Thinking about leaving Guam. Nah, bought a house!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Amos
Date: 06 Aug 07 - 03:05 PM

LIfe certainly has a wicked curveball, doesn't it Brett? LOL!! Well done at at least connecting with that sucker!!


A

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Aug 07 - 07:10 AM

Today was my first day at Notre Dame. It was orientation day for new teachers. There are six of us.

But, of course, nothing happens easily. Today started yesterday. I was driving home when my fan belt broke. Of course the car started to overheat and I had to pull over. It was too late to buy a new fan belt and I had to be at Notre Dame by 9:00 for the meeting.

So, this morning I borrowed Gordon's little pickup. Now, I don't know if I have ever mentioned this pickup but he bought it several years ago. I rarely see it without a heavy load either going to his place or from it. It is one of the hardest working pickups outside the construction industry.

And it is tiny. It is a Toyota Hi-Lux. I barely fit into it. There is almost no room for my feet to fit on to the pedals. Compared to the Mercedes it has a huge amount of power. It's peppy.

Well, I drove over to the school, endured the prayers and the life of Mother Theresa (not the nun from India but the nun from Germany who started the School Sisters of Notre Dame), got a tour of the school, saw the office, the cafeteria, the gym, the textbook room, and finally wandered off on my own to see my room. I had to ask directions twice. All I knew was that it was next to the library.

I found it. At first I thought it was an over sized storage closet. Then I realized that it was a classroom. On the wall is a small chalkboard. There are three rows of student desks. At the far end is an itsy-bitsy desk that is supposed to be mine. When I saw it I thought it was a toy. Though I am teaching literature there are no bookcases in the room and no books. It was last used as a health class and the health posters are still on the walls. The computer is not hooked up. There are mysterious packages in one corner.

They made the room by annexing part of the library space. You can see that the wall they put up is temporary, sheets of thin plywood screwed to the studs. Not even sheetrock. And they didn't try to hide the seams or the screw heads. The room is long and narrow. At the far end, behind the tiny desk, the wall is all window but not something you can look out of. The windows are protected by a decorative steel grid. Peering out between the slats you can see that you would have a lovely view if you could see it. But it is my classroom and I will work there until I make it better.

After that I tore back across the island to find Gordon so we could go fix my car. We ran down to the local NAPA dealer to find they didn't have the part but that the next NAPA north of us did. We ran up there and finally bought the belts.

On the way back to my car it started to rain.

I suggested that we stop for lunch. I wanted to buy Gordon lunch in gratitude for the loan of his truck. We went to the Seaman's Club figuring that the rain would stop by the time we finished eating.

As we sat at the table I noticed that it was no longer raining. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and left. As we reached the door we heard a suspicious roaring sound. We looked out at sheets of water falling from the sky.

We drove to the car and arrived as a break in the clouds was forming. We decided to drive it as far as it would go before overheating. We actually managed to get it all the way home and I parked it under the canopy. At that point the clouds broke and the sun came out. And heated the area under the canopy! So we got wet anyway only it was sweat not rainwater.

Now the car is fixed and all is well.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 05:48 PM

Love that name, Brett...it's beautiful.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 05:08 PM

I heard from my mother that the baby will be named Sabra. Apparently this is an old family name. One of my great-great-grandmothers was named Sabra. I didn't know that but Kelli has done a lot of research into the family. She started researching the family back when she was in high school.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 04:13 AM

Good Morning Brett, Our buses (Navy)used to drop us off at Notre Dame
then the school bus would take us up the hill to FD. Our "Dances" and such were with our Sisters down the hill at ND.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 03:31 AM

Greg, Notre Dame is now co-ed. I think they went co-ed in 1994.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: GUEST,Greg
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 02:44 AM

Brett, congratulations to yourself and Wakana. I started reading this thread when you first went to Guam. I attended Father Duenas around 1975-76 (I can't believe it's been 30 years). Please keep your stories coming. I noticed you told everyone Father D's was an all male school, is Notre Dame still an all girls school? Best of luck, enjoy Guam while you can, once you leave I guarntee you will miss it.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 03:23 AM

