News From Guam

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 05:59 PM

Hurray! Hurray! HURRAY!

It's so nice to hear that all that stuff is where it belongs. I had this nagging suspicion that it might all end up back here in Maine because someone couldn't read or understand the Guam address.

Good thing you got your stuff out of our basement in June. It's been so humid the last two weeks that the basement walls and some of the stuff down there is covered in black mold. We just scraped and blasted walls of the stuff.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 07:13 PM

Do they still have the dog track on Guam? Greyhounds? If so, I bet they still have some of the same mutts running that ate my money years ago. And go to one of the hotel penthouse bar/piano lounges overlooking Tumon bay for some interesting views of the storm cells. It really is amazing.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 10:11 PM

You triggered a memory, Brett. When hurricane Andrew hit Florida, I was on a cruise ship which gingerly picked its way around the huge storm. At night on deck I could see it off in the distance swirling and black occasionally lit up by lightening. It looked alive.

Did your LPs survive the heat? Last weekend I almost bought an LP which had warped itself into an ashtray shape when left in the sun. Almost but not quite. I advised the owner to put it up for sale on Ebay. Bet he makes a killing.

Silly question: what do you do about trash removal? Do you recycle? I had a heck of a time getting my cardboard into acceptable trash pick up shape.

Enjoy your new home.
Mary

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 09:40 PM

Brett, my dawg is still pondering the finer points of philosophy which you brought to light for him! **BG**

So glad to hear that your stuff has made it there, okay. Take your time and enjoy unwrapping your treasures!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 02:51 AM

Hmm, I sent a short post earlier today and it isn't here now. What is cyberspace doig with my words?

So, Charley, did you miss any of your stuff after I left? I noticed I wound up with one of your wooden folding chairs that was stored in that basement locker. I am NOT sending it back to you by mail. You'll have to wait till I move back to Maine.

Mary, trash is picked up by GovGuam. There is no recycling program that I can see. It was a big wrench the first few times I had to throw away a soda can. But the moving company will take away the empty boxes and loose paper. I will have a lot more room in my place after tomorrow.

I'm going to submit this and hope it goes through. I can't see writing a longer message if cyberspace is just going to eat it up.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 08:35 AM

Hey, I WANT that chair! You could always bring it to Sydney as "carry-on." You could explain to the flight attendants that you are the ex-chairman of Roll & Go, Inc.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 09:46 PM

Since I have the chair I cannot be considered an EX-chairman.

Have I mentioned the gekkos? I'm not sure how that is supposed to be spelled. I remember mentioning one in my hotel room but there is so much more to them. They are small, fast, and can run up the walls. I haven't seen one on the ceiling yet. When you walk through the grass you can see them running away, long low shapes scurrying across the lawn. This morning I had to help one out of the kitchen sink before I could wash the dishes. He had lost his tail so it had been a hard day already. They run with a wonderful wiggling motion so it almost seems as though they were snaking along instead of running.

They are brown but they have some limited chameleon ability. On a light color they lighten up to a pale tan and on dark colors they darken down to a deep brown. Last night I noticed one on the living room window racing up and down the typhoon shutters chasing some flying insect.

My neighbor, the big spider outside the front door, I've named Charlotte (what else?). Last night I noticed her moving around, possibly repairing the web, possibly trying to grab something that blundered into her trap. I wonder how long spiders live around here?

I hear laughter from the other room. People are gathering for lunch. I guess I'll go get some lunch and join in the fun.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 09:54 PM

Well, Brett, one thing about moving to such a remove is that there is a strong incentive to enjoy being there, because moving away again is a major piece o' work! This was very clever of you. And it sounds like there is more than enough there to make life quite enjoyable.

This thread has been a source of constant pleasure to me, Thanks for keeping it up!


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 11:43 PM

Lunch was a hoot. There is one woman, small with quick movements and an infectious laugh. She had us cracking up. That is a fun group.

