Stump'n Icon

Iconic Stump

I took the family on a short island cruise 2 Sundays ago and just so happened I had brought the camera along. We were coming up Isa Drive along Capitol Hill when I remembered what I had been wanting to take a photo of. Two curves uphill and to the left side of the road is this tree stump, painted yellow, black and red. From an angle, one would possibly think this tree was carved out just for show but in actuality, it appears to be a bird's head on a long neck-be it the stump. On top of what is painted as the head, grows some new greens to which are kept occasionally trimmed.

I recall also when personnel from Public Works would wack out the weeds, pull unwanted overgrown, trim trees and the likes. Well, this is one of the trees that was cut down to the trunk to about 5 or 6 feet long. Every time new limbs try to grow on the top, it is cut down again and again and again until it was recently thought up by some imaginative mind to spruce it up a bit.

Whoever it is that is keeping this tree trunk alive, you are doing a mighty good deed for everyone to every occasion. I can only say, to present, this one, had something to do with "Independence Day" as it had also represented in the past some other icons like the Leprechaun (sporting a green hat) for the month of March and had also graduated with the many graduates in 2008 as it is displayed with a black cap and a tassel and recently-the good 'ol stars and stripes hat in the photo above.

A,B,C's

Try singing along as you read. This is Devin's style of a,b,c...

A, B, C, D, E, F, E,-H,I,J,K,ELO, MEN, O,P, now I know my a,b,c, next time I want you to sing with me, Q,R,S,-T,U,V,-W,X,-Y and Z, now I know my a,b,c, next time I want you to sing with me. clap-clap.

Monsoon Flowers

Blossoms

Last Friday wasn't much of a Friday like any other as the wind was still blowing from the west and with it came more gray clouds. It started getting boring come 3 p.m. so here I was again. I looked out the backyard and saw this beautiful flower that sprouted from what probably is from the same species as the taro. I grabbed the camera and began taking some pictures. I guess I got a bit carried away from snapping as I went around the house taking pictures of almost every blossom there was to snap at-in a somber way. That's one thing about the monsoon season. It brings with it an array of colors. Beau-tee-ful!

Rising Sun & Sabors

Da Opening & Fury Claw

Lang & Whatevers

Bogie & Da Risen Sun

Purple Cluster & Oranges
Hiding Claws & Hi-B
Fury Lion & Tai-bo

Sin-sir & White cotton

SOME FRUITS & VEGGIES

Boorie & Artist

And some nuts too

Poo & Pools

Kenneth's visit

Junior, our eldest son, visited us Saturday evening with his family (Devin, baby Kenneth and their mom Catherine) just as our binoculars were fixed on the tube watching "3:10 to YUMA". The concentration on the tube broke when we heard Devin's loud voice "hello...Kyler...". I went up the front door and there he was with his mom also carrying baby Kenneth who was all bright eyed and smiling (probably happy to see his old man again).

The Magic

Junior, Catherine and baby Kenneth left around 10 or so and so we went back to watching more DVDs when Devin came up to me and wanted me to "make magic". I use to trick this boy into holding something (be it candy or gum) in my closed palm, stick out the index finger of the same hand and play with his ear while at the same time saying "magic, magic...", open my hand and show whatever it was in my hand to him to his amazement. That is the magic and now, I'm running out of it as I don't have candy or gum for it. One time he came up to me, grabbed my hand, put it to his ears and there he was on his own "magic, magic" and when I opened my empty hand in front of him to find nothing, tried his luck on his other ear hoping the magic would work. Ai adai this boy. Another time he attempted this, all he found was a young betel nut in my hand which he gave up on. No more magic that time but last night, I had to tell him that my magic only works when the sun is up and shining. "Ooooo! When the sun come up" and I just replied "yes" and that was the end of the subject-at least for now.

Devin!-again

Pat and I took him to Sunday service but on our way there to Church, I told him to behave during the service. He said "yes" but wasn't looking at me but facing straight forward as if to say "why bother". "Devin, do you hear me" again "yes" but I guess I don't have to say what happened in church as you would already know.

SPAMALICIOUS

Rolling thunder here and there. It's been like this for 2 days and nights-I think. Right after my honey bun left for work this morning, I decided to cook something for my grumbling stomach. Besides the drizzling rain and occasional thunder rolling and our son Kyler with the television, everything was quiet for me in the kitchen as I went about with my preparation. Guess what it is I'm cooking for breakfast. Yep!!! The same thing Kyler had earlier when I came out to see off honey bun to work.

The peaceful moment vanished when my Par Ton came up the door unexpectedly and attempts to get my attention "oyy-oyy". He really got my attention alright because he frightened me from my concentration as I was dicing the SPAM-Oooops, said it. He giggled and walked out towards the back of the house probably to pick walawal. What else is there to do in the backyard except pick leaf but as the saying goes "do onto others what you want others done to you", it was done. As he came straight by the kitchen window, I yelled out and boy-you should have seen the look on his face. He was more scared than I was as he abruptly turned towards my direction-rounded eyes, puckered lips and a stance as if he was going to do the chacha with his back arched backward just as a scared cat would. I can't help but laugh at his reaction. He continued off walking and mumbled "se-lomw".

That's my Kompairi

Wait a minute!!!!!

Something's very wrong here. This can't be his picture. My kompairi has no teeth-unless of course, he had them fixed. He sent me the wrong picture. I told him to send the one with his best smile and this is what he sent. Dang it par!

U-1-na-b WIL SMITH you.

Rev&Tax / Devin

I'm not much of a person who likes to wait in line-most especially when the line is unusually longer than expected. This one though, took a turn for some laughs as Devin (our grandson) came along with me.

