BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.

Subject: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 08:14 AM

I guess it's time for a new thread. The old one is over five hundred posts long.

So, here we go.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 08:17 AM

The last thread is here.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 08:32 AM

A little about our home life.

We have mangoes growing. They are about the size of the end of my little finger but in a few months we will be eating the sweet fruit.

Wakana took me out to look at her calamansi bush. It will be a tree some day but not too soon. It has lots of flowers and will carry some fruit this year.

(calamansi - a small citrus fruit, similar to a lemon but tasting like neither a lemon nor a lime. Very good stuff. Makes great lemonade, uh, calamansi-ade.)

The tree was a wedding gift from me in honor of the island custom of the man giving his bride a breadfruit tree. We don't eat breadfruit but calamansi is another story.

Friday afternoon I was in the living room when I saw both cats acting very aggressive. There was a strange cat on the carport. This one has had numerous disputes with ours and has won every one of them. All cats were intensely aware of each others' presence... so much so that when I hissed that them they all leaped straight into the air and ran in all directions.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 12:37 PM

Thanks for the new thread, Brett. The old one was freezing my browser.
I too have had a strange cat in the neighborhood and lots of battles in and out of the house. This is the kitty who showed up one night for a house concert and refused to leave until he discovered that I got up at 5:45 for work every morning. They got along then but he was just a kitten - a neighbor's cat.
Now he can't understand why he is not welcome when he stops by for a visit. Actually comes to the back door and insists on coming in.
How is Wakana and her troubled/troubling student making out?
You would not believe the weather in Maine. Daffodils are opening and it is still March. It will go to 60 today and probably tomorrow. A very strange winter.

SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 06:46 PM

I see you are using the original name, too. How is it pronounced, please? The fruit you describe sound yummy!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 01:52 AM

Calamansi is real fine!

Guahan is pronounced Gwa'-hahn.

The kid is still out of school. Today she has parent-teacher conferences. I won't see her until 8:00 or so.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 01:12 AM

We have reached the Easter Break! I will not see the students again until April 6! All I have to do now is survive Parent-Teacher Conferences tomorrow.

O blessed vacation, bringer of relief and relaxation...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 02:51 AM

YeeHaw!!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 05:03 PM

Well, if you find yourselves missing your students you can always give a lecture to your chickens and kitties.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 10:39 PM

Charley, I get ignored enough in school Why would I want to be ignored by the animals as well?

I was going through GuamPedia looking for info to teach a few classes on Guam History when I found this video of a chant class.

The video is about 2/3 down the page but there is a hypertext line that will take you straight there.

GuamPedia seems to be a pretty good source of info. Check it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 10:21 PM

We're o n vacation... and working on the kitchen. Sigh. Yesterday I built a shelf to run around about 11" over the full length of the counter. The second coat of paint is drying now. I'll install it tomorrow. Wakana is painting the inside of the end cabinet. Once that dries I'll install more shelves there.

Later today I'll go up to Malojloj to the transfer station to see what I can dispose of there. Then starts the truckloads of junk out of here.

But this is supposed to be a vacation!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 11:43 PM

some folks pay big money to go on a working holiday!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 06:14 AM

Shelves are in place and stuff is stacking up on them. And now we have counter space. I don't know what we'll use for an excuse to go to a restaurant now.

This afternoon Wakana decided she wants to paint the other cabinet doors to match the new shelves. I'll have to take them down tomorrow. I expect a large part of my day will be spent putting together the living room set we just bought. We're too cheap to pay someone to deliver it and put it together.

Oh my God! I just realized it's Wednesday. Vacation is half over! I'm way behind on my napping.

Anybody want to buy a kitchen table? It's a good one but I do not deliver and you pay for shipping.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 08:37 AM

Brett-

Sounds like fun!

It's amazing how "new storage space" attracts stuff. Every time I create new shelves and cabinets, they fill up, and then begin spilling over to the countertop, not to mention the adjacent table, the chairs, and bury anything else that is incapable of motion. It's almost as if I share this living space with a worm hole leading directly to the Maine Mall!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 01:26 PM

When my construction business brother in law built their new house, he decided that my sister would have so many cabinets she could never complain about lack of it.

So all along the wall of a large dining room he built three-tiered sets of shelves and closed them in - outside a day care center, say, it's an amazing sight.

They are all full.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 02:52 AM

Yeah, the old saying is that clutter multiplies to fill the space available. I'm living proof of that.

The real tough job will be preparing the house for Wakana's parents. The are coming in June and we need to turn the store room into a bedroom. Gonna be a tough job.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 12:26 PM

Man the lifeboats, Brett! Open mouth; insert foot. Guam is flipping over:
http://www.ajc.com/news/rep-johnson-gaffe-guam-426715.html?imw=Y

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 07:13 AM

SINS -

A sample at YouTube certainly does not give the impression that the Rep's later argument that he was just "making a metaphor" has a lot of credibility.

The Admiral must be commended on keeping a straight face, at least.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 11:11 AM

Oh good, you've seen it. I was going to put in a link. My daughter sent it to me.

Just remember, these are the people who make the laws we have to follow.

I showed it to Wakana and commented that I wanted to live in Japan. She said they have similar people in Japan but maybe not so many in the government.

She couldn't believe it either.

I have known a lot of Navy officers and while I don't usually agree with their politics they are usually very well educated and on the ball. I imagine that admiral went out for a stiff drink after that.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 12:45 PM

He had a slight grin he was trying to keep under control. How do stupid people get elected?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:58 PM

They appeal to stupid people... and there are a lot of them!

Today is the last day of vacation. Tomorrow I have to drag myself out of bed and try to teach a group of kids who would really rather still be on vacation.

We got a lot of work done in the last week. Our kitchen has counter space, our kitchen table can be used for meals, our living room looks like a living room, and our bedroom is relatively uncluttered. I got a good start on my side of the office also though I still cannot see the desk.

But that is all over. I suppose today is a workday technically. I need to correct a bunch of papers that I intended to do a little at a time over the break. Road to Hell...

Last night we went to Hoa Mai for an end-of-vacation dinner. Halfway across the island we ran into a mess of flashing lights. We threaded our way through and went to eat. On the way home we were detoured off the road and up a steep hill, around and back down to the bottom. Wakana thought it might be an unexploded bomb. I thought it was a bad car wreck. According to the paper it was a collapsed culvert. That portion of the road will be closed for a week but the detour is still open.

That wouldn't be so bad except that the other route north is undergoing a very confused reconstruction. Traffic is heavy there too.

Note: This does not affect my morning commute. I work about a mile and a half from the house. Wakana has to go through the construction. Poor girl.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:20 PM

We have to fervently hope that Hank Johnson is (although "A representative"), not representative of either his district or the members of the House as a whole.   Geez!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Apr 10 - 10:06 AM

A couple of weeks ago I found a pretty neat book at Bestsellers. It is Monuments Men. It is the story of the men of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Group. It was the organization tasked with tracking down the art stolen by the Nazis during WWII. By the end of the war they'd located over a thousand caches. It took them six years to restore the art to its rightful owners, those that weren't dead.

It's quite a story.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 12:55 AM

It's like something out of a song, a sad song.

Two of my students are in love. I see them every day during the morning break sitting together, hands touching, quietly enjoying each other's company. It's cute.

I mentioned it in the teacher's lounge the other day and heard the rest of the story. It seems that their families are not very social and did not keep track of each other's children. Even though they are the same age he is her uncle.

These kids aren't difficult students. They are quiet and respectful. They are not great academically but they get by.

I feel bad for them.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 10:57 PM

I love it when I find something the kids react to. My sophomores are studying Japan now. I wanted to find some traditional music for them. I was running out of time. Below is what I put together.

I started them with a traditional performance in Step 1. Then I showed them a modern Shamisen competition as Step 2. Finally I ended with the Yoshido Brothers doing a music video as Step 3.

The kids really seemed to like it. I thought you might too.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 12:13 AM

Great fun, Brett. Question: What kind of plectrum do they use? Is it a hollow cylinder? Of what material? Is there an edge to it?

It was fun to watch those videos. The instruments are like nothing I have seen before.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 02:01 AM

I love shamisens and have often wondered where I could get one if my budget ever expands. All of the videos were great, but the Yoshida Bros. Rock! Awesome, thanks!

That is so sad about the two in love students.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 04:37 AM

Wow -- what Kat said. The Yoshida Brothers are amazing! Thank you for sharing them.

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 04:57 AM

The plectrum is very large and flat. I don't know what kind of material it is.

Before you wax too poetic over the shamisen you should know that the membrane over the body is made of cat skin. Wakana has assured me that is true. Whenever Neko is a bad cat (all too often) I just look at her and say, "Shamisen!"

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 10:44 AM

Tell them to move to Canada, Brett.
WIKIpedia:

Is it legal for an uncle to marry his niece?
In most common law jusridictions the answer is no; but in Canada (a common law country) you can marry your uncle You can also marry your niece, your nephew, your aunt and your uncle.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 11:01 AM

Ewwww! Thanks, I think, for telling me, Brett. That just became my very least favourite instrument. How awful. I'd have to lead a protest about it were I closer.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 08:31 AM

Kat, I'm afraid your protest would be 500 years too late. The instrument is in the tradition now and the best are only made with the same materials as the early versions. I think you can get them with modern man made materials but it would be like giving Eric Clapton a cheap Yamaha guitar. He could make it sing but it wouldn't be satisfactory.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 May 10 - 09:58 PM

We are winding down to the end of the school year. Last final exam is on May28 and check out day for teachers is June 1. It's almost time for summer vacation!

The kids are excited and getting harder to control. It is a time of looser teaching style, of barely being able to get their attention. Friday will be impossible. That is the day they get their yearbooks!

Sigh, June 2 cannot get here quickly enough.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 May 10 - 10:08 PM

And then you'll be FREE! What are your plans for the summer?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 May 10 - 03:16 AM

relax? renovate? rebuild?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 May 10 - 08:13 AM

Brett-

Good to hear from you again.

Spring here in Maine is a month ahead of schedule. We had our first fresh rhubarb pie weeks ago! Now the leaves are out and spring flowers are fading. The cats are bringing in a fresh crop of pray.

Roll & Go is gearing up for a tall ship's festival in Portsmouth for Memorial Day Weekend.

Cheerily,
Charley

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 May 10 - 06:40 AM

Uh, Charlie, the correct spelling is "prey". Pray is what my students and co-workers do a lot of.

As for summer we intend to relax for a day or two and then shift into high gear to get the house ready for Wakana's parents. That will be no mean feat.

Makoto and Mitsuko will be here for about two weeks at the end of June. We need to turn a storeroom full of crap into a comfortable bedroom... and do something with all that crap.

At the same time I will be trying to take a course at the university.

I already feel tired, or is that because we are in the last month of the school year?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 May 10 - 07:14 AM

de-clutter into the nearest self-storage facility?

sandra (who does not de-clutter all that much - tho 4 bags of stuff did go to a charity shop today, most of it was good stuff like books, vases & cane-ware that departing neighbours dumped around our yard!)

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:17 AM

I just learned that my uncle David has died. My poor mother was desperately trying to get to Seattle to be with him. She missed him by a few hours.

David was one of the legendary family members. He was dyslexic and a rough customer but also one of the funniest men I've ever known. He worked very hard at everything he did. He was a motorcycle racer, a fisherman out of Nantucket and Newburyport, a construction worker on Boston's Big Dig, and many other things besides.

Though he was dyslexic he read a lot, painfully working his way through books and magazines. He wrote poetry that showed the soul inside that rough exterior.

And for most of his life he was a very rough looking man. He was taller than me and had long hair and a big bushy beard. The only time I ever saw him dressed up was for his wedding in Nantucket.

The world is a sadder place without him.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:56 AM

Aw. I'm sorry, Naemanson. Especially for your mother. The relationship between brother and sister is a special one, in my experience.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 May 10 - 02:43 AM

what an amazing person to have in a family, how lucky you were.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 May 10 - 08:58 AM

Brett-

So sorry to hear that. Your uncle always sounded like an interesting person to meet and share stories with. You'll just have to write them up yourself to share with the next generation of your family.

Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 May 10 - 08:53 AM

Sounds like a character worth knowing, Brett. Taller than you? Good grief. He must have looked like Mad Mountain Dean.
I miss you and Wakana, Brett. Coming back for a visit anytime soon?
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 May 10 - 09:14 PM

My condolences, Brett. He sounds like a true character.

I am glad you continue to post your news, observations, etc. from round where you are. I never lose interest. Thanks.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 May 10 - 09:23 AM

Hey Brett. Did the Guam quarter ever come out? I haven't seen it.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 May 10 - 09:24 AM

nevermind...
http://www.statequarterguide.com/2009-guam-quarter/

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 May 10 - 06:09 AM

Yeah, we see a few of them. Look for the FSMI quarters too.

Last week I was walking through the class room when one kid reached back and slugged the kid behind her. I was already there so I touched her shoulder and said that we do not use violence in my room.

Within the hour I was facing a very angry father with the principal at my side.

I may not have a job in the fall.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 May 10 - 09:11 AM

Because you called her on it or because you touched her on the shoulder? I hope the principal was there as your advocate?

FSMI? I know I should know.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 May 10 - 09:57 AM

Brett,
That school sounds like a dumping ground for spoiled brats. Surely the girl who was punched can verify what actually happened.
If you don't have a job, F'em. Sorry. But give too much of yourself to deserve this crap.
Want me to come to Guam and deal with the little twit and her father?
Much love and respect.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 May 10 - 04:01 PM

FSMI=Federated States of Micronesian Islands

The kid who was slugged was also shocked that I had touched the girl's shoulder. The punch was not delivered in malice, more like horsing around but I do not allow that behavior in my classroom. I figure these kids are being raised as good Christians they should act like good Christians and not engage in violence.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 May 10 - 04:36 PM

Thanks, Brett.

So anything new on the outcome of this?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 May 10 - 07:43 AM

Not until tomorrow... need to get through that.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 May 10 - 07:54 AM

Sorry you have to go through this, Brett. I am thinking of you.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 May 10 - 09:20 AM

There's definitely a cultural issue at play here, above and beyond the usual parent, child, teacher, principal interaction. I'm a firm believer in the power of positive thought. There's reason too, but that's a little less reliable in a situation like this one.

We're all pulling for you.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 May 10 - 07:17 AM

Thanks for all that pulling but it was to no avail. I do not have a job at ND in the fall. I feel pretty bad about that.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 May 10 - 08:00 AM

It is OK, Brett. Deep breaths. If life has taught you nothing else it has proven that every step back leads to two steps forward. I feel for those children who have lost out on your care and guidance.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 May 10 - 08:01 AM

will you be able to get another job easily or will this incident follow you

sending hugs

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 May 10 - 08:42 AM

Brett-

Oh, bugger!

That kind of decision not easy to brush off. One is left with all too much to ponder.