One thing I haven't talked about much is the office. I arrived on June 12. Since then the entire management team has changed. That may not be too unusual in the corporate world but I got used to stability in my last job. Now there is a whole bunch of us with no "corporate knowledge" to rely on. It's very strange and makes the job that much more of a challenge.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 03:51 AM

As I have said before I now have all my stuff. Yesterday I brought my little stereo into work and a box of CDs. It's been difficult in the office without music. For some reason the Public Radio station cannot penetrate this building.

So, anyay, I have been working my way through this box of CDs, remembering the great music I have picked up. Then the changer rotated around a few moments ago to Castlebay's Down To The Shore. Julia and Fred are singing as I type and I feel so homesick. I was doing fine but this has got to me.

On the home front the gas company was supposed to deliver gas today so I should be able to cook tonight. I think I'll make spaghetti. It's been a long time since I had any. Thinkiing of that made me look at the clock and I just realized it's almost 6:00 PM! I need to get out of this office now and again.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 09:09 PM

Well, that was a bust. The gas company didn't deliver. They showed up to change out the bottle and found there was no bottle to take away. And my check wasn't large enough to cover the deposit for a bottle and regulator.

On Saturday the cable company was supposed to hook up the TV. They didn't show at all.

However, I did get through a lot of boxes and found a bunch of stuff I've been looking for. I even found some stuff I didn't know I had including a box left behind by my girlfriend in 2000 when she left me for another man. Interesting lack of emotion when I found that.

I guess my adventure in taking a break into mundane things. I haven't been doing much of anything lately. By the time I get home from work I am too tired to go back out into the world. At 10:00 I go off to bed so I can relax and listen to the neighbor's dog bark without any of the distractions of the radio or TV. That dog seems to think it has a lot to say. We've all known people like that, those who seem to think the world has to hear their voice. This dog must think the world is vastly improved by the sound of a barking dog.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 09:39 PM

Perchance, the dog is namd Guest -- Tom

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 09:56 PM

I found a present for you dad! It fits perfectly into everything you say about Kelli and I and you can pin it to your hat or bag hehehehhehe i'll send it when i get to school with a nice long letter detailing my trip on amtrack. Oh, I have a question for all you people who have ever taken Amtrack. If you have a connecting train, lets say I have a lay over in DC and then have to get on another train to get to school, do I move my own bags from one train to the other or is that done for me like on a plane???

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 10:03 PM

Amy, you should make that a separate thread. Put it into the BS threads and ask your question.

Now, it's after 10:00 PM where you are so turn out the lights and go to bed. (Dads have to say things like that.)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 10:54 PM

..but the answer is, I think, YOU take care of your bags on a train, unless you have specifically arranged for them to be shipped. Then they travel in a baggage car ...if you have too many to carry, keep what you need and ship the others.

(Hi, Brett...fancy meeting YOU in this thread! You were just over in the FSGW thread!)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,Trainman
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 11:59 PM

just like on a plane: you check your baggage in at your point of departure and it is waiting for you there at your destination--if you carry it on, you must carry it with you--

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 08:32 AM

Brett - loved the description of the dog - so true. And waiting for deliveries/tradespersons - it's the same everywhere.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 08:58 AM

A ballad of unending domestic upheaval by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann ©1959. Performed in the musical revue At the Drop of a Hat

The Gas Man Cometh


'Twas on a Monday morning the Gas man came to call
The gas tap wouldn't turn, I wasn't getting gas at all
He tore out all the skirting board to try to find the main
And I had to call a carpenter to put it back again
Oh, it all makes work for the working man to do

'Twas on a Tuesday morning the carpenter came round
He hammered and he chiseled and he said: 'Look what I've found
Your joists are full of dry rot but I'll put it all to rights'
Then nailed right through a cable and out want all the lights
Oh, it all makes work for the working man to do

'Twas on a Wednesday morning the electrician came
He called me 'Mr. Sanderson', which isn't quite my name
He couldn't reach the fuse box without standing on the bin
And his foot went through a window so I called a glazier in
Oh, it all makes work for the working man to do

