Thursday, May 29, 2008
Typhoons
So I was thinking about Typhoons today because Iceland had an earthquake of 8.1 today and look to the right of the screen and there are utube things. One of them at the top is some guy filming part of the 1993 typhoon Yuri here on Guam. He was on the beach at the time so check it out. The winds in that typhoon got up to 175 miles an hour. But apparently there was a pretty bad one in 2002. People here are not as terrified about them as everyone else who doesn't have to experience them so I figure with proper preparations and food storage and especially water storage we will survive it. So far the earthquakes we had felt barely shake the house so I trust that all the cement and steel bars they stick in the house will keep us out of harms way during the phoons (my new nickname for them).
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Venting and informing
Venting
First this is a random post which is allowed because well it my/our blog. Don't call me (you can call daniel) but don't call me before 9 in the morning my time unless you are dying, dead or on your way to Guam within 24 hours to visit. Otherwise you will be on my angry list for the next year. I am pregnant and like sleep and only seem to sleep in the early hours of the morning now (it cools down a lot then) Alexander generally wakes up and 9 so you can wake me up then but not before.
Informing
Here are some fun facts as Daniel likes to call them. They generally make you shocked or depressed but here they are. We went and did a big grocery run last night to 3 stores here is Guam and I just wanted to let you know how much some things cost here. First the crappy milk (well not the on the shelf kind) but the crappiest chilled milk which is what Bubba will willing drink is 5.79 a gallon which is not that bad. Daniel's milk (which really doesn't taste that great) is 4.70 for half a gallon and when he is lucky he gets the best milk (which still doesn't taste very good) This milk costs 5.79 a half gallon. So we spend about 30 dollars a week on milk. Ok so then we bought eggs. They are 3.70 for a dozen. Now I am bored of telling you about our grocery trip things are generally more expensive here as we all know. Our gas is at 4.49 a gallon (for the cheap stuff) There is no cheap gas station they all stay the same. The gas prices since we have been here have gone up every 2 weeks- month and each time it is about 20 cents. so by christmas we will probably be at 6 dollars a gallon. These are depressing facts but true facts. Oh and the electric is really high here. We pay about 300 a month and we live in a realtively small 3 bedroom house and don't use a dryer. However, the good news is that our water bill is about 15 dollars a month so I guess it all sort of evens out in the end. Something weird though is that our rent just went down about 80 dollars a month. This doesn't really affect us because we don't pay rent but it was weird when I went to pay rent because she told me it went down so she had to credit me for the next month. Things work a bit strangely out here. We like it here a lot but are still getting used to the way things run here.
Our thoughts on Guam
We still enjoy it here and are glad we came. We love being able to go to the beach every saturday and just relaxing there. It is something we can all do and enjoy. I like not having to drive very far to get places. Lately I haven't been driving anywhere unless I have to because I am so pregnant and somewhat uncomfortable (that was an understatement). So that really helps save on gas. Daniel enjoys the work aspect of his job and I will leave it at that.
Our new callings
We both recieved callings as soon as we got back from Utah. Daniel was called as the Gospel doctrine teacher and I was called as the 1st counselor in Young Women's. It was a bit overwhelming especially coming from Utah wards where the most responsibility we ever got in a calling was helping in the library every other week. I enjoy Daniel's lessons though. We are in Alma and he LOVES Alma so he shows a lot of passion when teaching. It is funny because Our class usually has President Hopuate who is the Area Authority (70's) over Guam and the Mariana Islands. He is usually sitting right up front and Daniel knows he is there. Last week we had the mission president in our class and Daniel likes to use the big guys as his examples to keep peoples attention so we were learning about Alma and he asked President Marshall what he would do if his sons were as bad as Alma was. And as you all know Daniel shakes, not our of nervousness but just because he does and so everyone notices and thinks he is that nervous. So the big guys always make comments when he teaches and come and tell him what an excellent job he did teaching that day. It makes me laugh because he is very nervous because of the Big guys in the branch who come to church everyweek but he is very good. I enjoy his classes he is very knowledgable in the scriptures so I am never nervous for him. So Daniel and I are very busy in our callings now which is good, we haven't been for 4 years now so its a welcomed change (well for me, Daniel says he still wants to pierce his ear and wear purple shirts to church). He is especially nervous because they are planning or hoping to arrange a stake here and President Hopuate and Marshall come up to us and ask us how long we will be here. Now that Daniel teaches us all they especially have been coming up to us even more to see how we are doing when the baby is due etc. So its going well here and we are happy for the most part. Alexander finally doesn't cry when he goes to nursery so that helps a lot.
