News From Guam

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 08:29 PM

Whew! Thanks for posting. I'm feeling a sense of deja vue. Rick's going to another doctor tomorrow. He's worked a partial day, the past 2 days, after 2 weeks mostly in bed, but he's feeling tightness in his chest & still tires very easily, in addition to his temperature being subnormal. Brett, please take care of yourself. Wish we could be there to help!

love,

barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 08:06 PM

OK, Brett, we'll call off the first responder Mudcat team. I'm sure the Blackbird hasn't gone more than 6000 miles since you last posted. We really need the more up-to-date Transporter, so send your donations to Richmond, Maine..

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 06:55 PM

Plenty of rest, Brett. That's about all you can do. And watch for any worsening of the cough. Sorry. Hope you have someone nearby to check on you.
SINS

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 06:50 PM

I just realized that, for you guys, the hospital visit is a complete surprise. My last entry was that I was feeling crumby.

My flu symptoms turned out to be pneumonia. I will get the full story up soon but for now I am more or less well. They wouldn't let me out of the hospital if I weren't well enough to go. They gave me a big paper bag full of drugs and careful instructions on what to do with them. I still have a low grade fever and I cough a lot but I now have an inhaler and plenty of pills to take every morning.

I am feeling much better today. I actually found enough energy to get some of my dishes washed. Now I am tired out again. It's unlikely I'll get to work this week especially since I have to do laundry before I can show up in the quasi professional environment of our office.

Thanks for your concern. Please don't worry. I am just keeping my Guam news up to date.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 12:18 PM

Lets not get too worried yet, folks. Over there it is the wee small hours of the morning. He is probably asleep right now, unaware that we are concerned.

All the same, it would be good to know......

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 12:14 PM

DAMNATION! it is times like this the internet can be a *DIS*advantage...

face it, in the old days you'd get a letter after everything was over - and while it might make you sweat - you'd know everything was okay again and life was hunky-dorey.

These days? you get a message - then sweat bullets until the person is well enough to think coherently and post the whole story.

and you can't help but worry - even though you know that while recovering the last thing the person wants to do is sit at the computer - and that they are better off recuperating.


Be well Brett!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,bbc at work
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 12:01 PM

Brett,

Give us a progress report as soon as you feel up to it. We worry.

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 08:14 AM

Should alarms be sounding here? Brett, how's your local support system in terms of transport to medical support, testing, whatever it takes to shake what you've got? Should I be sending PM's to Amy and Kelly?

Concerned,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 02:32 AM

I just got back from an overnight stay at the hospital. I will write more soon but I am having trouble staying at the keyboard.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 07:41 AM

Brett,

I could not get the sound files to play, but one or more of those links have Chamorro songs, I believe. I thought others might like to hear them.

~S~

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 10:16 PM

Rick's doctor offhandedly mentioned to him today that he'd had a touch of pneumonia. Maybe that's why he was down & out so long?

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 09:46 PM

Yeah, Barbara, I can think of better times to visit Maine but one takes what one can get.

Charley, that sounds like a good idea. The way I figure it I will officially be staying at my sister's house but will be spending occasional nights elswhere so I can stay up till the wee hours catching up with old friends.

I'll check out those sites. I probably have seen them at some point, I did a lot of internet searches before deciding to come here, but you may have found a few I missed. This is a pretty neat place. It gets a pass by so many because it is so far away.

Still feeling crumby but I may be on the uphill climb out of this flu thing.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 03:09 PM

Ooooh, Maine in March? Too bad it's a busy month for me. It would be nice to see you!

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 09:50 AM

Brett-

Thinking in terms of brighter coming days and your visit to Maine in March, how about staying at our house the Friday before the Press Room Song Party; we could do another song party here in Richmond and invite some friends who might not make it down to Portsmouth? Singing all night should prepare you for the Press Room. According to my calendar that would be March 12th.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 11:58 PM

Guam's cool!

http://ns.gov.gu/culture.html

http://jessica.web.gu/guamsong/

http://guam.org.gu/hemplo/index.html

http://ns.gov.gu/language.html

http://jessica.web.gu/

~Susan

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 11:19 PM

I worked up enough gumption to take a shower and make up my bed with fresh sheets. I was getting to the point where I couldn't stand top be in the same room with myself and if there is noone you can walk out on it is yourself.