'Twas on a Thursday morning the glazier came along
With his blow-torch and his putty and his merry Glazier's song
He put another pane in, it took no time at all
But I had to get a painter in to come and paint the wall
Oh, it all makes work for the working man to do

'Twas on a Friday morning the painter made a start
With undercoats and overcoats he painted every part
Every nook and every cranny but I found when he was gone
He'd painted over the gas tap and I couldn't turn it on
Oh, it all makes work for the working man to do

On Saturday and Sunday they do no work at all,
So 'Twas on a Monday morning the Gas man came to call!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 03:55 AM

The mundane has caught up with me. For those hardy souls still following this thread I am immersed in overwork, unpacking, house cleaning, and other mundane tasks that leave me no time for exploring this tropical paradise. How could this happen?

Sigh, here it is 6:00 PM and I am still at work. I started at 7:30 this morning. In a little while I will leave here and go forth to do laundry and some grocery shopping. Supper tonight will be an exotic Subway sandwich while sitting outside the laundromat.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 10:32 PM

Not much news to report. I heard from the Traditional Seafaring Society that they have located a log big enough to build a canoe. This weekend they will be dragging it out of the woods so I hope to get up there to join them. Otherwise I need to keep on unloading the boxes in my house. Plus I need to get my wood shop set up. I want to get into production soon and start churning out bookshelves. Once I have two or three of them built then I can start building the boat.

Back to work...

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 11:09 PM

I know just how you feel, Brett. Here I am, supposedly in a lake community. Not only haven't I seen the lakes, I've hardly stuck my nose out the door. I've been trying so hard to get the unpacking & work on the house done before school starts. Well, the good news is that I'm about out of time. School starts Tuesday, bright & early. Frankly, I think it will be good to be back to a routine. If it ain't done now, to heck w/ it!

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 03:28 AM

Amen, sister!

But I am going to play a bit this weekend. That is, when I'm not in here at the office. If anyone tries to tell you that civil servants are lazy leeches on the public treasury you can tell them that may have been so in the old days but we earn our daily bread now and then some. Like private industry we've been "right sized" to the point that there are too few people for way too much work. The taxpayers are getting a deal.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 08:48 AM

Our office is cutting at the moment - we don't have the money! BS - they do, they just think it won't last all year, then towards the end of the financial year (June 30 here) they will say, ooops, we've got money left, we'd better spend it.

In the mean time, voluntary reduncies are being offered, vacancies are not being filled & my poor interstate colleague was told by his bosses to work 25% harder. He sounded exhausted the day I called him - what with lack of staff & stuffed technology life is hard.

Since the office changed to Windows XP his system takes 14 minutes to search for a record & as you could imagine they have a huge backlog. The IT folks say it will get better. If you manage to survive, I said.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:25 AM

Say, Brett, isn't September the end of your fiscal year? You do have to spend all them millions left in your accounts. How about earmarking a few thousand for quality musical entetainment? Roll & Go's probably overbooked but there might be a few Mudcatters of interest. Just a suggestion from a taxpayer.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 05:41 PM

Yes, Brett, regardless of what I *should* be doing, I plan to play a little, too. It has pretty much been an all work summer--no good for teachers! Saturday is committed to the college move-in, but, Sunday evening, a friend is coming over &, on Monday, we're going to the local county fair. Should be a nice breather before the whirlwind of opening day at school!

best to us all,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 01 Sep 03 - 10:08 PM

Um, dad? Did you know i've been trying to get in touch with you for like a week and all that ever happens is that I get Steve Collins' voice mail. I even e-mailed you and you didn't answer so, like, how do I find you???

~Amy~

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Sep 03 - 11:00 PM

Hi Kid!

I've been wondering where you were. I will email you the correct phon number. My home phone is not hooked up yet and the only email addresses that work are the Yahoo address and my work address. I will email all of those to you too. Look for the message.

Dad

As for the rest of you...

