I Want the Clouds Back

I know...I'm picky, picky, picky.  But at least while the storm was here I didn't sweat nearly as much.

On a random note, I had my first island power outage last night.  I made it 32 days.  That just might be a new record for my last 11 years of island life.  (The lights did flicker a few times while I was in Guam, but never went completely out.)

Storm update: It is now a Category IV Typhoon and expected to hit Super Typhoon status.  I'm pretty sure I will have to stay a few extra days now seeing that it should slam into Japan about the time I was planning on going there.  Sigh--a few more days on a tropical beach in paradise.

In other news, I toured a ship today!  I love touring ships.  I had the privilege of touring three subs, three ships, and a replica of Magellan's boat while living in Saipan.  Today I got to tour a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) research ship.  Sadly, I took pics with my camera so I can't post them yet.  We took the children from church on a field trip to tour the ship (followed by Happy Meals at McDonald's).   Since I can't post pics of today quite yet, here's a link to an online picture of the vessel I toured. http://pifscblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/sette.jpg

For my one science buff reader (Adam--this is a shout out to you!  Sorry, it's not physics though.), here's the purpose of the ship here on "my" islands.  Everyone else can skip this paragraph.

The vessel is engaged in a 30-day research project in the waters of the Northern Mariana Islands to learn more about the biology and environment of bottomfish resources that support the local fishing economy. On the first leg of its voyage, from June 19 to July 3, scientists on the Sette are studying the near shore and coastal waters of Uracas, Maug, and Asuncion, the Islands Unit of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. During the second leg of the expedition, July 7 through 21, research will focus on the waters of Pagan, Guguan, Sarigan, and Anatahan. Local fishermen and representatives of Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Northern Marianas College, and the Northern Mariana Islands Mayor’s Office are travelling aboard the Sette, which will also be dropping an archaeological team on Alamagan for field studies there.

Well, my time is Saipan is drawing to a close.  Only about 35 hours left--assuming I get a flight back to Guam in the near future.  

Tropical Storm Neoguri

(I remembered I could take pics on my iPad and then upload them to the blog. Aren't you guys lucky!)

We woke to a few broken limbs, but that was better than Guam that fared some power outages. I did go to the spa, and it did rain most of the time. (I choose not to take Perry. It wasn't really safe for him to be out today.) But the hot pools are quite delightful in the rain. Here is not-so-sunny-spa.

The most amazing sunsets can always be found after a storm.  I didn't even think the clouds would break tonight, so I wasn't prepared for sunset pics. I was walking down the tourist strip when I saw rays of pink above the hotels.  I dashed to my boonie car asap and found myself the nearest place to pull over next to the ocean.  Here's what I got...

This is up there with the Rota sunset of October 2005 after a similar rainy experience.

Bah Humbug

Yesterday, my Facebook status read, "Saipan clouds, how I love thee. Please do not go anywhere!"  This was not, however, an invitation for Tropical Depression 08W (soon to become a tropical storm) to visit bringing with it: Marine Weather Warnings, Special Weather Statement (Marianas), Small Craft Advisories, Airport Weather Warning Guam International Airport, and a High Surf Advisory. I'm sure I am missing a few watches or warnings.  The Pacific just might outdo Oklahoma when it comes to excessive watches.  Thankfully, since I watch last weeks television in Saipan, it won't mess up my programming.  (Until the power goes out, that is.)

I had just returned home after dropping off the last of the girls from our (what ended up being) 4 day girls retreat.  It was surprisingly a lot of fun...and NO drama! Hard to believe, I know.  Within 30 minutes of returning to the house, the skies opened up.  [Note: Part of our late morning retreat activities was to visit a few of the touristy sites on the north end of the island.  One of my favorite places to go just before a storm is Bonzai Cliff.  Sure enough, this morning it didn't disappoint as huge waves were crashing on the cliff.  (I do have video and pics to show, but the computer I'm using in Saipan doesn't seem to have a  slot of my camera card. They'll have to wait.)] 

