News From Guam

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 03:10 AM

the train trip from Perth to Sydney is a long one, Brett. It took me three and a half days, and every 10 hours or so i got to see the excitment of a bush or something. its basically just one long horizontal line through the desert. The one from Darwin to Alice Springs could be an interesting one, its not so long (maybe a day and a half) and takes you to the red centre. they have a folk festival somewhere there in June. but my trip was over twenty years ago now - who knows what they've worked out since then?

you should try and get here for April/easter next year. the National folk festival is not to be missed. and if you decide to do that one, its worth trying to book accomodation in Canberra ahead of time, like in the next couple of months, to ensure you have it, unless you and Wakana are comfortable in a tent.

best wishes

amalina

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:39 AM

Carpe Diem is as good a philosophy as I know as long as it means "Sieze the day". I have a sneaking suspicion that it really means "Fish are gods"!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From:
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 05:37 AM

good onya, Brett - life in a tropical paradise (tropical hurricanes you can do without?) with a lovely lady & travelling around the world sounds ok.

I'm counting the days till I retire (very scary stuff cos I am sooo good at isolating) in 3 years. All I hope is my job lasts - 1 sit in one desk & do 2 completely different jobs, & one is supposed to be centralised (ie. taken away from me!!) in August. My boss's boss knew nothing about this, neither did her boss, the Director & we dunno what is happening. As state offices are supposed to give bits of their budget to the winning office when it happens & our office doesn't have money for this job (I didn't know that cos I get paid each fortnight!!) I dunno what is happening.

live each day as it comes is a good philosophy, so I just wait.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:52 PM

Roger has often asserted he has a voice just made for a Mime, but I don't buy it. I think he is hiding his light under a bushel, or a peck, or whatever...


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:20 PM

By the way, Roger, I'll be disappointed if you don't sing. Every singer brings a bit of him/herself to a song. You just have to look past the performance faults to see it. I learned that from four years of helping to run a coffeehouse back in Maine.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:16 PM

I am pretty excited about going to England. My one and only visit was back in 1973 when the ship visited Plymouth for a few days. But I have started my "...Coming to England!" thread. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends I've never met before.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 03:46 AM

Sounds a great plan, Brett, look forward to meeting you when you get to UK if possible!
RtS
(I promise not to sing!)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 07:11 PM

Thanks for all the support. I need it.

I understand about change and I even welcome it now and again. After all that's why I am in Guam instead of spending my winters shoveling the white s--t. And I am getting used to the idea of being retired. I think I might have a ritual burning of the alarm clock on October 1.

Roger, I am not planning to leave Guam, at least not in the immediate future. The house I am moving into is indeed a quaint little bungalow in the suburbs. And it is half the rent of the place I'm in now. I am also selling my pickup truck and getting out from under that car loan. I hope to be able to save enough money to be able to make annual trips out to see the other islands.

Plus I have a wedding to help pay for. My older daughter (Mudcatter Lana) is getting MARRIED! OMIGOD!

The direct result of THAT shindig is that I will be in England in August of 2005. Look out England, here I come! And being retired I should be able to spend as much time there as my money will keep me going.

Other plans include taking Wakana on a tour of the USA. She has never been there and would dearly love to see my home country. Plus I have to go to Japan and see her home country. I want to ride the cross country train across Australia. And she wants to ride the cross country train across Russia.

All this adds up to meeting many more Mudcatters and seeing a lot more of the world.

So, yes, I am getting used to the idea of leaving the day to day grind and living at my own pace for a while.

As to how I will make my way. Besides the retirement income I plan to follow the advice I have seen in this thread. I will turn these pages into a book about moving to Guam. And I will follow that with other writing projects for as long as I can keep it up.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 04:15 PM

Thanks for the update, Brett. It is always upsetting to hear that your services are no longer required. I remember back when you were trying to decide if it was worth the likely aggravation to live in what might be close to paradise – the job did sound even then as if it would be close to impossible, although the location sounded wonderful beyond belief.

