I’m off to Okinawa, Japan to review a school. Although I have been to several cities and areas in mainland Japan, including Tokyo, I have not been to Okinawa, which is so full of history and beauty.
After a very long flight I will have a day and a half to rest and sightsee and then meet with the Commander at the Air Force base where the school is located. The next three days will be filled with work at the school. I always enjoy this process so much, and learn from the educators there probably more than they learn from me. The Department of Defense schools are outstanding educational settings, and if I were a parent in the military, I would be pleased to have my child attend one of these schools.
Nights are free so I plan to visit with friends I met a couple of years ago in other schools I visited who are now in the Okinawa area. This is one of the great things about going to these schools. After the quality assurance review is completed, I will have a little more sightseeing time, and then I am flying to Hong Kong for five days for more adventure. I will write about all this when I return so check in a week or so to learn more about my travels. Until then, sayonara!
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that the New Year has already started out equally positive. I had a great time in Las Vegas where I spent a week enjoying the sites and sounds, and of course, gambling a little.
What’s your New Year’s resolution? If you are like me, it rarely matters. I had the same ones for years until I finally decided not to make them any more. Now, I simply ask myself how can I just be a better person in the coming year and what can I accomplish? Those probably won’t work either, but that is the hope.
I love this time of the year. Everyone seems a little kinder, a little gentler. The twinkling of the lights has a calming effect, and the holiday greetings put a smile on my face. Of course, it’s busy and somewhat stressful to get everything done and attend all those parties!! Yet, no matter, it’s well worth it to re-connect with people and remember the important things like family and friends and pause to reflect on the true meaning of the holidays. 
I think the picture says it all. Last Friday was my twenty year anniversary of turning 39! I had a great time with friends in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico, and then at Marcello’s Restaurant in Port Isabel. You might say I ate, drank, and shopped my way through the day. Life is good!
It seems to me that amid the commercialization of every holiday and the rush to put out all the Christmas decorations at the malls, we have almost missed the importance of Thanksgiving. (I think Lowe’s and Hobby Lobby have had Christmas decorations out since July, but managed to squeeze in some Halloween stuff in between).