I just got a call from my daughter, the one in England. They just had a scan and the baby will be a girl! Still due on December 17. I hope to go to see the little grundoon in May or June.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 02:48 AM

Today Gordon and I worked on the next chapter of The Rock Saw. Way, way, back in 2005 when I went home my father gave me a rock saw. I think I wrote about it here in the Mudcat. It is a large piece of machinery with a 34 inch bed and a 16 inch circular saw blade. The blade is set in place and a large vice carries the rock past it. The system uses a gravity feed to keep the rock moving.

Well, back in 2005 I took the thing all apart and mailed the pieces in three boxes to Gordon. The case was all rusty and full of holes so I just junked it thinking he and I would build a case later. Well, now is later. We started construction today. It was pretty easy. We are using 3/4 inch marine plywood. I just had to be careful to make exact cuts with the circular saw and router. It's been a while since I had to do that kind of work, too long really. But we got the base cut and that is the hard part. Tomorrow or Sunday I will cut the sides.

A couple of days ago I head a loud crash out under the canopy. I thought someone was searching through the closet so I ran out. There was nobody there except for a few chickens. I looked around but couldn't see what had fallen. Today, while cleaning up a work space I saw what had happened. There are shelves in the closet and one of them was over loaded. It had partially collapsed. I tried to lift it to get one of the tools I needed out from under it. My grip was poor and my arm was twisted so that when I reared back to lift the shelf I heard a crackling sound from my elbow and felt a lot of pain. I may have hurt myself... again. Now I can't straighten out my arm without pain. I hope it's temporary.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Aug 07 - 08:24 PM

to much - 35 classes a week, 3 level of students,

can't/won't the school afford another teacher?

hugs to you both

sandra

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Aug 07 - 06:37 PM

She did all right. She came home happy and smiling, tired but full of stories. They had orientation for the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Today they hold the orientation for the freshmen.

I don't know if I mentioned this but Father Duenas (on the island they call it FD) is a boy's school. No girls. People have told Wakana that it will be a challenge. She was getting nervous (and still is) about teaching Japanese to a bunch of boys. But in the mini-classes they held yesterday she talked with them about what they remembered from previous years and what she planned to do with them. She is definitely better than their former teachers.

One of the problems for Wakana at FD is that she is replacing TWO teachers. They have her working six classes a day five days a week! The schedule looks inhuman! Plus her Japanese II classes have 30 students each.

On top of that she agreed to teach one class a day at the university. She'll end each day exhausted and in tears, I'm sure of it. I feel so bad for her.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JennyO
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 11:05 PM

That was always a myth put about by the ignorant. I'm beaming some positive energy right now to Wakana. She'll do fine.

Jenny, who's been there, done that, and knows how it REALLY is.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 08:47 PM

who sez teachers hardly do any work & have lotsa' holidays?

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 01:53 PM

It's 3:40 AM and we are awake. Poor Wakana is in a state of near panic because she learned today that students will be reporting to classes on August 6 and that tomorrow she has to conduct student orientation for her classes. She has been slaving over the syllabi for her three high school classes since she got home. I fell asleep on the bed while she worked and woke up around 3:00 AM with her in bed, sound asleep with a book clutched in her fingers.

She woke when I gently pulled the book away. We adjourned to the kitchen for a little meal and now she is back at her computer. She'll be OK. She's just worried. Tomorrow will be tough because she'll be tired but it will get her off and running.

As for my preparations, well, I have never been a full time teacher. I have to build a syllabus, a curriculum, and lesson plans. The text seems to be pretty good but I have a lot of reading and thinking to do. Fortunately I have a little time. The students report for classes on August 20. Wakana is jealous.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: The Barden of England
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 06:14 AM

Belated congratulations from me too. You sounded really down at one time but it's all come right in the end. I really enjoy your writing and look forward to reading more.
John Barden in the UK

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 04:04 AM

I've had some wonderful times singing Grandfather's Clock at a few festivals when they program "Songs of Grandmother & Grandfather" - in fact it was such a great session that I programmed it myself at my club once.

