exactly what I thought while doing a Yoga workout the other day. Inspired by my friend Merrill, I have recently decided to make Yoga part of my Weekly workout routine. Before you make fun of me jsut know that it a lot harder than you might think. I figure that it help me with flexability and such. I already have some lingering back pain and as a dentist it is only going to get worse.

A Trip Up Hakkoda

We had an Elders' Quorum Snowshoe expedition today. We went snowshoeing up in the Hakkoda mountains. (As you look at the Japanese characters for Hakkoda - - the first kanji is the number eight. Hakkoda is basically a range of eight mountains offering an extensive area for getting deep into the heart of the backcountry.) It was about a 2 hour drive from Misawa. Join me on the recreation of the trip (as in new create not recreation as in exercise, though they both can apply.

This is the beginning on the trail, which is marked by small signs in the trees. We drove up the mountain to the trail head where the snow banks on the side of the road was about 5 feet high.
Four minutes after beginning, I became worried as I was already winded and way too hot. After shedding a layer, (it is really hard to know how much to wear when it can be -40 degree and yet you'll be sweating), I felt better yet still winded. After trudging through the wicked nice powder for about a mile we crossed into a ravine/river bed (no sign of the water 20 feet below except a nice sulfur smell). We then proceeded up this ravine for the next mileish. It stayed powdery for a while then became crunchy and finally icy until we reached the top. These trees were covered in the iciest, hardest snow I've ever seen. The top was a ridge between two of the Hakkoda peaks. Once at the top we traversed another 200 yards to a cabin, the destination. This cabin, I guess, it owned by the government and can be used anytime by anyone. You just show up. We meet our scout troop there, who had come up the day before.

This cabin was crazy. It sits on what looked like a 6 foot high slab of concrete. You climb in at the top (due to the vast depth of snow) through this little doorway and immediately climb down a latter into the cabin. There is one room with three levels of deep long shelves for sleeping. In the middle is an open area for kerosene heater etc. Cool place, but not the type of cabin you'd find in Park City.

It was a very beautiful place, especially in the forest with a little snow fall. At the top are these trees covered with snow. These are the same trees as the ones at the bottom, just buried with 15-20 feet of snow. They call them "Snow Monsters."
After eating lunch he headed back down. It had already snowed so much that I wasn't sure we we on the same trail on the way back. Glad I wasn't leading the way! It took us a little under 2 hours to hike up and 50 minutes to get back down!! On the way down the ravine we were blasted by a bone chilling wind sweeping up the ravine. Thanks to Em, I was outfitted with a warm face mask. I just need some warmer gloves. Also, note to self: You may think a camel pack is a good idea, but after 20 minutes I found nothing but ice in the line!

Got Gyoza

Snow Fort

The other day we got another 12 inches or so of snow so I set out to build my children a giant igloo for us to sleep in. It was tough work. Unfortunately, it got too late and too cold for packing good snow and the roof never made it on top. But they were left with a giant snow fort which has become the cool place to hang out for the neighbors. They went out again yesterday in yet another storm to play on it. That's Max on top of it. Next time it dumps I'm determined to make a complete one.

Canine Dentistry (Read at own Risk)

You may think I am referring to the pointy teeth we all have, three teeth over from the middle, but I'm not. My tech, that's Air Force for assistant, comes up to me this afternoon and asks, "Do you want to do a Dog Root Canal." Puzzled, I looked at him funny and repeated "Dog Root Canal?" It turns out a couple of the dentist were going up to the base vet to help her give a dog a root canal. So how could I pass up such an opportunity to widden my dental horizon and put my expensive camera to good use!

I called Em and told her and she replied rather mater-of-factly, and I quote, "Don't even bother coming home." I guess I found something that overcomes her love for me. Hmmmm, kinda shallow.

So at the end of work I headed up there and we walked into a surgery room with large black dog laying on a surgery table already breathing on a respirator and under general anesthesia. I even was able to witness the surgery tech put in the rectal thermometer probe. A site that may never leave me. The vet, to pass time while we set up cleaned the ears out with some Q-tips and got the nastiest gunk out. It ended up being a vastly interesting event. The anatomy of the "canine" tooth was fascinating my buddy was able to treat it with a beautiful root canal. Unfortuanly, my camera battery died so the final photos are on my supervisor's camera. But do enjoy the few photos that follow!

I'm just glad I wasn't there when the dog woke up completely, because if they are anything like the kids I treat coming out of general anesthesia, it cannot be pretty or safe.

*Yes Dad, we even put a rubber dam on!