And I'm finally hungry. Wish I had some food in the house.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 10:27 PM

Just take it easy, Brett. Rick went out food shopping today for the 1st time since he got sick & ended up leaning on the cart for support. He's sounding pretty normal, but, boy, he hasn't got his strength back yet!

Thinking of you,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 06:04 PM

Or Guam!

Barbara, what you describe is what I got. This morning my temp was almost down to normal but now I have a deep chest cough. Bah, Humbug! This is a three day weekend. There ought to be a law against getting sick on a weekend.

Thanks for all your support.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 10:35 AM

JudyB:

Pictures like that are dangerous!! They might make everyone wanna move to Southern California! :>)

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 09:20 AM

Oh, Brett, I'm so sorry! My sweetie here has been down & out w/ the flu for the past 2 weeks; it's a tough one! I was w/ him when he came down w/ it, but I had had a flu shot & managed to avoid getting it. Since then, I haven't seen him, but we've been in touch by phone every day. It stinks to live alone. Rick had days of fever & chills, lots of ache & general weakness, & still has no taste for food. Nasty cough, too. I've had flu twice & it ain't no fun. Keep an eye on your symptoms & contact the doctor as needed. This article seemed to contain some pretty good info:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/17267-1.asp

I hope you will feel better soon. If you have what Rick has had, though, you'll need to pace yourself. If you try to get back on normal schedule too soon, you may very well relapse. Be kind to yourself & keep in touch w/ us!

love & sympathy,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 07:15 AM

poor baby, I'm coming right over..


sincerely

Nurse Ratched

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 07:06 AM

poor Brett, consider yourself patted on the shoulder & the recipient of several sympthetic oohs. Feel better now?

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 05:29 AM

To all the women following this thread, at least those who have had to deal with sick husbands or significant others, WARNING. Do not read this post.

I have the flu and I have no one to bath my forehead with damp cloths, to soothe away the night sweats, and to bring me the medicine when I need it. I have no one to whine about being ill and generally reinforce the idea that sick men are just like babies.

Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine, whine, whine.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:15 AM

G'day again Brett,

Dunno about the Bahamas examples ... the usual distribution that comes to my mind is Australasia/SE Asia - and that's what my Oxford includes in its definition ... deriving the name from "Late Latin casuaris = cassowary (that's a large flightless bird of our north and Indonesia / Papua/New Guinea).

The Macquarie Dictionary definition seems even tighter: "Any member of the genus Casuarina, a group of trees and scrubs with few species outside Australia ... ". The genus name is derived by Macquarie as from Malay kesuari, their name for the bird and the tree. Given modern transport and commercial plant culture, I'm inclined to suspect that the Bahamas examples are introduced ... unless they are a different genus of somewhat similar appearance!

Either way, like most Australian trees, they don't give you any more shade than they have to! (unlike your trees back in Maine that need to wave big, opaque green leaves in the sun ... when there is sunlight ... to make enough chlorophyll!)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 06:24 PM

Bob, casuarinas are a tropical tree found all around the world. There are species in the Bahamas too.

Sins, there are only two routes to the Spanish Steps. Down the cliff or through the surf in a kayak. And the kayaks they use here are not the sea kayaks we're used to back in the northeast. These are formed plastic boats that you sit on instead of in. They apparently quite unstable. Gordon has three and we may get them out at some point.

Thanks for the kind words. I am being urged once again in PMs to put this together as a book. I'll have to give that some serious thought.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 09:27 AM

Brett,
Did you ask the people sunbathing on towels whether they took a different route to the beach? I have visions of a parking lot just beyond the sand dunes. And a hotdog stand.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 08:35 AM

Brett, your use of the present tense was perfect for painting word pictures. It made me feel that I was right there with you.

Keep these stories coming!

Jenny

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 06:20 AM

Brett - you have a way with words - you carry us with you. It's such a beautiful place.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 12:40 AM

G'day Brett,

"... as the trade winds tossed the casuarina pines ..."

