All Good Things Must Come to an End

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a girl who really liked to blog.  As time went on, however, she became so busy living on her tiny tropical island that the blogging took a backseat to all of the fun she was having.  What fun was that, you might ask?  Well, boonie stomping (hiking), snorkeling, running, playing tennis, being a taxi driver, hanging with friends and traveling to Palau, just to name a few.  Who knew this far away land would have so much to offer?  The girl gives thanks everyday for getting to experience such a place.

OK, enough with the third person fairy tale.  Life has been busy but so very much in a good way.  Little did I know when we found out more than a year ago that we were moving to Guam how much I would love it here.  I've made some wonderful friends and done things I never thought I'd do.  We recently returned from a trip to Palau, which was AMAZING!  Gorgeous beyond belief!  Guam is incredible, too, and I look at pictures from my boonie stomps and snorkeling and think, "Wow, I really get to do this?"  For all of the negatives I hear about Guam, I can give you double the positives.  It's all about getting out there and exploring.  My daughter said there is actually a girl in her class whose parents do not want to leave the base, so they won't let her participate in sports off base.  I have so much trouble understanding this, but to each their own.

Any news these past, let's see, 3 months?  Why, yes, there is.  I started this blog last year, right after we found out about the Guam assignment.  I mentioned in that post that we got the phone call on my oldest daughter's birthday.  I find it ironic that we received another phone call on her birthday this year, with news of another adventurous assignment.  Looks like our stay on Guam will be cut short as we head to Kadena AB in Japan this summer.  Kadena is on the island of Okinawa, not quite so remote and not as much of a speck in the middle of the Pacific.

It's bittersweet, really.  I'm excited about living in yet another country, learning about a completely foreign culture and being back in the world of the Air Force.  I'm not looking forward to the actual move, packing, etc., for the third summer in a row, and I hate uprooting my kids again.  They seem to be intrigued by Japan, though, which makes me feel a lot better about moving so soon.  I will definitely miss Guam.  I'll miss the friends I've made, my house (I'm pretty sure the one we're moving to won't even compare), and the beautiful surroundings.  We're already planning to meet friends from here in Tokyo in October.  That's the thing about the military....we have friends all over the world!

If I can get my act together after another round of overseas medical clearances, packing out and running races, I will post pictures and trip info for Palau.  If you are headed to Guam or are already on Guam, you HAVE to go to Palau!  I don't dive, but my husband does, and we were both enthralled with the water.  The kids loved it, too!  It really is a fun trip for the family. 

And, just so you know, we will not be answering the phone on Abby's birthday next year.

Ho, Ho, Ho and Happy New Year!

Excuses, excuses.  That's all I have for not blogging, other than the month of December was over in the blink of an eye.  I hope you all had a fabulously joyous Christmas!  Welcome to 2012!  Gees, where did 2011 go?  I had some time to reflect on that when writing the annual Christmas letter.  The letter, however, didn't make it into the envelopes with the cards this year.  Those cards may have never made it to the post office if I actually took the time to tweak, print and stuff the letter.  It isn't a catchy or witty letter, either.  It's something I wrote on the fly, thinking I could somehow make it work.  Nah, didn't happen.  So, without further adieu, may I present to you our year in review.  It's not bedazzled or sappy or glossy.  It was a year full of action, surprise, hellos and goodbyes.

First, though, I have to say that I'm sad because a more-than-awesome friend left the island today.  It's a bittersweet feeling when a military family you know and love moves.  I'm happy for them and their new venture, but I'm also really disappointed that I won't get to play with them anymore.  Guam won't be quite the same without you here, Meg!

Meg and I

Here's the picture we really wanted to use for our Christmas card.  This is how we usually feel about taking that picture each and every year.  My Grandma would not have appreciated this, though, so we opted for a picturesque shot of our sweet little girls.

 OK, on to the letter-that-was-not-sent:

Warm Christmas Wishes from Guam!

Hafa Adai, family and friends!  It’s funny to think that at this time last year, we were freezing our toes off in Rhode Island, and we experienced our first blizzard the day after Christmas.  Here we are now, on a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  I still find it hard to believe that we live here, mainly because it is so far away from home, but also because it really is a tiny island….30 miles long and 8 miles wide at its widest point.  It does, however, take over an hour to drive from one end of the island to the other.  Such is life on Guam.