Since about 2:30pm this afternoon it has rained.  There are flame tree petals and plumeria flowers scattered all over the yard from the wind.  A little before 5:30, I decided I was going to head out to see if Street Market was still going on tonight. Street Market happens every Thursday night. I have a feeling that in all the times I've been on island (including the 2 years I lived here), I can count on one hand the evenings I did not attend street market. If I did nothing else while on the islands except go to street market, I would consider the trip successful.  

As I headed down the mountain, I hit road construction that actually just added itself to the Saipan flood zone.  With the road being narrowed to a single lane at times, I pressed forth through high waters to get to Street Market. (They weren't really that high. I mostly wrote that for dramatic effect. Mom and Gayla, please don't worry.)   About the time I hit the port, the rain began.  It was soon so heavy I could hardly see to drive. I decided that this was not the time to go to street market, so I stopped off for a massage.  (It was on the evening's agenda.) I had a great time with my Chinese friends as I learned more about them this evening. Sadly, more customers came in as did the mama-san so they had to hush. I don't really like when the mama-san is there because then they are all business, and we don't get to laugh and talk.  Rabbit trail. Sorry.

After the marvelous massage, I was able to get in my car just before the rain and head towards street market. As I approached, I could see lights and I was hopeful!  I could hear the ridiculously loud music and I was double hopeful! I parked my car and waded in water above my ankles in the rain to the OUTDOOR  street market. I frantically searched for Thai House, Poons, Buttercups, the smoothie stand, the handicrafts....any of my favorite booths. Sadly, only about 1/4 of the vendors were there. I left, wading in water up to my ankles in the rain, back to my car empty handed and starving. Sigh.  I decided to go to Thai House restaurant instead. I sat there as the only costumer dumb enough to get out in the weather and talked to the waitress as I ate my order of Spring Rolls.  My Thursday night without my beloved street market was ruined. (As is the shopping I had promised for my mom and MaKenzie.)

If the ruining only stopped there.  Tomorrow's 4th of July activities have now been postponed.  It is tentatively rescheduled for Sunday.  This means no parade or fireworks tomorrow. And the parade and fireworks will be probably be during church on Sunday so no one will come!  The ruining means no snorkeling since we have a high surf advisory and the water is pretty rough.   And since tomorrow is a holiday, everything is closed! (I know that doesn't happen in the states, but islanders take holidays seriously. And everything shuts down.  Including Thai House buffet.)  I would say I was going to start watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel (yes, they are having a week of Christmas movies kicking off July 4), but since my TV is a week behind, I can't even do that!

Bah Humbug. 

On a very bright note: the house is cool...I'm cool...and I will sleep. Hallelujah for rainy weather at bed time!  

Rats

or maybe it should say...

RATS!!!!!!

I was told on the evening of my arrival that they were keeping everything in the fridge because of the rats. I didn't think much of it because when I lived on the island, I kept everything in the fridge too.  Mostly for ants, giant roaches, the extreme heat melt factor, and the mold factor.

During the first night, I did hear some strange noises. Of course, that is nothing new for me. I like to believe that all the noises I hear on a regular basis are indeed real sounds and not just the voices in my head. (Of course, those who know me very well, know that I tend to invent earthquakes that only I can feel, so who really knows about the noises?)  I dismissed the sounds of being just the palm leaves outside my window and not rats scurrying at my bed.

Then there was the second night.  The high school girls from the church were over for a sleepover/retreat.  I was showing them a movie I had seen before, so I thought I'd sneak into my room and grab my iPad.  As I neared the place I left my handy dandy contraption, there was a rat (right above the iPad) in the window running in circles. Of course, as I came near it leaped out from the window (think flying squirrel) and was heading straight for me.  I gave a very quiet shriek and jumped on my bed.   Sadly, the rat run under my bed, so I wasn't exactly sure where to go.  And the more I thought about it, the rat could easily climb on to the bed. So, I jumped off the bed like it was no big deal and went to finish the movie with the girls.

Of course, then it was bed time. How does one sleep when she realizes that at any moment a rat could jump on her?  I have had ghekos fall on me (there's a great story about a ghecko and a bathtub, but maybe another night).  I have had roaches fall on me.  But not a rat.  This is not the island experience I am hoping to go home with.

So tonight is my third night sleeping with rats.  The people staying at this house have come clean and shared all the other places they have seen rats in the last few days.  This may be a long week.  And it may provide some quality blogging stories very soon.

I'm Sorry!

I haven't blogged in nearly a week, so I would like to offer up a list of excuses:

• I was in the middle of VBS. It is a very exhausting job, and by the time I would get to the house in the evenings, I was zonked. (And Full House was on, so I had to watch TV.  Please don't judge me.  I also watch Little House on the Prairie.)
• The actual occupants of the house I had been staying in returned from their trip to the states. Blogging on an iPad is too tricky for me.  (I guess if I blogged on the iPad, my posts would be shorter and probably more of a joy to read for you.  You being my one lonely reader.)
• My buddy (not-so-bearded-Ben) left island on Sunday. He moved to Guam the same time I first came to Saipan--11 years ago!  He has decided to take his adventures back to Japan.  In keep in line with my excuses, there were going away celebrations! (Or moving junk from his house to the church parties.)
• I had to direct a children's program at church.
• There was a potluck. You know how I enjoy eating!
• I switched islands.  

VBS Pics

Here are a few pics of Vacation Bible School.  Still two more nights to go!

Just another day....

I started out the day with an early morning swim.  Here are a few pics I took of my morning outing.  (It was a little too early for the amazing colors of the ocean.)

This evening was Night 3 of VBS.  My hair stylist took had another round with my hair....

....and Perry made some new friends with the preschool class!

Ugly Shirt

No matter where I go....ugly shirts are everywhere.  It's not as bad as the Ada Walmart but not exactly what I want to see on my islands.  Thankfully, I have a kind spirit (HA!) and didn't force the kid to remove his shirt.  Look...I'm even touching it and smiling!

And when the kids see one picture taken, they ALL think they need one....hence, this picture.

The girl in the blue shirt told me I was beautiful and the boy hugging my arm I've wanted to take home for three years.  He is so sweet!  Sadly, he didn't get to come last night because pink eye is going around Guam and several of the families of my VBSers have it.  :(

The Sandwich that was Never Had.

Guam has a lot of legends and stories.  One legend is about a girl named Sirena.  In this legend, Sirena is out swimming in the river instead of doing her chores at home.  Her mother gets upset with her and curses her, turning her into a mermaid.  Her mother does later regret her actions, but the curse couldn't be reversed.  Many stories are told of people seeing her at sea.

Since it is such a popular legend, there are several things named after Sirena---including the fish sandwich at JanZs.  Today, I met up with a college friend's girlfriend who is visiting island for a week for her brother's wedding.  I thought I would take her to JanZ's because it is a cool place to go (on the water at the marina) and because I really wanted a Sirena.  (Sandwich. Not the mermaid.) JanZs is a far drive.  On the way, we passed the Container McDonald's.

Yes, this is a real working McDonald's. Yes, it is in a container.  Yes, it does serve SPAM for breakfast.

On my adventure we also pass some big guns.

And finally we make it to JanZs.  I got this sick feeling in my stomach (well, mostly hunger pains) as well pulled in and there were zero cars in the parking lot. Then we did a drive by of the restaurant and there were no tables and chairs inside!  My lovely Sirena, I shall never eat you again. (Sandwich. Not mermaid.)

We ended up settling for a Thai place and then went snorkeling. Sadly, I can't show you pics of our snorkeling trip since that was where I was robbed two years ago. (See blog in July, 2012).  But if you are curious, the fish and corals were beautiful!

My New Do...2

I have decided I need to keep having youth events so I can have my hair styled.  It's great.  I go to sleep; wake up; and wahla...hair fixed for the day!  

I'm sporting this particular style with a hair twin!  Anna Marie (hair twin) is the sister of my "stylist."  

See front and back. 

You may think the last pic is a bit random, but Dulong decided to photo bomb our picture.  I thought that since he assumed his head to be worthy of a photo bomb, I should post it for the whole world (or my 1 1/2 readers) to see.

Signs....

Yes, I'm in paradise. No, I'm not allowed to drink the water. 

The sign below says to watch your kids. Does this mean watch your kids fall in?

Today I was at a hotel pool.  I usually sit and read at the kiddie section since there are rarely people up in that area.   Today there was a Japanese family. After about 20 minutes they left, and I noticed a little girl in the water.  I say notice...I HEARD her as she was screaming and crying at the top of her lungs.  If I had my camera, I would have taken a picture with her alone and the sign in the background that says, "Parents, do not leave your children unattended in the Kiddie Pool."  Hmmmm...perhaps that would have been mean and un-thoughtful as she's screaming away.  She continues screaming, and I start to worry. She is standing and is physically okay, but obviously scared.  I try to talk to her, but I don't know anything to say in Japanese.  An employee walks by and asks if she's with me, and I say no. He says something to her in English and then in Japanese. Finally, a frantic dad runs up from the pools below and grabs her.  She still continues to scream.  The employee is really angry and starts saying lots of mean things in English--assuming the dad can't understand. But perhaps, it would have been good for the dad to hear what he had to say.

Full Moon Friday the 13th

Usually my sunset pics involve the ocean.  But this particular night, I caught a shot in the mountains.  (I guess had a girl not ran away from the youth retreat and we spent more than an hour searching for her, I wouldn't have caught this pretty pictures. See, Laura...it's really okay. And Laura says, "Just give me a band trip. They are so much easier!)

Then later that evening, I caught a picture of the full moon coming up outside my balcony.  I still didn't realize that it was Friday the 13th! (Not that I legitimately believe in any of that hogwash...it's just fun to say.)

Perry Make New Friends!

We recently had our Guam Naz Youth Retreat.  Perry was a such a social butterfly. I mean platypus.  He made all kinds of friends at the event.  While Perry was out making friends, I'm pretty sure I was making enemies...but that's for another blog for another time. Maybe.  :)

The Curse of the Boonie Car

Maybe it's not the cars. Maybe it's me.

It all began in the summer of 2003.  To do this day, I would probably say that was the best summer of my life.  I had only been on my beloved island a few days when we (the new college age mission team) were given access to the Toyota Tercel (piece of junk).  We barely knew our way around island and found ourselves down a side road when (insert scary music) the car suddenly wouldn't start.  We tried everything. Eventually, I recall a story we had heard at mission training camp about a car that had broken down in the night on the dangerous roads of Bulgaria and the missionaries--fearing for their lives--put their hands on the car, prayed over it, and it started.  I felt we were in a similar situation (well, maybe not dangers...and I guess it wasn't night...and there wasn't a lot of fear), so I suggested to the group we do the same thing. AND THE CAR STARTED!

Then in August of 2004 I moved to Saipan and in comes the Kia (piece of junk).  I shared this car with my friend Sara.  She backed it into a pole once. A couple of weeks later I was hit by a car. This could have been avoided if there weren't stray cows on the shoulder meaning I couldn't avoid being hit.  There was also the drivers door that opened rarely meaning the driver had to crawl over and get out the passenger door.   (Miraculously, this car is actually still running today on the island of Saipan. I have known the past two owners.  Thankfully, this owner can actually work on the car.)

I moved to Guam in August of 2006 and inherited the hot pink station wagon.  The previous owners will argue the color of the car with me, but let's just say....piece of junk.  The poor car struggled with hills. And since Guam is nothing but a bunch of mountains, we didn't get along well. I remember frequently being passed and honked at.  There was the time my cousin passed me and told me she'd wait for me at the top of the hill.  Then there was the fateful day I was driving to work, up a mountain of course, when the car decided it had enough.  Miraculously, I was able to pull over just enough into the cliff line to keep from causing a traffic jam.  From there I began walking to work until I eventually hitched a ride to school.  Seeing that my car is so memorable (hot pink station wagon) as everyone came in to work that day they would say, "Did I just see your car parked...."  And that car was never to be driven by anyone again.