Yes, Charley, the end of the fiscal year is upon us. It is a time of high stress, unhappy people demanding too much from too few, with too little to compensate them for the reduced life style and time off. Life's a bitch in September. I can't wait to retire so I can finally enjoy what used to be my favorite month of the year.

As you enjoy that fair, Barb, please take a few moments to think of me here in a land without country fairs. I love them, wandering the grounds every year looking at the animals and displays of farm produce. There is an excited bustle in the fairway while the horse and tractor pulls add their own sound and smell.

Sandra, they are now downsizing again, leaving us with even fewer people. Only four years till retirement....

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Sep 03 - 11:08 PM

;-D

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 09:39 AM

Brett - they're not going to downsize you back to Maine are they? You've barely unpacked!

I can also retire in 4 years as I'll get a bit more money if I retire at 55 rather than 60, but as my accountant neighbour says it'll be 10% of nothing as I'm not on a high salary. I can remember starting work & it doesn't seem like 33 years ago ...

What else ya up to, apart from doing the work of 3 or 4 people?

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 07:01 PM

That's the problem. I haven't been doing anything at all. My adventure has been sunk by the torpedo of the mundane. It's amazing how much of our day is eaten up by such a simple thing as life in a house. When I was living in a hotel room with few possessions and no kitchen (and maid service) I had all kinds of time to get out and see the island. Actually I NEEDED to get out of that room. Now, with a house full of possessions and a kitchen and cooking and cleaning and a job that eats up 8 to 10 hours a day I am back in the same rut I tried to escape.

Note to self: There's no need to escape the country to escape the rut. Just ditch all your possessions and move into a hotel.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 09:29 PM

And, no, I will not be downsized, rightsized, or any size other than triple extra large. I am in a career field that the Government cannot do without. They are stuck with me for the duration.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 10:12 PM

Hey, Brett,

I saw my 1st tractor pull at the fair. At 1st, it seemed kind of dull, but then I started to get into it. This was a smallish fair, but we had a good time. If I want to smell manure, though, I can do that from my new home (fertilizing all those corn fields!)!

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 10:53 PM

Ah yes, the sweet smell of manure, liberally spread behind the tractor. I remember driving the tractor and spreading the manure when I was a kid. What a job. We had to do it that way to keep the manure pile from getting large enough to spontaneously combust and burn down the barn. I have vivid memories of standing on a large pile, in the winter, forking the manure out to find the hot spot. My hands and head were cold but my feet were hot from the fire burning in the heart of the pile.

I really understood being in hot sh*t that day.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 11:27 PM

Brett, sounds like you've got the moving-in-honeymoon's-over kind of blues, but the good news is, once you've settled in, it smooths out and you can pick up the adventuring again, maybe not as intensely, but still getting out.

I often get after Rog because we've been here over a year, still have things to "go through" and haven't done half of the things we've meant to, but...we do let the dust, dirty dishes, and other housework wait to get out and have some fun on the weekends. I know what you mean about not wanting to do anything after work, though. He's the same way, by the time he gets home and has dinner he just wants to rest and relax.

Have you heard of any more music events to plan for? And, just think...your trip to Oz isn't really that far away!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 12:36 AM

True, Kat, Oz is just 'round the corner. AND there is the FSGW Getaway to plan for as well. That coincides with my daughter's fall break from college (in Virginia) and a class I have to take in Maryland. Coincidences are great! Sometimes the Goddess Of Time comes down on your side.

I'll be better once I can access the web from home.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 02:55 AM

Too cool! I just talked to Larry and heard confirmation of something I heard elsewhere. There are a whole bunch of chants used by the Chamorros for moving the canoes into the water, for blessing the canoe, for calling the wind, etc. Tomorrow I am headed up to meet with the Seafarers. I hope to collar Manny and get him to teach me a chant or two. Maybe I can assimilate it in time to bring it to the Getaway.

So there! Music at last.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 09:03 AM

Brett-

Whatever happened to your truck,or are the windshield wipers still misfiring?

