News From Guam

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:10 AM

this is excellent news, Naemanson. interesting that happiness can creep up on you quietly.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 12:39 PM

Naemanson, I got my fiddle from a man was working as a horse wrangler for touristy wilderness treks in interior Alaska. He had decided that it would be a good chance to learn the fiddle in addition to his already playing guitar.

His cabinmates forced him to practice it out on the tundra. He gave it up.

In my case, my left hand can play the fiddle quite well. My right hand hasn't a clue. Bowing is an art in itself.

Good luck.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 06:13 AM

I'm having trouble tuning it. I think it needs to get used to tight strings.

I've been downloading instructions from folkofthewood.com. It's a start.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: freda underhill
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 06:50 AM

my father played the violin for the silent movies when he was a boy in Coleraine, Victoria. We gave him a violin for his 70th birthday, he picked it up and "played "the Springtime it brings on the shearing" for us, just beautifully as if he had still been playing it all those years...

enjoy it!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 03:10 PM

Hey, tell your elder offspring to email me her mailing address at my new e address; I can't get through to her email for beans!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 03:17 PM

Hit 'send' before I could say, enjoy the fiddle! Sorry, I can't offer to supply any catgut; would spun Persian hair work instead? I have a quantity!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 10:00 PM

I dunno, Winterbright, that cat is large enough to supply a whole orchestra with catgut. I should think you could spare some. *Grin*

I will tell Kelli to email you.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Susan A-R
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 11:16 PM

Brett, if you can't find anything for beginning fiddle, let me know and I'll check in with the good folks at Vermont Violins and see what can come your way. Just keep the bow nice and paralel to the bridge, adjust the angle so that it sounds reasonable,let the bow's own weight do the work and just play open strings rhythmically for a while to get a tone you like.   Then try string crossings to get used to the angle change, then start working in fingering. (the advice of someone who learned all of this stuff some 30 mumble mumble years ago.)

Is the fiddle not holding its tune, or does it seem to dislike humidity?    I wonder if they make fiddle case dehumidifiers?

Have fun on all counts.

Susan A-R

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 02:22 AM

Thanks Susan. the difficulty with tuning is that the strings seem to be new and they seem not to hold on to the tuning when you tuine the next string. I'll get the E string tuned than move on to the next and when I'm done with that one the E string is out of tune again. I'll figure it out. When I do get a string tuned the tone of the instrument seems pretty good, at least to my poor ear. I should take a picture of it and send it along to the Mudcat fiddle masters and let them judge it at least for looks.

Here are some observations from around the island.

Driving up to the Post Office the other day I was slowed by an accident. A pickup and a car had collided. the pickup had been loaded with fresh fish which were strewn all over the road. Oncoming traffic was detoured through a parking lot. Fish don't stay fresh in this weather very long.

There are people along the roads selling watermelons. The price is 2 for $5.00. The melons are so cute. They are about the size of large honeydew melons but the flavor is great.

My neighbor has a little flock of young black chickens running around the place. They are still in the peeping stage of life. It's funny that the stray dogs don't bother the chickens running loose all over the island.

Names for convenience stores here include Happy Mart, KNS Store, and my favorite, Cheapest Mart. There is a computer company here called Lucky Computer.

Vandals broke into one of the local schools and stole parts for the air conditioning system. The kids have had no AC for a couple of weeks now while they wait for replacement parts. Parents are up in arms.

The last survivor of the Tinta Massacre died last week. In the days before the American invasion the Japanese soldiers rounded up a group of people and massacred them at Tinta with machine guns and swords. There were 14 survivors. The last one, Jesus Anderson, died last week. He was 84 years old.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 11:09 AM

Sorry... he says that catgut is an integral part of his well-being and none is available at the present time. However, if you would like to submit paperwork we would be happy to keep your request on file.
He also says that a roadful of fish sounds like died and gone to heaven and is wondering what are the shipping rates for Persian gentlemen? The stray dogs, however, are a discouragement.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 08:27 PM

Last night I finally got the fiddle in tune and played my first notes on the E string! I need to contact Jay MacDonald, the DJ at the Radio Station, to see if I have the fiddle properly tuned. For some reason the E styring doesn't sound high enough.

