News From Guam

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 09:17 PM

Hey dad, I was just listening to Stan Rogers and I realized that sometimes you sound like him when you sing! Isn't that cool?

~Amy~

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 08:03 AM

Amy, I'm pleased to know that as I'm a fan of Stan Rogers.

Hurry up November

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 08:47 PM

Well, Sandra, it's been a long time since she heard me sing. I doubt that I sound that much like him. But I do enjoy his music and I have a number of his songs in my head. Is there anything you'd like me to do while I'm there?

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 08:52 PM

No luck on the computer. I have my old one set up but it's slow as molasses. I've never known if the speed of the computer affects the speed of communication with the internet but this thing takes forever to work with.

As for the toe, I stubbed it on a box in the back bedroom. Fortunately I have some nerve damage in my feet so I only feel severe pain. I feel nothing on the surface. The end result is that I can acknowledge the impact of a stubbed toe but I don't know if any real damage has occurred until the inner workings start to hurt.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 09:16 AM

Brett - the Dog audience is famous for it's singing & it's been a long time since we sang Mary Ellen Carter - and of course we wouldn't object to Barrett's Privateers, either!

isn't it amazng how technolog ages - 2 years in any other "whitegoods" is a young pup, in a computer it's prehistoric

sandra (using a prehistoric laptop)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 10:27 AM

How about "Northwest Passage"?

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 10:37 AM

Sandra and JennyO-

We may add a part of "Mary Ellen Carter" to one of our songs, with the assistance of some Roaring Forties members. Guess which one, Brett!

;~)
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 12:58 AM

I know which one you are talking about. I've been trying to play that song on the guitar but you put too many chords with too many short changes in it. Sigh, I guess I'll never be able to play it.

Tomorrow the Traditional Seafarers Society will be helping out at the Every Husbands Nightmare Arts and Crafts Fair. We will be helping people get set up and helping out at the door as well. In exchange for that we can set up a booth of our own explaining what we do and offering raffle prizes and a silent auction. The following list are the raffle prizes:

Live Pig about 50 Pounds (for cooking or as a pet)
$50.00 gift certificate for the Hyatt
$50.00 gift certificate for Sam Choys
Framed Judy Flores Print
Framed Castro Print
TSS Polowat Guam Poster
TSS Pagan Poster
L. Joseph fish carving

The silent auction has the following items:

Water Filtration System (over $200 in value)
Framed Judy Flores Print
Framed Castro Print
TSS Polowat Guam Poster
Ifet (Ifil) clock
L. Joseph carving ifet
L. Joseph kamyu

This should be lots of fun. I have committed to the whole day. I plan to take a guitar and sit back and play and watch the people.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 10:17 AM

Brett-

Seems like there ought to be a theme song for the "Every Husbands Nightmare Arts and Crafts Fair." Has anyone composed one? If so, I'd like to see a few verses. Maybe you could adapt the "Wild West Show." You know, "Over on this table, ladies and gentlemen, is the 'ifet.' Isn't it won-der-ful! Just the thing for spicing up your patio or headboard! Place your bid now on the dotted line. And don't be embarrassed to bid high!"

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 10:34 AM

Every Husbands Nightmare Arts and Crafts Fair

I have to say that if this is REALLY the name of the event that they have FAR better senses of Humour on Guam then in any place I've ever lived!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: curmudgeon
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 10:43 AM

Brett, how do Guamians define "Every Husbands Nightmare?"

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 01:46 PM

Dad! Lets get the live pig and keep it as a pet! I know how much you want a pet to keep you company in Guam! hehehe

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 04:48 PM

Never own anything you have to feed or paint! - U. Utah Philips

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 07:08 PM

I guess you can't own a boat. :-)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 11:15 PM

Well, there may be at least one exception to the rule.

Besides, you can have a pet if you give up your ambitions and stay home to take care of it. Just tell your room mates and friends that you are leaving school to flip burgers in the excessive heat and humidity of Guam.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 07:16 AM

I left the house ythis morning to help out with the crafts show. I didn't know what to expect so I took a cooler with soda, a comfortable folding canvas chair, and my guitar. I got there a lttle early and helped Doc Cunningham set up our booth with the prizes, the display boards, and the signs. Then the crafters began to arrive and we turned to helping them. There were some very interesting crafts. There was the usual run of scrap book artists, stampers, and hand made stuffed toys. There was one booth dedicated to selling... tupperware. One was the Mary Kay booth with women dressed to the nines, wearing heels, and all made up. They made for a startling contrast to the people in jeans and T-shirts. There was one booth that specialized in grass skirts and traditional jewelry. One guy had a combination of handmade wood toys, coconut fiber batik hangings, and products woven from palm fronds.