You're lucky that you didn't pick Bermuda. There's one Hell of a hurricane baring down on that island now.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 10:20 AM

That's very kewl about the chants, Brett! I didn't know you were going to make it to the Getaway. That's wonderful!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 02:55 AM

Charley, Bermuda can have its hurricanes. We've been missed by three typhoons and enjoyed two tropical storms. We are always within 72 hours of having a typhoon come ashore. We don't get all the warning that youguys get for the Atalntic hurricanes. Typhoons form in the ocean just to the east of us.

Yesterday I went to a meeting of the Traditional Seafarer's Society. We met at Manny's house in Dededo where we sat under the carport and drank sodas and beer while we talked out some of the issues the club is facing. It appears I've been drafted as a member. Not only that I have been appointed chair of the Lines Committee. My task is to mobilize my committee to take the lines of the Mailea, an outrigger canoe that is slowly rotting in the sun down by one of the hotels. For those who don't know "taking the lines" is the method whereby you record the shape of a boat. And no, I don't know how to do it but I do have two articles from WoodenBoat magazine on doing it.

Anyway, after the meeting Frank brought out some box lunches so I had tapioca and barbecue pork for my lunch. That wasn't tapioca pudding either. The tapioca had the texture of potato and I would have mistaken it for a spud except that it was yellow and had a different flavor.

While we were eating I talked with Manny and explained that I wanted to learn some Chamorro chants, especially those used while working, getting the canoe into the water, and such activities. He is interested in the project and agreed to work with me. Now I have to find my tape recorder.

Today I finally got to do some construction for the first time in a long time. I had to build a mailbox post. It went together very nicely and is now waiting for the concrete to dry before I put it in place.

Good weekend!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 10:01 AM

Brett-

Maybe you can speed up the process of "taking the lines down" with a digital camera. At least that should give you an accurate profile of the canoe's overall dimensions. Then you could saw the canoe into cross-sections and photograph each one...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 06:25 PM

Hmm, sawing a famous watercraft into sections doesn't seem to be the best idea, Charley. The Mailei is considered the fastest of the sailing canoes. She regularly made the 45 mile passage between Guam and Rota in only 4 hours.

I learned something interesting today. Last Monday there was a notice that soup and sandwiches would be avaiable on Wednesday. I ordered an egg salad sandwich and a cup of soup figuring that would make a nice lunch.

Today the food arrived. I was at my desk this morning when they called me down. I was surprised to say the least. It was 8:00 AM and I had my soup. I asked about this and they explained it was for breakfast. I explained I had already eaten cereal, toast, and orange juice for breakfast. the woman made a face and told me that was no breakfast. Here on Guam soup and sandwiches are for breakfast. She laughed at the idea of having them for lunch.

I love the differences between places and peoples.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 09:12 PM

This reminds me of the tale of the retired Colonel, who being offered a great assortment of eggs, rashers, sausages,kedgeree, toast, etc., was wont to exclaim:

"You call this a breakfast? Bring me a plate of underdone roast beef and a tankard of ale!"

Personally, I could be quite contet with either -- Tom

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 09:49 PM

Ground breaking stuff on both fronts, Brett!! Hooray on ya!


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 11:06 PM

We just had another fun lunch around the big table. I had fried chicken and rice with fine dene sauce from the little cafeteria downstairs. They put more hot peppers in their fine dene so my rice was spicier than usual. Plus there was a jar of some condiment that took off the roof of my mouth when I tried it. I passed it to one of my companions who calmly spooned a bunch of it on to her tuna fish sandwich.

They got to talking about various foods they had eaten and described one of Guam's favorite dishes, fruit bat. Apparently these bats, which are endangered now, are stewed whole, wings, fur and all. One woman described her mother eating the wings. And the young man at the end of the table, a Philipino, told of seeing someone preparing dog for dinner. He described how they bashed it on the head and were burning off the fur when the dog woke up. Not a good topic for the dinner table.