Baby on the way
Ok now the whole Eva thing. Well I am going to my every week appointments now. Everything is fine, in the last week I lost 4 pounds somehow, I think its the new calling and bubba and the heat makes your appetite go away. I am quite sick of being pregnant although I was sick of being pregnant 2 weeks in so that is nothing new. The only problem is that I at least get 8 hours of sleep everynight now and I really enjoy that. I am uncomfortable most of the time but I do get the sleep. As soon as Eva comes I will not sleep a full nights sleep for at least 6 monthes so I am trying to enjoy the uncomfortable time now with just me and bubba all day and then Daniel when he comes home. I am excited for Eva to come but nervous about the big change. I am sure it will be fine. I don't know how much blogging I will do with two demanding children, I am sure I will do it after a few months but I don't know about the beginning. Everything is healthy with me and Eva though. It is probably gross to most but I am dialated at a 2.5 now. My due date is still technically the 23rd although the last ultra sound said the 14th. Who knows really. However, my midwife (thats what they use here even when you request an OBGYN, OBGYN's are only used for high risk) anyway she said they will induce me on the 29th if Eva hasn't come yet so I know that I will have this baby within the month. So that is all. Wow this was a long blog and no pictures (sorry daniel took the camera so I couldn't go taking pictures of Bubba or the wild boonie dogs running around outside).
Until Next time,
Miriam Reeves
First this is a random post which is allowed because well it my/our blog. Don't call me (you can call daniel) but don't call me before 9 in the morning my time unless you are dying, dead or on your way to Guam within 24 hours to visit. Otherwise you will be on my angry list for the next year. I am pregnant and like sleep and only seem to sleep in the early hours of the morning now (it cools down a lot then) Alexander generally wakes up and 9 so you can wake me up then but not before.
Informing
Here are some fun facts as Daniel likes to call them. They generally make you shocked or depressed but here they are. We went and did a big grocery run last night to 3 stores here is Guam and I just wanted to let you know how much some things cost here. First the crappy milk (well not the on the shelf kind) but the crappiest chilled milk which is what Bubba will willing drink is 5.79 a gallon which is not that bad. Daniel's milk (which really doesn't taste that great) is 4.70 for half a gallon and when he is lucky he gets the best milk (which still doesn't taste very good) This milk costs 5.79 a half gallon. So we spend about 30 dollars a week on milk. Ok so then we bought eggs. They are 3.70 for a dozen. Now I am bored of telling you about our grocery trip things are generally more expensive here as we all know. Our gas is at 4.49 a gallon (for the cheap stuff) There is no cheap gas station they all stay the same. The gas prices since we have been here have gone up every 2 weeks- month and each time it is about 20 cents. so by christmas we will probably be at 6 dollars a gallon. These are depressing facts but true facts. Oh and the electric is really high here. We pay about 300 a month and we live in a realtively small 3 bedroom house and don't use a dryer. However, the good news is that our water bill is about 15 dollars a month so I guess it all sort of evens out in the end. Something weird though is that our rent just went down about 80 dollars a month. This doesn't really affect us because we don't pay rent but it was weird when I went to pay rent because she told me it went down so she had to credit me for the next month. Things work a bit strangely out here. We like it here a lot but are still getting used to the way things run here.
Our thoughts on Guam
We still enjoy it here and are glad we came. We love being able to go to the beach every saturday and just relaxing there. It is something we can all do and enjoy. I like not having to drive very far to get places. Lately I haven't been driving anywhere unless I have to because I am so pregnant and somewhat uncomfortable (that was an understatement). So that really helps save on gas. Daniel enjoys the work aspect of his job and I will leave it at that.
Our new callings
We both recieved callings as soon as we got back from Utah. Daniel was called as the Gospel doctrine teacher and I was called as the 1st counselor in Young Women's. It was a bit overwhelming especially coming from Utah wards where the most responsibility we ever got in a calling was helping in the library every other week. I enjoy Daniel's lessons though. We are in Alma and he LOVES Alma so he shows a lot of passion when teaching. It is funny because Our class usually has President Hopuate who is the Area Authority (70's) over Guam and the Mariana Islands. He is usually sitting right up front and Daniel knows he is there. Last week we had the mission president in our class and Daniel likes to use the big guys as his examples to keep peoples attention so we were learning about Alma and he asked President Marshall what he would do if his sons were as bad as Alma was. And as you all know Daniel shakes, not our of nervousness but just because he does and so everyone notices and thinks he is that nervous. So the big guys always make comments when he teaches and come and tell him what an excellent job he did teaching that day. It makes me laugh because he is very nervous because of the Big guys in the branch who come to church everyweek but he is very good. I enjoy his classes he is very knowledgable in the scriptures so I am never nervous for him. So Daniel and I are very busy in our callings now which is good, we haven't been for 4 years now so its a welcomed change (well for me, Daniel says he still wants to pierce his ear and wear purple shirts to church). He is especially nervous because they are planning or hoping to arrange a stake here and President Hopuate and Marshall come up to us and ask us how long we will be here. Now that Daniel teaches us all they especially have been coming up to us even more to see how we are doing when the baby is due etc. So its going well here and we are happy for the most part. Alexander finally doesn't cry when he goes to nursery so that helps a lot.
