BS: Settling in Guam

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 07:20 AM

Very busy time in New Limerick. Great time with my kids, Parents, and grandkid. Now we are back in southern Maine. The drive south was almost as difficult as the drive north. Arrived tired and ready to sleep.

I need to rent a car today to make the rest of our trip a littler easier. Wakana really wants to see the Maine State Museum. I'd like to get to Mary's house today. My sister keeps a very cold house. We are freezing.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 09:40 AM

God is punishing me for being a sloppy housekeeper. LOL Your room is ready. The rest of the place is chaos. Welcome to my world.
BUT just got an oil delivery so I can crank it up 90 if you need it. For reasons unknown, your room upstairs gets all the heat so you'll be warm at night. When I sleep in that room I open a window even if it's 10 degrees out.
Lots of warm afghans too.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 11:16 AM

Best laid plans time. Wakana wants to make tempura for my sister's family. I guess we'll be there tomorrow morning. Sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 05:05 PM

Words & Music by Charlie Maguire © 1981

Oh, Cold & Misery

It was ear-ly one morn, like so man-y be-fore,
        Oh, cold and mis-er-y,
I put on me coat and walked out the door,
        Stand-ing a-lone on the froz-en ground.

I went to the place where my beast lay asleep...
On four tires of rubber, a long cord in its teeth...

I opened the door and I jammed in the key...
But no sound could I hear, nor exhaust could I see...

So I called up my neighbor, to him I did spoke...
And he soon came a-riding on clouds of white smoke...

We went to my beast and pried open its jaws...
But black, icy darkness was all that we saw...

On its terminals bare, long cables I placed...
And I gave it a charge with revenge on my face...

The smell of the ether it hung in the air...
And empty Heet cans lay about everywhere...

And when we were moving, its anger was gone...
From its radio voice came music and song...

But tonight, when the dark comes to its moving parts...
It will again be the beast with the ice in its heart...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 04:06 PM

Feeresh

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 12:25 PM

Looks as if Brett and Wakana will have decent enough weather for flying out of Portland, Maine, today.

It was great to see them again at Sinsull's New Year Party.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 12:29 PM

Tami took them to the airport a little while ago. Brett and Wakana are eager to get home and sleep in their own bed. It was so good to see them. Fun breakfast with Jacqui and Tami. Lots of laughs mostly at Brett's expense. He was the only man. Talk of a Mudgather at their house in the spring. Who's in?

HEH HEH

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 12:36 PM

(Holding the bag high so when they are ready they can dip in)

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 01:23 PM

I'm wondering if our wandering snowbirds have found their way back to Guam, or whether the flight dropped them off in Iceland instead.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 01:50 PM

They were due home at 7PM on Sunday and had to go to work Monday morning. Bet they are sleeping.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 11:32 AM

OK. In that case, I'll give it another shot in the arm.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 11:23 AM

Is anybody out there??????


Anyone remember that line?

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Jan 10 - 08:13 AM

Sinsull-

Most likely they're swinging in hammocks, with tropical coolers nestled close by, the fireflies flitting among the evening shadows.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Jan 10 - 11:15 AM

There are fireflies in Guam? There aren't any in Oregon or in Alaska.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 09:24 PM

Sorry about that. We landed around 7:00 Sunday night, got home around 9:00 and were at work early next morning. I'm never doing that again. I think I have only just recovered but I'm not really sure about that! My cold is hanging in there. I've been telling the kids that I went to Maine and all I got was this cold.

It was a good trip but way too short though I don't think we could have stayed in the cold any longer. We truly were happy to walk out to the car in the warm weather when we got to the airport.

Next day we brought the cats home and that made the house complete.

Since then it's been run, run, run all the way. This weekend is supposed to be our chance to relax but I think we will end up working most of it. This afternoon we need to do our laundry then tomorrow morning, bright and early, we have to go to the lab to get our blood drawn for our physicals. I hope we get the chance to go to the movies this weekend. I need to catch up.

Right now I am substituting for the art teacher. There are kids crowded around work tables, talking and laughing, and working, while I play nursemaid and make sure they stay under control.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 09:48 PM

But isn't it nice to get back home!

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Amos
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:36 AM

Say, BRett, is it snowing where you are?




That's what I thought.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 08:36 AM

Brett and Wakana-

Nice to hear that you're back, and before the temperatures dropped to the really cold single digits as it has this morning. Our cats are lounging about in the hot spots today, Tilahun on the window seat (with baseboard heater beneath), Tejitu on the desk top beside me next to the slide scanner. I'm wearing long underwear and a wool vest on top of my polar fleece shirt and I may add a hat and mittens before the day is out.

