News From Guam

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 10:09 AM

Persian Gentlemen do not drool!

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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: el ted
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:08 AM

post n0 700. I thank you! carry on everybody

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

699

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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 11:51 AM

Steady on, bwah. You're doing fine.


A

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 16 Apr 04 - 06:42 PM

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

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 - 06:59 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.