I have tried three times to get this off to the Mudcat and none of my last messages got through. I guess it's a long ways from here to Pennsylvania.

About a month ago I signed an interest survey notifying the Navy that I was interested in retiring early. They have a new program for early retirement. This was just an interest survey. Later they will offer retirement packages and let the retiree decide whether or not he wants to go. They have a little separation incentive attached to the pack up to $25,000. They want to gather the names and then offer the package to those people who are in the areas they need to reduce.

Last Friday morning I was told the package would be offered to me. It was strongly urged that I accept it. Essentially I was being fired. This was the blow I refered to in my last post.

Over a very gloomy weekend I spent a lot of time thinking about what was said and what is available. Retiring early has always been something I have dreamed of. It would be better if I left of my own accord but I feel if I have a chance to go I should go. I am weary of the bureaubabble that makes up so much of this job. I am tired of waking to the alarm clock and worrying about the reports that are late.

My alternative is to hang on for a few more years of this crap and let it wear me down and out. I can't do it anymore.

Added to all of that was the result of my last medical appointment. Apparently I have diverticulitis throughout my large intestine. Now I start the rounds of careful diets that mark an older person. Bah! Humbug!

So, if I am to enjoy my days I need to get rid of the day job. It's just as well. Life is too short to spend my days in an office.

We had a little excitement here over the weekend also. On Friday we had some clouds and showers, not unusual, but by the evening the wind had picked up. On Saturday Wakana and I went down to the canoe to meet the gang and the wind was stronger. We abbreviated the meeting and went our separate ways. That afternoon the rain really started in and we learned that a tropical storm was on its was and strengthening into typhoon strength.

The rain poured all night and the wind blew hard. The rain spattered against the typhoon shutters like machine gun bullets, loud and hard. Our phone went out and then the power. Wakana and I sat talking by the light of a kerosene lantern for a while and then the power came back. We went to bed early. There was no power when we woke on Sunday morning. We had breakfast and watched the storm for a while and then headed out to see what was happening.

The rain was still falling heavily and the roads were full of water. When we got closer to the surf we could see huge white breakers with the wind tearing off the tops and scattering them ahead of the white surge. The sea was an angry green and white. Inside the reef there were dozens of sea birds flying low to keep station over the smaller waves in the protected areas. The streets were littered with bits of trees, branches and leaves, fallen coconuts, and here and there was the whole top of a palm. I saw people out picking up sheets of corrugated tin that had blown off their homes or sheds. Tarps were beating themselves to pieces. Our canoe was full of water and the cover was shredded by the wind.

We went to the Micronesia Mall for dinner and a movie. The house was too warm for comfort with no a/c. Afterwards we went to look at the next house I plan to live in and then to the owner to talk about what we wanted to do about it. I need to move in July. My current lease is up in August.

When we got back to my house the power was still out. There was one ominous sign. Guam Water Authority had moved a water truck into our neighborhood. That meant they expected our water to be out for a while.

There was no work on Monday. Tuesday the weather was still bad and there was a two hour delay for coming to work. Now we are back up to speed though the clouds are still thick. It would be nice to see the sun again.

The storm was named Ting Ting. We got 17 inches of rain out of it over two days setting the record for Guam for the wettest June on record. It was great fun but not for everyone. There are some fools who think they are masters of the planet. One man died after being swept off the reef while he walked near the surf. Two more are still missing after they went out into the surf in outrigger paddling canoes. Darwin continues to prove his theory.