Rocktoberfest

Today I'm writing about Rocktoberfest. Which was almost a month ago on October 10th and 11th. Oh well. I had the pictures uploaded for quite awhile now but when I tried to upload the videos it wasn't working out. So then I would get frustrated and walk away. I think the video files are maybe too big. I'm gunna try and upload them in a separate post so we'll see. I really want you guys to see them but I may have to shorten them a bit and well....I like to procrastinate those sorta things.

Anyways, Rocktoberfest was basically an excuse to see the beach one last time before it got "cold" (I mean in the 70s), and to see a bunch of Japanese and Okinawan rock bands. It was at Torii Beach (where the jazz festival was) and it was a two day event. Originally, we were only gunna go on the first day but we had so much fun we decided to go the second day as well.

It gets dark really early here. Even in the summer the sun's down between 6 and 7pm. By the way, that's Adams in the picture with me. We brought him along (my suggestion actually) because he's a nice boy and we like him.

Even though he did this.

Lots of people were there sitting on the grass. We were the smart ones that brought towels though. Then I was the stupid one who wore a dress. Every time I had to use the bathroom or wanted to get food, it took me awhile to get off the ground in a way that wouldn't expose anything naughty.

The first night was more heavy metal type rock. Not my stuff but still fun to watch because they were mostly locals. This is a Okinawan band even though the lead singer had a Mexican wrestler's mask on.

We've actually seen this band before at a club! They're called FOD (don't ask me what it stands for. I still don't know) and the lead singer is American and I believe the rest were all Okinawan. They do all covers but really amazingly good. They got the biggest crowd. I think a lot of people were there just for them.

Uh...I don't remember. I think Dustin was taking pictures at this point.

Day 2! Official Rocktoberfest mugs with beer! Not for me, of course but the guys seemed to enjoy them.

There were a lot of pretty good food stands. And even though it was Rocktoberfest, there was only one stand with German brats. And the beer was Miller light. They were also selling a few Halloween costumes here.

It rained earlier that day but by the time we got there the sky decided to chill out. It was still pretty cloudy and windy like always.

Day 2 had more oldies rock and just more fun happy stuff. We loved this band and I have a video of them that I hope to get on here. They did all covers and were super cute and happy.

Dustin wanted to take pictures. I was having none of it.

But Adams is always up for a picture. As long as you keep him happy with beer.

Eventually I gave in. But there was no way I was gunna smile pretty.

So we were enjoying the music, eating and joking around blah blah blah, when this amazing lady got on the stage. Lord Almighty. If she was the only act that night it still would've been well worth the trip. She's Aria Asia and she's a rock violinist. She's been playing since she was only 2 years old and is hot shit in Japan. Especially Okinawa. She's adorable and completely amazing. She played beautiful original pieces and then also some covers. She got all the drunk Marines amped with her rendition of Smells Like Teen Spirit and Green Day's Basket Case. Her videos were the main ones I wanted you guys to see. Keep your fingers crossed.

Look how fast she's going! She likes to dance and sway while she's playing as well. The rest of her band were really talented too. If you're really interested, look her up on youtube. She's there.

We decided to buy her CD and DVD because we seriously could not get enough of her. She was nice enough to sign autographs and take pictures with everyone that wanted to. Look at her tiny top hat! She was so sweet and there was a line at her merchandise booth through the next two bands.

Adams pretty much wanted to marry her. He had been saying, just that day, that he had always wanted to learn how to play the violin. He has a long way to go if he ever wanted to be as good as her.

After Aria Asia, we were pretty much content with the night. But then All Japan Goith came on stage and Dustin really got excited. I don't know if you know this, but Dustin loves ska.

He bought their CD as well. They sang all in Japanese but were really fun to watch. There was one girl in the band who was super full of energy. She was like a little Jack Russell puppy. They pretty much ended the night for us. We had new local music and we were exhausted so we went home.

Sorry this took forever to post and I will try to upload those videos!

Bliss

Just a few pictures from this weekend that make me happy to call this tiny island home.

This is Leal. He's the one that's leaving cause he's a sillyhead like that. Check out his tattoos. You win if you recognize those symbols. He got the little one first and then decided it was too small. But instead of covering it up with a new tatt, he got the same exact thing on the other arm. Only bigger. I told you he was silly.

This is Shed. He's such a nice boy....unless he says that he's "gunna learn" me anything. Then I'll hate him.

Adams! Dustin was his sponser when he first got here. I was in NY at the time so I didn't get to meet him until after we got back. He's a delight. He's also on a diet which just makes me wanna feed him cupcakes all day long. And he doesn't know I took this picture of him.

