BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam

Subject: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 06:12 AM

As of December 23, 2016, I gave up on my dreams of being a teacher. I have turned my back on the whole bloody mess. I am unemployed, or if you wanted to be kind, retired.

I am working to be the best house-husband money can buy. I do the shopping, I cook suppers about 1/2 the time, I run errands, and I keep busy at any number of things. I've been rediscovering the joy of mowing the lawn lately. (Makes me want a goat.) Last week I took on the job of registering Wakana's car. She was very grateful.

I am also working at cleaning up the clutter in this house. We have a small house and enough junk to fill up a medium to large house.

And I'm trying to write. It's nothing special. It's a fantasy (swords & magic) type story that's been whirling around in my head for a while. I'm having fun trying to put it all together.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 06:17 AM

The previous thread, BS: Continuing in Guam, is here.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 06:17 AM

Welcome back, Bret, don't be a stranger y'hear.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 06:22 AM

It's a funny thing about having a job like teaching. It tends to dominate all your time and eat up anything resembling a life. In the weeks since I quit I have been split between worrying about what I was forgetting to do and marveling at all the free time I have.

I hope to be back on the 'Cat more often now that I am an unemployed slug.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 06:47 AM

great to see you back, & most excellent you are planing to spend more time here.

tho are you calling all housewives/house-husbands slugs? Or is it just that you are an apprentice house-husband?

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 12:11 PM

Best of luck Brett !

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: EBarnacle
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 01:01 PM

Are you considering returning to The Mainland? [or is that Maineland?]

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: keberoxu
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 02:53 PM

Sounds like this past Christmastide was a dramatic one.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 07:54 PM

Hey! Long time, no hear! Good to see you here again!

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 17 - 02:14 AM

I echo the chorus: Good to see you here again!

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Feb 17 - 11:31 PM

EBarnacle, I will not be returning to the USA any farther than Guam in the foreseeable future. At least not until the political climate returns to some form of reasonable.

As it stands I am devoting some of my time to learning Japanese at last. If the last election did anything it drove me farther from the USA. Wakana's green card is up for renewal this year. If they refuse for some reason we will have to move to Japan. Wakana's parents claim they would be happy to house us.

As far as being a slug, that term applies only to myself and carries no disapprobation for anyone or anything else.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Feb 17 - 12:54 PM

Do consider, spouse of the worthy Wakana, how the US President-Elect treats with Japan before relocating there... just look at it first, that's all.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Feb 17 - 02:58 PM

Miss that whole inauguration thing, Kep? So far, Trumps seems to like Japan, but I would think his opinion wouldn't have anything to do with Brett moving there.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Feb 17 - 02:12 AM

I'm not worried about Japan except for the danger North Korea poses and I think China will keep that to a minimum... I hope. Certainly the United States is no longer a threat. The USA will be centered on its own internal problems and Trump has shown himself not to have enough backbone to stand up to any of the strong foreign powers out here.

Besides, Wakana's parents are getting older, they're both in their 80s, and may need us to come home to help.

Until then I am focused on the burning issue of what to make for supper.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 13 Feb 17 - 04:10 AM

If the North Korean rockets can even reach Guam (as their propaganda claims)you won't need to worry about supper!
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Feb 17 - 06:40 AM

As far as North Korea's nuclear threat goes I am not really concerned. I went to the nuclear destruction website (you knew there HAD to be one) to see what kind of destruction we would see. Believe it or not the destruction of the Airforce base would not extend to our village in the south. Even destruction of the Navy base would not cause a great deal of destruction where we are. If we go to Japan and NK targets Tokyo, we would be relatively safe in Wakana's home town.

If you want to see what would happen in your own area the site is Alex Weller's NukeMap

I have been through, what seemed to me at the time, terrible trials and tribulations. At least that's the way it seemed in the context of my own life. But looking at my life in the context of the people who have touched my time on Earth, directly or indirectly, I've had things pretty easy.

For example, one of Wakana's students, a high school sophomore, had an asthma attack at school and collapsed about 2 weeks ago. He has been in a coma ever since. We stopped by the hospital over the weekend. The kid's mother and several family members were there, of course. We met some other students waiting for more classmates. They were all going up as a group to sing a song to their friend. As it turned out they sang 3 songs. Wakana is very upset and worried. He was one of those students who stand out socially and academically.

This disturbs me on a couple of levels. Of course, there is the immediate concern for Wakana and the kid's family. Things don't look good. But I also remember the bad year, the year 2 of my own students died, the same year one of my best friends died. I was a basket case.

