2010: A Navy Odyssey- Mission Accomplished!

I finally arrived home on Wednesday, 29SEP2010 after spending a week in San Diego completing my "processing." I got a 5 minute physical and did 10 minutes of paperwork and had a 10 minute meeting with the personnel dept during that week. No one every accused the military of being efficient. I did get to have one last dinner with my friend Rob who is doing some training in San Diego. We went to his favorite Mexican restaurant in San Diego from 1989 when he was in training there! It was fabulous, and needed after 9 months of no Mexican food!

I also got to go see family on "liberty" over the weekend and attend a UofA football game. It was great seeing family and some friends from college.

I got the opportunity to put an entire airport terminal on lock down while they "re-checked me" after screening me the first time. I was wearing my uniform (see the pic above) and could not take my boots off without removing my pants because they were tied/bloused up under the cuffs. I offered to take off my pants and they just decided to "wand" me instead. After going through that process, getting a diet coke at McDonald's, and sitting down to read at the gate, I was approached by a couple of TSA workers. They told me they needed to bring me back through security as there was a problem. I walked with them back through the terminal and wondered why I didn't see anyone. As we rounded a corner, I found out why! Over 100 passengers were being held back by a dozen TSA agents. We walked through the crowd as it parted, and then I was escorted by a dozen agents. I went back to the security/x-ray station, and saw that they were holding everyone there, too! How embarrassing, as I had to go behind the screen, take off my pants and boots, and have them all re screen and me patted down again. Then they took down some information, and explained that a supervisor did not think I was screen properly the first time and a "breach" had been committed. I guess it made my last plane flight more exciting.

Oh well, in any case, I am home. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

LCDR Butler

Back from Okinawa

Finally back to the states. It was certainly a bittersweet goodbye to Okinawa, and I will miss the ER, the staff, and the patients, but I am glad to be back on US soil!

I was told last year when I was getting ready to go to Okinawa that military personnel assigned there either "find the bottle or find God." I am happy to say that I found P90X and a spin class instead! I think it was certainly much healthier for me!

I did, however, have to put in a couple of pics of the Corpsmen Cove, our local all-ranks "club" on base. I did get to go there a few times,though, including the official command Hail and Farewell in August and when Steph came to let her sample one of the local brews- Orion (pronounce "oh-ree-on" not "oh-rye-on."). Although it is no JT's, it does have a certain "uniqueness" being a converted 1950's Quonset hut.

It had been months since I had Mexican food, so I began in San Diego how I left- by going out to Mexican food downtown. Boy, I never realized how much you can miss chips and salsa growing up in Phoenix.

Only a couple more days until I get to see Steph! Yea!

LCDR Butler

Leaving Okinawa

Finally, the day has come to check out of my "home" for last 9 months! My bike, a suitcase, and some kitchen/workout stuff got shipped back last friday. I was kinda bittersweet watching them pack up.

Another ER doc, Heather and I had our "Farewell" party last friday and enjoyed watching a fire-eater and our last true Japanese Karaoke with some of the corpsmen and Japanese interns, and other doctors. Yoshi is singing a beer drinking song "Orion" (the local brew). You can hear the song (I am told) on Utube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGLvF0c7N4k&feature=related

On my last day of work yesterday, the Japanese interns gave me a "Jinbei" and made me wear it in the ER! The staff had cake and food and many well wishes. Again, a bittersweet ending, but I can't wait to get home to see Steph, Ben and Morgan. Only 4 more days! YEA!

LCDR Butler

UofA 34 Iowa 27 CATS WIN NAILBITER!

UofA vs Iowa

Finally, AFN (Armed Forces Network) announced the time for the UofA/Iowa game for this weekend. Whew! I was getting worried that it would not be on. I will be glued to my (19 inch) TV in the BOQ! Unfortunately, I will not be at the game in person. My family will be there rooting on the Cats, as will "in-laws" from Iowa rooting on the Hawkyeys! It is sure to be a great time! Have fun!

GO CATS!

LCDR Butler

Thanks to all for all my birthday cards, presents, and well wishes. They have finally stopped trickling in, and totalled 25 cards and two new t-shirts. The cards were very funny and I appreciate everyone for making my 42nd birthday special despite being spent halfway around the world and without family!