It’s been one of the craziest years we’ve had in a long time.  We kicked off 2011 with a trip to New York City, and we spent the rest of the winter bundled up and shoveling snow in Rhode Island.  We found out in March that we would be moving to Guam.  After the initial shock and awe, we started the massive amounts of prep work that go into an overseas move.  April brought a reprieve from the cold, with a trip to Florida to visit friends and family.  Ellie made her first Holy Communion in May, and we explored the great outdoors and camped at Acadia National Park in Maine at the end of the month.  Before we knew it, June arrived, and Mark graduated from the Naval War College.  We also drove to New Jersey to ship our car, and we took the opportunity to visit the Statue of Liberty while in the area.  Our belongings were packed and shipped, the girls finished their school year, and we waved goodbye to Jamestown at the end of June.  We also said farewell to Abe, our cat of 13 years, and Piper, our overly anxious 4 year old cat.  We miss them and hope they are happy in their new homes.  

With a boat in tow and a vehicle filled to the brim with “necessary” possessions, we proceeded to drive across the United States, from Rhode Island to Idaho.  We had fun sightseeing along the way, with stops at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park.  We were also lucky enough to visit some of our favorite friends in Ohio.  We made it to Spirit Lake, Idaho in 8 days, and we then spent a relaxing 10 days playing on the lake.  I ventured off to Las Vegas to say hi to some of my very best friends, and then THE day arrived and the long journey commenced.  How long does it take to get to Guam?  Well, we flew 2.5 hours from Spokane, WA to San Francisco, then 5 hours from San Fran to Hawaii, then 8 hours from Hawaii to Guam.  Throw in a few layovers, and you’ve got one really long day.  We were greeted at the airport in Guam by our neighbors, who took excellent care of us and taught us how to be Guamanians.

We’ve loved checking out what the island has to offer.  The locals are very friendly and welcoming, and we’ve enjoyed learning about the Chamorran culture.  We live in military housing, and the girls attend a Department of Defense school on the Navy base.  The time difference from here to the States is sometimes brutal.  We are basically a day ahead of the US (14 hours ahead of CST and 16 hours ahead of the west coast), so phone calls aren't always easy.  


Mark is working at the Joint Region Marianas, where he deals with the joint operations of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps on Guam.  He’s had the pleasure of traveling to Japan, Hawaii and back to the US for work.  He has started scuba diving again, golfs when he has the chance, and he just bought a used surf board (although surfing here is a bit precarious because the island is surrounded by reefs).  

Abby (10) is in 5th grade and settling in to another new school.  She continues to participate in gymnastics and piano, and she is getting ready to play softball again with a local team.  She still loves reading, hates math, adores cats and wants to be a veterinarian.

Ellie (8) is in 3rd grade and loves to sing.  She is also taking gymnastics, and she recently started swimming on the base swim team.  She loves music and playing the violin and piano.  She really likes math and cooking.  Both girls are fascinated with snorkeling.  The ocean life here is so amazing!

I continue to be a stay-at-home mom.  I do a lot less volunteering at the elementary school, but I’m excited to be playing tennis and doing other outdoor activities.  I’m still trying to find my niche here, and I’ve met a lot of great people.  Life in the military certainly has broadened our horizons.  We hope to continue to explore the Pacific by taking some trips off island in the new year.

We hope you have a glorious Christmas and a blessed 2012!  Please keep those who are serving our country and away from their families in your thoughts and prayers.  We are always ready for visitors…hint hint.  We miss you!  God Bless!

Lori, Mark, Abby & Ellie 

(and Snickers and Tallulah the cats, too!)

Manic Monday and Tidbit Tuesday....on a Thursday

I've been having trouble deciding what things I love the most lately, which is why I haven't written a Manic Monday post in a while.  I have trouble making decisions...go figure.  You may also be wondering what's been going on lately?  Well, maybe not, but here it goes.  Hmmmm, well, I  succumbed to an energy sapping (or is it zapping?) cold, and I had the privilege of going all ninja party planner and housecleaner in prep for hosting book club at my house (which was fabulous...so happy to be part of a book club again).  I actually got to play tennis twice this week because it wasn't raining, and I am happy to report that I am still manic about the sport.  It is such a great workout and so much fun.  It helps that I "play" with some awesome girlies.  Oh, and the A/C went out in my car, so I got that fixed, and all is now right with the world.  I am in the car driving kids all over this island on a daily basis, and we were all quite miserable.  Let's see...oh, Halloween!  The kids had fun trick-or-treating, and I am regretting the amounts of candy I eat everyday.  Same story, different year.  The hubs has been on a few trips and is currently on his way home from Japan, where he experienced a fairly sizable earthquake.  That about sums up the last week or so.  The kids had last Friday off, and they have tomorrow off as well.  I am thankful to not have to hear the beeping of my alarm in the morning.  OK, I am admitting this to the 3 people who may read this....I love the show Ghost Hunters, and I'll leave it at that (it's on right now).  I totally believe in ghosts.  I'm too ashamed to list it in my Manic Monday top 3, though.  Speaking of, here they are:

ROSS

This is not a store I frequent in the US because I prefer TJ Maxx or Marshall's, but I am at this place once a week here on Guam.  I feel like I'm getting a taste of my two favorite stores, and I always seem to find what I'm looking for there....well, me and the 500 Japanese tourists that stop in to shop there on their vacation.  Did I mention that K-Mart is a tourist stop here?  Anyhow, I love that we have this store here.  It makes me giddy.

LA TORTILLA FACTORY TORTILLAS

Being that I was born and raised in South Texas, I am not a stranger to savory homemade tortillas.  I never knew how bad pre-packaged tortillas could be until I moved to Florida.  I have tried to make my own tortillas in the past, but they just didn't turn out right.  Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon the La Tortilla Factory brand tortillas in the deli section at the commissary.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Thank you, Lord for bringing these into my life.  I have been trying to cut back on the carbs for a few months now, and these tortillas fit the bill.  I actually eat the corn tortillas.  The rest of my family eat the flour tortillas weekly on Taco Tuesday.  They are as good as the pre-packaged variety can be, especially the low-carb tortillas.  There are several "flavors" of corn tortillas...one of my faves is the chipotle.  Guammies, find them and try them.  You will not be disappointed.

MY BED

Yeah, this may seem downright silly to most of you, but I am always so freakin' happy to get in my bed each night.  There is nothing special about my mattress.  I don't have a Sleep Number, or whatever those things are called.  In fact, our mattress is almost 10 years old.  What makes my bed so comfy is the super soft sheets and cozy down comforter.  Who needs a down comforter in Guam?  We do, that's who.  We crank that A/C down at night and sleep like babies.  I love my bed, even more so after moving and being without it for months.  In fact, I'm going to get in it right now.  

Boonie Stompin'

Boonie stomping, aka hiking, is sort of like a rite of passage on Guam.  It's just one of those things you have to do, mainly because there's not much else to do, but more importantly because there is no better way to explore Guam's beauty.  So, I went on my first official boonie stomp last Thursday.  I joined a group of ladies at Ritidian Point, which is near Andersen AFB at the northern most tip of the island.  It was a beautiful Guam day, and we were given a very informative tour by a park ranger named Ms. Emily.  If you can get past all of the pictures to the end, you will read about the most interesting part of the day.

Ms. Emily

Our group

Here's a few shots from the beginning of our hike/tour...

Cool painted coconuts in the visitor's center

Dead brown tree snake

Here's the point...isn't it gorgeous?

Looking up through the trees of the jungle,
asking the Taotaomona permission to enter

Once on our hike, we saw some amazing caves and encountered an unexpected sight...well, two, actually, but I thought you probably wouldn't want to see a picture of a dead baby pig.

If you can see the holes in the limestone/coral--
those were used for grinding, like a pestle and mortar.

About to enter a cave

Always love seeing a boar skull

Stalagtites/Stalagmites...I don't know
the difference.
I'm sure my oldest daughter could tell me.

Huge toad

Cycad tree...I remember studying these in Botany.
They are prehistoric in nature.

Standing stone

More cave

Then we saw some ancient cave art and fossils, since this area used to be under water and part of a reef....

Handprint

Turtles

More turtles

Antlers

Fossils

More art

This was our reward:

 

  Ritidian Beach

So, the hike was beautiful, but I made a few mistakes beforehand.  First, I did not eat breakfast, but I quickly downed a Clif Bar on the 45 minute drive to the place.  Secondly, I did not have caffeine that morning.  I don't drink coffee, but I always have a Diet Coke (or 2 or 3).  I was out of DC that morning.  I had plenty of water, thanks to my new Camelback, but that apparently didn't matter.  I ended up with a killer headache towards the end of the hike, which quickly turned into a migraine. 

Well, as I rode in the backseat of a friend's car, with 3 other ladies aboard, I started to feel not quite right.  That's when the barforama happened with almost no warning.  Luckily, we were able to pull over before I spewed all over my new friend's car (she may not want to be my friend now).  I don't throw up.  I'll do anything to not throw up.  I hadn't vomited since 2003.  Check out my feelings regarding vomiting here.  Ladies that were in that car, I owe you all BIG.  These girls were so good about it and taking care of me.  If it were me in the spot next to me, I would have been throwing up, too.  Thank goodness for good and caring friends.  Needless to say, I came to terms with the fact that: 1) I am WAY too addicted to caffeine.  2) I have to eat brekkie (I already knew this, but it has to be something more substantial than a bar).  3)  I will never eat another Clif Bar.

