First Stomach Flipping!

Hideji sleeping position ever since we adopted him 4 months ago is either in the curl position (protecting his vulnerable spot such as stomach and paws, ready to spring up into action) and sleeping sideways. When he slept deep enough, he would stretch out this legs and slept sideways. However recently we noticed that he started to sleep in a different position (sleeping with his stomach facing up). This position is called as "dead cockroach" and only happened to indoor pets that are secure and comfortable with his surroundings. Another reason might be he felt overheated and expose his tummy to cool down.  He did not sleep in this position often but when he did, so so adorable! Looked like a broken toy, his response is slower than usual and basically let us touch anywhere without resistance. If he gets too comfortable, he will even roll his eyeballs and you can only see the white area only.

asking for a rub

He was pleading, give me more rub please! don't stop.... 

Outing w Friend

Hanged out with my friend and brought her to my favourite Kadoya that served yakitori and nabe (only in winter season). Even though she stayed in Misawa, she had yet to visit many places in Misawa. It was such cold and windy night, the roads were covered in ice that I had to walk so slowly. After a satisfying meal, I met another friend on the street. He had noticed me while I was in the r restaurant but was not sure if it was me. Just nice my friend also knew him as he helped out in her event before. 

got him a new sleeping mat but seemed to be little small 

looked like he was going to have a stiff neck lol!

Changed his neck collar, so cute!!

Had not tried it before, the grilled blended with avocado really well

super delicious hotpot

Ya she loves this place

sleeping sleeping and sleeping

Flanders Dog Cafe & Bar @ Hachinohe

We went to a dog cafe introduced by my friend in Hachinohe. Encountered difficulty in locating the cafe (It was on 2nd level) and we turned into small bumpy alley which resulting Hideji puking his breakfast lol! The good part was he puked behind my shoulder while I was holding him so my coat was barely stained. The bad news was that all the half digested dog food was on the door, seat belt and in between the gaps of seat and the door. Oh well, what a way to start the day....

The cafe is a place that allows customer to bring their pet along and they served pretty items edible for dogs as well. Their food was quite tasty. We switched our dogs with each other as their chihuahua (Spin) loves to interact with humans. She kept wanting to come over. So we passed Hideji over to them. Unlike Spin, Hideji was very nervous (pretty sure he never been such places at all) and his miserable face said it all (probably thought we going to send him away). Only started to relax and in drowsy mood when he was back with us and started dozing off with his chin on S's leg lol. 

Since there were no other customers around, we let them ran around the cafe. Hideji was always chasing after Spin and Spin was always escaping lol.... 

p.s It appeared that once Hideji is placed in unfamiliar surrounding, he have a tendency to stick to us. When S went to the toilet, he wanted to follow. When S walked around, he also followed. 

https://www.facebook.com/Flanders.cafe/

Heard that its crowded during weekend from my friend.

800 yen w salad. Tasted pretty good

Hideji did not seem happy at all

Nice time with our dogs

Spin loves humans than dogs

Eventually Spin likes Hideji this time. Her tail was never up the past times she met Hideji

7 年忌 (7th Year Nenkai Hoyo)

Went back to Aomori to attend my grandfather in law 7th year death anniversary. It is a Buddhist memorial service to honour the deceased held in certain number of years such as 1st, 3rd, 7th, 13th years and so on. I was told to dressed in dark colours, flashy or bright colours are a major no. For the first time since our wedding in Singapore, I finally get to meet and talk to S's uncle and aunt. Been wanting to meet them for so long but we never had the chance. They lived in Yokohoma and we always missed them when they came to Aomori to visit. 

My grandmother in law hired the monk to come to the house to chant and pray. Thereafter we moved to hotel to have our lunch. Did not take photos beside the meal as I was told by S it not a good idea to take pictures. On a side note, before we started eating, all of us held the drinks in our hands and said献杯 (Kenpai used only in funeral time). Since I did not know and did not have such culture in my country, I said it wrongly (乾杯 Kanpai) . The good thing was that I sat at the end of the table and maybe only S heard me lol! He said its not a joyous moment so I cannot use 乾杯(Kanpai). Well nobody told me beforehand, how was i supposed to know...... 