I also wouldn't be surprised if one of the factors against you is that (gasp!) you go off the base and hang out with the locals! I'm quite sure that's not the normal practice for the folks working on base, and I'm equally sure that there's an ingrained suspicion about anything that's out of the norm.

I'm also a bit jealous. One of the women I'm working with is retiring in October, and listening to her plans is making me eager to make some of my own – though I've got probably another 4-5 years before it's possible for me to retire. But time does pass more quickly when you get to be our age. I don't know how your finances will be, but I bet you'll be happier working a couple of evenings a week in one of the book stores or even "do you want fries with that" than you are now. And you can't tell me that the stress of your job isn't responsible for some of your medical problems – maybe not directly, but all that stuff adds up!

Do keep us posted as your journey continues.

   Hugs from afar,
   JudyB

P.S. Is the new house you're considering a quaint little bungalow in the suburbs...?

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 08:25 AM

Rogr-

From what Brett says about "the next house he plans to live in" he may not be thinking of leaving Guam, just his current day job at the naval base. We should be able to look forward to years of new adventures from the South Pacific, as we log into Mudcat from our squeaky office chairs.

I note that the Google Ads below are suggesting "beautiful rain chains" and "motorcycle rain gear."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 03:43 AM

Brett, I have never regretted accepting early retirment the second time it was offered to me. When you feel like you do (and I did by then), believe me, the game isn't worth a candle. If the money works out OK, take it, I've never been happier. (But I'll miss your Guam stories!)

RtS
(now spending LESS time on line, much to busy enjoying myself!)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,Freda
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 03:38 AM

Good luck Brett - I long for the day when I retire and have started working half days in anticipation. enjoy your blues skies and the rainy ones too..

freda

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 03:07 AM

This is Change. But there is nothing else in the universe! So...yo, heave and haul. This one is one of the most interesting ones I've heard of! It is easy to believe after a certain number of repeats of pattern that we have outfoxed Change. Even tempting!

But it ain't happening!

:>)

I wish you joy in all the instants of it!


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 01:59 AM

I guess persistence pays off.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 01:58 AM

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.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 01:16 PM

Hang in there and let us know what's happening when you're ready - our shoulders are a bit further off - but we do care!

JudyB

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 11:46 AM

Oh dear, that was a worrying turn of phrase. Whatever it is Brett, let us know soon, eh?

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 10:33 AM

Keep breathing, pal.

In. Out.

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 10:31 AM

"Friday was a bombshell day"?

Well, that could mean fireworks in the traditional sense, or something more ominous. What exactly confronted our hero? Was it larger than a breadfruit, or did it have more tentacles than a giant squigly? Inquiring minds and nosey friends would like to know.

Weather is relatively calm here in Maine, a bright sunny day, and wild strawberries are profuse on our lawn.

Shipping out a copy of Uncensored Sailor Songs as requested, hopefully to the right address or you might be further compromised at work.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 02:06 AM

Friday was a bombshell day. I still need to incorporate what happened before I can talk about it but it might mean a big change to my lifestyle. It was nice to have Wakana's shoulder to cry on.

The bus tour was extremely interesting. There are parts of this island that I didn't know existed. Other parts I knew about but didn't have a clue about where they were. Now I have seen much of it. Very nice.

Today we are feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Tingting. The center is about 400 miles away but we have torrential rain and the wind is tearing the trees apart. I had to take Wakana down to her place to pick up her car. It took us most of two hours to get there and back, about twise as long as usual. There is little or no traffic but the roads are full of water and pieces of trees. Some areas are quite deep.

There are times when the blowing rain is as bad as any blizzard I ever drove through. I now understand the value of the plastic bumps they use here instead of painted lines on the roads. For the last year I have cursed them every time I bump over them but now I find that they allow drivers to keep within the lanes when the water covers the road.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 06:53 PM

I have purchased my first boonie car! It's a 1991 Buick Regal with 28,000 miles on it. The paint is faded and the interior is old but it has only been sitting for the majority of the time it was on the island.

Now I will sell the pickup unless my daughter decides to move out here with her finacee. Hmmm, I am reminded of the many times I commented on parents whose kids move in with them... Do I have to eat those words too?

Just so you know, Wakana and I are using the B-word and the G-word. Some of my co-workers remarked on that at lunch yesterday when I referred to her as my girlfriend.

Here at work we are having a windshield tour of the facilities we support. The tour will take all day and visit 241 sites and facilities. We'll stop at the Micronesia Mall for lunch. I hadn't realized we had responsibility for so much.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,bbc at work
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 11:59 AM

Congrats on your 1-year anniversary of occupancy! I will be having mine soon, too, & will report.

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 10:02 AM

Why is it that I now have a vision of our Brett sitting on the Group W Bench in the waiting room of the Human Resources Office, dutifully filling out his questionnaire?

I have a BAD feeling about this. Watch out for trap doors, Brett! Remember, we still don't know whatever happened to Corridus.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 08:02 AM

My truck truly doth run over. As doth the road, the parking lots, the streams, the umbrellas, etc., etc., etc. If you look closely at the San Diego harbor, Amos, you'll notice the sea level rising from the runoff on Guam.

Thanks for the suggestion on the display properties, Amos. I'll take a look.

Today we got a notice that there are now job openings in Spain and Italy. Tempting but it is either too late or too soon.

Today I had to fill out a questionnaire so the Human Resources Office could calculate my retirement package. I wonder...

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 21 Jun 04 - 11:05 PM

Brett:

Could just be the capability of the monitor. Some are able to map fewer pixels than others, being cheaper or older, and thus try to portray the image with many fewer dots than the better monitor. It can also be the resolution the computer itself is set to use in display. It could also be the video card itself, I guess.

IF the two machines are comparable, compare their display settings.

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,freda
Date: 21 Jun 04 - 10:49 PM

happy anniversary Brett - rain is an omen of great good fortune and fertility in the Pacific - can't beat may your truck runneth over!!congrats & best wishes

freda

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 21 Jun 04 - 09:36 PM

Happy anniversary! May you truck runneth over....

J & C

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Jun 04 - 09:08 PM

I missed talking about a very important date though I was awarte of the anniversary when it happened. Ten days ago, on June 12, I celebrated my first year on Guam. And three days ago, June 19, was the first anniversary of this thread. Wow! Where does the time go?

It is raining. I realize that may not mean much to you but it has been raining and cloudy for the last two weeks! This weekend my red pickup decided it was time to die. Wakana drove me to work on Monday morning and I managed to forget my umbrella. She cannot get on the base so I had to walk in and later I had to walk out to meet her. It didn't rain in the afternoon. Actually there is no word for the amount of water that fell from the sky in the five minutes I walked from my building to her car. I might have been dryer if I had jumped into the ocean. But I have rented a car to get around in and now I have to wait for the repairs to the truck.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 07:54 PM

Itodakimasu - Spoken before eating. Essentially it is thanks to the host for cooking/providing the meal.

Gochisosama - Spoken after the meal. Essentially it is thanks and praise for the meal.

Note: These are not intended as thanks to a deity. Apparently traditional Japanese do not usually bother the deities and hope the deities will reciprocate.

I have pictures of the canoe under sail if anyone wants to send me their email address.

Technical note: These pictures are scanned. I emailed them to my work computer. The pictures look good on my work computer but appear dark and fuzzy on this one. Can anyone offer an explanation for this?

Personal note: Yesterday I had my first colonoscopy. It was just a screening but they had to cut out a couple of polyps. I find out more later in the month.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 07:08 PM

Warmest congratulations, Brett!! Give yer Wakana-sana a hug for me.

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 07:05 PM

Nice to hear from you. There are much worse things than being in love. ;)

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 06:59 PM

Huh? What? Oh, yeah, My thread. Hey, you know what happens to your time when you fall in love. I had a description of something or other half typed up and now I can't even remember what it was. Sigh, I either have to get rid of the girlfriend or... no! Either option is too horrible to contemplate. I guess I should budget my time better. Or get rid of the job...

I am making slow progress on Japanese but I am making progress. I can write Wakana's name in Japanese now from memory. I am building up my vocabulary. At this glacial rate though we will be in another millennium before I get there.