Is there an appeals process? Any clue how the teenager involved feels at this juncture (not that you want to risk approaching her directly but maybe one of her friends is worth approaching)? Something doesn't fit in this puzzle.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 May 10 - 12:02 PM

There is something better for you, Brett. It's has always seemed the case for you. Something you enjoy more and which doesn't cause as much stress.

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 20 May 10 - 04:05 PM

Oh dear.

{{{Brett}}}

I can tell from your many posts on the subject that you are a terrific teacher; how that can be derailed by something I cannot even begin to see as wrong is beyond my comprehension. So sorry.

Someday, when you feel like answering this, I don't really understand how what you describe could have become such an issue. I don't believe it could have, here. So, are cultural mores and taboos significantly different in Guam than in the continental U.S.? Not that it's likely I will ever get to Guam, but others will -- so if there are very different behavioral expectations, can you share them with us?

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 May 10 - 10:17 PM

Wakana thinks it's racism. I'm white American, they are Chamorro. I can't go there. I refuse to believe it.

The reason given to me is that the principal doesn't want to go through that again, as if I cannot learn from my mistakes. They acknowledge that I am a good teacher and a dependable and helpful co-worker.

It is not the kid's fault. She reacted they way she was trained to react. I certainly will not confront the kid nor will I let her know anything about it. I will not burden her with any guilt on my behalf.

There is no appeals process. After all we work on 10 month contracts. All they did was tell me they would not offer me another contract.

As for my future, I don't know. I am planning to take some education courses at the university and qualify for my teaching certificate. Wakana will check on whether or not there is a job at her school.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 May 10 - 08:16 AM

Clairebear, I'm not sure how to answer that. We've all heard the phrase "generation gap" but it may be more than just a phrase. Every generation thinks the new generation is going to hell in a handbasket. That just represents our inability to see what is important to the young people and our inability to understand why our likes and dislikes do not appeal to them.

Families here are very close and there is a great deal of love and respect within those families. You rarely see any kid giving any lip to someone older than themselves. Corporal punishment within the family is pretty much unknown here. In fact, one of the things the kid's father said to me is that he had never touched his daughter (he meant in punishing her).

Also, today's kids are in constant communication with the world around them. Between their MySpace pages and YouTube and their cell phones and iPods they are never out of touch with their peers... until they get to school. We take them away and refuse to let them use them. We put them into a room, surrounded by their peers and do not let them interact. This applies to any kid in any First World nation.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 May 10 - 08:21 AM

By the way, one of the things that came out of a year of teaching history is Burnham's Basic Rules of History.

Rule 1: Things happen because someone wants more stuff.

Rule 2: People must be trained to be nice.

There are two exceptions to Rule 1. They are the Buddha and Jesus and someone could probably make an argument against the exceptions if they worked at it.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 22 May 10 - 04:28 PM

Thank you for your thoughtful response, Brett. I am not sure I understand, but then had I been in the room, old dinosaur that I am, I probably wouldn't get it either. You have my sympathy and my hopes that you will land on your feet -- quickly and painlessly.

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 May 10 - 09:23 PM

Not so sure about painlessly...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 May 10 - 06:53 AM

And then, in a bizarre turn of events we have the Great Talofofo Water Crisis. More accurately I should call it the Southern water crisis because it affects the southern part of the island.

Anyway, today the principal announced that the water company cannot ensure we will have decent water pressure at the school, which sits on a hill, and so we will be closing each day at 11:30 or thereabouts. This doesn't mean the faculty gets to go home but the students do. I can imagine how happy they are about that.

What's really odd is that we have plenty of pressure at our house and we live only a mile and a half away... on the same system.

Anyway, I now have plenty of time to pack up my stuff and get ready to move out of the room and the school. And to grade my finals.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 May 10 - 07:59 AM

Brett-

Maybe the Great Water God is on your side.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 May 10 - 11:11 AM

Ending at 11:30? What time do classes start?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 May 10 - 03:31 AM

Home room starts at 8:00 AM. End of the school day is supposed to be 2:40 PM.

But that's all moot now. Today was the last day of the final exams. Tomorrow and Tuesday will close out the school year. I spent the afternoon taking my classroom apart.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 27 May 10 - 06:17 AM

With a pry bar and a sledge hammer, I hope!
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 May 10 - 06:35 AM

I was wondering how he achieved what he did.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 May 10 - 08:00 AM

My truck is loaded with culch from my classroom. You see, I was using my own TV, DVD player, VCR, A/V cart, bookshelf, fiction and non-fiction books, desk, and sundry other items. Now that I have moved out the room looks rather empty. We all have to report to work on Tuesday to hand in our grades and check out. Then we get our last paycheck. I'm starting to feel happy that it's over.

All day long my co-workers have been coming up to me to commiserate. They say they will miss me and wonder why the school would be crazy enough to let me go. C'est la vie!

Tonight Wakana and I headed for Carmen's, a Mexican restaurant in Hagatna. At the light in Chalan Pago we saw a little kitten in the road. We looked at each other then I opened my door (Wakana was driving) and scooped the poor little thing up and out of danger. We made a quick stop at Hoa Mai for take out. While we waited I stepped into the convenience store and bought a can of catfood.

The little thing is so skinny. When I opened the can she practically inhaled the food. I let her eat a little then took it away from her. We came home and put her in the cat carrier. We gave her some more food and some water and a nice towel to sleep on.

She's not a pretty cat. Her face is too pointed and she's thin as a rail. She's white with enormous orange ears and an orange patch on her shoulders. Her voice sounds like a rusty hinge but she has a loud purr. We're calling her Mimi-chan. Mimi is Japanese for ears.

Tomorrow we'll take her to the vet for a check up and we'll list her on the radio's Pet Patrol program.

Mama Kitty and Neko are not happy with this turn of events. Mimi is in the cat carrier and hidden in the guest bedroom. Neko is at the door trying to get in. Mama is skittish.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 May 10 - 08:48 AM

one of my friends filled her living rooms with stuff from her classroom when she retired.

sandra

lucky little kitten that you & Wakana drove by at the right moment. poor house cats with their noses out of joint!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 May 10 - 01:03 PM

MiMi was the consumptive prostitute in La Boheme.
The first soprano to play the role was laughed off the stage. Sopranos in those days were more than a bit heavy. The audience didn't buy her consumption.
On that note, I see a chubby future for Miss MiMi. Good luck getting her settled in.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 May 10 - 04:40 PM

Yeah, to judge by Mama Kitty I'd think the last thing Mimi has to worry about is staying thin. If you want a good idea of what Mama looks like just see Puss in Boots in the new Shrek movie. We laughed ourselves silly over that one. Change the color to gray tiger and you've got Mama Kitty.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 May 10 - 05:23 PM

Holy cow, when you say move out of your schoolroom, you mean it! I had no idea you had to use so much of your own stuff, even a desk? My sisters always had a lot to bring home over the summer, but never to such extent. I am glad to hear you are done with it and looking forward to other "venues." At least your colleagues are supportive.

Maybe the new kitty will be prettier once she fattens up a bit.:-) Ya know, grow into the pointy chin, rounding it out a bit, have a waist that vies with the large ears as to which sticks out more, etc. Good luck with finding her a good home, unless of course, Mama Kitty takes her on and won't let you send her away, with Neko coming round. *meow*

Take care,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 May 10 - 12:17 AM

We just got home from the vet's. We gave her the new kitten package, check for parasites, wash, flea and tick treatment, overall health check, and distemper shot. They say she's too young for the shot and the distemper shot. We're to bring her back in a couple of weeks. They say she's about 5 weeks.

She looks and smells much better. All the way home she crawled all over me, perching on my shoulder, resting on my folded arms, crawling under my chin. I think she was looking for a teat under my beard. No luck. She fell asleep snuggled into my folded arms.

By the way, we missed our diagnosis of "her" gender. She's the other one. I guess "he" will be all right. He does require a name change though. We settled on Mika (Mee-kah). The first syllable indicates the third something or other. Mika is a popular non-gender-specific name in Japan.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 May 10 - 12:31 AM

Ah...that's so sweet...snuggling up and sleeping and really just a wee tyke at five weeks. Good on you both and I like the new name, too!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 May 10 - 03:42 AM

so you've adopted each other!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 May 10 - 09:43 AM

It's funny, we never once considered trying to find a home for him.

I uploaded some pictures of Mika into Facebook. If you send me your email address I will send you an invitation to see them.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 May 10 - 11:50 AM

Mika looks quite pleased to be a member of your pack.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 May 10 - 06:43 AM

Mika is doing well. Her ribs are disappearing under a layer of cat-flesh. She's still scrawny but regular feeding seems to agree with her. This evening she discovered the other cats' food dishes. Every time we let her go she made a beeline for the leftovers.

Tomorrow she is going back to the vet. Her right eye is swollen and weeping. She keeps rubbing it.

I just got an email from a friend in the canoe club. I haven't done anything with them for a while. Recently a couple of big canoes came in from Yap. One of our friends rode back with them. He posted the following video on YouTube.

Sailing Canoe

It shows them catching a mahi-mahi. There is a good picture of the helmsman. Notice how he uses his foot to keep the rudder in place. You will also notice how fast they seem to be going and how high the waves are. It's pretty good.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 31 May 10 - 11:19 AM

Wonderful video! I have friends who used to live in (or should that be on?) Yap...this makes me wish more than ever that I'd gone to visit them before they moved back to New Zealand.

Mika is going to be irresistible and is clearly devoted to you already. Lucky Mika -- landed on all four paws this time!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 31 May 10 - 12:42 PM

Brett, there are some recent photos of the Cook Islands vaka HERE:. (First story).

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 May 10 - 08:36 PM

Thanks for the Cook Islands connection. I sometimes think I'd like to move to one of the smaller more remote islands. Then I come to my senses.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:45 PM

Somebody save me! This woman is driving me the way a dog drives sheep (to paraphrase Garrison Keilor).

Our storeroom is now a guest bedroom. All the junk in that room has been moved on to the carport where I have been sorting through it for the last two days, between putting up blinds and assembling a sofa bed.

I barely have time to play with the kitten.

Of course, all this work is being done for good reason. Wakana's parents are coming to visit. They will be here for 16 days starting on June 16. That's only a few days away. We are really looking forward to their visit. I take it as a chance to pay them back for all their kindness to me when I was in Japan. It will be fun.

Mika is doing well. He's full of piss and vinegar. And he is fast, zipping from the couch to the open door faster than you can get through the door yourself. Earlier we caught him on a window sill trying to figure out how to get down on the outside. Good thing we are in a ranch style house. Total distance to the ground is about 3 1/2 feet.

The other two cats are still unhappy about Mika. Mama is doing nothing to accept him. In fact she is staying outdoors mostly and Wakana has to entice her to come in at night.

Neko, on the other hand, is making some progress. They have been nose to nose a couple of times. And Neko has discovered a talent for eating all the kitten's dry food when nobody is looking. Funny thing is, Neko won't finish off the food in her own dish.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:52 PM

By the way I have found some fun things in those boxes. I told my daughter the job is a combination museum visit, Christmas, and dump picking.

I found my script and blocking notes for Jesus Christ Superstar.

I found a number of old set lists for Roll & Go performances.

I found books I'd forgotten I owned.

I found books I'd borrowed and forgotten to return.

I found dust and soot and cobwebs, and other little insects.

And now my carport looks like someone emptied a library from a dump truck.

Sigh, I need more boxes...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 03:21 AM

Back from the vets... again!

This time it was Mama Kitty. Wakana found a lump on her abdomen. We ran her in and the doctor found an infection from a small wound hidden in the fur and fat. He told us in another couple of days it would have been very bad. He was surprised that Wakana had found it but he doesn't realize how many times a day she is caressing cats.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 08:39 AM

Three cheers for feline vigilance.

Save those old Roll & Go set lists, Brett. They are already worth their weight in gold, especially so if gold is wrapped in them. I'm not sure what they are worth if you use them for wrapping fish or for lining kitty litter trays.

Which reminds me, the new Roll & Go CD, titled Look Out!, sounds good, and we'll be ramping up for production copies.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 08:49 AM

It's (almost) done! My carport now looks like a carport. The books either reside in bookshelves or in boxes, separated, categorized, and waiting for the floor to ceiling bookshelves I will one day install in the guest room.

The 'rents arrive the day after tomorrow. Still a lot to do but we are getting closer. I am looking forward to the days that are actually spent like vacation days.

The other day Wakana and I headed west to Agat. To get there you use Cross Island Road. About a mile or so from the other end the road heads down hill giving you wonderful views of Apra Harbor and Agat Bay. Because you are at the top of a high hill the view out to sea is very far.

Our favorite part of the drive is that view and the best time to see it is sunset. (Remember, we are headed west?) That afternoon we noticed the sun going down behind the most dramatic cloudscape we have ever seen.

Way off in the distance was a column of cloud that ran very high. Closer was an oval of cloud that obscured the top of the column. The effect was of seeing a giant mushroom shaped cloud. The sun was behind it lighting the sky with a glorious palette of reds and pinks. At the base of the column other clouds jumbled as if the base really was a nuclear explosion. It was amazing and so scary that I kept waiting for the pressure wave to hit us.

And before you suggest I should have had a camera I want you to know that there was no way a hand held camera could have taken the whole shot. We are talking huge!

Mika is doing well. He likes to follow us outside. When we leave him indoors he plops himself by the security door and falls asleep waiting for us to come back inside. Like every kitten he is consumed with curiosity.

Mama and Neko are starting to accept him. Mama even touched noses with him a couple of times today. She also follows him around when he is outside as if to protect him. Very cool.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 09:32 PM

The in-laws are here and enjoy their visit very much. The only fly in the ointment is my back.

Remember how we moved a lot of boxes and did a lot of heavy work? Well, the word the doctor used is 'aggravated', as in "You seem to have aggravated the old injury to your back."

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away I managed to herniate one of the disks in my lower back. After physical therapy, and painkillers, and a lot of bed rest, it got better.

Now Wakana's parents are here and guess what has flared up again.

Sigh, there is no justice.

Since they are here for 16 days we are taking it slowly anyway. Yesterday we took them to Hao Mai for a late lunch, then to the War in the Pacific Museum to look at the rifle I donated, then to Pay-Less for groceries and finally a stop at On The Run, a local convenience store, for gas and drinks.

They loved Hao Mai and want to go back there. I don't know if I mentioned this but the family that runs the restaurant also work there. The husband is the cook and the wife manages the front end. Their kid, Daniel, runs around the restaurant while the mother tries to do her work and keep an eye on him. There others who make up the waitstaff and assistants in the kitchen. Koko, the wife, always greets us and comes over to the table to talk with us. Wakana really likes her. They have a corner of the restaurant, one table, where Daniel's toys are kept and there is a back room where they put him down for naps. A real family restaurant.

