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 :)