Kwajalein Adventure

Kwajalein Sunset Time Lapse

2012-02-01T12:31:00.000+12:00

I wouldn't have to keep stealing this guys work if it wasn't so cool! The photographer is one of the teenagers on Kwaj, Jarem Erekson. Enjoy!

This Could Get Me In Trouble

2012-01-28T07:33:00.001+12:00

While they never specifically mention it; this is Kwaj. Those of you that have lived here will get it, those that haven't may not think it's funny. I've heard that the current Commander was not amused. I do think it's funny, so here it is:

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs....

2012-01-22T12:47:00.000+12:00

And a significant number of them have misspellings or mistranslations; like this one:

Hared hats; is that anything like bunny ears?

A Quick Tour Around Kwajalein

2012-01-20T07:23:00.001+12:00

One of our island residents made this video of a bike ride around the island. I like it!

The End Of An Era

2012-01-12T10:18:00.000+12:00

Last night at the Scuba Club monthly meeting we were told that the turtles in the turtle pond were going to be released. There have been rumors of this going around for awhile but now it is confirmed.
They recieved a physical to ensure they were healthy and disease free so they wouldn't cause any problems for the local wild turtles.
The idea is that sea turtles are endangered and reintroducing these two back into the population would allow them to contribute to their species and help the dwindling population.
It is not known where the turtles originated from and it is unknown whether they would remain in this area or possibly relocate to another region. The hope is that they will be tagged so they can be tracked for at least the 30 days or so that a satellite tracker could provide. The cost of each tracker is around $5000 so it's unknown if the expense will be incurred.
I believe they said the two remaining turtles are known as Big Guy and Speedo. I had no idea they had names.....
Here is a picture I took of one of the turtles when I first arrived, almost 3 years ago!

Another "Only on Kwaj" Moment

2011-12-29T10:00:00.000+12:00

When's the last time you went to make coffee and had a gecko run out from underneath the maker? Yeah, me either....until now. Needless to say there was some involuntary squealing and lots of giggling when I realized what it was. This wouldn't happen if my cat was doing his job....slacker. ;)

In other news, I got a new camera for Christmas so I'll be able to post pictures again.

I Don't Get It

2011-12-02T07:33:00.000+12:00

Not too long ago, they posted these signs in the "industrial" area. I pass by them every day and I think the same thing....

Makes sense.....

Good advice......

Sure, why not?

???

What exactly does this mean? And how does it fit in with the rest of these safety messages? I don't get it.

Coolest Thing Ever!

2011-11-30T11:36:00.001+12:00

I love blue!
Blue everything.
This starfish has to be the coolest thing I've ever seen though. I didn't see a blue starfish until I went to Palau but this one was found near the island of Nell, not too far from Kwajalein.

Department of Defense Announces Successful Test of Army Advanced Hypersonic Weapon Concept

2011-11-18T10:20:00.000+12:00

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)News Release

On the Web: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=14920
Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public contact:http://www.defense.gov/landing/comment.aspxor +1 (703) 571-3343

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 958-11
November 17, 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Defense Announces Successful Test of Army Advanced Hypersonic Weapon Concept

Today the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command conducted the first test flight of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept. At 6:30 a.m. EST (1:30 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian Time), a first-of-its-kind glide vehicle, designed to fly within the earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speed and long range, was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii to the Reagan Test Site, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll.

The objective of the test is to collect data on hypersonic boost-glide technologies and test range performance for long-range atmospheric flight. Mission emphasis is aerodynamics; navigation, guidance, and control; and thermal protection technologies.

A three-stage booster system launched the AHW glide vehicle and successfully deployed it on the desired flight trajectory. The vehicle flew a non-ballistic glide trajectory at hypersonic speed to the planned impact location at the Reagan Test Site. Space, air, sea, and ground platforms collected vehicle performance data during all phases of flight. The data collected will be used by the Department of Defense to model and develop future hypersonic boost-glide capabilities.

The AHW program is managed and executed by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command program office in Huntsville, Ala. The booster system and glide vehicle were developed by Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M. and the thermal protection system by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center, Huntsville, Ala.

The Department of Defense is using AHW to develop and demonstrate technologies for Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS). As part of the CPGS effort, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency conducted boost-glide flight tests in April 2010 and August 2011, results from which were used in planning the AHW flight test.

For more information contact Lt. Col. Melinda F. Morgan, melinda.morgan@osd.mil or call 703-697-1252.

Please Leave A Message......

2011-10-29T14:48:00.000+12:00

It's vacation time! Just a short one; a week in Palau. It's time though. The last time I got off this rock was in April so I'm ready and this should be a blast! I'll tell you all about it when I return. Later!

http://www.visit-palau.com/index.cfm

Thank You!

2011-10-18T09:45:00.000+12:00

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog, and for the numerous folks that have contacted me with additional questions and comments. I've met several folks who have ended up getting jobs on the island and have introduced themselves letting me know that they found my blog while researching Kwajalein.

My apologies for not keeping on top of it a little better lately. KRS monitors this blog and I have to make sure I don't talk about them or work so I'm limited to writing about my extra-curricular activities. This is all well and good but I'm so busy doing them I don't take the time to sit down (on my really slow, dial-up internet) to write about them. Sorry.

I'm still diving, hanging out at the beach, partying with friends and having a great time and in two weeks I'm headed to Palau for vacation.

I just wanted to take a moment to acknowlege my supporters! Thank you all.

Night Diving

2011-10-02T07:00:00.000+12:00

Night diving has all but been banned for Kwajalein but occasionally there are opportunities to pay for an evening when the commercial divers are available and we're even had a few sponsored night dives that anyone can participate in. As part of my advanced open water dive class that I'm taking now, we got to do a night dive last night during one of these sponsored events. It was an interesting experience. The bioluminescence was my favorite part. Being in that environment with limited visibility does impose some challenges and makes for a completely different experience. I'm not going to say that was my favorite thing I've done so far. I think I get much more pleasure out of it when I'm able to see more.

Mission Statement

2011-10-01T12:17:00.000+12:00

I was at the Kwajalein Hospital today and noticed a sign on the wall that read:

Treat Patients With Respect
Treat Coworkers With Respect
Don't Screw Up

I guess that about covers it.....

Bus Guidelines

2011-09-16T07:00:00.002+12:00

This was one of the rules that I saw posted on the Roi bus today:

No open fish containers allowed on bus.

Where else in the world is that a rule? ;)

Never Saw That Before

2011-09-15T07:00:00.000+12:00

Today I saw a chicken eating a crab....

There are about 10 or so chickens that live on Roi; I always enjoy seeing them since they seem so out of place.

My Mom is a big chicken fan so wherever I go I take pictures of them for her.

I sure wish I had a picture of this!

Rats!

2011-09-14T09:46:00.001+12:00

I've been on Roi-Namur for almost a week now and if you didn't know already, rats are rampant here. Much more so than on Kwaj. Mainly because half of Roi is jungle and there are so few residents.

Everywhere I go, I see rats traps and I've been hearing rumors that they are planning to introduce cats to help with the rat population as well. In the rat traps though, I'm not seeing the typical bait one would find in the States....I'm guessing the rats here are a bit more "gourmet". Most of the traps I've seen have coconut in them. Mmmm....coconut. Typically you'll find cheese or peanut butter or as one site suggested; bacon! (What a waste of perfectly good bacon!)

Also if you don't already know, the people here are referred to (affectionately) as Roi Rats as well. Us Kwaj folks don't get a cool name but we do live "downtown".

It's always fun to come to Roi to work for awhile for a change of pace. Just make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the rats....

Fish Story

2011-09-09T13:01:00.002+12:00

I was taking a break out by the lagoon today and as I was sitting on the rocks staring into the water I saw a fish cruise by. I believe it is a needlefish.

That's not so unusual but as I was watching it, I saw it go after another fish and THAT fish jumped out of the water to get away. Kind of interesting.
I keep expecting to see fish getting eaten when I'm diving but I haven't yet. I'll keep looking though!

Wow Wowee Wow Wow!

2011-08-31T09:22:00.000+12:00

I woke up to the loudest, closest, scariest sounding thunder of my life this morning. I swear the thundercloud was sitting on top of my house! There was no time between lightning flashes and thunder and you could feel it. It was very impressive!

Currently we are up +20.69" for the year!

This Has Been My Preoccupation Updated

2011-08-12T15:09:00.003+12:00

Well, now that it's plastered all over the news and on several military websites, I can post about the project I had the priviledge of working on recently.

I found a few articles on the DARPA website this morning that are very informative and interesting.

The first is an overview of the project and the second is specific to this mornings results.

Liftoff!

This article from Fox News presents a little less technical outline of the project.

I gotta admit, it's pretty cool to get to be part of activities like this.

*Updated*
I was forwarded a couple of more articles on the HTV mission this morning.
In this CNET article, I was on one of the 20 "test assets".
And in this article from CBS News we are listed as an "observation station". This article includes a video of what was expected to be the flight path of the vehicle.

It's Classified.....

2011-08-01T19:43:00.000+12:00

Oh how I wish I could talk about some of the cool stuff Ive been doing for work lately......unfortunately, I can't.

Minuteman III destroyed during test launch

2011-07-28T10:46:00.001+12:00

Click here to read the story directly from the Vandenberg Air Force website.

Going Out To Sea!

2011-07-12T07:00:00.003+12:00

I'm going to get the opportunity to work here:

USAV Worthy

I never though I would be doing this when I came out here but I certainly couldn't pass up the opportunity for this experience.

It ought to be interesting!

Start Building The Ark!

2011-07-09T14:40:00.000+12:00

Last night we got 2.73 inches of rain! That's more than a quarter of what we got all last month in one day!

The streets were flooded, the ditch next to my house was completely full and anyone unfortunate enough to get caught in it was probably wishing they had their scuba gear.

The days have been hot and still with little wind for the last few days as well. It appears that the doldrums are back!

Dive Certified!

2011-07-07T07:44:00.009+12:00

I am now PADI Open Water Diver certified!

Over the 4th of July weekend I got to do 6 dives! Four were for the certification and two were to celebrate!

I couldn't have asked for a better start to my diving experience. I got to see some really incredible stuff on those dives; a sea turtle, trillions of little fishies, a HUGE manta ray (the instructor said he was probably about 12' across but he looked more like 20!), two white tipped sharks and three ship wrecks! Amazing!

I can tell you right now I'm going to have to get an underwater camera. I must take pictures!

Currently I am limited to diving 60' or less. The next step is to take the Advanced Open Water class which will allow me to go to 130'. Beyond that, I'm interested in getting Nitrox certified and at some point after that Rescue Diver. I feel it's the responsible thing to do to be able to help out fellow divers if any issues arise.

Experiencing Technical Difficulties....Again.

2011-07-02T13:05:00.000+12:00

Ahh the inconvenience of Kwaj......

My laptop hard drive crashed on me the other day and it's going to take at least two weeks for me to get a replacement and then however long it takes me to sit down and rebuild it.....fortunately for me I know how.

Unfortunately, while I can still post and get my email on other computers, it's going to detain me from uploading any pictures for awhile.

And I so wanted you to see how empty the shelves are in the stores. I'm beginning to wonder if they are trying to starve us out....

Second Pool Session

2011-06-29T07:00:00.000+12:00

Our second pool session went far better than the first. In the first, you are introduced to all the equipment and it's a lot to process. This time, we were more familiar and knew what to expect so it went much smoother.

If all continues to go well, as of July 4th, I should be open water certified! My plan is to continue to Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver and when it's available (coming soon) to get Nitrox certified as well. Beyond that.....who knows.

First Pool Session

2011-06-27T13:00:00.000+12:00

I'm about halfway through my scuba diving lessons. I'm enjoying it and can't wait to get out of the pool. The first two sessions are in the swimming pool so you can get used to the equipment and practice your technique before you add factors like current and real depth to the experience. Now I just need to get my own gear....

Setting up the gear

Sailing To Bijej

2011-06-25T13:25:00.000+12:00

Bijej (pronounced bee-gee) is another beautiful island in our atoll which is a pretty convenient 3 hour "straight" shot from Kwaj by sailboat. A few weeks ago I got to go up with a group of folks for a day of sun, fun and snorkeling. We stayed a few hours and sailed back in the sunset. It was really wonderful.

Fun WIth A Waterproof Camera

2011-06-20T09:45:00.000+12:00

What To Bring

2011-06-03T11:07:00.000+12:00

I'm constantly being asked about what to bring/not bring with you when you relocate to Kwaj. This is a tricky question. First of all, it's really a personal preference choice and second, it depends on what company your hire on with and what your status is.

If you are a KRS employee, you can bring 750 pounds unnacompanied and 1500 if you are accompanied. I think you can add X amount for each child as well but it's not a large number.

USAKA and AAFES employees get something outrageous like 15,000 pounds and a house no matter what your status. In this case, you can bring everything if you want.

I've seen people come out here with two checked bags from the plane and that's it.

The items I would definately suggest you bring would be electronics. Computers, TV's, etc. These are not readily available here. You may get lucky and get something good when someone PCS's but the store does not carry much if any selection.

The one thing I do recommend is to mail bedding and towels to yourself or your sponsor before you come so they are here when you get here. (At least two weeks) Again, the selection is very limited here and the hospitality kit includes these items but you only get to borrow them for a limited time and they are not exactly nice.

As far as bikes go...I would almost suggest you wait until you get here. It could take almost two months for your stuff to arrive so you will have to borrow or walk or ride the bus until then. Also, you can pretty much guarantee a bike you use in the States won't hold up out here. Mine only lasted about 6 months. Unfortunately a good bike here is about $400 but it will be sure to last.

Hopefully other Kwaj folks will pipe up in the comments if there is anything I forgot....

It's Time!

2011-05-28T13:06:00.000+12:00

I'm finally ready to dive!

In about two weeks I'll start the classes for getting my open water certification.

That should make for a few good posts...

Tonight's Movie Is....

2011-05-21T08:31:00.000+12:00

Drop Zone Fiji.