Once I made it home, I spent the rest of the day in bed, thanks to the help of my husband and friends.  Please let my next boonie stomp be memorable for a reason other than me barfing. 

Hats Off!

As a military family, we've been a lot of places and seen a lot of different things.  We've experienced different cultures and people.  We've been fortunate enough to be assigned to squadrons or schools that are outside of my husband's normal job, so we've mingled with all walks of life and learned about the jobs that make the Air Force work and the planes fly.  I really think it makes you a better military spouse and active duty worker if you can see what other people do in the Air Force/other military branches.  Let's call it perspective.  We are also now being indoctrinated into the Navy.  This initially began in Rhode Island, but we had no idea it would lead to this.

I'm learning a lot about the US Navy, and the people I've met so far have been nothing but spectacular.  They've taken this AF family in and shown us how it's done on Guam.  The USN also has quadruple the amount of acronyms, many of which I don't think I will ever learn.  Anyhow, there is a particular group of people here that I am in awe of.  They are probably one of the most forgotten or overlooked groups in the military.  I know I'm used to being on AF bases, so we don't do ships, but I grew up in a Navy town.  My Dad was in the Navy for a while.  I've always been around the Navy, but it's usually been associated with boats/carriers and flying.  This group I'm referring to are the submariners.

I should say that I haven't met many submariners myself, but I have met their spouses.  These are some of the toughest broads in the history of ever.  The submarines are gone (underway is the correct term).  A lot.  They spend weeks without seeing the light of day.  The spouses of these crews are left to be single parents and wives.  A lot.  And they don't have as many means of communication as the normal land dwellers do.  They are remarkable people, and I am so happy to get the chance to know them and learn about their lives.  We often hear about the Army wives left behind, or the floats the sailors and marines go on for months on end, or the AF being sent somewhere to bomb or fight.  Have you ever heard much, if anything, about the submariners?  I certainly haven't, other than the occasional Hollywood production, which usually focuses on World War II battles, or the infamous Cold War (remember The Hunt for Red October?).  I'm sure that's like saying every fighter pilot is Maverick (Tom Cruise), living out the Top Gun persona.  I know they all wish the job was that glamourous.  We spouses know that it is definitely not.  So, my hat is off to the submarine wives and the men in their lives!  I will be a better person for having known them.

Manic Monday

Yes, yes, it's been a while.  It's not that I haven't been manic about anything.  I am happy to report that I have been muy busy UNPACKING!  Shut the front door, we received our household goods a little over a week ago, so I have been trying to get this house together.  It's coming along, and I have to say that we even have pictures on the walls.  That's a record for me.  OK, let the mania begin.

MY HOUSE

Alright, I mentioned before that our house is pretty awesome for a base house.  It's new and a good size, and it's in a great location.  The layout of the front room is kind of weird, but I will make it work somehow.  Here's the deal.  I've been with the hubs for the past 17 years, and we've lived in a variety of houses.  Some had no closets, some no dishwashers, a few without garbage disposals, one with a 2 burner stove and miniature kitchen sink, 2 with dorm size refrigerators, a few without garages, one with a rather useless power shower (this equals zero water pressure...dribble, dribble), a few with the washer and dryer in the kitchen, no air conditioning, horrible heating...and the list could go on.  This house is normal.  It has a dishwasher, garbage disposal, laundry room, master bath with a double vanity, great water pressure, lots of closets, ceramic tile, a fabulous AC, ceiling fans, an oven that gives you the option to bake with convection, pullouts in the kitchen cabinets, a double car garage with automatic openers, a screened-in porch (I admit that we don't really use this since we back up to a huge hill.  Some people close these off with the built in typhoon shutters and make it part of their living space), built in typhoon shutters, a built in humidifier, built in generator hook-up (cause the power does go out sometimes, and it would really suck during a major typhoon) and neighbors we love.  The only thing that's lacking is a pantry.  Believe it or not, I've always had a pantry, even in Europe.  Oh, wait, I didn't have one in Rhode Island.  Anyhow, it's not my dream home, but it's better than many of the other houses we've lived in.  I am definitely not complaining. 

This doesn't suck, either.