1 Day Ahead
My better half decided to task me with payment at the Revenue and Taxation (known for short, Rev&Tax). This was towards the end of the month and to make matters worst, it was "end of the quarter" when businesses and others scramble to pay up or be in deep shit. I had just taken her (my better half) to Rev&Tax the previous day just to pay for a simple business license. I waited in the car for what I thought was and endless wait before she came back out, hopped on the car and said "man, there's too many..." I just thought "frustrating and plain arrogant people"

The Next Day

Devin and I got there the next day to find the line spreading from east to west, taking up one side of the entire hallway which was lined with portable chairs. I just held onto my grandson's hand and stood at the entrance observing what was going on when a glass door to my right swung open and out came two people. Two individuals in line nearest to us stood up and entered the door where the two others came out from. We gradually walked to the end of the line, seated and timed the process. Every 10 or 15 minutes, we would all get up, moved one or two chair(s) over until one or two finally enters the cashier's booth area to do whatever business they had to do. I was only there to pay for one damn business license but now stuck in line with the rest.

Picking a Fight

Devin was somewhat getting bored and so he got off my lap after several attempts, stood for awhile when a guy came through the main entrance with his radio blurring some transmission. Devin let loose of me, approach the guy and there he was with a very clear "brod, you want fight". Everyone seating in the hallway who had been observing my boy laughed. I called for him but he kept behind the guy with the radio who didn't pay much attention to my boy's comment.

Getting Fresh

Two females sat to my left (one Filipino & the other Chamorro) before this big Caucasian dude with long beard, mustache and long crummy hair. He had on a T-shirt, shorts with slippers (zorrie) not to mention his round belly. This was the same dude who told me "Let him go. He's only a kid. Let him roam around...besides, he's keeping us entertained". I was a bit uncomfortable with my little one mindlessly roaming and entering the office spaces as I would constantly get off my behind and go after him. Another woman employee came out from one of the doors and there goes Devin running after her "Ay girlfriend-you got money". Laughter came from amongst us with the Chamorro commenting "si dad todo fumunagi enao" or something to that effect.

Feed Time

The line was moving slowly as frustration starts to built into everyone of us waiting. Some employees were seen roaming from door to door before this traffic started calming down. Then we saw some exiting the main entrance with their purses or what have they when the female Chamorro said "esta fanan oran lunch-no" (it's probably lunch time). I just thought to myself "11:30 and I'm still here". Now I can really feel the frustration building in me that I had forgotten about my boy who was no where in sight. I got up and looked around when one of the ladies in line before us pointed towards a door as if to tell me "he went in there". Sure enough, I knocked and entered and there he was sitted with 3 women employees who were having lunch-him too. Our sister-in-law Mona was one of them. I just told them how sorry I was and Mona just said it was okay as it was her lunch time. "I'll bring him out to you when he's finish eating".

Escort Service

I went back out and the Chamorro lady asked "monge i lai mu" (where's your kid) I responded comically "machochochu" (his working). The Caucasian dude "where" same respond "his working" he again, jokingly "he probably has more contacts around here than his pops" and everyone tend to agree with a little giggle. These occurrences made time past as we were slowly (but moving) towards the cashier's booth. A few minutes later, Mona came out holding Devin's hand with his other hand holding on to a doughnut. Another comment from the Caucasian dude to my boy "you work here" with a simple "yeah" from Devin who was truly working on the doughnuts.

Santa Clause

I think it was past 2 p.m. already and Devin had found a new playmate, a daughter of another person who came later and sat herself towards the end of the line. They were both running up and down the hallway and I could care less already of what my boy does when he finally approached the Caucasian dude whom he had gained some friendly trust with, stood in front of him and sort of surveyed him from top to bottom as I and others observed. He approached the dude, placed each of his small hands on each of the Caucasians knees and asked "you Santa Clause" the dude replied "that's my brother". Devin asked again "you shower" dude replies "yes I showered" Devin looking down the dudes feet with his hands still on dudes knees "you wass yo feet" dude replied "yes I washed my feet". I knew where the next question was going I just had to stop him from going further. Then came the Chamorro lady "tomtum boy dai enao lai mu".

Although there is no moral to this story, it only shows how much young ones can easily take your mind off from things you constantly are aware of around you. They make you smile, laugh, good ice breakers to avail of conversation to others whom you hardly know and most of all, great entertainers too.

Church Comedian

The Parish Priest, during one of his Sunday homily, stopped and told the congregation "wait, we have a commercial" and that's when Devin went up front, stood and faced the mass attendees-making face. It was a laugh too which brings me to think of placing ankle cuffs on him next time we go to Sunday church.

Our key players

FUTURE MUSICIAN & A STUNT DRIVER

As you can see from this clip how much mom can ignore our boy while not only singing to her but actually playing the uke for her, but mom is too busy working on the computer nay. But look towards the end of the clip as our grandson ends his song and places his music instrument down slowly.

"That's our Devin"

and how about our other grandson who is also coming up after him? He's so handsome that he smiles only when he wants to. His maternal grandfather categorizes him into the "looking committee" because he'll just look at anything of interest to him and I mean "look" as in gaze, eyes fixed and every other word that so much resembles look in da dang dictionary. Now WATCH!!!!

One plays the Uke and the other drives a "baby-walker"

LONG DISTANCE

CRITICAL INQUIRY

I was awaken from my "power nap" by our youngest son as he was handing me the phone saying "uncle Wayne". Wayne is presently residing in Salem, Oregon and his call sort of got me a bit worried this time. You see, our aunt Vicky was admitted in a hospital somewhere in Portland as she is still awaiting operations. This was why I was a bid worried by Wayne's call.

PHONE CONVERSATION

No greetings or anything but sort of like he was just calling from the neighbor's house to invite me for a drinking session.