Yesterday we were up on the porch roof repairing a bad leak caused by ice and snow.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: ranger1
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 07:06 PM

Charley, isn't it a bit awkward wearing long underwear on top of your fleece shirt?

I'll get me hat...

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 07:27 PM

This morning I went out on the carport for my morning exercise. I have a piece of plywood set across some sawhorses to use as an exercise table. I go out wearing only my shorts and do my regimen as the sun comes up and I revel in the cool morning breezes. No long underwear, no polar fleeces, no snow, no ice, no nothing but tropical wonders.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 09:26 PM

Charley! Go back and read the instructions. The underwear goes inside.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 11:59 PM

Brett, you're worse than Amos!**bg**

So glad you are home!

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:59 AM

Not to worry, gang, I'm well experienced in undercover work.

Charley Noble, still resident in windy New York City

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 05:16 AM

We experienced real cold today... according to my co-workers. They complained about a cold front moving through the area. When I got home I checked. The thermometer was down to 74 degrees!

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 09:34 AM

Brett-

"Down to 74"! So sorry to hear that. I do hope you've got a sweater or two in reserve.

Here in Maine the temperature went up to 70, in this house after the furnace kicked in this morning. Outside it's somewhat colder with a foot of new snow.

Charley Noble, back in Maine

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: The Barden of England
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 04:54 PM

Thank goodness you're back. I was missing my Pacific news.
John Barden

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 07:22 PM

Still cool (i.e., cold to my students) and it's been very windy yesterday and today. Yesterday it was windy and rainy but today it's windy and sunny.

Wakana was offered a chance to teach two classes at the university. She usually teaches one at a time. Now they want her to teach a class at 3:00 and one at 5:00. The sticky point is that she doesn't get out of work at the high school until 2:55! Yesterday she met with the students and explained that she would be starting the earlier class at 3:10 and that they should wait for her to arrive. I wonder how many will use it as an excuse to avoid her class. After a certain number of absences the students automatically fail.

The long and the short of it is that Wakana goes to work at 7:30 AM and doesn't get home until 6:30 PM. That makes for a long day.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 06:41 PM

I am in class right now. I have put on a movie, the first interesting movie for my sophomores. They are quiet and attentive but then I would be too after the threats I made.

I explained that my second block would never see another movie in my classroom again after their behavior while watching the last movie. They decided that the movie was a good time to talk, read magazines, and text their friends. They repeated their behavior after two warnings. So, no more movies.

I suppose I will relent at some point but it will be after the other blocks see a movie they cannot.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 05:51 AM

I followed the Grammy's and was sorry to see that Kendall, Jacqui, and Dan didn't win. Still, it is a great honor to be nominated.

This weekend we picked up a new dinner table and chairs. Our old set wasn't really a set. My ex got the old table and four chairs and let me have the captain's chairs and two of the side chairs. The last two have finally given up the ghost and you can't buy just chairs.

I put the new set together in the living room and set it where the sofa used to be. (We traded the sofa for $100 off the dinner set. Next to it, on a cabinet, I set up my old JVC AM/FM amplifier and hooked up my new turntable. I connected the turntable to the computer and voila! Ed McCurdy's Folksinger's Choice from vinyl to mp3! Now I gotta dig out the boxes of records and get started...

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 08:08 PM

Monday was Teacher Appreciation Day. Tuesday was Family Appreciation Day. Today is Student Appreciation Day. Tomorrow is Catholic Schools... mass.

Monday we found a full breakfast in the teacher's lounge put on by the Seniors. I wish I had not already eaten a breakfast.

On Tuesday we teachers were each assigned a group of students who formed our Royal Family for Royal Connections. we had a short meeting where we were supposed to give ourselves a name.

Last night I went out to buy candy to share with my students. I've been "appreciating" them all day. Some of my students wanted to be appreciated twice. A few wanted a whole handful of appreciation but I limited them to one appreciation each. When the Student Affairs Assistant brought the attendance sheets by I appreciated her too. I've even been appreciating myself once or twice.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 09:32 PM

LOL...got any of that appreciation left?

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 09:48 AM

Appreciation Days invariably revert to Depreciation Week, in my experience. I bet there's a song for that thought!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 08:14 PM

I almost ran out of appreciation but I had planned ahead and had some emergency backup appreciation on hand.

Friday was the annual Catholic Schools Conference. Monday we had a Faculty Development Day. So the kids got four days off but we didn't.

I started to clean up the mess on the carport. I need to organize my "workshop" and find all my tools. Wakana wants a shelf and a cabinet for the kitchen. I also want to work on some other projects.

