News From Guam

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 06:33 PM

that sounds fantastic Brett - enjoy your party, wish i could be there to hear you sing again.

best wishes

freda

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:22 PM

Brett-

Sounds like a better offer than the one from the Egyptian lady. She might have plans to roll you, wrapping you up like a mummy! If we read about that happening to you, don't expect us to keep a straight face as we share the sad news.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:38 PM

That was a good evening. We had a good time though the evening was slow to get off the ground. It started when one of the party goers opened a bottle of very fine tequila and persuaded us to do a few shots with him. It was smooth stuff with a capital smoo. Dinner consisted of Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, and Yellow Fine Tuna, all fresh caught that day and grilled. There was also sashimi, fresh baked bread, salad, cut up vegetables with dip, local corn on the cob, rice (of course), and barbequed ribs. There was a wasabi based sauce for the fish. The party was BYOB so I had a six pack of beer and some soda. Dinner was eaten on the lawn with the full moon shining down on us. There were about 8 or 9 of us there.

After dinner the Pago Bay Reefers started playing their music, a mix of blues and folk. They really are very good. There were only 3 band members there, Dave on guitar, Steve on banjo, guitar and mandolin, and RR on national steel guitar and dobro. He also plays base but didn't bring it along. I learned that RR is the owner of American Music, the best music shop on the island and that his instrument collection is worth more than most houses here. They played for quite a while and I had begun to think I wasn't going to get an opportunity but I did play along with the bones. At one point we were interrupted by a brief shower but it passed and the moon came back out. Then the dessert came out, lemon meringue pie, chocolate cake and some kind of almond flavored bread rolled up with a frosting inside. Decaf coffee was available but no dairy. Instead she added Bailey's Irish Cream. Very Yummy.

I finally was asked to perform and I started with Henery the Eighth. I wanted people to sing along and that one is sure to get them thanks to Herman's Hermits. I followed up with a number of songs including Sally Free & Easy (at reduced volume, Charley), I'd Like To Have A Mistress, Eat Bertha's Mussels, Dramamine, Long Time Ago, Pump Shanty, Mary Mac, and Northwest Passage. We had a good time and they did their best to sing along. One guy, the tequila guy, just sat their with a smile and listened. Later while cleaning the kitchen I gave them Derelict and I caught him singing along with the "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum" refrain.

The Reefers sat there amazed as I reeled the songs off because they generally work from paper. RR kept making comments about the memory storage in computer terms. I guess they've never had to free themselves from the paper crutch. My thanks to Roll & Go for the repertoire and the need to work from the head instead of the page.

The hostess has two yellow Labrador retrievers. The female had puppies about six weeks ago. At one point I walked through the living room and it seemed as if everyone held a squirming furry little body with a cute fuzzy face. Nothing like a puppy to put you in a good mood.

I finally headed home and dropped into bed around 11:30, very tired but happy with the evening. It was indeed a good time.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 09:59 AM

Hey Dad,
About your picture project for Papa...I still have the interview on tape that I did with him three or four years ago, he talked about Guam quite a bit on it...I've got the tapes somewhere, I never had time to type it up because I ended up not being able to use it for the school project I orginially taped it for.

Do you want it? I'll see if I can find the tapes and send them to you.

love
Kelli

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 09:42 PM

By all means, Kelli, send them along.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 11:28 PM

Latest News: Tropical Storm 03W has formed and stands a good chance of developing into a typhoon. Curent forecast shows it running off to the south of Guam, just skimming past. Could make a turn more northerly at some point and hit us but no one knows yet.

Those of you who wake up groaning on Monday morning should not read the rest of this post.

One of the men at the party is named John. John arrived at Guam many years ago on a catamaran on which he and his wife were cruising around the world. They had just spent a year in New Guinea. They arrived intending to spend a few days in Guam and stayed for 13 years. John now works for a charter boat firm in Hawaii. He repairs the charter boats after the tourists beat them up. His work day runs from 8:00 AM to noon after which he spends the rest of the day wind surfing. He looks like a very happy soul. I don't think he finished his trip around the world and I get the impression that he doesn't care.

It's raining again.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 06:39 PM

Typhoon Sudal is not yet expected to hit Guam. The predicted Closest Point Of Approach is 178 nautical miles. We are expecting winds of up to 65 knots on Thursday. Everyone is battening down the hatches and preparing for the worst. I went to the commissary last night to get some water, I was low anyway, and found the shelves stripped bare. The line of full grocery carts stretched a long way. There was no water. I stood in line waiting and talking with the others. then I noticed a pallet on the other side of the registers. It had been loaded with water. I walked over and grabbed 10 gallons. It will have to do.

The sky outside my window is gray with clouds moving north to south instead of the usual east to west. The breeze is picking up.

If you want to see the projected path of the typhoon click HERE.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 07:07 PM

C---------------------------------F
In this wind-y old weath-er! Storm-y old weath-er!
G7----------------------------------------C
When the wind blows, we'll all go to-geth-er!

Bottled water is all very fine but how about the fixings for a rusty nail or two?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 09:24 PM

Now Charley, you know I don't drink... much. And I've never had a rusty nail in my life. Maybe in my foot once or twice but not to drink.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 09:51 PM

Brett:

PM me yer addie over there, mate. I may have a CD to send you when mail service is restored!!
A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 09:17 AM

I'm off to Canberra in about 12 hours so will have to await a week(!!) to find out what happens. ratz.

And ratz for being on holiday - I forgot a singing session tonight! But at least my bag is packed!

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 10:51 AM

Hello Sandra. I noticed you forgot the singing session tonight. I hope you have a note from your mother. I'll be looking for it when I see you on Thursday night.

About 36 hours to go now - 2 more sleeps and then - YAY - Canberra here we come!

Jenny

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 06:52 PM

The typhoon has kept to its westerly course and skipped off south of us. We have a grey blustery day but nothing more than that. All is well.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 07:06 PM

BRett:

PM me your addy anyway.

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 05:14 AM

Latest prediction is that Sudal will turn more northerly and move up between us and the Philipines. It is not unknown for them to pull a u-turn and come back at us from the west. It ain't over till the fat guy sings.

Will do, Amos.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 08:15 AM

hi Brett

sandra, jennyo and i will be going to our national folk festival tomorrow. I hope Guam hasnt blown away when we get back!

have a great Easter, we'll spend all weekend sampling musical delights!

best wishes

freda

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 09:44 AM

Great threads, Brett, keep 'em comin'.

RtS
(just had to be post 667- the next door neighbour of the Beast!)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Apr 04 - 11:34 PM

Well, Freda, Sandy, and Jenny, you all have a good time. Watch out for...

Never mind, if you start watching out for things you may not have a good time!

Thanks for the encouragement, Roger. Every once in a while I start to wonder if I am reaching anyone with this.

Happy Easter to the Christians. Happy spring equinox to the others.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 01:48 AM

Never fear, Naemanson. Your thread is a bright spot.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 08:17 PM

Yesterday my friend Gordon invited me to a party for this afternoon. He expects there to be at least a hundred people there so it could prove interesting.

Easter is taken very seriously here on the island. A majority of the people are Catholics. The office was empty on Friday and we've had to schedule meetings around Holy Thursday and Holy Friday, putting them off to Monday. Friday was designated a liberal leave day which means that supervisors cannot interfere with requests for leave.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 07:48 PM

As I said, Easter is taken very seriously. Therefore there was no one hundred people at the party. It was a birthday celebration for his daughter and another family member. His daughter is in her teens and the other kid is in her stroller.

It was quite a spread, as island parties tend to be. There was more food than anyone could eat. Even taking the smallest portions no one could have left the food table having tried it all. There was BBQ ribs and chicken, two kinds of lumpia, shrimp kelaguen, cold but spicy, spaghetti, potato salad, papaya cole slaw, and many more. The deserts were all over the board including some of the best watermelon I've had in a long time.

