Perry Here

I have hacked the blog. Why does Smitty do all the talking anyway?  I was wondering if anyone heard me mentioned today on Jeopardy.  Anyone?  Okay, so they didn't actually say Perry, but they said platypus from Phineas and Ferb.   And since I'm the only platypus on that show--or on television--they were obviously talking about me.

But the real reason I'm posting is you should have seen Smitty. She was excited getting question after question after question correct. She thought she was an extra dose of smart today. I couldn't break it to her that this was the children's edition and they were all about 12.  

The Hike to Nowhere...

Perhaps you recall this hike from last year.  It was a nice little trek down a mountain to Tarzan Falls with a nice LONG trek back up the mountain.

Well, this year the Guam youth wanted to go on a hike and choose this particular falls.  However, I don't think that group had been there nearly as many times as I had.  For example, they were a little unsure of the name of the hike.  They only knew it was marked by the following...

Shoes.  This is the sign that it is time to pull off the road and hike into the jungle.

However, on this particular morning it had been raining--make that pouring.  And the trail looked a little something like this.

Rain or not, we decided to hike.  However, they didn't realize you were suppose to stay left. We went right.  I mentioned once that we should go left, but I was told all trails lead to the same spot.  And since I wasn't in charge, I wasn't going to be bossy.

 UNTIL--we got about 45 minutes into the hike, several miles into the jungle in the OPPOSITE direction of the falls.  I then got a little bossy and suggested we just turn around. However, our hike to nowhere became absolutely hilarious.  People were slipping and sliding all over the mud.  No one could stand.  We weren't even sure which trail we came down to go back up.

Of course, the hike was all fun and games until we discovered the sword grass. (I still have the scratches all of my legs to prove it.)

And here is the end--digging the mud out of my shoes.

Eventually we all headed to Inarajan pools and jumped in for a swim--clothes, shoes, and all.  How else would we get the mud off?

Band Starts Soon

Oh my! BAND STARTS SOON!!!!  You know you are all excited.  My spies have shared a few FB posts about people being excited for band (Hunter & friends).  I also saw that no one has practiced. Shame on you.  Tonight I found out from another band parent that one of you thought band camp started today and was disappointed when you discovered otherwise.  I would like to believe that it is my awesome teaching, my brilliant personality, and your love for the art of instrumental music.  However, I'm no dummie.  You're just bored.  For those of you dreading the beginning of band, I promise to make it fun.  Perhaps we should throw water balloons at the trumpets....or....hide the drummer's sticks...or....shove Cade in a tuba case.

See you next week!

To the jazz band...

As I was wasting my life away on pinterest this evening (in my defense, I DID fix a toilet, fix two shop doors, put up an electric fence, and pick a gallon of blackberries, so I think I deserved a break), do you realize we only have 4 months to come up with our homemade gift for the Jazz Band Christmas Party? I'd advise you to get started!

Until...

Until I can stay coherent long enough to post about a few of Perry's adventure that didn't make the blog earlier, here are a few famous folk that were in marching band....

http://www.ranker.com/list/30-famous-people-who-once-were-in-marching-bands/robert-wabash

I'll Fly Away

The Saipan kids are having fun with music at VBS!

And more fun without the music...

I Might Go Hulk and Today's Adventures

It's hot. I haven't had air conditioning in days.  So, if one of you (talking to my band students here) complain about the heat in the 45 minutes we are outside marching, I just might go hulk on you and we will stay outside all day long. Why? Because I will be immune to the heat by the time I get home, and it won't even phase me.  

And now for today's adventure. I actually wanted to share yesterday's adventures, but it is on MaKenzie's camera so you'll have to get my adventures out of order.

First, we stopped by Sugar King park and did a little hiking as well as saw some remnants of the sugar cane industry which was prevalent before the war.

Smitty & Perry on what is left of the old steam engine.

We haven't completely mastered the English language yet.

Perry & Smitty headed in a cave.

Perry and Smitty sweating as we hike through the jungle.

Then we went swimming on an old US Tank that didn't make it to shore during WWII. I couldn't take pictures because it was very far in the water. I have taken pics before with friend's underwater camera, but I cannot seem to find them on my computer.  :(

Lunch

Perry likes to give me orders in the kitchen each day while I prepare VBS lunch.

American Memorial Park

Yesterday the plan was to swim out to some American tankers that didn't make it to shore during WWII and see American Memorial Park.  Sadly, it started to storm.  Lightening even, which is quite odd here. So, sadly, we had to skip swimming to the tanks and just go to the park.

The Battle of Saipan was a very bloody with over 27,000 human lives lost in the battle and another additional 5,000 to suicide off the cliffs. (This number may actually be higher--I may only be remembering casualties to the Japanese military and not including US and civilian.)

The American Memorial Park museum begins with a film sharing information about Saipan prior to the war as well as actually footage from WWII. (This is Ben, MaKenzie, and Perry watching the film. It is actually very dark in the theatre.)

The worst part of the film is near the end when they show civilians flinging themselves off cliffs--or even throwing their children off the cliffs first.  I think that they should leave this part out.

After the video you can go through the museum which focuses mostly on Saipan during the war.   Perry liked this part better than the video.

I had one picture of Perry that I had planned on getting, but I'm pretty sure that I set off an alarm when I placed Perry in the exhibit.  I think that signs should say more than "Don't touch the exhibit."  Perhaps, adding "or you will set off an alarm" would be a lot better for those trying to break the rules.

This WAS going to be the coolest post yet.

So yesterday, we trekked up to Mt. Topachau--the highest peak in Saipan.  We begin with this sign...

OBVIOUSLY, I haven't paid much attention to signs this year.  There was the No Trespassing sign on Dead Whale Day.  On the Grotto day, I had the Do Not Swim sign.  And now this.

Driving to the top was a little scary.  Though, I was fairly impressed with my driving abilities up the mountain. Seeing that it was such a crazy drive, I decided we'd video a segment on the way down.  Fail. I just got on to post it to the blog and it wasn't there. I'm very sad.  I'm sure you are very sad too.

Here's the view though. (It was a hazy day. I probably have better pictures on my computer from previous years.)

Saipan Youth Retreat Sand Castle Contest

A couple of weeks ago we had the Saipan youth retreat.  I posted some pictures of the amazing sunset and rainbow, but I didn't share the sandcastle building contest photos--or Perry's new friend. So, here we go.

The sandcastle building contest was boys verses girls. I posted the pics on my facebook account for my friends to vote and the girls won by two votes.  Of course, you can decide for yourself.

GIRLS

 BOYS

And....Perry's new friend

Smoothies

Well, Perry had to stay home tonight and couldn't participate in smoothies and fruit juice drinks on the beach while watching the sunset.  Why? Because he is small enough to walk inside the fridge to keep cool and I just sweat.  It is so hot! I've seen you guys back home complaining about the heat.  And then I think, but they have air-conditioning.  When Perry gets hot, he just opens the fridge door and sits for a while.  But you know Smitty....she can't fit in a fridge. So as his punishment for rubbing it in that he keeps cool, he had to stay home and watch the dogs.  

The Grotto

Yesterday, my friend Josiah and I wanted to break MaKenzie in on her first day on island--and Josiah's last--The Grotto.

The grotto is kind of a cave that leads out to the ocean.  The giant rock you see in the 2nd picture is the rock you jump off of...but stay clear of the sides of the rock which is known as the "washing machine."  But once you get out from the rock it is as calm as can be.  Some mornings you can even see sea turtles swimming.  We just saw the normal--fish and divers.

I found this video on you-tube of some guys who were making the hike down the billions of stairs and around to the rocks.  Since I already lost one camera last summer, I'm stealing someone else's video so my camera (or should I say...my parents' old camera) doesn't get stolen this year!

Airports

Perry has spent a lot of time in airports lately.  We even got lucky once (if you call missing a flight lucky) and got to spend a few hours in the United Club Lounge since I had a free pass.  Free food...free drinks...free internet...air conditioning.  Yes, Perry and I were living it up!

On our latest trip through the Guam airport, Perry decided to go exploring.  We found all kinds of contraptions to keep us occupied....like these Chamorro items...

And we made a new friend who will be spending the last couple of weeks with us...MaKenzie!

Sunset

On Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of staying at the hotel that you see in the first picture (with the rainbow above it) for our Saipan Youth Retreat.  It had rained ALL day long.  But when the rainy days clear about sunset, you know you'll get some spectacular sunsets.  We had all gone to the beach for an evening swim and jumping off the dock while we waiting on pizza.  We had a rainbow in one direction and the best sunset in the other direction. Everywhere we looked it was simply gorgeous.

Perry Goes on a Field Trip, Part 2

Perry was having a great time on the field trip.  Free hair nets and ear plugs and ice cream...oh my!  The second half of our trip took us to Ritidian Point Wildlife Refuge for lunch and some cave exploration.  (I had no idea there were caves here, so I felt kind of jipped all those years and trips to Guam.)  Ritidian is one of the pretties beaches in Guam because it is only open from 9-5 each day, closed on federal holidays, there are no fires allowed, and it is not full or trash like the other beaches!

Ritidian Beach (on this rainy day)

Lunch at the picnic area

 Perry is climbing a tree

 Look carefully at the sign--Perry is a rule breaker!

 Perry finds a skull!

Perry's first cave. 

Perry finds a latte stone.

Perry gets hugged by Ha'ani.

Perry in another cave.

Ancient Chamorro cave drawings (see the hand?)