Saipan-da

Drew and I decided to take a trip to the nearby island of Saipan for Memorial Day weekend as an early 6 month anniversary trip.  We had an absolutely wonderful time lounging by the pool, reading, relaxing, exploring, eating and playing some awesome games (H-O-R-S-E at the basketball hoop in the pool, shuffleboard, and ping-pong).  Saipan was simply gorgeous.  We really enjoyed ourselves and even though we got a little burned, it was a delightful weekend.  

We went for a room with an ocean view & it was definitely worth it!

Unexploded Ordinance

So, today (Thursday) Drew got to come home for a few hours in the middle of the day because they had to evacuate his building on base because they discovered unexploded ordinance.  When he called to tell me he was coming home, I was shocked that there would be unexploded ordinance on base, and under a bank at that.  His nonchalant response was "Yeah, it happens all the time around here."  And that reminded me about the last time he told me about unexploded ordinance discovered on Island - under a gas station!!

Also, just this week I heard a story about a little boy who went to Asan Park for a school field trip.  It's a big, popular park right on the beach, which is actually where the Marines stormed the island in WWII.  The kids on the field trip are just putzing around the park as kids do and apparently this boy discovers a hand grenade just chillin' in the park.  As any responsible student would, he goes to ask his teacher if he can keep it.  Her response, "Sure."  Sure, kid, take home that hand grenade.  Kid gets home, shows the grenade to his shocked mother who then calls Navy EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal).  EOD comes to check out the grenade & discovers that it is live and unexploded!  Real sweet souvenir for an elementary school kid.  EOD took it & detonated it and I like to think they brought back the shell or any remaining pieces for the kid to keep as a souvenir, but I'm not sure that happened.  Only on Guam or as I say "Ooogh."

Veronica Mars & Game of Thrones

Based on recommendations from 3 people we hold in high regard (Kristen, Jake & Angela), Drew & I started watching "Veronica Mars."  We were both hooked instantly and blew through the first 2 seasons in about a week.  The writing is witty, the mysteries/detectiving is great, and the characters are well developed.  Also, I kinda got to live out my PI dream-job fantasy while watching it.  We begun the third (and final) season with equally high hopes, but were pretty disappointed.  There are a few problems with it.  One, Veronica goes off to college and the vibe just isn't the same; two, they switched from the season-long mystery to mini-mysteries which just didn't work as well; and, finally, it ended so abruptly that we were left hanging on almost all story lines.  I would highly recommend the first two seasons if you're into teen lit & would enjoy watching a high school private detective.  Plus, it's on Netflix Instant so it's an easy commitment.  But you could probably just skip the third season altogether.

Based on another recommendation from a person held in high esteem (Janine), Drew & I next started watching "Game of Thrones" - the new show on HBO.  I think there have only been 5 episodes so far & we've seen them all.  Drew is really into it and knows exactly what's going on.  I think that I like it, but I'm a little lost with all the families, reigns, etc.  Drew gets a little annoyed that I have to ask him "What's going on?" or "Who is that?" every five seconds.  We're definitely going to stick with it and hopefully I'll catch on soon.

In other news, I was driving the other day and got caught in my first huge Guam downpour.  It only lasted for about 15 minutes (really, just until I drove out of it).  But the rain was coming in horizontally and at such a rate that it had me wishing I had just one speed higher on my windshield wipers.  I think it was the only time that I've been glad the speed limit on the whole island is 35 mph.

Drew & I got two new bedside lamps for our room this weekend.  They are just lovely and we're both really happy with them.  We also went out to a fancy Italian dinner last night at Al Dente at the Hyatt.  Two of Drew's friends had given us a gift certificate for a wedding gift and we had a fabulous dinner complete with the dessert sampler.  Tasty!  Thanks Siiri & James!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  Love from Guam!

My New Car!