I took the phone and listened for a while. I can hear other people in the background and were a little too loud compared to my weariness then I answered, "hello"he goes"Tikk, can you tell me what large reefs we got back there that are good fishing spots" I got to thinking for awhile, "what da hell is Wayne up to..." and responded back to his inquiry "Esmeralda" and he yells "Esmeralda", then I heard several voices in the background as if surprised and repeated after my brother "Esmeralda". Then Wayne comes back and asked "any more reefs that you know of" and I told him "Zalandia" and just as Wayne repeated Zalandia, more yells came from the background and I had to asked Wayne just what the heck he was up to. He said they were just sitting and talking of fishing spots (located) here at home but no one among them knew their names so that was the reason of his call. "They weren't just sitting and talking, I bet (everyone a dollar) they were sitting, talking and drinking too". And for you my brother Wayne, the picture above tells a whole lot of story in itself.

Among those sitting and talking (besides looking at the camera lens), mixing up a chew or two and drinking, these are just a few of the fishermen that can sum up a great (if not good) fishing stories of the Northern Islands. And the next time you decide to give me a call, ask first how I or my pet puppy are doing. Arra so?

Summer In

DEVIN POWER

Our grandson will be turning 3 years old come July and we have yet to plan on what to do on his birthday. Well, with the strain and burdensome economic situation we are presently experiencing, maybe a small family bar-b-que to show some love on his birthday.

Anyhow, he and I were glued to his favorite television channel-2 when power abruptly shuts off, he turned to me with a "what da hell" look and said "si Lucy". I asked "what about 'si Lucy" when he said "si Lucy turned off da power" I can't help but laugh as I came to understand what he meant by "si Lucy". He was simply telling me "...C.U.C. turned off the power".

VROOM, VROOM

I told my 2nd oldest son to cut the grass down at our mom's place approximately two weeks ago today. He did just that and was later dropped off to our house by our folks later that evening. He had used my brush cutter on that day and because I had not seen him when he was dropped off, I had no idea whether he had brought it back, so the next morning, I went out to the storage to see if he had brought it back. The gas container, the brush cutter line and my pair of cutters which he had also brought with him on this particular mission, were in the storage but no brush cutter.

I called him out and asked if he had brought the brush cutter back after cutting the grass when he simply told me that he had already put it back into the storage. I just told him to go look because I just can't seem to find it except for the three other items. He looked, came back and said he had stored it back in the storage but isn't there anymore. I asked if he had loaned it to anyone else but only stated he had not.

I didn't make a great deal out of the present situation as I only thought that maybe a family member had come and borrowed the brush cutter without us knowing. Besides, we woke up very late that morning and maybe they came and took it while we slept. A few days past and my better half started saying "maybe someone came and stole it" but I just thought "why would they only steal my brush cutter and not the rest of my tools". Not long after that, I began thinking the same thought as my wife except furious over what others would do with other people's belonging. Just a final word on this matter, "I truly hope whoever took my brush cutter would truly enjoy operating it, without it kicking debris into both his eyes and blind them"-just a thoughtful curse.

ANOTHER TRIP

The boys left on a fishing trip north again. This time around, only my par (West), my brother in law John and the Master Canoe carver Tuughumaay (and 9 other crew members) went on it. The boat will off load passengers in Alamagan, Pagan and Agrigan prior to heading all the way north where a national monument has been proposed. This should be an exciting trip as it will be this voyages first trip to the last island to the north. Can't wait to hear about it from the boys.

Un-announced

Da Electric Company
Didn't someone say "...come June, power outages will be a thing of the past" or was that meant to be the other months of June in the distant future? Not that my name is Francisco to be Frank or Tikko but quite frankly, I'm sure we all share the same frustrations over the many power outages we are now experiencing EVERYDAY. First came the scheduled outages followed by the unscheduled ones and the next thing we know, frequent outages that are burning up our appliances that we can't afford to have fix back into operation because we spent more on paying utility bills from the same electric provider that's responsible to the damages in the first place. Hafa Adai masusesedi? Essor salappi!!!!

Stimulated Situation
It was reported that the Chalan Kanoa branch of the U.S. Postal service was swarmed with a lot of people checking their mail boxes for their "Stimulus Checks" a few days ago. The Postal parking was filled with cars all the way to the Round House on the south. There must have been one hell of a traffic situation down there on that day. Let's blame and thank Uncle Sam for creating such a chaos. Ready? One, Two, Three-all together now. THANK YOU UNCLE SAM. Anyhow, it was one heck of a relieve to be able to par up a bit with bills. Thanks for stimulating me too.

Gas! Gas! Gas!
Had you been in the military, you'd be scrambling with your chemical suit as every second counts or your ass is grass. In our particular situation, we are exercising burning less fuel for more time-time your vehicle will take you until the engine chokes to death for the lack of fuel and decides to make you walk, hitch a ride (which is against local law) or find some other means to get to refuel.

Back in the 70's, we were lining up at the few gas pumps on island to fuel up our vehicles and whatever container(s) we may bring along with us. My late uncle owned a Willey's back then. He would hook up his military type trailer, stack it with his G.I. fuel gallons and any other container that will hold liquid (which include empty plastic Clorox containers) and get in a long and slow tedious line on a scheduled day to buy fuel. Because I was the mucus one back then, I was told to walk back home and get lunch as once you take your vehicle out of the line, you end up at the end to start over again which was something you don't want to do as most times, fuel supply runs out and that was before it was limited to something like 10 or 20 gallons per vehicle. I come back with lunch and my uncle was still lining up not anywhere close to the pump yet.

Present gag
As if the price of fuel is not high enough, some idiot decided to play some stupid rumor that the gas price was to climb past 5 bucks per gallon starting around 2:00 p.m. on that given day. I was driving past the San Vicente Mobil station when I first came across an unusual long line to the pumps only thinking "Stimulus". I came up past the Kagman Mobil where there's another unusual long line of cars probably waiting to gas up. The same thought came to me again "Stimulus".

Around 4:00 p.m. as I was heading back up the same road from Kagman, cars were still lined up at the Mobil station but the board still read "4.62" per gallon. This just kept me wondering why people were really lining up at the fuel pumps. This got me thinking on my way up to Capitol Hill as I was heading to pick up my better half from work. The gas gauge on our vehicle was registering a quarter tank. Should I go and fill up?

