Unique Experiences I've had on Guam

This poor piggy gave his life for our party after the Novena (prayers and singing songs in front of the manger scene in your home) at Ria's Aunt Mary and Uncle Rick's house. It was very yummy and juicey but the Chamaros (local people from Guam) like to eat the crispy skin...I tried it but it was not for me, very fatty. I also tried turtle but I can't take a picture of that because it is sort of illegal and I will deny it if anyone asks!

This  is a restuarant right down the road from my house up on the hill and it is only open on Thursday and Snday. THursday is Mongolian BBQ night, which is when I went. It was wonderful and such a great view. This is the chef cooking our creations while we wait and watch! They cook about 5 meals at a time so you have to keep your eye on yours so you get the right dish!

These "pretty" spiders are everywhere, yellow and lavendar bodies.

Lizards are everywhere....including my bathroom which makes me less than happy. This is Cash's (the 2 yr old) lizard I talked about on an earlier blog.

These 2 pictures our of a homemade manger scene at the seminary I went to for the Christmas concert. It was made from coral and rocks and seaweed and moss from the area. It was very intricate and beautiful and these two pictures do not give it justice!

My new apartment on Nimitz Hill

 This is my new place on Nimitz Hill. I am right next door to the all the real important military people on Guam, The have beautiful views of the ocean and single family homes. I see most of them walking their dogs either early in the morning or in the evening. Last night I went out to watch the stars, they are really nice up here. Not too many lights to drowned them out. When I was out walking I ran into another family and they let me pet their toy poodle. They seem like really nice people and really cute dogs they all have. One has a golden retriever and I am really hoping to pet that dog one of these days. I do miss Indy believe it or not!

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Well I will take pictures of the big wigs houses tomorrow and get them on here too, but for now I will take a brake and finish it tomorrow. 

So I haven't taken any more pictures yet but I did go out and run this morning and caught the family walking the golden and some little dog so I got to pet the golden, he was really sweet but not my Indy!

I'm actually not liking this apartment today, I sat down to pee and then screamed because a stupid little lizard is on my TP...Guam you are not making me happy today. If I have to share my home with lizards they need to stay out of my bathroom and out of my bed, I have rules!

I tried Zumba for the first and last time today...that was horrible. I can't dance or shake my butt like that, plus there were kids videoing there parents and I sure as heck hope I didn't get on the video. Plus there were guys sitting on the side watching...perverts. Never again. I'm too old for zumba. I think I'm PMS because I am teary and fat and edgy.

Anyway, thats it for now, i have a cramp in my butt and I can't get up...1 more reason to never zumba again. Take care all.

Christmas Eve in Guam

Hello and Merry Christmas from Guam! Yesterday was Christmas Eve and I spent the day with some new friends I met at the hospital, Andrew-who is nurse in the OR and his wife Mi and their 4 children. The 5 yr old is named Joseph so I remember his name but the other 3 names were unfamiliar and I can not remember them...but all very sweet and cute kids. I was also with the eye doc, Matt and his 2 boys,Trip and Cash, yes those are the boys names. Not sure if I spelled them correctly but that is the names. Cash walked around all day with the lizard he had caught the day before and he took very good care of it, Cash is only 2 yrs old.   So we spent Christmas Eve going to a cave and going swimming. As you can see the water was crystal clear and beautiful. I was a little nervous going in because I have a pretty great fear of drowning and anything that has to do with water makes me a bit nervous. But I got in and even went from one pool of water to another via a crack that you swim through. I'm not going to lie, I was scared, it was dark and If I wouldn't have gotten through when I did panic would have set in. The kids even did it with more bravery than me.  

 After our adventure all went to our respective homes and cleaned up and then met back at Andrew and Mi's house for a very nice meal of baked ham and salad and corn and spinach and lots of other goodies. It was delicous and nice to see that other families dinner tables are alot like ours, a bit of craziness and lots of love.

I then went on to Christmas Eve vigal with some other friends and then out for another late dinner. Mass was beautiful and lots of Christmas carols that I already new!