As for the Persian gentleman and his request for fish he will have to make his own arrangements. If he would like to try snorkeling he would truly think he was in heaven. He would be surrounded by fish in their natural habitat.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Susan A-R
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 11:53 AM

I believe that Persian Gentlemen object to snorkling. Something about the water, but boy the fish may make it worth while. . .

Now he may want to consider shipping to the Cinque Terre in Italy where they view such gentlemen with great revrence. I walked around a corner to see a very happy cat eating its way down a neat line of fresh sardines.   What a life!

If the D is a fifth above the G, the A a fifth above the D and the E a fifth above the A you're doin' fine.

Susan

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 11:45 PM

Maybe I'll get an underwater camera and take a picture to send to the Persian gentleman. That should get him drooling.

Thanks for the tip, Susan. I'm pretty sure I've got it right but my ear doesn't agree. It tells me that the E string is too low. I know a local fiddler and I'll get with him to discuss it. But I sure like my cheap fiddle. The fingerboard looks like real ebony. Looking at the underside you can see the grain easier. The finish work under threr isn't as nice as the surface. There is no real fancy work on it. The scroll work on the head is simple and straightforward but the pegs seem to be ebony also. The tailpiece has fine tuners on all the strings but the knobs are small and difficult for my big fingers to turn. The back is two pieces, book matched. The overall finish is OK but a little crude. The tone is nice according to my poor ear.

It came in a case with two bows and a recess with a spring hinge for the rosin. The rosin was included, new and unblemished, still in its paper in a green plastic case. The violin case is blue with shoulder straps. There is a pocket on the outside for extras toys or music.

I mentioned it to my daughter, Mudcatter Tenjiro, and she got excited. It turns out that she really likes fiddle music and would like to play. I guess I'll go back next Wednesday and see if the other one is there. If it is I'll have to ship it off to Virginia.

Who'd a thunk it? She never mentioned any special attraction to the fiddle before she left for college but then Wee Johnny of the Battlefield Band was one of her heroes so I guess it was for more than his shaved head and leather jacket.

Yesterday I had a very nice 3 hour lunch with Wakana. We talked of many things and planned adventures together. I think she will be a fun friend to pal around with. We seem to have a lot in common.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 10:09 AM

Persian Gentlemen do not drool!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 08:40 PM

Last night was fun. I met Wakana and Akiko, her friend from Japan, in front of the Jamaica Grill in the Chamorro Village. Wednesday nights at the village are a lot of fun. The place becomes a carnival with live music, booths selling eveything from cheap toys, t-shirts, seashells, tuba, used videotapes, and jewelry to machetes dresses, chidren's clothes and carabao rides.

We went to Gordon's booth. Gordon makes jewery from semiprecious stones and bits that he buys. A lot of it is bead work. Wakana bought a nice silver pendant.

We also went to supper at the booth that sells barbequed squid. We all intended to get squid but they were out of bodies and only had legs available. I tried a sample. It was good but too spicy for me. I couldn't identify a flavor that I could call "squid" but it certainly was chewy.

We wandered around the place for a while to let Akiko shop then bought a funnel cake to share. Lastly we went back to Gordon's booth where his wife gave us some betel nut to chew. It was Akiko's first experience with betel nut and the second for Wakana and me. None of us are interested in pursuing the experiment further. I am not interested in acquiring a taste for that stuff. It dries your mouth out so thoroughly that you can't even spit it out. Ugh!

This afternoon after work the three of us will go snorkeling at the Piti Bomb Holes. I've never been out there. These are natural formations, round deep holes in the coral that look like bombs blew up there. In the middle of one of them is the Fisheye. It is a tower built down to the deepest part. Tourists can pay to walk out along a bridge to the tower and then down the stairs to look at the fish in their natural habitat as well as the scuba divers who frequent the area.