So I'm definitely looking forward (listening forward?) to hearing the Japanese version.

ANd even singing along (quietly!)

tick tock tick tock

sandra

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 09:00 PM

When Brett and Wakana make it to Australia again, make sure that you get Wakana to sing Grandfathers Clock. In Japanese. A real treat.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:02 AM

Just make sure it includes a 4th Saturday so you can wow 'em at The Dog again!

Looking forward to seeing you both sometime next year? January = Illawarra Folk festival, Easter = National FF, April = St Albans FF, September = Kangaroo Valley FF,
Festivals in NSW

Festivals across Oz


sandra

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JennyO
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 12:13 AM

get out to visit friends in Oz and NZ

Yes please - we'd love to see you again Brett, and we'd love to meet Wakana. I'm sure there'll be a warm welcome from the Sydney folk community - so start saving!

The BBQ's all ready to be fired up - Charlie and Judy will be here in October - and we'll fire it up again for you when you come - just say the word!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:38 PM

Thanks for the good wishes. I had my first meeting with the principal today. She gave me the textbooks and the Standards they work to as well as some sample curricula that previous teachers have used. I have some time. Classes don't start until August 20.

Between Wakana's new job, mine, and my retirement pay our income has tripled. I fully intend to save some money, buy parts for my old car, and travel. We want to hop around the islands, I have to go to England next summer to meet my first grandbaby, and, of course, get out to visit friends in Oz and NZ.

Tom, thanks for that link. I ran right over there and got a kick out of looking at the pictures of my old friends. You're right, it would be nice to be there in September but I'm afraid that will be out of the question for some time to come.

Claire, the rejection doesn't bother me too much. After all it is my first story submission. I'll tinker with it and send it to another publication.

I still have to write the article for Guahan Magazine. Interviews start on Thursday. Then I need to get right to it. I'm trying to decide what the focus of the article should be. I think I just need to highlight the group, its history and goals. I don't think I can talk yet about trying to build the proa in the Anson Drawing. But I can show what the group has done and what they need from the community in the way of support and interest.

Well, I need to get busy. Lots to do.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 06:15 PM

I get mail from AARP all the time. It started when I turned... well, it was a particular age which was less than your current one. I missed your birthday too, so have a happy Tuesday. Congrats on the job - sounds like an adventure!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: curmudgeon
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 05:38 PM

Happy Belated, youngster.

Seems to me that you got two swell presents -- a book and a job!

And I did have a drink for you on your b-day.

Too bad you can't be here for   this though.

Maybe next year - Tom

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 01:22 PM

Delighted that you got the position -- though I must add that I was sure you would, despite appearances to the contrary. That was rather leaving it to the last minute, though, wasn't it? When did you find out? I can't work out the math...

Anyway, I hope the first day wasn't too overwhelming for you. You are clearly a natural teacher (and writer -- don't let one rejection faze you in the least). Good onya!

Cheers,
Claire

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JennyO
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 11:55 AM

Woo hoo!! Ya got it!! Toldja, didn' I. I'm so glad when I'm right :-)

Good stuff! Now it's onward and upward. Go get 'em Brett!

Subject: LYR ADD: Forty-Two Kids(Teacher's Lament) Robinson
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 10:05 AM

Brett-

Who was that jerk who invented work?

Congratulations!

Here's a little ditty to hum as you commute back and forth to your school:

Forty-Two Kids (The Teacher's Lament)

(Submitted to Sing Out way back in the '60s by Earl Robinson, attributed to an anonymous teacher in Arkansas)

Some people say a teacher is made out of steel,
But a teacher's made of stuff that can think and feel,
A mind and a body and a tortured soul --
The ability to teach the shy and the bold.

I teach forty-two kids and what do I get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me to that Golden Gate,
I owe my soul to the youth of the state.