We could discuss Ben's car.  There was the time it was stolen from the parsonage (where I'm sleeping now) by a guy I knew.  The pastor tried to tell the police who stole it, but they wouldn't listen. Sure enough, they caught him two weeks later DRIVING IT in a routine traffic stop. (Small island, people! You can't steal a vehicle, drive it, and expect not to get caught.)  Ben couldn't stand driving such a defiled car, so he bought a newer version of the same vehicle.  (Note: his cars were not piece of junks, but very new Rav4s.)  Summer 2012, I'm getting to drive Ben's very cool car as he is off island.  Then some jerk decides to rob me at the beach stealing his keys.  The other set of keys was with Ben--on the mainland. So we had to have it towed to the parsonage where I feared it would get stolen and he would again have to upgrade to the newer Rav4.

Summer 2013, Makenzie and I drove down to a very remote beach on the southern side of the island.  My friend Kathy had met us there with her kids.  We got ready to leave, and the van I was driving (piece of junk) wouldn't start.  I hiked through the jungle to a camp site near by with pit pulls on chains.  Thankfully, the guy wasn't quite as frightening as his dogs and jumped the car for us.

Summer 2014.  I had noticed the odometer would drop....or often not register.  Sunday as I was driving up Bello Road for  a K-mart run, the van (same white piece of junk van as the summer 2013 story) started doing this crazy jerky thing and wouldn't accelerate.  I pulled over, waved the cars around me (while having flash backs to the hot pink station wagon), turned off the air con, said a prayer and eased the piece of junk back to the parsonage.  It did the whole jerky thing three more times. (Still not sure what is wrong).

Tonight, I take friends to the airport in the beige van (also a piece of junk).  The air con doesn't really work on it which makes it even more miserable.  I had turned off the van to go get a cart for the guys' luggage while they unloaded.  I waved my farewell as they went inside the airport, went to turn on the ugly van and...you guessed it, it wouldn't start.  I checked to make sure things like the aircon was off.  It was (because it doesn't work).  I tried several times. Nothing. I got out and wiggled the doors, pretending nothing was wrong. It was a matter of time before the ruthless airport security came and asked me to move my vehicle.  I was trying to figure out how I was going to deal with the whole situation when they came over to yell at me. I jump back in, say a prayer, turn the key, and it starts! I drove straight back to the parsonage and realize here I sit with two vehicles that won't work.

The question is.....is it just the fact that I drive boonie cars...or is it me?

My New Do

 Check out my new hair style. (There are actually 4 braids.) Thank you hair stylist Alyssa.  I am expecting great things every night of VBS!  I slept in it and spent the next day at the water park and it was still in place.  That's my kind of island hairdo!

Breakfast of Champions

Perry was so excited for his island breakfast!  Island breakfast staples are hotdog (yes, I know I left off the "s" after use my plural verb...here they only say hotdog), SPAM, and rice.  Personally, I had been craving SPAM-fried-rice for a few months now.  I may have to go to Shirley's (think Denny's) and order it!

When I lived in Guam, I was a school counselor at an elementary school.  The school was considered "south" Guam where the "locals" live.  I was the only haole (white person) in the entire school. We are talking 700 students, faculty, and staff.  The teachers were always cooking in their classrooms...breakfast AND lunch.  I ate a lot of SPAM fried rice during those days.

Speaking of SPAM, I learned tonight that probably many of you didn't know there are multiple flavors of SPAM.  Here is a picture of the K-mart collection which is probably a lot less than the island grocery stores. I am making it a big picture so you can read that there are flavors such as Jalapeno, Garlic, Teryaki, Black Pepper (which is probably one of my favorites), etc.

Whew.

I'm beat.  I feel like I have been preparing for the band trip all over again...as I'm really just preparing for my churches youth retreat this weekend which is about 75 fewer people.  In the last 4 days I have written 3 youth sermons along with their corresponding powerpoints, video segments, and small group worksheets.  I also prepared six devotionals for our quiet times at the retreat.  Then I had to make all the copies and stuff the folders.  Eventually it dawned on me that I needed a Father's Day sermon for Sunday so I wrote that today...I'm sure my dad will appreciate the pictures I have put of him in the PowerPoint! (Here's an example. He's lucky that all my really good pics are on my computer at home!)

Basically, I put the above paragraph in so that you don't think I just sit on the beach all day.  (Speaking of beaches, I just read an article regarding the radiation in the water from the Japan tsunami a few years back--maybe I'm going to just skip the ocean for the next 10 years and swim in hotel pools instead.)  

But to Susan who fears I may not spending enough playing and too much time working...here's a bit of island beauty for you....

The Break In....

I had "one of those days" on Saturday. If home hadn't been 8000+ miles a day, I just might have hopped back on an airplane. (Well, there's the distance and the whole I hate to fly thing.)

A couple of guys from the Philippines are traveling to visit all the Naz churches in Micronesia. Since they were beating me to Guam, they let themselves into the house.  I arrived at midnight before they needed to leave for the airport at 5am.  I told them to just return all the keys in case my personal set of keys didn't have everything I needed on them.  When I woke up on Saturday morning, I discovered on 2 of the 3 needed keys were there.  The missing key is the only one that unlocked the outside
screen door.

I wiggled the door.  That didn't work.
I wiggled the door harder.  Still didn't work.
I circled the parsonage looking for an open window. Nothing.
I beat on a few windows. They didn't pop open.
I tried the front door....and the back door....nothing.
I emailed the pastor in the states hoping someone had a key.  He did...on his keychain...IN the house.

The only logical thing to do at this point is bust out my criminal skills and BREAK IN.  I was a little worried about somebody calling the cops. Thankfully, it was 6:30am. However, it was daylight and the last time I had to break in to something around here was well after sunset.  (See post from July 8, 2012 for more details on that adventure.)  Also, the parsonage is known for random break-ins.  One a few months ago (hence the all the extra locks around here) and one when I was living on island (they stole jewelry, computers, and my friend Ben's Rav4 that he left at the parsonage because he felt it would be safer than leaving at his apartment while he was off island.) This gives me an idea....

I recall the break in of late December 2006.  I recall the details of how the criminal entered the parsonage.  Would it still work!?  No way...surely in the 7 1/2 years since that break-in someone has fixed the slight glitch in the parsonage.  I take a chair the side window...and wah-la...it opens!

Now for a ladder....

Looking back, it would have much easier to have sent Perry inside, but I wasn't really thinking.  I was thirsty.  I needed toilet paper.  I just wanted INSIDE.

Up the ladder I climbed and down onto the dryer, I fell.

And the side window of the parsonage that someone should have blocked years ago....I did that too.

The Flight

If you know me...I HATE to fly. If I could think of a stronger word than hate right now, I'd use it.  There is one small thing that can help when I'm flying--flying on an airline without USA roots.  No offense to the good ole Red, White, & Blue, but airlines based in that country are terrible.  However, airlines without their roots in the United States have service, good food (lots of food actually...including ice cream and chocolate bars), and MOVIES!  (Yes, other airlines have movies, but they are usually on a set repeating schedule...and the sound is usually broken.  This airlines had 200+ movies.)

I had been dying to see the movie Saving, Mr. Banks.  Of course, my local movie theatre never brings the one movie a year I want to see.  I had anxiously awaited the day it was to play at the McSwain Theatre--only to be given State Band Solo and Ensemble times that put us home too late. But finally...on my dreaded fight I was able to watch the most anticipated movie (for me) of last year!  But that isn't even the best part. The best part is that they also were showing Mary Poppins which I played immediately after Saving, Mr. Banks.  Of course, I sang every word (hopefully to myself or the poor Japanese lady and gentlemen on each side or me had a most miserable flight).  And then what did I do...played it all over again...and again!  Until...

Perry discovered that Phineas and Ferb was also playing....