Baby on the way
Ok now the whole Eva thing. Well I am going to my every week appointments now. Everything is fine, in the last week I lost 4 pounds somehow, I think its the new calling and bubba and the heat makes your appetite go away. I am quite sick of being pregnant although I was sick of being pregnant 2 weeks in so that is nothing new. The only problem is that I at least get 8 hours of sleep everynight now and I really enjoy that. I am uncomfortable most of the time but I do get the sleep. As soon as Eva comes I will not sleep a full nights sleep for at least 6 monthes so I am trying to enjoy the uncomfortable time now with just me and bubba all day and then Daniel when he comes home. I am excited for Eva to come but nervous about the big change. I am sure it will be fine. I don't know how much blogging I will do with two demanding children, I am sure I will do it after a few months but I don't know about the beginning. Everything is healthy with me and Eva though. It is probably gross to most but I am dialated at a 2.5 now. My due date is still technically the 23rd although the last ultra sound said the 14th. Who knows really. However, my midwife (thats what they use here even when you request an OBGYN, OBGYN's are only used for high risk) anyway she said they will induce me on the 29th if Eva hasn't come yet so I know that I will have this baby within the month. So that is all. Wow this was a long blog and no pictures (sorry daniel took the camera so I couldn't go taking pictures of Bubba or the wild boonie dogs running around outside).
Until Next time,
Miriam Reeves
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
It rained today
It rained today and I let Alexander play in it because it was raining and still 84 degrees. I took a few pictures, he was drenched and he loved it. The rain is nice and full out here or however you want to say it.
Monday, May 19, 2008
our home
This is our house and our car. The grass hasn't grown in yet, so the red dirt splashes up on our walls. That is why we have plastic wrapped around the posts. I will take better pictures later.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
First Blog on Guam
Well we finally have internet, cable TV, and home phone service. The only problem is we don't have a TV or a phone, so 2 of the 3 services we are paying for we can not use just yet. The good news is we can now blog because I know so many of you were waiting to hear from us. One comment on the no phone thing, when you buy a cordless phone from a second hand store in guam to save a few bucks make sure it comes with a battery otherwise it won't work, lesson learned. With the TV we are saving our pennies until we can get a nice one. Miriam wants a flat screen so it won't take up so much space, Daniel wants it big.
We have lived in Guam for a total of 12 weeks. with 2 trips back to utah in between. For anyone counting that is a total of 96 hours on Airplanes or in Airports with a 2 year old. Now we have no plans to get on a plane for a long long time.
We have lived in Guam for a total of 12 weeks. with 2 trips back to utah in between. For anyone counting that is a total of 96 hours on Airplanes or in Airports with a 2 year old. Now we have no plans to get on a plane for a long long time.
Daniel works for Landscape Management Systems, a landscape company in Guam. He is an account Manager for the Hilton, Hyatt, Westin, and Onward beach resorts in Guam as well as the tourist district in Guam. Pretty high-end notable accounts. One thing he has learned so far with this job is that the grounds will never look good enough for his employer or the clients, there is always something to improve on. He enjoys it though.
Miriam is doing fine. They have now moved the baby's (Eva) due date for the fourth time back to the original due date the 23rd of June. Alexander is keeping her busy during the days. Her mom and youngest sister are coming on the 13th of June to help miriam with the baby. We are really excited because miriam has not seen her youngest sister (Matelita) since Christmas 2003.
Guam is nice we go the beach every saturday and Alexander does one of two things the whole time. He either throws every rock, piece of coral, even the ocassional hermit crab (mistaking it for one of the first two things) he can find back into the ocean. Or he tries to chase dad into the ocean when Daniel goes snorkeling. Miriam trys to relax on the beach, but usually she ends up dodging rocks, coral, and hermit crabs that Bubba throws, or playing with Alexander as the waves come. We found a new beach that we really like, not as good as other beaches for snorkeling, but way better for relaxing on the soft sand at the beach. Here are some pictures from our last visit to this beach. It is called Ritidian Point beach. One of the reasons why it is so nice is because it is a Wildlife refuge for sea turtles. We have yet to see one but are hoping we will one day. Meanwhile we did see a huge monitor lizard.
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