4th of July weekend

How was your 4th of July weekend?? Ours was incredibly fun but also rainy. It was actually almost cold over the weekend. It was weird to put on a hoodie outside after it being sooo ridiculously hot for so long. But it didn't last long. It's hot and humid once again and I hate it.

Unless I'm at the beach.

Anywho, Dustin has been wanting to go mini golfing at the craptacular course they have at the community center here on base. So I reluctantly went along with him. But to my surprise I actually liked it! It was mostly due to the fact that I'm naturally good at it and was able to beat Dustin every time.

This course was pretty tricky even if it was kinda small. I didn't notice too much because I'd never been mini golfing before this. Now I wish we had gone to the big one in Boise.

That building back there is the commissary. I hate the commissary. I cannot express to you how angry and frustrated I get every time I shop there. And I have to shop there because my options on grocery stores are limited and I'm a girl who likes to cook. But I really hate the commissary.

Balls. Mine was the pink one of course.

Dustin and the beaver skunk.

Keebler elves?? Give me cookies!

We didn't get to finish our game cause it started to rain. But don't worry, we went back a few days later and played. And then melted from the heat.

The next day (the 3rd) we went to America Fest which was a fairly big festival on the flight line with mucho food and some live performances. We were mainly going to see Melinda Doolittle from American Idol season 6. We dug her and Dustin even voted for her a few times during that season so we was excited.

Oh my goodness. It was literally pouring that day. I had so much water in my shoes I felt like crying. I hate soggy socks. But I didn't mind too much because Dustin has a plate of deep fried oreos right there. Lordy, were they delish. I wanna make some at home! We also had a giant turkey leg and a pulled pork sandwich but we ate them before I even thought of taking a picture.

Miss Doolittle was amazing like she always is. Her band couldn't set up because of all the rain so it was just her, her two backup singers, and a laptop. I felt bad for her because they was hardly anyone there because of the weather. But she still kicked ass.

Little kids kept running up to the stage and then parents would take pictures of them. Melinda would run up to them while singing and pose for pictures. All throughout the song. It was super cute.

Me clearly enjoying the rain.

Oh, and then she had all the kids come up on the stage and dance with her. It was pretty entertaining. At the end of her performance she told everyone to come around to the side of the stage so we could all meet her and get autographs. We did just that and somehow ended up being the first people on line. And it wasn't like we rushed to do that. We calmly wandered over to the side of the stage and eventually everybody else followed.

I love this lady. She was super sweet and so nice. And way teeny tiny.

Dustin was a little excited as well. This is what happens when you get your boy into American Idol.

I guess they had the planes all out and displayed. Dustin likes to see them and tries to tell me all about them. My mind goes elsewhere when he starts that. Do you think this plane would be a Decepticon or an Autobot?? This is what I think about now every time I see any kind of vehicle.

Then we watched the Lt. Dan Band (Gary Sinise from Forest Gump and other such things) for awhile. They were pretty OK. They only do covers I guess and they have a lot of people in the band. And Gary Sinise doesn't even sing. But it was still fun.

Even Melinda Doolittle jammed in the audience which I thought was pretty cool. We ended up leaving a little early to go meet up with some PMEL guys. We then all headed out Gate 2 to see this metal band play at a bar. They were actually pretty good even though my ears still occasionally ring from it. We ended the night with Japanese Wendy's and a creepy little karaoke bar that had the most random song book I'd ever seen. They had Disney songs!

The next day we took the long ass drive up north to Okuma. It's basically a camping recreation area on the beach that's military owned. One day we plan on staying in one of their log cabins. There's a lot to do there as long as it doesn't rain. Then your screwed.

We mini golfed there which I rocked at of course. We also ate some pretty good military cuisine. It was good as far as military club food goes.

Live entertainment here also. Dustin looks so content and peaceful here.

It's because he's watching Japanese high schoolers break dance. I know when I think 4th of July celebration, this is what I see in my head.

I look...wrinkly here.

Oh how lovely it is to live here! The waves were a little crazier than usual but Dustin kept me from floating away. Thank goodness, cause I'm not a very good swimmer and I hate water in my face. But I still want to go diving.

That platform thingy was scary to walk/stand on. But there were these little girls running back and forth on it like it was nothing. They had balls of steel. Or maybe they were just idiot kids.

Our Independence day ended with fireworks on the beach and Sun Chips in our mouths. It was quite wonderful. It was actually the fifth 4th of July in a row that Dustin and I have spent together. Realizations like that make me feel old.