My shifts are trickling down, and I am left with only two 8-hr shifts to go in the ER. Wow! The last 9 months have really flown! I had my last ER staff meeting last week, and the staff continues to make me feel appreciated and wanted by asking me to stay. I took the opportunity to thank all of THEM, as a soon to be civilian again, for their service to our country, as they do a fantastic job every day and don't always get to hear that. Although I certainly appreciate the sentiments and compliments, I truly can't wait to get home soon to my wonderful family, who have been so supportive during these 9 months.

I can't believe I am going to miss the UofA/Iowa game by less than a week, but that is the case nevertheless! I know all my immediate and extended family will have a great time being rivals for a day, and rooting on their respective teams. I will be cheering for the Cats sunday morning Okinawa time during the game and wearing my colors proudly!

LCDR Butler

9/11

It's the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, and it seems like only yesterday. I remember quite vividly watching it unfold on live TV that Tuesday morning. I remember the shock and sadness and helplessness I felt. Hundreds of thousands of people have died since that horrible day. I have friends and family of various religions and political beliefs, but I ask all of you today to keep the goal of peace in your thoughts, prayers, and votes. However, until we achieve peace, please keep your thoughts and prayers with our service men and women, who quite literally put their lives on the line every day in service to our country and our way of life. They do this voluntarily, and deserve our thanks and respect. Godbless all of them and their families. Rest in peace to everyone that died that tragic day and since, all around the globe.

LCDR Butler

REALITY CHECK

Today was a very big reality check for me. This was the first time I personally knew someone who was killed in action. Today was the memorial service for a young Corpsman that I worked with for 3 months when I first arrived. I did not even realize that he had been gone that long when I read in the paper recently of a young Corpsman that had been killed in action in Afghanistan on Aug 27th. It couldn't be MY corpsman, could it?!!? Then, yesterday, I received the email notice of his memorial service today at the chapel. KIA at age 20. I now realize just how dangerous their job really is. Navy Corpsmen go out fighting with Marines, but then also are responsible to selflessly care for their injured Marines while ignoring their own safety. I can't think of a more dangerous situation. More dangerous than the Marines have themselves. He was barely 3 years older than Benjamin. He was buried in Arlington on his 21st birthday. My friend Rob, was in attendance.

Life is short. Live like you're dying... we all are.

Godbless you HM3 Swink, and thank you for your service. You will be sorely missed.

LCDR Butler

TYPHOON BIRTHDAY!

Thanks to my sister-in-law Jen for giving me my favorite birthday present: a TYPHOON! While in Okinawa, I have experienced an earthquake, a tsunami, climbed Mt Fuji, almost stepped on a Habu snake, but I had yet to experience a Typhoon. So, she wished a typhoon for me in my birthday card that she sent almost 2 weeks ago. Sure enough, here it is today, right on time!

Thanks also to all who sent me the well wishes and cards. Although I am spending my 42nd birthday on the other side of the planet away from family and friends, it was made very special with all the support from back home.

Also thanks to my night crew in the ER that got me a birthday cake to celebrate (the night before my birthday as they would not be working on my actual birthday). That really meant a lot to me and I will miss you all when I leave.

The only bad part of the typhoon is that I missed my birthday dinner at Fab Curry. We were actually 45 minutes away from going when they changed the typhoon status which prevented us from leaving the base. Damn! So close!

Happy Typhoon Day!

LCDR Butler

THUMB'S DOWN (or "TOES DOWN") TO VIBRAMS!

Not good news this week. Just found out that the second reading on the MRI of my foot did, indeed, reveal a stress fracture. Bummer. All because of those Vibram Five Finger shoes! Not a fan of them anymore! Called Ben and Kelli and found out my nephew Cameron has a stress fracture as well from them! Called Benjamin immediately and told him to stop running on them. Went online and I guess a LOT of people are having stress fractures with them! Oh well, they will make nice water shoes. Called my friend Pete Mitchell (a foot/ankle ortho specialist) and discussed my situation. Final decision is that I can continue to try to do eliptical, spin, swim, and P90X as tolerated! Whew. I did not just want to try to swim for 2-3 hours a day for my last month!

Starting to get ready to come back home. Sold my car this week to one of the new docs. We had our Hail and Farewell party to welcome the new officers and say farewell to the ones leaving. The picture shows four of our five new docs and our ER department head. Our DH as well as the head of all medical specialites had very kind words to say about me when they said farewell. It made me feel that my time here was truly important, worthwhile, and appreciated!