Should be fun.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 10:18 PM

Brett-

"Squid legs"? Whose leg are you trying to pull?

By the way you may want to check in on Curmudgeon's thread. He's well on the way to recovery after major heart surgery.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:10 AM

What's this? Heart surgery? What's the thread. I'll go look for it.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 11:05 PM

Well, the question of the passport is settled. The box that Amos and I mailed on March 5 from San Diego arrived yesterday. With no passport in it. So now I know the passport is officially lost. What a shame. This could impact my plans for the summer.

Last night Wakana, Akiko, and I went snorkeling out at the Piti Bomb Holes. There is a long walk through shallow water. Then there is a precipitous drop into deeper water, maybe 30' or so. The bomb holes are round openings in the reef that look as though bombs carved them out. Actually they are natural formations caused by an old upwelling of fresh water. In the middle of the deepest is the Fisheye. This is a tower with an observation lounge at the bottom of the sea. We swam out to take a look at it. I dove down and grabbed the window sill so I could look into the lounge. No one was home.

The whole area around the Fisheye is surrounded by schools of fish. It was like swimming through a National Geographic movie. Simply amazing. This afternoon we'll go over to Gab Gab to look at that area.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 12:10 AM

Dear Gawd!!

Get yer butt down to the consul's office right now, sir, and start remediating the sittyation post-haste, wouldja? Please?

It takes an idjit like you or me to lose a passport (been there, done that) but it takes a DOUBLE idjit not to deal with the situation once detected!!

Next time we meet I will tell you the story about my 2d-grade school principal and my passport on the Copenhagen- Paris overnight train.

Regards,

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 06:09 AM

With Akiko and Wakana I went farther from the shore at Gab Gab than I would have done alone. And boy, was it worthwhile! The water was so clear and there were so many fish that it was like flying when you went down to have a closer look. And all around you were schools of brightly colored fish flying with you. The women were thrilled by the last two expeditions and sorry to have to get out of the water.

It was interesting to take them on to the base. We hadn't been there but ten minutes when Wakana commented on the different feel of the atmosphere there. She said she felt it the minute we came through the gate. They were very interested in seeing what lay there beyond the gate they could not otherwise have crossed. They loved to see the Japanese two man sub down at the museum.

Akiko has to go home on sunday morning but she is talking wistfully of moving to Guam. Wakana gets excited when I talk of doing this kind of thing every weekend and even during the week. Then we discussed borrowing Gordon's kayaks and doing some exploring with those. And we haven't even started looking into hiking in to see the waterfalls.

Today they went on the Talafofo River Jungle Cruise. They say it was fun and interesting. I guess I will have to try it out. They also went up to see Yokoi's Cave. That is a tourist trap where the Korean proprietors convince the Japanese toruists that they are looking at the cave Shoichi Yokoi hid in for 27 years after WWII. He actually had two caves and that one is not one of them.

Tomorrow is Saturday at last. I don't HAVE to do anything if I don't want to. I will go over to the canoe at 10:00 to see the progress on the ep-ep. I understand we have a new mast and boom. I think we are close to getting her back into the water.

And so endeth another day.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 May 04 - 05:22 AM

Work on the canoe is coming along very well. All we need to do now is finish the decking on the outrigger, mount the tam, set up the ep-ep, and smooth out the damage to the bottom and we will be finished. Today they tied the new motongor into place and reattached the gunnel at that end. There is a chance that they will use a picture of the Quest in the new Max Havoc movie they are now shooting on the island.

Gordon and I went up to Latte canopies to get the new canopy to put over the canoe. Our old canopy is too small and the ends of the canoe hang out in the weather. The new one is 30' by 30'. We'll be able to get the canoe and a visitor canoe in there. Later on we'll build a new canoe house but for now it has to be the canopy.