It was a very nice time. I met another friend of theirs who came to the island for two years and has been here 38 years now. This is a very different group from the bunch I knew in Maine who told me all the horror stories about life in Guam.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Peter Woodruff
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 09:06 PM

Hi Brett,
It is Sring here in Maine, at least for Easter. I don't know if we'll have another snowstorm. My tomatoes are doing well in the window.

Peter

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 09:48 PM

Hi Woody,

You mention your tomatoes and it brings up a reminds of your lovely home in the woods. I hope you and your wife are still very happy and enjoying your life together. I trust you are all well. Life in Guam, as you can see in the thread, is varied and interesting. I am having lots of fun and working out plenty of personal issues though I don't go into that very deeply in this public forum. I am still avoiding women except for passing friendships. I find that is the best route to my own happiness.

Brett

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 04:34 AM

Brett - we had a great time & even met a few Mudcatters, incl. Bob Zentz whose CD I bought because of its cover - anything that looks like sea songs & shanties has to be added to my collection.

We had a great shanty sing with Danny Spooner. The room rocked! It did too in Hrothgar's Hymns session, esp. when John W, Margaret & Danny led a few hymns. Margaret moved to get away from John's enormous voice, then covered both ears as she had Danny's equally loud voice in her other ear!!

more on the Ozcatters thread.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 03:07 AM

Bob's a great guy. I visited with him when in Virginia once and he gave me a copies of two of his CDs. We had been in an ersatz Irish pub, singing and drinking all evening. It was magical.

Once when helping Gordon Bok lug his equipment out to his car after a wonderful coffeehouse evening he turned to me and said, "That's the kind of evening that'll put a goofy grin on your face for a week." Sounds like you are still grinning.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JennyO
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 04:01 AM

Hi Brett.

Bob was also performing with Rick Lee as well as by himself. Have you met Rick? They are both great guys and we loved their music. John did some CD swaps with them and we bought a couple of Rick's CD's. So we ended up with one of Bob's, a CD of instrumental versions of shanties by both of them, called Scuttlebutt, and 2 of Rick's. I also bought a live CD of Bob Brozman. I've not seen him before and he is amazing. So we have hours of good listening in front of us.

BTW, John is a mudcatter now too. Look for postings by jack halyard. He hasn't posted often yet - not as addicted as Amalina and I are (not yet anyway ;-))

Jenny

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 04:29 AM

not tooo addicted, jennyo!

i had a secular easter at the folk fest, didnt attend any hymns OR hers.

Enda Kenny (irish folkie now living in Oz) said this was the best festival he had ever attended.

Brett, Charlie and Judy, are you thinking of coming out again? if so, time it around the National for next year (always on at Easter) -you wont regret it!

still goofy grinning

freda

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 08:44 AM

freda, you missed a great singing session, hymn singing is secular. I think Tom put on a session at a festival year ago, called something like You don't have to be a christian to sing hymns.

Coupla years back my Jewish friend knew more hymns than I did & I used to go to Sunday School, & he didn't have that excuse!!

As you say, Brett, I'm still grinning. So many great singing sessions & conversations & concerts.

sandra (what's going on in Guam?)

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 06:45 AM

I don't know Rick Lee. I'd like to hear his music some day, especially if it fits well with Bob Zentz.

Congratulations to John. Welcome to the 'Cat.

Not much happening in Guam this week. We have some headquarters people visiting us and I've been in so many meetings I am developing calluses on my butt. But every afternoon I leave the office and go down to the sea where I float around communing with the fishes. They attend no meetings and their schools are more enjoyable than any I've ever been in. It's a nice way to unwind.

They moved the canoe down to the park behind the Chamorro Village. Last week we worked on it under the blue sky and next to the shining water. Boats plied in and out of the marina while we worked. People would drive by and stare at the red and black hull with what seemed to be wonder in their eyes. They were looking back into their own history.

This Saturday we will have a BBQ while we work. It promises to be a good day. I will take my guitar to practice for Tuesday.

Tuesday I will be on the local NPR radio station performing songs both accompanied and unaccompanied. That should be fun. The DJ, Jay McDonald, invited me some time ago but I only recently agreed.