We started collecting weird car names when the kids were here this summer. I am not sure why the cars here and in Japan in general don't have "traditional" Japanese names (like my Suzuki "Kei" car) but they just don't. In fact, they have quite unusual names so I figured I would share some of the more interesting with all of you back in the US.

I found that some names are religious (the Toyota "Noah" for example), some describe what the owners like to drink (the Daihatsu "Cocoa"), some describe what the owners like to do (the Toyota HiLux "Surf"), and others what the owner might be carrying in the vehicle (the Toyota "FunCargo"). Others have directions for tailgaters behind them [Daihatsu "Move," the Daihatsu "Mira" (spanish for "look"), and the Suzuki "Alto" ("stop" in spanish)]. Still others are either overtly (the Daihatsu "Naked") or covertly sexual in nature (the Mitsubishi "Pajero"- I will let you look up that one in Spanish as it is not really appropriate to publish). They also like to secretly curse in spanish as well (the Mazda "La Puta"). Finally, they just have some bizarre ones such as the Mazda "Scrum," the Suzuki "Every" and the Honda "That's". I think the "That's" has got to be my favorite!

Only 8 shifts and less than a month to go! Football season is coming up. GO CATS!

LCDR Butler

NEW ARRIVALS!

Finally, after being on island almost eight months, watching her grow inside of Jennifer, the newest member of the Tanguay family arrived on August 20th, weighing in at 6 lbs, 3 ounces! Sylvie Isabelle Tanguay arrived in the afternoon, a week earlier than scheduled, but happy and healthy. As you can see from Jason's face, he is just slightly happy! I had another picture of both new proud parents, but after just having a c-section, I figured Jen did not want me to post that picture (it reminded me of the one of Steph and I after Ben was born. Needless to say, it is not one of Steph's favorite pics:). Congratulations!

All of our new docs have finally arrived as well. We had a "pizza picnic" to get to know them, then some of us went out afterwards to the Kadena O Club. We had to show the new docs (Michael and Jim are pictured with Rob and I) both the hilarity of the flight suits as well as try the game "crud" that they play there out for ourselves (it is sort of a "full contact" version of pool played by hand instead of with sticks). Michael's wife Jill was hanging at our table and was too intimidated to come into the testoserone-filled pool room to try "crud." I am sure the AF guys got a kick out of watching us as the "crud" room is played throughout the bar on closed circuit TV!

Today I took Rob to the airport to go back to the states. We had Fab Curry for the last dinner on island last night. I will miss my "Fab Curry buddy" but know I will see him again. Stay safe Rob and good luck. I really hope you get the new job you want and deserve. You know I am always in Phoenix if you need some contacts there.

Twelve shifts to go!

LCDR Butler

HABU HAVEN!

Finally, I got to see a Habu snake! They are similar to our rattlesnakes, but without the rattle. Supposedly they are all over the island, but it took me over 7 months to finally see one. While returning from the Corpsmen Cove, where my friend Rob, Matt, and I reminisced about growing up in the 80's, video games and also about working in the private world, we almost stepped on a Habu hanging out on the sidewalk hissing at us! I guess he figured there were three of us and only one of him, so he slithered off into the tall grass (where we had walked down to the Cove from our barracks only an hour before!). Only 6 weeks left to see a banana spider and witness a typhoon to truly experience Okinawa!

The nights in the ER can get a little slow towards the end of a shift, as you can see by us all hanging out in the staff lounge, eating and joking around. Later that night, while watching a guy check his drunk friend in to the ER on our closed circuit camera in the waiting room, we observed his friend proceed to pass out on the tile floor of our waiting room while a few other patients were sitting patiently nearby. Then, the friend checking him in turned around, and began taking camera phone pictures of his drunk buddy on the floor of our waiting room. It was better than America's Funniest Videos! Sometimes I have to just pinch myself to remind me just how fun working in the ER can be, and that we actually get paid to do it!

We already miss Dr. Tanen and Dr. Carstairs, two toxicologists from USNH San Diego at Balboa who spent a month out here helping us out while waiting for our new docs to arrive. CAPT Tanen is pictured with some of the Japanese Interns and I outside of our ambulance entrance to the ER. I look forward to working with both of them again in San Diego during my two weeks of AT with the Reserves next summer!

Some of our new docs have arrived, so we went out to my favorite curry restaurant (FAB CURRY) on the Sunabe Seawall for a dinner to get to know everyone. A few of the Japanese Interns joined us as well. We finished the night off by going to one of the Karaoke bars in Okinawa to sing the night away!