I was born one morning; it was cloudy and cool,
I picked up my register and walked to the school;
I entered forty-two names on my class roll,
And the Superintendant said "Well bless my soul!"

I teach forty-two kids and what do I get,
Another day older and deeper in debt,
St. Peter don't you call me to the Heavenly Shore
I've got forty-two students and they're sending me more.

There's a child on every seat from wall to wall,
If they send any more they'll have to stand in the hall;
They're breathing down my neck, treading on my toes,
They're telling me their joys and I'm sharing all their woes.

I teach forty-two kids and what do I get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me to that Golden Gate,
I owe my soul to the youth of the state.

Well the bell rings at four but my bed's not made;
I still have all of these papers to grade;
The faculty meets at seven they say,
And tomorrow there's a meeting of the PTA!

I teach forty-two kids and what do I get,
Younger in heart and nothing to regret,
St. Peter don't you call me 'cos I can't leave here
I'll have forty-two kids again next year!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:59 AM

Congratulations, Brett!!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 07:29 AM

yah, Teech!!

then all you have to do is save lotsa' money so you start travelling again, visiting grandkid & friends around the world!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 05:56 AM

JennieO, you were right. It was an automated reply. This morning the principal called and offered me the job at Notre Dame. I will be teaching a full time schedule with Introduction to Literature and English Composition. Six munths ago I cudn't spel teechur. Now I are wun.

Gotta get to work.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JennyO
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 12:23 PM

Hope you had a great birthday Brett, and may all your wishes come true!

Jenny

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 11:21 AM

Kelli will have her baby in December. At some point after that I will have to go see the little Grundoon in England.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 11:18 AM

Brett-

Geeze, you're hardly geezer status. Some of us are rumoured to be at least ten years older.

When are you planning your next visit to the States, or is it the UK again?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 08:22 AM

beleted birfday greetings from someone who will not get around to reading the latest Harry Potter for ages.

When I started the 6th one I become more & more confused over characters & events, so I decided I'd be better off if I re-read the previous volume. I ended up reading the whole series so my feeble memory wouldn't have problems with continuity.

Gotta do it all again cos I've been unsuccessfully trying to recall who did what in no. 6.

So why then have I read 5 Diskworld books & whole heap of other novels in the last month instead of re-reading HP 1-6??

sandra

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 06:33 AM

Finished it. Great read! Joy ride from start to finish.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 12:57 AM

I'm not sure if this is the threshold for 'Olde Age' or if it is the earlier news I had from my mother. She told me last year that I was eligible for AARP!

Anyway, thanks for the birthday wishes. I have been buried in my birthday book all day. Currently I am halfway through it. It has been many years since I gave up a day to just read. Feels good but I suppose I should get busy.... Nahhh!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Amos
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:23 PM

Well done on attaining the preliminary threshold condition of Olde Age, man. Don't take it personally!



A

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 07:32 PM

Ditto that about submissions. Ya never know what might hit en editor's fancy.

Happy Birthday, even though today is really the 28th over here and my brother's 70th!! I am not sure how he does it, but he doesn't look a day over 55 or 60 and acts like a teen!**bg**

Keep yer chin up and may you be blessed with all you need and desire in the coming year and THANKS for being here and sharing so much with us!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: sneeble
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 07:05 PM

Happy Birthday, sad to hear about your rejection. Keep at it, there are many different editors out there with different tastes. "I have seen talented illustrators and writers rejected on the basis of the editor having a bad day. Only to be picked up and highly valued by others.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 06:31 PM

Today, July 29, is my 55th birthday. Wakana gave me a very nice coffee mug with a Van Gogh painting of sunflowers on it and the latest Harry Potter book. The presents were wrapped in cloth, not paper, and the wrappers turned out to be bandannas she had sewn up for me. All in all a very nice birthday.

Also in celebration of that my first story submission to a magazine was rejected. Sigh. Not all things are bright and beautiful.

Gotta go read.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JennyO
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 03:34 AM

"I am currently off island. I will be arriving next week and will email you when I return."

Brett, that sounds to me like it could be one of those out-of-office automated replies, so it may not mean anything.