I don't think I've mentioned the canopies on Guam. They are everywhere. If you need additional space you put up a canopy. They are simple metal frames with silver colored plastic canvas over the top. They rarely have sides. Need a garage? Party space? Shade for a big job? Place to sleep after the typhoon takes out the power? Put up a canopy.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 May 04 - 07:31 AM

Sorry, Brett -- I figured you hadn't heard or noticed the thread, but I didn't have a moment free to let you know. I was out straight doing all the things that need to be done AND on painfully slow dial-up (rectified mid-day Thursday) so that my on-line time took waaaay too much time at a time when I had NO time for anything other than the essential updates to various list administrators and Mudcat.

For the first time in over two weeks, I'm stealing a little time after the cats were fed and Mort insulated, to just sit in bed and read a bit before calling Tom. (Well, I've also washed my hair cuz I was too tired when I got home yesterday and have cleaned various surfaces in the bedroom and bathroom prior to finding time to vacuum before, maybe, going to bring Tom home from the hospital.)

Well, I'm taking a cup of tea up, so maybe I'll stay put for a coupla minutes!

Maybe sometime in the next week or so I'll be able to catch up on THIS thread!

Linn

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 May 04 - 07:46 PM

My truck is back in the shop today. FINALLY getting the windshield wipers fixed. While driving up to the dealership I stopped for coffee. Ever since I got here I have gone by the Dunkin Donuts sign and thought about stopping in for some good old DD coffee. But every other time I have been by there too latein the day to drink coffee or I have not been in the mood for coffee. Today was perfect. I stopped in to experience my first heartbreak of the day.

That big sign was only to advertise a cabinet full of donuts. There was no DD coffee! Sigh. Such is life.

In 40 days I will have been here for one full year! Amazing! The time has flown by and I have not done as much as I had hoped to do. Still, things are well and life is still fun. I walk around in the warm weather looking at the exotic plant life under blue skies and marvel at the idea of living in this paradise.

Sunday Wakana and I took a drive after going to the scuba swapmeet. There was little of interest there. We went down into a small jungle marina near the power plant. On our way out there was a monitor lizard in the road. At first I thought it was alive but it had been killed by a car. It was a small one, only about a foot and a half long. Wakana wanted to move it into the brush so its body wouldn't be savaged by any more tires. Then we went up to Gordon's house to show her the fossils he collects and talk about rocks. He has a very nice piece of rainbow basalt carved into the likeness of a face. Under a light you can see swirls and patterns of color swimmng under the black surface of the rock. It's beautiful. Then we went to dinner at Tuan's and she headed home.

I have no water at my house. Saturday morning the pressure was low and my shower was little more than a trickle. When I got home in the afternoon there was no water and there was still no water this morning. Fortunately there is a shower here in our office building. I bought two 5 gallon containers to use for basic water, washing and flushing. I have about 15 gallons of drinking water. I am OK for a while but it is inconvenient.

This morning on the way to work from the shop I saw a car in the outside lane with a step ladder on the roof. As I watched the ladder seemed to slip sideways and down to the side of the car. It was then that I realized the ladder was not tied down. Instead the man in the passenger seat was trying to hold on to it as they drove down the road. We passed them so I don't know how that experiment turned out but I can make a guess.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 May 04 - 09:28 PM

Hi, Brett ---

A monitor lizard -- that's what Curmudgeon needs! Something he could take for a walk on a nice elegant chain. He should be able to walk our hills in a couple weeks. Are they shippable? Do they need a litter box? Stable? The guest room? A gypsy caravan in the vale?

What is rainbow basalt? All the basalt I've seen is basically one color. Sounds fascinating.

Linn

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 02 May 04 - 11:23 PM

I've seen a lot of ladder experiments in Mexico similar to the one you describe, Brett. Wonder how the meme gets across the Pacific...