The first thing that came out from my better half was "has the gas price gone up already". I just asked her back "is it suppose to go up". Not taking any chances, we headed down town to the nearest ATM and on our way down, Shell Marianas located in (local) Puerto Rico still indicates the same price for unleaded. We got some money out from the bank and headed to the middle road Mobil station to fuel up.

Hyped Old Lady
Surprisingly, there were only a few vehicles lined up at the gas station by the time we got there. I went inside to pay for the gas and found myself in line behind an Oriental couple and an elderly Chamorro woman. The elderly's turn to pay her purchase and as she approached the cashier's counter she asked "is the price of gas really going up" only to be responded by the Philippine national lady cashier "I don't know ma'am-we don't get da memo yet" and I interrupted from behind the elderly "can I give you a memo to bring down the price of gas to a dollar" as they both laughed followed by a comment by the elderly "ai ya sina mohon no laihu".

The Gas Attendant
I found our nephew working the pump on my car as he conversed with my better half who was still in the car. I asked him if their station was busy earlier and he responded "you should have been here this afternoon uncle. There were more cars and more people here than during the grand opening". We gathered from him that people were also arguing as to who came first in line to get gas. Oh well, All is well...I think.

4 extra credit
A hooker was approached by two "nit-wits" as one asked, "how old are you" and she responded "terry dollah". The other nit-wit asked "what's your telephone numbah" and was responded back "too, ay,ay-ay, ay, lie, lie". Followed by another question "and what can you do" she responded "wrong time, shode time, airy time".

My harmless thoughts

PROBLEMATIC SITUATIONS
Our islands are full of guest workers, their families, acquaintances and what have they...but this is due particularly on our part as islanders. We invite them over to work, to fill positions not particularly inviting to today's generation. Like someone once put it, "we can fill these positions-even as a farmer but there has to be a pen always dangling from our pockets" even when you are sweating from tilling your farm.

Now the Feds are coming to run Immigration as they are better aware of who to admit into our islands and who not to (like my sister Nat likes to put it "duh"). If my body is covered with tattoo, would that mean I am Yakuza? Or, if my eyes are slanted, would that mean I'm Chinese, Japanese or Korean. We all have special characteristics from birth too. We have locals with slanted eyes (that we have termed them likely as Chinese even if they're not).

We have prostitution too just like any other part of the world but that's just another trait that's here to stay. They may be arrested, gone through the system and released just to be re-arrested again for the same crime. Some have been deported, some still remain as they are given a second chance to try and abide with the law and never to do it again. Yeah right!!!! Again, Nat would say "duh" to this. Signed by the President of the good U.S. of A, Immigration becomes controlled by the Feds as we sit back and see what happens.

PEW Monument
Whatever PEW stands for (acronym or not) I don't agree with what they are doing. Although these entire archipelago is under the U.S. by Constitution, I think they still have to consult with the residence who rely entirely on local resources like our open waters to include its contents and the land and what it holds preciously for its people to survive on. We islanders have survived on our local resources even long before SPAM (or canned goods) were ever introduced. We have our coconuts, taro patches, breadfruits and the plentiful local food we eat with our livestock that's also locally raised by individual families. So why do we need a monument for? A place were residents can't harvest crops or fish to provide for his family, let alone "no take zone". Bunch of crappy propaganda. What benefit do we get out of this?

RELOCATING THE MARINES
No problem relocating the 9,000 + Marines from Okinawa but training is another problem that will forever stay once they start. Field training includes defacing the environment as it will involve vehicles, a couple hundreds personnel at a time, beach landings, regularly scheduled live bombings on Farallon De Medenilla and now, the thought of military trainings on the island of Pagan. Those humongous malli'bong on that beautiful island will all be in for a great treat.

National Monument

Easter past and the entire family (on my wife's side) did not camp out on Mt. Tapochau as has been for the past years. My old folks left for the mainland followed by my daughter's boyfriend who left for Texas as he joined the Air Force.

Then there's the 3 day 2nd Refaluwasch Symposium held last week from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I was able to attend all the 3 days' function and one subject that I really find interesting was the monument that is suppose to be created (right here) in our very own backyard. With a stroke of the United States' President, this area (containing 3 islands-Ascuncion, Urakas and Maug) to the most northern tip of this Archipelago, will unfortunately become "a monument, a sanctuary, a not take zone" and if that's really not a mouthful, how about "a Federal takeover" of what is and has been a playground for local fishermen who go as far north looking to a good catch to bring back to their families. With a stroke of the United States' Presidents' pen (be it permanent marker or a cheap government issued pen), the 3 islands including 200 miles of the vast surrounding water around them, becomes "federalist" where locals no longer can fish-let alone, take anything-A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G and E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

PEWS says creating such a monument will bring tremendous $$$ to the CNMI that will greatly assist the local economy but has yet to identify where this is coming from or how much. That it will bring more tourist from the world all over who will in turn spend buku bucks just to go and see this monument but what is there to see other than the vast body of water surrounding these 3 islands. Are the tourists or visitors if I may, really are going to dive the deepest water in the world called the Marianas Trench, proudly wear and advertise something identifying them as "I DOVE THE MARIANAS TRENCH" or something like that.

Anyone (including you and I) can make up the same design except, maybe put a little manta'kiya on it, print it up on the back of a thousand or so t-shirts and sell them to our visitors who either come out here to snorkel or dive the local dive spots as they too will be considered to have dived the same Marianas Trench. Heck, our islands are close enough to the trench-that qualifies one to wear such an apparel already.

Personally, I think PEWS should seriously look at the 2 bomb pits on Tinian and work on having it declared a National Monument. These served a great deal during WWII which eventually brought the war to an end. Concentrate on giving these locations a major face lift to include the old runways (that can be utilized by the anticipated military build-up) remodel or rebuild the old Japanese communication facilities and bunkers and once included in the list of National Monuments, people all over will start coming. Now that's worth calling a monument, something that can be easily visited by plenty and not just by a handful of visitors.

