Incredible Sameness of Mind

I am in a contest with my own mind. I struggle to push out the things I do not need to worry about at certain times. Maybe I am just tired. I do feel a little over stretched. Anyway, I just got back a few weeks ago from another trip to Atlanta and Guam. I haven't had the energy to write about my time there but I will share soon. It was beautiful and fun but I need some serious time to recover and get back in the groove.

I'll just share about some simple but fun things I got while I was off-island:

SEEDS
There is a kiddy store at the Guam Premium Outlets that sells these seedling starter kits. DJ, my BFF's youngest son, has become a bit of a farmer so I thought these would be fun projects for him. I got mini pumpkins and strawberries (of all things) just to see if they'd grow.
Everything is labeled organic now. 100% green, recycled and organic it claims.I am sure the pumpkins will grow.
Not sure about these. We may have to start them off in the fridge.
The packet contains seeds, potting soil and the pot.
I hope they sprout! I should've gotten the peppers too.
BOTTLES
They had these tiny bottles of jams and honey along with the continental breakfast during my 3-day conference. I asked everyone I could for their empties. I'm going to put some of my sand collection in jars (the right one is unopened honey and the other one is filled with Tumon sand).

I also wanted to try this Italian spring water. For $3.00 I also got to keep the nice bottle. What a refreshing slice (drop) of Tuscany. What can I do with this now?
SHOES
Shopping on Guam is great. That's mostly because we don't have a proper mall on Saipan. I get to buy nice shoes for cheap whenever I go back!

My new shoes.
My old shoes. They're probably over 2 years old.
The mind likes what it likes I guess but they really are different. I mean, the new pair of dress shoes have laces. Okay, that's just because I couldn't find slip-ons that weren't too pointy at the ends. If I had money, I think I'd be a collector of shoes. Problem is I am a terrible supinator and I am a terrible shoe scuffer. One day, my blog identity will be: The Supenating Shoe Scuffer.

Good to be back. I miss you Saipan!

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

7742: Night Scenes

Too bad I got sick while I was in Atlanta. It usually has something to do with the recycled air in the plane. I missed out on seeing more of the place and hanging out with people that I just met. On my last night, I was able to go out and see a little of Downtown and Midtown. It was raining a little and there were low-lying clouds. We got lost a little in Midtown but it lead us to a block with beautiful houses. It was like walking in a dream seeing such a foreign night scene.













I am back on Saipan, thankful for my time and the new friends I made in good ole Atlanta.

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

7742: I was meant to meet you today

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break." -Chinese Proverb


Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

7742- Thank You the Island Way

Whenever I visit the U.S. Pacific Island Jurisdictions, I am treated like a king. The islanders really know how to make you feel welcome and go the extra mile to make your stay really pleasant. In the States, our partners do the same for us, taking us around to see the sights, maybe go shopping or to a baseball game. They also really pay attention to the effects of the time difference and jet lag.

One of our long standing project officers will be resigning in a year or two. This means slowly letting go of the PIJ project areas. He has been a champion for the Pacific for more than a decade working out funding and resources that our people can not live without. I am glad that I had at least 3 years under his guidance and experienced immense support for the work that I do. It was my Guahan counterpart, Bernie that had the brilliant idea to take Thom and his wife, Yolanda, out for dinner and to thank him with gifts island style.

Thom had no clue what was going on. Here's brilliant Bernie pretending that we were nervous about our presentations and that we needed some time with Thom to prepare. It was nice to surprise him.

One of the things I'll always remember for is his affinity for taking lots and lots of pictures. We decided to go to a Mexican restaurant called Jalapeno Jack's.
Bernie and the crowning of the king! She was having a hard time maneuvering Thom's fro!
...and our queen. The mwarmwars were from Palau and the leis from Guahan. The mwars were made with artificial flowers since real ones wouldn't have checked out of customs but they were really beautifully made.

The Guahan folks: Bernie, Thom, ate Liz and Yolanda.
James is from Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. The last time I saw him was in 2007 in Pohnpei.
Dr. Zach and Roy with giving some gorgeous shell mwars and necklaces from the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Dr. Zach is based on the main island and Roy is from Ebye.
Roy and I were in Chicago in 2008. It was the first time to see snow for the both of us!
Our couple lookin' smart!
I gave Thom the higam hima: Hacha that I made. He was really appreciative and said he'd make a make a shadow box for it. I also gave away some CNMI quarters.
I gave Yolanda a necklace I made from Spondylus. I shaped one as an alahas and kept one in the natural shape of the spiny oyster.
Hana and Alene from the Republic of Palau gave a beautiful painting of a Palauan chief's house, coconut crafts and some trochus shell and pearl necklace and earings.
Yolanda was excited about a woven pandanus bag from Guahan. I didn't get to take pictures of the American Samoan's who gave tapa cloths to the couple. I think I was caught up in the celebration that I forgot to record the moment in pictures.

At the end of our dinner, a woman came up and asked if we were celebrating a birthday and if we were from Hawaii. I had to explain to her that it was a change to an era, a changing of the guards for all of us in the PIJs. Good luck, Thom. God bless you and Si Yu’us Ma’ase.

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

7742: ATL 2- Too Cold!

The golden dome of the Georgia Capitol.

Hi, friends. Thank you so much for your supportive comments on my last post. I'm in downtown Atlanta, GA for a few days. It is probably the change in scenery that I need to get me charged up again.

It is cold here! Sure the lowest it gets here now is 40 degrees Fahrenheit but that's too cold for an island boy. It is a blessing though that I am here. I am reminded that my work is important and that I will get a recharge from seeing supportive colleagues and friends.

I spent an hour lay over on Guahan and saw my 10-day absent BFF in the airport (she was in the Philippines). Miss you, Laurina, but it was good that we got to say good bye before I left for a few days!

I think I have a stress fever since I am getting chills right now. I may have to resort to cough medicine that has a fever reducer since I used up my last Tylenol pills earlier. It's too cold to be going out right now!

Love you, all! Ti napu.

The Beachcomber

7724: MLK jr

On a bright August day, I had the special privilege to see Martin Luther King, Jr.’s neighborhood, church and library when I visited Atlanta, GA last year. Here’s to the remembrance of a great activist and a man of peace.

The Mahatma- The Great Soul

What footprints do we leave on this earth?

The library

"Behold, the only thing greater than yourself."

Here he rests...

...that we may reflect on his words, his actions, and his life.

The church

The "Stone of Help"

He lived here.

This was his neighborhood

Life continues

“Free at last, free at last

I thank God I'm free at last

Free at last, free at last

I thank God I'm free at last
Way down yonder in the graveyard walk

I thank God I'm free at last

Me and my Jesus going to meet and talk

I thank God I'm free at last
On my knees when the light pass'd by

I thank God I'm free at last

Tho't my soul would rise and fly

thank God I'm free at last
Some of these mornings, bright and fair

I thank God I'm free at last

Goin' meet King Jesus in the air

I thank God I'm free at last”

Many injustices still exist for us to fight. Let us not be content and complacent. We must continue to fight.

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber