BS: Working (at last) in Guam

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 07:00 AM

Ouch! Too bad. Hope your banana prices come down soon. We have two trees ripe and one more that needs a little longer. Golly, we sure could use some help...

I doubt if the films are available outside of Japan. They covered the 1974 voyage between Satawal and Okinowa. I've seen that film. It's on DVD but only in Japanese with no subtitles. Fortunately I married a great translator.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 07:24 AM

When the only crops were in northern NSW, prices went up to $12.99 a kg, now they're back to $1.99 or $2.99 beacuse the Far North Queensland fields have recovered.

When they were top $$s I saw an elderly couple buy 1 each - I assumed it was their treat on their day out!

I really missed my banana in porrige on weekdays, & banana smoothie with Sunday brunch.

life is good now (wot a shame you can't send me your excess bananas!)

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: able
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 10:38 AM

I am not computer literate so would ask your help on this, my dad was stationed at Darwin Australia during the war, 1st Canadian signals. Would like as much information you could steer my way. If it looks interesting enough I may take a trip.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 04:13 PM

Well, Able, you would need to speak to our brothers and sisters in Australia (Oz) for that. I am in Guam and have made only one trip there though I would love to go again.

Your first choice should be to make a BS thread asking about Oz. We have lots of people living there and plenty of them would be happy to answer any questions you have.

Alternatively you could send a PM (Personal Message) to some of them. Look at the top of this page. You will see a menu box titled 'Quick Links'. Scroll down through the choices. About a third of the way down you will see 'Send a PM'. Select that and click 'Go'. You want to ask for Sandra From Sydney, or JennyO, or BobBolton, or any of the many others who live in that great country.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 04:59 PM

Able-

There is probably a vetrans group in Darwin itself that might be of assistance. What kind of information would you be looking for?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 05:06 PM

There's some info on a website which might be helpful, Able, if you CLICK HERE. It would be best if you start a BS thread, though, for more inquiry and help. Welcome to the Mudcat!

Brett, the film sounds incredible. It must feel great to be in on such history!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 12:57 AM

Well, I'm standing on the extreme sidelines. But it is cool to know the people who form the focus of the film. Manny is an amazing person and I feel a real attachment to him. I am proud for him and that the Japanese scholars see him for what he is.

Remember the woman student that wandered around in short skirts and showed me the pictures of herself posing nude? Well she's still around but things have changed. Last month she brought her daughter over from Japan and enrolled her in a local private school. That wrought a great change in her personality. Also, I think Dan talked to her about her behavior and she realized we were not high school kids.

Anyway, Lieko and her daughter are visiting. Wakana invited them to see the harvest of the bananas. Elina is 10 years old and cute as a button. She's very shy and rarely speaks (to me) in anything but a whisper. She speaks no English. Right now they are outside with Wakana feeding the chicks. Earlier, shortly after they got here, she settled herself by the back door and drew a wonderful picture of a rooster in the backyard.

We cut down the two banana trees. Well, in reality, Wakana wanted to do all the cutting. I didn't get to display any testosterone at all. When the tree came down I grabbed the bunch of bananas and cut them from the stalk. I pluck one off and handed it to Elina than grabbed one for myself. Good bananas!

Later Wakana and Lieko and Elina made a banana bread pudding and we ate it hot with whipped cream. Tasty!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 05:59 PM

It's been rainy over the last few days. Before that we'd had a respite from the rain and the ground had dried out. I assume the rain means that the parts will soon be in for the Mercedes and I will have to go lie in the wet grass to install them. Sigh.

I am reading a hilarious book, The Sex Lives of Cannibals. It has nothing to do with sex or actual cannibals. It's a non-fiction story about a young couple who go to Kiribati to live for two years. Live on one of the more remote Pacific islands comes as a shock to them. The author has a great sense of humor and a nice way of telling a story.

I bought it because I wanted to see what others were saying about living in the Pacific. I expected a whiny complaint about life in the islands. But, happily, I was wrong.