These are my friends after church at the restaurant (Kings) for a bite to eat. I got home at 11:45 pm and gave my family a call back home to tell them I saw Santa up in the sky and he would be heading to the Main Land soon. Then a nice sleep and Christmas has now arrived...

More Fun on Guam

Well I am now staying on Nimitz Hill closer to the hospital and it is navy property...my neighbor, a few hundred yards away is the Capt who is in charge of the entire hospital. I see his wife walking their dog in the morning! I am in an apartment complex and he is in a single family home but still my neighbor! The best part about my new place is free WiFi in my room! So as I hed for bed I am uploading this video and it can take all night as long as it is done by morning...so I will finish this later. The video includes a cave with clothes in it right in or off the water...story goes that a homeless guy lives in there...he is a bit mentally unstable and was actually arrested the day before I went in the water for acting crazy. But that is his clothes hanging up on the line. he just lives like any average Jo but in a cave! Doesn't get cold here so I guess if you have to behomeless this isn't a bad place to be!  

This here is a shot form the balcony of a seminary (once a hotel), getting ready for a Christmas concert that I went to. Very nice.

Moving day...Sunday.

Well I had a nice relaxing day so far. Talked to the family (best way to start the day) then I headed to the gym for my last Westin work out. It isn't that I like running but I can watch TLC on tv on the machine but not in my room.!! But actually I used to struggle to run 1.5 miles and now it is pretty easy. I am making progress...only lost one pound but I hope to have a better handle on that when I can cook my own food at my next residence.  Speaking of food...(sorry Jen, didn't have my camera) I had the best cream of mushroom soup last night with the best loaf of bread and dipping sauce at the hotel Italian restaurant. It was amazing. I think I am going to have lunch there today before I leave just to try something different and have another loaf of that bread. I will take a picture for you this time Jen, I have my camera with me now.

Well I am homeless for the next 4 hours. I can't check into my hotel until 5pm. I got all my stuff to my car and paid my bill....2000.00+ dollars (thanks tax payers) and I am in the lobby mooching more free wifi until I am ready to leave.

So, back to exercise...does anyone want to challenge yourself and me to be ready for a 1/2 marathon when I get back??? any takers? I think I am going to shoot for April to do a half marathon. I need a goal  to focus on and I have a 13.1 bumper magnant on the truck for Mark's 1/2 marathon completion a few years back before the knees gave out on him and I want one on my car!  Let me know if anyone is interested and we can see if there is any fun half marathons taking place in April. I think the GO!St.Louis marathon is in April. It was when Mark ran it...

All right, I am going to go ahead and post this and then down load some pictures from my camera and hopefully get some new pictures up very soon.

Sweet dream again since this time it is your bed time!

My day as a tourist!

Well today is my last night at the Westin Resort.  I spent the day being a tourist for the first time and I actually got into the water. I actually just figured out a few good tricks to spending my time here and I am leaving…doesn’t that figure. At this very moment, I am watching the sun set and typing out stories for my blog. Up until now I always went to the lobby because that is where the internet is but now I am typing out my story on a word document by the pool and I can copy and paste later into the actual blog….I wish I wasn’t such a slow learner!

But anyway, today is Saturday and it was tourist day for me. I finally got into the ocean. I started my day with a fun chat with my hubby, mom and dad and jo jo and my friend Sarah.  I said hi to Cameron and Corrine but they were too busy playing with friends or watching tv to talk to me. That’s ok, I hope that means they are doing just fine without me! Dad’s taking good care of them.

Then I paid $30 to have a local islander take me out in a kayak and go snorkeling. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t see anything outrageous but it was all very pretty. The fish are small but such beautiful colors- rainbow colors to match all the rainbows I’ve been seeing on the island. I even saw two blue star fish.  I went out later on my own and that was fun too. I learned that snorkeling isn’t my favorite thing, I actually got nauseous from the salt water and I didn’t even get that much in my mouth.

Silverbells is playing in the background as I sit in a sun dress watching people swim in the ocean…still too weird to comprehend! Anyway, back to my day, I had my first drink to go with being a tourist, a frozen mango, berry drink with vodka. Good but more just fun to have a drink outside by the pool. Not worth the $9 but had to say I did it.

