Kaselehlie!

Homeless Squirrels

2011-08-18T11:29:00.002-04:00

I had a tree cut down in my yard on Tuesday. In the tree was a nest with these three baby squirrels:

The squirrels have been taken to a shelter for homeless wildlife.

What a Difference a Day Makes

2011-08-16T19:11:00.001-04:00

This was my house this morning:

This is my house tonight:

The Mayor Visits the Neighborhood

2011-08-10T16:55:00.002-04:00

The Mayor came around yesterday to open up a new bridge on my street.

She stands, preparing to talk:

She checks her hair in preparation of standing behind the podium:

She speaks in the middle of the road. Do not pass!

She cuts the ribbon. Why does she have the little scissors?

Looking Down on Things

2011-07-26T20:54:00.002-04:00

We flew over these islands on our journey across the Pacific.

It amazes me when we fly over these tiny dots after hours in the sky. People spend their days, weeks and lives down there.

This was the smallest and most isolated island of all. Maybe there's a little kid looking up at us with as much wonder as I look down on them.

Ruins

2011-07-26T00:45:00.002-04:00

Standing in the ruins of the Catholic Church that was destroyed in World War II:

This is an entrance in the wall that the Spanish built more than a hundred years ago to protect them from the violence of the Pohnpei Islanders:

This stairway has been taken over by a very slowly descending tree:

Once there was a bookmobile run by the library. It's not doing so well anymore:

Nature Shots

2011-07-24T20:41:00.002-04:00

A rock formation in the southern part of the island:

Looking up into the branches of a rain tree:

A butterfly on a palm frond:

Traveling across the Mighty Pacific

2011-07-23T23:12:00.003-04:00

First stop: a few hours in Hawai'i.

Stop two: Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands

Third stop: Pohnpei

Camden Yards

2011-05-05T19:44:00.000-04:00

Me conducting my school choir at Camden Yards!

Waxing Poetic

2011-03-01T19:02:00.002-05:00

I pass by the wax museum on my bike twice every day - to and from work. Nevertheless, I haven't been there since 1998. On my way home from work today, I stopped in and walked through.

Here I am with Eubie Blake and Billie Holiday!

I was the only person there, and it is SPOOKY to be alone in a wax museum. Good think I had Barack to protect me.

Howard Street Bridge II

2011-02-28T19:22:00.001-05:00

Howard Street Bridge

2011-02-18T16:47:00.000-05:00

Snow-verreaction 2011!

2011-01-27T11:37:00.002-05:00

Last night I shoveled in the dark in a snowy thunderstorm. That was a strange sensation, and lightning is a strange color in the snow. But this morning I didn't have as much to shovel in front of my house.

So when I was done shoveling I went cross country skiing along the Herring Run River.

The haunted house in the winter:

From the other side of the river I took this picture across the fields. The white house in the center with two windows is my house.

Downtown Baltimore

2010-12-06T17:39:00.002-05:00

These pics were taken from my classroom window this afternoon:

The Upper Right Hand Corner or Baltimore

2010-11-29T19:00:00.004-05:00

I rode my bike to the bank today, so I made a detour through Double Rock Park.

Me in front of a bumpy tree:

I found an abandoned basement foundation:

Me in the woods:

The entrance to the park even celebrated the fact that I was there:

DMC Does the Ottobar

2010-11-28T20:58:00.002-05:00

Last night the Dan Meyer Choir performed for the Baltimore Beauty Pageant at the Ottobar, singing "The Baltimore Municipal Anthem" and "Rog, Betty & Tarzan."

Here is the stage on which we performed:

Sitting on the throne (a gold toilet) is Trixie Little, the host, and her sidekick Mr. Gorgeous.

An Autumn Tree

2010-11-22T18:28:00.000-05:00

Self Portrait on Washington Street

2010-11-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

Things I Saw on Yesterday's Bike Ride

2010-10-24T07:32:00.003-04:00

Horses:

Mysterious train tunnels:

A Moorish Tower with the city skyline in the distance, and even a purple ghost that appeared in the foreground:

Isn't this sign a double negative? It seems to be saying that not riding a motorcycle is prohibited.

A burned out house on 33rd Street:

An airplane landing:

The sun setting over Lake Montebello:

Yeah, that was a nice ride.