As you may know I want to write about my experiences here on Guam. I am somewhat stymied by what I can do to structure the book. I'd thought about building it around my BLog entries. But one of my fellow students announced that she was writing a book about Guam based on letters she was writing. Too close to my plan.

Then I thought about basing each chapter on something significant that happened and ignoring the chronological structure. That is how Troost wrote 'Cannibals'. Sigh. Not sure what to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 07:34 AM

Bad news on the chick front. The two yellow chicks are missing. Mother still has her four black chicks. Don't know what happened to the others.

I got home today to find a guy hacking away with his machete at the last bits of the banana trees. To be fair the trees are not on our property but on his right of way. He cut them down because they were, in his words, the wrong type of banana. People here only give them to pigs. But Wakana and I like them. I think he is clearing the area so he can fix the retaining wall around his son's house.

Poor Wakana. She is really bummed about the banana trees.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 08:19 AM

Brett-

You could probably plant your own trees. I believe they do take 4 to 6 years to mature but why not plan ahead?

It's also possible that your neighbor's banana tree will resurface next year unless he has dug up the root as well. Do some research!

It's been 4 weeks here in Maine without the temperature rising above freezing. Bet it's been even colder in Houlton.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 03:23 AM

Yeah, the trees will grow back but it will take a couple of years. We were within a month or so of harvesting another bunch of bananas. Guy is an idiot.

I now have five students ranging in age from 26 to 62. The young one LOOKS very young. She seems to have timed her visit just right. The Japanese soccer teams train here in Guam at LeoPalace Resort, her hotel. Every class she comes in with another story of which game she watched and what players gave her autographs. She says she has a meeting (in Japan) planned with one of the players. I've been calling him her new boyfriend. She's lots of fun.

The oldest student, Teruyo, is from Kyoto. She proudly claimed on the first day that Kyoto is the oldest city in Japan. I looked her in the eye and asked, "What about Nara?" She didn't expect a gai-jin would know about Nara! She's a hoot.

I came up with a new way to explain the difference between 'see' and 'look' today. I told Teruyo to imagine we were walking on the beach and that there were lots of pretty girls in tiny bikinis. I said, "You SEE them but I am a man. I'm LOOKING at them." "Farther on," I said, "were lots of handsome young men in tiny spandex swimsuits. I see them but you are looking at them." She had no problem with the concept after that.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 09:19 AM

Well, it seems like you and Wakana won't be going banannas soon...

You SEE, you LOOK, you in big trouble!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 06:56 PM

I've had an unusual experience with an earworm lately. For those who don't know an earworm is the song that keeps going 'round and 'round in your head and never leaves you alone.

In my case my earworm isn't a song, it's a singer. I've been listening to my Gordon Bok albums lately and he is stuck in my head. He sings one of his songs until I get tired of it. The I ask him politely to change songs and I get another running through there. I only get the complete song when I know all the words but I'm not complaining. I get that rich mellow voice and all the nuance he puts into his music. I don't get the guitar though...

Another earworm hit me yesterday. I was driving home and thought I could hear a siren. I checked ahead and the mirrors but could see no emergency vehicles. I kept driving. A mile on I heard it again. Checked around, no source. Kept driving. Finally I heard it a third time and this time it was very clear. I looked in the mirrors and sure enough there was an ambulance catching up to me. I pulled over and let him through. I kept driving while he turned left and headed inland. About a mile farther on I heard another siren. I looked for it. Nothing. I "heard" that siren all the way home but never saw a source for it.

Am I going crazy? Will the voices start telling me what to do next?

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 08:32 PM

Brett-

The Gordon Bok "earworm" sounds like a useful one. That's why a lot of us learn songs. We have to. It's the only way to get the voice to shut up.

Now I don't know about the sirens. Have you been watching a lot of re-runs from the Twilight Zone recently? Or maybe you just need to get your ears checks.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 08:21 PM

The Kite Festival is today. I will take one of my students, Teruyo, and her husband to see the kites. Wakana has to work with one of her students. It's a private lesson, outside of the schoolwork. She gets to keep the money.

Our new neighbors are very nice. It's a young couple. He is in the Navy and she is an orthopedic nurse. She told us she was looking for work. A little while ago I had an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on the island and I mentioned her. He gave me a phone number to give to her. To cut the story short, she got the job and yesterday delivered a batch of homemade cookies to us as a thank you gift. Yum!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:41 AM

Sounds like the new neighbors might be a good match. Any Navy family that elects to live way off-base is promising.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:18 PM

Actually the available housing on-base is very limited. The military pays good money to families living off-base. Many people assigned overseas prefer to live on the bases because of their paranoia. They think the outside world (i.e., outside the U.S.A.) is full of criminals and people who hate them for being Americans. I find it amusing to see those people hiding on their supposedly "safe" base. I also think it's very sad. They will never be able to enjoy all that the areas offer.

Last night Wakana and I went to a party in Ordot. We had never been to Bruce's house but we had heard about it. Bruce bought into the tropical lifestyle and built his house accordingly. He built in the jungle on the side of a ridge. There is a point of rock that extends out over a small valley. He sited his house there. The house is actually three buildings. You enter under a system of canopies into the main living room. This is a split level room with room width steps going down to the bar and wide sliding glass doors that lead out to the balcony that overlooks the valley. From the living room there are two sets of stairs leading up to the two bedrooms. One of the sets of stairs is a cast iron circular staircase. That room has large windows that also look out over the balcony. The roof of this building is a very high steeply pitched roof in the island style. The exposed beams have scalloped edges and are stained dark. All around are examples of island art, some hung on the walls, others painted directly on the wood.

Going out the other door in the living room takes you to an outdoor walkway that leads around to the outdoor kitchen. It has a corrugated fiberglass roof and a long table. The cement floor follows the contour of the land so the table has short legs on one end and long legs on the other. This kitchen is on the outside of another building that contains a bedroom on the ground floor and something else upstairs (not sure what, didn't go there). The third building is a garage and storage.

There is a fourth building, very small, that holds the laundry and bathroom. I didn't go down there but according to Wakana the shower has no walls. Since the house is surrounded by jungle I guess it doesn't matter.

There are paved walkways all around the house. There is another walkway that runs down into the jungle and appears to go to yet another building. We didn't get down there but he had a string of lights running down there so I assume that was his place as well.

Wakana says he is a romantic.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:41 PM

I was just sitting here cruising through a few threads when I looked up the hill and saw two wild pigs looking down at me. I called Wakana and she came running in. When they saw her movement they turned tail and split. She did see them though. Pretty cool.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 12:02 AM

Painting pictures in my mind, again, Brett. You are an artistic earworm! Thanks!!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 06:25 AM

Oh, you'd love that house. And, we saw it after dark. I hope to go back and tour it in the sunlight.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 02:23 AM

Pictures!

I have uploaded some more pictures. I am trying a different site. Follow the above blicky and you will see some of what I have been talking about.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: bbc
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:02 AM

Brett,

I was interested in your comments about military families living off-post or "on the economy" as we called it. In 1977-78, I spent the 1st 13 months of my marriage living in a Korean neighborhood while my husband served w/ the U.S. Army. For us, it was ideal. We had a lifeline to PX & Commissary, if we needed them, but we got some of the cultural experience of the country as well--shopping in the open markets & riding the local buses. If was also good for the neighborhood women to see me carrying out the trash to the road w/ everybody else. That year in Korea was a highlight of my life. Many folks who live on-base just spend their time in "Little America."

bbc

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:19 AM

Brett - the blicky leads to kodak's home page, not yours.

when I click on View Photos button in the email you sent me, I get to your page on their site.

When I click on this button againI just get told the password I entered does not match the phone number (that I did not enter, either!!)

I do have the option to open an account, but don't want to (no offense, I just want to see your pics!)

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:37 PM

Brett and Wakana-

Your selected photos are gorgeous! I especially like the ones of the sailing canoes, but the ones of you and Wakana smiling are also nice.

I signed up for the Kodac website as required under my deceased cat's name. I expect she'll be receiving e-mail soon, and, perhaps, a follow-up phone call. Since she died some ten years ago, the telemarketing calls had kind of dropped off. So you've provided us an opportunity to "refresh" her.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:44 PM

I couldn't open it, either, Brett. Thanks to BillD's being a champion of Opera, I have been putting ALL of our online pix there. It is so easy, simple and generous: CLICK.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 01:29 AM

For the last three days we've had heavy haze settling over the islands. It seems to be, according to the newspaper, a combination of China's soot laden winter smog, volcanic gas and smoke from Anatahan, and salt spray from the heavy surf that has been pounding the west side of the island. Whatever it is it makes for some poor views but very nice sunsets.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 06:24 PM

We have more babies. The white hen, inexplicably named...White, hatched out five eggs in our outdoor closet. I learned this when I opened the front door this morning and heard the peeping. I scouted around and found two little chicks, lost and separated from their mother, hiding behind the bicycle wheel. They were too young to know they had to run away. I carefully picked each one up and set it as near the mother as she would let me come. Restored the family made its noisy progress into the brush. As they went I heard ANOTHER peeing sound. More scouting. This little one was lost in the weeds at the end of the house. He was easier to reach and just as dumb about running.

Later, when Wakana woke up, she went out to investigate and found yet another chick lost in the weeds. I don't think those chicks have a great future. They will be fattening some snake before too long.

We have a cool day today. The thermometer in the house reads 80 degrees. There is a strong breeze. The A/C is off and the doors and windows are open. It's still hazy outside but the weather forecast is for showers so maybe that will clean the atmosphere.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 07:12 PM

Brett-

I'm sure you'd like to hear that we got another ten inches of snow today here in Maine, topped off with a couple of hours of sleet.

The cats are in revolt. No way are they going out in that! Even the back porch is covered with snow.

Oh, well, spring's just a few weeks away!

Of course, yesterday was up in the forties, and a celebrated by walking about town in my light boating jacket.

Give the chicks a hug for me, and dig them up some worms.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 09:59 PM

Oh, sadness has struck. Wakana was outside watching the new chicks and noticed one that could not keep up with her mother. She tried to help but it was useless so we set it up in a warm box with some bread crumbs and water. But the little thing was too weak and too near death. Finally she took it out and laid it under a bush because, as she said, she did not want it dying in a box. She is sad and crying though we both knew there was no future for the poor wee thing.

Another hen has arrived with even more chicks in tow. This one has nine little ones running around under her feet. It is birthing time for chickens I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 11:57 PM

Watch out for that 'peeing' sound, Brett. Nothing good can come of that.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Mar 07 - 04:46 AM

There's always a critic...

As I have mentioned before I am taking a class at UOG. It may be the first in a series of classes that MIGHT lead to a Masters Degree in English. This one is a writing seminar. I have been working on a fiction story set in a post-apocalyptic world. I submitted it to the class for constructive criticism last week. Apparently I use too many conjunctions, I don't let my readers think for themselves, and my writing has a lot of Freudian (or maybe Jungian) influences in it. However they all want to read the rest of the story. I guess they like it, even those who never read science fiction.

Gordon and I are working on an oil processing unit. We need to filter the used vegetable oil to get the chunks out. Yesterday we tested the first unit for leaks and found one. Tonight Gordon tried filtering oil using a smaller system he threw together and realized that the process will take longer than he expected. He is not patient.

Wakana and I went out to buy some stuff we need and to see a movie. We saw Ghost Rider, a predictably foolish movie but fun for someone like who has no trouble suspending his disbelief. Can't see how they got Nicholas Cage to do it. I liked the special effects.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 05:22 AM

That should be "...someone like me who has no trouble suspending his disbelief."

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 03:28 AM

We have had the crummiest weather lately. First haze followed by cold and wind, high surf, rain, you name it. The other day the temp was down to 71 degrees!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 12:48 PM

Brett-

I really feel for you.-- 71 degrees F.