The Drop Zone Fiji is the ultimate dive and surf film which follows professional surfers on the adventure of a lifetime. The film documents professional surfers Alex Gray, Cheyne Magnusson and Holly Beck, Maria Gonzalez as they surf legendary breaks, dive pristine waters and immerse themselves in the Fijian culture.

Parrothead Party

2011-05-18T07:00:00.004+12:00

For the second year (that I'm aware of) one of our long-term, re-tread, fun-loving islanders has pulled off a great Jimmy Buffet Parrothead party including coconut bowling, Land Shark beer and a ton of fun. The only rule; don't show up if your not dressed the part.

Stunning Sunsets

2011-05-16T07:00:00.003+12:00

We have been getting some phenomenal sunsets lately......

Rusty Family Triatholon

2011-05-15T12:50:00.000+12:00

A few weeks ago was the annual Kwajalein Rustman Triathlon. I had several friends that completed that event and it was very inspiring to say the least. Just last week though, they held the annual Rusty Family Triathlon which is a half marathon. Most of the participants in this event are younger but equally impressive. It was great to see so many folks out being healthy and fit!

Nice job everyone!

The Coasties Are Here!

2011-05-09T12:50:00.000+12:00

Every so often we get ships in for fueling. Sometimes Navy, NOAA, and sometimes Coast Guard. I've been hearing about their arrival for days and didn't really think about it much but there are a lot of people here that get excited to see new faces on island and really look forward to these events.

The ship visiting the weekend is the Coast Guard Cutter JARVIS.

The Cutter is named after Captain David H. Jarvis of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. Captain Jarvis served aboard cutters HAMILTON, RUSH, and BEAR. He devoted the majority of his career to pioneering and developing maritime activities in the Bering Sra off if Alaska's northwest coast. While assigned to the BEAR, he led the famous three man expedition to save 300 whalers stranded off Barrow Point, Alaska. Trapped by ice, the harsh environment, and a dwindling food supply, the whalers had little chance of surviving. Through the relentless artic winter, Captain Jarvis' expedition drove a herd of reindeer across 1,500 miles of Artic ice and snow to rescue the starving whalers. For his heroism, he was awarded a special Congressional Gold Medal.

Click here for more information on the ship and it's crew.

Slacka Blogga

2011-04-29T21:44:00.000+12:00

I've been off island for two weeks on vacation and since my adventures weren't Kwaj related, I decided not to post anything while I was gone. Today I was informed that I was slacking on my blogging duties (thanks Bill!). I knew I hadn't posted in awhile but I was really surprised to discover that I've only been back for 9 days! It feels like at least a month, I've been so busy since I got back.

In the last 9 days I've:

Been sailing 3 times
Been to 2 Yacht Club Happy Hours
Played softball twice (we lost both times)
Spent an hour at the gym 3 times
Went on a B-boat snorkeling trip to Bijej
Cheered on friends in the Rustman Triathlon
Been to two barbecues
Played a game of Electronic Battleship
Worked my full time job
Kept up on my chores (cleaning, dishes, laundry, yard work, etc.)
I know I'm forgetting something.....

Amazingly, I haven't taken one picture in all that time. I usually carry my camera everywhere with me. I'm also feeling incredibly satisfied; enjoying my life again. It feels really good!

There are some upcoming events I will be sure to post; sooner, rather than later. (And with pictures!)

Blasting Target From Sky, Key Test of Missile Defense System a Success

2011-04-18T05:15:00.000+12:00

The U.S. military successfully conducted its most challenging test yet of its ballistic missile defense system, blasting an incoming target out of the skies over the Pacific Ocean.

In the test, an intermediate-range missile target was launched from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, approximately 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii. A ground-based radar detected the launch and relayed that information to a central system, which passed the data to the Aegis destroyer USS O'Kane.

That ship launched an SM-3 Block IA missile 11 minutes later to shoot down the incoming threat -- a process the military calls "birth to death" tracking.

"Initial indications are that all components performed as designed," the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said in a statement, which described it as "the most challenging test to date" of the Aegis BMD system.

The test was conducted by the MDA, using Lockheed Martin's shipboard Aegis combat system and a Raytheon missile interceptor, with U.S. Navy sailors aboard the USS O'Kane and soldiers from the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command operating from the Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

It was a crucial test for the program: The last two intercept tests of a separate U.S. ground-based missile defense, aimed at protecting U.S. soil, have failed, Reuters reported.

The "successful test demonstrated the capability of the first phase" of the European missile shield announced by President Barack Obama in September 2009, the MDA statement said.

"The two demonstration Space Tracking and Surveillance Satellites (STSS), launched by MDA in 2009, successfully acquired the target missile, providing stereo 'birth to death' tracking of the target," the statement said.

"The Lockheed Martin-led team has evolved Aegis from an anti-ship missile system to the basis for the U.S. approach to global missile defense," said Lisa Callahan, vice president of maritime ballistic missile defense programs for Lockheed Martin, in a statement about the test. "With this test, Aegis BMD proves that it can expand the battlespace and destroy ballistic missile threats earlier in their trajectory than ever before."

The defense system is meant to shield the U.S. from a potential ballistic missile attack, possibly from North Korea or Iran.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/15/military-successfully-tests-missile-defense/#ixzz1JnlXtZ9P

Spring Break Music Festival 2011

2011-04-04T18:08:00.000+12:00

The Kwajalein Yacht Club sponsored yet another Spring Break Music Festival and as usual, it was a lot of fun. A few of the festivities included:

Dunk Tank
Many Talented Singers/Bands
Chili Cook-off
BBQ
Slip-and-Slide
Vendor Booths
Home Brew Beer Garden
Temporary Tattoos

It was a good time. I was there for the entire thing, helping set up the Yacht Club Ships Store in the beginning and enjoying the various activities all the way til the last band played. We really are lucky to have so many talented folks on this small piece of land.

What Do You Think?

2011-03-25T18:02:00.000+12:00

Is it time for a new fender?

Yeah, I thought so too. But do you think there are any in the store here? No!
I'll have to try and get one in Honolulu on my way through for vacation in a few weeks.

Do You Know Where Flies Sleep?

2011-03-18T21:49:00.000+12:00

I do!

Well, not all of them maybe.....

The other night I was out walking my cat. Yes; cat. It is against USAKA regulation for any animal to be outside unless they are on a leash. Just to clarify, you don't walk a cat, a cat walks you. If I even try to decide where we are going, the cat will do nothing but lay down and has to be carried back to the house. Also, he will never return to the house on his own....I can only let him wander as far as I'm willing to carry his 16 pound butt back to the house!

But I digress...

So I was out walking my cat, which is not a brisk event; there is a lot of exploring that happens....when I noticed that there were several flies (like houseflies) clinging to the ends of a palm frond. Next palm, same thing. Almost every palm tree I came to had at least a few flies attached to it.

We always talk about how the flies "go to bed" after the sun goes down around here but I didn't really think of where they may be going. I kind of half thought they were like the sun, when they go to bed here they are just getting started in some other part of the world. So I Googled it. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/604566.html

I tried to take a picture but it's kind of difficult because of the wind. The palm trees won't hold still and by the time I get close enough the flies are on to me and take off. If I ever manage to capture one on film, I'll make sure to post it.

