Wow; living out a parrot head’s dream

Just came in from a run (Friday); had to stop at the half way point and just walk back. Started out with a clear sky and the stars shining like diamonds then add in a few wisps of clouds, the blowing breeze, the palm trees swaying and the waves crashing. It was just too hard not to stop and just take it all in. Living out one of those times in which you to get your head on straight and just kick back and chill. Time to let all those problems drift out of the way and just enjoy life.

Welcome to Kwaj time; slowed down and easy. Here, if you feel like going for a walk in the middle of the night you do so without a worry. Where just about anybody who passes you says hi and you ask how they are doing. Think of Mayberry, USA on a Pacific island.

Wish I had a better camera, or at least the skill to capture and share the sights here. Some of my photos are good, at least for me but it takes a long time to get them on the Blog. Going to start taking my camera to work; one of the guys saw a couple of coconut crabs last night. Not the giant ones (the natives and eat them but they are protected from us) but one will come along for a picture soon.

Of course I will admit it’s not what everyone is used to and not everyone would like it here. The internet is SLOW and there are a limited number of TV shows—would say how many but I haven’t had time to get a TV yet. I go to my place to sleep and then it’s either to work or on to something outside. Did I say that it is always warm here (except in the BQ’s where I wear a sweat shirt). I talked to one of the weather guys the other day. We beat all the cities including those in HI in average highs, temperature and winds.

So to all you guys waiting for summer in Oklahoma, for a minute or two, kick back, relax, turn on the Kenny Chesney & Jimmy Buffett tunes and know that “I’m enjoying the life!”

PS: Saturday—got off work early & went to Emmon beach for some snorkeling. Not much to see except maybe that turtle I swam with, thousands of brilliant colored fish and a great mix of corals J Going to try and stay up late tonight as I start a graveyard shift Sunday @ 1700 hours.

Still need more water time

I went out on the “Shaggy”, (the pontoon boat) last Sunday. Everyone splits the cost which was on $13.60, about the most inexpensive place in the world to do a two tank boat dive. The lagoon was not too choppy and we only had a few waves come over the bow and splash everyone. Mainly just saw small but very colorful fish and corals. I took some photos on the second dive.

I am still working on my goal to get in a lot better shape. It is so much easier to get out and run, when you can watch the waves crash and always have warm weather. Did a short run, stopped by the gym and then went out and snorkeled in the lagoon. If I could avoid eating so much in the chow hall I would be a lot better off.

Still working on learning all the regulations; the radio is plain text but everything else is numbers and letters, with some being the same as on the department but mean something different here. I did discover that I can sponsor friends/relatives who may want to come out. With the cheapest airfare between $1,500 & $1,600 now, I do not expect anyone really to come out but if anyone ever wanted to be on a island(s) in the Pacific (that does not cost much once you get here) I can offer the opportunity. Oh, any retiring police officer wanted to chill out and just kick back for a year, let me know. (I get a $ on anyone I recruit :)

Faster than a speeding bullet

Watched a small rocket take off. Will try and send video; it did not take off on time and when it did it was almost gone before my camera would work. Very impressive and just a small rocket!

Flew up and did a tour of Roi; an outstanding island to visit and even better to return and do some diving at. Took a bunch of pictues--lots of WWII history.

Another day in Kwaj

Talked with the EOD guys, they have lots of neat stories. After I work went out with the Outrigger Canoe Paddling Club. First time in an outrigger, lots of things different from the canoe and kayak. 7 of us manned the boat, which must weigh at least 500 pounds! We paddled to the other end of the island; there were two guys getting ready to go scuba diving with scooters. The two extremes, one group in ancient water craft the other getting ready to be pulled around underwater, without even swimming.