We topped off the meal with betel nut. I managed to chew mine up but felt no rush or other effect except that my mouth dried out and my saliva began to run fast. I had to rinse my mouth several times to get it out. I don't know what they see in that stuff.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 04:45 PM

Whats a betel nut? Oh, guess what dad? I get to play D&D again...fun huh? I found a group here in lynchburg at Lynchburg College that has invited me to join. *wicked grin*

~Amy~

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 06:26 PM

Oh, daughter dear, I forgot you were reading this. Please forgive your father for trying the local lifestyle including the DRUGS! *grin*

Actually betel nut is something the island peoples have used for generations. There are special cutters, they look a little like scissors, for cutting the nut and rousing the kernal from the husk. Then they cut the kernal up into pieces and pass them around. Apparently it gives you a mild rush. It didn't seem to affect me.

The more dedicated (or addicted) of the betel nut chewers add lime and tobacco and wrap the whole thing in some kind of leaf. Yesterday at lunch Nando mentioned that the people of Palau chew the nut when it is green because they believe it is stronger. Nando says it is only more bitter and harder to chew.

I can only say it must be a learned taste. And I don't think I have what it takes to learn that taste.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 06:26 PM

What a fun weekend. Saturday I headed up to Dededo to join the Seafarers for wood cutting. Unfortunately it started to rain and being as how I have not yet managed to get the wipers fixed I had to pull off into a convenient parking lot, which just happened to be in front of American Music.

American Music is a good size music store with plenty of acoustic guitars and small sampling of electric guitars and bases, a bunch of keyboards and the miscellaneous extras that every decent music shop should include. Since I was stuck there for an indeterminate time I wandered in to look at the guitars. They have Taylor, Gretsch, Yamaha, and a few others. There is also a selection of ukeleles. I asked and they agreed to let me play around with a few of the guitars. The Gretsch had a nice lively sound. I've never been a fan of Taylors but that's because they are so ubiquitous.

I arrived at Manny's house just as the heavens opened up again. There were several people already gathered under the carport. Obviously we weren't going to get any wood cut that day. We conducted a business meeting instead, talking over the rain, thunder, and the military jets flying circles overhead.

The best news at the meeting was that the Solo had turned up with her crew safe and sound. Solo is another large ocean canoe. She set out with a crew of five for Pikelot to hunt turtles. No one had seen her since and she was five days overdue for her return. As it turns out she met a long liner (fishing boat) who offered them a tow. They accepted but there was a misunderstanding of destination. There are two islands with very different names on the charts but the Chamorro names are very similar. The crew asked for Pikalot but were taken to West Felial which is called Pikel on the charts. They had a tough time getting back to where they belonged.

The rain kept on all afternoon. I persuaded my wipers to work finally and made my way home.

Sunday was pretty so I headed out. I needed cleaning supplies and a set of shelves for my towels so I headed for the Exchange. I stopped at the furniture store on the base and bought a table for $119.00 so I can now eat my meals like a human being. Then I headed home.

Along the way I realized that I hadn't really had any adventures lately so instead of taking my left for Cross Island Road I took the long way home, around the southern tip of the island. I drove down through Agat, Umatac, Malesso, Inarajan, Talafofo, Ipan, and Yona. All along the way I saw crowds of cars at houses as families gathered to barbecue and talk.

Before I got to the village center of Umatac I saw a turn out labeled "Mountain Overlook". I pulled off to take a look.

I haven't adequately described the mountains of Guam. They are pretty spectacular. Sure, they don't hold a candle to the really dramatic ranges in the world but they can hold their own in any comparisons you'd like to make. Where I stood I was in a semicircle of rough high peaks and deep gorges and valleys. The higher and steeper ground was covered by grass and looked from a distance like a covered of green velour. The lower ground was covered by jungle and looked for all the world like green woolly sheepskin. There is very little open rocky ground. Where the rocks show through they are black patches grinning out through the green covering. Where erosion has scoured away the green the dirt shows bright brick red. Trust me, we are talking one beautiful sight.