Let's see, this morning was another record breaking subzero day on the coast of Maine. However, this morning we're missing the wind chill generated by 30 mph winds. And it's nice and sunny! Looks like I can get some quality tanning time in.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 02:59 AM

Sunny this morning but cloudy this afternoon. Temps are back up where they belong.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 09:36 AM

That's a shame. 71 sounds just right! **bg**

It's cloudy and drizzly here. We may reach the low fifties, back down the low thirties tonight. Despite that my crocus began blooming, yesterday, and my daffodils and flags are sending up some sturdy shoots.

How are the chicks?

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Amos
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 10:14 AM

You could move to San Diego, Brett. It's a steady 60-65 today, with blue skies burning off the coastal fog, light winds, pleasnt and warm to follow.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 06:42 PM

60! 65! You want me to freeze my butt off? **Grin**

The chicks are doing fine. The first pair have figured out how to get up on the dryer to look in our window at us. They 'joined' us for breakfast. The rest are just making the transition from puffballs to young chicks. We have quite a variety of colors and markings. One looks just like a penguin, full tuxedo markings. That one is Wakana's favorite. We have two that are gray each with a brown stripe down the back. The rest vary between black and several shades of gray and brown.

They are great fun to feed in the morning. We first come into the kitchen hearing the peeping outside. Wakana will step out and pop open the grain bucket. They gather in front of her. The noise subsides as the grain hits the ground. It's never silent but the peeping does get quieter as the chicks eat. I compare it to a dinner table. There is lots of noise while the food goes around but then things quiet down as people begin to eat.

Usually we wind up with two feedings. Later another group of chicks arrives and we "have" to feed them too. Currently we have about 15 chicks running around here. Wakana calls them the moving carpet. As each hen walks a carpet of puffballs follows her around. It's really cute when the hen settles and all the chicks hide under her feathers. She puffs herself out and holds her wings away from her body and the chicks get in under her. If you look closely it seems as if she has 16 to twenty feet.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 06:54 PM

By the way, I stopped in to visit the guys at the new Mermaid Tavern yesterday. The place is looking really great but they are still waiting for paperwork from the Government before they can start brewing again. Sigh, it will take a long time. My friend Chris, who was slated to be a part time manager, is apparently now a part owner! But they will not be ready for St. Patrick's Day.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 09:02 PM

Brett-

I bet the little chick gang would be thrilled to get some live food, worms and crickets.

Don't feed 'em any french fries.

Good to hear that a new Mermaid Tavern is rising from the ashes of the old. Say, that sounds like the chorus to a new song!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 01:40 AM

Sorry, gang, but it's grumble and gripe time again. I just heard from the Veteran's Administration that I am not eligible for G.I. Bill benefits because I do not have any service after June of 1984. Apparently us old veterans are not supposed to get an education. I got out of the Navy in 1975.

On top of that the garage I used to repair the Buick cheated me. I needed to have the power steering pressure switch replaced. It was leaking. So I ordered the part on-line and took it to them for the repair. They told me; a) my part was the wrong one, and B) the oil needed changing. A week after the repair the power steering quit because it was still leaking. I took it to another shop and they replaced the part with one that looks just like the one I already had. The first place charged me $100. I have to go get my money back.

Grumble, grumble, gripe, gripe...

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 10:22 AM

Hey, Brett, things could be worse. You could have 6 to 10 inches of wet heavy snow burying your driveway, the cars, and the chicklets. The good news is that it probably won't hang around long here, but it's pretty convincing this morning. We even cancelled the Sidedoor Coffeehouse Friday evening. Bummer!

Check out the thread titled "Mid-Watches." I think you might like the song. We'll record a rough version this afternoon and post a MP3 on my website so folks can hear how it sounds.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 09:39 AM

refresh!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 05:36 PM

Guam Bureaucrats Strike Again!

Ah, the benefits of living in a place where they style the Government on the USA. Long lines, uncaring officious clerks, inefficiency, and most of all, an inability to see past the monitor on their desks.