Hiking at Gunpowder Falls State Park

2010-10-02T18:27:00.000-04:00

Chew on This

2010-09-13T18:47:00.002-04:00

A little ways down from my school is this old building. It dates back to the days that they used to carve street names on the sides of buildings. It's sorta hard to see, but apparently, Ashland Avenue used to be called Chew Street. Ha!

The Dizz

2010-09-12T15:23:00.002-04:00

Today for lunch I went to check out the new "Dizz" on the fifteenth floor of a building in Roland Park. Does that building have a name? I suppose it must, but I don't know what it is.

We sat on the north side of the building so we were looking away from the city. It didn't matter though, since it was so rainy you couldn't see very far anyways.

But what a great place to eat! Fantastic location, down-to-earth food, affordable, spectacular views and friendly folks. I can't wait to take Rohaizad there!

Johns Hopkins Mansion

2010-09-06T16:58:00.002-04:00

Behind my house there is a park. Behind the park there is a neighborhood. Behind that neighborhood is the old Johns Hopkins estate.

You would think that after all that Johns did for Baltimore, we would keep his old mansion looking ship shape, but instead it looks like a perfect run down haunted house.

Bike Ride

2010-09-04T17:11:00.002-04:00

This morning I rode my bike to Fort McHenry. I sat around for about an hour reading a book. Here's the view when I looked up (that's the Key Bridge, by the way):

I wasn't allowed to bring my bicycle into the park grounds, so after I was done reading I strolled around the park and enjoyed the breezes, the history and the sculptures:

Then I rode around the harbor for lunch in Fells Point before riding back home. While riding home, I cut through Clifton Park. I love this spooky old building. The floor inside looks like old Roman baths. Weird.

And I saw another statue in Clifton Park. I think he's trying to see the other statue's butt:

A Little Wednesday Afternoon Music

2010-08-19T12:09:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I went to New York City to see Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters perform in "A Little Night Music."

I took the train because there is nothing more beautiful than emerging from the dark tunnel to the glamour and glitz of Manhattan!

Unfortunately, things have become so commercial that even organized crime is advertising:

We chugged into Penn Station:

I saw the show, they sent in the clowns and I went home.

Here is the sunset on the train home:

Michigan Flora

2010-08-18T07:13:00.001-04:00

Having recently returned from Michigan, here are some photos I took of interesting plants that grow in that pleasant peninsula:

I believe these are Chihuly plants.

Grave Markers and What They Mean to Me

2010-08-05T19:38:00.002-04:00

Eternal cuddling:

Avoiding the paparazzi through all time:

Forever morose:

I am SO jealous of D.S. Wilson!

They've carved my tombstone in advance:

Stroll through Greenmount

2010-08-05T09:16:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I went for a hike through Greenmount and ran into some familiar names.

Robert McLane is the mayor that inspired my song "Bang!"

Elizabeth Patterson was the inspiration for my song "The Carefully Broken Heart".

We should all strive to be half the man that Johnny Eck was, but there wouldn't be much left of us.

Thanks for the books, Enoch!

Thanks for the hospital and the university, Johns!

Thanks for nothing, John Wilkes!

An Artistic Streak

2010-08-01T18:29:00.002-04:00

Here come some random photos taken in Micronesia.

I imagine that this church was designed by an avante guard architect.

Sokehs Rock stands as a symbol of the beauty and grandeur of Pohnpei, but if you go hike behind it, you will see that they are strip mining the mountain.

Rohaizad was making banana bread using several different types of bananas. He asked me to stir them. I thought it turned out quite beautiful, and the bread tasted good too.

A pickup being LITERALLY swallowed by the jungle. Watch where you park.

A Stop at PATS

2010-07-30T20:37:00.002-04:00

One of the saddest events for education, the economy and the future of Micronesia was the closing of the Pohnpei Agriculture and Trade School a few years back. A week and a half ago, we drove around the island and stopped at their abandoned campus in Madolenihmw to walk around:

This is the Catholic chapel, the nicest church building I've seen on island!

Can you imagine attending a school with this view?