As another example, I suffered some nerve damage to my left arm a few years back. As a result I can no longer play my guitar. I was never particularly good with my guitar but I miss it. I cannot claim any great personal disaster but every time I drop something, every time I try to manipulate something small, every time I miss keys while trying to type, I am reminded of this personal tragedy. Yet, I am much, much better off than many who have suffered much worse.

It's all relative.

I've had a real-world education on my own capabilities in the last 2 days. A friend needed to replace an exterior door on a storage shed. I went to help him. I cannot believe how much that job took out of me! The first day was demolition and measurement, with planning. Then it started to rain… thankfully. Today we cut the door and placed it in the hole. And I am beat. I gotta get more exercise.

I am working outside my area of expertise. I am used to wood construction but the termites here in Guam make wood construction foolish. Even small pieces of wood stored outdoors become snacks for the little monsters. The wooden workbench my father made for me is getting pretty fragile. It will not survive.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Feb 17 - 06:42 AM

Should be Alex Wellerstein's NukeMap...

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Feb 17 - 12:58 PM

You are ahead of the game

In the continental states when a guy is unemployed(retired) a detailed survey revealed that he is watching some size screen, taking painkillers and he becomes a prime Trump supporter.


What ever you used to do really well you can now do better and more efficiently.

Things like using a little luck really well.

Funk always cuts down on risk taking.

A little risk cuts the funk.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Mar 17 - 11:35 PM

I got a message from Wakana telling me her student had died. It is so tragic to think of a promising young life cut short.

I was wrong about his age. He was not a sophomore but a senior. He was popular so his classmates are probably devastated.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 05:43 AM

give Wakana a hug from me

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 11:04 PM

Hugs from me, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Mar 17 - 03:51 AM

The political news from back home is discouraging. Every day there is another news item that seems like it should be coming out of Nazi Germany. This year Wakana has to renew her green card and we're worried she may have a problem doing so. We are ready to move to Japan if we need to. Wakana even has an idea about opening a private school for teaching English. Neither of us are employable in Japan because of our age.

I've been writing. It's nothing much, a fantasy story that came to me a while back. I am also putting finishing touches on a post-apocalypse novella (a long time after the apocalypse) and a story about an underground railroad station sneaking people out of the post-fundamentalist USA. I have a number of other ideas flitting around in my head but they've been in there so long I doubt they'll be able to stand the light of day.

My car is a problem. My headlights quit working a while back, they quit working if you use the turn signal. I waited a couple of weeks for the replacement part. After it arrived they installed it and still no headlights. The mechanic said something about the wires being "chewed". Turns out there is a nest of ants in the fuse box. They shorted out the system. The switch was covered by the warranty that just expired. The ant damage will not be.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Mar 17 - 07:05 AM

ants! maybe they are also chewing the plastic tubing on my telephone headset.

I hope Wakana is wrong about threats to her green card, but the only certainty about the political situation is that it is uncertain.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 12 Mar 17 - 07:27 PM

What Sandra said.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 03:27 AM

On February 5 I ordered a movie from Amazon for Wakana as a Valentine's Day present. According to them they sent it right out. By February 14 it had not yet arrived. By February 24 it had not yet arrived. By March 4 it had not yet arrived. Then I received a message from Amazon saying it had been "...lost in transit." The message said I should contact them about what to do. There was no contact information in the message.

Have you ever tried to contact a big corporation? They excel at hiding the necessary contact information on their website. I'm pretty sure it's there somewhere but I couldn't find it. All the links I clicked kept leading me back to their FAQ page.

So I waited.

Today, March 15, the movie arrived. It's been a month and 10 days since I ordered it.

The movie is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 08:53 AM

a very peculiar book -

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 08:53 AM

what I meant to type - it was a very peculiar book.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Amos
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 06:18 PM

Welcome to the ranks of the Truly Free, Brett. The Germans used to assert that work made them free, but that, we know now, is only true when the work is freely chosen and undertaken as choice.

The only things I find I am still enslaved by as a REtired Gentleman are three mysterious forces in the universe, which will not shake loose of me: Gravity, Entropy, and Honeydew.

So I am arranging for Entropy and Gravity to reroute Honeydew. My new slogan is:

"If a man says he'll take care of something, he will do it. There's no need to remind him every six months!". It may need a little PR work, though.

Regards,

Amos

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 09:37 PM

The reminder every six months is hell too!

