That lets out most of my co-workers but the seafarers and their families would probably know something.

We are getting set for a big party at Gab Gab this Friday afternoon. Those of us in management are throwing the party for all the hard workers who got us through the end of the fiscal year. One of the women came up with what she calls a fun-raiser (spelling correct) to help pay for this party and to put money forward for the Christmas party. She is selling votes for which three people in the office should get a pie in the face. At the party she will auction off the right to "deliver" the pies. The victims can buy their way out by matching the vote money. I'd like to say this is an ancient Chamorro ritual but she got it from the Air Force office she worked in before she joined ours. Still it makes for a fun mental picture, an ancient culture built on throwing pies at each other. Sure beat slings and arrows.

Yesterday at lunch the young officer who was tapped to organize the party brought a clipboard and deputized us all to help with the plkanning. He had planned on hot dogs and hamburgers and that was fine with the crew. But somehow they got to talking about previous new year parties and before we knew it we were lined up for ribs, chicken and steaks. Then the other jobs started to get passed out. I was tapped for producing another sin cake. Vince has to do his beans. Norma has to provide a huge bowl of red rice. I don't know who has to make the daigo. It was funny how this party for the workers became a party for and by the workers, and how cheerfully it made the transition. These are special people.

One of the seafarers, Gordon, is in the States right now learning to build concrete dome houses. It is a technique for low cost housing developed for third world countries. He wants to develop the idea for the islands. He thinks he could put in a ceiling at the 8 foot mark for the families to retreat to when the storm surge floods the villages. He wants to build them with arched doors so the water can flow through the "downstairs" while the family is safe "upstairs". It's quite a nice idea really and I hope he can pull it off.