Down in the aquaculture building they are still working to make aquaculture part of the economy. Here are some clams growing in a tank where they will remain safe, uneaten and amazingly beautiful:

And some sponges:

Random Pics from the Island

2010-07-29T16:48:00.002-04:00

Rainy shipwrecks in Sokehs Bay:

Every morning at 10:30am, a UFO flew over our apartment. It's hard to see, but here's the best picture I could get of it:

The new building at the College has a bathroom that is perpetually locked. Someone apparently was upset about it, but didn't have the patience to get to the word "door":

Every Saturday morning we heard a constant chorus of "CAR WASH!" from the parking lot across the street from our apartment. Here's one of the little imps who engrained those words into our minds:

Just Another Evening

2010-07-26T19:00:00.002-04:00

I could've posted tons more pictures, because we spent almost every evening this summer sitting on the back patio sipping tea while the sun set. Here are just a few of the views we enjoyed:

Home Again

2010-07-25T19:51:00.003-04:00

I forgot to bring the cable to download pictures during my stay in Pohnpei for the last few weeks. Now that I'm back home, I can finally post my pictures.

Let's start with some animals.

Here is a fish that was eaten by me. Well, not just me, other people had some, too. Here he is giving us the silent cry for help. It was given in vain.

Behind the market where we purchased our fruits, vegetables and fish, we found this turtle lying in a very uncomfortable position. The disturbing thing about seeing this is that he was STILL ALIVE!!! Poor thing.

We spent several evenings at the theater. Here we are watching "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Corpus Christi Feast Day

2010-06-05T21:06:00.001-04:00

Sitting in the balcony during rehearsal.

Mosaic of the first Catholic mass in Maryland. The Native Americans apparently LOVED it!

Upward gazing angel.

It happened, I know, for I was there

2010-05-03T18:33:00.002-04:00

Jan and I set off on a road trip to Hanover this morning. We saw lakes!

We saw houses!

We saw trucks with slightly naughty words on their mudflaps!

And cannons, of course. You can't have a road trip without cannons.

At last, our destination. We crammed Jan's car with tons of free choral music. What a buzz! We celebrated our haul at Lucky's Cafe in beautiful downtown Hanover, then returned home triumphantly.

My classroom now has an enormous heap of choral music. Anyone feel like filing?

Too bright! It burns!

2010-04-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

How could flowers like this appear in my backyard?

Trashed

2010-04-14T17:55:00.002-04:00

During the blizzards in February, the plows were dumping the snow anywhere they could: fields, parking lots and into the harbor.

A lot of litter tagged along for the ride, and when the snow melted the trash was left behind.

Camoflage in the Suburbs

2010-04-10T12:49:00.001-04:00

No one can tell that this "tree" is actually a cell phone tower. The fake green leaves make it look so pleasant!

K-pow!

2010-04-05T07:59:00.001-04:00

Boom!

Whammo!

Powwy!

Blam!

Before the Vigil

2010-04-03T15:49:00.000-04:00

Good Friday - Corpus Christi

2010-04-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

Something to Make Me Smile

2010-03-03T21:36:00.001-05:00

This picture is about three years old (Wow!). It was taken in a little village in the middle of the jungle. I have no idea why Rohaizad is pretending to lecture nor why that little boy is paying such rapt attention, but it never fails to make me smile. Therefore I am posting it again.

Up from the Diamonds

2010-02-21T18:49:00.003-05:00

Friday night my choir performed at the Fourteen Karat Cafe. On Fridays I'm usually too wiped out to stay up late, so I had no idea people had so much fun on Friday nights!

The cafe is in a dark basement downtown with about 20 candlelit tables and a small stage in the corner. The show began at 9:45 with a collection of 3-second film clips of people saying "let's get out of here". That was followed by a stripping contortionist accompanied by accordion.

Then we went on stage and performed "Skipping through the Mall", "Tell That to the President", "As Soon as I Get Home" and "You've Just Met Gary". It was the best audience we ever sang for; they were so into it! What kick in the pants!

On the opposite side of the spectrum, this afternoon I went to the Rite of Election at the Cathedral. I love the variety in my life!

I got home in time to go running around the lake for the first time since the blizzards. There's a whole stand of evergreens that fell down in the snow, they smelled so nice, like Christmas.

DMC Performance

2010-02-19T18:08:00.001-05:00

Well, well. Hello family, friends and all ye nosy folk. My choir is singing tonight at the 14Karat Cabaret!

Can't wait!

Dumping Snow in the Harbor

2010-02-17T19:11:00.002-05:00

After our two snow storms, they've begun dumping snow into the Inner Harbor. There's a line-up of dump trucks waiting to relieve themselves into water.

The water is packed with floating snow, rising and falling with the waves.

Watching the snow slide into the water was an impressive sight.