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 09:41 PM

Sandra, we always watch the extra stuff they put on the DVD. With Miss Peregrine was an interview with the author. He built the novel on old B&W photos he found at flea markets. They show some of those pictures and they are very strange.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Mar 17 - 04:43 AM

for those who have not seen the book or film - Wikipedia gives almost everything away!

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Mar 17 - 08:12 AM

So, Brett, will you also be working some more on your singing, or storytelling?

Oh, you just missed out on another old-time Maine blizzard, with 1 to 2 feet of snow depending on where you live in this state. Here's a virtual snowball, coming at you!

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Mar 17 - 05:38 AM

Snow, Charley? I commented to Wakana earlier today that I don't feel the heat like I used to. It's quite liberating. I'm not sure I could readjust to the cold if I had to.

I am rereading Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of Saint Mary's, a set of books about a team of historical researchers based near London at some point in the future. The first book was published in 2013. The action takes place a little while after a civil war in England boots out a fascist government. There are comments about America closing its borders, again. She wrote this in 2012! Seems to be coming true.

Anyway, the researchers do NOT do time travel. They do historical research in contemporary time. I envy Ms. Taylor's ability to write likable characters who have a lighthearted funny method of interacting and mix that up with the fear and danger of being in another time. I love these books.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 06:17 PM

Wakana & I went to dinner with her new friends last night. The wife is Japanese and the husband is Taiwanese. They have two kids. The husband is a programmer and she is a college professor with a PhD in linguistics and anthropology. Once more I was the only monoglot at the table. They are in Guam for a short stay. She had stopped by the school to observe the Japanese language classes and met Wakana. Very nice time.

The kids are 5 and 7 years old. They immediately took to Wakana and she ended up playing with them most of the evening. Wore her out. She'd either forgotten or didn't know how much energy kids have.

There was a purpose to the meal. The professor wanted to know more about the island of Guam and the Chamorro people. Wakana volunteered me because I used to teach Guam history. I pulled up a timeline I'd made back then, updated it, and printed it out for her. I also printed out a schematic of the ancient Chamorro caste and class system. I gave her some sources to use for information.

The parents told us of some of their travels. They'd spent time in the USA, in California and Boston. They regularly traveled to Taiwan, of course.

A couple of years ago the little girl had a serious medical problem. Her heart stopped a couple of times and she had to spend 2 months hooked up to a machine that occasionally took on the work of the heart. She was also on dialysis for a time. Because Japan has universal health care the government paid the bills. The husband told me he'd seen one of the bills, $70,000. Their share was... $200.00.

The meal was a little surreal. I was at a table, with 2 Japanese and a Taiwanese and there kids. They were speaking in three languages, English for me, Japanese between Wakana and the mother, Japanese and Taiwanese between her and her husband and the parents and the kids. We were in a Mexican restaurant talking, in part, about the history of an island in the Pacific Ocean.

I love it here.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 11:01 PM

universal health cover is great & polyglots are also great!

sandra (another monoglot)

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 09:33 PM

Sounds like an interesting evening!

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Apr 17 - 08:09 PM

What I didn't make clear about that evening is that the older girl can speak Taiwanese and Japanese and knows a little English! I'm starting to feel inadequate.

Wakana starts her 2 week spring break today. That's her high school job. Unfortunately her university job had their break week before last so she has to go in to teach her college class every afternoon.

I need to figure out how to sell my guitars. There's almost nobody here who can appreciate my Haruo 12-string. The Little Martin would be no problem. Not so sure about the banitar. I don't feel right selling my first guitar so I'll probably keep that one.

Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Apr 17 - 11:47 AM

Brett-

It's always nice to pass musical instruments on to someone who will appreciate them, like a young student or an old friend. But failing to find one, selling them to anyone who has real money has a lot to be said for it.

Maybe it's worth putting a notice in the Base newsletter or whatever they call it.

Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Apr 17 - 12:50 AM

We've been experiencing problems with our cable company. The pictures keep freezing, some channels have disappeared, our wi-fi is not dependable, and the company doesn't seem to want to do anything about it.

So, last week I changed to another company. The installer showed up next day. Once they did the installation and I started using it I decided I was not happy with it. We lost one channel, the Nippon Golden Network, a channel that shows Japanese movies. It is mostly crappy movies, in Wakana's opinion, but sometimes we got to see a beautiful gem of a movie. There are a lot of changes from the old system but Wakana likes the new one. The picture seems clearer and we have most of the old channels we liked to watch just in different places.

I guess we'll keep it.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 07:53 AM

Look up! Apparently,North Korea is doing practice flyovers and carefully examining a missile strike on the island.