Still keeping my fingers crossed that you may find you have the job after all.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 02:52 AM

But thanks for the good wishes.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 02:51 AM

I'm sorry Ebbie, but for developments to proceed just as I wish them to be I would have to start working at Notre Dame next week. Anything else is just pulling second best.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 02:34 AM

Every wish from here for developments to proceed just as you wish them to be!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 02:09 AM

I sent the principal of Notre Dome an email. I said I assumed I did not get the job since I had not heard from her in three weeks and that I understood that school starts next week. I asked for a debriefing so I could learn what I needed to do in order to improve myself. Here is the answer I got:

"I am currently off island. I will be arriving next week and will email you when I return."

What does that mean? I guess it means she wants to set up an appointment to explain why they didn't want me. I don't know.

Today was my last Friday working at Liberal Academy and my last lesson with Yukie. She will go to Japan tomorrow so I will not meet with her again until her return when I am teaching on my own. She gave me a bag of pastries from the Leopalace Resort bakery, one of the best on Guam. Tomorrow morning Wakana and I will go yum, yum.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 07:46 PM

I still haven't heard from Notre Dame and nobody is answering the telephone. I called a friend who teaches there and she told me that there should be somebody there. She also told me that the school year starts next week. There is a week of preparation and orientation and the kids report to school in the second week of August. Sigh. I guess I'll have to find something else to do.

I visited the office of Guahan magazine and landed a job writing a freelance article about the canoe club and their latest project. I guess now I'll be able to focus my energies on that. And I will soon have to register for the next semester at UOG to pursue my Master's degree. I guess I have a lot to keep me busy for the time being.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jul 07 - 09:00 PM

This one looks like another keeper. I'm in the process of trying out some tunes and changing a few words which I'll post to a separate thread. Jenness always has a fresh take on the sea experience.

Poem by Burt Franklin Jenness
From OCEAN HAUNTS, edited by Burt Franklin Jenness,
Empire Publishing Co., New York, US, © 1934, pp. 45-47.

SEA DREAMS

If you've ever stood a midwatch in the cavern of the night,
With the sea wolves racing past you in a pack;
With the steely star a-playing 'round the mastheads for a light,
And the bucking trades possessed to drive you back;
If you've ever seen a sunset on a copper colored sea,
When the sky was like a polished compass bowl;
And the night winds caught the spindrift from the waves and tossed it free
Till to leeward you could see a silvery shoal.

If you've ever read your compass by a fulling tropic moon,
As it slowly rose above its jungle bed;
Dripping silver in the waters of a coral-fringed lagoon,
Till it hung there like a shining capstan head;
If you've heard the whining Forties day and night about your ears,
And have cursed your packet's ceaseless, sickening roll –
With the backstays all complaining and the creaking of the gears,
Then you'll understand the fretting in my soul.

For the wind has shifted east'r'd, and the long green rollers call,
And a brown-skinned lass is beckoning to me;
The starb'r'd watch is yarning, and I'm longing for it all –
So it's any wind'll take me back to sea.

If you've heard the screws a-grumbling when the craft was cruising light
Or the scuppers gurgle back the weather seas;
If you've tailed behind a typhoon in a hellish running fight,
And have felt your oil-skins freeze about your knees;
If you've heard the crack of head seas, and have felt the settling hull
Or the stern go heaving skyward till she raced;
If you've seen her take the green ones till she quivered like a gull,
And a river ran athwart-ships at her waist.

If you've cleared the reefs of Suva, and have sighted Sydney head;
If you've lifted Sugar Loaf just after dawn;
If you've made Corrigador, and have swung the sounding lead
In the channels of the world where you have gone;
If you've cruised with lousy shipmates, and have heard them curse and brawl;
If you know the seas from Rio to Hong Kong;
If you've loafed about the waterfronts of every port of call –
Then you'll understand the burden of my song.