I'll see if I can dig up the last entry and get it posted. Whatever it was it was pretty cool.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Lana
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 05:03 PM

i gave him a call tonight, he's definitely alive! he says he's just been very busy! :)
Kelli

Subject: ADD: Landlubbers Shanty (C. Bruce Watson)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 09:35 AM

funny, I got a reply to my email when I sent him the Landlubber's Shanty.

Maybe if I post it here, he might reply again!!

sandra
............................

LANDLUBBERS SHANTY
c. Bruce Watson (www.geocities.com/brucewatson1)

It's time we non-sailing types got a shanty of our own. Like all my
songs this is a true story


I'll tell you of a story, lads, that happened once to me
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
Of the only time that I went out upon the briny sea
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

As I went out one Sunday arvo on Port Phillip Bay
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
The captain said, "She's blowing, lads, we'll get some waves today"
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

My friends had all impressed on me how sailing was so easy
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
If it's that easy, excuse me asking why I feel so queasy?
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

While looking at the sea so green my face was getting greener
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
Whoops! I didn't make the side, so we'll have to call the cleaner!
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

The first mate & the Skipper said the boat was going beautiful
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
But I grew more in need of some assistance pharmaceutical
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

I wanted to be like those men at sea, who all go, "Arrrghh!"
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
But when I tried to go like that it seemed to some out, "Yeuargh"
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

The captain said, "Now heave that yard-arm mizzen to the tops'l"
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
I said "Bollocks to your bulwarks, man, you can stick it up your
fo'c's'le!"
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

Well, when we finally made for home, returning to terra firma
Heave, haul, ho, & open wide
I says, "The firmer it is the less terror it'll be", and went off
without a murmur
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side

The owl & the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green craft
Heave, haul, ho & open wide
But now I've had a go myself, I reckons they was daft!
Heave from your stomachs lads & chunder over the side
...............

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 08:48 PM

Well, Amos, I'd like to think that our hero is too happy to waste time posting to us. But he's probably just too busy.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 02:57 PM

Yeah!! Last we heard Wakana was coming over for language lessons -- what happened??


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Lana
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 02:05 PM

Dad, where have you gone? you haven't posted in ages!
love
kelli

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 09:40 AM

when I type up the words everyone will have them!

But not tonight, I don't have the time - I'll do it at work tomorrow.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 03:31 AM

I just went looking for Bruce's Landlubber Shanty, and although I didn't find the words, I managed to find a short MP3 of part of it here - just a small taste really.

Do you have the words Sandra? I wouldn't mind them myself.

Jenny

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 05:47 PM

Sandra, please do send me the landlubber's shanty. I'd love to read it. Include your phone number and I'll call you to get the tune.

Charley, what if I use the tune from that song that describes tacking a full rigged ship? Not only does that give me the tune but it is a nice counterpoint to the complexity of the ship as compared to the proa.

Got to get back to cleaning. Wakana's coming over this afternoon for more language lessons and a movie.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 02:02 PM

Wow! The cruise of the Quest sounds like great fun, as long as someone competent remains sober.

I particularly like the idea of how to reverse course by shifting the rudder from one end of the boat to the other, and shifting the masts. Could you put that together in a song for us? It might be a fitting ballad for you as well, on a personal level.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 08:54 AM

that's an amazing description, Brett.

It's not something I could do as I prefer to look at oceans & rivers, rather than ride upon them & you're so close to the water, too. Maybe one day I might go out on the James Craig, tho after John's epic description of the severe storm they met on the recent trip to Newcastle (100 miles north of Sydney), maybe not. They had to leave the ship in Newcastle for almost a week until the sea quietened. Tho John found that a good shanty & work on ropes held back sea-sickness.

sandra (speaking of sea-sickness, I must send you & Charley Bruce Watson's Landlubbers' Shanty.)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 08:35 AM

We sailed Quest again today! What a day! Today being the first Saturday of the month we had to have an organizational meeting but once that was over we dragged the heavy old quest down to the water and out they went. The rest of the gang had to go out to run errands so Wakana and I stayed at the site to watch the gear and work on language lessons. She is doing very well and I have only just begun my Japanese lessons.