Intermission between Snowpocalypses

2010-02-09T12:24:00.004-05:00

During this brief lull between the blizzards, it has given me time to ponder the strange behavior of Marylanders during snow storms. I'll admit that they are predicting a serious storm tonight and last weekends snow was quite heavy, as evidenced by this fallen tree:

But c'mon, it's been three days; dig out your car already! Especially if your car says, "I'm delivering flowers, be right back!"

Even the robins are in on the madness. Not only could this fellow not be bothered to migrate, he seems to be waiting in the tree in my front yard for me to shovel his nest out. Ain't happening, dude.

Grocery shopping before (or between) storms takes the cake. What's with the mad rush on milk and toilet paper? Does snow accumulation cause people to crave dairy products? Do people wipe more often during blizzards? Or perhaps they are covering their driveway with toilet paper so they can just lift the snow away instead of shoveling. I hope they are using two-ply paper.

As you can see, the shelves are looking pretty bleak. There were no eggs or butter left and the sauerkraut case was empty, too. Huh? It reminds me of being in Micronesia when the delivery boat hadn't been around for a few months.

It looks like I won't be going to work all week. I guess I'll go drink some milk.

What in the World?

2010-02-08T10:24:00.000-05:00

I found these pictures on a website. Huh? I had nothing to do with these posters, but apparently someone designed them and hung them up in Bolton Hill last November. That's MY CHOIR they're advertising!

Snow

2010-02-06T19:42:00.003-05:00

Snow? Snow snow ... snow!

Snow snow snow.

Snow snow snow, snow. Snow!

Snow snow snow snow.

Snow? Snow.

Performance Shots

2010-02-01T20:35:00.001-05:00

I've been lax about my performances for the past few months. Here is me under the marquis for The Dan Meyer Choir performance "All That & a Bag of Chips" on January 24 at the Hamilton Arts Collective.

Back in December, Roxi and I performed in the lobby of Center Stage before two Friday evening performances.

My music is all over town!

A Baltimore Blizzard

2010-01-30T18:01:00.003-05:00

Our one-inch-of-snow prediction turned into six inches so Rohaizad and I ventured out to the hill behind our house this evening with our sleds.

Here I come!

There goes Rohaizad!

It could more accurately be called plowing than sledding, 'cause we were blasted by snow while descending the hill. It kinda hurt. But it didn't hurt as much as it hurt my guts to laugh at the way Rohaizad looked at the bottom of the hill!

Winter Shots

2010-01-09T12:52:00.000-05:00

On the Road:

On the Light Rail:

Man, I'm getting so arty.

Yawn ... More Snow Pictures

2009-12-20T15:06:00.002-05:00

Everyone and their uncle is posting pictures of yesterday's snow storm. Why buck the trend? Here are pictures of my neighborhood:

BOOM!!!

2009-12-18T07:21:00.002-05:00

This is the road I walk down when when I get off the bus and am walking home.

Yesterday this is what I encountered. Whoeee!!

It was caused by a water main break.

Thanksgiving in Toronto

2009-11-29T17:14:00.002-05:00

Rohaizad and I walking the cold Canadian streets of Toronto:

A rainbow over the city:

We found a restaurant that served turkey on Thanksgiving. As a bonus we also got to overhear an intriguing conversation by three old men. Dinner AND entertainment; we are all class!

Pumpkin Decorating at School

2009-11-20T21:12:00.001-05:00

Yea for Indian Summer!

2009-11-16T20:07:00.002-05:00

Well, our long, cold winter is over and spring has arrived with all it's warmth. Earlier than usual! But I spent the day inside at work, looking at this view:

Stepping Out

2009-11-13T19:46:00.002-05:00

I love this picture of Rohaizad stepping boldly forth from the vast tomato orchards of Singapore and into the world.

And now as he is stepping out again. Yea!

Time to Cylburn

2009-11-06T17:38:00.002-05:00

Only a half-day of work today. So I bolted out the door at closing time, changed into my hiking gear and hopped the bus to Cylburn Arboretum.

The colors are past their peak. Way past their peak. But the sky was bright blue, the air was brisk, so it was still a beautiful day outside.

I was the only person I saw in the park, which was nice. But I did stumble across two deer carcasses. Well, ONE deer carcass and one unidentifyable carcass. This park is in Baltimore City, so I want to think that it was also a dead deer. Please let it be a deer.

Me & 2 of My Fave Peeps

2009-10-26T19:32:00.001-04:00

This picture is six months old, but I like it. So there.

