No storm!

Turned into a big nothing! Which is awesome since they called Cor 1 for all public schools (which is me!) so I had the day off. The base however did not call Cor 1 so the girls had school (well half day anyways-it was already on the calendar as a planned short day). To top all this off, Kevin was off as he had leave time to burn- so his was a pre-planned day off too. Bottom line- all of us were off and there was no storm...a good day had by all.

Unfortunately, we have this bigger storm to look forward to sometime this weekend. Good thing we are already stocked up on water and Pop Tarts so we are all set!

Sad Day at Southern High

Remember the cute hut in the center court at Southern High? Someone set it on fire today...it was a nice hut! I am not sure if it was related to the big fight that had happened earlier in the day...My students say that there is a lot less violence at the school in the past two years. Apparently they used to have a lot of rioting so they needed ongoing police protection for a while. I also heard mention of a fire set last year at the school....

I will miss that little hut.

Its us this time.

Last time I put this map up it was whining about the weather related to a typhoon that was missing us. This time its a tropical depression possibly turning tropical storm by the time it gets here Wednesday. We are filling up gas tanks and counting supplies. By the way, we are "Anderson AFB" on the map in case you are looking for us. .

I also heard about a typhoon coming up behind this storm system...my students were very excited for some potential days off!

Birthday Part 2

We had Maddie's cake today- Harry Potter per her choice. I would also like to note here, that this is not her first Harry Potter cake- had one for her 7th birthday. Her love of these books has gone on a lot of years. Its lasted so long because her mom wouldn't let her read the series as quickly as she wanted. But she is now officially a big girl, and I am letting her read the 7th of the books. Alyssa says that someone looses an ear in the third chapter, but I am looking past that and hoping for a good overall experience for her reading of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows- do you think the title indicates some potential issues?

The girls chose their Halloween costumes today- I am sworn to secrecy (there is a hint of Ellie's costume in the above picture- but you will get nothing else out of me!)

Winding down the weekend, and headed to a new week.....I am hoping for an uneventful one!

Mom- this one is for you and the Ladies of the Yellow Shirts.

Happy Birthday Madison!

Well its official- she is 10.

Maddie had a great day that was all about her (she might argue that her sister tagged along therefore it was never solely about Madison...but don't believe her). The day started like Christmas morning- only all the gifts were for Maddie. She really enjoyed this- usually there is waiting for a party or for diner, but this year we did things differently. With the move being so recent and Madison growing up-we forewent the big friend party. Another sign that they are getting so big!

The very first "openings" of anything were some birthday cards that she has been drooling over for weeks - thanks to Grandma with the Angels, Grandma Dockman, and Grandma Sue! Then she headed over to the computer for her birthday wishes there- thanks to Barb and Ross, and Bubbie and Poppa Jack...also thanks to Julie and Paul for their birthday phone call...I am impressed you have the time difference down. After that there was wrapping paper everywhere- and a whole lot of pink everything! For the first year ever there was make-up (pink lip gloss counts as make-up when you are trying so hard to be a big girl) pink stuffed animals (thanks Aunt Michele- she LOVED it) pink socks and sunglasses (kudos to Grandma Gillam for braving the pre-teen stores...and kudos to Grandpa Gillam for sitting on a bench outside of them!) The only things not pink were the book I got her (which she has already finished today) and the snorkel set Dad got her.

We all went out to breakfast followed by a spa appointment for Madison. Hair styled, fingers and toes painted...and she so adored every minute of it.

Of course some ice cream to follow up the events (birthday cake will be tomorrow- she actually had a friend's birthday party to go to this afternoon so we didn't want to have a two cake day).

She is all girl- and now I guess she is all 'big-girl'....I couldn't adore her more.

Happy Birthday Maddie.

So, how is Guam so far?

Madison: "What do I like about Guam? I don't know. I like the geckos I get to chase. Umm, I like looking at fish and trying to catch them with my bare hands. I like Lalani....but thats it. No really, thats it."

"What I don't like about Guam? My school...except for GE and science, that its hot, that all we have are palm trees and....thats it. Oh and tomorrow I am going to a birthday party, I like birthday parties so thats a positive."

Ellie: "Umm, I like the brown hanging tree snakes, the coconut crabs- although I haven't seen one yet. The pool. How all I have to do is sit back and relax because its hot. I like my homework because I don't have a lot of it. Thats all."

"There is nothing I don't like about Guam except for the coconuts falling on my head- that scares me."

New Job

So as you all know I am the newest instructor at Southern High which is apparently " Home of the Dolphin".
They get to claim one of the best views for a high school on Guam...
There is some mildew on the building, but that is par for the course on Guam- hot moist weather does that.
I would put in a vote for the coolest center court- love the little hut in the middle.
This is outside my room.
Some things don't work in the classroom....yes this guy is a bit creepy (the students and I decided he looks like one of the Jonas Brothers-they love stealing his wig and wearing it, today they set him up like a student in a desk with a pencil and glasses and such) but without him that door behind him flies open- he makes an awesome doorstop. I have a laundry bin at the other end of the room door-stopping another closet.

School so far is great. The kids are so fun to be with and everyday is a huge adventure. Weird thing about tomorrow- I have parent teacher interviews. Ya, after seeing my students for 3 days, knowing none of their names (I am SO horrible at remembering their names-I feel awful about that) and the last teacher left me with ZERO grades to go on. Oh and to top it off, totally put my back out today (reminiscent of Greg this past summer!). All I did was lean over and it snapped...of course I think it stems from carrying around computers yesterday in an attempt to clean-up my room.

Yes a lot of ups and downs but overall positive. My girls are loving me working...even though they are the last to be picked up from their school everyday. Always asking me what I did in class...Maddie wants to write a lesson plan for me before this is all over.

A good start...but I will be so glad for Friday.

Night off

I am taking a mental health night- I promise to try to be somewhat interesting-ish tomorrow :)

Boy...

I am one tired girl. Long first day, I am hoping tomorrow feels better. Put it to you this way, tonight as I was leaving for the girls swim practice I saw in the mirror that I had yogurt smeared across my shirt- totally have no idea how it got there or how long it had been there...

Here is a picture of the outside of the school. Not the best picture of the school but its all I have right now. I was excited to see a pack of pigs on the way into school-really they are wild boars. I also saw 3 boonie dogs and a crowing rooster on my way in. How many of you can say that about your commute?

Here is the classroom- its huge...
Can't wait to see what tomorrow is like...

Guest Blog - Kevin and Aggie!

Today, on my way out the door for a walk with Aggie, Sam handed me the camera with instructions to, number one, "Don't let Aggie off the leash because she always makes herself sick by eating stuff" and number two "Get a picture of one of the mice in the snake traps". With these instructions in mind, and with the threat that should Aggie get sick in the middle of the night Sam wouldn't be getting up to let her out, we set off on a short boonie stomp.

This is where we started, it's an old WWII structure just two minutes down the road from our house (behind me and across the street is the War Dog memorial for those of you keeping score at home).

The jungle path begins on the right side of the building. Aggie and I had to wade through the tall grass to get to it.

Once you get behind the building, you're officially 'in the jungle' and out of sight. Remember when I mentioned Sam told me not to let Aggie off the leash? Well, let's just say I needed her in the shots to give some sense of scale and perspective. She's not so much 'running free' as she is a subject in the photos.

One of the first things we came across was this hermit crab.

After taking a look at him, it was more walking.

Next, we came across this old Japanese gun facing north overlooking Apra harbor. It was set up on the cliff in the jungle to fire upon approaching U.S. personnel carriers and supply ships entering the harbor. Aggie liked pretending to be a Japanese spotter.

After the walk, we set off for home and across the street from our house, I popped into the jungle to take a picture of one of the many snake traps and mice who reside within. The U.S. Department of Agriculture checks these things a couple times a week to feed and replace dead mice, and get any snakes out that may have entered the trap.

Here is a photo of the mouse living inside snake trap number 24 (sorry it's so blurry, but it was the best shot I could manage to get).

The mice are actually safe from any snakes that enter into the one-way flap doors on either end of the trap. The mouse is in a protective cage (kind of a cage within a cage) with half a potato and a lump of corn meal. I think the potato serves as a food and water source for the mice.

And here is a photo of the snake inside snake trap number 24! It was a big surprise finding him in the trap. There is another place Aggie and I walk where we can see about ten or twelve snake traps from the path, and we had yet to find one with a snake...until today! I think this may be the same guy who was climbing the palm tree outside our house about a week ago...at least I hope so!

Aggie and I hope you've enjoyed this guest blog (blogging?) We'd both like to thank Samantha for giving us the opportunity to post on her wildly popular new website.

- Kevin and Aggie

Busy day means lots of pictures.

Maddie and Ellie had their first Guam swim meet today. They are still in long course season here. Both girls were only in one event-50 free (I think it has something to do with being new- kinda a trial thing- not speaking Japanese very well, I didn't ask the coach but I did notice all the new kids were only in one event).
Ellie did well...added a little time but we will put that down to first-meet jitters...
Madison took 3 seconds off and made a B time. Really proud of her.

Later in the day was the Tsunami's year opener party. It was held at the Outrigger Hotel in Tumon. Really nicely done. The girls had a great time playing in the sand with their friends. There was food and LOTS of raffel/give-aways. We won some ice cream gift cards and movie passes. Not a bad haul for just sitting there reading numbers off of tickets....

This is Leilani, Maddie talks about her all the time and loves it when she is at practice. We sat with her mom at the dinner, she is Japanese but speaks English quite well- which brings me to an FYI for anyone who has been reading my blogs ongoing...the symbols on the back of the girls Tsunami shirts simply mean "Tsunami Swim Club"...kinda anti-climatic I know!

This is Samantha with Ellie. They are two peas in a pod at swim practices. Chatting away between lengths.

Really good time. Gotta say I am still totally impressed with the team as a whole and with the coaching. Oh, and I volunteered to be a "board member" which, if I understood it correctly means I just get to be nosey about team business and then vote on it- I'll let you know.

Sorry...

Internet has been down the for the last day (phone has been down for THREE days and is still out....not complaining....ok, maybe complaining a bit) so I am sorry to have missed last night's post. I am back up and running so will be posting tonight. A special sorry goes out to anyone who was looking for a new post today (not mentioning any names....Barb!) More later...I promise... :)

Still having bouts of gusting winds and torrential rains- not complaining I promise, just sayin'...
Here is something else I have been dying to blog...there is a walkway at the hotel that the girls swim at. Its a "foot massage" walkway where the idea is you take off your shoes and walk down the path...and at the end of it you find complete health, relaxation and happiness.
It starts off benign enough...a chart explaining reflexology and the health benefits of foot massage. Cute little feet that you stand on to start your journey on the path...
Turns out it is more of a torturous event than a relaxing journey.
There are bolts...
rocks...
bars...and something that resembles really big washers...

Then of course at the end of your stroll, is a sign that says in the fine print "please use at your own risk"...nice.

Whole lot a nothing.

These pictures sum it up...an uneventful evening. Laying around reading, watching tv, playing DS...oh believe me, this is not a complaint. Loved the laziness of it all. This is what they all looked like when I left for the gym (went to a "Zumba" exercise class- crazy wild dancing with a lot of "body" shaking in it- the kind that would be embarrassing if you weren't in a class full of people doing it too...) and this is exactly how I found them when I walked back in the house.

Nice to do nothing for a change. Hope your day has been equally unproductive :)