Every night I have gotten home to watch the sun set, I see the same big bright star right by the hotel  and I always make my wish that Mark and my family are doing well without me and I am pretty sure my wish is coming true. I have been wishing on stars since I have been a kid and I hope to never stop till God calls me home, it is fun!

There is a wedding reception in the hotel tonight, hope they have a great time and a great life together.  Weddings are always fun.

I know these are random thoughts but it is just what I have been thinking about today.  I need to head to my room and pack, check out time is noon and I want to go to church again tomorrow. Should I go to a new church or the same church as last week…decisions decisions.  

So as I start to pack,  I can’t find my shoes, my favorite flip flops…one drink and I lose my flip flops. I really need to go cold turkey I suppose. So I head down to the pool, it is very dark and no flip flops to be found. Of course I pray to Saint Anthony to help me find my shoes and it starts raining. I take cover under the bar overhang and wait out the rain for a few minutes…then I decide to run for it to head back in to the hotel.  And as I am jogging past the towel lady I see something black sitting on the counter that could be my shoes…and they were! Saint Anthony always comes through…every time!!! Thank you Saint Anthony for getting my shoes back for me…you are the best! So much for that drink I talked about above, it tasted watered down but it must of done something since I almost lost my shoes! LOL

So, I am doing laundry and packing up my stuff, ready for the big move. I am also hungry. I better grab something to eat. What a day. I hope tomorrow is just as nice.

Sweet dreams.

A day in the life a Navy dietitian

Well, working full time outside the home is definately something I am not used to, as you all know. It doesn't feel too strange yet because it feels like a normal 2 week AT for the Navy. Once it drags on for 4,5,6+ weeks then it will start feeling weird I suspect.

I certainly don't want to give up my life as a stay at home mom, however the military life feels good. There is alot of support. We are almost all in the same boat, away from friends and family and doing our jobs as best we can to support our military. If the kids were a bit older and the military would let me pick where to go I think Mark and I would do good as a military family. However, that is not likely going to happen (the letting me pick part) so I will stick with the reserves for now.

So, I have a nice size office all to myself. Don't have to share with anyone! I also have my very own assistant/secretary/helper whenever he isn't called away for something else the Navy thinks is more important! He is mine about 4 days a week. Yes my secretary is a man! I could get used to this. He is a CS2, which mean culinary specialist, but he isn't needed in the galley (cafeteria) so he is mine! He actually got my tire filled with air the other day because I played the "girlie" role and didn't want to figure out how to do it myself. My hubby spoils me at home so I don't have to do that stuff. The check tire pressure came on again today but instead of having CS2 fill it up again, I had him get me Avis's phone # and I called them up and had them bring me a new car. I started out with a toyota Yaris with 43000 miles on it and a crappy tire and now I have a brand new Toyota yaris with 850 miles. Nice trade if I do say so myself! Plus he came to the hotel so I didn't have to find the place.

Today I was a bit homesick. Had few tears this morning with my hubby but all is well. I have had nothing but Asian type food since i've been here, which is good but today since I was homesick I stooped very low and had Mcdonalds. I'm imbarresed to admit it but my filet-a-fish and french fries did make me feel better!

I'm still on a good role with the exercise but no body changes yet...bummer. But I know it has to be good for me anyway.

Well i have to read some papers to prepare to teach a gestational diabetes class in the morning. I have to brush up on some of this stuff I haven't done in awhile. Lots of prego women on a navy base!

Have a great Navy Day!

Christams in Guam

So I still can't wrap my head around a warm, humid Christmas. Not to mention, Christmas lights on palm trees. All very hard to accept as I drive down the rode with the AC on in the car and sing Christmas carols with the radio! I could get used to this. I don't miss the cold at all but I'm not sure I will believe Christmas actually took place this year without my kids and cold weather. I just may have to join my sister in South Carolina when I get back...Mark get the house packed and call Kathy Kouts, we may have to move to a warmer climate! 