Once everyone returned it was time to go back out. This time Wakana, Larry and I joined the Puluwatan crew. There were 7 of us on the boat. They had brought a snack of fresh fish, sashimi at its rawest, and a cooler of beer. I had a bottle of water. We paddled out of the harbor and then set the sail. Once we got moving we shot along bailing all the while. It wasn't that Quest was leaking. With 7 of us aboard we were too much of a load. And with the sweep of the water and the slop coming over the gunnels we needed to keep up with the bailing. Sailing an outrigger is very much a balancing act. The pressure of the wind on the sails wants to lift the tam (pontoon) out of the water. The position of the crew and correct handling of the main sheet keeps the boat on an even keel.

As we left the harbor Laurenti was at the rudder. This is a long flat oar with a natural crook at the steering end. It is tied to the boat only by its upper end and then is braced forward against a stop built into the gunnel. The steersman keeps his foot on it to hold it in place but it is only used as needed. These boats tend to steer themselves and the steersman only needs to push him around if a stray wave pushes him off course.

Laurenti is a very quiet man but once we got moving he opened up. Life at the helm was a laugh a minute for him and he chattered away in Puluwatese as he steered and drank.

And they all drank, very heavily. The dead soldiers piled up in the bottom of the boat as they laughed and chatted and enjoyed a day on the ocean. Ken, Brandon, and Mark talked about trips they'd made to Pikelot to hunt turtles. They tried to pick out the various hotels they worked for. I tried to get someone to sing a Puluwatese song and Mark explained that they usually sang one to ask permission of the water spirits to enter the water. He said they hadn't done that today. We stared at him in mock horror. "You mean we are out here without permission?" Everyone laughed.

Sailing in an outrigger is an intense experience. On a European/Western style sailboat everything makes sense to me. I understand the forces working on the boat and I can sail her fairly well as long as I don't have to perform any actual feat of seamanship. But here we needed to watch the tam to make sure it didn't sink or fly. We had to feel the movement of the canoe and control the sheet. We had to watch our own movements because that might upset a delicate balance. Wakana was on the ep-ep, a platform that extended out the opposite side of the boat from the outrigger. It is not actually fastened to the boat. It is just jammed in place. I sat on the other end of the ep-ep, over the center of the hull. Gordon rode on the outrigger. And the rest of the guys were fore and aft, running the boat and passing fresh beers around as they drained the cooler.

I haven't accurately described the rig of the Quest. There is a mast set up in the center of the boat. It rests in a socket carved in a piece just outside of the gunnel over the outrigger. It sits in a socket because it needs to move fore and aft. The sail is rigged along two spars in the form of a Vee with lovely curves along both arms of the Vee. One of the arms of the Vee is hoisted to the head of the mast and the point of the Vee is lashed to the bow. The other arm of the Vee flies free and is controlled by the main sheet.

We were out for about 2 hours, running north along hotel row. We got most of the way to Two Lovers Point when we decided to turn around. This is accomplished by untying the point of the Vee from the bow, raking the mast in the other direction, and passing the point of the Vee aft and tying it down at the other end which is now the bow. The rudder is passed to the other end and the man in that end becomes the steersman.

After we returned to the harbor we unrigged the boat and straining mightily, we got her back in place. We covered her up and called it a day. And it was a day, exciting, warm, happy, and fun.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 May 04 - 07:09 PM

Oh, he sails! I learned this weekend that, in the islands, canoes are male. That is a difficult transition.

I guess I'll tell the tale in reverse. Yesterday I went down to the canoe at 1:00. When I got there you could feel the celebration in the air. There were several Micronesians there that I had not met before, talking and laughing among themselves. We were introduced. The Micronesians were Mark, Santos, Ken, Laurenti, Mike, Brandon, as well as Diego and Manny, the two that had done the lion share of the work on the boat. Santos was wearing a number of palm frond decorations and appeared to be some sort of shaman. He sang some songs that were taken respectfully by the others and some that made everyone laugh. Mark was conscious of our inability to understand their speech and made efforts to explain, in general terms, what was going on. He wanted us to know they were not talking about the haolies.