The people were surprised and grateful when we came forward to help them load into the building. I guess they'd been told about it but hadn't expected such a crew to actually show up. We got them into place in record time and the show opened well but we worked up quite a sweat doing the job.

Once we were done I headed out to the post office and to get my visa for my Australia trip. Then I drove up to the Air Force Exchange to look around and finally headed home. I went south along the eastern side of the island, not a usual route, and noticed some fun things. There is an old gray lifeboat in a neighbors yard up on Cross Island Road. I noticed an odd bridge back off the main road. It doesn't seem to have any purpose. The local costume shop was crowded. Apparently the island really gets into the celebration of Halloween.

I think tomorrow is All Souls' Day. From what I've heard it is roughly analogous to Decoration Day back in the southern USA. The people go out to the cemetaries to clean the graves of their loved ones, picnic, and pray for their souls. I was told to go out and drive by a few cemetaries.

This seems like a good point to mention some of the death customs here. The newspaper doesn't just print obituaries. What you see in the paper is a large block with a picture of the deceased and the announcement of the death. But it doesn't just give the particulars. Instead it will say something like, "Joe Smith has joined his grandmother, Sally Smith and grandfather, George Smith, his former wife mary Smith, his brother, Allen Smith....." It then goes on to give the funeral details. On certain anniversaries of the death the survivors will hold a rosary where they will pray for the deceased person. The rosary, I hardly need tell you, is a gathering of friends and family and features food and music as well as the prayers. These are Chamorros after all.

Later in the afternoon I returned to the craft show to help the crafters pack out. Once again they were surprised and grateful. I learned that the Seafarers had made upwards of $500 on the silent auction and raffle. The live pig went to Frank, one of our group, so I hope to be invited to a pig roast soon. I never did need to stuff I took with me.

And that finished off my day. I had a lovely time except that my broken toe and arthritic knee threw a bit of a crimp into my activities. Such is life!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 08:14 AM

By the way, I was driving home tonight and a bug hit my windshield. Now, that might not seem odd to most of you but there are no bugs here that are attracted to light. You can leave a light burning outside and there will be no flock of moths flying around it. The reason I noticed the bug on my windshield was that it was the first one since I got here.

Seagulls. I live on an island. You would think I would see plenty of seabirds. There are none. I haven't seen a gull since I left the east coast.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 11:32 AM

No bugs? Thats it! I'm moving to Guam! hehehe...

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 05:47 PM

I didn't say there were no bugs. There seem to be no bugs that are attracted by light. There are plenty of bugs. I have a very persistent ant colony somewhere that seems fascinated by my kitchen counter. I am always finding scouts running around looking for my leftovers. This morning I went downstairs to find a huge cockroach dead on the floor. But then, it should be OK for you, dear. Wasn't Joe's Apartment one of your favorite movies?

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 05:49 PM

By the way, JennyO, Northwest Passage is one of my specialties...

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 06:40 PM

OK, I have worked out an itinerary to get me to Sydney. Still working on the Sydney to ?? travel plans.

Depart Guam        13-Nov-03        7:55 PM        
Arrive Cairns        14-Nov-03        12:25 AM        
Depart Cairns        18-Nov-03        8:35 AM        
Arrive Brisbane        19-Nov-03        3:55 PM        
Depart Brisbane        19-Nov-03        7:00 PM        Coach (bus)
Arrive Murwillumbah        19-Nov-03        8:45 PM        
Depart Murwillumbah        19-Nov-03        9:50 PM        XTP
Arrive Sydney        20-Nov-03        11:38 AM

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 08:45 PM

Yea..and Bad Mojo was one of my fave. computer games. Cockroaches arn't bad as long as they let me know they are around. Mayhaps we can pretend we are on Survivor and eat a couple of them. Or how about you eat a couple of them and I'll take amusing pictures of it.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 11:57 PM

You know, sweetheart, we are in a public forum here and you should remember all those lessons in respect your mother and I tried to instill in you. You wouldn't want anyone to think you were a disrespectful punk would you?

Really guys, she is sweet and kind and loving and... Well, she's USUALLY a good kid.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 09:13 AM

Well Brett, you simply MUST do Northwest Passage at the Loaded Dog then.

We had a singer called Dave Alexander who died a few years ago. It was one of the songs he was well known for leading, and always gets a huge response whenever it is sung.

The Dog is well known for its singing audiences - when in full flight they are a wonder to behold - and they should raise the roof with this one!

Jenny

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 06:36 PM

OK, I'll see if Charley will let me do Northwest Passage.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 07:57 AM

The famous singing Dog audience will be augmented by the Shiny BUms, who also sing up a storm.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:29 PM

Daughter dear, you should see the young Chamorro men. Dark skinned with dancing dark eyes, muscular bodies, and long black hair usually pulled back into a pony tail. There's one kid in particular, 19 years old, going to college here on the island. Nice kid. You'll like him. *grin*

Fruit cake! These people like fruit cake! Not only do they like it but it is the preferred cake for wedding cakes! Today at lunch one of the group brought in some left over cake from a retirement party and it was frosted fruit cake. They got to talking about what they preferred and what they each had at their respective weddings. Imagine a four layer frosted wedding cake made out of fruit cake. They must have needed a fork lift to carry it in to the hall!

By the way, I love fruit cake.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 06:20 AM

Brett, if you like fruit cake, you'll find a lot of it here - christmas cakes are always fruit cake. Many years ago the females in my family made a beauty - it was supposed to have one portion of brandy but Mum, Nan & Aunty all put some in. It was rich!!

Australian wedding cakes are generaly fruit cake too, with lotsa' very decorative icing usually over a thick layer of almond?? paste. But folks only eat very small slices! And they are often several distinct layers, one of which can be kept for an anniversary or christening.

Decorative = flowers & other things made of the same icing, very fancy, very rich. Somewhere in my old photos I have pictures of prize winning cakes at the Royal (Agricultural Show) - so much work, then someone EATS it!

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Lana
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 06:38 AM

Hi Dad!
I'm glad you've got your Austrailia trip set. Make sure you take lots of pictures! :-)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 09:03 AM

Yay for hot men! Are you sure you want me there for the summer? *grin* Don't worry, I'll be good. I'm shy when I meet guys. Yes, can believe it? I said I am shy!

I don't like fruit cake! Ah! I'm gonna be living on an island of fruit cake for 3 months? I'll make sure never to get married on Guam then. Atleast it isn't carrot cake!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 07:47 PM

Interesting on the fruit cake. I wonder why? I can understand it in Oz with the early British influence but the influences on Guam are Spanish! I never heard of Spanish fruit cake.

Lana, dear, I am set for Australia and I don't want you abusing any more English police while I'm out of the country. Why don't you carry your swords in a duffle bag? And my camera was one of the things that was stolen. I may go ahead and buy a film camera and give up on digital photography. I prefer to have actual photographs I can handle and look at without a computer (which was also stolen).

Tenjiro, sweetheart, I know how shy you get. I personally think that's why you chose a woman's college. Now make sure you get some exercise and work on your swimming. Remember you will be wearing swimsuits and shorts a lot of the time here on Guam.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Lana
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 10:07 AM

The English police started it, i was just walking along minding my own business like the sweet innocent child that I am. :-) no, really!!

And I don't carry my swords in a duffle bag because i've yet to find a duffle bag that is long enough to hold them. I'm planning to start wrapping them in cloth though. Of course then people might just think i'm carrying a gun and call the police anyway. ah well. such is the life of a live roleplayer.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: curmudgeon
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 10:29 AM

Lana -- An old golf bag would probably be perfect for your swords, unless of course you're using the two-handed type -- Tom

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 06:54 PM

Maybe a little golf cart, the kind with the two wheels that you drag around behind you. I can see it now, walking down the street pulling the little cart, golf bag bristling with sword hilts and axe blades. In the USA the cops would shoot on sight. Maybe it's better you are in England.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 05:41 PM

Happy Halloween! We are pulling out all the stops here. A lot of my co-workers are in costume. I brought one in but it's too hot to wear all day. We have a costume party at lunch time with prizes for the best costume. I knew it was going to be a fun day when one of the young (and beautiful) women showed up in a tight fitting leopard skin outfit from The Flintstones.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 08:08 PM

Brett-

What are you folks doing for punkins? We've got a big one that we are planning to carve for the front entry. We have to decide how many noses and eyes we're going to carve this year. An extra set always seems to elicit a reaction.

