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.