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 May 04 - 10:39 AM

Brett-

I don't know about monitor lizards but Judy and I almost ran across (came to screeching halt) a large turtle on the short cut to Wiscasset the other day. It was about a foot and a half in diameter and weighed about 25 pounds. I got out and carefully picked it up, not being sure how far his neck might stretch, and dropped it off on the other side of the road where it appeared to be heading, perhaps to feast on the choir of peeping frogs in the pond there. It seemed rounder in general shape than the snapping turtles we sometimes see. I'll have to look up some pictures in a reference book but I bet it was even more ancient than you or me!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 May 04 - 11:09 PM

Still no water. They say it will be back on by Thursday. I hope so. The shower here at work doesn't have any hot water and I am getting tired of cold showers.

This weekend the Spanish Steps will be open again and Gordon, Vickie, Wakana, and I will go down to do some snorkeling down there. The steps won't open again until late June or early July.

Amos, I don't think the ladder experiment is the result of genetic connection. I think it is a case of parallel evolution. It is a case of someone with a lack of common sense and/or intelligence solving a problem the best s/he can. Anyone who would try the ladder experiment would not be able to cross an ocean by himself.

Linn, to maintain a monitor lizard you would have to heat your home to a higher temperature than you normally keep it in the winter. Also, I have no idea how the lizard would interact with the cats. Since they grow quite large it is possible they eat smaller animals so the cats may find they have their work cut out keeping away from the lizard. Perhaps you need a lizard made of some inanimate material. There are some lovely carved wooden lizards in the local market.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 May 04 - 08:20 PM

According to the paper the water outage was caused by a burned out pump out by the Windward Hills area. Water will be back on by Thursday afternoon.

They are filming a movie on the island. Max Havoc - Curse Of The Dragon. Watch for it in a cinema near you. However, from the name and that of the "star", Micky Hardt, don't expect to see it mentioned on Oscar night. Apparently it will feature lots of martial arts and jet-skis.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 May 04 - 05:10 PM

I had a big surprise when I got home last night. I had water! What joy! This morning I took a hot shower for the first time in almost a week. Sigh, what a pleasure.

Tomorrow evening I am going to an office party. Parties on the base fall into two broad categories. One category consists of those parties planned and executed by the civilian locals. Those are fun, the food is great and there are interesting people to talk to with interesting stories to tell. The other category are the parties in the bubble. These are very scripted affairs with loud Americans glad handing and talking about work and the Navy. Generally the groups split into men on one side and women on the other. The men talk shop and promotion and assignments. The women talk children, clothes, and jewelry. But I am going to this party for two reasons. One is the view. The host lives in a house with a dynamite view and we should have a great sight of the sunset. Two, the food. The hostess is a hell of a cook. I guess there is a third reason. I'd like Wakana to see what I have to put up with and for my co-workers to meet her.

As for tonight, it is time to really clean house!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 May 04 - 08:42 AM

Well, Hell, you could'a knocked me down with a feather. The party was actually fun! And Wakana had a good time too. She met a number of the people I work with and learned that many have a smattering of Japanese. And when the captain came around doing his glad hand routine he had a long conversation with her in Japanese.

The food was good. We had a Mongolian barbeque. The food was in the house and the BBQ pits were outside. There was a long line waiting for the food to cook so we got to talk to our neighbors and pass the time. Wakana was amazed to hear the stories of the people I work with. One officer from New York is a Haitian born immigrant. He worked with our current captain back in 1995 on an assignment in Haiti. Another just came back from 6 months in the horn of Africa building schools, roads and hospitals for the Ethiopians. Apparently the Government believes that helping out poorer nations may reduce the number of people that hate us. I think it's a good plan. I hope they continue to expand it. There were Chamorros there too, including some from the canoe.

Speaking of the canoe, apparently someone has stolen our canopy. I don't know why they would want that ratty old thing but it is gone. We have a new larger canopy but we don't know if we want to put it up now. We'll talk about it tomorrow.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 04 - 10:01 AM

Keep on truckin', amigo. Tell Wanana I said she had to take good care of you. ;>)

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 May 04 - 07:29 PM

We put up the new canopy over the canoe yesterday. After the old one this was like a new larger house. Work continues on the outrigger. There were four people tying it together with heavy line. They would thread it through, make their loop, wrap the line around a piece of wood and then lean their weight on it. The end result was a solid knot that could not be budged.