But, of course, Halloween doesn't happen til tomorrow night.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 08:18 PM

We have punkins, just no frost on the punkin. My neighbor has two carved punkins sitting out in front of the house. For some reason Charlotte Shelob has disappeared so I have no spooky spider web over my door.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 10:15 PM

Well, that was fun! Since my last post we've had a costume contest and roving potluck lunch. I wish I had a nickel for each time someone has said to me, "C'mon Brett, eat!"

The costume prizes were awarded in 3 categories, Most Original, Funniest, and Scariest. The most original went to the woman who dressed as a shower, complete with curtain, soap, shampoo, and other bathroom odds and ends. The funniest went to the woman who dressed as a baby in a diaper, little shirt, bottle, and bib. I won scariest with my long gray robe, walking stick, and skeleton mask.

Other costumes included the woman who dressed as a pirate. She wore leggings that represent the high top boots but she's wore little open toe high heel shoes. One man dressed as a pregnant nun with "her" first baby in a sling carrier. Then, in the middle of the party we heard a groaning noise coming down the hall and here came a chain gang in striped jump suits and chains, escorted by a warden and an executioner. They were from the Commanding Officer's area and the middle convict was the commanding officer. One of the junior officers came in T-shirt and shorts and a wig of long red hair. Another showed up as a Rasta man with dreadlocks and rainbow colored cap.

As I say, lots of fun. I suppose I should do some work now...

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Nov 03 - 06:15 PM

Not too much happening this weekend. The Seafarers meeting was at Shirley's Coffeeshop. It was an organizational meeting. Not too many people showed up but then there are several key people off-island right now. One of the items we discussed was the T-shirts. We are having some T-shirts made up. They will be quite dramatic with a picture of the Quest under sail on one side and the utt (canoe house) on the other. There will be a graphic of the navigator's tattoos on the sleeves. I think we're selling them for $15.00 if anyone wants one.

One of the members in a college kid. Actually several of the members are college kids. However this kid plays the ukelele and wants to buy a decent tenor uke. I have asked Mark Cohen in Hawaii to do some looking around for me and I may be able to help the kid get a decent uke.

I am looking forward to hearing proper ukelele music. Back home the uke is a comic instrument with little good to be said for it. Here there is apparently a strong contingent of uke players. My friend tells me there is an open mike for uke players somewhere on the island.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 06:31 PM

Lots of college kids huh? Oh! I declare my major tomorrow at 3!

~Amy~

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 07:23 PM

Drum roll please! What will her major be? How will she spend the rest of her college career? Tune in tomorrow, same time, same place!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Lana
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 02:48 AM

a major in bartending and a minor in prostitution? or maybe the other way around. the pay is good. ;-)

just kidding amy, you know I love you. :-) how bout a major in procrastination? I always thought that sounded like fun, but the classes were always full.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 05:13 AM

Obviously the students in those classes were under achievers. A true procrastinator would never get in because s/he'd never get around to registering.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 03:22 PM

YAY! It's offcial! I am a Theatre major here at grand ole RMWC. I've even switched my work study from Catering to a full time Theatre Assistant! The theatre shall eat my soul! Muahahahaha.

~Amy~

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 03:44 PM

Caterer's make better money . (Not that I would ever willingly work in Food Trades again )

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 04:30 PM

yes they do, but they don't when the school pays you minium wage for all the jobs on campus. Working for the theatre will help my major. :-)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 04:33 PM

it was tongue in cheek - As I said - I would never willingly go back to food trades - have a niece who is a free lance director - and I am involved in a number of theatrical things -

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 07:36 PM

Test

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 07:37 PM

Good for you, Sweetheart. I am so very proud of you.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Tenjiro
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 08:48 PM

Yay! I've made my father proud! Woot!