Stay safe, Brett and Wakana.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 09:05 AM

Perhaps that nice Mr Trump will go to Guam to help dig the shelters.
Or at least offer to go one-on-on with Mr Kim.
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 09:20 AM

No one would get hurt, as both Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim both have tiny little hands.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 09:25 AM

Oh yeah Rap? Lets get our priorities straight. Did Taylor Swift get her privates groped or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 10:49 AM

??????????????????????????
Sorry, Brett.
I was just trying to let you know that some of us are watching and concerned.
Much love to you and Wakana.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Mrrzy
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 02:20 PM

Time to go visit people, somewhere?

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 05:48 PM

I think if you want to talk to Brett, you'd find him easier on Facebook. He hasn't posted here since April, has had some significant stuff happen. I don't know if he'll check in here.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 10 Aug 17 - 04:17 AM

Somehow I seem to see Trump and Kim wrestling and both crying out "Mind the hair, mind the hair!"
If you're watching, Brett & Wakana, best wishes.
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Aug 17 - 09:39 PM

I'm here. No bombs yet. I live on the south end of the island and the bases are in the center and north. North Korea isn't able to put a very big warhead together yet so I'm not too concerned. Prevailing winds are west to east so fallout will go into the sea. Besides, nothing of real interest happens around me. That's why typhoons miss the island since I got here.

For those who haven't heard I had a stroke on July 6. It was very minor. I am recovering well. It reduced usage of my right side somewhat. Right after the stroke I couldn't walk and my right hand and arm was somewhat useless. I am walking without a walker though I tire easily. Recently I've started walking around the back yard. My right hand is coming back but handwriting is very difficult. Typing is hard too. It's largely a matter of targeting My fingers tend to come down on the wrong keys. Still, it could be worse.

At physical therapy the other day they gave me a sledge hammer and a giant tire. I was to drop the hammer on the tire, sidestep, and do it again. Boring, until I began a chanty to move me along. Soon the therapists were surprised to hear Huckleberry Hunting as I beat on the tire.

I cannot praise Wakana enough for the help and support she's given me. She is working herself to exhaustion some days and helping me on top of that. While I was in the hospital she rearranged the furniture and brought the queen bed into the living room so I could be next to the bathroom and in front of the TV. For a while she made me breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I can do breakfast and lunch on my own now. I even made supper twice now. Unfortunately, the preponderance of housework still falls on her shoulders while she teaches 10 to 11 hours Monday through Thursday and 7 hours on Friday PLUS working at home correcting papers and preparing lesson plans.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Aug 17 - 10:21 PM

who said teachers "only" work a short day & have lots of holidays?

I laughed at your description of physical therapy, singing is obviously good for your recovery. Does everyone who has a stroke beat up tires using sledgehammers, or do smaller folk get a smaller hammer, and maybe a bicycle tire??

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Aug 17 - 01:36 AM

The tire is a big 420 pound tractor tire. The sledge is a standard 8 pound hammer. I tried to set the tire up on edge but couldn't budge iit. The therapist told me it weighs 420 pounds. I said that was 10 pounds more than I can lift. Laughter ensued.

There are many exercises for stroke victims. He only put me to the tire because I was drawn to the sledge. I spent many hours in my youth driving fence posts with a similar hammer.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 20 Aug 17 - 02:59 AM

All the best for your continued recovery, Brett.
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Aug 17 - 03:09 AM

You would have been hitting down on the post, like any sensible person.

Some years back a multi-storey hotel was being converted to apartments & I watched a crew assembling units the size of buses into the framework for a lift (elevator) One of the blokes was on one knee while swinging such a sledgehammer horizontally to knock the peg of one into the hole of another - he could have been swinging a tennis racket!

sandra (who needs help to open a fruit juice bottle)

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 Aug 17 - 05:30 PM

Brett, I had no idea about your stroke--or I've forgotten that I knew! I'm glad that you are recovering. Keep at it, you hear!
And thank you, Wakana, for taking such good care of your husband who is also our friend.
Finally, I hope you and everyone on your island is safe from crazy people around the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Aug 17 - 10:26 PM

Yesterday we went grocery shopping. I decided not to use the walker, the wheelchair, or the motorized carts at the store. That was tough. We got home and I was totally worn out.

This summer has been a weird one. Normally we get very few thunderstorms every year. This year we seem to have them much more often. In fact this week we've had one nearly every day!

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 27 Aug 17 - 05:09 PM

Good going, Brett! I hope you recover quickly from your exertion.

Subject: RE: BS: Unemployed, uh, retired in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Aug 17 - 07:42 PM

I'll second that