Surfway Is No Longer Accepting Coupons

2011-03-16T09:20:00.000+12:00

I don't know why, I just felt like announcing that.

Japan Earthquake Unleashes Tsunami UPDATED

2011-03-11T22:16:00.001+12:00

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has widened its tsunami warning to cover most of the Pacific Ocean, including Russia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific coast of South America.

Read the full article regarding the tragedy in Japan here.

There have been at least three tsunami warnings since I've been here this last two years, maybe even four. So far none of them have amounted to much of anything but a high tide.

The risk of a tsunami on Kwaj is pretty much nil, as the drop off from the shore to the ocean floor is severe, and the shock waves from a quake would be slowed down as they approached.

However, a siren is now blaring but I don't know what it means.....good thing my bed is on the second floor!

**All is well here, no wave action to speak of. Thank you all for your concern.**

Sorry, I've Been Busy

2011-03-11T07:00:00.006+12:00

As I've said before, there is no lack of stuff to keep you busy around here and I don't even take advantage of all of it myself. I've yet to dive, I haven't been fishing in months and I've only been to the hobby shop a few times since I've been here.

This week my schedule includes the following:

Sunday: Sailboat Race (this got canceled because of lack of wind and I was called into work so I'm kind of glad or I would have been terribly jealous!)
Monday: Softball Practice
Tuesday: Bowling
Wednesday: Making Shrimp and Shiitake Risotto for dinner with friends
Thursday: Yacht Club Happy Hour
Friday: Pampered Chef Party
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: I was going to go to the St. Patty's Day Celebration at the Vet's Hall - Live music by the Insane Gecko Posse. But now I'm going on an overnight sailing trip!! I've wanted to do this for a very long time! YAY!
Monday: Softball Practice

On top of all that, I've been working a minimum of 9 hours a day, running 3 times a week and spending time with my cat. I've been busy!

Awfully Wet Dry Season

2011-03-09T11:34:00.000+12:00

Per the the official web site for the ATSC/RTS weather station:
Kwajalein’s location gives it a tropical marine climate. The atoll experiences a relatively dry windy season from mid-December to mid-May and a relatively wet calm (wind) season from mid-May to mid-November. Normal annual rainfall is approximately 100 inches; approximately 72% of the annual rainfall occurs during the wet season and 28% occurs during the dry season. On average, the prevailing wind direction is from the east-northeast during the entire year, although, winds may become more variable during the wet season, when occasional southerly or even westerly winds occur. Average wind speed is near 17 mph from December to April and near 12 mph from May to November.

The average daily maximum temperature is 86.5ºF; the average minimum is 77.6ºF. The extreme temperatures are 97ºF and 68ºF. Average relative humidity ranges from 83% at local noon to 78% at midnight.

Although most of the rainfall at Kwajalein comes from showers, thunderstorms are infrequent. On average, thunderstorms occur fewer than 12 days each year. The frequency of thunderstorms ranges from 0.1 per month from January to March to 2.0 per month in September. During the modern era of record keeping, since 1919, a fully developed typhoon has never struck Kwajalein Atoll; however, tropical storms (sustained winds of 40 to 74 mph) impact the atoll about once every four to seven years on average.

2011 March total: 3.02”

2011 March deviation: +2.03”

2011 Yearly total: 20.92”

2011 Yearly deviation: +11.08”

Three Great Kwajalein Articles

2011-02-27T15:35:00.000+12:00

Here are three really great articles about Kwajalein featured in Soldier Magazine on the army.mil website.

ISLAND PARADISE: FOR MISSILE DEFENSE

WEATHER FORECAST CRITICAL TO MISSILE LAUNCH

DIGGING FOR HISTORY IN KWAJALEIN

Enjoy!

Another Unknown

2011-02-24T11:30:00.000+12:00

OK, here's another one for all you past Kwaj residents or maybe even someone who was involved in developing this.....

There is a channel/trench/culvert(?) that runs approximately 2 blocks from the corner near the Small Boat Marina and lagoon road, near the AAFES warehouse. Some of you may not recognize this shot since there is a building missing just to the right of where the bus is. It was torn down last year.

When the tide is really high, this channel fills up and there can even be some random fish swimming around in there. It appears to dead-end under the AAFES warehouse.

Does anyone know what this is for?

There is another one that runs near the fuel pier and ends just as mysteriously kind of in a field. I'm very curious; it's not to prevent flooding of some kind is it? That doesn't really make any sense...

I can't wait to hear your ideas.

Hobie Cat Sailing

2011-02-21T08:35:00.002+12:00

I got to do something today I haven't done in 30 years! Might as well say I've never done it since the first time, I was a kid and didn't get to participate much and it was nothing like what we did today.....

This is what I got to do today:

This picture isn't from today but we were definitely at this angle a few times. I can pretty much guarantee that any Hobie Cat pictures you see were not taken by people on Hobie Cats. You are far too busy to take pictures and there is no place to keep anything without it flying off the boat.

What fun it was! I never expected it to be so fun. I'm thinking this is my new challenge, learn how to sail it, not just be crew.

I also learned how to recover after it capsized. That was also pretty fun. I couldn't find any pictures of that but I found this one which I thought was pretty funny:

One Of My Favorite Things About Kwaj

2011-02-19T23:30:00.000+12:00

Is the rainbows.....

Lovely Evening

2011-02-14T07:59:00.001+12:00

The other night I grabbed my beach blanket and headed down to the lagoon watch the sunset. It was a beautiful evening. I got quite a few shots but this was the best:

Last night was another gorgeous sunset but unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me.

Wet Weekend

2011-02-12T20:00:00.001+12:00

From February 1st to the 5th we barely got any precipitation at all. The weekend hit and we got 5 inches! 3.47 of it on Monday (our Sunday) Here are a couple of shots to show a little bit of how it looked. So, not much beach time this weekend. Maybe next weekend.

Sticking Around For Awhile

2011-02-06T09:44:00.000+12:00

Well, I did it.

I signed the contract form to continue my employment on Kwaj on what is commonly known here as "rolling 90's". This means the next time I'm eligible to leave is July as long as I provide 90 days notice; after that October, then January and so on. Of course, the company always has the option to end the contract at any time but that's nothing new.

So, a few more months of sailing, snorkeling and island exploration for me! Oh, and work. Did I forget to mention that?

Random Photo

2011-01-30T22:02:00.000+12:00

Fairy Terns

2011-01-10T17:39:00.000+12:00

I took these pictures today of a white turn and her fuzzy little baby. I think it's funny that the Mom is sitting on the baby because it's not like it needs to be kept warm. I wondered if maybe she was actually shading it.

Winding Down

2011-01-09T11:13:00.001+12:00

Well, for those of you that have been following along, you know that I've almost completed my contract and it's time to start thinking about what to do next.

My original contract would have ended in February but when I got promoted and my status changed to accompanied, I was required to sign a year contract extension which makes my new contract end date April 15th.

A few days ago, I received a letter from HR stating that I was eleigible for re-contracting and I currently have three choices:

Sign up for one more year which would make it April 2012
Switch to rolling 90 day contracts, which means I can leave at any time as long as 90 days notice is provided
Terminate my contract on the original agreed upon date, April 2011

I have to make this decision before February 14th.

At this moment in time, I am ready to go.

It's been fun here, it's nice to know I have a guaranteed job (although we did have a round of layoffs), I'll really miss the 12 hours of daylight every day and the beautiful, beautiful landscape. I have to admit though, there are times when the lack of seasonal changes and the inability to get away can be frustrating and boring.

I spoke with HR to discuss these options and the rolling 90 day contracts offer the most flexibility but they are still tricky. If I did that, the next soonest date I could leave would be July. And I haven't figured out how to arrange for a new job that will wait until your 90 days is up to hire you. Getting off the island almost seems as hard as getting on, unless you just call it good when your contract ends, job or no job lined up.

We'll see.

SAFELY SPEAKING:

2010-12-26T22:18:00.000+12:00

This week’s edition of Safely Speaking, "Icy Roads" is available for your review.

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!!!!!!

Kwaj Christmas

2010-12-21T20:09:00.000+12:00

Just another day in paradise! All I want for Christmas is some fresh food to eat! :)

Warning: Man-O-War Stings Are Painful!

2010-12-19T11:25:00.000+12:00

Turtle Maintenance

2010-12-12T10:00:00.000+12:00

There is a turtle pond here on island that has three sea turtles living in it. I'm not sure exactly what the story is on why we have sea turtles in captivity; I do know that the Marshallese have been known to eat sea turtles so maybe it's way to protect them, or possibly it just for our enjoyment.

I've posted about feeding them before but this week it was time for their annual checkup.

The process begins by rounding them up and getting them out of the pond and onto the grass.

Next step is to scrub all of the algea off of them (top and bottom). I don't think this normally a problem for the wild ones. Their heads are covered to keep them from escaping or biting.

They are measured, weighed and their blood gets drawn. Apparently drawing a turtles blood is not an easy task. It took a few people a few tries.

That's it until next year.

Sometimes.....

2010-12-03T20:29:00.000+12:00

...the only way to tell what season it is around here (besides rainy and doldrums, those are obvious) is the decorations.....


Stage For Santa's Arrival

It Always Surprises Me.....

2010-11-17T23:04:00.000+12:00

I know we have enough humidity around here but for some reason it always surprises me when I see mushrooms......

Suck It Up!

2010-11-06T17:52:00.001+12:00

Currently we are having yet another tropical storm. The wind is blowing 30MPH gusting to 37MPH and of course there is a great deal of rain. I am trapped at work. The work bus stopped running over an hour ago and my route home is straight into all that wind and rain. All I have on is jean shorts, a tank top and leather sandals. Nice.

In looking at the radar, it does not appear this is going to end any time soon so I am currently debating waiting it out or just sucking it up and getting as wet as a person can possibly get without going swimming. I wish I had the option to call for a ride today, but I don't.

Wish me luck!

Dang! That's a lot of rain!

2010-10-17T12:33:00.000+12:00

Butterfly!

2010-10-10T22:54:00.000+12:00

There aren't very many butterflies on Kwaj. We're kind of a long way from anywhere so getting here is probably a challenge for them. Most of them are brown and mothy looking; not very exciting. But the other day I spotted this:

Only On Kwaj

2010-10-04T15:40:00.000+12:00

I try to make it a point to carry a camera with me everywhere I go here; you never know what you might see....

Unfortunately today I was running an errand and of course did not have it with me and I missed a golden opportunity!

Imagine this if you can:
A guy, riding a bike, with a vacuum attached to the handlebars! He had the base of it over the bars with the bottom facing toward him and the handle sticking out in front. It was comedy!

I've heard rumor of groups of people heading to fit ball class with their exercise balls strapped to their handle bars too. Makes me want to wait in the shadows outside the class so I can capture it on film!

Hey, you make due with what you've got and Kwaj is the epitome of that.

Turtle Rescue 2010

2010-09-29T22:06:00.000+12:00

I got up for a run last week and stumbled right into the middle of a turtle hatch! I watched as hundreds of baby turtles flocked out of their nest and made their way to the water. Unfortunately many of them got confused and headed the wrong direction. I wasn't sure what to do, so I skirted the mass and finished my run. When I got home, I grabbed my camera to see if I could get some pictures. When I arrived, other residents were collecting the lost babies and taking them to the water to set them on their way. I joined in and while I was there, we helped over 50 of them. It was truly a special event to get to participate in!

Young girl gathering baby turtles.

Baby turtles heading into the ocean.

They flapped all the way to the water.

The Underwater World

2010-09-20T15:48:00.000+12:00

I don't dive, yet ( I like to leave the option open) so as a result, you miss out on getting see an aspect of Kwaj that I'm sure everyone would like to see.

A friend of mine posted this pic on his Facebook page today and it was so cool I decided to borrow it so that you could see it for yourself.

Photo belongs to Dan Farnham

2010 Fishing Tournament

2010-09-13T23:16:00.000+12:00

The Labor Day Hanapa'a Fishing Tournament on Kwaj isn't a highly competitive tournament. It's for fun because this time of year is not so great for fishing. When the doldrums hit, it gets hot and the fish go deeper, making the typical trolling style of fishing quite unsuccessful.

We managed to accidentally snag one fish in the four hours we were out. We're not even sure what it is, the officials called it a gray snapper.

While we were out, one of our engines decided to die so we had to make our way to the nearest pass and return to the lagoon side and limp back to the harbor.

The fact that we managed to snag anything ensured us a place in the drawing and there were 5 boats that didn't even catch one fish so we felt somewhat vindicated.

The next week (since I'm always behind on my posting means this week) my husband went fishing on a Saturday when the rest of us are working and they caught a bunch of fish. Over 10 Ahi and Aku, 4 that got away.

Labor Day Events

2010-09-07T21:33:00.000+12:00

This weekend was full of fun stuff to do.

Chili Cookoff
Hana'pa Fishing Tournament
Candied Apples & funnel cakes
Home Brew Tent
Carnival Games

We had a very enjoyable time. I hope you did too!

Black Wednesday

2010-09-04T15:59:00.000+12:00

This is from an article in the Marshall Islands Journal

Although rumors have swirled for days on Ebeye, Kwajalein and Majuro about an imminent “massive” layoff at the missile testing range, a US official told the Journal Wednesday the actual number will be 79 jobs cut. US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Watnik in a telephone interview from Kwajalein Wednesday said 28 Marshallese and 51 Americans will lose their jobs effective this month at the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA). “The numbers going around are much larger than the reality,” Watnik said. “USAKA worked hard to bring the number (of job losses) down.” Kwajalein Range Services President Dave Norwood told the Journal he was faced with accommodating a 20 percent budget cut for fiscal year 2011, that starts October 1. Originally, he said, this amounted to the need to cut 250 KRS positions. But the reduction in cost was accomplished by cancelling 150 vacant positions, reducing some departments’ weekly working hours, and laying off 79 workers total.
The 79 jobs that are being cut amount to about four-and-a-half percent of the existing American and Marshallese workforce, which now number about 800 and 950, respectively. The cuts will reduce the Marshallese workforce to about 775 and the American workforce to about 900.
Watnik and USAKA officials said rumors of “massive” layoffs are not correct.
Joe Moscone, Deputy to the USAKA Commander, told the Journal Wednesday that notification to the RMI government would be issued shortly. Moscone said that soon after new Commander Col. Joseph Gaines arrived in July, the command began addressing the FY2011 budget situation. “The cuts being discussed were so significant, we felt the need to go through a process to mitigate them,” Moscone said. “Though (the cuts are) still significant, they are not anywhere near where we thought we’d be when we started in July.”
Moscone said USAKA and KRS officials looked at “every single line item in the budget — everything was on the table” — to hold job losses to the absolute minimum.
“This lay off thing is creating a panic on Ebeye,” RMI Liaison Officer to Kwajalein Jelton Anjain told Major Christopher Mills, head of USAKA’s Host Nations Office, in an email at the weekend as rumors made the rounds.
As recently as Saturday, Mills told RMI Assistant Secretary of Finance Bruce Bilimon that he was unable to give him a definite answer regarding job cuts, “as the current budget review is not yet finished.”
Bilimon had asked Mills for information, pointing out that if major cuts were planned, “then we will need to make adjustments to our tax revenues out of USAKA for the upcoming fiscal year (budget).” Mills told Bilimon at the weekend, “Though we are expecting less funding this year, we are still calculating the impacts to this command.” The RMI Ministry of Finance receives a five percent tax from the salaries of all American workers at Kwajalein, as well as income taxes on Marshallese workers at Kwajalein, so any cutbacks at the Army base have a negative impact on the General Fund budget. In addition, Marshallese contribute to the Marshall Islands Social Security Administration fund so reductions in force affect the retirement fund, which is already stressed because benefit payments are higher than its income. Watnik said the reduction in force at USAKA was part of a worldwide cutback in line with Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ decision to slash the Defense budget by $100 billion over the next three years. “Every defense facility is affected,” he said.

If You Have A Small Boat In The Water

2010-08-31T18:10:00.000+12:00

I received this notification this afternoon:

KWAJALEIN FORECAST DISCUSSION

Amidst a low-level trough near the Ratak Chain, a closed circulation has developed at the surface this afternoon. Current satellite and radar imagery show a large complex of cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms primarily south of the circulation, with other scattered activity having already developed in and around Kwajalein Atoll. This system is expected to move to the west-northwest through the evening and overnight hours, bringing a wide swath of precipitation, occasionally heavy, and a few embedded thunderstorms to the area. Winds around cyclonic circulations move counterclockwise, so a track to the north of the atoll means winds are expected to become northwesterly and even westerly tonight into early tomorrow. This will be especially the case over the northern atoll, which will be closer to the center of circulation. A West Wind Warning is likely for Roi-Namur, possible for Kwajalein Island, perhaps as early as 2200 tonight, with the threat of west winds lingering through tomorrow morning. The system track and winds in the atoll will be monitored closely. The chances for precipitation over Kwajalein Atoll are 30% today, increasing to 80% this evening through tonight. Combined seas in the open ocean will be 3-4 ft.

I stopped and asked one of my friends what this meant; what was I supposed to do? He said pray.

The problem is the wind normally comes out of the NE, now it will be coming from the west which means the boats will swing a full 180 and if there are any weak spots in your mooring, you may lose your boat! Yikes! I just have to hope for the best.

We're Feeling This

2010-08-27T11:25:00.000+12:00

Budget cuts to affect Army bases

Lebowski Fest on Roi Namur

2010-08-22T07:00:00.001+12:00

This is our big event for the weekend:
Come as your favorite character or just bring a float and relax in the pool. There will be marmot flinging, the sheriff of Malibu coffee cup toss, the ringer toss, and the Valkyrie ring toss. A special performance by "Shelley and the Restraining Orders" will happen at 8 p.m. To be followed immediately by a pool side showing of "The Big Lebowski"

Marmot flinging? I haven't seen the movie but I have to get in on that!

Kwaj 4th Of July

2010-08-21T07:00:00.001+12:00

Here it is over a month later and I'm finally posting pictures from The 4th of July. The slow internet around here makes posting pictures quite the daunting task. Every photo has to be edited so it is small enough to process over the dial-up. To think, a year and a half ago I was teasing people who were still on dial-up....that's what I get!

I must admit, Kwaj puts on a pretty good fireworks show. Here are a few of my better shots. Pretty good considering I have a pretty mediocre camera and I don't have a tripod. I love that the one on the bottom right looks like a palm tree.

Pretty As A Picture

2010-08-18T22:13:00.002+12:00

It was absolutely gorgeous today! I took these on my way to work.....
Not that it's not nice all the time but some days stand out more than others and this was one of them.

Waiting For A Ride

2010-08-12T07:00:00.002+12:00

Here are the Huey's loaded onto rail-cars and waiting for the next barge off of Kwaj.

This was the first (and only so far) helicopter I've gotten to ride in.

These are the same helicopters my Dad flew in in Vietnam. They've been around longer than I have; its kind of sad to see them go. The new ones are orange and kind of ugly but I wouldn't pass up a ride in them if I were given the opportunity!

The Cherokee

2010-08-09T22:20:00.001+12:00

Ever since I arrived in February 2009 I've been passing through the boat yards on my way to work and watching the restoration of The Cherokee from a distance and hearing updates in passing about the progress they were making.

When I was researching Kwajalien, I ran across a blog that told about the adventures of three guys and their 74 foot trimaran and the fact that it was for sale. It was interesting reading and fun to see it for myself once I got here, not to mention meeting the captains in person. The other day I stopped to take a picture of the freshly painted hull and it's a good thing I did because the very next day it was back in the water and they are ready for their next adventure!

The Cherokee is actually for sale, once they get back from their trip to Fiji that is.

Happy Sailing!

Gratuitous Flower Shot

2010-08-05T07:00:00.003+12:00

Mystery Fruit

2010-08-03T07:00:00.001+12:00

Can anyone tell me what the heck this is? Post a comment if you know. Thank you!

My First Avocado Updated

2010-07-28T07:00:00.003+12:00

When I was a kid I remember my Mom making many, many attempts to grow an avocado; I do not however remember any of them actually growing. I figured this was probably the perfect environment to try one of my own.
And here is the result!

Here it is just a week later! Amazing!

Feeding The Turtles

2010-07-26T13:16:00.000+12:00

I think it's kind of funny that I've lived here for a year and a half now and it never occurred to me to feed the turtles in the turtle pond. One of my blog readers is now here on island, she got a job here and I've been introducing her to the island. The first thing she wanted to do? Feed the turtles. Hmm, why didn't I think of that?

I decided to stick the camera in the pond and this is the shot I got....

Your New Car

2010-07-01T21:50:00.000+12:00

Your new car......is a bike.
Amazingly, many, many people that move to Kwaj have the foresight to bring the license plates off of their car when they PCS out here. That's one thing my sponsor never mentioned but I wanted you to know.
If you like your plate or just want to represent when you arrive on island...strap your old license plate on your bike and you are good to go!

Last Day Of Vacation

2010-06-21T14:47:00.000+12:00

Well, today is the last day of our vacation. Tomorrow around noon we'll arrive back on Kwaj. Kind of surprisingly, neither of us is terribly excited about it.

Kwaj is small, quiet, low stress, not polluted and has beautiful scenery and fun activities that can be done year-round. I kind of assumed once I got back into the real world of face-paced, traffic, pollution and bad weather that I would want to run back to the comforting arms of Kwaj. I don't.

In fact, while we were on vacation, we purchased a house! An ocean view home 5 blocks from the beach on the Oregon Coast. I've always wanted to live there, it was exciting that my new husband felt the same way. I was in a gift shop with my Mom when a customer asked the shop-keeper how she liked living on the Coast. She remarked that if she didn't have a business there, she wouldn't live there at all. She said it was too inconvenient, that she had to drive an hour to a Wal-Mart and that their grocery store wasn't even a grocery store. She said it was a good place to retire, low crime and relaxed but she preferred more action and accessibility. HA! She should try Kwaj for awhile!

I guess that's what makes the Coast work for us. It provides far more opportunity and accessibility than we are currently used to.

So the plan is we'll finish out our current contracts and then move to our house on the Oregon Coast. That will be roughly April 2011. After that, someone else will have to fill you in on the details of Kwaj life.

Everything Rusts

2010-06-07T11:32:00.003+12:00

Kwajalein Poll

2010-06-03T13:25:00.000+12:00

I'm interested in knowing what the "other" is for those of you that selected it in the poll on the sidebar. I couldn't think of other options. If you would, take a moment and post a comment on the "other" way you heard about Kwajalein.

I believe that even if you are logged in you have the option of posting anonymously if you wish. Thank you in advance!

Can You Imagine?

2010-05-24T23:43:00.000+12:00

So we just moved into a house. We've been in a BQ which is nothing more than a hotel room, a room with a bathroom; nothing more. Now we have a kitchen, an extra room, and a backyard! Dreamy!

Anyway, when you get a house, you lose your dining hall privileges. No more free food. My husband has pretty much hated eating in the mess hall since he hit the island so as far as money goes, it's not much of an impact in that matter. For the last 6 months we've mostly only eaten lunch at the PDR.

Upon thinking about our move, I started thinking about some of the other island folks around here......

Imagine this: 20 years on a tiny island; you live in a tiny BQ and you eat the same thing in the dining hall, week-after-week. Thursdays are Mexican, Wednesdays are Italian....over, and over...for 20 years!!!!

Amazing!

Unforseen Side Effect

2010-05-22T10:11:00.000+12:00

Living on Kwaj has turned me into an impulse buyer. Probably everyone else too or if they haven't turned yet they will if they stick around very long.

I never used to go to the store unless I had something specific in mind that I was looking for; that's all I would go in for and when I found it, I got it and left. I've never liked "shopping". I translate that to wondering around for hours looking at everything and just trying to find something to spend your money on. Not me.

There have been so many times in my life that I have found something I like, but somehow manage to talk myself out of it. I've even been known to pick something up, carry it around and then put it back. Usually because it doesn't seem "practical".

On Kwaj, we get in limited supplies and you really can't count on anything to be there twice. Whatever you do, don't get hooked on a favorite brand or flavor....you may end up in withdrawls. I'm talking about everything from toothpaste to beer.

I watched a guy in the liquor isle one day agonizing for 5 minutes since his favorite brand wasn't there. I bought something to try and went back 2 hours later to get more and it was gone. I've passed on stuff, went home to ask my husband about it and when I got back it was gone. The rule of thumb here is, if you see it and you want it, get it because it won't last.

For some this develops into an even worse problem; hoarding. Personally, I'd rather go without than have to store a bunch of stock in my house; or worse, BQ room.

First Time In Over A Year

2010-05-15T10:27:00.000+12:00

This week I drove an actual vehicle for the first time in a year and four months. Up to this point it's been the golf carts we use for work. I have actually had to ride my bike to a client call when no carts were available; with my laptop and tools strapped to the back. (Only on Kwaj)

I rented a pickup truck to move some stuff to the house and it's funny how some things you just don't forget. The truck I got had super touchy brakes though and I screeched the tires the first time I stopped.

Driving here is weird because of all the bicycle and pedestrian traffic. And all of that traffic is pretty aimless, there is no real flow. Everyone just walks or rides where they want and sudden U-turns is not uncommon. You really have to pay attention when you drive around here.

Movin' On Up!

2010-05-12T08:33:00.000+12:00

Housing is limited here, I've mentioned that before. Anyone that arrives on island is likely to get put into a BQ or Bachelors Quarters. Basically it's a dorm. The rooms are like hotel rooms, a room with a bathroom, that's it.

If you are married, and get on the waiting list, you can get into a "married BQ" which is two of these rooms, side by side with a door cut in the middle. This is actually quite an improvement over two separate rooms, especially if they are in different buildings. We felt like we were in prime real estate when we got our married BQ.

Today though, I get to go pick up the keys for our house! It's a duplex really but it's two bedroom, a full kitchen, our own washer and dryer and a yard!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? This is huge. The house is part of my recent promotion. My husband was recently promoted and his position comes with a house too but unfortunately, the housing slots for his company were full.

As one of my coworkers said, getting a house here makes you feel like a human again. After just looking at the place, I can see exactly what he means. We no longer get free food at the chow hall but we barely ate there anyway; not really a big loss. I'm sure the cat will enjoy having a new and bigger space to explore as well.

Great Kwaj Swap-meet

2010-05-03T11:30:00.000+12:00

Today we hit the Great Kwaj Swap-meet. It's an annual event and kind of a big deal. There was a huge turnout, both buyers and sellers.
We picked up a handful of movies, a lamp, and some folding chairs. Maybe next year, we'll be vendors instead of customers....

Great Day Fishing

2010-04-12T15:41:00.001+12:00

Today's fishing trip was the best I've had so far. The weather was beautiful, we had a good crew and we even caught some fish!
We ran into the biggest bird pile I've ever seen. Unfortunately, our lines got tangled a couple of times but we managed to catch an Aku and a Mahi-Mahi. The Aku put up quite the fight and the Mahi-Mahi jumped out of the water, it was quite the display. Fingers crossed for next time.

Newest Adventure

2010-04-05T14:27:00.001+12:00

A few years ago in Montana, I got the opportunity to try wake boarding. I instantly loved it even though after the first time I tried it I literally felt like someone beat me about the shoulders and upper back with a baseball bat. I liked it so much that I bought my own boat to ensure that I could go whenever I wanted.

When I left to come to Kwaj I sold my boat, along with everything else I owned and I've been wanting to wakeboard since I got out here. There aren't a whole lot of people that wakeboard here. A handful compared to the number that fish and dive and sail.

Today, after a year and two months I finally go to go. It wasn't the best day, we were only on the water for a short amount of time. The water was very rough. It was like trying to ride a bucking bronco pretty much and I tweaked my back. But hey, I got to go and I had fun anyway! I plan to go more from now on. I guess the weather will start cooperating more in about a month or so.

About the only thing I haven't tried so far is diving. I'm still thinking about it....

Wish Us Luck!

2010-04-02T10:24:00.000+12:00

The spring bowling league starts up next week. My team and I are excited. This will be the third bowling season for me since I've been on Kwaj and it's a lot of fun. There is quite a turnout every "season" too.

One of our resident bowling afficianados took it upon himself to push for getting the bowling alley back into working condition and has done a remarkable job. As with most things around here if it's not being used by the majority it tends to get neglected (read: unfunded).

The first bowling season I participated in, two of the eight lanes didn't work at all, three of the remaining ones were having some difficulty but we got by with lots of help from the manual pinsetters. But with all of his hard work and encouragement(and good management of our dues) all eight lanes are now working pretty darn well.

Thanks Bob!

Kwaj Crud 2.0 - Back With A Vengeance

2010-03-21T09:38:00.000+12:00

I am so sick!

I have a terrible upper respiratory infection commonly known around here as the "Kwaj Crud". This is typical for newbies to the island, almost everyone gets some version of it shortly after arriving. This is my second time with it, I got it a couple months after I arrived last year and now I've got it again, but it's worse.

There are many theories about the origins of Kwaj Crud, some say it's the mold and mildew lurking in the air conditioning ducts, others think it's some kind of allergy. I've even heard theories that it comes over on the LCM from Ebeye. All I know is it sucks!

My lungs feel like bricks, my throat and nose hurt from all the coughing and nose blowing and I've had laryngitis for four days now.

Last week I started coming down with something. I went running anyway just to measure how bad it really was. It was bad. After I got back home (I run in the mornings before work) I showered and crawled back in bed for another 5 hours! The rest of the day was not much better, there was a pretty good imprint of me in the couch where I was for the rest of the day.

The bad thing is, I might be better by now but I'm the type that likes to pretend I'm not sick. I still go to work (except that first day) I still do the BBQ's with friends, and last night we stayed up late playing "dominoes". Ugh.

So this weekend, when I would love to be out playing in the sun, I'm going to lay around the house and try to get better. If not, I'm hitting First Stop on my way to work on Tuesday for some real medicine. First Stop is just a no appointment necessary time when you can visit the hospital for minor injuries and illnesses around here.

I'm not sure how fun it would be out there this weekend anyway, the beaches are all closed because of sewage sludge (their words, not mine) in the water. Yum!

An Interview With One Of Our Neighbors To The North

2010-03-11T07:47:00.000+12:00

Here is an article one of my co-workers found and shared. Roi-Namur is about 40 miles to the north of Kwaj. We have a commuter flight that goes up there several times a day taking Kwaj residents to work and vice-versa. It's a pretty good article; enjoy!

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100309/OPINION03/3090351/1005/lifestyle/Homeless-man-no-hobo

2010 Commedore's Ball

2010-02-28T22:52:00.000+12:00

Tonight we attended the Commedore's Ball. This is the first big event that I've been to twice since I've been on island since I just hit my one year anniversary 10 days ago. (I know, I should have posted something about that.)

It was very fun, there was Polynesian music, a nice buffet and an awards ceremony. The Commedore's Ball is where the new officers take over and thank the old officers for their participation and then there are awards for the sailboat races. The racing is pretty casual, most people don't care if they win or lose and anyone can participate, sailors and non-sailors alike.

The most surprising event of the evening? I won an award! I got 3rd place for the 2009 Spring Race Series! They spelled my last name wrong and I've gotten married since so I was told I would get a new trophy with a corrected name soon. I am so excited! This makes me want to race so much more.

Always Something To Do Around Here

2010-02-24T10:05:00.000+12:00

There is no end to the activities available on Kwaj. Anyone who gets bored here wants to be. On any given day there is sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, going to the gym, raquetball, tennis, swimming, pottery or woodworking at the hobby shop and probably several other things I'm not thinking of. On weekends there is always at least two movies to choose from in the theaters and bowling is available on Sundays.

On top of that we have several private organizations, the Yacht Club, the Scuba Club, the Running Club, the Womens Guild....again, there are probably more that I don't even know.

Our most recent edition of the Coconut Wire includes the following fun activities as well:

Greek Soiree at the Country Club. Ticket includes a mystery wine tasting, a glass of wine, a grape stomp, paint your own wine goblet and a variety of Meze (the Greek word for Pupu). Togas are optional.
Kwaj's Top Chef - Think you are a "top chef?" Contact Community Activities to sign up to compete. Each Chef will be allowed two Sous Chefs & will be provided a budget to shop for provisions. Chefs will draw for which course to prepare.
Interactive Dinner Theater - “I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning,”
Bingo night at the Pacific Club
Mobile Kitchen Dinner at Emon Beach. Menu to include; Crabcakes with Roumalade Sauce, Encrusted Mahi Mahi, Herb Seasoned Rice Pilaf, Steamed Vegetable Medley, Garden Salad, Dinner Rolls, Water, Beer and Wine and Cheese Cake with Chocolate Sauce for dessert.
Kwajalein Yacht Club Commodore's Ball "Island Style" at the Country Club. Entertainment by "Pure Polynesia". Dinner will be a buffet of chicken or beef.

Sounds like a really fun month!

Dead To The World

2010-02-20T08:55:00.001+12:00

This weekend, from noon Saturday through 5:00 am Monday, there will be no phone, internet, television, debit/credit card or ATM functionality on Kwajalein or Roi Namur while our satellite link is worked on Stateside.

You should hear all the wailing and gnashing of teeth going on from the residents. You would think there was nothing else to do around here. I personally plan to play outside as much as possible, or possibly get some work done on the boat.

Next weekend, I hope to get some more pictures uploaded. Chris was in a fishing tournament and we went sailing on Valentines day so I would like to get those posted......I still have some Christmas pictures I want to show you.

Hey, what can I say? We're on island time around here, I'll get to it! (Eventually!)

Let's Play A Game

2010-02-07T09:05:00.001+12:00

When I was a kid I used to watch Sesame Street and The Electric Company like most kids did.....One of the games they would play was "One of these things is not like the others" or something like that. (Hey it was a long time ago, I can't remember exactly). The idea was you were given a series of pictures and you had to pick out which one was different. Sometimes you would see three fruits and a vegetable or 4 random items but three of them were green and one was orange, you get the idea.

So, here we go with a Kwaj version of:

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others!

Do you see it?

They are all fire hydrants, right? But one of them is very different than the others.....

Now why do you suppose one of them (the only one I've found on island by the way) is bright yellow and has those striped posts around it when all of the others are brown with no protective posts?

My guess is that someone ran over the yellow one (back when it was still brown like the others) at some point and this is the result.

The funniest part of this is the yellow one is in the least high traffic area of all of these pictured.

It's Not Logical.....It's KWAJICAL!

2010-01-31T16:05:00.000+12:00

The title of this post if from a t-shirt available at the AAFES store here on Kwaj. It's in reference to the fact that not everything makes sense here. There are a lot of decisions made and actions taken around here that can leave you scratching your head and asking, "Why?".

Sometimes it seems that people forget that we are not like every other city out there, that Kwaj is unique and what applies in other places does not necessarily apply here. I like to joke that I live in the Twilight Zone.

Unfortunately, my blog is monitored by the powers that be so I will not be siting any specific examples.