On the ground in the middle of the group was a circle of stones representing the guide stars. Manny had been giving a navigation lesson when I arrived. He explained some of the process to me. The navigator memorizes the names and locations of the guide stars. Each island has its own guide star. Thus, when the stars first come out he takes a position and steers the canoe toward the proper star. as the star rises higher in the sky he watches for the opposite guide star to move down into a position to allow for him to continue on his course. He sits in the boat at right angles to the boat's direction so he can keep an eye out for both stars. If clouds obscure part of the sky then he can do the same using other stars and maintaining the correct angles in relation to the boat.

The north star is easy to work with because it never changes locations. The other guide stars have names modified by where they are in the sky, generally two names, one when it rises and one when it is too high to be used any more. The Southern Cross, or the Triggerfish as they call it, has several names as it moves through it's circle depending on where it is in the sky.

During the day the navigator uses the sun, carefully keeping track in his head where it rose and the angles as it swings through the sky.

As they sail the navigator will watch the sea for changes, looking for familiar shoals or wave pattern changes that marks the location of an island. He is constantly aware of the "feel" of the boat. If it changes then he knows they have crossed into another area and may be near their destination.

When Manny talked the others kept respectful silence. You could tell he was an important person. He was the focus of the Micronesian group. I sat there amazed and marveling at what I was seeing.

The time came to move the boat into the water. They laid out palm fronds to slide the boat over. The fronds were cut so that the thick base of the frond was placed at right angles to the boat length and the leafy parts were placed in line with the direction of travel. The boat was heavy! We had at least 10 people pulling and pushing. Mark sang a work song to keep everyone going and the rest had a response for his pauses. I HAVE to record that song!!! I don't know what he was saying but I know it was effective.

We had to move the boat, his name is Quest by the way, about 50 yards down to the ramp. We pulled, and heaved and pushed and finally, he was afloat! Shell horns and clappers were sounding, people applauded, the guys splashed water on Quest and shook hands. Ken was splashing and making a booming sound as he moved his hand through the water. He showed me how to do it.

Once he was in the water we checked for leaks. Sure enough there were a few but they were minor. Manny, Santos and Ken began to rig the mast and then they carried the sail down and began to rig that as well. As they worked I stood thigh deep in the water holding on to Quest as the wake from passing powerboats tried to push him ashore. Finally they were ready. Manny, Santos, Brandon, Paul, and Mark took up paddles and began to head out beyond the reef.

Once more the shell horn and clappers sounded as we followed them down the shore and out to the end of the breakwater. They paddled mightily working slowly out the mouth of the harbor. The waves were running about three feet high and the Quest bobbed over them causing some of the paddlers to miss their stroke. Farther our they accepted a tow from a small outboard. Once the were out a ways they dropped the tow and began to work on getting the sail up. It took them a while. We thought they were having trouble. I was down to my last picture and my extra roll of film was back at the launch site. Finally the sail went up. They still were having some kind of trouble but shortly they took off heading north up the coast, the crab claw sail drawing well and the Quest moving quickly.

We went back to the launch site, happy and excited, to wait for their return. We talked, ate, drank, and generally glowed with happiness and pride at the success. It was a great day.

Quest returned after a couple of hours and Mark took over. Manny came ashore. Mark loaded some passengers, Sandy and Wakana, and another crew and they headed out. This time they tacked out, sailing up near the rocks and then changing the sail rig and sailing off to the other breakwater. It was slow and it took some time but it was a skillful operation. They too were gone for a while and we sat and talked and ate and drank. The fishermen were coming home after a day at sea and Frank knew quite a few of them. One boat slowed and circled calling out to us. Frank and Larry and Manny ran over to see what was about. Earlier in the day Gordon and Larry had met these guys in the grocery store and invited them to join us but they were headed out for some fishing. Larry had laughed and asked them to bring some fish. Now they were delivering. Manny waded out and they threw him a plastic bag with two large sweetlips in it. One went right on the fire and the other went into a cooler.