EBAY

I love ebay.  Mainly, I love shopping on ebay.  I've recently re-discovered this little morsel, and I've been able to purchase a shower curtain that Bed, Bath and Beyond would not ship to me (they don't ship to Guam, yet they don't hesitate to send you coupons in the mail) and a dress for the upcoming Navy Ball.  Yes, the dress is used, but it's in perfect condition and less than half the price of a new gown.  Happy!  I buy my girls used GK leotards for gymnastics on ebay, too.  Not all sellers will ship to Guam, but I have gotten lucky.

New shower curtain for girls' bathroom

TENNIS

Another re-discovery for me...the game of tennis.  I took lessons with two very dear friends about 3-4 years ago in Florida.  I hadn't picked up a racquet since then...until last week.  I signed up for lessons, and I had such a fun time (and a very sore forearm for several days).  It helps that I can laugh at myself with a new and super fabulous girlfriend.  Our next lesson is tomorrow, and this time I won't forget the sunscreen.  Remember how I said you can get sunburned walking to the mailbox here?  Well, try 2.5 hours in the sun on the equator without sunscreen.  You have yourself a rock lobstah, AKA me.

It's just like the Wii, right?

Happy Columbus Day, my friends!  My day is almost over, and I just experienced my very first earthquake!  A magnitude of 4.6, about 38 miles south of us.  We were definitely rockin', for a few seconds at least.

It Was Only Just a Dream

I had a dream last night.  Scratch dream.  It was more like a nightmare.  I'm not sure what my conscience was trying to tell me with this one.  In this particular nightmare, we received orders. For you non-military types out there, orders are the documents that state where we're moving, when we have to be there, etc.  I've been in Guam all of 2.5 months, don't have my household goods yet, and I like it here.  Some people I know hate Guam and are ready to leave, but I happen to like it here and would like to be here at least 2 years.  I'm looking to the future...the longer we stay here, the less we have to move.

Anyhow, are you wondering what the destination of these orders was?  This is the strange part....ever heard of Vladivostok, Russia, cause that's where my dream nightmare says we are going?  Why Siberia?  I can sometimes make sense of my dreams, but this one has me baffled.  Where the hell did Vladivostok come from?  I think I remember seeing weather reports for this place on AFN (American Forces Network) when we lived in Germany and England, but does the US even have any type of military presence there?  Maybe I watched too many episodes of Ice Road Truckers a few days ago?  I'm so confused.  And worried.  And downright mad at a stupid dream.  How silly is that?  So, if we get orders to Russia at any point, I will consider myself psychic and start charging for my services.  Until then, please pray that that never happens.

I had a dream.

Told ya so!

OK, OK, OK!  It's been quite a while, but nobody can say that I didn't predict that I would fall short on the whole blogging thing.  I think I might have mentioned that in my very first post.  I often have what I think are amazing ideas for blog posts as I'm driving down the road or sitting in a doctor's office, but those ideas never seem to make it to the computer.  Anyhow, here's a quick update on what's been going on lately....

We are Guamanians!  We landed on Guam precisely 1.5 weeks ago, and I have to say that things have been pretty darned good.  As you know, I was very worried about living here.  I suppose I was mostly worried about the logistics of the move and how it was all going to pan out.  We had a few bumps along the way, but we managed to arrive to an island that welcomed us with a tiny bit of a typhoon and some more than wonderful people at the airport.  We are now neighbors with the airport brigade, and we couldn't be happier.  Yes, we have neighbors, which means we are living in a house!  We moved into our military-issued house about a week ago, after staying in a temporary lodging facility for 4 nights.  This was actually an old base house that I think should be condemned.  Why, you might ask?  For the love of God, that amount of mold and mildew is just not healthy for anyone.  I had to douse the shower with Tilex, but there wasn't a thing I could do about the AC vents.  Not the kind of adventure I enjoy.  

I digress...we're not so sure when we'll get our household goods.  Let's just say that this is the fastest we've ever moved into a house, and this is the absolute, hands down nicest base house I've ever seen or lived in (I've only lived in 2, so that's not saying much after all these years, but I've seen quite a few).  We visited the housing office the day after we arrived, they handed us a key and that was that.  I have to note here that I am not bragging...I'm just in shock, that's all.  It's never worked that way for us....ever.  I'm just acknowledging a wink from God.  

Here's what we've accomplished/discovered so far:

Our new home!

The new "Guam Bomb"

Coconuts!

Our first snorkeling adventure:  Gab Gab Beach

Gab Gab

Girls in love with snorkeling

Breaking all kinds of rules picking up that blue starfish  

Sunset view from our front porch...a site I'm sure we won't get tired of seeing.

I have "Tales from the Trip Crypt" to share....coming soon, so stay tuned.