Well we got home. Let me just give you a quick synopsis of our trip back.

• 0430 Wednesday - Woke up in Vancouver, drove to SeaTac airport (3 hours) and arrived at 0829, one minute before 'showtime'. Much too close because if you miss showtime, you don't go.
• 1130 Wednesday - The time we were supposed to leave SeaTac. Incoming flight delayed 1.5 hours. Finally got on at 1300 only to be told that they needed to close a door on the bottom of the plane and it would take another 1.5 hours, so we all got off. Waited for 1.5 hours, got back on, the plane taxied out 100 feet, then they said the door opened again, another 45 mins waiting for them to close it again. So, about 1600 we actually leave SeaTac, 12 hours after waking up.
• 11 hour flight to Yokota (northern) Japan. Lost 17 hrs to time change.
• 1830 Thursday- arrive Yokota Air Force Base. We get off the plane, go through immigration for 1 hr, sit for another 30 mins, then are told that because of the delay, the flight crew cannot safely fly the next let tonight.
• 2130 Thursday - Finally arrive at lodging at Yokota to spend the night (the airline paid for lodging and food).
• 0330 Friday - All the kids wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed. I wake up, Adina sleeps for a little longer.
• 0900 Friday - Bus pickup to go back to terminal.
• 1400 Friday - Plane leaves for Iwakuni Marine Corp Air Station.
• 1600 Friday - Arrive Iwakuni.
• 1700 Friday - Find out that our reservations for lodging in Iwakuni were canceled because we were space available and there weren't any rooms left.
• 1701 Friday - Decided to just drive home today.
• 2100 Friday - Arrived in Sasebo.
• 0400 Saturday - Kids all awake bright eyed and bushy tailed again. Dave wakes, Adina sleeps.
• And now it is 0900 Saturday.

So, it was a long trip, but the flight only cost $13 per person. We'll take a little of inconvenience for several thousand dollars in savings. It may take the kids a while longer to get adjusted to the time change again.

So, the trip was successful. We accomplished what we wanted to do and have found a practice. It is in Washougal, WA. It is 21 miles from mom and dads front door. It is a small town right on the Columbia River down East of Camas. It is the same place where Buffy's mom moved to recently. It has a small town, rural feeling to it, yet it is 15 mile from downtown Portland. The best of both worlds. It is growing well though with a lot of houses being built. I have signed the letter of intent to purchase the practice from Dr. Howard Davis who has been practicing there for 25 years and has a very loyal patient pool. He does just the kind of dentistry I am interested in and is very supportive in making me successful. The practice has a view out of the treatment rooms that is very relaxing, looks right out into the woods, nice big windows. The equipment is brand new and the practice has a very homey feel to it. It really is just what I have been looking for. I will be starting to work there in August and will purchase it 1 year from that date. We've got an excellent CPA/Lawyer team going through all the details and they agree it is an excellent opportunity.

Good to be home.

Dave