BIBA Chamorritas!

Meet L T and his ladies . . . Maria, Terri, Lil and Dorothy

I've referred to them several times - so I thought you should actually see them.

I begged and pleaded for a few weeks to get this photo. They always found an excuse to not be in front of the camera.

They spoil the LT. They are his "suppliers" that contribute to David's pending membership in their many clubs: Gout, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

He broke their hearts yesterday when he informed them he really needed to take a break from RICE. They quickly came back with a solution for him . . . "Diet rice! You know, Jasmine".
I guess they'll just have to save the Calrose for the extra special occasions (because we all know they can turn anything into a special occasion)

Highly Unusual

I hate the phrase "highly unusual". It doesn't give me peace in any way. In fact, all it does is add anxiety to whatever the situation may be. It seems those two words have consistently stayed with us during our time here on Guam.

With my skin cancer, "You have a highly unusual case for this type of cancer. We're sending you to Hawaii."

With Madi's illness, "I've never seen a case of Parvovirus this bad. It's highly unusual for it to last this long."

With Pacific Pest Control, "You have a serious termite problem. It's highly unusual to have 2 different types of termite infestations."

Let me share a few tidbits I learned about the newest members of the household:

* The swarming jungle termites were using my floor for MATING PURPOSES (which is why they were all crawling instead of flying)!

I've been told I'm a great hostess - but that's just pushing my limits.

* The snap crackle pop sound we heard throughout the night were the soldier termites sending a warning to headquarters that they had been discovered. It totally creeps me out that they have the ability to "think and communicate" like that.

*The subterranean type (the maggot looking buggers) are native to Hawaii.

We have a date set for drilling and foaming Monday morning - while David's living it up in Florida.

The visit concluded with my pals at Pacific Pest Control reassuring me the pests won't bother my Bali furniture. It's highly unusual for them to invade such a hard wood as teak.

We all know our track record with highly unusual circumstances.

I'm Buggin'!

The pest company came over yesterday and basically told me I was imagining it being so bad.

I was reminded that our house has been "completely treated twice in the last year and it would be next to impossible for us to have jungle termites living in the walls". The guy insisted I must have let them in with me when we came home from the beach. So I signed the paper with his instructions on how to keep the flying termites outside.

So now being grumpy and questioning my own mental status - I ventured out to find those buggers!

By 4:00 I hit pay dirt! (more like sawdust really) I found crumbling walls and shelves with termites hard at work inside. Subterranean - type.

Of course - by then it was too late in the day for anyone to care. We're scheduled for first thing tomorrow.

I was pooped from my bug hunt and hadn't made any dinner - so we ate at Ruby Tuesday's. When we got home we were all scared to go in and find how the floor would look - but it stayed clear all night.
It was interesting though - when the air is off and the house is all quiet you can hear the walls being munched away. Kind of like the snap crackle pop of rice krispies.

Swarming Season

You know of Guam's rainy season. You've heard of the dry season. Let me introduce you to swarming season. Jungle Termites!

After a delicious dinner of grilled veggie sandwiches, we decided to fit in a quick dip at Gab Gab as the sun went down.

It was picturesque. Swimming in the Philippine sea - high tide - watching the beautiful sunset over the Pacific.

As the darkness was setting in the jungle termites decided to come out!

As soon as our bodies ascended from the water the termites were on us. We ran to the safety of the Durango swatting our bodies the whole way.

The jungle termites are drawn to any and all light sources. The summer Mandy was with us - they swarmed her reflective blond hair.

We knew from years past - leave the termites OUTSIDE! So after a shimmy and shake (to rid your clothes and hair of the buggers) you try and sneak in through the door with as little opening as possible.


So how do you prep yourself for the sight of this upon entering what you thought was the safety of our own house!

Jungle Termites EVERYWHERE - coming up under the baseboards!

It was a long night for exterminator mom. I would clear them using bug spray and good old Dyson (by myself!) just to have them back by the thousands moments later.

I'm not ready for round 2 tonight.

Prayers are requested.

Happy Father's Day

A summer dinner idea for Dede

David's favorite ladies at work have started sending home local avocados.

With them being so large and so plentiful - we were brainstorming how to use them.

The locals love to eat them in chamorro cereal (avocado, milk, sugar)

*I stand corrected . . . .chamorro ice cream.

Madi and Sam figured it could be used like this.

But we enjoy the avocados best like this!

Dinner is served!

Remember digging to China?

Mama Oreo thinks she can dig to America.

School's out for summer!

Tuesday 11:15 - school lets out for summer!

12:00 - celebratory lunch of burgers and root beer floats at Champs

1:00 - matinee of Kung Fu Panda

3:00 - plunge at the pool

6:00 - The first "I'm bored" of the season is uttered.

A sign of the time . . . .

. . . .Of the year.

It's oppressive.

When I was young - the anticipation of summer vacation was an adventure in itself.

For our little family - it brings ambiguity.

Will the kids survive their best friends moving?

Did we make the right decision to extend here a year?

Can we really spend the $$$ on visiting Utah?

Will we get new families in our tiny struggling branch?

It all weighs so heavy!

Let the mango season begin!

Mango season on the island is now in full swing.

Although the harvest may not be as plentiful as last year's, the village of Agat can still turn it into a party.

Leapin Lizards!

It happened.

A gecko plopped.

On Garrett's arm.

Unsuspecting Garrett squealed like his dad!

The unsuspecting gecko . . . . . Well I'm sure there's an abandoned tail camouflaged somewhere in my industrial carpet!