Only a little over 5 weeks before I leave back to San Diego for my demobilization and return to Phoenix. Time is definitely flying!

LCDR Butler

MISSING HOME

Only 8 weeks to go! I can't believe it has been a month since Steph, Ben, and Morgan left. Even seeing a McDonald's with Japanese writing just makes me more homesick. I have definitely enjoyed my time here but am ready to return to Phoenix. By the way, I have not had McDonalds, Jack in the Box, Burger King, or any other fast food (other than Taco Bell once) in the last 8 months!

Since they left, I have absorbed myself back in to work (9 12-hour ER shifts in a 12 day stretch), workouts (back to 4-5 hours a day of P90X, running, swimming, spinning, lifting, and doing the elliptical), and seeing movies (6 since they left, including "Inception" which was great but "mentally taxing!"). I occasionally get some sleep in as well:)

I also finally made it to the Kadena Officer's Club (more affectionately known by its initials). I am glad I went as it was truly something to behold. Words cannot truly describe the surreal experience. It was like a cartoonishly over-the-top version of Top Gun, with pilots all over the place in their well-pressed green flight suits at 11pm on a Friday night, drinking beer and chatting it up with the ladies. Then there were a few that had on black "party" flight suits, too! (did not really understand that one). It truly had to be seen to be fully appreciated (sorry I did not get a picture- did not have my camera with me). Matt (another ER doc out here from San Diego who will deploy with my friend Rob) invited me out with himself and a few others getting ready to deploy as well as some GMO's. It was a fun time and I am glad I finally got to experience it. We were thinking maybe we would show up some night with a big group from the hospital in scrubs, white coats, and stethoscopes to see their reactions! Probably would start a bar fight or something.

We are getting five new doctors this month in the ER. It will be fun meeting them and getting them started out on the right track before I leave. They are all right out of residency. The time will go by fast (it already has)......

LCDR Butler

THEY'RE GONE :(

Very hard saying goodbye again:(

We got up and Steph wanted a picture of the kids' "bed" in my small apartment at the "Q" (the bachelor officer's quarters). Then we loaded everything up in my little Kei car, and headed to the airport.

It was great having them out for almost 3 weeks, but that just makes the goodbyes harder, I think. As I hugged them all goodbye, I lost it and just had to walk away. Tears flowed most of the way home and figured I needed to just immerse myself in work and working out to make the last 3 months go by more quickly. I worked out for 3 1/2 hours and did work stuff for a couple of hours, too. Back to the routine.......

LCDR Butler

TOKYO AND BACK TO OKINAWA

We went to Tokyo the day after our trip to Fuji. We decided to bypass the Buddha at Kamakura Beach as we were a little worn out from Fuji. We arrived at the New Sanno Hotel and it was awesome! We did have to make arrangements, however, for a cab to pick us up the next morning at 4am to get to Yakota Air Force Base in time to catch our Space-A Flight back to Okinawa as it was the holiday weekend and that was the last flight (and I could not be later than the 4th because my leave ended).

We had a great dinner and reunion with my fraternity pledge brother Dale Caldwell and his wife Meg and their boys (their daughter was away at her grandparents). The dinner and conversation were excellent and the kids (even Morgan) were adventurous with trying new things. The "roll your own" sushi and fresh wasabi were unbelievable! After beer and sake and wine, though, it was time to call it a night so we could get up in 4 hours to catch our cab.

Back in Okinawa, we watched fireworks on the 3rd of July on the Sunabe Seawall and it was amazing! We figured we would avoid the crowds at Kadena Air Force Base on the 4th. We went to the Shuri Castle and Ben and I had a great view from the Castle of Naha, Okinawa. Steph finally got to rub the "Buddha Belly" on a statue on Kokosai street when we went shopping!

The next day, Ben and Morgan and I went "diving with the whale sharks" off the coast of Okinawa in a big net. It was awesome and we even got to touch the whale shark! I thought Morgan was going to get us kicked out as she kept chasing and grabbing the shark!

Great trip and great 3 weeks with my family in Japan. It was awesome!