Leave the 3 most northern islands alone! Don't even think of them and their surroundings as a National Monument because they're not. They're our islands and our livelihood.

Bad Liars

My brother-in-law's truck ran into a problem as it was parked outside a gas station for gas. I'll just go ahead and call him "John One" as I'll be writing also about my other brother-in-law John whom I'll call "John Two".

John Two (the family Grease Monkey) came to my house the other night and so we decided to check John One to see what we should do with his problematic truck. We drove (his truck) down to Arabwal where we found and informed him that we needed his assistance pretty badly. We had parked his truck out of sight where John Two and I thought John One won't find it. He asked us "why" and we simply informed him we ran into the guardrails heading down from Capitol Hill.

John One just excused himself and went off into the dark and boy-did we really mess up. John One walked towards where we had parked his truck and-yeah, he saw it because he really shouted back towards our direction "YOU LIARS". As the saying goes "Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine". We thought he walked into the dark to relieve himself but boy-did we think wrong, the "Local Marine" conducted his recon and found his parked truck. So okay, the Grease Monkey and I make bad liars. Now the truck is really parked for good as it won't even bother to run.

VerveEarth

I was checking my email the other day when I came across this

TIKK,Your blog ISLAND IN BLUE caught our attention. I'm the CEO of a recently launched startup for bloggers. We are searching the internet for the world's best blogs by geography, and we found yours for the Northern Mariana Islands. I would like to invite you to our site which plots the content of the internet on an interactive map of the world. VerveEarth is an entirely new way to surf the net. It shows spatial and geographic connections that a blog search engine could never reveal. The site is http://www.verveearth.com/. Once on board, you can easily claim your blog a place in the VerveEarth world. The site is free to use and a way to drive new traffic to your blog. If our vision resonates with you, please give us a mention or add our widget to your blog. Please see our FAQ for any questions, and I welcome your feedback. http://www.verveearth.com/ Kind Regards,ClaytonCEO VerveEarth.comEmail clayton@verveearth.com,

I just said "what the heck", give it a try so I registered and out came what appeared to be a world map (somewhat like "Google Earth") that enables one to browse around to every location in the world. It seems though that this site is a bid slow in terms of who has registered as indicated by the few registered sites showing but that I think will change in a few once more people registers and gives it a try.

Well Mr. CEO of verveearth, I may have not written to you about the site but thanks for reading.

Other than that, I'm bored and Devin is not around to give me a headache. I have no beer and I'm tired from whacking the darn grass that had grown around the house. Just had to do it or else my little Devin will be using it as a hiding place from me. Did I say "I have no beer". Where's the rubbing alcohol?

Da Pagan@venture

First leg
The trip north last week was as calm as can be. The water was great as our path north was smooth as we took our travel time at 9 knots. We had arranged our "watch" hours from the start of our leg north until our destination-Pagan, but we had cargo too-to off load in Alamagan.

It was midnight into our trip when I was awaken for my watch which ended within sight of Guguan around 4:00 a.m. I woke up the next watch, when to sleep for a few and before I knew it, we were fast approaching Alamagan. There were cargo to off load there but the task was much easier when Ben Santos came out with one of his brothers on a motor boat to meet up with our ship. A couple of cargo were off loaded into their boat and in less than an hour, we were off on our way to Pagan which was about 3 hours away.

Pagan-finally
Upon arriving Pagan, Sid and his young brother Sandy also came out on their motor boat where we also off loaded some supplies. Sid decided to tag along on the ship as we were to do some trolling around the island. Some won't believe it but the trolling catch there are monstrous in size. Talk about yellow fin/ white tuna and wahoo which were the most catch. Deep bottom launched us Onaga, yellow and black Pakapaka, Gindai and some Karikari. These were all pretty good fish (especially in the pots and pans).

Night dive
I became the boatman for the divers that night. The moon was a bit high for night diving so we had to wait it out until it sets around 7:30. With the tide just beginning to rise as I dropped off the divers, the swells were also getting bigger but I had to stay the whole time with them as I wait for them to land their catches in the boat.

D @venture
I went inland the next morning as Sid Pagan had requested that I assist his brother Sandy slaughter some cows to take back to Saipan. Sandy and I wasted no time in executing this task. We hopped onto his old but operable A.T.V. and off we went to the foot of the volcano where about 50-60 cattle were spotted but once they took scent of our presence, off they go stampeding on a southerly direction. We took off after them (on foot) but they had a better start than we did.

Da calf trail
Sandy and I took a small trail when we spotted one of Sandy's dogs running about behind us. With no hesitation, Sandy just grabbed the dog behind its neck and started slapping it like silly but I guess that's how he trains them to behave better as they all do-except for this naughty one. We continued on the small trail as Sandy leads the way when something white came pass me from the right that I thought the dog came back but hell no. It was a calf that kept trotting in front of me towards Sandy's direction so I gave Sandy a light whistle. He turned, grabbed the calf and up onto his shoulders as he continues. Sandy had to tie the poor animal to a small branch as we came to a ravine. We continued searching for the herd but couldn't locate them as Sandy told me they had probably gotten down to "the lake".

We decided to go further south but first, we must advice the others who were still waiting down at the village of our intention. We did just that but Sid Castro decided that Sandy hang back and prepare whatever cargo that was going out to the ship as he will lead the trail with me. Francis (one of our shipmates) decided to tag along so off we went. Up and down the hill we went. This is not to say I had a "flashback" but this trail somewhat reminded me of the jungles of Panama except with the absence of rain.

Da flat
We took a few wild game trails up the hill and upon coming up the flat were both east and west coasts reviewed a spectacular view-and a more promising view to the south flat with numerous spectacles of cattle, Sid only informs me "shoot first, ask questions later" I jokingly asked "who will I ask questions if I should you first" only to come back with "la'nao Frang". I pointed into the direction of a hill on the south-east and informed Sid "that's our fire direction" as he acknowledged.