They were also very interested in the grocery store. Wakana's father wandered the aisles exclaiming at how expensive the items are. They were amazed at the number of things that are kept on the shelves.

Tomorrow we will go up to the park at Ritidian to take them on a walk into the jungle to see the cave art left by the ancient Chamorros. I expect we will have lunch at Gyoza-Yatai.

The day before they arrived Wakana had a medical appointment. While there the technician, who had come back late from lunch, kept talking about a new Brazilian BBQ restaurant, Churrasco. Since we needed lunch we went there.

OH MY GOD!

We sat down and the waitress explained 'the process' to us. First we order drinks. Then we went to the salad bar to get our salad and the side dishes we wanted. When we were ready we had to turn a card over, red side up, and that signaled that we wanted the meat portion of the meal.

The meat is delivered to your table in small portions. A waiter (they have a special title for him that I cannot recall) comes to your table with a couple of long skewers. He slides a couple of pieces off onto your meat plate. Then another comes by with different meat. He does the same. At some point a small plate of BBQ ribs appeared on the table. On one side of the table is a line of sauces for the meat.

Essentially it is an all-you-can-eat meat restaurant. And each piece was different. There was one skewer with chicken wings, then there were the beef medallions, and the roast beef that they sliced off the skewer. It was a gross display of gluttony.

And we ate it up.

Next day I was sick as a dog. Too much meat too soon.

Gotta go back there!

By the way, the price was $20.00 each and included water or tea. Dinnertime costs $34.00 each and has, according to the waitress, a greater variety of meats, including prime rib and you all-you-can-eat steak.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 11:30 PM

Brett-

That Brazilian BBQ restaurant definitely sounds like a dangerous place to be in.

Check out some of the Mystic photos on my Facebook page; there are more to come.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 10:56 PM

Wakana's parents seem to be enjoying themselves. Yesterday she said her parents took a nap during the day. That is the first time she's ever seen them doing so. I guess they are relaxing. They spend a lot of time watching the Japanese movie channel we get from Hawaii. They keep up with the news on NHK just like home.

Today they worked in the yard with Wakana. They like to see the grass all the same height even up near a wall or a tree so they've been doing a lot of fine trimming.

I went over to the university today to see about getting some advice on next semester. I got the usual runaround. When they hear me say I will go full time next semester they give me the speech on declaring a major. If I use the word 'certification' then they give me the speech on the certification office. Nobody seems to hear that I have a plan and I just want someone to look at it and tell me if it is any good.

I finally had to leave a message for the dean to call me back. I doubt he will ever see the message.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 11:25 PM

dealing with folks who can only write/speak pro-formas is difficult.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 10:12 PM

I got an email today from my mother telling me Dad has had tremendous nosebleeds, bad enough to send him to the ER. It sounds pretty scary.

I just realized I haven't provided a Mika update. He has gained a lot of weight, he's over two pounds now. He had an eye infection that we had to treat by squeezing a clear liquid onto his eyelid and eyeball. You'd think he would fight that but he stood up to it pretty well. Good cat.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 09:53 AM

Brett,
High blood pressure can cause severe nose bleeds. Is he in Maine Med?

There is a thread about a Japanese Hymn above. I thought Wakana might want to have a look.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 09:54 AM

Kami no hito (anon hymntune, Japanese?)

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 08:08 PM

Three more days to go in this visit and nerves are beginning to show. As they say, after three days both fish and house guests start to smell.

This is not to say we love them any less. It's just tiring to always have someone else in your house that you need to entertain.

Yesterday Wakana and I went out, just the two of us, and had a cup of coffee at Java Junction and went to the grocery store. In the coffee shop I saw a couple of my students and heard that they are doing well.

Today we are going on our circuit round the southern end of the island. We'll stop at Gef Pago for lunch and ride the boat out to Cocos Island. It will be my first trip out there. Then on to Bear Rock and around the scenic overlooks and home again.

Wakana's parents, especially her father, are people of routine. They like to have three meals a day. Wakana and I enjoy eating supper together but other than that we get our own meals when we feel like it. Three meals a day is rather wearing and it makes it seem as though we are always either planning a meal or preparing it. I feel like I've eaten more in these past two weeks than ever before.

The parents have made some interesting discoveries during their visit. For breakfast we've been eating bagels and mangoes with coffee. They'd never eaten bagels before. They love them. Mitsuko, Wakana's mother, has also discovered that she LOVES peanut butter. This morning she was eating blueberry bagels with peanut butter and mango on top. She eats enough to feed two women. And she just loves the mangoes. We have them for every meal and she eats the leftovers.

Mika is growing fast. In the morning we let him out on the carport and he charges around the place exploring and pouncing. He has a bad habit of biting so we have a couple of little spray bottles around the house to remind him not to do that. I think it's working.

This morning we thought we'd lost him but it turned out he was asleep behind a cabinet. Now he is locked in the bedroom where he will stay until we get home. He likes to sleep on Wakana's blanket which leaves folded on her pillow. It makes a soft bed for a kitten.

He is VERY good about the litter box. We've only had two accidents. But then Wakana is conscientious about keeping the box clean.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 09:01 PM

The parents have gone home. Now, for the first time in a month we czn get back to our regular lives... whatever that was.

Today is Independence Day. I used to enjoy that holiday but no longer. People do not understand it and especially here where Liberation Day eclipses it. I do not enjoy fireworks and have no inclination to go to the beach or BBQ or anything like that.

Regular lives... I wonder what that means? Last night I was up til 3:00 reading Fires of Azeroth by C. J. Cheryh. This morning I slept in until almost 9:00 and then went out to the carport for my morning exercises. Is that normal?

I have things to do this month. I need to clean and organize my side of the office. I need to repair the wooden chairs that have fallen apart. I need to build a cabinet to hold the water cooler and its bottles. And I have to contact SOMEONE at the college who will hear my questions and give me real answers.

I guess I know what I need to do. Now I need to do it.

Back home my father has relapsed. He needs regular blood transfusions. He is weak and uncomfortable. My mother is running ragged and having a difficult time dealing with his problems. It's more of an emotional difficulty than actual physical difficulty. I call once a week to check on them. Sometimes the calls are hard to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 01:28 PM

Even though there is great distance between you and your parents, the stress of knowing what they are going through and in not being able to be there may be causing some depression, Brett. It can be really hard to deal with, I know, as I went through some of that with my dad and mom, separately. So, go easy on yourself, a bit, eh?

This is the first 4th I can actually say I've been a bit excited about in years and years. I think it has to do with Morgan who is 6.5 now; it's fun to share with him, and also I feel better about our country, BUT I am appalled at how it is just another excuse for commercial interests to exploit the willing masses. All the big stores are open and, of course, are running ads exclaiming their hot 4th specials. It is disgusting and has nothing to do with the birth of our nation.

Just being at home and managing one's time can be a challenge, too. I make lists of both personal tasks and business things I want to get done during the day with plenty of breaks in between. I feel better about myself and "things" if I get at least a few of the things on the list done, each day, even if it's something small and simple.

I hope you get some answers from the college people and your schedule sounds perfectly "normal" from what I hear from other friends who are retired or nearing so.:-)

Be nice to yourself.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 03:10 PM

May I be the proxy for kat's 100th? (You're welcome!)

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 09:31 PM

Brett-

I hope the visit from the inlaws went well, as I expect it did.

There is always the wish for the "ordinary day."

It does sound as if this is a rough patch for your father but he's a tough old bird, and he certainly knows you are pulling for him. I'm less sure about how your mother is coping.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 11:23 PM

Mom is having some difficulty. Dad has never been a good patient and now is no different. He doesn't like eating anything she makes and he has no energy. He needs regular transfusions of blood and feels better after a transfusion but it doesn't last.

Here we have been planning a fence on the left side of the yard. The neighbor there really likes things with engines and has built a wall out of old jet skis and motorcycle frames. His little dogs come through there to get into the back yard though they are more careful about it since I bought the BB rifle. Still our cats have sometimes turned up with injuries that might be dog bites.

So we will use pallets to build a fence. If you plan it right and do a good job installing the pallets, and use uniform sizes and shapes, the fence doesn't look too bad. we've seen some pretty bad ones and some pretty good ones. I might even try to trim the ends of the boards to make it more decorative.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 05:10 PM

Brett-

Here's a portal to some black and white images of The Shipwreck Party of 1993: click here!

I'll be adding some color images next to the album.

See anyone you know?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 04:57 AM

Wakana will be undergoing a minor surgery. That's the good news. She needs a biopsy on her left breast. That's the bad news.

Of course, there are qualifiers. According to the doctor the group with the lowest incidence of breast cancer is Japanese women born and raised in Japan. And she is experiencing no discomfort.

The problem was detected on her annual mammogram. Note to all women... annually, ladies, annually! It doesn't matter how much they squish it between those plates.

Anyway, Wakana is seemingly unconcerned. Either it isn't an act or it is. If she needs treatment she will go back to Japan where she has very good insurance and medical know-how. We'll find out about two weeks after the biopsy which will be scheduled sometime in next month and we'll find out about that within the next ten working days. Sigh. In Japan she probably would already be scheduled for the surgery and ready to go.

Anyway, I think I am more afraid than she is.

Kitten update: Mika is growing fast. I cannot believe how big he is. Next week we'll take him in for neutering. He is getting along much better with Mama and Neko. They even play with him a little. It is hilarious to watch him beg for their attention. He gets in front of them and does little somersaults.

He also begs for food at the table like a dog. I put that down to his starving time before we found him. As we eat he climbs up on our laps and sticks his head up above the surface of the tray or table. I push him off but Wakana is too softhearted. She feeds him.

We have a couple of squirt bottles to try to teach him some manners. The other day Wakana and I were engaged in our usual mock argument on which one of us owns the cats. I had the squirt bottle in my hands when she made yet another spurious point. I pointed and pulled the trigger saying, "Bad woman! Bad!" Well, we have TWO squirt bottles... What happened next would have been poor training for children.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 07:56 PM

You have a special woman there, Brett.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 12:51 AM

I think so.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 09:01 AM

This morning we took Mika to the vet to have his balls chopped off. He is home now and full of piss and vinegar. We couldn't feed him before the operation and the vet told us not to give him much food through the rest of the day. He slept for some of the afternoon. This evening I heard him messing around with something. He had pulled a bag of cat treats out and was working hard at opening it up.

Tomorrow is Liberation Day. The island will be closed. There will be a huge parade running down through Hagatna. Families are already setting up little encampments along the parade route. BBQ will be the order of the day.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 09:17 AM

Go, Mika!

You've both been in my thoughts, Brett. Good health to you, both, and have fun during the holiday. It sounds kind of funny...the island will be closed.:-) (I know what you mean, though.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 11:13 PM

Today, July 29, is my 58th birthday and the end of Mika's 2nd month on the household.

The other cats are heartily sick of him pouncing, chasing, and following them. They wish he'd just settle for once and all and GROW UP, DAMMIT! Unfortunately for them he will be their hemorrhoid for some time to come.

He is very funny about the spray bottles. The attacks, bites, sees us reach for the bottle and retreats to the other end of the bed or couch and sits with his eyes half closed as if he expects to be sprayed. Then he puts on an air of complete innocence and pretends to go to sleep. But don't take your eyes off of him or he'll be on the move again.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 11:19 PM

Happy birthday, Brett! I hope you have a wonderful one.

And nice work, Mika; keep them guessing.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: mmm1a
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 11:32 PM

Happy Birthday
I enjoy reading your posts and learning about Guam.
             mmm1a

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 09:56 AM

Hello mmm1a. Welcome to the party, such as it is. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I have to say your moniker is one of the more cryptic ones I've ever seen.

For my birthday Wakana took me to Churrasco, a Brazilian BBQ restaurant. I couldn't tell what was Brazilian and what was not but it was all pretty good. For about $34 each it was basically all-you-can-eat meat restaurant.

They set small dishes on the table with fried banana and taro, black beans, some kind of green thing, and garlic mashed potatoes. There is a row of sauces on one side of the table. You get salad, bread, and cheeses at the center kiosk and when you are ready you turn over the little card next to your plate. That's when the meat starts to arrive.

Waiters come around to the tables delivering meat on long skewers. There are barbecued chicken thighs, sirloin steak, roast beef, chicken wrapped in bacon, boneless short ribs, barbecued pork ribs (delivered from a platter instead of a skewer), and more. At the end of the meal they bring out skewers with whole roasted pineapples.

I am so full!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 12:06 PM

Wow! That s a meal.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 04:38 AM

an excellent birthday celebration.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 08:35 AM

And now for something completely different.

This morning I took Wakana to the surgical center for her biopsy. They did a needle biopsy where the Radiology office used a mammogram to carefully insert a hooked needle (yes, it was a hooked needle) into the mass. They did this under local anesthetic. This was about 9:00 AM.

Her biopsy procedure wasn't scheduled until 12:30! They expected her to hang around with a long needle in her breast for 3 1/2 hours! It certainly didn't take that long for the local anesthetic to wear off.

Fortunately we only waited about an hour in the waiting room then they checked her in so she could wait on the gurney. The poor woman was in a lot of pain. The IV was in her right hand and was very painful. The needle was in her left breast and was also painful. She could barely move with pulling something.

And, of course, she hadn't had anything to eat or drink since 9:00 PM the night before. We finally got out of there at 3:30 and and headed straight to King's for a late lunch.

We got some Tylenol with codeine to help with the pain. She cannot bathe or remove the bandages for 48 hours. She is very restless.

We get the results a week from Monday.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 09:09 AM

Good lord. This procedure sounds barbaric.

Well, here's thoughts for a positive verdict.

Somewhere there should be an appropriate hell for such medical practitioners.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 10:08 AM

I'll second that

sending gentle hugs to Wakana

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 05:04 PM

That does sound intolerable. I think that every doctor and technician should be required to undergo every single and invasive procedure that pertains to their sex. (In other words, I don't think women doctors and techs should be required to have an exploratory prostate exam nor should men doctors and techs have to have their ovaries looked at.)

Chin up, Wakana and Brett. A very high proportion of breast masses are benign.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 08:20 AM

Something interesting happened today. I received a package. Inside was a series of buttons all with comments related to teaching literature such as:

- I pick my teeth with five-paragraph essays.

- Plagiarists die hungry and alone.

- I'm not to be trusted in a bookstore with a credit card.

- *heavy sigh*

And my personal favorite has a picture of Henry VIII saying "I am, I am". It took me a while to get that.

The return address indicates it's from from Grand Rapids, MI. There is a man's name followed by the word beanforest in parenthesis. It's postmarked July 28, the day before my birthday.

OK gang, 'fess up. Who is the mystery gift giver. Whoever you are thank you very much.

Wakana is doing much better. She keep messing with her incision. She says it itches but that is far better than last Sunday when the pain had her in tears.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 11:09 AM

Those are pretty funny, esp. the Henry VIII one!

