It's good to be home in Okinawa after a spring vacation trip back to the US. I partyed with my good friend Amenra Buckley for his bachelor party in Las Vegas over the weekend of 29 Apr. That next week Amanda's family and one of her college buddies - Chris, came up from San Antonio....the partying started all over again.
I stayed at the Luxor for a few days then moved to the Rio for the last four days leaving Vegas on my birthday Cinco de Mayo (May 5th). I've decided that a week in Vegas is too long. Between hotels and gambling I easily spent $2500!


On 6 May Amenra Buckley married Amalia Pappanastos in Aptos, CA near Santa Cruz. It was a nice outdoor ceremony. They're probably just now getting back to Los Angeles from the honey moon in the Virgin Islands. Southwest was the only way we could get around to so many places this trip. Amanda and I flew from Vegas into San Jose, CA and then on the May 8th down to LA. On the way to Aptos, CA we swung by my Uncle Ray's place in Campbell, CA. The origianl plan was to leave San Jose on the 7th but we got caught in traffic on the 17 going into San Jose and missed our flight. On May 8th Amanda went on to San Antonio and I stayed in LA and hung out with my cousin Ernie. We toured the Getty Center and a traveling art show called Ashes and Snow. Amanda had fun in San Antonio at Canyon Lake with her Mom, cousin Michael, and friends. I left LA at 1:15 am on 10 May and arrived in Okinawa at about 10 am 11 May from a thirteen hour flight into Taipei, Taiwan and then a 1 hour hop up to Okinawa. Amanda came into Okinawa at 9pm on the 12 May with her dog/baby Tasha. With all the customs hassel she almost didn't get back to Japan. Fortunately she just had to promise to take Tasha by the on base verterinarian within 72 hours of arrival.