LCDR Butler

FUJI

When we arrved at Camp Zama outside of Tokyo, we barely made it in time to go to the travel agency to get details on how to get to Fuji. They told us that they thought it was still closed due to recent snows, but directed us to the Outdoor Recreation office. They were very helpful, and explained the train/bus route to the 5th Station on the Kawaguchi-ko route. They also told us the top would be closed but I figured we would at least go to the 5th station and hike around so we can at least be able to say "we hiked Mt Fuji." Since we were not going to be able to summit anyway, we slept in at Zama and started out about 0700, after having a great continental breakfast provided at the lodging. Since no cabs were allowed on base, we had to walk to the train station. After going the wrong way on one of the trains, we finally reached the bus station 10 minutes before the next bus left for the 5th Station. We arrived at about 1145, and the last bus left to go back at 1540 (3:40pm). So we had about 4 hours to tour around. We finally stared up the trail at about 1155. When we got to the first marker in about 10 minutes (it was supposed to take over 20), we realized our pace was pretty fast and had not come to a "TRAIL CLOSED" sign yet. Then we passed someone running down (yes, running!) who told us the summit was open. Damn! We could have done it after all! SO...... since our pace was fast (the "usual"time in the books was 5-7 hours up and 3-4 down, but we were making it in a third of that time!), Benjamin and I decided to leave Steph and Morgan behind and try to make it as far as possible. We took no pack, no water, and no MONEY (to be explained in a bit) and started jogging up.......

That lasted about 200 yards and we were quickly winded (we were already over a mile up in elevation). We kept a quick pace, though, with no stops. We soon shed our shirts, which were drenched in sweat already. As we kept passing people and reaching the stations much quicker than expected, we realized we might actually be able to make it! We finally broke down and put our shifts back on when we reached the snow level. We realized that we forgot water AND money (water is NOT free on the route) and Ben was feeling dehydrated. So, the ever resourceful Eagle Scout that he is, he found a sink to drink out of (hopefully it WAS drinking water, and not just for "washing.").

Time was running out if we were going to make it (I only had 2 1/2 hours left before the bus left!) so we picked up the pace. Ben actually fell behind and told me he was not going to keep pace with me. I left him at station 8 and kept going. At 1345, I thought I could see the top and passed some hikers with packs coming down. I asked if what I could see a couple of hundred yards ahead was the top and they assured me it was the rim! They also had to make the bus and assured me they would hold it for me. By this time, at almost 12,000 feet of elevation, I was really struggling to breath and keep putting one foot in front of the other, as it was like going up a steep staircase of gravel and rock. I was practically "bear crawling" by the time I reached the rim! I stayed for about 90 seconds to take a couple of pictures, then realized I had only an hour and 40 minutes to reach the bottom!

I started at a quick pace down, and realized my knees would really be hurting but had no choice. I caught up to Ben at the 8.5 Station, and we continued our fast pace. I realized we were cutting it close, so we were jogging on the flatter switchbacks by the end. We made it! I could tell I was going to be VERY sore tomorrow, though! One more item off my bucket list.......

We made it to the bus, but did not make it back to Camp Zama until 8pm! We had a great Mexican Fiesta of taquitos and chicken and bean burritos in our rooms. Delicious!

Off to Tokyo in the morning......

LCDR Butler

MAINLAND JAPAN!

We finally made it over to the mainland via Space-A (i.e. "free") travel! We started off by flying from Okinawa to Iwakuni, Japan (to the Marine base). Right away, the people were helpful and friendly. A Marine and his family saw us trying to figure out how to get a shuttle and offered to take us to the lodging facility. It was great, a large room with a kitchen and a commissary close by so we did not have to eat out every meal. We decided to stay for 2 nights and base our trip to Myajima island as well as Hiroshima from there. We relaxed and saw a movie our first night.

We got up the next morning and caught the train to the Myajima ferry. Myajima was beautiful and is supposed to be one of the most scenic areas of Japan. Steph and I posed in front of the famous Tori Gate in the shallow water off the coast of the island. We toured some shrines and temples and petted wild deer that roamed around the island. We sampled the local cuisine, then had shaved ice to top it all off.

Next up was touring Hiroshima. We started at the A-bomb Dome (still standing after the bomb)and toured the peace park and surrounding memorials. Very sobering experience but moving. We also allowed some Japanese locals practice their English skills on us explaining the memorials and museum.

The next day we were up early to get on the bullet train to Kyoto, our next stop. Again, we were amazed by a retired Marine who works at Iwakuni offered to drive us the 30 minutes to the train station so we did not have to take a cab. We found a traditional Japanese style hotel, complete with futons, tatami mats, a low table, and group baths (Ben and I tried this, while Morgan and Steph stuck with the bathroom in our room.......) We did one walking tour to a few shrines the first day, including the Silver Palace and the Philosopher's Path (a mile long winding path along a small canal connecting a few shrines and temples). That night we tried to go to a Tofu restaurant but it was closed, so we had some more local cuisine instead at a small cafe. The next morning we did another walking tour of the Golden Palace and an incredible zen garden at Daitokuji Temple. We then went to the train station, got on the bullet train, and headed to Camp Zama, our next lodging at the US Army Base Zama outside of Tokyo for our hike to Fuji!