This tree was at Chamaro village on Wednesday night when they have a local "festival", local food, craft booths and a band. The senoirs were having a blast. One gentleman looked 75+ yrs old and he was out on the dance floor doing a line dance. It was cute.

I had some local cuisine and even drank coconut water fresh from the coconut and then the guy cuts it open and scrapes out the meat of the coconut for you...very yummy. It was  fun night.

This is the hotel lobby tree. And Christmas music is playing in the background most of the time. At this very moment "I saw mommy kissing santa clause last night" is playing over the radio. I sure do wish this mommy was kissing my Santa Clause right now! Well that is Christmas in Guam so far. I will let you know what else I do when it gets closer.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Jeff's Pirate Cove-My first adventure out on the Island

Jeff's Pirate Cove is a restaurant out a ways on the West side of the Island (I think). I got lost several times trying to get there and back but I did eventually make it there and back to my Hotel1 My husband is a American history buff so this video is for you...WWII bunker. As the story goes, there was a Japanese man who live in the jungle right outside the area around the restaurant for 30 yrs. He was captured in 1972 and went back to Japan where he died in 1997. Can you imagine living in the jungle for 30 years...I think I would rather shoot myself.  These are just a few of the things I saw there.

The owner found these bottles on the shore during walks...pretty cool.

The shells actually have something living in them.

Like a jelly fish-you don't want to touch them. Forgot the name of them. They pop like a balloon if you step on them..oops!

Uploading a video takes forever, so I am not exactly sure what video I chose. i think it is the video of my hotel room and view. I have been sitting here for over 45 minutes and it is still uploading and I need to go to church. I know people want pictures and I want to share but I need to have my priorities in line so I am going to stop and go to church. I will have to try again when i have at least an hour to sit in the lobby of my hotel. I tried 4 times to upload the video at no success. So I will post this and try again some other day...

It is Sunday morning and I just finished my breakfast tart that was beautiful and delicous. The picture is for Jennifer, she likes to photo her food sometimes, so this ones for you...

I talked to Mark this morning (Sat evening for you guys) and he is stressed. He is doing a great job but the kids bicker a lot and that just raises any persons blood pressure.The kids are happy and I walked my computer around the hotel lobby and showed them what I see, they really enjoyed seeing the water. I wish I could take my computer out there so they could hear the ocean but no internet out there. I will put a video of the ocean but that isn't the same. I still haven't gotten in the ocean but I plan on going to church and then coming back to get in the water today. No luck getting in the water today, rain most of the day...maybe next weekend!

I appreciate all the good thoughts and prayers coming my way, but I am just fine. Mark could really use the prayers, I'll take some too but if you only have time for one, put Mark's name in. He has a super hard job to do alone. Everyone has offered to help but I think he is too proud to ask and he knows everyone else is soo busy with their own lives and stressed.

Well as soon as this video up loads I will be off to church...hope it is soon. I need plenty of time to get there because so far I haven't gotten lost on every journey I have attempted so far!-No video, it failed. But I got to church on time and it was very nice. They had a visiting choir that was really great.

Love and Miss you all!

Navy Hospital Guam

This is my job location. It is a very old Hospital and construction on a new hospital is under way now. I hear they will just knock this down when the new one is up and running. So much for updating, just knock it down. Everyone is super nice but I still don't have anyone to hang out with yet. Everytime I just pause in a hallway, someone asks me if I need help...are they polite or am I just that pathetic looking??!!

My sponsor is super sweet and has come in on her sick leave to orientate me a little each day but she is 9 months pregnant and in lots of pain. I don't expect her to be entertaining me.

Some of you know that one of my goals while I am here is to get back into to some type of better physical health and even drop a few pounds. I have completed one week of duty and I haven't used the elevator one time at work...it is 4 stories and I have been everywhere in that hospital checking into every single department just about. Plus I have done a 30 minute exercise at the hotel the last 4 days before work...great start if I do say so myself. I don't see anychanges yet but I have around 80 more days to make progress.

Well I am off to my hotel room to veg. If only I had some veggies to eat...no refrigerator in my room or microwave. Hard to eat healthy...off to the grocery store tomorrow. Thank goodness it is the weekend.

Pictures of the Westin Hotel-Guam

Everyone wants pictures so I will try to please everyone with a few.  So this is the lovely view from the front of the hotel were you wait for taxis and such. The view from my room isn't this nice but I don't have far to walk for a nice view. Amazingly enough I haven't even been in the water yet except for my toes. Haven't been swimming in the pool or ocean yet. I had to watch a water safety video at the hospital that scared the bajezus out of me...lots of drownings in Guam. I'm sure the hotel beach is safe but I am so tired from jet lag when I get home from work I just don't have any desire to swim. I plan on getting in the water tomorrow since it is Saturday.

 Hotel lobby.

The local Island dancers...nothing under there ladies-don't you wish our husband had moves like that!

Well that is about all the pics you are getting tonight because this is taking forever and I just don't have the patience right now. I am tired and ready to veg in front of the TV.  Plus my in-room safe is broken and I need to wait in the room to have a manager come up and fix it. The trial and tribulations of living in a beach front hotel...  :)

Miss everyone back home!

My first day on the island

I got into the airport at 10:30 pm Sunday and it was all a blur. After 26+ hours of travel I finally made it to Guam. It was pitch black outside and luckily my sponsor and I hooked up at the airport and all I had to do was follow her to the Westin Hotel.

My first observation, Christmas lights on palm trees seems very odd to me! Pretty, but odd. The 2nd oddity is that it is warm outside, yet there is a huge Christmas tree in the lobby of the hospital. I have never had a warm Christmas before in my life!!!! So weird to hear Christmas music on the radio and have the AC running in my car! I just can't get over all that. I may not believe that I will even have Christmas this year.

But onto other things...I was up early the next day to a sunny, yet rainy Island. I predict I will see alot of  rainbows here on Guam because it is always raining and always sunny at someplace on the Island. And, if you do not like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change, that "rain, rain, go away" song really works here! I have already seen one full rainbow and have been told that double rainbows are common also but I haven't seen one yet.

The check in process at the hospital is long and tedious but I am almost done. I saw my first 2 pts today (Thursday). So far, so good. I still don't have a phone or all my computer access but it is what it is. Very weird to go cold turkey without a cell phone. I feel like I'm missing a limb!

Well I best get to work. My lunch break is almost over.

Chicago Airport

Well my first of three legs is complete. The 45 minute puddle jumper to Chicago was a success. We stopped of at the USO at the airport with the kids this morning...they are always so wonderful. Free books for the kids and snacks. Even a banana for me. I get 20 minutes free internet via AMERICAN EXPRESS so I better type fast. I already used 12 minutes skyping my hubby and the kids. It was very cool. He has it on his iphone and the kids were walking around the house with me! I was getting motion sickness but it was cool!

The good-byes were hard at the airport. My oldest son had some tears, causing many others to have tears as well. I know he is going to be just fine but sad to see him cry. The other two could care less...grandma is right around the corner for the youngest and that is all he needs and my daughter is just one tough cookie!

Well my free time is almost over so I better post, everyone knows I won't pay!

Miss you all already but looking forward to the sunshine!

My lap top tutorial from Mark!

I look thrilled, don't I? Mark just told me it was time to learn how to save pictures to the computer, what fun! For those of you who don't know, I avoid all computer tasks as much as possible but since my computer geek husband can't come with me to Guam, I guess it is finally time to learn! I actually uploaded these three pictures onto my blog all by myself...impressive, right?

He has had to repeat himself a few times by the time I took this picture.

Our dog, Indy just has to help. And yes, he is blind in that right eye from cataracts, but he can find any bone I hide from him.

Well 3 more nights to sleep in my own bed. To da lu

Five Days Until Departure

My journey away begins in 5 days. My anxieties are high, but I know everything will fall into place quickly. The control freak in me is having a hard time letting Mark and my mom take over but good thing I can micromanage via computer from the South Pacific Ocean!

I'm sure, once I see the beach, all my anxieties will just melt away.

Kids are sad that I am leaving but they will be so spoiled while I am gone they will not want me to come home...santa, grandma, trips to Aunt Bridget, what more can they want!