Gonohe Sports Day

Every year since 1978 our Navy command has participated in our sister town's annual Sports Day. A day of serious and not so serious sports. Being the command fitness leader, the lot fell upon me to organize our group's participation in the event. It was mostly fun, partly amuzing, and slightly embarrassing. Some of the not so serious sports are practiced by the Japanese so our first time participations were sometimes quite awkward, as you can see by the picture. Part of the race was putting on the robe. Also notice, we are in last place. Oh well, at least we won tug of war.

154 bpm

We had a good doctor visit today. Trish is 17 weeks and still feeling well. The nurse "clocked" the heartbeat at 154 bpm as we got to listen to it through the doppler. We were able to hear he/she kick the doppler a few times. As the wives' tale goes (according to the nurse), we should be having a boy because the heartbeat was on the lower end of the scale. However, according to the ring on the necklace test, we should be having a girl. We should get to find out for sure on October 21st when we have our first ultrasound. I can't wait, literally... we have unsuccessfully tried a few times to get an ultrasound off-base.

Trish has gained a few of pounds, but it's hard to tell if she is showing yet so I guess she really isn't. She hasn't started wearing her lovely (sarcasm) maternity uniform yet.

Stuck in the Mud

Today we got stuck in the mud. We ventured off the beaten path to explore our near-by lake. On our way back from our short exploration, we happened upon a Japanese guy who got his car stuck in a 30 foot, knee-deep puddle. I tried to go around him so that I could get on the dry side of him to pull him out with my Land Cruiser, however I myself got stuck in the swampy edge. After our arduous bout with broken English and futile efforts, the lone Japanese man hurried off and about 45 minutes later returned with his Toyota 4-Runner. He then pulled his car out and next mine. After our episode of wading in the mushy puddle; lodging rocks and logs under the tires; and getting mud splattered on us, the Japanese man insisted on us following him, and he took us 15 minutes away to pay for our car wash and a fill-up. Then after many deep bows, he sped off.