Witch Hazel on a cotton ball can help alleviate the itching. Also a hair dryer on the coolest setting just gently blowing over the incision. Itching is actually a good sign of healing.:-) If all else fails, there is a Benadryl cream which works nicely.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 08:29 PM

As some of you may remember I have taken this year off to go back to school. I went over to the university yesterday to see what I can do about registering for classes. The admissions office told me that my initial registration with the school was as a graduate student so I had to work through that office. Another pro forma speech. (Note: I've been in that office many, many, times and this is the first time any of the clerks have mentioned the grad school office.)

It took a while to find the office. The school has no updated maps and my goal has moved since I first found it. I finally found it tucked into a corner of the School of Nursing. Once I got in to talk to the program coordinator I learned that the school has a new Masters level course, Master of Arts in Teaching. It's a 16 month program which ends up giving me a masters program. Unfortunately it doesn't start until October and it will run until May of 2012. I have only set aside this year for getting a certificate.

It is pretty intensive. It runs in three 8 week terms through the winter and 2 4 week terms next summer. The second year runs from August to May and is only three classes

I don't know what Wakana will say to that. She's willing to let me "lay back" this year but I doubt she'll agree to two years of poverty.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 08:44 PM

Oh, and one other thing. My truck heard me say we were going to be OK on my retirement and her salary. It promptly broke down. The clutch slave cylinder crapped out. So, another $1000+ out of the old bank account. Since they have to open up the clutch housing I'm having them replace the clutch and anything else that might break in there in the near future.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 08:46 PM

And one MORE thing. The giver of the gift of buttons was my own dear daughter, Kelli. Thank you, sweetheart.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 05:03 AM

White goods do things like that too - I've had 4 or 5 pays (my pension is paid fortnightly) when I've not had enough to live on in my everyday account without digging into & sometimes clearing out #2. Savings account, which is meant for times when I need big stuff, & what is worse, #3. Don't Touch account - meant to live up to it's name.

So this pay I had no bills, so thought I could do the usual - divide pay into the 3 accounts, buy the usual groceries & necessary stuff using no. 1. account, & start saving again, when me bloody freezer died!

So it's back to digging some money out of the tiny little Savings Account (which only had 1 fortnight of savings in it!) & maybe into the Don't Touch Account.

At least I have a 3rd account - some folks don't have savings.

Maybe you can go busking, Brett when you're not studying!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 09:25 AM

Brett-

Time to write that best-selling South Pacific thriller. Let's see if we can dream up some characters? How about a big friendly guy from the Maine wilderness who decides to paddle his canoe around the world?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 06:39 PM

and one starlit evening he grounds on a gravel bar. Disgusted with himself he decides to call it a night. He drags the canoe on shore and pulls his gear out of the hold and tosses it on the ground away from where he sees is a good place for a campfire.

He sets about building a fire; just as he flicks the matchhead on his thumbnail, he hears a female voice: Howdy, stranger.

And there stands a beautiful Japanese woman smiling at him, and him alone.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 08:46 PM

Ebbie-

Excellent work!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 07:56 AM

Ebbie, do you really think a beautiful Japanese woman would say "Howdy stranger"? (LOL from me AND Wakana)

Wakana started with student orientation at FD today. Today was for the upper classes. Monday will be for the freshmen. And, kind sweet lady that she is, she gave her students homework at the orientation class!

We went to a little coffeehouse for lunch today. It's near the college and FD. There was a woman in there playing piano. We complimented her playing and got to talking music. There is an electronic jukebox hanging on the wall. I think it downloads music or maybe has a huge hard drive. One of the workers commented (as a joke) that the piano player makes more money in her tip jar than the jukebox makes.

I mentioned that it was the fanciest jukebox I'd seen in a long time but that I didn't believe it could have anything I liked. The piano player asked what that might be and I told her about being a folk singer from Maine. She then launched into what she thought was folk music. She played One Tin Soldier, and some Gordon Lightfoot, and a couple of other things that I vaguely recognized. It was fun.

After that she got her white cane and one of the other workers led her out to the other room for lunch.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 10:15 AM

Bret, I thought a little incongruity was called for. I almost dressed her in buckskin. lol

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 02:38 AM

I know I said Wakana's biopsy results would be given to us a week from Monday. That's today. We went to the doctor's office only to find out that her appointment is on WEDNESDAY! Two more days to wait...

We stopped for coffee on the way home. There is a little coffee shop along Marine Corps Drive between Hagatna and Tamuning. It has a little covered deck with tables. You sit there next to the coconut palms and watch the light play on the water. Except today we were watching a line of thunder squalls rolling past. It was generally cloudy but to the south of us the sky was very dark. The scene had that stark quality it gets when the foreground is well lit and the background is dark. The surf was stark white and each boat's colors were picked out in detail though the boat was far off. The sea was steel gray and dark. Very dramatic.

There were two young women from Japan at one of the other tables. They were busily taking pictures of each other and watching the ocean. They were at the end of their trip and will be boarding a plane later today to fly home.

The coffee was good too.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 10:59 PM

Brett, you paint such beautiful pictures with your words. I can just *see* the ocean, sunshine, etc. AND, I love that you are so open to meeting new folks and really paying attention to who they are, etc. Your descriptions are really evocative. Thanks, again, and, yes, there is a book in here!

Still keeping you and Wakana in my thoughts and thanks-givings for the best possible outcome for the highest good of all concerned.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 05:43 AM

We just got home from the doctor's office (and a celebration dinner). Wakana got a clean bill of health. No Cancer!

We listened to the doctor, walked out of his office, and went down to the surgery suite where Wakana left a thank you message for the nurses. We left the building and it was while walking across the parking lot that she started to cry her relief.

I was on the verge of tears from the point where we left the doctor's office.

Dinner at Hoa Mai!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: maeve
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 06:10 AM

What wonderful news for both of you, Brett! I know you'll find special ways to celebrate.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 10:31 AM

yah!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 10:33 AM

Yes! That is wonderful news. Thanks for letting us know!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 11:13 AM

Wonderful!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 11:31 AM

Wonderful -- definitely calls for a celebration.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 04:44 PM

My favorite kind of news!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 05:55 PM

Last night Wakana said she felt strange because her co-workers were praying for her. She'd never had anyone do that before. I told her she had people around the WORLD praying for her what with the Mudcatters and my contacts on Facebook.

I think it really touched her.

There is something about her that doesn't come through when you talk to her. For 20+ years she worked in business in Tokyo. She started as a rookie in a big company. She worked her way into being a freelancer in market research. She was tough and professional.

But, as you know if you've met her, that isn't the Wakana we all know and love. The business suit didn't fit very well and she was never very happy in that life. She left it and went back to school where she thoroughly enjoyed herself in the classroom.

As she recounts her life it seems she was happiest in Tokyo when she got together with friends in a little restaurant owned by one of those friends. There, after hours, they would eat, talk, and watch formula one racing on TV. Once we met one of her former co-workers and the woman was astonished that Wakana was married. She could not fit that idea with her picture of Wakana from her Tokyo days.

This is one reason why she never had anyone concerned about her health before, why nobody had ever prayed for her. Also, in Japan nobody takes religion as seriously as the United Statesians do.

She really likes her life these days. Tokyo is far behind her.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 06:01 PM

As the kids say nowadays: Sweet!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: JudyB
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 09:28 PM

Great news - and hugs to you both!

~JudyB

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Aug 10 - 08:43 PM

Life is very strange these days. Wakana and I get up in the morning, she goes to work and I stay home. It feels wrong somehow. I feel like I should be going somewhere too.

Of course I'm getting things done here. I am cleaning up my side of the office. That's a major task. I am "keeping house" which means cleaning and making meals. It's just work that is not done elsewhere.

I don't work very hard at it. Consider that I am sitting in the half reconstructed ruins of the office typing this entry...

It just feels weird. Next week I start classes though and I get to spend part of each day on homework.........

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Aug 10 - 09:10 PM

Brett-

Maybe it's time to fit in a little music practice.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Aug 10 - 01:57 AM

Music... hmm, I remember something about that. Maybe it's past time to do that.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 06:47 PM

Wakana went to dinner with the rest of the Japanese Language Teachers Association (JaLTA) last night. They'd been invited to the Japanese consul's home. Apparently they made up quite a crowd.

Before she left Wakana assured me she wouldn't say much because there were a few people in the crowd she doesn't like. She planned on staying a short time and then coming home.

By 10:00 PM I decided to call her to make sure she was OK. She was. We ended our conversation with our usual "I love you." She sounded a little funny when she said it. I found out why when she came home.

There were only two topics of conversation last night. One, of course, was about teaching Japanese. The other had come up shortly before my phone call. The consul wanted to know about the use of the phrase "I love you." He didn't understand when it is used, under what circumstances, etc. He asked if you might just pick up the phone, shout "I love you." to the woman, and then hang up.

And so I have some homework. I am to write an explanation of the concept for the Japanese consul which Wakana will email to him. If you want to have some input on this please feel free but I will probably be done in another day or so.

Let's pause and think about this. The Japanese are having population problems. The number of working age Japanese is shrinking. Family size is small. Children grow up into adults who enjoy life too much to want to settle into having children. Women are still treated with less respect than men though that is changing.

And Japanese don't understand the phrase "I love you."!

The papers and magazines are full of explanations for why the Japanese population is shrinking but I believe it might just boil down to a lack of love in marriage.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 08:11 PM

Brett-

Are you sure you want to try to clarify this concept?

It's a lot less stressful to learn to play "West Indies Blues."

And it's about time you did!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Aug 10 - 10:38 AM

Oh, nothing to it! Easier than learning ton play the banjo!

Besides, Wakana is EXPECTING me to do this. Is that ominous music I hear?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Amos
Date: 20 Aug 10 - 11:21 AM

Bear in mind, Brett, that the Japanese do not have the heavy--not to say treacly--romantic tradition that was injected into ANglo Saxon culture in the late Middle Ages; their version of chivalry does not include raising the flower of womanhood to high pedestals. And unlike the American Indians and Anglo-Saxons, they do not seem to have a rich traditional mythology abouot dying for love.



I may be wrong about this, it is only an impression built on too little study. Ask Wakana!

BTW, I hope you and my esteemed SIL manage to get together while she's out there on her extended (and apparently overwhelmingly difficult) mission.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Aug 10 - 11:46 AM

This was interesting. Turned up when I searched google for "ancient romantic love in Japan:"

In Japanese Buddhism, ai (愛) is passionate caring love, and a fundamental desire. It can develop towards either selfishness or selflessness and enlightenment. Amae (甘え), a Japanese word meaning "indulgent dependence," is part of the child-rearing culture of Japan. Japanese mothers are expected to hug and indulge their children, and children are expected to reward their mothers by clinging and serving. Some sociologists have suggested that Japanese social interactions in later life are modeled on the mother-child amae.

Also, some interesting stuff in THIS BLOG.

And, from THIS SITE:

Note: While the Japanese language uses the same characters, this phrase would not be spoken - it's kind of taboo in Japan. A man might tell a woman that he likes her with the phrase "Watashi wa anata ga suki-desu" (I regarding you have liking). If your audience is Japanese, avoid this "I love you" phrase. If you need something special, we have a Japanese translator on call.

And, one more because I find this really interesting!:-)

from HERE:

the two most common words for love are ai （愛）and koi (恋). Generally speaking, most forms of non-romantic love are expressed using the former, while romantic love is expressed using the latter. "Parental love", for example, is oya no ai (親の愛), while "to be in love with" is koi suru (恋する). There are of course exceptions. The word aijin (愛人) means "lover" and implies an illicit, often extramarital relationship, whereas koibito (恋人) has the connotation of "boyfriend", "girlfriend", or "partner".

In everyday conversation, however, ai (愛) and koi (恋) are rarely used because to many Japanese people the word "ai" sounds either overly dramatic or desperate. Rather than using ai shiteiru (愛している) or koi shiteiru (恋している) to say "I love you", for example, most Japanese would say daisuki desu (大好きです), which means "I really like you" -- suki (好き) being the same word used to express preferences for food, music, etc., as in sushi ga suki desu (寿司が好きです), or "I like sushi." Rather than diluting the sentiment, however, the implied meaning of "love" is understood. (The phrase ai shiteiru (愛している), "I love you", however, tends to show up frequently in pop song love ballads.)

Good luck and have fun!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Aug 10 - 10:51 PM

One of the more interesting aspects of my relationship with Wakana is this concept of love. I have known western women who become concerned if the husband does not speak of love. This is apparently an alien concept in Japan.

Yet young couples come to Guam for wedding ceremonies. It is a huge industry here. They meet an agent in Japan, map out the whole thing, come to Guam where they are decked out in formal wedding clothing (western style), the woman receives a complete beauty package, there is a ceremony in a lovely chapel overlooking the sea, they travel in a limousine to the Hagatna cathedral where photos are taken (outside with the cathedral in the background), more photos at Two Lovers Point, etc. The whole thing is videotaped. There is a live singer in the chapel. It's all very special.

Yet, after it's all over they go back to Japan where he goes to work early in the morning and returns late at night reeking of booze and cigarette smoke, drops into bed, sleeps to do it all over again the next day. He gets her pregnant and she raises the children.

That's assuming they actually marry. In Japan there are "love hotels" which rent out rooms by the hour. We laugh about such places in the States but there it is an accepted place to meet with a lover. Some are themed hotels with special decor and service.

It looks to me on the outside as if they are skirting around the idea of love without actually getting involved. I know the number of happy LOOKING Japanese wives I've seen in Japan and here could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand. The happiest looking women I see here are those traveling with another woman (friend or relative).

I'm not sure what all this means. And none of it touches on what Wakana calls my 'homework' assignment. The Japanese consul only wants my interpretation of 'I love you'.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Aug 10 - 11:19 PM

Haven't checked in here in a while. I missed the cancer scare but will offer a prayer of thanks for Wakana's good health. Tell her I oove her.
And explain that to the consul
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Aug 10 - 11:19 PM

love that is.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Aug 10 - 01:58 AM

hahahha great timing for a typo.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 12:46 AM

Sydney is another destination for wedding photos. The Harbour & the Opera House are great backdrops. I often see a beautifully dressed couple shepherded by a stylist or interpreter, posing for a photographer around the harbour & other photogenic sites.

I heard somewhere it's because an overseas wedding is a lot less expensive than a traditional Japanese wedding.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Aug 10 - 12:32 AM

"I heard somewhere it's because an overseas wedding is a lot less expensive than a traditional Japanese wedding."

That could well be, Sandra. I've heard Wakana describe a Japanese wedding and it is something I would hate to be in. Gifts are distributed to the guests. There is a whole series of dresses and gowns for the bride which she changes throughout the ceremony and the reception. There are limousines and caterers and hall rental and lots of other little details that cost big bucks. It may well be that the price of a hotel and plane ticket and rental of the morning suit and gown are cheaper.

I am going to start a thread with an historical question but I might as well ask it here.