How Glass Blocks Brought Joy to My Hum-Drum Existence

2009-10-05T14:43:00.002-04:00

I've owned this house for more than six years, but the basement windows have always been boarded up. I've had several visitors from Singapore (besides Rohaizad) and they were all afraid to go downstairs because it was so dark and dungeon-like.

Well, today as I sit here typing, I am getting glass blocks installed down there. What a life-changing experience! The dungeon is no longer a dungeon! If I wasn't such an inhibited person, I would've set up a folding chair down there and watched the workers work. Instead I just go down there every three minutes and look.

Like Shouting "Fire!" in a Crowded Theater

2009-10-04T14:11:00.002-04:00

I have the greatest classroom in the world. It's up in the corner of the fourth floor of my school and has huge windows overlooking the city skyline. When I sit at the piano working with my choirs, I can see the panoramic view.

Last Friday I was directing my choir and behind them I saw a blimp fly past. I was so startled, I shouted "Blimp!" Probably not the wisest thing to shout in a room of high school girls.

Detour to PARTY LAND!!!

2009-09-29T19:22:00.002-04:00

Okay, it was 6:30 this morning and I was riding on the Bus of the Living Dead. No one was talking. Everyone had that glazed over look.

Then the bus driver missed a turn. All she had to do is go one block and make a u-turn. But that little detour suddenly animated everyone! Everyone was talking! Everyone was laughing!

In the blink of an eye we were transformed into the PARTY BUS!!!

Celebrity Sighting

2009-09-28T20:58:00.001-04:00

I saw Marin Alsap walking out of Sasha's on Charles Street this evening.

The Dancing Fools

2009-09-26T12:23:00.002-04:00

Two weekends ago I competed in Mobtown Madness: a huge scavenger hunt across Baltimore.

Today my picture showed up on their website:

That is my team performing "A Spoonful of Sugar" on the Clifton Lake stage. They didn't even give us bonus points for including dance with our song, and yet they put our picture at the top of the webpage. BITTER!!!

Lala & the Hummer

2009-09-25T22:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I got off the bus and was walking home when my neighbor, Lala, pulled up in her black Hummer and offered me a ride home. I accepted. As we were driving she told me the Hummer's name is Mohammed.

Get Over It

2009-09-08T19:29:00.000-04:00

I invited Amy Winehouse here, but she wouldn't come.

Teaching in Hollywood

2009-09-07T09:52:00.003-04:00

I went to see the movie My One & Only last night. The film takes place in New York City, Boston and Pittsburg, but they are all filmed in Baltimore.

Several of the scenes are filmed at the Institute of Notre Dame, where I teach! So when you go, look for these scenes:

1. When Renee Zelwegger gets out of jail and has a conversation in the hallway of her apartment building, that is actually my school; filmed two floors down from my classroom. There is also another scene in that hallway with Kevin Bacon.

2. The scene where they are rehearsing Othello was filmed in the auditorium at my school.

3. We are thanked in the closing credits, too.

The Ghosts of Industry

2009-09-06T15:39:00.003-04:00

I rode my bike to church this morning, and after mass I rode the Jones Falls Trail. The Jones Falls Valley is a spooky place. It is cool and shady with a beautiful river flowing through, but among the trees are the abandoned hulks of old mills from the 19th century. Train tracks appear and disappear in the overgrowth; occasionally there is even a train on the track:

This place was obviously a huge industrial zone long ago:

I thought this curved, wooden section of this old factory looked cool:

Many factories in the 19th century had spires. I wonder why:

Abandoned factories have a lure to them. They make me want to climb over the fence and explore. I resisted the urge ... for now.

One of the Eleven Best Days of Summer

2009-09-03T19:25:00.002-04:00

I went to the Maryland State Fair today with Amy. I looooove the State Fair!

We watched a cow show. My cow didn't win, though.

We saw the governor and posed with him!

I ate a crab cake with a side of sweet corn and birth control.

I looked at the huge vegetables!

Shouldn't that be "FAIRER parking"?

Poster

2009-08-26T21:32:00.000-04:00

Hey, my choir is performing at the Enoch Pratt on September 10. Come!

