I changed the top image to better reflect my current location and state of mind - complete with a broken tree to symbolize all the wreckage around here.

I’ve now been back in OK for a full week and I’m starting to get back into the swing of things. No, I don’t have a job and I’m not signed up for college classes just yet, but I thought that after 5 years of someone else telling me what to do I deserved a little off time. So far I’ve visited relatives in Dallas and Missouri, hung out with my family a lot, and reconnected with a few friends at one of my brother’s shows. All in all, not too bad.

Kana and I are still saying in close contact. Skype makes takes the sting off the long distance by letting me actually see her every few days. Of course I miss her terribly, but I think it’s important for me to establish myself here, in the civilian world, before she comes here for good. For those of you counting, it’s only 3 weeks until she’s here in Oklahoma. After seeing her world for 4 years now, I can’t wait to give her a taste of Oklahoma.

I’ve added a few pictures to my flickr site for your viewing pleasure. Just some random shots from around the lake house. I bought another lens and an off-camera flash because I’m planning to try my hand at amateur event photography. If you’re in need of a photographer, please shoot me an email.

I arrived back in the U-S of A this morning at 9:30 a.m. - meaning that I got here the morning before I left (?)  The whole time travel thing is still a mystery to me.  I’m not out processing at Bangor Sub Base near Seattle and I’ll be here for about a week.  Shoot me an email or get ahold of me on Facebook.  I’m planning on going Seattle sightseeing tomorrow, so expect pictures of the first Starbucks and Space Needle!

Back in OK soon!  No worries!

After a little over two years, I’m finally making my way back stateside today. My bags are packed, my house and car are gone and now I’m just chilling in Starbucks waiting for my bus to show up.

From here I’ll spend 7-10 days in Seattle out-processing and then it’s off to Tulsa. I’ll post here and on facebook more specifics.

On a bit of the random - I’ve been listening to Amy Winehouse lately. She’s got a very unique sound. Also, I become obsessed with a little percussion instrument the Japanese call the Asarato. Anyone have an idea what they’re called elsewhere? I bought four of them so me and my bro can unlock their secrets.

The movers came today and packed up my little life here in Japan. In typical Japanese fashion, there two guys and they had my house packed and on a truck in two hours flat. It feels a bit odd to be in a completely empty house, which is why I’m at Starbucks writing this post, just like my first year in Yokosuka.

This was really one of the first concrete indicators to me that my life as I know it is about to change — and this time I think it’s almost completely for the better. From here on out I’m responsible for my success or failure; the Navy doesn’t have any say. I’m really excited about that. Even more exciting is starting my new life with Kanako. I just have such a good feeling about everything and I can’t wait to see how it all pans out.

Once again, I’ll be home on or around the 22nd of January, so if you’d like to meet up, drop me a line. Also, Kanako’s dates are set in stone as well. She’s be in OK from the 19th of February until the 15th of March. Drop me a line - lane.randy@gmail.com - or find me on facebook.

I know I should be writing about new years, but this happened first and it was TOO funny. Kanako and I took a trip to the island of Jogashima, a little known island at the tip of the Miura peninsula (the peninsula Yokosuka Naval Base is on). This island is already known for being super windy and we went on an exceptionally windy day. As Kanako was getting out of the car a violent wind pulled the door almost off its hinges. After trying to no avail to force the door back in to place Kanako bravely held on to the car door as we drove to the nearest gas station where some nice attendants kindly duct-taped it into place. Kana snapped a picture of the tape on the door before we got it fixed the following day. It’s still not fixed, we just added a piece of metal to the latch to compensate for it being a few inches out of place. Welp, I guess it’s good that I’m giving the car away for free!