We slowly made our way closer toward the cattle. Two loners to our left while the rest of the herd grazed on the right, still about a couple of meters but I wanted a sure shot so I moved closer not knowing my two companions had stop several few meters behind me. I guess the two loners to my right picked up my presence as they first took off running followed by the rest. I jumped to my feet, aimed but had their behinds towards me as they trotted away from me. Kept my aim on no particular head but as they all had no other way to run but back towards my direction, I just fired into the group as I wasn't about to become a victim of a stampeding herd. Fired three shots as they started running off down hill to my right.

O2 needed
I had not seen Sid and Francis behind me or anywhere in the direction where the herd was now headed so I ceased firing-fearing I might hit them. Just then I started hearing shots fired as the herd came pass them both. I aimed again (at no particular target) but into the running herd, fired several shots and started running downhill after them. I stopped a few meters from where I had started running, took aim at a bull behind the herd, fired a few more shots as I saw it started coming to a walk. Gave aim at another, fired and on the ground it went crashing. All the while Sid was also shooting into the same direction. I just didn't know which target he was aiming at but into the herd.

I started running down the hill again after the trotting bull which had now stopped under some trees obviously injured but still standing. I had ran out of ammo (you stupid *uck) and called up towards Sid who was still in his previous choice of firing position. He and Francis came down running to where I had chose to catch my breath-flat on my ass.

"Da thing"
"Hafa" Sid asked as I was still sitting breathless pointing into the helpless bulls direction. Sid attempted to get closer but the bull started walking off away from sight. I just watched as Francis and Sid proceeded towards the direction of the cow, Sid taking aim, gave it a single shot and I asked Francis, "is it dead" and only replied "no". Sid took another aimed, shot again and came the same question from me "is it dead" with the same reply from Francis "no". I only looked at Sid who was taking another aim "lania Sid ti Waake enow" as he took another shot and turned "yeah, ti waake nay na gaaga".

Sid headed back to the village to get the rest of the party and after 30 minutes was back to our location with the slaughtering cavalry who had also managed to bring along with them a wild boar which had been attacked by the accompanying dogs. Cutting up the 3 cows was easy but the travel back with the meat to the village was something else we had to decide how to best handle without killing ourselves.

Change of Plan
Sid decided the fastest way to get the meat on the boat was take it down towards a place they called "the Chapel" which was nothing but a formation of rocks on the east coast. It was all down hill and less distance than back tracking it back to the village. Besides, it was getting dark that even the silhouettes of the fruit bats were out flying above us.

Plan "B"
Sandy was to go back with K.C. to the village, take all the cargo out to the ship and have the ship brought to the back side of Pagan. With little time to work with, plan "B" was activated. All the meat was brought down to the beach on the east coast of Pagan. The problem we now faced as we arrived on the beach was something else to take into consideration. The tide had just started rising and the waves bigger than expected. The small channel we had planned on bringing in the small boat was almost impossible to use.

We collected the plentiful coconut husks on the beach, built ourselves two fires and sat beside them as we considered other options. Julius informed us it was a bit risky to use the small channel we had thought off using to transport our cargo of raw meat. Got our heads together as we observed the ship slowly approaching our way and decided against "Plan B". Besides, the small boat operator was turned back to the mother ship as we didn't want to risk bringing it in with the current condition-dark and pounding waves.

Plan "C"
There's was no Plan "C" until now. We're all speaking vernacular and felt sorry for our other hunting buddy who did not understand shit of what we spoke off so we had to make him understand that we were to stay on the beach and make a break for the channel come first light. We're hungry and John jokingly suggested we roast one of the hind legs for dinner. Arlin had separated some soft part of the meat in a separate plastic bag of which he brought out. "Sirloin" he said and out came some of Sandy's "escape supplies" stashed right there on the beach. Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Black Pepper and believe me not, aluminum foil and tomato ketchup that was among a few from his supply. This really wasn't survival style but rather a sumptuous dinner for us on the beach.

Bunked up
Everyone started getting comfy on their own piece of huge lava rock-make shift bed. Julius gathered dried coconut fronds which he lay on. I did the same except, the spot I had chose later became infested with ants. It's around 3:30 a.m. and couldn't hack the ants anymore so I collected more coconut husk, built two more fires (only these were much bigger) and lit up the entire camp. Everyone else started getting up and either chew or light up a smoke complaining why I had to built those brightly large bodies of fire.

Just as we could now clearly see the channel at first light, K.C. comes speeding into the channel with the small motor boat. We loaded the meat and our equipment and off we went to the mother ship only to explain to the Captain of how we came about with "Plan C". The rest from there on was back to catching more fish. Anyhow, I was surprised to see the stray calf on the ship.

Going, going, gone North

Dawn on Pagan's east coast where the boys call it "JURASSIC PARK" for its ghostly rock formation.

The village of Pagan in the foreground right above the water level. Note the rising smoke from the top of the "Buutkaan".
Sid & Sandy "Paganese" Castro-out to meet the boys on the ship. Sandy is the real McCoy with four consecutive years residency under his belt. He speaks so many dialects that he can communicate with the silos, the sibwa, waake and many other creatures including his best dog buddies on Pagan whom I can only name a few such as Buutkaan, Boboy, Na-ture and Soba. He can also speak to the abundant fishes and other sea living creatures too.

The Santos Boys of Alamagan loading Saipan bound cargo "da NAVY SEALS style". Surfs' a bid rough that loading was impossible from the regular loading/off loading landing beach.
All attempts taken...to keep goods dry-but how with the every rising surf? No problemo!!! ALAMAGAN SEALS at work.
Flores na Gindai on da lines off the south-east coast of Alamagan.
Be it Onaga or White Tuna. Francis and Ton can catch them free-diving with a pair of goggles using a single empty bottle of Soju full of air down to a mare 200 meters deep of water. The thing about it though is, they have to dive bare butt naked or the fish don't come to them.
Just one of the many gigantic Wahoos that just come flying onto the ship without using a single line or hook. They just come landing on the deck for no apparent reason but probably thinking "please take me home and fry me".