On the hills overlooking Umatac I saw another turn out. I pulled in to find I had discovered Guam's Viet Nam Memorial. It wasn't much to look at but the view is very nice. There is a covered cabana and there were a couple of young men playing guitars and singing while they sat on the stone wall looking down on Umatac Bay. I listened, while pretending to look at the view, until they started to drop notes and I realized I was cramping their style so I moved on.

In Umatac I saw a family fiesta going on and stopped to watch fishermen working their nets in Umatac bay. Just before the old Spanish bridge (which is neither old or Spanish) I saw three carabao lazily pulling at grass from tethers. I guess I have to agree with my daughter. They are kind of cute. They aren't really black, or maybe they are but they must also be really dirty. They are a kind of dusty brown black color.

I wanted to stop at the Inarajan Pools but they were crowded with another fiesta going on in the cabanas so I cruised on by. I was getting pretty hungry and every once in a while I would float through the smoke of another barbecue. I started to have visions of a plate full of barbecued pork, beef and chicken. I determined to stop at Jeff's Pirates Cove for lunch.

At Malesso I saw a substantial road running off to the left (inland) and a sign saying "Hilltop Store Pugua 6/$1.00". I turned left. I drove uphill for what seemed like an hour. In Guam when you drive uphill you are really driving uphill. The roads can be so steep you feel yourself pressing back into your seat. This was like that. At the top I came out into what had once been a promising housing development. There were roads curving here and there and the view was staggering. If not for the utility poles it would have been worthy of a postcard. Spread out below was Cocos Lagoon with the great Pacific Ocean out to the distant horizon. Unfortunately no one had bothered to finish building the neighborhood. There were a few houses and one under construction but mostly the area was open grass land.

I followed the roads around until one dead ended in a field. I parked the truck and got out. Off in the distance I could see a knoll that looked as though it promised a view. There was something that looked like a blue-green couch balanced on the top.

There was a car track running through muddy ground in the right direction so I walked out, slipping in the mud and avoiding the puddles as best I could. Closer to the knoll the ground was drier. The grass is not your standard lawn variety. This grass is tough, wide bladed, and grows to knee and waist height. I could feel is cutting at my bare legs and was glad I'd worn my sneakers instead of my sandals. Note to self, shorts are not the right outfit for wading through the grass.

At the top of the knoll I found the remains of at least two bonfires and many empty beer cans. The blue-green object was indeed a couch hauled there, I suspect, as the ultimate make out spot for the view is superlative. At my feet was the village of Malesso while the Cocos Lagoon lay with its blue and green water out to Cocos Island and surrounded by the surf pounding on the reef. There were sailboats moored and a jet ski made silent curves across the surface. In the distance I could hear roosters crowing, you are never far from chickens on Guam, and the rattle of the grass in the breeze. From somewhere below came the tiny roar of a weed whacker. The breeze was warm and the sun was hot and the day was gorgeous.

The rest of the trip was nice but had been overshadowed by that view. I blew by Jeff's and headed home to put my new furniture together.

Today at lunch we talked about Malesso and how that village was named after the esso, the juvenile rabbit fish. I learned that the Chamorro have many names for fish. They apparently have names for the different stages of development. I looked in a Chamorro-English dictionary the other day and noticed that the entry for fish runs on for at least a page and a half. It's like Eskimos and their fifty words for snow.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 01:20 AM

Brett, wonderful descriptions, again!! And, so glad you're going to learn some chants, too! Thanks so much for sharing!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 04:00 AM

By the way, I just learned at lunch today that the record cold temperature on Guam was about 55 degree F. I'm glad I brought the winter coat. Where's my ice scraper?

Actually my ice scraper is next to my front door. Every once in a while I touch it and say, "Not today, buddy."

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 09:27 AM

Did you pack your snow shovel! Here in Maine we're gearing up for our first frost.

Have a nice downpour...

Charley Noble