We are all ok!
Power is out this morning at the hotel, but weather is calm.

No flooding in our Alexandria neighborhood, but there is still a chance the Potomac River could rise more.

Sandie in New Jersey had scary winds. Time to call her this morning. She said Spike the bird was puffy.



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Evacuated

Ariel, the cats, and I are at a hotel in Strasburg, Virginia for 3 nights. Hoping Jeff and our neighbors don't get too much damage.

After the storm has passed, we'll make a new plan (hopefully return home!)

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a few more pictures from the National Book Festival

Hurricane Sandy

I thought I had scheduled several pictures/posts to be published during the week, but it didn't happen, so I published a bunch at once (see photos below.)  I'm still quite behind on the blog.

Jeff needs to work on an Air War College essay test this weekend, so Ariel & I were going to visit our friend     Sandie.  However, hurricane Sandy is on its way to Sandie's place (and somewhat to our place.)  So we're revising our plan.

Let's hope "Frankenstorm" Sandy isn't as bad as predicted.  Sorry to miss our visit, Sandie!

the rainbow

This mural is at the church where we go to Music Together on Fridays.  After class, Ariel and I always go study the painting.  It was the first time I heard her say "rainbow" while pointing to the rainbow.

Her pretty dress is a hand-me-down from the Taylor girls, who are part Peruvian.

Meeting Backpack

 Ariel meets a new arrival: Backpack!

 She is the real Backpack from Dora (the one Dora wears.)  She also has Map in her pocket!  Backpack and Map are integral to Dora's adventures with Boots the Monkey.  They each have their own songs.

 Watching the "Boo" episode.  Map dresses as a ghost for Halloween.

Saturday in Collingwood (in no particular order)

 Ariel studies her ABC's and Sandra Boynton books in the bath.  She washes the animals in the books when we read Barnyard Bath.  (we like to think of it as "Farm Sanctuary Bath)

Our new neighborhood, Collingwood, had a block party in late September.  Ariel had a blast jumping in the bouncy castle.  We met lots of new neighbors, including several military families and one little boy from China.

Nene & Ralph settle in

 Nene spots a chipmunk out the front window.

 It taunts her for a long time!

Ralph schmiggled into a big pile of packing paper.

Chessie's Big Backyard

 We stumbled upon this great new playground set against the woods.  It's part of Fairfax County parks department.  We made some new friends there, including a little girl named Willow Ariel, and a lady from China.

 Ariel was good at climbing this big boulder.

There's even a water spray park next to it, and a nature boardwalk through the woods.

purple outfit

  (early September) Ariel wore her new outfit to preschool.  It started to rain when we got home from preschool, so we stayed out to feel it.  She had a bruise on her forehead from bouncing around on our new couch (she found a hard spot.)

 Thanks Grandma Barb and Papa Rich for the pretty outfit!

It comes with shorts and long pants.  The snug fit is perfect for her gym class.

arrival in Virginia (August)

 This photo sums up our trip.  This was at Dulles Airport rental car place.  Jeff was loading our luggage and we were off to a nearby hotel (with the cats of course) to stretch our legs and rest.

 Checking out our new library.

 Temporary sleep set up (on camping mats loaned by Fort Belvoir).

Loyal cat brother & sister.

 First day of preschool at Aldersgate Day School!

"Uncle Dave" came over for dinner.  He is allergic to cats.  Ralph remembers him from the day he came to the shelter with us in Cheyenne, Wyoming to help us pick out Ralph (10 years ago.)  Nene was smitten.

leaving Yokota

 Casie & I at Banzai Burrito for a going-away dinner.  There were more pictures including other friends and neighbors, but I'd have to dig around for them.  It was nice to get together with them one last time.

 Waiting for our airport van at the TLF (temp. living facility): Casie & Theo, me and Ariel, Linda and Aubrey.

(and Ariel making a lunge for the juice box)

 Mike & Theo, Jeff & Ariel, Jun & Aubrey (Ayden was not present for this picture.)

I wish I'd gotten a picture of the Belts that morning because they came to meet us and help us down with all the luggage.  Thanks and sayonara to Laura, David, and sweet Ginny!

Oh, and there was a fun little "sake sendoff" with cold sake in cups.  We really needed that sake after all the move preparations!

Ralph and Nene ready to fly at Narita Airport.  They were so good, and rode under the seats in the cabin with us.  In case you're wondering, cats are amazing, and can hold all their bodily functions and appetites until arrival at destination.

last days at Yokota

 I'm finally catching up on some photos from our move.

This one is at Jeff's going-away lunch at Yokota Officers' Club.

 Our living room after all the stuff was packed out.

 Dr. Aki Shirai at Yokota Vet Clinic, who took loving care of all our cats, and saw us through two end-of-life ordeals with Ted and Doraemon (and three happy adoptions: Doraemon, Nene, and Ariel!)

 Nene with speech therapist Isabel.

Having rice with Aubrey Oh.

National Book Festival

Well, I found a few photos to upload.  A couple weeks ago we went to the National Book Festival on the National Mall.  We got to meet Martha (a dog who talks from her books series and "Martha Speaks" cartoon on PBS.)  I got to meet Sonia Manzano, who plays Maria on Sesame Street.  She wrote a semi-autobiographical novel about growing up in Spanish Harlem.  There were lots of tents with authors reading from their books and fielding questions.

Then we walked along the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial.  Ariel climbed all the steps with Jeff!

unpacking

We got the last of our household goods shipment the other day, and are unpacking and setting up the house.

My technical advisor tells me we have the cable to upload photos from my camera.  But I can't find it.    And he is out entertaining the girl, so I can't complain.  It's nice to have some quiet time to concentrate around the house.

When I do load photos, they will go back a couple months and document the adventures of our trip from Japan.