The other full time social studies teacher told me she had a box of stuff for teaching world history. She gave it to me and it is a gold mine but... there is a good proportion of books and magazines I gave to the teacher I replaced. So the stuff has come full circle. It's good stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 12:25 AM

It's Songfest time again at ND. Each division has made up a song and are rehearsing for the competition. I'm sure the seniors will win it. They have been a tight group since their freshman year. The juniors and sophomores just don't care enough. They use the rehearsal time as a chance to chat with friends and not be in class.

Actually that is an exaggeration. MOST of them don't care, a few do care, and the rest are too apathetic to work up an opinion. One of my students, one of those who care, was almost in tears the other day because of her apathetic classmates.

In the meantime I have to listen to their half whispered (because they don't know THOSE words) and half shouted (because they DO know those) ff key and poorly timed antics while their "leaders" try to get them to shut the hell up.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 09:47 AM

Brett-

Maybe they would benefit from a harmony workshop with Roll & Go, or not?

Roll & Go should be releasing our new CD Look Out! in a month or so; you heard the news first!

After two large snow storms here in Maine we haven't had anything to speak of for a month, and now the temperature is up to 40 degrees F.

Tomorrow we go down to the Press Room for another session with Tom and Linn.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 10:02 AM

Brett and Wakana,
I put out the chocolate covered macadamia nuts and dried mango at the last house concert. WHOOSH! Gone. Wonderful stuff. Thank you.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 12:20 AM

You are wecome. Need more?

It is 3:10 and I am riding herd on the Junior Class as they practice for Songfest. It's frustrating to listen to them but it would be worse if I actually had to get involved.

In World History we have reached the Medieval period, my favorite. I tried to explain trade guilds today, first effort. I'll try again Wednesday. Sometimes you have to present the material several times.

This weekend I built a workbench on the carport. Sunday I tried to replace the toilet in the little bathroom. Somebody glued it down with some kind of grout or concrete. I needed an 8' pry bar to get it unstuck and then had to chip away the grout material. When I was done I found the builder had never installed the closet flange, the device the toilet bolts to. Now I need a professional.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 09:09 AM

Brett-

There should be an appropriate medieval punishment for such a builder, boiling in oil or a stretch on the rack.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 05:56 AM

This afternoon was Songfest. It was the 33rd annual event. The kids came together and did a really good job.

I don't know who won because we left early. They sang, we ate barbecue, and went home.

We are tired but it is a three day weekend. Monday is Discovery Day. March 1, 1521, Magellan anchored off Guam and sent a boat ashore. By the time he was done several Chamorros were dead and at least one village was burning. I don't know why the island insists on celebrating the event but it is good for a day off.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 08:18 PM

Songfest results:
Seniors won for best stage performance.
Juniors won best entrance and exit.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 09:02 PM

Kind of like Columbus Day.

Good for the singers winning!

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 10:42 AM

Best Entrance and Exit???????

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 01:50 AM

Yeah, the kids choreograph an entrance and exit each with their own music. Our entrance started with the boys in the bleachers and the girls lined up on the floor. The boys called out a question and the girls answered while dancing towards the stage. The exit started with the kids on a darkened stage. They started the song and raised their hands and swayed in time with the music. Each kid had a glow stick so it looked pretty good.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 01:54 AM

Neat! Any videos?

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 12:10 AM

I am so happy to say there is. My kids are on YouTube. Check out the link.

ND Juniors

The soloist also was one of the lyricists and is one of my favorite students. You can see their whole performance on the video though the lighting isn't very good for the entrance and exit.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 09:39 AM

Brett-

Well, they sure looked and sounded to me as if they had their hearts and souls in it.

Good job!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 10:50 AM

She's got a beautiful voice and they all did so well at harmonizing and keeping a tempo without a director in sight. Good music backup,too. Neat song, did she write the lyrics? Loved it and hope we get to see more! Thanks, Brett.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 11:48 PM

I just had the greatest experience. We have a group of students from the Notre Dame School in Kyoto, Japan. We had a great assembly with speeches and performances including a long performance by a cultural dance group. Four of my students are in that group and the rest of them are students here. We are on an adjusted schedule now. Shortened classes make up for the assembly time.

Anyway, I had to sub for the senior physics class. These are kids I worked with in their sophomore and junior years. Early on in the period a group of the Japanese visitors came into the room. While they were there another group entered the room. Then a third group arrived and their escorts were carrying a guitar and a drum-like thing.

Next thing I know the students are all singing and laughing and having a great time. They were actually sharing music the way we did/do whenever we get together. It was great. We had a great time but no work was done. Who Cares!

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 12:19 AM

what a buzz.

Subject: RE: BS: Settling in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 09:59 AM

Brett-

Sounds pretty neat!

Charley Noble