LCDR Butler

Family Time!

Steph, Ben, and Morgan flew in on time, and we have had a great time since. We started by going to the Churaumi Aquarium, the second largest aquarium in the world (the first is in Atlanta, GA). We saw sharks, and rays, and dolphins, and manatees. It was a great time! That night, I took them to my favorite restaurant- FAB CURRY! Morgan was not as impressed as I am with it.

For Father's Day, we went to "our" Officer's Club for brunch- the Butler O Club! It was wonderful.

Next, we spent 3 days relaxing at an US Air Force owned beach resort in northern Okinawa called Okuma. We kicked back, played games, watched movies, hung out on the beach, went diving, hiked to a waterfall, went parasailing, and enjoyed spending our 20th Anniversary together! On the way back, we went to a pineapple farm and sampled all kinds of pineapple drinks and food.

After a couple of days back on base, including my last shift of work, we finally arrived in Iwakuni, Japan, successfully managing Space-A travel. We are planning a full week, including a trip to Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kamakura Beach, and Tokyo. Hopefully, weather permitting, we will hike Mount Fuji!

Until I blog again.......

LCDR Butler

STEPH, BEN, & MORGAN ARE COMING!

Finally, Steph, Ben, and Morgan arrive in 2 hours! I can't wait to see them! I will post some good pics after they have been here a while. We have lots of plans (including "planned relaxing" at Okuma Beach Resort for 3 days over the weekend, Father's Day, and our 20th Anniversary!

Steph told me I only show that I am having fun here so I wanted to show a picture of me being "miserable" running on a day with a "Black Flag." Those are days that you are not supposed to exercise at all, for any length of time, under any circumstances! I actually find it funny as I regularly run in Phoenix at 4pm when it is over 110 outside (although I will admit the humidity is a little brutal here!). Just so she doesn't think I only have fun here, I also just finished working a string of 8 night shifts in 2 weeks, with meetings and lectures thrown in, too! I was miserable, Steph :(

There, hopefully that makes her feel better.

I've got to get going to the airport in my "mini-car!"

Until I blog again.......

LCDR Butler

MEMORIAL DAY

I wanted to wish all of you a great Memorial Day! I wish two things for you all on this day. Number one, please enjoy your time with family and friends today! They are the most important things in your life, and cherish every moment spent together. Two, please remember those who are serving away from their family and especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so we can all enjoy a day like today and the country we call home.

I started off this weekend by buying a car here in Okinawa! I have waited for almost 5 months to get one, and now I finally have freedom to move around, and to be able to escort my family around the island. I bought it from one of our ER nurses who left to move back to Texas. My car is TINY! It is a Suzuki Kei car. The Kei cars in Japan have to meet certain criteria for both dimensions as well as engine size. The car makes my Honda Civic look like a limousine! It's engine is smaller than our Yamaha Rhino quad. However, it only cost me $1,000 and the insurance is only $25/month! I am sure I will sell it for at least that much in 3-4 months before I leave. It is nice to finally have one and I feel confident driving on the left hand side now (although it will be weird to go back to Arizona and drive on the the right I think!)

I worked Friday and Saturday, then enjoyed a relaxing Sunday, followed by a great snorkeling trip to the nearby Kerama Islands with my fellow ER doc Jason, his wife, their friends, and our PA and her husband. It rained most of the day, but we still had a great time and saw lots of fish, a sea turtle, some sea snakes, and a shark!

The day was capped off with a great dinner at one of our Japanese Intern's place. She prepared a Japanese summer tradition of catching noodles as they slide down a water slide of bamboo (we did not have the traditional real bamboo one, but had the kids version that looked more like the old "Mousetrap" game! It was a lot of fun and the meal was awesome!

I also bought the new "trendy" Fivefinger Vibram shoes to run in. They are more like glove/slippers, but supposedly let you run like you are running barefoot. This gives your calves a great workout and allow you to run in a more natural position. But they look goofy as hell.........:)

I miss you all, and will see you soon!

LCDR Butler