That's a species you share with us Aussies - various casuarinas are found all over Australia - usually called "she oaks" (she-oaks, sheokes, &c). My 1898 Morris's Dictionary of Austral English says that the timber was fancied to resemble oak ... and the term "she" used adjectivally, in the sense of "weak" or "inferior"...

More recent dictionaries tend not to say that!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 12:26 AM

Judy, I forwarded your picture to some friends here in the office. They decided that thermometer must be broken. I tried to assure them that it really gets that cold in Maine but they are skeptical.

I have made my airplane reservations for coming home! I fly into Manchester, NH, on March 6, rent a car, and drive up to my sister's house in Monmouth. Then I'll head up to Houlton for a week. I am not telling my mother of this. I plan to walk into the kitchen and calmly announce, "I was in the hemisphere and thought I'd drop in." Dad knows and was chortling to himself about it before his operation. It will be a big surprise. I only hope the class doesn't get cancelled or I will be out my money.

I will be in San Diego from February 23 to March 5 attending the class and pestering Amos and anyone else I can pester. Stand by SD, I am on my way.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 09:12 PM

Wow - what a wonderful day!

Our day was also nice, though a bit different. Here's a little reminder of what December is like in Maine - thought you might like it as wallpaper for your computer!

Thanks again for sharing your adventures - it does sound wonderful and magical.

   JudyB

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 08:33 PM

Nice work, Punchenelo!

Charley Noble, another day of subzero weather in Maine

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 07:01 PM

Sunday was a beautiful day. Bright blues skies held a few puffy clouds and a brilliant sun. Early on a heard from Gordon that he and his wife would take me up on my offer to take them out to the Spanish Steps. They can't get on the base because they don't work there. Gordon's been here 30 years and his wife was born here. Neither had ever seen the steps.

Now, the myth is that the Spanish built the steps so they could get water from the well at the bottom of the cliff for the fort at the top. That myth has been passed around so often the edges are worn off. It has a nice comfortable feel. However, it is a lie. Larry has done the research and knows they were built by the U. S. Marines around 1900. He mentions it every time someone mentions the Spanish Steps. His objections are starting to feel worn too.

We started out at the cliff top ninety feet above the jungle. There is a nearly vertical drop with a length of 2 inch nylon braided hawser running down the cliff. There are plenty hand and foot holds but climbing backwards down a cliff is not the most secure feeling in the world. That only runs about 15 feet or so and then there is an old iron ladder for another 10 feet. After that you are on a steep path that works its way down the slope. Here and there are the remnants of the "Spanish Steps". They are concrete and coral structures built into the cliff face. They certainly don't look Spanish to me. The rope runs on with additional ropes to help out as needed. They are very useful. There is loose gravel underfoot and a dizzying drop to your right. The jungle is thick and quiet. We aren't anywhere near the water yet.

After a few more short vertical drops we reach the jungle floor and the well. It is a square stone structure jutting up from the ground. It's about 6 feet deep. There is no water. It has been filled with dirt over the centuries if that's how old it is. While Larry claims the Marines made the steps he has no knowledge of the age of the well.

Now we have to walk in single file along a path recently cut into the jungle. It winds through the stands of Frederica, Fadang, Papaya, Daok, Myrtle, and the various vines that hang from the trees. Spider webs surround us and huge hermit crabs trundle along under foot. The jungle is quiet. There are almost no forest birds left on the island thanks to the tree snake. We see old lures for attracting the coconut crab hanging from the steep cliff walls. I hear an occasional whine of the Guam mosquito. There are old rotting coconuts underfoot with holes cut in them by the crabs. At one point we see a broken coconut swarmed by hermit crabs.

After a relatively long walk we emerge into the sunshine. We have found a tropical paradise. Before us in a long wide ribbon of brilliant blue-green is a flowing tide of water surrounded on all sides by jungle and cliff walls. A ridge of rock make a 10 foot high island topped with green plant life. Through the space between that rock and the main land is a mushroom shaped rock, worn at the bottom by the continuous wave action and topped with more green plant life. The water would be crystal clear if it weren't for the current flowing through. It is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

The beach is not sand but coral fragments and limestone. The jungle is thick at our backs. The sun is bright and reflects off the white rocks. We take pictures of each other and the surroundings knowing the camera will never to justice to the sight.