Last week I went in for a physical. Since we've had so many of our Mudcat brothers and sisters turn up sick I thought I would report that I appear to be in good shape for the condition I'm in.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 08 May 04 - 07:50 PM

Yeah, I know the routine: "I am SO in good shape -- pear is a good shape!!" Glad to hear you're healthy, pal!!

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 May 04 - 05:32 AM

The last few times I went snorkeling I have had trouble with my mask leaking. Today I tried shaving my cheeks down to line up with my mustache and I put on a really thick glop of vaseline. Still no luck. After 15 minutes I gave up in frustration. I went to the dive shop. Just before I went in I tried the mask in the usual mask test and noticed bubbles in the residual water in the bottom of the mask. It wasn't leaking at the skin but through the bottom of the lens!

So, now I need a mask that will fit my prescription lenses and there aren't any on the lisland right now...

Sigh, life is good, life is good, life is good....

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 May 04 - 01:52 PM

Brett-

How about caulk? Or duct tape? Or red tape?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 May 04 - 08:26 PM

Hmm, that reminds me. I need some duct tape for my reef boots. The zipper won't stay up and the boot gets loose when I swim.

The wait is not important. Wakana called her mother and asked her to mail out her snorkel gear. It will be a while before it gets here so I have no one to swim with until then.

Next weekend we are going to borrow a couple of kayaks and go up the Talafofo River. She and Akiko went up that river on the tourist jungle cruise but we can go farther on kayaks. That will be fun.

Not feeling well today. Funny I should feel unwell right after a physical. Woke at 3:00 this morning unable to breathe through my nose. The only thing in the house to clear it up was Nyquil. It did the job but then I couldn't wake up three hours later to go to work. Still feel crummy.

I forgot to mention I am once again without water. It came back on Wednesday. I managed to get a few days with hot showers but it was gone again on Saturday morning. Still not there today. Ironic that they were celebrating National Drinking Water Week last week, especially since you should not drink the water from the taps anyway.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 May 04 - 08:29 PM

By the way, the Pago Bay Reefers are cutting a CD. If anyone is interested in the folk music I hear on the island please let me know and I'll help you buy a copy. This is not great folk music. It's kind of like the Kingston Trio singing folk standards (Big Rock Candy Mountain, Tim Finnegan, etc.), the Beatles and various other fun light rock standards. But they are a fun group and you can tell they are having fun. That's what counts to me.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 May 04 - 06:45 AM

I got home with refilled water jugs only to find I have water again! Only a trickle but it runs.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 04 - 10:16 AM

Hang in there, buddy. This too shall pass.

A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 May 04 - 11:51 PM

Woke up this morning to no water. Another cold shower in the men's bathroom downstairs. I was dressing myself when one of the downstairs people came in and I groused to him about cold water. He assured me that there was hot water hooked up to that shower. You could have fooled me! I'd just gotten out of it and it was pretty cold.

The water problem finally hit the front page of the newspaper. They say they are replacing a pump and will have water back on again "soon".

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 04 - 11:59 PM

Make literature out of it, dude!!! Or a "No water Blues".


A

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 May 04 - 06:23 PM

I actually got to shower at home this morning! What a luxury. And with hot water too! Of course the pressure is nothing to write home to mother about. I could pee harder than that. Still, I shouldn't complain. At least I left the house clean for the first time in a while.

Now, will there still be water tomorrow? Tune in, ladies and gentlemen, to this station to find out the answer to this burning question!

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 May 04 - 08:28 PM

A water, a water, anywheres,
Nor any a drops for drinks.

Verse from Ethiopia student in 1966, or maybe just wistful thinking on the part of his teacher.