Once more the Quest returned. The Ohana canoe club was finishing up a practice run. They race 30 foot paddle driven fiberglass outrigger canoes with half a dozen paddlers in each one. They were bringing their boats in so we had to wait. Finally we dragged the Quest up out of the water and settled him in his old canoe hut, or rather between the post that are all that's left of the hut. We cleaned up our site and I went home, exhausted, sore, sunburned, and very, very, happy.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 May 04 - 06:14 PM

Geez-

We get back in town after a weekend opening the cottage and we have to wait another day or two to hear how she sails.

Not only that but I get a message on my answering machine "from the far side of the world" while we're away and he says "Oh, never mind!"

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 May 04 - 08:57 AM

you mean we have to wait another day to read about it?

cruelty to tempt us with a brief description

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 May 04 - 08:12 AM

What a weekend! I am so tired you will get no details now but the weekend included the Micronesian Fair, a fiesta, and... we launched the canoe and sailed it out of the bay!!!!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 May 04 - 02:25 AM

I know many of you have some kind of experience with the sea. That being the case you would never want to go to sea with the spars I saw being assembled today. The canoe has one mast, short and of one piece. It has two spars that run along two edges of the sail like the jaws of a crab's claw. One of those spars is seated in a socket on the bow and tied down almost forming a second mast. The other flies free, controlled by the halyard. Those last two spars are not made of a single piece. Rather the seated spar is made of two pieces, on long and one short. It has a distinct curve to it. The other is made up of three pieces and has a shallow S-shape. The pieces in these spars are tied together making them less than solid. I know I shouldn't but I am beginning to have my doubts.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 May 04 - 08:51 AM

It's not a decision I have to make soon. I have to wait for them to gather all the surveys and tally them and then decide who will get an offer to retire or separate. Then they will send out packages to those they select and they will have some length of time to decide whether or not to go. The ironic thing is that the departure date will be prior to the next fiscal year which means those who are going will have to survive one more year end push.

Wakana called tonight. Her project is complete! What a job. She had to cut her master's thesis down by 2/3. But she sounded quite happy with the end result.

The annual Micronesian Fair is going on this weekend. I've been hearing about it for some time but didn't know what to expect. The Seafarers are helping out by staffing one of the beer tents. This afternoon we put the beer booths together and started selling. Very slow. Tomorrow we will meet at the canoe and spend the next two days at the fair selling beer.

The fair is nothing like what I expected. It is in Skinner Plaza which is a park acros Marine Drive from the Chamorro Village. There are two rows of canopies with people selling out of both sides. At one end of the rows is a small covered stage. At the other end of the plaza is Plaza del Espanol and the Pivoting Pope.

The booths at first glance seemed to be just another row of carnival type games and cheap junk for sale. But down at the far end I found Mr. Lujan, Master Blacksmith. He is a little old man with a cane seated behind a table covered with items he has made: machetes, adzes, coconut scrapers, fish spears, and swords. They are very expensive and very beutiful in their simplicity.

Around the back side was a pair of booths featuring shell carvers. They make lovely jewelry from large pieces of shell. The giant clam is found in these waters tand the shell is very thick. One guy showed me a sling stone made from the hinge piece of a giant clam. It was about 4 inches long and two inches wide curving to a point on each end and smooth as a baby's... uh, cheek.

Farther down is a master weaver. His assistant is a heavily tattooed young man. Unlike modern kids though these are traditional Chamorro tattoos. Each one has meaning and power.

So that's where I'll be this weekend. I hope you all have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 May 04 - 09:22 AM

gulp!

I'll be retiring in 3 years as I get a bigger superannuation payout & pension if I leave at 55 than I would if I stayed on. The thougth of retirement is very scary as I'm very good at isolating & my place is not the easiest for anyone to just drop in. I will need a part-time job to keep sane.

We were offered retrenchments recently & I never even considered one, but several colleagues of a similar age jumped at the chance of getting out. Coupla young colleagues also grabbed the money & jumped.

Brett, it's a big decision.

sandra