Happy Birthday

We teach the cutest group of 5 year old girls at church. There are 9 of them that come (one boy hasn't come yet). One of them had her birthday last Sunday. We sang happy birthday to her and then some one mentioned doing it in Japanese, but we didn't know how. Then the Birthday Girl said she knew how. She goes to a Japanese school so I don't doubt her. So she starts singing:

Haappee Birfdayyy Tooo Yhouu...

really slowly and carefully. I join in singing it normally. She then tell me, "No Like this!" and proceed as previously demonstrated. I then realize she is singing it just like her Japanese Mamma-sans try to sing it at her school, in English but with a Japanese accent. It was hilarious! But unfortunately I was the only adult present to witness it.


I

Tokyo Recon

In November I went TDY to Chicago (Temporary Duty) for a conference. On the way back I overnighted in Tokyo. I had initially planned to go find the LDS Tokyo Temple. So when I got to the hotel at the airport a lady took my luggage up to my room for me* and I got her to explain in half English and half Japanese and 1/8 gesticulating.** After she left I realized I brought my expired temple recommend. So instead of watching Japanese TV and/or sleep, I decided to go explore the city and reconnoiter for our future family trip to Tokyo. I asked the hotel concierge*** where to go and after thinking for a minute, said "Tokyo Tower." (This is the same response I received in the morning from the lady at the Airport Info when I asked where to go during my two hours of waiting for my flight.) So she instructed me how to take the monorail to the Tokyo Tower and off I went with nothing but some yen and a recently purchased phrase book. I successfully navigated my way around 1/100,000,000th of Tokyo! It was yet another amazing city. Big cities give off an energy to me that vitalizes me and makes me excited to explore. This city was astounding in it vastness. I couldn't believe how huge it was. When I got to the top of the Tokyo Tower, which is built as a replica of the Eiffel Tower, I looked out and the city continued in lights until reaching the horizon for 360 degrees! Here are a few of the photos I took from the tower:The brighter area is the Ginza district a trendy shopping area. It looks a lot like Time Square to me, but I haven't been to it YET.

On my way back I saw a welcome sight of Wendy's but passed it up for a try here:and ate this (Chicken Yakitori): I think I definitely made the right choice. It was a fun evening of exploration and I did it again in the morning. I was pointed to a shopping district but when I got there I just started walking down some side streets seeing what the neighborhoods looked like. That was really cool.

Here was a cool house, notice the underwear hanging on the line. Next door between a bunch of houses was a Buddhist cemetery.This is one of the parking garages near by!!!And on the way back I befriended these cute little kids! It was comic to watch this little two year old struggle to get his tiny fingers into the peace sign for the photo! I don't think I've ever seen a Japanese person take a photo without doing it!
We hope to go down to Tokyo when it warms up and tour the city and check out Tokyo Disney.
*She opened the door and placed the key card in a little slot inside the door. As I left latter I took it out and then went back into the room only to be plunged into darkness. The lights only work if the card is left in the slot by the door. An ingenious way to save on energy! I also had my first experience with a high tech Japanese toilet complete with heated seats and an automated bode!
**I know it doesn't add up Nate...or does it? Hmmm
***"A concierge is the Winnipeg equivalent of a geisha. This is a woman who has been trained in the fine art of fanciness and pleasure. And when you meet on it is intoxicating. Just what the doctor ordered." (Michael Scott, The Office Season 5, The Business Trip)

Tomorrow comes too quickly

Is it tomorrow already? Without too much further ado...The winner belongs to the following caption:

"Are you really going to let me eat this?"

-by Nate

And I can't believe I let him eat it!

This is exactly what his eyes were saying to me. He seems to pack every square milimeter with as much candy as possible. This is in contrast to Boy #2 who seems to have a touch of his mother's OCD and places his candy just so and looks all tidy.

I feel hesitant to award him anything, but I think that is just because he is always correcting my spelling even though it has been 2.5 years since we were at school together.

So Nate, congrats! Do you want a piece of stinky sushi, come get fresh sushi or some chopsticks?

Photo Contest

I'll announce a winner to the First Annual 100 Yen Sushi Photo Contest tomorrow. And yes all sushi is raw, well most, and now it doesn't mail well. So you can either come here and eat it or I can send you a $5 In 'n' Out coupon. I know Nate you don't live by one and yes Kim you have a plethora of them, but I live even further away from them!* Or I can send you some chopsticks!?

*For some reason Em's Dad sent us a bunch of them.

First Ski/SnowBoard Trip

We were all going to go skiing as family, but Boy #2 has been throwing up for the past 4 days. So Boy #1 and I went together. It was a warm beautiful sunny day. The resort was about a 50 minute drive North of Misawa. It was a small resort with only 3 lifts but it was perfect for his first try. He alternated from excited, to cold, to having fun, to hurt, to brave, to frustrated, to proud and ultimately had a great time. They had a fun looking sleding hill too, but when I asked if he wanted to stay longer and sled he chose going home "Cause I miss Mom. Don't you?" he countered.