As part of my class on Pacific Island Literature I am reading an excerpt of A Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym by Edgar Allen Poe. It is Poe's only full length novel and, apparently it gets rather strange.

In the excerpt I am reading there is a point where two men make a rope out of their pocket handkerchiefs and use it to descend a cliff face. Poe describes at one point how one of the sailors tied the "rope" around his waste and then lowered himself several feet down the cliff! That is a hell of a POCKET handkerchief!

I have also learned, earlier and from a different source, that Chamorro women liked to get the handkerchiefs of sailors. The would tie them around their wastes to hide their nakedness.

So here is my question: How big was a pocket handkerchief in the first half of the 19th Century?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Aug 10 - 01:30 AM

Your discussing a typical Japanese wedding, Brett, forcefully brings home again the fact that you married a remarkable woman.

I have a friend in Juneau who, about 10 years ago, married a Japanese woman. They have a little girl and they want her to be bi-lingual. Hizuko has a condo in Tokyo so for several months at a time they travel to Japan where Lisa, the little girl, goes to school. It is working out very well. John loves it there- especially because there are so many trains there. There aren't any in Juneau. :) He says that sitting high up in Hizuko's condo he can watch the trains all day long.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Aug 10 - 04:50 AM

Google search on handkerchief + 19th century - there are lotsa' pretty pics on Google images, too tho. many are not 19th century!

I have a small collection of vintage & antique fashion items, including one large monogrammed silk handkerchief - maybe 20" x 20"

I don't have time tonight to look thru my extensive library of historic costume books. If you don't get any answers, I'll have a look tomorrow afternoon.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 10:30 AM

In my last class, last Monday, the professor mentioned the impact whalers had on the societies in the Pacific. I offered to bring in a recording of Rolling Down to Old Maui. She asked if I was going to sing it but I never could do that one off the top of my head.

Today I had to report I could not find my CD but I did print the song and I sang it for the class. I think it startled them! They certainly didn't expect what they got. The professor asked me to sing it again to open the next class.

I did a little research in the Mudcat database while I was there and came up with four versions of the song. I printed them all for her. I also did a search looking for other songs related to the islands. All I could find was Bright Fine Gold. I gave her those as well. She wants me to sing that one when we get to New Zealand.

This was on top of a very frustrating effort at the admissions office. One of the requirements for the Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Program is that the senior citizen has to be a resident of Guam for the previous five years. I took in a water dill from 2005, a letter from the Governor appointing me to the Guam Ethics Bureau, and pay stubs from Notre Dame high school for the last three years. One item for each year.

It wasn't good enough.

They want an item from the beginning, middle, and end of each year!

I was so mad I could have chewed 8 penny nails! I bought a house with less proof of residency and employment than they are asking. They enrolled me but I have to bring them their proof by Monday or I'll have to pay tuition for the class and I'll NEVER be able to pay for the master degree.

Have I mentioned how much I HATE bureaucracy?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 11:52 AM

That's pretty neat about the songs AND that you sang it for them. Talk about Mudcat Ambassador for the Pacific Rim!:-)

Paper-pushers lead such small lives..pity them, give them lots of papers to bury them a bit more and enjoy the results of jumping through their little hoops.LOL...seriously, I hope you can get all of that together without too much trouble.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 09:33 AM

Yesterday and today I gathered all my papers and sorted them into years and months. This afternoon I took a boxful to the admissions office and told them to pick out what they wanted.

It wasn't enough!

I had utility bills, letters from the governor, medical bills, pay stubs, W-2s, prescription receipts, etc. But they wanted my tax forms and/or a letter from the mayors' offices saying I have been on the island for at least five years. They suggested that a letter from a professor would help.

I left the office beyond angry. Yesterday I was angry. Today I was beyond angry. When I left the office I reflected on how good it was that I have no guns. I would be in prison tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 09:56 AM

Jobsworth, Jobsworth,
It's more than me job's worth,
I don't care, rain or snow,
Whatever you want the answer's NO,
I can keep you waiting for hours in the queue
And if you don't like it, you know what you can do.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 09:58 AM

Ugh!

We're never that rude to "outsiders" in Maine, and we can be rude!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 03:35 AM

apparently Jeremy Taylor added a word to the language when he wrote Jobsworth

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 09:35 AM

Sandra-

I hadn't a clue what "Jobsworth" meant when someone brought it up in a previous thread.

What a wonderful video of Jeremy Taylor and I love the comments below it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 10:05 AM

This morning I went to the mayor's office in Talofofo and got a paper verifying my residence in this village for the last two years. Then I went to the Santa Rita mayor's office and got one for the four years I lived there.

Last night Wakana called a professor we both know and we asked him to write a letter telling the admissions office that he'd known us to be residents for the last 7 years. I picked that letter up today. I also went to the tax office and asked for a printout of my tax filings for the time I was on Guam. That will be ready on Monday.

This afternoon I took all that to the admissions office. They took copies and gave me a receipt. They didn't say yes but then they didn't say no.

Monday will tell.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 05:55 AM

Wakana and I moved the Mercedes into the back yard. What a job! It's been way too long since I had to do that kind of thing.


I kept forgetting basic things. Turns out the car tows better when NOT in gear.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 11:33 PM

The job is done. I finally have proved to the college's satisfaction that I have been a resident since 2003! I am in the Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Program. My plans can go forward...

Of course that means a year of study and writing papers. Oh God! What have I done?

Gotta go work on my homework. We have been assigned an excerpt from a book on the "exotic" women of the Pacific. You'd THINK there would be no way to make such a book uninteresting but...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 02:22 AM

Brett, you can do it- read that dry, uninteresting material and write cogent, bright papers on it. Bet your papers will eventually get incorporated into the course.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 02:40 AM

congratulations on jumping thru all their hoops!

why would Amazon decide to advertise Dyanne Fry's "Hot Jams & Cold Showers ...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 04:57 PM

"that I have been a resident since 2003!"

So I guess you really have been out there that long. Kinda of neat when you think about it. So work on that guitar some more.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, re-packing for our UK tour

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 11:25 PM

Holy cow, you've been out there almost as long as we've been in Colorado. I didn't realise it'd been that long! Sure glad you got all the papers in order. Congrats and, I agree with Ebbie, I'll bet they use your papers and/or wind up offering you a teaching position. :-) Ya didn't really want to retire did ya?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 07:31 AM

Retire. What a lovely thought. Each day belonging to me and only me to do with what I want...

Wait a minute! That's what I'm doing now! With the exception of the homework thing but that really isn't that onerous.

One of my required reading books is titled Mariquita, It is the story of a young woman in Guam before and during the Japanese occupation. It is written in a very simplistic style. The author wasn't a professional writer. He was Mariquita's son and he wanted to tell her story. She didn't survive the war.

It is a good way to get a handle on the lifestyle out here. Though the story is over 60 years old the Chamorros still have a similar family centered way of life.

Another point I recently learned about Guam and the Chamorro. In the old pre-European days each village had a men's house. When boys reached adolescence they were taken to live in the men's house where they received the training they needed to be a man. This included nightly visits from a woman of the village.

When the Europeans heard of this they made the very Western assumption that the woman was a prostitute. However, they didn't understand the culture. In traditional Chamorro society the wealth of the family flowed through the woman's side of the family. When two people married the woman went to live in the man's home and her portion of the wealth went with her. Her sons would go to live in her fathers house. She could, if she so desired, take the wealth and return to her father's home if the man didn't live up to her expectations. So, the visits to the men's house were to teach the young man how to treat a woman properly.

If the woman became pregnant then the young man was seen to be a prize to marry because he was virile.

Stop and think about that. In the West a barren marriage was blamed on the woman. In ancient Chamorro society it was the other way around.

Very healthy life style in my humble opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 07:47 AM

By the way, I am beginning to despair of ever teaching Mika to leave the other cats alone. We must have sprayed gallons of water on him. He runs away, licks it off, and comes back for more.

I just caught him trying to climb behind the printer. Couldn't reach him so I hit him with the water. He calmly backed out jumped down onto Wakana's chair, and licked it off. When he finished he climbed back up on to the desk and started to annoy Mama Kitty.

Sigh. It's like dealing with the teens we deal with in school. No matter how much you correct them they just shrug it off and go on with the original behavior.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 08:04 PM

I had a bit of a scare yesterday. I was getting ready to file my taxes (yes, I got an extension last April) and couldn't replicate the number I used for the estimate I filed with the extension request. I kept coming up with me owing over $2,000! It made me feel feel physically ill.

I left the job and did something else for a while and came back to it. I finally figured out my error and now they owe me about $150.

Whew!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 02:38 AM

whew indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 03:24 AM

Here's to math!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, away in the UK

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 10:19 PM

Charley, I'm glad you'll be on a canal boat. You will see why I enjoyed it so much when I tried it in 2005.

Yesterday we went to Gyoza Yatai for a late lunch. A family from Japan took the table next to ours. Since I enjoy talking to people I asked them where they were from. The whole family turned to the daughter who, it turned out, speaks very good English. They were from Yokohama.

Wakana joined the conversation in Japanese. They were excited to be able to speak to a resident of Guam. Wakana's voice gained excitement. Theirs did too. Wakana got more intrigued and excited.

When she finally included me she explained that the girl's mother was from Otawara City, the town next to Wakana's home town. The mother attended Wakana's high school. And she graduated the same year Wakana did!

Unfortunately the mother does not like to fly so she did not join the family on the trip but they all had a great time exchanging memories of Nishinasuno.

When Frank, the manager of the restaurant, came by I explained what was going on. He thought it was "spooky".

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 08:27 AM

That was a nice weekend. We had a pretty good time. This morning we went over to Asan Beach Park where I rode the circuit on my bike and Wakana walked a little way.

I had an equipment malfunction when my shoelace wound itself around the shaft of the pedal. It tore out the side of my shoe and hurt. I had to stop and rearrange things.

Afterward we went to Shirley's for breakfast and then home.

Today I finished my first read through of our required reading for class. The author is trying to explain the impact of colonization on literature of various former British colonies. He believes that post-colonial literature is influenced by...

No, I don't need to subject you to the horror I've had to go through.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 08:19 AM

Went to a football game with Wakana tonight. Those who know me will be shocked but it does not mark a change in interests. She promised some of her students she would be there and so we were.

Saw some of my old students and got the latest news from Notre Dame... mostly bad news. Still the kids remembered me and most of them said they missed me. One even asked for a hug.

We walked two circuits of the running track around the field. It was cool but humid with a light breeze. Off in the darkness lightning occasionally lit up the otherwise invisible clouds. It was too far off to hear the thunder but the light show was incredible.

Wakana's school, Father Duenas, was playing George Washington High School's Geckos. It was a home game for the Friars but FD doesn't have an athletic field so they had to have their home game on GW's field, a home game on the opposing team's field.

The mood was festive with loads of teens wandering the grounds, ignoring the game but focusing on each other. Parents and devotees watched the game and hooted and yelled for each play.

I filed my 2009 taxes this week. Yeah, yeah, I know. April 15 was a long time ago. But I filed an extension because I didn't have all the paperwork I needed. So, I went in with the forms and the clerk suggested I file a Schedule M to increase my return. It made quite a difference. Thanks to Tax & Rev!

Of course I won't see that refund until fall of 2011, if then. Our taxes are filed here and forwarded to Washington. They process them and send the money back to Guam to run the territory. None of my taxes are used to buy bullets and bombs.

The problem with that system is that refunds take a long time. And they are paid out in the order that the taxes are filled. If you file in January you get your refund first. If you wait till the last moment, as many people do, then you get yours last, IF THERE IS ANY MONEY LEFT FOR YOU. Sometimes the island runs out of refund money and has to delay payment for another year!

Most people calculate their taxes through the year to keep refunds to a minimum or to pay a minimal amount.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 08:26 AM

A few weeks ago I changed our account with the cable TV company. I wanted to get BBC America and we decided to go with the cable companies phone service. The change removed a $25.00 bill and increased my cable bill by only $1.00.

As a result I now get to watch Doctor Who.

Bear in mind that I watched the first episodes of the Doctor in 1963! I saw it on Canadian TV in Maine. I have been fascinated with the whole concept since then.

Now I can watch him again! The boy is happy!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 09:44 AM

we finally got TV in 1966, 10 years after it arrived in Australia, when I was 14 & I watched Dr Who as reguarly as possible in the next 10 years till I moved out. I loved it.

I didn't see any TV until my brother went overseas 6 months later when I had custody of his TV & other furniture until he got back 2 years later. Alas, the TV died a few months after he left - I well remember trying to watch Tom Baker's Doctor regenerating on a TV with a picture that rolled & produced duplicate people - 2 unconscious Drs being carried by 4 companions!! And it wasn't a BBC special effect.

Sadly I turned it off & have never seen another episode (I've never owned a TV) but I read all the books I can get my hands on & buy the commemorative books - 30th Anniversary, 40th Anniversary ...

Maybe I can investigate on-line options ...

sandra (another Dr Who fan)

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 03:14 PM

My kids were into Dr. Who in the early 80s, but I didn't care for it at the time, or more like, didn't have the time. Since, I've grown to love it and really look forward to it, though I haven't seen it on SciFi recently and our cable basic expanded does not offer BBC-America which we really miss!

Brett, I did the same thing with our taxes. Pulled out the paperwork, yesterday, looked at it and put it back in the file. I'll do it this weekend when Rog is here to double check my calculations. I'll have to see what a Schedule M is...we had to pay this year for the first time in our 31 years together! That's very interesting the way you receive refunds. I like the idea of none of the money going for violent things, but wow, that's a long time to wait for a refund and/or not get it!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 02:29 AM

Yeah, Kat, there are downsides to practically everything. I don't support the military spending but I have to wait for the refund. Not a big deal in my book.

I just learned through a message on Facebook that Dad is in the hospital with pneumonia. I guess things are pretty tense. Our weekly phone call is tomorrow morning so I'll learn more then. Can't call now, it's about 2:35 AM.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 12:28 AM

Today I started editing my posts in a first step to trying to create some form of story. I got to November 20, 2004, and started crying. That was Megan's death.

I am amazed at how full my first year and a half were on Guam. I have been going through it all, the burglaries, the fire, the canoe, meeting Wakana, the trip to Australia and then to Palau and everything else.

Through it all you were there. You laughed with me and encouraged me when times were bad. You "held" me when I needed it.

These words seem inadequate for what I feel but...

Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 01:09 AM

sniff

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 01:33 AM

& thankyou for sharing your life with us

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 12:48 PM

It's been our pleasure, Brett. Thank you!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 05:39 PM

It has indeed been a privilege, and may I say I hope it's a privilege we continue to have for a long time to come. My window into life on Guam provides one of my very favorite views.

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 08:46 AM

There has been a dog hanging around Wakana's school for a long time. Shawna in a Labrador mix, very skinny but very friendly. She belongs to one of the teachers.

Wakana loves that dog. She's always taking it treats, shares her lunch with her, walks with her and pets her all the time. She bought a brush so she could brush Shawna's coat. Occasionally she and another teacher would get together after school to give the dog a bath. Whenever the owner traveled he would get Wakana to go over to the school to feed her.

Apparently Shawna started barking at the students today. So, the owner, bundled the dog off to Guam's Animals in Need (GAIN). He took Wakana by surprise. All she knew was that Shawna was no longer at the school. She came home crying that he had killed the dog. She didn't know that GAIN doesn't euthanize dogs or cats unless it's absolutely necessary.

Soooo, tomorrow I have to call GAIN to find out what has happened to Shawna. On Friday afternoon we will go up to GAIN and bring Shawna home. We will have a dog. Sigh.

To be honest I have been expecting her to bring Shawna home for a long time.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 08:50 AM

did you run this past the cats?

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 08:57 AM

As long as I am reporting on animals I might as well give you a cat update.

Mama Kitty and Neko are having problems with Mika. When Mika gets fired up he races around the house and attacks them. This causes no end of noise and squabbles. On Saturday we went to see the vet and ask for advice. She gave us some topical Valium for Mika. It's in a syringe with no needle. We squeeze out some and rub it into the thin patch of hair in front of his ears. It seems to work pretty well.

We also stepped into their pet shop to get some cat food. There we talked with the Australian with the most amazing name. Brett is a professional animal trainer. He told us to get a short length of chain and throw it down on the ground near the cats when they start to get into it. He says it is the equivalent of saying, in cattish, that you are the dominant animal in the room and they WILL listen to you!

We have, of course, blamed it all on Mika. Then today, while lying down reading Potiki Mika climbed on to the bed and lay down to sleep alongside. After about half an hour Mama Kitty climbed up on to the bed and stood looking at Mika. Then she attacked him!

Poor Mika. He isn't innocent but then he doesn't bear the full weight of guilt either.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 10:46 AM

That's the way my boyz are, Brett. I never can tell if it's one or the other attacking the other! A soda can with 2-3 pennies in it, with the opening taped over works well, too. Just rattle it or throw it down at them and it interrupts their fighting. It cannot hurt them and gets their attention instantly. I learned that from a book by a vet.

Shawna is going to be SO happy! Good for you, both!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 01:20 AM

Maybe the cats will decide they need to band together against the invasion of a new species?

Kind of like Mother Earth. Her children squabble all the time but if an alien culture showed up on their doorstep they MIGHT prefer the divvil they know.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 06:37 AM

After work we drove up to GAIN. It's a considerable drive to get from Talofofo to Yigo, especially during the rush minute. We got up there and they told us that we needed to bring a receipt showing we had pre-paid for a rabies shot. They will not release the dog until we do. So we headed for home without Shawna.

However, we did get to see her and we confirmed that was the correct dog. Wakana cried a little at seeing her and then sobbed uncontrollably in the car. She says they were tears of relief at seeing Shawna again.

Shawna has been locked up for four days now and looks much better than she did back at the school. Four days of regular food and a bath really make a difference.

On the way home we stopped to buy a new collar, a leash, a dog run, and a food bowl and a water bowl. We are almost ready for her.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 01:06 PM

And so begins a new phase in your lives! Good for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 02:40 AM

Brett-

Always one more receipt!

I hope they've established a museum of them.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, still resident in York, UK

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 08:13 AM

We are, finally and irrevocably, the owners of a mid-sized, older, black, mixed breed dog named Shawna. Her real name is Chomia but we decided she answers to Shawna and that should be her name.

We drove up to Yigo, a considerable distance considering we live on a small island. We ran into heavy traffic which indicated either an accident or some form of construction ahead so we chose an alternate route.

When we got to GAIN, our second visit in two days, they told us we had to fill out an application and come back. I looked at the woman and asked her if she really meant to make us travel from Talofofo to Yigo a third time. We filled out the form and got the dog.

She was good in the car. She stood, panting her nervousness, all the way home. She whined and wanted to get out but we took too long to get home and she crapped on the towel we had spread under her.

Once we got home we gave her a very soapy bath. She stood still for it, very little movement, and let us soak her, soap her, and rinse her. We did all this on the pavement out of sight of the carport.

The cats, as they usually do, met us in the carport but they disappeared when they saw the dog. Mika was the first to see our new family member. She arched her back so high that I thought she'd break it. She made herself a true horseshoe shape, a cartoon character cat from the 1930s.

Mama Kitty fluffed up all her fur trying to be bigger than she is. Her tail must have been two inches across! It's been a long time since she moved so fast.

Neko moved even faster. I'm not sure her feet actually touched the floor. The hissing sound might have been her vocalization but it might also have been the sound of her movement through the air.

Inside Shawna investigated the house very carefully. Mika had hidden in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. Mama and Neko were under the bed. Shawna paid very little attention to them. She looked around staying close to either me or Wakana. We settled on the couch to give her the idea that she could settle too.

Mika snuck out of the cabinet at one point and studied the dog intently while keeping her distance. Later Shawna went into the bedroom. Neko was on the bookcases and Mama was on the dresser. Shawna ignored them completely and they only watched her very closely. When Wakana and I settled in the office Shawna joined us and lay on the floor, keeping us company.

In a few minutes I will take Shawna out for one last visit to the yard then I will go to bed. Our first day is over.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 09:25 AM

As the sun sets and the twilight deepens, the curtain falls on the happy little family...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 10:02 AM

I believe early sailors called Guahan the Ladrones or Islands of Thieves. Perhaps now it's become the Island of Bureaucrats!

Rts

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 10:49 AM

well said, Ebbie - & beautifully written, Brett

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 12:48 AM

Ah...what a lovely day.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 08:01 AM

This morning I took Shawna to the vet for de-parasitizing. They gave her a thorough checkup. I went back in the afternoon to pick her up but she wasn't ready yet.

The vet says she is between 5 and 7 years old, she has worms in her bowel, she has probably been spayed, and, so far, her heart sounds normal.

She has heart-worm.

They can treat the heart-worm but it will cost us $400! As I keep telling people I have no job. My retirement and Wakana's two paychecks are our only sources of income.

When Wakana and I finally caught up with each other this evening I told her all about it. She knows all about heart-worm. Her beagle died of it 25 years ago and the memory is still painful. I had known of her beagle and that it had died but I thought it had been hit by a car.

So she is determined to save this dog. Tomorrow I will call the vet and get them started on the treatments. Shawna will be in the hospital for a week, they will give her a set of poisonous injections to kill off the worms and then she will have to recover. When we get her back she should be a brand new (very expensive) dog with absolutely no parasites in her at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 10:28 AM

Lucky dog! Will the treatments cure the heartworm completely? It's really, really nice/great of you, both, to take care of her so well.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 07:49 PM

Come across this?

snake control in Guam

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 11:35 AM

Brett-

Best of luck with the heart worm treatment for Shawna. What a dreadful disease.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 04:09 PM

From the article Jack Campin linked to above:

"Dead mice packed with acetaminophen, strapped to pieces of cardboard and dropped from helicopters may help control one of the big headaches for the Pacific island of Guam – the brown tree snake."

Actually the snakes won't eat anything they don't kill so the mice are alive when dropped from the helicopter. The cardboard tabs snag the tree limbs so they stay in the trees where the snakes can eat them.

The best way to deal with the snakes is to allow Chinese market hunters to trap them for export to China. That has been requested many times by various Chinese but no permission has been forthcoming from the USA.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 10:03 PM

I have made a bit of a mistake. A long time ago I had a pickup and a dog that loved to ride in the back. I ran a chain across behind the cab and attached a short leash so she could just get her head around the cab and into the wind. She loved it. All I had to do was look at her and say, "Shauna, (head comes up) would you (pause for effect/dog gets up quivering with anticipation) like to (another pause) go for a ride in the truck? The last bit was delivered at a rapid pace. About half way through it she would run for the door and look at me as if to say, "Why do you always move so slowly?"

So, fast forward to 2010. I have a dog. Her name coincidentally is the same. I have a pickup. I have all the elements. I bought some chain.

What could go wrong? Shawna loves to ride in the truck. Whenever we take her out for a nature call she heads for the truck first. She begs to be put inside.

Well, I no longer live in a so-called temperate climate. These are the tropics with a tropical heat and tropical sunshine. The back of the pickup has a black Rhino lining. I burned myself on it when I installed the chain. The dog is black.

If I put her back there under the sunshine I could be prosecuted by the ASPCA if we had one on Guam. Sigh. Maybe after dark...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 11:58 PM

Oh, and the cats. They are still very unhappy about having the dog in the house. We evolved a plan for dealing with the situation. We bring them in around 8:00 PM which is earlier than we usually shut up for the night. We attach Shawna to the love seat with the leash. Wakana takes the cats back into the bedroom and office where she communes with them. I keep Shawna company in the living room. Eventually everyone settles down in the bedroom and I can disconnect Shawna from the leash.

Mika is the only one who doesn't completely avoid the dog. He comes out of the back rooms and plays in and explores the living room. Sometimes he will even get close to Shawna. Last night he lay down on the love seat while Shawna lay right there on the floor.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Sep 10 - 10:59 AM

I love little Mika!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Sep 10 - 11:19 PM

Ebbie, give me your address and he is yours! (Just kidding)

Mika should have been named 'hemorrhoid'. The Japanese word for hemorrhoid is Jee so it would have worked.

Yesterday while I was on the computer he crossed the keyboard and crawled in under the scanner. Then he attacked my hand every time I moved the mouse. After that he climbed up onto the scanner and jumped to the top of the shelves next to my chair.

The shelves are a snap together wire rack with the wires making open 3.5 CM squares. There's really nothing to stand on up there but that didn't stop him from trying. Next thing I know he was lying down with significant portions of him pressing down through the squares.

Then he began playing with my pet rock. The rock was a gift from my daughter who found it, painted it, and gave it to me when she was five. Mika was working on knocking it to the floor. Sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Sep 10 - 12:22 AM

Videos, Brett. We want videos of that darlin'!! LOL just at your description of the little clown boy. He sounds like a doll!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 05:30 PM

This morning I sat down to read my assignment. The class is literature of the Pacific islands. The assignment is a series of poems and an essay written on the subject of "the maternal." Here in the islands mothers have a special place. My professor calls it the "culture of Nana."

Mothers in the islands do not fit our stereotype for mothers. Mothers here are strong and harsh. The professor says they are mean!

Anyway, I was reading the poems and trying to note the imagery etc. of the pieces when my pen strayed off on its own. What follows is what followed:

Yes! I am Haole.
I was not born of an island mother.
My father was not an island man,
But he did paddle his own canoe.

My white skin and foreign accent,
Mark me as haole,
Just like the rest of them.
But you cannot know,
I paddle my own canoe.

Your land is gone.
Taken by white hands
To be worked by brown hands.
Your religion is gone,
Replaced by a God,
Forced on your fathers.
Your canoes are gone,
Burned by Europeans
On the white sands of home.
Your blood carries a white stain.
Your land is pale and sickly.
White is not purity.
White is guilt.
Your fathers could not paddle their own canoes.

Today I hear your voices.
I am burned by the fire behind your eyes.
The fire kindled by Europeans who lived
before my father was born.

But I am not them.
I paddle my own canoe
There is fire behind my eyes too.
If only you could see it.

Your fire is dampened
by the comfort of modern life.
Your mothers never needed AirCon.
Your fathers never needed motors.
But you do.

My fire is dampened too,
not by comfort but by emotion.
Dampened by tears of apology.
for what my European fathers
did to your island fathers.

But you and I
Are not those people.
We paddle our own canoes.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 05:14 AM

very powerful, Brett

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 08:06 AM

Excellent, Brett!

Charley Noble, up the Kennebec without a paddle!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 09:12 PM

Guess I lost my cookie as well!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 10:20 PM

Brilliant and powerful, Brett, and applicable to so many places of similar history. Thank you for posting it.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 09:36 AM

Thank you for your kind thoughts on my poem. I never cared much for poetry but I tend to write poetry when I am going through deep emotional trauma. All the reading of thoughts of post colonial writers along with things I have heard and experienced since I came to the islands along with all I have learned about the extermination of the indigenous peoples in the American continents; all of that has my head spinning.

Before I thought things through I sent it to my professor. Still waiting to hear from her.

A while ago I signed up to get BBC America added to our cable subscription. I did it so I could watch Doctor Who and I have been totally enjoying it. However...

There is a program that comes on after the Doctor that has caught my attention. It is about cars of all things. When I first saw it I thought it was mindless drivel about modern European cars. It is so much more than that.

Top Gear is first and foremost a hilarious comedy dressed up as a serious look at modern cars. They do feature semi-serious reviews of cars but they also have challenges and unusual races. The play soccer using cars. They have one segment where they put a celebrity in a "reasonable priced" car. He or she runs a series of laps on their race track and the best time is posted on the board through the season. Celebrities vie with one another to make the fastest runs.

They have raced a car against the Japanese public transportation system; against a letter carried by the Royal Mail from the English Channel to the Orkney Islands; they raced against a high speed boat along the coast of France; they raced a car against a private airplane; And they raced a car, a speedboat, a bicycle, and public transportation across rush hour London.

Challenges have included driving to the North Pole in a race against a team of dogs; driving used two wheel drive cars across the spine of Africa; driving used super-cars (purchased for less than 10,000 pounds) from one part of England to another; converting regular road vehicles into amphibious vehicles; building their own stretch limos; and trying to outrun a British Army tank in an SUV.

It's really funny. But it also has me thinking about something I've started to call the myth of the USA. I need to think some more and do some research but the gist of the matter is that we've convinced ourselves of our own superiority over the other nations of the world without actually knowing if our beliefs are founded in anything real. I'm starting to think we might be wrong...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 08:55 PM

I just got an email from the professor about my poem. She likes it. She wants me to read it when WeAreGuahan comes to talk to the school. WeAreGuahan is a group dedicated to self-determination for Guam. They say they are not an activist group but they do have activists in the group.

There are many issues on the island that constitute friction between the Federal government and Guam. On the surface all is well but...

As I have mentioned before the Japanese want the Marines gone from their main islands. They want it so bad that they are paying billions of dollars to cover the move. And where are they going? Guam.

Naturally some of the residents are upset at the idea. The military already has appropriated thousands of acres of Chamorro lands for its facilities. Now they are taking more. And some of those places are special.

WeAreGuahan is concentrating on an area called Pagat. It has a set of caves that have cave drawings in them. This area is near and dear to the hearts of many of the Chamorro. The Marines will use that are for a target range effectively denying its use to the indigenous people of the island. There have been rallies and protests but I don't think the military is paying any attention.

Anyway the professor has offered us extra credit if we attend some of the events coming up in the next few weeks. To quote her email:
@@@@
List of Extra Credit Opportunities. For each opportunity, you'll be getting an e-mail from me. If you learn of other opportunities, don't hesitate to bring them before the class as possibilities.

We Are Guahan Rally for Pagat, F, October 1, 4:30 on.

Global Militarism: Global Peace? Film Series, one coming up on Th, Oct. 14 OR Th, Nov. 18.

Guam Humanities Council, Fino' Famalao'an: Women Speak, Th, Oct. 21

Other GHC events about this same time
@@@@
Since my Masters classes might interfere with this class I probably should take advantage of the opportunity. The first Global Militarism event is a film about the Japanese protests against the USA Marine base buildup on Okinawa. The Maraines are leaving the main island but they are NOT leaving Japan. They are abandoning one base and building a replacement in another part of the island.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 10:22 PM

Good luck!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, preparing for Getaway

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 10:41 PM

Brett, is there anything we can do from here to support the Chamorro in their protests against their land being taken over for military crap? Your class sounds like one I would really like and I think your professor is right about having you read it. I am also eager to hear more of your perspective on our country as you "cogitate." I have long felt that we've been wrong in many ways, but you must get a better perspective than we can living here and all. Thanks for sharing.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 02:28 AM

Kat, you have a very good heart. I suppose you could start writing to your senators. If you'd like to get friends involved that would be great.

Today I got an email from Larry with pictures of a canoe blessing ceremony for a new sakman built by some Micronesians in San Diego. I had heard rumors of the group but nothing more until today. The canoe is huge! Is there anyone in southern California that can look into this? Amos?

Big event today. Wakana bought me a cell phone to replace the one I lost several months ago. we bought the cheapest one available with a prepaid system. For those who don't know how that works you buy a card for $10.00 and that gives you a limited number of minutes for the phone. You keep buying cards when that one is used up. For us that makes the most sense since we do not use the phones very often. Our monthly expense MIGHT be $5.00 with us buying a new card about once every second month. The phone was $45 preloaded with $10 worth of phone time. Not a bad deal.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 10:31 AM

I've been doing some (a lot of) research on the New Zealand author Patricia Grace. In the course of my work I stumbled over this page following a link from the National Library of Australia. Somebody might find it interesting. I'm certainly going to explore it further.

By the way, if any of my friends in NZ or Aus. happen to know of any literary criticism articles about Patricia Grace I would dearly love to have them for my paper.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 10:43 AM

Brett, I'll see about putting something up on facebook and write/call my senators.

That Australia site is neat!!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 10:50 AM

Thanks Kat.

That's a quick response. Either that or my brain is too fogged to notice how long I've been looking for stuff on Mz. Grace.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Oct 10 - 09:37 AM

Today Wakana and I took Shawna out to walk. I took my Custom Cudgel along because I was worried about other dogs. Peter's dogs are all talk. I wasn't worried about them and we did get past them with just the usual amount of noise. But sitting in the road was a big mean looking stray. He stalked up to Shawna and attacked her. I laid into him with the Custom Cudgel and drove him off. Shawna had slipped her collar and was already headed for home.

It was a short walk.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: GUEST,Ebbie, housesitting
Date: 03 Oct 10 - 10:58 AM

At least Shawna knows where 'home' is. It had occurred to me to wonder whether she might consider your home just a way station. Bless you two for rescuing her.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Oct 10 - 01:39 AM

Shawna is very comfortable here. It's funny how she heads straight for the air conditioned bedroom when we come indoors.

However, it will be a while until we can see that again. I took her to the vet today to get her started on her heartworm treatment. I initially thought we'd leave her for a week. Now it appears she'll be there for a month.

Once the first seven days are done she needs to be confined for another three weeks as she throws off the remainder of the parasites. The doctor said we'd have to keep her in the bathroom for that whole time. I don't think we are heartless enough to watch her trying to get out of a small room. I'll talk with Wakana about it when we get home together.

My mother says their dog, Milo, died while they had him home during the treatment.

At least the cats can relax.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Oct 10 - 05:37 AM

search on google.com.au for Australian pages on "Patricia Grace"

search on google.co.nz for New Zealand pages on "Patricia Grace"

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 12:38 AM

"...we've convinced ourselves of our own superiority over the other nations of the world without actually knowing if our beliefs are founded in anything real."

You mean that mindless drivel "America is the greatest country in the world"? Anyone who did not grow up being brainwashed with that nonsense (read: citizens of any other nation) could have told you it never was founded in anything real.

I'll repeat an axiom I've posted here before:

Patriotism is the mistaken belief that the geographical accident of one's birth has more worth or relevance than membership of the human race and citizenship of Planet Earth.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 10:27 AM

Too true, Michael, too true.

Thanks, Sandra, for the Google searches. I'll look through them to see what I can use.

Second night without Shawna. Hard to believe she was here for such a short time but has become such an important part of our lives. It's going to be a long month.

I spent most of the day in the library researching for my paper. The working bibliography is due tomorrow. I learned some good tips about researching.

Remember, the last time I used a library for serious research all the records were on paper and the sources were too. It's been 30 years since I was in college and the world seems to have moved on.

First of all is Google Scholar. At the top of the Google search page is a drop down menu titled 'more'. If you click on it you'll find a bunch of items including one that says 'Scholar'. Searches made using that one will eliminate all the miscellaneous sites that have nothing to do with research. The other choices are interesting also, especially Google-Banjo.

Also, the library is connected... with the world. They have on-line access to 22,000 periodicals! I didn't think there were that many. And that includes more than a name and list of contents. It includes the contents.

So, if I want to look at a journal from the university in Aukland I only have to look it up on our library's web site and that will connect me to the journal.

I'm tired. Think I'll go to bed.

Just kidding about Google-Banjo, Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 11:27 PM

Yesterday Wakana went to work out payment options with the vet for Shawna's heartworm treatment. She visited with Shawna for a while and reports that the dog was so happy to see her it was heart bruising. Still we would never be able to keep her quiet for the 3 weeks she needs after the treatment.

Tomorrow Wakana and I will buy a big bag of food for her and that will drop the price for boarding her to $10 a day. We can do that.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 02:07 PM

That will be one heck of a reunion when she does get to come home, Brett. What angels you have been to her...she knows who loves her! It would be incredibly heartbreaking to have to leave her like that, though. I cannot imagine..it's one thing which kept me from every really contemplating moving out of the country...putting my pets in quarantine.

In the meantime, maybe this will bring a smile for you and Wakana: CLICK HERE. I added a lyric thread for it, but thought you might esp. like to see this video version of it for the beautifully painted trad boat and the drummers, dancers, etc. EVEN though it seems a kind of odd marriage with the Hollywood produced song. The song is infectious and the cause of the video is good...so there ya go. Hope you enjoy!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 07:38 AM

Well, as the kid usually starts off the midnight phone call, it's all right, nobody got hurt. Wakana and I are perfectly safe.

The day started out pretty good. We went to breakfast at Shirley's, got the car inspected, went up to register it, went over to Cost-U-Less for dog food, and headed down to visit Shawna in the hospital.

She was terribly happy to see us. They gave us an exam room to visit in. Shawna kept turning circles between me and Wakana and her little stumpy tail wagged and wagged. She obviously wants to go home.

We left there and went up to Movie Queen in Agat for the best milkshakes on the island. Then we headed home. We wanted a nap. Wakana was driving and I had some articles for my class to read on my little computer. As we drove past the golf course however life took a new direction.

Most of the roads here are made of crushed coral. Coral is, of course, mostly calcium carbonate. If you spread something slightly acidic on that surface it develops a slick coating. The nearest equivalent I can think of is black ice.

Coming around the bend the car slipped sideways a little. Wakana lost control and we slid off the road, down the wall and the little trees, and slammed into the telephone pole, shearing it off at ground level. Pictures are on Facebook.

I remember telling her not to hit the brakes as we slid sideways down the road. She heard me. I remember thinking, as the pole loomed in front of us, "Here come the airbags!" Apparently I didn't just think it. Wakana heard me say it. Next thing I know we were stopped, the air was full of dust and and we were struggling to get out of the car. A young serviceman and his wife (or girlfriend) stopped to help us. They called for help and stayed until the police arrived. The EMT's arrived and checked us out. They said the ambulance was on the way but we told them not to bother, we weren't injured.

And we weren't. We were shaken up but OK. I had a small cut with an associated contusion on my shin. Wakana had a seatbelt bruise on her shoulder and was complaining of a pain in her upper back. Other than that we are fine.

As we sat there talking to the police I called the insurance company to report the accident. They told me to get a copy of the police report and bring it in to them within the next 5 days. Not much help there.

An SUV pulled to a stop in front of us and the driver got out with a bottle of water in each hand. It was one of Wakana's co-workers. At the sight of her co-worker Wakana began to cry. She'd been such a trooper up to that point.

Now it really gets weird. I little white Toyota pulled up next to the policemen and the driver spoke with them. Then he came over and introduced himself but I couldn't quite catch his name. I asked if he was from the insurance company and he said he worked with them. He herded us into his car and drove us away. We asked to go home which was only a few miles away but he said we had to go to "home base" to fill out some papers. Home base was up on Hamburger Road, at least 15 miles away, through rush hour traffic. All the way there he sped through the other cars, tailgating and changing lanes while he fiddled with a cell phone and a police scanner. It was a scarier ride than the few milliseconds before hitting the phone pole.

Whne we finally got to home base it turned out that his company was only a body shop that occasionally handled cars for our insurance company. They had already sent a wrecker to pick up our car. We were pissed.

As we stood there trying to figure out the real story the boss got a call from his wrecker. It appeared that another wrecker was there and they were going to take our car. I got on the line with the other wrecker. The boss wanted me to send him away but...

Way back just after the police arrived they had asked me what tow company I wanted to pick up the pieces. I commented that we belonged to an auto club through our insurance company and I wanted that group to pick up the car. That was who was there. I told him he could take the car. The body shop boss was pissed but not as pissed as I was. He kept trying to insinuate that we were responsible for the expense of sending a truck to Talofofo. I told him that we just wanted to go home from the beginning and that his employee had us thinking that he worked for the insurance company. I demanded that they take us home. He was ready to argue some more when Wakana burst into tears and weakly asked to sit somewhere. I settled her in the car we were next to and told the guy that I wanted to take my wife home...NOW!

He caved. His wife and daughter took us home. The woman had never been to Talofofo before so this was a big adventure to her. The little girl sat in the back seat and complained of being tired. She was a kindergarten kid but she was not in a car seat. The mother talked about different accidents she'd been in and none of them were her fault.

We finally got home and showered the airbag dust off our bodies, had leftovers for supper and now we are headed for bed.

It's been a long day.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 07:49 AM

Oh, I forgot to mention, Wakana paid up the insurance yesterday, seven days late. Good thing she didn't leave it till next week!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 09:41 AM

you're certainly living in interesting times.

good to know you aren't hurt.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Amos
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:12 AM

Wow, what a day!! Mein Gott!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 05:41 PM

Brett-

Too much reality all at once.

Let's go back and talk about visiting doggies.

Glad you're both in reasonable shape.

Poor telephone pole.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: JudyB
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:14 PM

Oh my....

(((((Hugs)))))

JudyB

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 04:16 AM

I seem to have lost my reading glasses which is odd because those were the only glasses I had when I got out of the wreckage. I had to persuade the cops to let me get my regular glasses out of the car.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 04:51 PM

Brett-

No doubt you left them in one of the cars you were being transported in or at the garage. In a crisis I often forget where I've left something. After we returned from the UK there were at least four major things happening that required our full attention. It's a miracle that we even got unpacked, or did we?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 08:38 PM

I am really glad to hear you are both okay, Brett. That must've been so scary, esp. for Wakana. Please give each other a hug from me.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 06:01 AM

We went up to the the Micronesian Mall to buy a new pair of glasses. They have my prescription on file from two years ago. They didn't want me to buy the glasses without an update checkup from the ophthalmologist. I insisted and she sold me the glasses, cheapest frame, no UV protection, no tint, etc. $169.00

Now I can see the computer screen again.

My netbook was destroyed in the crash, well, the screen was cracked. Wakana gave me hers which is just like mine except... I've been adding to mine since I bought it. Hers was set up for Japanese and had no virus protection etc. Sigh, got a lot to do.

In all the fun around the car I never explained the other thing that had my tail in a knot. I went over to the university to make sure everything was hunky-dory and found that they had no record of me applying for the master's course! They told me it was too late.

I had been turning in all the required documents but to the wrong office. The guy in there was accepting them and filing them and doing nothing with them. He could have at least told me where they needed to go.

There was an orientation meeting on Saturday so we went in so I could try to talk my way into the program. They were expecting about 15 people. 28 showed up. I wasn't the only one left in the cold.

The long and the short of it is that they will have to open up a new section and I can still get into it.

Last week day I mentioned to Wakana that every time I left the campus after a class I felt angry. I couldn't figure out why. It had nothing to do with her or home. I was enrolled in a class and doing well.

On Thursday I figured it out.

It was force of habit. Every time I leave the campus after dealing with the administration I leave angry. So, even when not dealing with them I still feel anger. Last Thursday didn't help.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 06:40 AM

almost unbelievable - did all 13 people attend classes without the teachers knowing they weren't enrolled? Did they all hand in papers to the wrong office?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 10:42 AM

Brett-

Your university experience in Guam is simply amazing. I am achieving a deeper understanding of the British slang term "jobsworth."

Simply amazing!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 08:33 AM

Nobody has attended classes yet. The meeting on Saturday was only an orientation for the 15 people who were registered.

I went by the office today and dropped off the papers I needed to drop off to register for the class.

Last Friday afternoon as the crews worked to clear the wreckage of our car a woman drove by with her son. He said to her, "That one is yours." She laughed and told him not to be rude.

This morning I met that woman.

She's our insurance adjuster.

Her son was right.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 10:44 AM

Good for you for figuring out why you feel anger even when not going to it with the admin. Hope you can let that go and enjoy class more, esp. now that you've squared things away with the sign-up!

I didn't know you were going to buy new glasses...figured you;d find yours. I would/should have told you about www.zenni.com...you type in your prescription, which your eye doc or the glasses place have to provide to you, and you can get a pair or specs for as little as eight bucks. I've bought two pair and they are fine. Sorry for not thinking to tell you about $169 ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 03:12 AM

Thanks for the site. It would be a good idea if they could provide one hour service. I guess the rest of the $169 is for getting the glasses on the same day.

Tiring day. Up early to take Wakana to work. Neko was sick so I had to take her to the vet. Back home until 11:00 when I had to pick up Wakana. Neko was ready plus she had a bill to pay so we got home around 2:00. Out at 3:30 to come here to the college. In about an hour and a half we can quit for the day.