It's hot. We are sweaty and we didn't come prepared to swim. We sit in the shade and drink the water we brought. If you freeze a bottle of water and carry it with you then you will have cold water to drink along the trail. It helps. There is very little trash on the beach. Gordon picks up an ancient Coca Cola bottle and a twisted hunk of metal that may be bronze or copper and stuffs them into his pack.

After we leave that beach we head in to find the other beach and the cave that is supposed to be down there. Larry had said the cave was off to the left of the trail. We figure we will have to cut through the jungle to find it and are discussing our options when the cave appears in front of us. It's deep and tall with walls rippling with curves. There is light at the other end from the back entrance. This was supposedly used in the pre-latte time frame around 3500 BCE. Archeologists have excavated artifacts that place humans there at that time.

We wander now back to the well and take the other path. After scrambling up and down through some rough ground we come out on a big sand beach looking at the harbor entrance. There are some people here sitting on towels in swimsuits. We wander down the beach to where the cliff meets the water. There is a bit of surf and the waves are noisy. There by the cliff face the waves bounce off and form reflection waves the meet the new surf at and angle and make for a wild spray of water. The colors are bright blue and white and the sand is soft under foot. There is a lot of flotsam on this beach, trash that has washed ashore and will be exchanged for different trash in the next storm. There are ingle shoes and flipflops, foam buoys, a huge rubber ship's fender, bottles and cans and a tangle of two fishing reels and monofilament. Gordon tells of watching the surf from the Glass Breakwater there across the harbor mouth and how two waves collided and sent enough water into the air that it swept three of them off their feet. One of them dislocated her shoulder and two of them lost their glasses but they stayed out of the bay.

We finally head back up to the cliff. I dread the climb but we take it easy, resting along the way. The mosquitoes are thicker up here but they are nothing compared to Maine's mosquitoes. Finally we are at the top and back at the car. It's almost 4:00 and we are hungry. As we drive out Gordon talks of the fossil crabs he used to collect at Dadi Beach. We head over there and walk the beach studying the sand. He starts to find them almost at once. He has a good eye but the sun is low now and the shadows are lengthening. He says this is the hardest time to find them. In less than an hour he's picked up about a pound of crabs. None are complete but they are all distinctly crabs.

All in all it was pretty nearly a perfect day.

Sorry about the present tense of this post. It seemed to flow that way.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 09:42 AM

Good decision, Brett. Today, it's even colder. Just wanted to help you feel happy in your new home. I'll be updating my "bbc has moved" thread after a couple more developments here.

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 07:54 AM

At the Seafarer's meeting today we got to talking about building a traditional canoe with modern materials. The hull would be strip molded and the wooden members would be laminated beams. The hull would replicate the Quest, our current canoe and the rig would be the same. The idea is not to improve on the tradition. The intent is to build a canoe that the rest of us can train in and learn to sail. If we can we might even be able to raise enough interest that we could start having canoe races in the bay. That would be a sight to see.

We also talked about going to Manny's home island. As it turns out he isn't from Puluwat after all but from Hoak. Gordon wants to go down there and I want to go too. It's a rather complicated trip. First we'd have to fly from Guam to Chuk (the correct name for Truk Lagoon). That runs three times a week. We'd catch the Sunday flight. Then we'd catch the flight from Chuk to Puluwat. That runs on Tuesdays. Then we'd find someone to take us the 20 miles out to Hoak on a powerboat. Gordon figures the round trip would take two weeks with a week and a half on the island. Total distance traveled? Round trip about 1,000 miles.

This is a whole different way to travel as compared to grabbing a flight to the other coast.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 06:44 PM

Gee, Barbara, let me think about that. Do I wish I were in sub zero temperatures? Yesterday I took my team to Gab Gab Beach for a staff meeting. We sat at a picnic table and carried on business as the trade winds tossed the casuarina pines and with whitecaps danced on the bay. The wind was pretty strong and a solitary windsurfer raced across the bay. As we talked the Atlantis surfaced not far from where we sat. The Atlantis is a tourist submarine, taking people on a tour of the reefs and showing off the beauty of the underwater wildlife. After the meeting I drove back to the office taking a side trip to San Louis Beach ostensibly to check that the lifeguards were posted there as well.