Oh, the wind has shifted east'r'd, and the long green rollers call,
And a brown-skinned lass is beckoning to me;
The starb'r'd watch is yarning – and I'm longing for it all,
So it's any wind'll take me back to sea.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Jul 07 - 06:10 PM

I've been feeling a little low lately. I let myself really want the job in Talafofo but it has been three weeks since the interview with no word. I have started putting together a plan for my own business, English-to-Go. I would take English classes to the students, meeting them wherever they want to take classes, in their homes, at coffee shops, hotel lobbies, etc. I can work one-on-one or take on groups of students. I already have a core group of students who want to work with me. It might work.

Yesterday was the 63rd celebration of the liberation of Guam from the Japanese. As usual there was a big parade and fireworks. We did not attend. Wakana rode a float in the 2003 parade. She worked very hard with the other Japanese students at the English Language Institute to decorate the float. In the parade they wore kimonos and carried baskets of fruit which they presented to the governor when the float reached the reviewing stand. It was a memorable experience but they were exhausted by the end. Plus they heard some anti-Japanese shouts and saw the finger raised in their direction. Some people cannot let go of the past.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 06:20 AM

I was explaining the accents of Maine to one of my students today. I had to explain the term 'Downeast' and the way people speak. That got me into the tough nature of the rural people in New England and how they have to prepare for winter. I explained about 'cords' of firewood and wood stoves. I have some pictures of woodstoves that I printed earlier in the year for another student. I explained about my 79 year old father and how happy he is with his annual Father's Day present of 5 cords of firewood. We (his children) have it delivered in June and he slowly stores it all in the woodshed by the beginning of July. I mentioned banking the houses and putting up storm windows. And I mentioned the competition between the blackflies and mosquitoes to see which species can consume more human flesh and blood in a summer.

Come to think of it, I'm pretty happy here in the tropics. When do you guys plan to arrive here?

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: curmudgeon
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 08:37 PM

Brett -- I have to agree with SINSULL on another thead. You are a native born Yankee and as such are obliged to suffer the winds, snow, and bitter cold of Winter in addition to mud season, black flies, and tourists. Bring yourself and your Bride back and accept your lot - Tom

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 07:50 PM

Still shoveling.

We aren't working hard. An hour or so and then we quit. We are creating a level space. The beauty of the crushed coral is that it hardens after it gets wet. Of course the difficulty in shoveling is that the coral has hardened.

For those of you who cannot picture what I am talking about imagine regular gravel. Regular gravel is a mix of dirt and small rocks. (Small being a relative term. Some gravel has some rather large items in it.) Now picture that gravel as being stark white, hospital white, glaring white under the hot sun. THAT is crushed coral. It is difficult to shovel because of the larger lumps of coral and the 'dirt' you track into the house is white. Still, it makes for a nice floor for the workshop.

I am still waiting to hear from Notre Dame on that job. I called last week and was told they'd been busy with their 'Foundation Banquet'. Gordon confirmed that. Apparently they have an annual banquet. The teachers are strongly urged to attend. Tickets are $50 each! I hope to hear from them soon. If they refuse me then I can tell my current students that I will continue to work with them only on my own, not affiliated with the school. If they accept me then I will still keep a couple of my students just because I like them and they seem to really need me. We all want to be needed don't we?

Ryoko, my morning student, went back to Japan last Saturday so my mornings are free. Today I don't have to go into the school until 1:00! Ah, such bliss... except for that damned shovel...

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Jul 07 - 10:55 AM

I did lend her a Roll & Go CD. She said she liked it but she may have just been polite. She is Japanese, after all, and the Japanese take polite to new heights.

So, Charley, how about that parody of Fox on the Run?

Thursday morning before I headed out to the school we got a strange call from the mayor's office. It seems Gordon had ordered a load of crushed coral to fill in the area under my canopy so I would have a dry place to work during the rainy season. They wanted to deliver it that morning. Soooo, Wakana and I ran out to take down half the canopy and clear all the stuff out of the way so a dump truck could back in and drop its load. Now I have a pile of crushed coral sitting out there waiting for me and my shovel. Fun, Fun.