Francis with one of the PRIZE CATCHES.

Joe "Ay Baybay" Manalo just wants to jump ship and swim ashore onto Alamagan already.

If the pictures aren't so interesting for some, then maybe the following anecdote will be...

Joe "Ay Baybay" and Ton "Suicidal"-each have a farm worker. One day they decided to get together and have a bar-b-q when Joe Ay Baybay said "you know what par? I think my farmer is a bid slow with communication" Ton Suicidal goes "why do you say that par" and Joe Ay Baybay replies "wait" and calls on his worker "Peppito", Peppito (his worker) comes running "yes boss". Joe Ay Baybay took out a dollar bill and says "take this dollar bill, run to the store and get us ten cases of beer, "yes boss" replies Peppito as he runs off to the store.

Ton Suicidal turns to Joe Ay Baybay and says "you think your worker is slow, wait and see what my worker can do". He calls on his worker "Carlito" and Carlito comes running, "yes boss". Ton Suicidal tells him "run to my house, see if I'm there. If I'm not there, call me on my cell phone". "Yes boss" replies Carlito as he also runs off on this errand given by boss Ton.

Along the way, Peppito and Carlito met when Carlito asked "ay parre, wherr yu go'n". Peppito replied "parre, I tink my boss is crazy. He tell me to go to da store to buy ten case of beer with dis wan dolla, but how am gone to carry ten case of beer"

"Ai parre" goes Carlito "you think yo boss is crazy. My boss is plenty more crazy" "Why parre" asked Peppito. Carlito continued "he tell me to run to his house, check if he's der and if he's not der, I call him on his cell phone-but I don know his cell phone number".

COURT DEMEANORS

The defendant was called up to the podium by the Honorable Judge to answer to his case.

Judge:
Mr. Castro. There appears to be a major problem here. Although the court has ordered you to pay $200. alimony, there is no record indicating you had lived up to this order. Can you explain yourself?

Mr. Castro:
"My honor" (giggle from audience) I have been searching for a job since my last appearance here in court but I still haven't found one.

Judge:
Then can you see if family members can spare you this amount to pay?

Mr. Castro:
"My honor" I come from a poor family and none of my family members or relatives are able to spare me that much.

Judge:
Then Mr. Castro, I will give you up to two weeks to find some money and pay this obligation. Do you understand?

Mr. Castro:
Yes "my honor" (more giggle)

Judge:
Okay, next case on the calender...

Mr. Castro:
"My honor"

Judge:
Yes Mr. Castro. You have a question?

Mr. Castro:
Can I borrow two hundred dollars? (laughter breaks out in court)

NEW-B SHERIFF

As the world becomes more modernized, people are more curious than "George". There's this newly hired Deputy Marshall for the court. He is issued everything including an electronic access card of which he decided to give it a test as to which doors it will open and which it would not. Almost all doors opened except for one! The handheld radio came in handie later.

NEW-B
Control, Delta 5.

CONTROL
Go ahead Delta 5.

NEW-B
Can we meet?

CONTROL
What's your location?

NEW-B
(silence)

CONTROL
What's your location Delta 5?

NEW-B
(still no response)

CONTROL
(panning the surveillance camera but could not locate Delta 5 and after awhile called Delta 5)

Delta 5, what is your location?

(just then, CONTROL detected movement on the surveillance camera. Control zoomed in on the movement and observed Delta 5 with his cheek pressed on the glass of the locked holding cell)

Delta 5 Control...

NEW-B
Relay

CONTROL
Smile for the camera

The moral of this incident. "Don't be too curious"

Northern Islands

Before I proceed on, I would like to say HAPPY NEW YEAR and may 2008 lead us into a more suitable life-style.

It was on a Father's Day weekend (about 6 years ago) when I first went with my cousins Pete & Joe on board Pete's boat to Farallon De Medinilla. My youngest sister was running for the July 4th Queen and we had erected a fundraising booth near the Civic Center basket court. I was almost always present during its operation as I was counted on by family members to keep peace at the area. Come Friday before Father's Day weekend, my brothers and I were enjoying at the booth but come closing time, Joe came (basically) dragging me off our table-telling me we were to get ready for a fishing trip north with Pete.

With my head still pounding from our previous drinking session, I told my wife to drop me off at Pete's house where we were to meet prior to our departure. Upon arrival at around 2:00 a.m., I found Joe but Pete was nowhere around until I learned later that he was still keeping warm and cozy in the warmth of his bedroom. "It pays to be a Captain".

We finally lounged the boat around 4:30 a.m. out of the Marina but prior to that, Pete had managed to stop by Winchell's in Garapan where we bought a dozen donuts and each with a large cup of clam chowder soup-I had two.

The ride up north was smooth (the water was somewhat paved north by the good employees of the Department of Public Works) and I was already working on my second cup of clam chowder. Around 8:30 or 9:00 that morning, Pete brought the boat to a stop and informed us to prepare to "drop". I go "drop...you crazy...drop in this bottomless water" Pete chuckled, Joe started laughing "brod, get ready to drop our lines".

In the distance we can already see Farallon De Medinilla or Mendeniza as we all call it but still seems a speck over the horizon. I looked towards Pete's direction in the open cabin and saw him working the G.P.S. and depth finder. He's our Captain and so we obey what he tells us. "Drop" and so we did and as soon as the sinker hits home, our reels started vibrating that by the time we reeled them back up, "flores, flores" they were filled with bottom fish, Paka Paka, Gindai, Mafutti and other species that I've forgotten their names but they were still delicious fish to fry in the pan or "lechi'n niyok" (that's soup in coconut milk for the non-Carolingual).