49 Hours

2009-08-06T20:29:00.002-04:00

Okay, beat this. We flew out of Yap at 3:00am on Wednesday. 3:00 is the worst possible time to fly, because you can't sleep before and you can't sleep after. But here I am at the Yap International Airport with Rohaizad getting ready for the 27 hour trip to Baltimore:

Our first stop was Guam. After flying for an hour or so, the pilot said that we can't land in Guam because there are serious storms. So we diverted to Saipan. We sat in the plan in Saipan for 2 hours. Here we are enjoying sunrise in Saipan:

Finally we took off for Guam. Here we are preparing to land:

I had missed my flight to Honolulu, so they rebooked me through Tokyo. Coincidentally, Rohaizad was flying to Tokyo, too. We flew there separately, but met up at Narita Airport where we had some pasta and Japanese curry and hung out for a few hours:

After saying our farewells, Rohaizad flew off to Singapore and I took off for my flight to Dallas. After twelve hours, we landed in Dallas. I waited around for three hours for my next flight, and then they announced it was "cancelled"! The soonest plane they could get me on was the next morning. I walked the Dallas Airport like the living dead. I "slept" on the floor, almost becoming the first person to freeze to death in Dallas in August.

But even though time slows down when you are stranded, it does eventually pass, and I did get on a flight to Baltimore. I feel bad for the woman who sat next to me on that flight because I smelled like someone who had not showered in three days and my face was all scruffy too. Pretty creepy (notice that I'm NOT posting photos of that).

After fourty-nine hours I had arrived in Baltimore. I'm a survivor.

Goodbye to Yap

2009-08-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

Tonight we are leaving Yap.

Goodbye Yap!

It Finally Stopped Raining

2009-08-02T00:01:00.002-04:00

It's been such a rainy and windy week. We managed to hop in the water on Thursday, but almost got frostbite. So, when Saturday dawned sunny and bright, we packed up an went out to the beach in Maap.

Back from the beach there is this abandoned church:

A celebration of beachness:

Things on Yap

2009-07-31T00:27:00.002-04:00

Just a collection of random sights on Yap. First we have a sign painted on the wall across the street from the hospital:

That building on the left is where the Yap Campus of the College of Micronesia held summer classes. I spent many warm hours in room 2 and 4:

This is Blue Lagoon, one of the major supermarkets on the island. They used to have swiss cheese, but now the island has none:

Looking down the hill in Colonia toward the ocean and Chamorro Bay:

A Whole Lotta Flowers

2009-07-30T03:33:00.001-04:00

On Tuesday Rohaizad and I took a walk through Ruul. You can't imagine a more beautiful lane: every house had a bushes of flowers out front clamoring for attention. We took dozens of pictures, but here are just a few:

Tamilyog Trail

2009-07-26T20:55:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning we hiked the Tamilyog Trail.

The weather was perfect: cloudy, cool and breezy. Couldn't have asked for better.

Such a variety of terrain! We went from dark, cave-like rainforest to rolling hills that look like they should have flocks of sheep grazing on them (except for the pandanus trees).

The Tamilyog is partly a traditional hiking trail and partly an ancient stone pathway. Here I am walking on an old stone pathway into the jungle. Quite eerie!

After hiking almost the entire width of the island, we emerged onto the road.

Strange Signs

2009-07-23T18:02:00.001-04:00

Up past the hospital, there is a spot along the road that is filled with these mysterious signs.

I remember that these signs were here when I was here four years ago, too.

A visionary?

Lava Lava Lover

2009-07-22T18:04:00.002-04:00

The lava lavas at the hotel gift shops are priced out of this world, so yesterday after work we went up to our co-worker's house to buy some. It was a long drive up north, then down a dirt road and finally walking along a narrow path before we arrived.

Here is a partly completed lava lava:

Lava lavas are worn as skirts by the outer island women and are beautifully colored and designed. They used to be made out of coconut fibers, but now thread is used. It takes about two weeks to make one.

Here is a girl weaving a lava lava:

The Skyline of Colonia

2009-07-21T18:10:00.002-04:00

This is the Mnuw, an old boat turned into a floating restaurant. We sometimes go there for their pizza special on Friday evenings.

From the Car

2009-07-20T18:16:00.002-04:00

A few pictures taken from the car window here in Yap:

Sunday by the Ocean

2009-07-19T18:09:00.003-04:00

On Sunday we went swimming on Ma'ap and then lounged about on the beach.

A nice view from the breezy shade below the palm trees.

Memories for Sale

2009-07-16T18:05:00.003-04:00

Back in the early 1980s when I first came to Micronesia, this is the house I lived in.

The house is located in Toto in Guam. It's for sale now. If you don't know what to get me for Christmas and have 350k to spare, click here!

Even Rainy Days Have Sunsets

2009-07-15T18:18:00.001-04:00

Feel free to add an inspirational saying and hang it on your bedroom wall.

The Morning After

2009-07-14T18:16:00.000-04:00

A burnt-out mosquito coil.

Mountaintop View

2009-07-13T18:10:00.002-04:00

Looking south toward the hospital and Colonia.

In the harbor down there are three islands. One of them has the remains of O'Keefe's home.

Sunday in Gagil

2009-07-12T18:15:00.003-04:00

The beach.

A men's house.

Some enormous stone money beside the road. This guy insisted on being in the photo with me. I don't know who he is.

The Catholic Church in Gagil. I love the painting of Jesus in a thu, along with folks bringing him gifts of tuba, a lava lava, stone money and a navigational star chart.

Street Signs of Yap

2009-07-12T00:20:00.001-04:00

Flying Things

2009-07-09T18:01:00.003-04:00

The Noddy Tern: Friend of the Fisherman.

The Giant Grasshopper: Friend to No One.

This monster insect dive bombed me while I was sitting on the front porch. I've seen BIRDS smaller than he is!

Speaking of flying things, apparently the H1N1 Flu germs are flying around Yap. There are a handful of suspected cases and (I think) one confirmed case. So everyone is taking precautions: all the classrooms have hand sanitizer and all the students were given a brocure and a lecture on how to stay healthy. My favorite H1N1 moment was when I arrived at the airport back in June and was given a flowered mwar mwar by a topless girl who was wearing a face mask!

Lost Airstrip

2009-07-08T18:14:00.001-04:00

There's an old runway out in the jungle down south. It has cracks and potholes and trees have sprouted in the middle of it, but at one time airplanes landed on it.

Hibiscuses

2009-07-07T18:10:00.000-04:00

The hibiscus flower comes in many shapes and colors on Yap.

A Little Hike

2009-07-06T18:12:00.002-04:00

We took a quick hike after work last Thursday down some paths near our house.

We found an old, hidden grave.

Far in the distance we saw a ship.

How to Have a [urp] Happy Weekend

2009-07-05T18:19:00.002-04:00

We bought a bottle of tuba on Friday.

Tuba is coconut alcohol which is homemade out here. Mmm, mmm good!

The perfect thing for a Friday night.

The 4th of July

2009-07-04T23:49:00.001-04:00

We had a barbeque with some Americans at Sunset Park for Indepedance Day. Here we are jamming:

The fireworks were quiet, but impressive:

Houses on Yap

2009-07-02T18:38:00.001-04:00

Mangroves

2009-07-01T18:11:00.001-04:00

A Funny Little Boat

2009-06-30T18:26:00.004-04:00

Here's a funny little boat. Eventually it's going to be pulled out to the reef. Some guy is going to sit in it and watch out for illegal fishing.

By the way, yesterday I saw a full rainbow and it was reflected in the water, making a complete circle of rainbow. Wow, so beautiful!

Strange Things Emerging from the Ground

2009-06-29T18:29:00.003-04:00

It's like being on another planet around here sometimes.

My Birthday

2009-06-28T18:30:00.002-04:00

On Friday I spent my birthday teaching:

Then I went to Colonia to run the Olympic Day Fun Run. Well, according to their banner, it was the "Olmpic Day". I came in first place! Two years ago I also won the Olympic Day race in Kosrae, which means I have won it in half of the states. To give you a feeling for how tough the competition was, Rohaizad came in second place.

Then it was off to the Mnuw for pizza and beer. While we were there we ran into Mellyann, and old friend from Pohnpei. Small world.

Thanks for the birthday greetings, everyone!

The Caroline Voyager

2009-06-25T18:12:00.002-04:00

After work yesterday, I went down to the dock to watch the Caroline Voyager leave:

It is traveling to Ulithi so people can celebrate the ordination of a priest there - the first one in many years.

Laden with ramen, betelnut and people, the boat departs Yap:

Moonrize

2009-06-23T18:03:00.002-04:00

On Sunday we went to the beach in Maap on the northern part of Yap. We took this picture on the beach:

The first time we tried to take this picture, a dog went over and stood in front of the camera:

What I Did on the Weekend

2009-06-21T22:15:00.002-04:00

I hiked out to the wrecks of the Japanese planes from World War II out by the old airport:

I also went down south and drove along this road:

While I was down south I visited this stone money bank:

And I went to Sunset Park to watch the sunset: