BS: Working (at last) in Guam

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 11:10 AM

Brett-

Arthritis is no fun and can do real damage if you don't take the proper measures to defend yourself against it. My wife is the resident expert on that, having successfully kept the disease at bay since her early 20's. Part of the winning strategy is knowing what triggers attacks, what kind of medication your body will tolerate and the level of medication that is appropriate, relaxing exercises to reduce stress, but you might consider e-mailing Judy to compare notes.

For my mother, shoulder and hip replacement surgery minimized the problem and she is now completely off the steroids. Some folks have major problems with steroid treatment, both physical as well as mental side effects.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 03:59 AM

Will do Charley. Thanks.

The island trader thing is still iffy. Al is a great guy but I tend to use a little salt when listening to his schemes. Still, I have seen a model of his boat, the Carabao, and it seems like a good design. The boat is long and lean with two outriggers that are half the length of the boat. She runs on a diesel engine turning a prop designed to run half submerged. According to Al that is the most economic design. The prop was designed and built in Germany. The steering system, I can't call it a rudder, is the cowling around the prop. He says it isn't very maneuverable but will make many miles on a load of fuel.

Still, Al is a man of his word and he knows he can get "free" labor from me and Gordon. That counts for something.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 01:50 PM

Brett-

The boat design sounds fascinating.

I wonder how it will perform if there is any wave action.

No rudder? Who the hell needs a stinking rudder?

How about investing alternatively in a collection of Joseph Conrad stories and relaxing in your armchair at home, assuming your air conditioner is working again?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 06:08 PM

The A/C works fine. It didn't take much to get it going after all.

Yesterday we went for a drive in the Mercedes. The A/C doesn't work in that. But we are in the dry season so the humidity is down. The temperature was about 86 degrees in town. We rolled down the windows and headed for Ipao Beach Park.

Some of you may remember that Wakana and I acted as guides for a group of Japanese students from Shodoshima last year. There is another group here again and one of the George Washington High School students called us to join her class in a party at Ipao Beach to welcome the Japanese students. It was a lovely day to be at the park. We ate the food, drank the drinks, and talked with the kids. Then we went up to the new movie theater in Hagatna to see Eragon. After that we took a walk around the shopping center, then around Asan Beach Park (we call it Little Waikiki because on the line of palm trees along the shore) and headed home. A very good day. The Mercedes handled well. We were comfortable and cool enough without A/C.

This morning we will finish up our Christmas packages and mail out our Christmas cards. I don't have addresses for many of you. If you want to PM an address to me I would love to send a card to each of you to thank you for taking this trip with me.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 01:47 AM

I spoke too soon. I got home today to find the A/C dead and the house too warm. Sigh. I'll have to call Gordon.

Christmas is here. I drive under the bright tropical sun and see Christmas decoration evoking memories of snow and cold. I am not a person who is tuned into the passage of time. Events always surprise me no matter how important or how well known they may be. Birthdays fly past without notice including my own. Holidays have little meaning to me any more. All the "little" holidays like Veterans Day, Presidents Day, and Labor Day come up, surprise me, and run off with little notice.

Once more Christmas sneaked up on me when I wasn't looking. Yesterday Wakana dragged me into the living room and reminded me to put up our little tree. She'd bought eggnog so we could do the trimming properly. But it seems like just yesterday we put the tree back into its box. Sigh. And today we received a handful of cards from friends and family. I gotta get mine in the mail...

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Amos
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 10:52 AM

BRett,

There's been some kind of error. It is only Halloween.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 06:50 AM

Oh, whew! I have plenty of time to get the presents in the mail. I can wait for a few more weeks before I have to do anything...

I am really frustrated with my student Tatsuro. He is not making any effort to learn English. I had a long talk with Wakana about him. She'll try to talk to him tomorrow to see if he has some trouble understanding or if there is some other problem. I have to remember he's only 15. I've been working with adults so long now that I am having trouble adjusting my methods to account for his age.

I went Christmas shopping for Wakana today. I got her a... oops, she's looking!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 08:13 PM

I'm sorry. I have been unable to write anything for some time. December was a tough month. We had two people out of work at various times and I had to fill in. I never did find the Christmas spirit that makes the season so much fun. I hope everyone had a lovely set of holidays.

Let's see. Where to begin? The Mercedes is dead. Haven't been able to revive it. The Buick died the day before the Mercedes. I paid good money to revive that one. Someone stole some of the Christmas presents I bought for Wakana and I had to buy more. I couldn't afford to mail the Christmas packages off to the family so they are still in the car. We had to move the office and our "supervisor" proved once again to be no manager. We did the best we could but she didn't arrange for boxes or for a truck. I rebuilt two of the broken down bookshelves before we moved them and made a passing comment that I could probably rebuild the third. She now expects me to do that.

But that's only the negative things that happened. There were lots of good things too. We managed to get the tree up and enjoy Christmas. Wakana made Christmas dinner, her first effort. We had baked chicken legs with mashed potatoes and peas and broccoli. I got lots of shirts for Christmas and a Haig & Haig pinch bottle holding a model of the Quest. My father made that for me and he made a model of a Japanese sailing ship in a square bottle for Wakana. We are on vacation now for another week. Then it's back into the salt mines.

Now it is New Years Day. We went to a nice party yesterday after spending the day rearranging the furniture in the living room. Today we took down the tree and packed away the Christmas ornaments. In a few minutes I am going into that living room for my first formal Japanese lesson. My resolution for this year is to learn to speak Japanese so I can have a conversation with my in-laws.

I went exploring on YouTube for sea shanties and found a little treasure trove. I am going to put the links on another thread.

I went to YouTube because Gordon's son had posted a bunch of proa links in the weekly newsletter. I am going to include them here for you to see what we are doing.

Here is a picture of a modern proa sailing in some unidentified harbor: CLICK!

Here are photos from the local canoe movement on the island. We (the Traditional Seafaring Society) seem to have influenced some other people. We have some members working in both groups. There are pictures here and in the next link of both the other group and some pictures of our group working in the Utt. Good stuff: CLICK!

Here are some more photos of both groups: http://picasaweb.google.com/todosloswhojos

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 08:17 PM

Oops! That last one should be a link! Here it is as a link. CLICK!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 03:24 AM

The Mercedes is now undead. I cleaned electrical connections, turned off all the mysterious switches on the dashboard and gave it a jump. Damned thing started right up. Pretty cool.

The ships Dad put in the bottles are pretty cool. For weeks leading up to Christmas he kept telling me that Wakana's gift required some assembly. Then he would give an evil laugh. Well, as it turns out he built the ship and got it into the bottle but forgot to mount the flagstaff with the Japanese flag. He provided it with a note saying he expected me to put the flag in place.

BUT! The cork he installed in the neck of the bottle is a solid plug of wood with a toggle at right angles glued into a hole on the INSIDE of the bottle. There is no way in heaven or hell that I will be able to install the flagstaff. So, of course, I have to try. Wish me luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:57 AM

good luck!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 10:39 AM

Good luck!

And best wishes for the New Year!

JudyB

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 02:20 PM

Brett-

Good luck with uncorking the bottle ship. Have you considered drilling the stopper out or emplanting a firecracker?

I particularly like the part in the proa sailing clip where the boat shooting the video runs into a float full of tourists desparately scrambling to escape!

Happy to hear the Mercedes is back on line.

What an icely sleety mess you've missed in Maine this morning.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:17 PM

Wow, it looks as though they sail really fast! Thanks for the links, Brett. Beautiful pictures, landscape and people.

Glad to hear the Mer-sah-deez has been ressurected! Luck with the flagstaff and Happy New Year!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 12:19 AM

Our new neighbors are moving in today. We walked over to meet them. He is in the Navy and she is a surgical nurse, Ryan and Megan. Plus Gordon dropped by with his chainsaw and we cut down a bunch of the African Lilly trees that have infested the area between the two houses. We hauled off three pickup loads of tree parts. Now I'm tired.

I was going to go to the post office today but Gordon told me it is a national day of mourning for Pres. Ford. I never forgave him for Nixon's pardon. I guess I can carry a grudge if I really want to.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 06:22 AM

It's Sunday and our vacation is over! Sigh. It's been lovely. Just like being retired... oh, wait, I AM retired.

We didn't go anywhere, we didn't do much, we just relaxed and enjoyed every day at home. Wakana did a lot of prep work for her upcoming semester teaching at UOG. I did a lot of reading, a little writing, worked on my car, and reconfigured my canopy from a pitched roof to a leanto.

It rained a lot, something I begrudge. This is supposed to be the dry season. The weather is cooler but my lawn is still a muddy mess. There is no sharp division between wet and dry season like there is between winter and summer. Sometimes we have dry wet seasons and sometimes wet dry seasons. This appears to be a wet dry season.

It's a pain in the butt because I need to crawl around under the car and the ground is not very inviting. Walking around while working on the canopy each step was a squelching splash. There is lots of grass but the mud spurts up between the blades and muddies the legs almost up to the knees. Sigh.

Gordon and I went to the lumber yard today to get wood for my new workbench. In our family that statement is a cause of some hilarity. My father has built at least seven workbenches at the farm. Mom and my sisters claim that he cannot start any project without constructing a workbench first. So, when I told my parents I needed to build a workbench there was some laughter that rolled through the phone.

But soon I will have an outdoor workbench under a canopy where I can work on larger projects and enjoy the fresh air. I might even be able to fit one end of the Mercedes in there.

As for the car, I need to replace the v-belts, change the oil, replace all the filters, install the windshield washer pump, and replace the rear brake hoses. I probably need to replace the tie rod ends and maybe even a ball joint or two. Time, and a stretch of decent weather will tell. Once I get all that done I can depend on the car to get me to and from work. Now I need to figure out how to pay for the parts.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 06:29 AM

Oh, and I've been working seriously on my New Year's Resolution. I am learning Japanese.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 03:50 PM

There are some more pictures posted on Flickr. You can see them at this address.. The first five pages show construction of the Utt. The fifth page starts with the launch of the new canoe built by TASI. TASI is another group on the island working to preserve the past in canoes.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 03:59 PM

Happy New Year, Brett and Wakana!
I lost my cell phone and looked for weeks then finally replaced it. And there was your New Year's Eve call wishing us all a Happy New Year!
Sorry to have missed you. We will call and surprise you one night - maybe when Deb Cowan is here.
I missed you guys at the Getaway this year.
Love,
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 06:09 PM

Brett-

Very nice spread of pictures! Everyone hard at work and the finished product looks stunning. One photo even shows a sunset. I thought it never stopped raining?

Hey, it's snowing outside. You better check and make sure your snow shovel and scrapper are handy for the morning!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble in Maine

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 02:56 AM

When I left Maine I brought an ice scraper with me. I wanted to leave it by the door so that I could look at it every day as I left the house. I intended to repeat, "Not today, buddy!" every time I looked at it. In recent months I have lost track of the damned thing. Hope it doesn't snow.

The weather lately has be very nice, if a little bit soggy. It has been cool enough to let us turn off the A/C and open up the house. A lovely breeze blows through and keeps us cool. This morning I complained to my father of the cool weather. I actually felt a bit of a chill. He didn't react well to my complaint. It was 25 degrees up at the farm.

I just got home from the university where I did a very foolish thing. I signed up for a post graduate course in English. I think I am going to pursue my Master's degree in English. Wakana is in favor of it and has been conspiring with Dr. Shreiner, the head of the graduate program at UOG. Shreiner was a student of hers learning Japanese at Liberal Academy. At LA I work with the wife of another member of the faculty who also thinks I should go after a degree. I never had a chance.

You know, I do not make this thread too personal. I don't get into the details of my life with Wakana, don't mention the arguments, the tears and the myriad difficulties two people have when they live together. Still, you should know they are indeed there. And sometimes they get pretty bad. Wakana and I both suffer from depression. We take our happy pills and try to listen to our shrinks but sometimes it gets out of hand. On Saturday she packed up and left. Fortunately she forgot her passport so she couldn't leave the country. Now it has blown over but there is a tension in the air. I am running scared.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 08:38 AM

hugs & best wishes to you & Wakana

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 10:12 AM

{{{{{Brett & Wakana}}}}

Try to keep the lines of communication open. I've been there so many times with my Rog, packed up and all. He clams up, then I feel furious and want to leave because he won't talk. Eventually, I cool off, he comes round and we work it out for a while longer. Not saying this is exactly what happens with you two, but keeping up the talking on both sides can help. That, and take a deep breath.:-)

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 04:32 PM

The trigger for this last incident was pretty bad. She loves teaching, especially at the university. She has spent the better part of the last month preparing for the next semester. She was going to teach Japanese 102. The professor who usually teaches that course would have been teaching Japanese 301. Unfortunately they only have 2 or 3 students signed up for 301 so they may not give that class and that professor will take her 102 class back. Wakana MAY be out of a job, one she loves, one she had her heart set on.

Where I get lost is in trying to comfort her. Obviously I didn't do a good job. Or maybe she just needed to strike out and I was a convenient target...

I don't know.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 05:04 PM

Brett, I know when I am sorely disappointed about something that I have my heart set on, esp. work related, what I need is to know that Rog hears what I am saying, no matter if I am venting or whining. If I don't think I am being heard then I will definitely lash out at him, whether it is justified or not. So...being an attentive listener, for the moment, (and brunt of her anger) might be just what she needs. Just try not to take it personally. When she is able to refocus, then might be the time for feedback on what else she might be able to do job-wise. JMTOT, Just My Take On Things.*bg**

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 05:34 PM

Thanks, Kat, I will try to do better. My problem is my knee-jerk reaction to what I perceive as an attack. I need to control that.

Today she has gone off to the first day of class teaching Japanese 102. The problem is that we do not know if they will let her keep the class. She might come home at any time, in tears, having been turned away. And that could be today or tomorrow or Friday or even next week. I feel so bad for her.

And, as I told someone else, for myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 08:24 PM

I'm with katlaughing on this one - if it were me, I wouldn't be looking for an answer and I wouldn't want to hear (yet) that maybe it's for the best - I'd want a major hug and someone to agree that it's really awful that this happened after all the work I'd put into it.

When I was ready for alternatives or able to look on the bright side, I'd make that known. Till then, hugs and chocolate (or her preferred equivalent) and maybe totally unrelated get-her-mind-off-it things (walk in the park, trip to the beach, dinner out or a picnic or whatever works for your folks - not "to make her feel better" but because you want to be with her.

When I'm feeling undervalued, it's important to me to know that people want to be with me - not always easy, as I, too, tend to go ballistic towards my nearest and dearest when I'm stressed. The answer is not logic (even though I generally am logically-minded and usually respond to that) - the answer is a hug (and maybe a trip to town for a hot fudge sundae).

Good thoughts and hugs to you both,
JudyB

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: curmudgeon
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 08:43 PM

Listen to the ladies, Brett. And when you have a chance, PM me your phone # and good times to call. Our new phone service includes Guam in the free calling zone -- Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 11:41 PM

Thanks, gang. I need all the support and advice I can get on this. I agree that I need to hug and commiserate. Unfortunately my past has left me tender on a perceived attack. I need to recalibrate my mouth.

Things are getting back to normal. She is expecting her job to disappear and I am making the appropriate comments and actions. I brought her a little gift today. We are doing better.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 12:11 AM

Ditto on the phone calling, Brett. Let me know good times to call, if it would help.

Just keep hugging and commiserating. Let her know you *hear* her and care.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 06:36 AM

As far as calling times go it really depends on the time difference. We are, I think, about 15 hours AHEAD of the east coast, Tom. I don't know how that breaks down for you Kat. I will PM a number.

She is happier tonight. She's taught her first class and all the signs point to her being able to keep the job. And she's been coming to grips with the possibility of losing the job.

It doesn't help that the woman who would get the job if they took it from Wakana is the same woman who trashed her reputation at the college.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 06:39 AM

As far as local time for calling we usually talk to the East Coast in the morning on weekends. Wakana and I are usually out of the house during the day and home again around 5:00 PM (me) and 7:00 PM (her).

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 02:36 AM

I told Wakana that I had posted our latest blow up on this thread. She wasn't angry. She wanted me to reassure everyone that she's feeling much better and that she isn't going to move out.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 08:46 AM

Brett-

Sounds better to me.

And please thank Wakana on our niece's behalf for her kind advice about dealing with a rapacious cellphone company while she's a student in Northern Japan.

Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 08:56 AM

Damn! I was preparing the upstairs for Wakana to move in and Jacqui was working on finding her a job! Nice work, Brett! Now she'll never move to Maine!
Glad it's sorted out.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 10:53 PM

Oh God!! Don't give her a place to stay in Maine. She'll be out of here next week! Well, maybe once spring sets in back there.

I spent the morning, and part of the afternoon, building a workbench and putting up the canopy cover. Now I have a nice, covered, outdoor work space. The bench is nice and sturdy. I stood on it to put up the cover.

Wakana spent the morning cleaning the living room. She has a Japanese student here, a little girl in her preteens, I guess. They are working in the living room.

Life is good again.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 11:42 PM

*sigh* happily...:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 08:51 AM

yah

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 08:14 PM

I have not mentioned the chicken society we have living around the house. By this I mean literally AROUND the house. We've been feeding the chickens for some time now and Wakana has given them all names. It has been fun watching the dynamics of the flock, who pecks who, who cheats on who, what happens around the feeding ground, Who arrives first, who arrives last, etc.

One of the hens, Wakana named her Mean because of her personality, is completely anti-social. She's a big black hen with a gray face. She has stationed herself on top of our water heater. She spends most of the day up there and all night. We think she is quite old, for a chicken. The feathers around her face are grayer than when she first arrived. When Wakana goes out to feed the chickens Mean flies down and joins in the fun but she puts up with no s--t from anyone including the king rooster! She has faced off against all of them and usually wins.

Mother is a brown and white speckled hen. She isn't a particularly pretty hen. Her tail is all ragged and torn and her colors are rather drab. She has laid a brood of eggs in the old BBQ grill and sits on them all day long. I don't know what she's going to do when they hatch. She'll never get them out of there without our help.

There were two young chicks, siblings, that used to spend a lot of time on the dryer looking into the window at us. We thought they were hens but as time passed they turned out to be roosters. The black one has since wandered off. The white one, Snow, is still around and is growing into a very magnificent white rooster with a great black and white tail. He now has a couple of girlfriends and frequently fights with Father, the other white rooster. He doesn't win but he keeps trying.

Chickens here in Guam can fly much more than the birds back home. They are not so much smaller than chickens back home, just more muscular. Yesterday Mother flew up on to the roof of the house. I have seen them fly up into and out of the jungle behind the house. Of course they do not fly to travel anywhere but it is more flying than I am used to seeing in a chicken.

The roosters here are magnificently colored animals. They come in a variety of colors. I've mentioned the white ones. There are also black roosters with white highlights. There is one of those living on the street but he hasn't tried to invade this territory. Then there are the roosters like Gift and Fox. These are brown to the point of being red. It is a lovely deep color with different shades around their bodies and wings. I really love that color.

It is a riot to watch the roosters fighting. I don't think they actually hurt each other very much. It's more of a stare-down. But they crouch and hump their wings forward. The long silky feathers on the neck stand out making them look twice as big. They leap at each other squawking and squealing. In a flask it's over and the loser slinks away while the winner crows his victory.

Sex is another show here at the Burnham home. The hopeful rooster drops one wing and sidesteps towards his intended. Usually the hen just runs off but if everything is right she won't run and he climbs aboard and the deed is done very quickly with much wing flapping and feathers flying. It takes only a few seconds and then they go back to scratching for bugs and seed in the grass.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 10:32 PM

Cluck ol' hen, cluck ol' hen!
Ain't laid an egg since way past when!

Cluck ol' hen, cluck an' squall!
Ain't laid an egg since late last fall!

Then there was this rooster...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 07:08 AM

I have a new student, Yukari. She is from Kuroiso. It is the next city north from Wakana's home town. Last year Nishinasuno, Kuroiso, and another city formed a singly political unit, one larger city. So, technically Yukari is from Wakana's home town.

This makes it easy to connect. Today we were working on the names of fruits and vegetables. Tochigi, Wakana's home prefecture, is well known for strawberries, eggplant, and tomatoes. It is the home of Kagome Catsup. When we got to those fruits, and vegetable, we could talk about the big factory or the great strawberries. Sigh. I miss fresh fruit.

I am at low ebb, financially. The Mercedes is dead in the water. It needs a new fuel filter and I can't afford one. I have to drive the gas guzzler and hope that tank of fuel last through the rest of the month.

I also need to buy a textbook for my class. Seven days to payday.

I went to the Veterans Affairs Office today. I wanted to sign up for any VA benefits I might have coming to me. Anything would help.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 05:40 PM

We have babies! Mother has hatched out her eggs. Yesterday I noticed her walking around on the kayaks with her wings slightly opened, clearly a threatening gesture. I went out to see what was bothering her and found her on the ground calling them. Of course, they couldn't get out of the BBQ grill. I picked it up and carried it to open ground where I set it gently on its side. They sat in the rubble of old charcoal and burned sticks looking for their mother. She was not happy about having us there. We stepped back and she retrieved her kids. She took them off into the jungle. The poor little things kept stumbling and had trouble getting over the grass.

