JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

This week I took another step into the wide world of modern technology, webcam phone calls. Thanks to the very uncomplicated new Yahoo Messenger program, I am now able to view my family while I talk to them. It’s great!!! Years ago I never would have imagined such a simple way to stay in touch with loved ones over all the miles would happen so soon. (Even though camera phones were predicted to be a part of daily life in the 21st century way back in the caveman days – the late 1960s.) I can remember when making an international call was an all day event. I used to have to call the international operator, wait for ten to twelve hours for a response – when they were attempting to make the connection, and then pray that someone was at home at the other end. If you have never given it a try, don’t wade just jump in because there’s nothing like it!

Friday January 6, 2006 [C(4/365) D(2/365) LW(5/365)]

January 2006 Total:
C-cloudy (4/365) PC-partly cloudy (2/365)
D-drizzle (2/365)
W-windy (1/365) LW-light winds (5/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S- sunny (35/365) C-cloudy (70/365) PC-partly cloudy (113/365)
D-drizzle (18/365) R-rainy (8/365) SR-scattered rain showers (21/365)
W-windy (70/365) LW-light winds (113/365) VW-very windy (6/365)
H-humid (68/365) SH-slightly humid (82/365)

Thursday January 5, 2006 [C(3/365) D(1/365) LW(4/365)]

January 2006 Total:
C-cloudy (3/365) PC-partly cloudy (2/365)
D-drizzle (1/365)
W-windy (1/365) LW-light winds (4/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S- sunny (35/365) C-cloudy (69/365) PC-partly cloudy (113/365)
D-drizzle (17/365) R-rainy (8/365) SR-scattered rain showers (21/365)
W-windy (70/365) LW-light winds (112/365) VW-very windy (6/365)
H-humid (68/365) SH-slightly humid (82/365)

Wednesday January 4, 2006 [PC(2/365) LW(3/365)]

January 2006 Total:
C-cloudy (2/365) PC-partly cloudy (2/365)
W-windy (1/365) LW-light winds (3/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S- sunny (35/365) C-cloudy (68/365) PC-partly cloudy (113/365)
D-drizzle (16/365) R-rainy (8/365) SR-scattered rain showers (21/365)
W-windy (70/365) LW-light winds (111/365) VW-very windy (6/365)
H-humid (68/365) SH-slightly humid (82/365)

Weekly Hogen (Okinawan Dialect) :

English – hechima (a squash-like vegetable dried and used as a luffa on mainland Japan, but used for cooking on Okinawa)

Japanese – hechima?(???)??

Hogen – naabeeraa?(??????)

Tuesday January 3, 2006 [C(2/365) LW(2/365)]

January 2006 Total:
C-cloudy (2/365) PC-partly cloudy (1/365)
W-windy (1/365) LW-light winds (2/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S- sunny (35/365) C-cloudy (68/365) PC-partly cloudy (112/365)
D-drizzle (16/365) R-rainy (8/365) SR-scattered rain showers (21/365)
W-windy (70/365) LW-light winds (110/365) VW-very windy (6/365)
H-humid (68/365) SH-slightly humid (82/365)

Well the whole island seems to be getting in on the local music craze. Each year there seems to be more and more local artists hitting the Japanese charts. With these advances in popularity, other businesses are jumping on the band wagon. A few days ago Taki and I drove by a local pachinko parlor that had a large guitar-shaped sign with the words “Rock ‘n Roll” plastered on the outside of the building. I wonder if they only play rock music at that particular parlor? Or maybe there’s a new rock ‘n’ roll pachinko machine. Or maybe the parlor hosts live rock bands as an attraction for special events. Who knows what rock ‘n’ roll has to do with a pachinko parlor. It could be anything or nothing.

Monday January 2, 2006 [PC(1/365) W(1/365)]

January 2006 Total:
C-cloudy (1/365) PC-partly cloudy (1/365)
W-windy (1/365) LW-light winds (1/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S- sunny (35/365) C-cloudy (67/365) PC-partly cloudy (112/365)
D-drizzle (16/365) R-rainy (8/365) SR-scattered rain showers (21/365)
W-windy (70/365) LW-light winds (109/365) VW-very windy (6/365)
H-humid (68/365) SH-slightly humid (82/365)

Well last night was total madness, sardine city in fact. We try to maintain an open door policy with no cover charge at the club. On New Year’s Eve we throw-in free party goodies (as long as supplies last) as a way to say thank you to all those who have supported us over the year. Every year this adds up to Bar JET New Year’s Eve “mania”. At the end of the night, when everyone leaves, it looks like a typhoon hit the club – like more drinks ended up on the tables and floor than anywhere else. Even though the club was total madness, almost everyone remained courteous of others and the facility. Over all it was a hectic, nutty, but enjoyable evening for most.