Gift for Hideji from S's aunt! He loved it!

Finally a family picture with his uncle and aunt since the wedding!

Lunch @ T's Burritos

New lunch place on base! S was telling me how tasty it was and how big the portion was. Basically sells tacos and burritos. Super tasty though the tedious part is to choose your own ingredients and dressing (like subway but double choices lol). The good part if you can eat everything, just tell the staff to help you instead of jamming the line pondering the choices.   

We have been allowing Hideji to stay with us in the living room as it was too cold elsewhere. Only our living area has stove. We would still send him to his cage during bedtime with hot water-bottles (do not think it works well but better than nothing). Every morning when we opened the door, he is always in a rush to enter since its so warm.   

My father in law gave us oysters (expensive), as big as our palms!

what a sexy pose! 

Since too cold in winter, we allowed him in living room where there's heater but only restricted to the grey mat. For some reason he loves to stick his butt into the tiny stool. 

He loves snow! super active when he sees it

800 yen set each ($10) it was worth it, better than Tacos Bell in my opinion

Interior

Invitation to New Year Dinner

S was invited to attend JSDF New Year Dinner and he brought me along. He had to pay 5000 yen ($65 sin) but if he bring one guest along its free. So I guess he wanted to save money (so he did not have to prepare my dinner and I can to eat at the party). I was surprised that it was a standing dinner, there are no chairs in the banquet hall. Wonder if its normal? This made it easier for people to mingle and interact from table to table but its quite tedious for elderly since we have to stand for 2-3 hours. For the ladies, we had to carry our bags or put in on the floor but usually who will put their expensive bags on the ground. The front desk allow you to deposit your winter coat, hat, scarf but at the end of the dinner, there's a long long queue for "EVERYONE" to collect their items. Of course, there would be other parties in other halls and imagined that everyone left at same time. Give me chair anytime lol....

During the party there were many high ranking officers, generals even Misawa City governor and Misawa Airbase Commander came. Most were in their JSDF uniforms. They even have similar to lion dance with the person carrying lion head going around the hall and blessing the particular person who held his/her head out. I did!

JSDF Band performing, I even found an acquaintance that attended class with me! 

                                        

Japanese custom of smashing barrel sake that symbolise harmony and good fortune  

                                          

Buffet style

                                       

Managed to take photo with the General

                                                

Standing style dinner

Visit to S's Workplace

Brought my friend and her husband to S's workplace. They were curious and fascinated by the facilities and various room (gym, tv room, bed). Highly impossible in their Japanese working environment.  

Fire truck for aircraft crash

 Police having a roadshow in the Shimoda mall

Back to Aomori again (Visa extension)

Returned to Aomori to collect my new extended visa and this time they gave me 5 years! We also submitted paperwork to apply for permanent resident but so far no news. Did not know we could submit paperwork for both but S said both are submitted to different department so it did not matter. Applications are submitted at the same place in Aomori but visa extension can be approve by department in Aomori (same place we went) but for PR they have to send it to Sendai (Higher authority located in Sendai). 

Before the approval, I had received a call asking me all sorts of questions about my life in Japan. I was wondering if its fraud call, its very common in Singapore. All types of con to cheat your money. Anyway I did answer truthfully and checked the telephone number after that. It indeed show that the number is from Aomori visa authority department we went. According to S, its very normal for the organisation to call and ask since not everyone can come down anytime/easily to be interview. If you want to be sure, you can take down their number and check the telephone number on the internet and call them back later. Interesting..... Still feel abit risky though....    

Nowadays he is not afraid of cage anymore, very willing to enter once we took the cage now. He knows we are bringing him out to play. 

Made by my father in law, very tasty~

Depending on his preference, would return back to cage and rest if he intend to sleep longer

Spanish dish super tasty prepared by my father in law

Odan, prefect dish in winter

think he is more comfortable in my in law house than our house!