There is another tropical depression forming down around Chuk. This one promises to develop into a typhoon and the models predict it coming this way. Cross your fingers. The last one, Sudal, hit Yap very hard, wiping out homes and businesses. There is a great need for aid in all forms down there.

I would say that there is a good chance of getting to Australia next Easter for the National. Keep me apprised.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 06:59 AM

By the way, I finished my taxes and reconsidered my plan to maintain my residence in Maine. I figure I will have to pay upwards of $3,000 to the state just for the chance to vote against the idiot in the White House. There is NO "state" tax here in Guam. And the federal taxes go to the Federal Government and then are turned around and sent back to GovGuam to maintain the island. So I have finally achieved what I've alsways wanted. I can honestly say my taxes are NOT going to the Department Of Defense to buy bullets and bombs.

I apologize to my friends in the USA. You're gonna have to get rid of the idiot yourself.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:03 AM

lucky you - your taxes are just doing good stuff.

looking forward to seeing & hearing you @ the 2005 National - maybe I'll have to change the title of my annual "Ozcatters meet @ the National @ Easter" thread to "Oz & other Catters ..."

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 06:42 PM

Hmmm, maybe I'll change my name to Guamcat.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 09:01 PM

Nice time at the canoe yesterday. We had a BBQ with odds and ends people brought by. Down at Paseo we have more people showing up to help with the repairs and we are really making progress. I took my guitar and played a little when the group work was done.

We had steak and fish, some rice with fine dene, fruit salad, and brownies. There were three kinds of fish, unicorn, tuna, and something they called by its Chomorro name.

It was a beautiful day. There were puffy clouds in a deep blue sky. the water varied in shade from tropical green to deep blue. Fishermen tried their skill against the fish while we cooked and worked, scraping wood, applying linseed oil, and carving on the big support for the offside platform.

Have I mentioned that I love it here? I've been trying to figure out why. I think it is a range of things. I could get warm weather anywhere in the southern states (of the USA). But I would still have to deal with people who measure their time as if it was the most important commodity they own, grouchy, hurrying people who can't stand still and enjoy their surroundings. I could get a rural life style pretty much anywhere in the states but there you tend to get a homogenous population, largely concerned with maintaining the homogenous nature of their lives. "Different people" are accepted and even welcomed as somebody unique but an influx of "different people" scares them.

Here, I am in the minority and unlike the minorities in the States I feel welcome despite my differences. I treat people with respect and honor and they treat me the same way. Back home if you meet a man with a dark skin dressed in "homie" style you wouldn't even meet his eyes. Here I feel comfortable looking him in the eye and greeting him with a cheerful "Hi!" Back home women with dark skins stare at you, if they look at you at all, with a smoldering anger in their eyes. Here they are bolder and happy. There is little anger to be seen here. It is not nonexistant. It is just not directed.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 08:26 AM

Of course the peace and serenity will only hold for as long as I can keep myself from falling in love. To do that I have been avoiding the other gender. Now I have slipped. I asked Wakana out to dinner. She suggested lunch next Sunday. We will also join a walk to Fifi Beach to look at some latte stones. And the weekend after that she and I and a friend of hers from Japan will go snorkeling together.

What am I doing?

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 08:40 AM

you're starting to have a normal life again, Naemanson, and good thing too - enjoy it!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 10:10 AM

Brett-

Your social life sounds better to me.

When's your next vacation coming up? Are you still planning to attend the South Pacific islands festival, whatever it's called?

You'll be pleased to hear that the last of the snow was washed away around here by torrential rains last week. Of course, we still have major ice jams and flooding in Northern Maine. Monday, it's supposed to be in the balmy 70's (F) along the coast. Time to break out the BBQ.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 10:19 AM

weather - Oz is still enjoying Summer! Last week in Canberra we had some very hot days & coolish nights (false advertising to say it was Autumn) & in Sydney we have had temperatures in the mid-late 20's C. (or 80's for those who use F.)

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 11:51 AM

Steady on, bwah. You're doing fine.


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 03:25 AM

It better not take me any deeper than friendship. If it does I would have to clean my house and that might be a project above and beyond my abilities.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 07:14 AM

Maybe it's time, Brett. I've been in a nice, stable friendship for about 8 months now. I find that my expectations have changed, somewhat, since/because of my last relationship. You're a warm, loving man. Figure it out as you go along & just keeping talking. I'm really glad you like Guam. I still have some mixed feelings about my move.

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 03:54 AM

I had a great gift in my mailbox. When I was in San Diego Amos took me around to some used bookstores and used music shops. He was egging me on to make more and more purchases while he cleverly avoided spending any money.

In one of the shops I bought an old LP titled An Exaltation Of Dulcimers. It features Lorraine Lee and Roger Nicholson. Of course I couldn't carry it home without breaking it so Amos recorded it for me. I expected a cassette from him but he managed to put it on a CD and then sent me two copies! What a nice guy. Thanks Amos!

I performed on the radio last night. It was on WPRG, the local college run NPR station. I expected to only do a half hour set but we stretched it out to almost an hour with me singing and talking to the DJ. It was great fun. I've heard from three people who heard the show and they all seem to have liked it.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 07:27 AM

NOW I'm in trouble! I went to the Chamorro Village for dinner. As I've said before they have a huge flea market/craft fair/open air dining celebration there on Saturday nights. I only went to get some BBQ and visit with Gordon and Vickie at their booth. (He makes and sells jewelry.)

Well, I had just finished my dinner (BBQ chicken on skewers, pancit, red rice, and macaroni salad) and was walking up to Gordon's booth when my eye fell on two brand new fiddles in cases with a price of $99.00 each! I asked the guy at the booth and he told me he'd had a real deal on E-Bay and had bought 5. These were the last two.

Long story short, I bought one.

NOW I have to figure out if I can play it or not!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 10:30 PM

Astounding!

Sometimes I'm glad that you live 10,000 miles from here...

;~)
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 11:10 PM

So glad they arrived, Brett!!

Your remarks about egging you on are quite unfair, I am sure; but the delightful discovery is that this late 60's recording featured vocals from none other than our own Jean Ritchie!! An unexpected treat (well, sure we should have read the liner notes but....).

Bret about the fiddle, now: see if you can get some coaching from Sorcha or someone before you start practicing in public places, ok? :>))

Love you, man!


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 01:59 AM

I've always wondered how the old timers managed to find time to learn how to play an instrument. And where they went to do all the atonal scratching they had to do before they could run out a tune. Now I get to find out.

I was on my way back to the office from my class this afternoon and stopped in at American Music to pick up a book on how to play this thing. They didn't have any. I had stopped at Hafa Books at lunch time but they didn't have any. So I made a stop at Bestsellers and my third swing was a miss. No luck. I know they have a book, CD, videocassette combination at the base book store. I'll stop in there after work.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 02:43 AM

good luck with the fiddle dad. :-)

we've got our first live roleplay event of the year this weekend! I can't wait!

talk to you soon!
love
kelli

sorry about the lack of capital letters...one of my shift keys is broken.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 05:53 AM

My poor daughter, can't even afford to fix her shift key. That's what you get for using the keyboard as a shield.

Just so everyone knows what a fine instrument I bought, I paid a whole $99 for it. I had to borrow $40 from Gordon. But it came with a case and two bows. There's no label inside so I don't know anything more about it. It must be a lost Stradivarious, don't you think?

There is one point I realized I need to make. if it isn't obvious in my posts I need to tell you that I have reached a plane of happiness that I have not experienced in a long time. Even my down days are brighter than I ever experienced while going through the days of the depression. Make no mistake, I have found happiness in being alone.

Of course, the house is a mess....

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:00 AM

I had a badge once that said 'Enjoy life, this is not a dress rehearsal'. Sounds like you're having a great life.

Some years back I knew a bloke who played guitar & banjo & started learning fiddle. He did his practicing on the wharf road in the early morning (got any wharves or similarly isolated places near you?)

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: el ted
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:07 AM

699

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: el ted
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:08 AM

post n0 700. I thank you! carry on everybody