For my class I had to read from Unincorporated Territory by Craig Perez Santos. It is modern, post-colonial, concrete verbiage. Makes no sense to me. I'd like to give you a sample but it makes my head hurt. I swear, the poet is stringing random words together!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 09:44 PM

Last night in class we were shown a recent Dan Rather Reports segment on Guam and the buildup. The consensus in the class was that they had done a pretty good job. Retired General Weisz(sp?) is the man tasked, as he said himself in the program, selling the program to the island. From what he said he has no idea how people on the island feel about the move.

If you can get hold of it you should see it. iTunes sells it for $1.99. I think it has already aired but I could be wrong.

After the viewing we had a class discussion. Apparently feelings are running very high. I could hear some real anger.

One thing they mentioned was the reason why the Japanese want the Marines out of their country. It seems about 15 years ago three Marines kidnapped a 12 year old girl, duct taped her eyes, hands, and mouth and then raped her repeatedly. That was the worst incident but it isn't the only one. Another involved a 14 year old girl who was out buying school supplies.

On top of that a Marines helicopter crashed into a drom on a local university. Fortunately nobody was killed but the Americans took over the site and wouldn't let the Japanese investigate on their own land.

Look at the report, make up your mind, and maybe write to your congressional delegation supporting the people of Guam.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 09:56 PM

I remember reading about the rapes in Japan. What I didn't know, until you told us, was they were moving them to Guam. Here's a link to an article about the Dan Rather piece and, here is a promo for it on YOUTUBE, which has a write-up in the drop down menu under the video.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 02:45 AM

According to that article in Marianas Variety the story will air tonight. Try to see it. If it does nothing else for you it will at least illustrate the land I have written about for the last 7 years.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 12:44 AM

We spent the morning doing insurance things. Wakana didn't have to be at work until 12:30 because today is parent-teacher conference day. The adjuster says we will get a check for about $2300 once everything else is cleared up. We can start car shopping.

Not that there is all that much shopping involved. Wakana wants another Versa and there is only one Nissan dealer on the island. If we cannot buy a new Versa then we can get a used one and the shopping possibilities open up to the other dealers.

Tomorrow morning at 9:00 I start with ED 605, Classroom Management, my first class in pursuit of master's degree. Sigh, it has been a low row to hoe.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 02:24 AM

Still no check. Tomorrow Wakana will take the morning off so we can talk to loan people to find out what we can afford to buy. We'll also do a little car shopping. In the afternoon I have an extra-credit function to go to and then down to Paseo Park to meet the rest of my Pacific Literature class at the canoe house for a field trip. Busy day.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 04:55 AM

I just saw something funny on the Edmund's Scientific web site. They are selling a coffee cup with the following on it.

polonium 84
sulfur 16
silicon 14
bismuth 83
lithium 3
titanium 22
einsteinium 99

When all the right elements come together.

When you put in the notation for each of these elements it spells PoSSiBiLiTiEs.

I thought it was cool.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 08:12 AM

That's too esoteric for this early in the morning.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 04:17 PM

Awfully glad to hear that you're both OK!

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 07:58 PM

Three of my students contacted me on Facebook asking to be friends. I used to ignore requests from students but these are good kids, they're seniors now, and I no longer teach so I figured I might as well. It's nice to keep in touch with the past plus they can keep me up on how Notre Dame's ACB team is doing.

My textbooks arrived yesterday for my ED605 and ED683 classes. We had to order them from Amazon. For $156 I get two paperback books. One is 6" wide, 9" high, and 1/2" thick. The other is 8 1/4 wide, 10 3/4 high, and 3/4" thick. I hope quantity does not indicate quality.

Wakana and I went car shopping on Wednesday. There isn't much in the way of choices. She got all depressed. We did find a used Camry with all the bells and whistles for about $13,000. It's bigger than she wants but she figures she can trade for a new Versa when I go back to work.

We seem to have a lot of things we want to do when I get back to work. I hope we are up to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 02:12 AM

I screwed up my knee again. This time it feels like a strain to the connective tissues just above the outside of the left knee. It was very painful at times yesterday in class. This morning it was better but then I twisted it this afternoon in the living room. Sigh.

I just got a call, on Sunday afternoon, mind you, from the election commission telling me that I am still registered to vote in Santa Rita. And that the law says I cannot transfer my registration between the primary and the general elections. I would have to go back to Santa Rita, a place I no longer live in, to vote. She then told me that I could vote early at the Talofofo town hall even though I am not registered in Talofofo! Does any of this make sense to anyone?

Saturday I spent 7 1/2 hours in classes. Foundations of Secondary Education in the morning (3 hours) and Classroom Management in the afternoon (4 1/2 hours). The morning classroom was the coldest room I've ever been in outside of a meat locker. Even I complained! (To Wakana. I ain't giving the locals a chance to think I cannot take the cold...)

This afternoon the classic movies channel is running old Alec Guinness movies including The Captain's Paradise. In that one he plays a ferryboat captain running between Gibraltar and Morocco. In Gibraltar he has a perfect English housewife who cooks him roast beef and enjoys some domestic tranquility. In Morocco he has a hot Moroccan wife who stays out partying with him till the wee hours. It's a perfect paradise until... well, I won't spoil it for anyone. Plus, I've forgotten the details.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 11:53 AM

Brett-

"Captain's Paradise" certainly takes me back. I remember seeing it with my parents in the 1950's. There is a message in that film that we should all abide!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 01:40 PM

One in every port, eh?:-)

Take care of yer knee, will ya? My Rog fractured his heel at work last Thursday, so he's in a splint until Monday, when, if the swelling had gone down enough, they will cast it. (Wish it was in a leading role, rather than plaster.:-)

L-o-n-g classes! 4.5 hours to teach a teacher how to manage classes?? Good luck with all of it, Brett. Guess you might have to start dressing in layers like a good Yankee for that early morning class, eh?

Take care,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 01:46 PM

Of course the gals in every port had serial sailor lovers.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 25 Oct 10 - 01:36 PM

Lucky me, even without seeing your recommendation (no Internet most of the weekend in the rainy Santa Cruz Mountains), I was clever enough to spot and record that film to watch later this week. Now I'll enjoy it even more!

Small old world.

C

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 09:15 AM

Sorry to here about Roger, Kat. Good luck to him... and you.

Shawna came home today! She was so happy to see me at the vet's. She panted and whined all the way home. We got home just before Wakana. Shawna was so happy to see her too. The only group of creatures in the house who were not happy to see her was the feline contingent. Her arrival came as something of a shock.

This evening we ate dinner with Shawna tied to the sofa and the cat prowling out of reach of her leash. She lay on the floor and ignored them almost completely.

Now I have Shawna and Mika locked in the office with me. Mika was bothering the other cats and now is where the only thing he has to worry about is the dog. Mika is on the carpet by the door and Shawna is lying between me and her. They are watching each other.

Yesterday I picked up the checks to close out Wakana's car insurance problem. Now we have to find something for the money she has in pocket. Tomorrow we go out to buy either a Kia Forte, a Kia Rondo wagon, a Honda Fit, or a Nissan Versa. We will go with cash in hand. I hope that makes a difference in the negotiations. I always heard it would.

Shawna and Mika have settled down now. Just now I noticed Mika within a few inches of Shawna's nose. It should be OK.

I went to the clinic about my knee. What a farce that was. When I arrived there were very few cars in the parking lot. That meant to me that there were very few people inside and that I would breeze through there very quickly.

Best laid plans...

I checked in and paid my $25 co-pay. I settled down in the waiting room with the paper and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally they took my vital signs and sent me back to the waiting room. Then I finally saw the doctor who sent me to radiology for x-rays.

I paid another co-pay, $25, and waited for the x-ray tech. She finally called me in for pictures taken lying down and then standing up, except... When the time came to adjust the machine for the standing up pictures it turned out that someone had left a protective vest draped over the track and now they couldn't move the machine. I watched them struggle for a moment then stepped in and pulled. I managed to move the arm down the track and position it for the standing up pictures. We had to go into the other room for the rest of the pictures.

Then I waited some more. When I finally saw the doctor he decided that I had strained something and that it would be all right soon enough. I had been in there for 4 1/2 hours.

My knee still hurts.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 06:58 AM

This afternoon I picked up Wakana at FD and we went car shopping. She wanted to look at the KIA Rondo, a small station wagon. She also wanted to work with a particular salesperson, Sonya, who we'd met some time ago when I was kind of car shopping. Back when Wakana was shopping for the Versa she'd gotten tired of all the men who talked to me instead of her even though she was the person buying the car. This time she knew what she wanted in a sales person.

And she liked the Rondo too. So, we bought it. She had three checks in her pocket, one from the credit union for the bulk of the money, and two from the insurance company. With that and another $600 from her credit card we paid for the vehicle. They will tint the windows and she will pick it up tomorrow while I'm in school... for another seven and a half hours! I'm already tired.

The Rondo is white.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 08:15 AM

Good luck with the new car! Hope the dog, cats, and chickens like it as well.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 02:52 PM

I got home from class this afternoon and there it was sitting in the dooryard, big, white, and shiny. Wakana had Shawna on the leash and after I parked the pickup and greeted everyone I walked over to look at the new acquisition. Shawna seemed to quiver when I touched the door handle. When I opened the driver's door she lunged at it trying desperately to get into the car. I closed it and we had a laugh. I hurried around to the other side and jumped in while Wakana held on to the dog.

That dog is a fool for cars.

I hope this was a good buy. It sure is fancy but that makes me worry. It was selling for $20k but we got it for $17.8k. It has lots of bells and whistles. And there is lots of room in it. It looks a little like a small SUV but it is listed as a wagon. I've never been able to figure out how they decide what is what. Tomorrow I get to go for a ride in it!

Right now I am so tired. Another day of 7 1/2 hours in classes. The afternoon class is the toughest. The instructor doesn't give regular breaks. She'll give us group work to do on a worksheet and we get to leave the room for that. We did get a 5 minute break about mid-afternoon.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Now, I know I was tired when I wrote that but...

Right now it has been 7 hours since then. I went to bed without finishing and without realizing that I was halfway through doing something.

As my father used to say, "Read to me again the part in the instruction book that says, 'This is fun!'"

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 04:47 AM

many years ago I found a more than a screen full of whatever my finger was resting on when I fell asleep while typing!

It took a looooong time to delete them all.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Nov 10 - 10:50 PM

Feeling sad. I was going through my email log and found messages from my friend Doug, the guy who committed suicide last year. They were messages about waiting to hear if they were going to be able to adopt a child from Asia. He was so excited. What happened?

My classes are fun. Last week we had to do our presentation on Patricia Grace and the Maui Mythos. The other students have each had to do presentations and more are yet to come. But I think we did pretty good. The others we've seen so far have been cut off when they ran out of time. The were all young, nervous, and hesitant. In our group we had two people who are used to working from the stage and three of us are, uh, middle-aged. we left embarrassment far behind us.

So we grabbed them and pulled them along showing them a slide show and speaking of the history of NZ and the Maoris and a few of the myths of Maui-Potiki. Toni had the job of getting the audience to answer five questions about the presentation, kind of a "what did you learn?" She put one question on a sheet of paper and included instructions for the work they had to do.

We took too long on Monday so the professor made us do it again on Wednesday. I think she really liked it. Those of you who have been on stage with me know that I do not sit quietly while someone else is introducing their piece. The young guy was nervous so I called out to him that the audience was unarmed, I'd checked.

We had a pretty good time.

This weekend I have to go to the annual Language Arts Conference which starts this afternoon and runs all day Saturday. My instructor wants us to attend five of the breakout sessions and write up a reflection on each. It should be fun. I may see some of my former co-workers and friends.

Shawna continues to impress. This morning I stepped out on to the carport in time to see to of the neighbor's dogs trying to sneak past the house. I stepped back into the house for the BB gun and snapped a shot at them. Shawna took off chasing them off. She then hung out at the end of her territory, took an obnoxious leak, and came trotting home. She comes when called. This is amazing because she was alone for all those years.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 10 - 11:54 PM

It's amazing what a little kindness can do, Brett. Shawna's no dummy...she obviously wants to stay in your good graces.:-) We think our late Merlee must've been dumped by someone. Any time we took him out and turned him lose with us outside the car he never went very far..he acted as though he was really worried we might leave him behind.

I wish we could see these neat projects you are doing in class. I'd love to see a video of the one, not just to see you, but of course that would be the main reason, but also to learn more of the history as you have learned it. Sounds like you did a great job. I so admire you for what you are doing!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 04:41 AM

Shawna's so funny. This afternoon Wakana offered her some treats. Shawna refused them so Wakana left them on the floor. A few minutes later we were startled by Shawna lunging at the treats. A little table nearly went over. We caught just a glimpse of an orange tail disappearing up the hall.

It seems Mika, in his infinite curiosity, stopped to check out the treats and Shawna was protecting them. We laughed for quite a while.

Today I went to the annual Language Arts Conference as part of my Master's program. I attended 7 breakout sessions on everything from Family Law through to science demonstrations you can do in the classroom. One workshop was about how to convert lessons to songs and get the kids to dance and sing them! What a crafty idea, one that would impress me more if I didn't know friends back home, and Wakana, who do it regularly.

The science demo included wind bags, UV beads, cow magnets, and other stuff. The presenter sounded like a walking advertisement for Stevespangler.com, the site for a workshop she attended last summer. Still it was a good demo.

Ah well, it's Saturday evening, the rest of the world is having fun or relaxing and for me, it's time to get to work. Sigh...

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 02:21 PM

Brett-

What did they use the "cow magnets" for in a demonstration?

To whom it may also concern-

No, these magnets are not installed to keep cows from straying. They're very powerful but much smaller. When the cows swallow them the magnets remain in one of their four stomachs and collect the rusty nails and other hardware that cows tend to eat which helps prevent them from puncturing part of the stomach or intestine. If you know anyone who also consumes miscellaneous hardware, you should encourage them to swallow a cow magnet.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 11:20 PM

They use cow magnets because they are such powerful magnets. You can use them in any regular demonstration.

They also had heavy duty plastic test tubes with screw on lids. They are practically unbreakable. And, as it turns out, they are the next to the last step in making 2 liter soda bottles. The just heat the plastic and inject air and the soft plastic conforms to the mold.

Wakana's birthday is coming up (11/20/10) and she'll be 50. We are somewhat strapped for cash so she has made her usual plea that I not get her anything. It was too late in one case because I had already bought her a DVD of one of her favorite Japanese movies, Onmyoji II. I bought her the first one last year, or maybe the year before that. Then, last night, TCM ran the US TV premiere of Metropolis. She saw the short version of that movie many years ago and has always talked of it so I copied it off the TV for her.

I'd like to get her something else but she is very hard to buy for. Maybe I'll get something from my niece's little online shop. She cannot complain about that.

Of course I'll make her a card. I started doing that a few years ago and she was very disappointed when I forgot to do it last year. I use pictures of the animals and the house and come up with something funny to say. Usually I make it look as though the card is from the cats.

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 11:26 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Life in Guam, uh, Guahan.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 11:28 PM

Here's the new one.