Today, she's back with all six of them. We have two yellow chicks and four black ones. She lost all but two of her last brood. I wonder how many of these she will be able to raise. Her last brood included Snow and Boy. Snow is now a magnificent white rooster. His brother is also a rooster but we rarely see him. Snow drove him away.

So now Wakana has six new chicks to name. This should be interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 09:29 PM

how cute! I hope your little baby chickens grow into big chooks & give you lots of eggs & more little baby chickens!

Domestic chooks scratching around the yard are a good thing.

One of my friends who lives in the country has chickens, including 2 who escaped from the battery hen egg farm (pong!) next door. I hope to visit her one day & admire the chooks & her gardens, but only when the wind is blowing away from the egg farm.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 08:40 AM

Lately Mean, the water heater chicken, has abandoned her post up there. Another hen, White, was up there scratching around the other day. After she flew down Fox or Gift flew up there to check it out. When I went out later I noticed an egg perched up there. White isn't sitting on this one very often. I wonder it the heater is warm enough to do the job for her. That's gonna be a long drop for a newborn if it hatches.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 04:03 PM

Brett-

Maybe instead of expecting a chick to hatch you should settle for egg-drop soup.

Sorry, that was a poor yoke!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 05:12 PM

This morning we noticed the egg is gone from the top of the water heater. It must have rolled off.

Mother still has her six chicks. She brings them to the back door every morning. They can't seem to handle the scratch feed we give the other chickens so Wakana feeds them Grape Nuts Flakes. They gather around her feet, peeping and eating, six tiny balls of fluff, while their mother frets a little way off, too skittish to come closer. While Wakana stands there the other chickens keep away and the little ones get to eat their fill.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 05:26 PM

Errr, Brett, would you call that an "egg roll"?

Smart little chicks! You know, they would really love some little earthworms if you could find some. It's quite amusing when a chick gets hold of a worm, and like a football quarterback zig-zags through the flock to avoid sharing it.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 03:16 AM

It's funny, Charley, but nobody here has heard the term egg roll. When we go to a Chinese restaurant they have a different name. Chinese food on this side of the world is different from what I used to eat back there in Maine.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 12:35 AM

Today, for the first time in a long time, Wakana and I went to the canoe house. There is a team here from Japan working to record and revive traditional navigation in the Philippine Sea. The team includes two museum curators and a film crew. The film crew is well known in Japan. They have filmed documentaries around the world. Their last film was in Iran. In fact they had trouble with the immigration officials because one of the passports had an Iranian stamp in it.

The professors have received a grant from Toyota to do this work. They will be taking Manny to Japan to talk with others about canoe traditions in Micronesia.

They filmed Manny giving a class in traditional navigation and then we had a bit of a party. Wakana talked with the Japanese professors for a bit but then had to leave to go to a tutoring session she gives every Saturday.

Manny talked about the stars used for navigation. He also mentioned that some stars are used in weather forecasting. Then Larry told of May 2003 when Manny accurately predicted weather for a trip that was to take place in June. Manny explained further. He didn't look at the sky to make those predictions. He had gone to the planetarium and asked the director to dial up the night sky for late May. After looking at the star positions for a number of nights around the beginning and the end of the trip he suggested the best time to leave and when they should return. Sure enough, on the originally intended departure date they had bad weather that would have delayed them. And he had said they had to return in either late June or the first few days in July. On July 8 that year Guam was hit by Chata'an, the first of two super-typhoons to hit the island that year.

Tomorrow we are launching the Quest for a day of sailing. In the afternoon Wakana and I will harvest our bananas. There are ripe bananas in two of our trees.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 01:05 AM

Brett, are their films shown outside Japan?

home grown bananas - yum!

we've had a great lack of bananas since the last cyclone season when 95% (?) of the Oz banana crop was wiped out early 2006 by Cylone Larry. In the last few months bananas have been creeping down from the very high prices caused by this scarcity.

I very carefully managed my stash by having half a 'nana in my porrige rather than the usual full one, & recently was able to top up my supply when they got back to a few $$s a kilo. During this scarcity a friend was giving her excess home-grown bananas away to other folks without realising I could have helped her out!!