Those of you who have been with me from the beginning may remember the story of the water line. For the rest of you here is a recap. We moved into this house in September of 2004. I set up the utilities and we busted our butts getting this place ready. Then we started living again. We went to Japan several times. We lazed around our house enjoying retired life. Life was good. Fourteen months passed. In this time I only saw one water bill and that was the month AFTER I set up the account. I called. No response. I shrugged it off. After all they would get to me eventually and I would pay it. After all, how much could it be?

After 14 months we found out. $1,660.00! According to the bill we had used almost 350,000 gallons! Apparently we had a break in the water line and it was leaking somewhere in the 250 feet between us and the meter. I went to GWA with my paperwork in hand and insisted that they take the lion's share of that off the bill because we would have fixed the leak had we known about it. They took all my information and said they would get back to me.

I called them several times for status but each time I was told they were working on it. Finally they just told me they would call me back. A year went by. Then, on Monday, out of the blue, they disconnected us for non-payment.

Sigh.

Yesterday Wakana and I headed for GWA to fight the good fight. Once more I took the letter and the bills and girded my loins for battle. We waited forever and finally got in to see one of the self important officious unfeeling bureaucrats who work the office.

She listened to our story, looked up the file on her computer, and started reading the notes written by the other bureaucrats who had handled our file. There seemed to be a lot of them. Each one started with the note, "Do not disconnect." She called in her supervisor who told her to drop the $1600 and just charge us the rest! We had won! It is over!

Except, we still have no water... Reconnection should happen in the next day or so.

I always feel dirty after an encounter with such foolish people. I wish there was some place where the Government was efficient and built for the people and by the people. Oh, wait, there is such a place. Next stop, Japan!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 10:18 PM

Holy Cow! Good for you for finally getting it taken care of but my goodness things are slower than molasses in the winter there, eh? Maybe Japan would be a welcome respite for a year or two?

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 02:03 AM

Result of meeting

Customer - 1
Bureaucracy - 0

Result of slow reconnection

Bureaucracy - 1
customer - 0

sandra

living in a drought affected country all I can see is a huge waste of water! We have some dams at 19% capacity & there are folks here living on water that it trucked into their communities.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 07:47 AM

My brother-in-law is from Mexico. On one of his earlier visits to Maine he was told the state was going through a drought. He looked around at the lush green growth and suggested they try going to Mexico for a real drought. I guess if they want to keep to the English language they could go to Australia... uh, never mind.

I got home today to find the water was back on but that the power was out. This time it was out in the neighborhood. About half an hour later it came back on.

The good news is that the dishes are done and we can take showers!

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:22 AM

It's great to hear that the faucets are dripping again at your house. I do hope that you figured out how to deliver drinking water to the chicklet gang, or did they have to make do with gin?

It's the first day of spring here in Maine. There's still a foot of snow on the ground, all iced over, but the temperature is warming up to 30 degrees F. to day. There's hope!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 02:53 AM

The chickens are wild fowl, they have to find their own water.

I get a great deal of pleasure out of talking about weather with my students. The Japanese students are usually familiar with the idea of cold weather because Japan has plenty of it. My Chinese student is from Taiwan. She is well educated so she is familiar with the concept of winter and has even seen snow on TV.

My Indonesian student comes from a very small island and has no familiarity at all with cold. For her it is something she finds when she opens the refrigerator. She is cute. She is pregnant with the baby due next month. She's in her twenties and looks it but her naive outlook on the world makes her so much more vulnerable. We have a picture dictionary at the school and we were using it to discuss the American lifestyle shown in its pages. She was astonished to see pictures of men doing housework. It never occurred to her that men were capable or could be persuaded to do that work.

When she started with me she was so shy she could barely raise her eyes from the tabletop. Now we laugh and joke and enjoy our time together so much that she is always surprised to find the hour is gone.

This is such a great job.

Subject: RE: BS: Working (at last) in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 03:56 AM

We have reached the big 400 on this thread so it must be time to think about starting a new one. I think you will be surprised at the next thread.