If I were in Maine I would have been huddled over a space heater in a cold office and would end the day trudging through ice and snow to my truck and racing for the warnth of my apartment...

Sorry Barb, but I have to prefer this place.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,bbc at work
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 11:17 AM

We are having truly impressive low temps in the NE USA at the moment. My new little car told me this morning that the outside temp was -1 degree F.! Wind chill is taking it much lower. I understand Maine is even cooler.. Don't you wish you were here, Brett?

love,

Barbara

P.S.--Best to your dad!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 08:12 AM

surely you are not different to the rest of us? Good thing you have your 2 friends, otherwise you'd be lonely (so don't argue with them!)

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 08:03 AM

I object to that, being called mad. there are three sane people on the 'Cat - Me, Myself, and I. The only time things get lively around here is when we get into an argument.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 06:28 AM

Brett - best wishes to the tough old coot!


welcome, new member JudyB - I hope you enjoy your stay at Mudcat, we're all mad - some a bit more than others! but we are a lovely lot of people.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 12:09 AM

Naemanson, my father also had a very slow pulse and low blood pressure. As he got old, it became a problem on occasion- if he stood up too quickly, he swooned. Two months before he died- in good health and at age 93- the doctor prescribed pills to speed the rate but it finally got him.

There are very much worse ailments. The best of luck to your dad, and to your family.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 11:47 PM

I'm pleased to hear that it went okay Brett,

best wishes - freda

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 07:35 PM

Best wishes for your father, Brett. I can easily imagine him in his hospital bed, chomping on the bit to get home.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 06:40 PM

For the last several weeks my family has been on pins and needles because my dad needed an operation to repair an aneurism on his aorta. On Thursday morning he went under the knife. They had to lift out a lung and move his diaphragm to get in to work on the problem. It was close to the spinal cord and there was some danger of paralysis. I just spoke to Mom and she says he came out of surgery OK and has even moved his legs. He will be in intensive care for the next 72 hours and in the hospital for about a week before he can go home. That will be the hardest on him. He is too active to be able to lie around for a week.

One of the problems they had in preparing for the surgery is that his heart beats too slowly. Apparently his resting heart rate is 38. Even with exercise they couldn't get it up over 60. They had to put a pacemaker in to speed it up for the surgery for some reason. My sister was laughing about the anesthesiologist watching the pulse and sweating as he waited for the next beat. At a heartbeat every 1 1/2 seconds he could be dead a long time before they realized it.

But he's a tough old coot. I imagine he'll be back out in his shop before the end of the month.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 02:41 PM

It's a bit after noon and it just got up to zero (F) (that's about 18 below for you Celsius folks). Of course, with the wind chill it feels about 19 below (or -28C). Are you sure you don't want to come and visit, Brett?

Hmm - I wonder where I can find rainfall charts for Maine - I have a feeling we've had a lot less rain than average since last spring....

JudyB

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: The Barden of England
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 08:47 AM

It's raining heavily here in Kent, S.E. England, but it's not cold - about 13 degrees Celsius. Not bad for early January in England. We need the rain as we have a drought would you believe.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 08:41 AM

it's been stinking hot here in sydney. i had to go and sit by the harbour and have cool drinks to recover!

fred

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:01 AM

7 degrees. Should I send you my ice scraper? It has been unemployed since last April. It sits by the door hoping for cold weather and every day I have to tell it, "Not today, buddy!"

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 09:53 PM

It's really not that cold, Brett. I still haven't dug out my winter coat.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 08:54 PM

Glacial melt brings eary retirement for Naimanson! I can see the Mudcat headlines now. In fact, I've just written them.

Brett, we're freezing here now in Maine and I thought you'd like to know. It was 7 F this morning and it's supposed to be colder for the rest of the week. Send us a coconut.

Cheerrrrrrily,
Charrrrrrley Noble