I'm procrastinating again. I have so much schoolwork to do and four more days to do it. No classes on Wednesday because it is Our Lady of Kamarin day on the island. Nothing is open and there is a big procession around the cathedral.

Wakana and I have our own tradition. Schools are included in the processions and faculty must be there. In the past we helped control the kids until the walking started then we'd sneak off to the nearby Mexican restaurant for lunch. This year we can park in the restaurant's parking lot. I'll go in with a good book and stake out a table. I'll eat nachos and drink iced tea until she comes in to join me.

I haven't reported on animal happenings in the house lately. Shawna has settled in with all but Neko accepting her. Neko spends a lot of time being bitchy about both Mika and Shawna. She expresses her bitchiness by yowling, growling, spitting and batting at both of them. I would have thought she'd have learned to accept them both by now.

Mika and Shawna are starting to play together. Mika pounces on Shawna when the dog isn't looking. He sneaks up on her and bats at her ears too. Shawna will play jump in Mika's direction occasionally. It's very funny to see. Shawna is also getting tired of Neko's crap and jumps at her too. No playing there.

Mika has a new trick. He sits on the floor between my feet while I watch TV. If I pat on my chest he'll jump up and settle himself down for petting. He has a loud purr. I have to be careful though. Sometimes he wants to jump up to bite and scratch. I keep the water bottle close to hand.

He has another trick. When I sit on the toilet he climbs into the pants bunched around my ankles and settles himself down very happily. It's hard to pull up the pants with him in there.

Last night was our last real class in my Literature of the Pacific Islands course. We discussed the Kantan Chamorita. This is a form of entertainment that predated electronics. Groups of (usually) young people working at different tasks would sing a spontaneous four line stanza which could express a "wide range of emotions and experiences." These are done in a call and response format with two opposing groups. I will post the whole article in a separate thread under the music section.

Quote from Kantan Chamorrita: Traditional Chamorro Poetry, Past and Future by Laura Souder