While fishing this spot, we'd see a bunch of birds flying in groups (schools) in every direction. Joe goes "Pete, there's school everywhere. Aren't we going after them". Pete only responded "we didn't come for tuna, we came for the bottom fish" and so we continued until about 4:00 that afternoon when we started heading towards Mendeniza. On our way in Pete told us to let our trolling lines out to catch "2 pieces" tuna for dinner. We did and I got carried away because the school of tuna we were in had come up to the surface right next to the boat while it was still running. With Pete at the wheel, me on the line (on the fourth of fifth tuna), Joe was on the video camera taking a few short shots of what was occurring at the time. Just then the boat was on full throttle or so I thought. The lure at the end of my line was like someone skiing behind us when I shouted towards our Captain "SLOW DOWN" only to be shouted back at "I SAID ONLY 2"

We moored next to the island admiring what damage the military had done during their strafing exercises. They had what appeared to be 40 feet cargo containers on the rocks ridge and broken vehicles lining up towards these containers. These are what I think they use as their "fly by" targets. The native birds are still around-only their population has somewhat lessen by the numerous military activities scheduled now and then.

Anyhow, we anchored, fried some of our bottom catch, sashimi the tuna and out came the rice and beer. The rice was half touched as all our prepared fish for dinner was almost gone as chaser. From time to time, we'd hear something hit the side of our boat and were wondering what it could be. Pete came out with a spot light and as he shines it down the side of the boat, baby sharks were all around. They're either blind and dumb for hitting the side of the boat or they were mischievous ones trying to scare us.

Come first light in the morning, Joe and I were pulling up our anchor but it was wedged between an opening on the sea floor. It can be seen clearly from the boat but I was not about to volunteer a dive for it. "Can you open the back compartment and see if you can find the mask and fins in there" Joe looked, found them and was told by Pete "go and release the anchor", "failaar olomwoo, nge pael kewe". That just saved us from diving. Pete chuckled, got the mask and fins and off he goes freeing us from our situation.

We did a little trolling from the west side of the island heading north, came around the back and moved further east-away from land. We downed our lines again, caught more bottom fish which was now filling up our fourth or fifth 100 or so pounds coolers. Around noon, Mr. Ben Sablan's boat "The Proa" passed by us with their loud local music playing on board. There were plenty passengers on board as we could clearly observe them having a hell of a time with their can of beers waving our direction. Their boat turned towards the direction of Anatahan and disappeared from sight.

Around 2:00 p.m. Pete directed Joe and I to secure our full coolers. We headed back home and upon arrival at Pete's house, vehicles were lined up along the road and parking area. Almost every fish caught on this trip was gone as customers bought by the bulk. Joe & I cleaned the boat, secured our equipment and end up with 10 pounds each of bottom fish plus $200 pocket money given to us by Pete.

All in all, our fishing trip was so much a success that I would trade a drinking session for another.

BLUE MARLIN I

I've recently gone on three different fishing trips on board the BLUE MARLIN I with 8 other crew members. The trip north is a bid slower than my first with Pete and Joe but still worth it. Several fishing spots have been marked on the G.P.S. equipped on the BLUE MARLIN I. The Fish Master ("Ay Baybay" Joe Manalo) decided on going to one marked "#4" which is further north and almost directly east of Sariguan. The catch there is good but not the big swells we get there.

We moved to #7 and caught big size Sass (don't ask me what its called in English). We moved to #10 and up comes Skip Jacks or "Skebbe Jacks" as we call them and large size mafutti (which are known as "Mafu-three" if you catch 3, Mafu-four if there's 4 and so on but when ones entire line is "flores", it is referred to as "Mafu-force 'that one I like".

I wouldn't say we are all experience deck hands but for the sake of it, the older or original members of this fishing boat are well assigned task. Felix is the boat's cook. He has a stash of can goods, a couple dozens fresh eggs (which are not layed on the ship but rather bought in stores) Ramen, "ingrediments" and vegetables. He cooks breakfast which will last until it's all gone. If he over estimates measurement for consumption, what you have for breakfast, you'll have it again for lunch and if he cooks lunch with plenty left-over, you have the same for dinner.

One evening he made a whole pot of fried rice (that can feed a dozen mouths) for dinner. The problem was, not everyone wanted fried rice for "dindin". Come the next morning, Felix went off with John (our Chief Engineer) on the smaller boat to try trolling before the sun comes up. I decided to cook breakfast and took initiative in doing so. Looked into his stash and found cans of spam, the eggs and other can goods. The pot of rice from dinner was still more than half full.

I first heated up water for coffee and invited everyone to a cup while I decided to scrounge for that particular mornings menu. I had my kompairi'n Ton crack the eggs while I started slicing up the spam for frying. First came the sauteing of the onions, poured the whole 2 dozen eggs into the pot and presto, instant scrambled eggs. Then came the thick slices of spam. Fried them too and was done. Someone ask for rice and I offered the pot more than half full from previous night. We ate, had coffee and told stories from previous day while we wait for Felix and John to return. They finally came, ate and had no time to tell stories but back to the days business but by the time they finished their breakfast, Felix complimented on whoever had cooked as all the prepared food that morning was good and gone with everyone on a full stomach.

By the 3rd day of this trip, all coolers on board were full and so the Fish Master rested while we (Henry, John, kompairi and I) celebrated in the back drinking Soju.

FOR LAUGHS

Felix's turn came to cook breakfast one morning. He cracks the eggs (scramble style), diced the spam and saute the onions prior to dropping in the dice spam. Everyone in the back of the ship (where Felix's kitchen is located) sipping coffee and waiting for breakfast. While waiting, we watch the diligent cook prepare his stuff. The spam had been sizzling with the onion in the pot for a few minutes but once Felix started pouring the egg in and like an innocent little boys voice came "I don't wanna eat egg with SPAM" from kompairi. "Why didn't you say that before I poured the egg in" and everyone breaks out laughing.