We used a bucket shower in Emdeber, in Ethiopia in the 1960's. You know, you had to heat up on the fireplace two buckets of water, one for soaping, and the other for rinsing. We had an empty bucket with a shower head attached to the bottom hanging from the center post in our shinta-bet, which was used as a shower room. It was a small round hut, encased in bamboo like the main house, with a concrete floor, a throne for other functions, but also served nicely for showers. Never had any problem with water pressure.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 May 04 - 09:12 PM

Today is a boondoggle day. The boss and I are cutting out early to go see a movie. Plus there is a history lecture at the local club at lunch time.

Tonight after the movie Wakana and I will be meeting for supper at the Chamorro Village. I called her and mustered up all my Japanese to say good morning and then screwed up her name (Konichiwa Wanaka-san). Sigh. She says my Japanese lessons start tonight.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: bbc
Date: 12 May 04 - 07:02 AM

chuckle. keep trying! I remember trying to communicate in Korean.

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 May 04 - 10:59 PM

At last it's Friday! I know you don't hear things like that from me very often but this has been a difficult week and there is so much to look forward to on the weekend. We will be at the canoe all day Saturday and most of Sunday. We'll camp out at the site on Saturday night and Manny will give us star lessons. This is when our FesPac contingent will get their first experience of living with the canoe. That is where they will stay during their time in Palau.

My efforts to go to Palau have not panned out at all. I still have one or two avenues to follow but at this time I have no place to stay while down there. I am planning to buy a hammock and I will sleep in the trees by the beach at night. In the morning I will bathe in the ocean and find a freshwater hose to rinse off in. I can stash my stuff at the canoe while I wander the grounds. There may also be a chance that someone has a dome tent and I can stay at the canoe. Either way it promises to be an adventure like I used to read about when I was a kid. Beachcomber's paradise.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 May 04 - 08:19 AM

definitely simple living! I suppose the water shortages you have been enduring will be good practice for beach life.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 May 04 - 07:01 AM

Last night I got my first taste of tropical camping. It wasn't much, not much more than sleeping out in the back yard. We spent the day with the canoe. She's really shaping up. We hope to get her in the water very soon. The guys are talking about getting the local dancers to help us with a launching ceremony. Manny is looking for a piece of pumice to make a cnaoe totem to keep the crew safe while at sea.

So, at about 6:00 we started the BBQ and ate and drank and talked into the evening. The wives went home at about 10:00, the hammocks were strung and we were preparing for bed when Bruce showed up at midnight. He settled on a chair, broke out the tequila, and they stayed up till 4:00 AM talking and drinking. It was one of those special moments between friends. I could tell from my hammock where I lay slipping in and out of sleep.

I had a rope hammock that I'd bought earlier that day. My weight is just over its design limit but it was comfortable. I set it up with a tarp overhead for rain protection. I had a sleeping bag but I didn't need it in the warm evening. There were no mosquitoes. Let me repeat that. There were no mosquitoes! Just let that sink in. This place gets no snow and "There were no mosquitoes". I like it here.

I slept quite peacefully and didn't even notice the little rain shower Gordon reported next morning. I woke after dawn and wandered off in search of a place to empty my bladder. The park restrooms were locked and there were too many joggers and walkers to think of kicking a bush. I finally found a secluded spot and headed back to camp. On the way I met Wakana out on the same errand. We jumped in my truck and headed out for bathroom, coffee and breakfast. When we got back we brought tea for the other survivors but they were too tired to drag themselves out of their hammocks. Eventually they rose like the living dead and stared balefully at the tea while they struggled to remember what they were supposed to do with it.

About noon I headed home to get some housework done. I started with a shower. Then I realized how comfortable the bed looked. Two hours later I awoke from my nap and lay there listening to the Prairie Home Companion.

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 May 04 - 08:02 AM

what a life. Sounds like you've found your ideal retirement climate & lifestyle.

sandra

Subject: RE: News From Guam
From: JudyB
Date: 16 May 04 - 11:16 AM

No mosquitoes? No way! I maybe sort of believe you've found a place where it hardly ever snows - but no mosquitoes? You've stretched your tall tale just a little bit too tall, my friend!

Seriously, it sounds like a great adventure!

Keep us posted!
JudyB