Drew & I bought a car (aka a "Guam bomb") today!  It's actually not really a bomb at all, but a pretty good car.  It's a 2005 Hyundai Sante Fe.  We opted for a small SUV for our island car so we can haul around scuba/snorkeling gear.  We'll leave the car here when we take off, but it should be great for the next few months.  I can't wait to get it Guam plates, get my Guam license & start driving it around.  Woo hoo!

The Grand Tour of Our Home

I decided to take some pictures to give you all a virtual tour of our home.  Welcome to our casa.  Enjoy!

Our entryway 

Our upstairs bathroom (the door to the left in the picture above)



Our main room upstairs (dining room/living room)



Our new dining room table (and the table runner Drew brought
back from Thailand)



The kitchen!

Our new couch (finally!!)

The view from our upstairs balcony & our patio table

Our office. It still needs some work...

The guest room 

Guest bathroom 

Where the magic happens :)

Our room, complete with a hammock on the balcony & an ocean view



His & her closets.  Unfortunately Drew got here first and the small
one to the right is mine.  The large walk-in to the left is his.

Our bathroom

Well, that's our little Guamanian apartment.  Hope you enjoyed the tour.  Come visit us anytime!!  

The Couch Saga - Part Deux/The Amazing Technicolor Couch

So yesterday I blogged about the ill-fated delivery of our new couch, but little did I know that wasn't the worst of it.  As it stands now, we have no couch and we got a refund of the money we did pay for our new couch.

I got a call yesterday morning from the couch delivery guy letting me know that there was a small problem.  Apparently, they went back to the store and pulled the floor model that we bought out into the warehouse to package it up and bring to us.  According to him, when the couch went from the store into the warehouse it turned from dark green (the color we bought) to dark brown.  And he wanted to know if we still wanted the couch or if we wanted to come see the color-changing couch for ourselves.  Flabbergasted, I asked him, "Don't you think that's a bit odd that the couch just changes color?"  He said that he did think it was odd, but according to him the tag on the couch listed the following colors: mocha, chestnut & walnut.  He assumed that it meant the couch could change any one of those colors depending on the light.  Still not buying what he was selling, I asked "Have you had this problem before and, if so, what have those customers done?"  Well, he replied, they just took the couch.  You mean to tell me that they bought a dark green couch, but they just said "Oh well!" and took a dark brown couch instead.  We weren't really seeing eye to eye so I hung up with him and called the main store number hoping to speak to the seemingly more competent woman who sold us the couch or the manager.

I get a sales lady on the phone and I get the same story from her about this amazing chameleon couch.  I asked her, "Doesn't the green couch come with green & purple accent pillows?  Because the accent pillows that they brought with the brown couch yesterday had light & dark brown pillows."  Her response, we can give you the green & purple pillows if you want.  Ay yi yi.  Again, not speaking the same language or something, I tell her that I will discuss it with my husband but that we will probably want a refund of our money since we thought we were purchasing a green couch & nobody told us it could magically change colors.  I mean, what if it just changes to red over time??  Talked to Drew and decided that we were done with the shadsters & their magic couches, so I called back announcing myself as "Jessica Coffin, calling about the color-changing couch" and got a full refund.  We're still couchless, but at least I have a great Guam experience now.

My Dad's Beautiful House

My dad had our home in Pasadena newly painted & it looks just beautiful!  Great work, Dad!  I can't wait to come home & visit to see it in person.  And you - love you!  

In other news, Drew & I were supposed to get our new couch delivered yesterday.  But in typical Guam style, there were a few mishaps.  First, they called on their way to let us know that they only had one of the pieces of our sectional and would have to deliver the other piece the next day.  I guess the warehouse guys had just loaded the truck with the wrong parts.  So, after working for about 10 minutes & countless angles (our front entryway is a bit tricky), they got the piece in and began taking off the wrapping.  I quickly realized that it was the wrong color - right couch (or part thereof), just not the right color.  They didn't really believe me and couldn't understand that we didn't just want to keep that one.  After calling the store & explaining that we wanted the couch and color that we actually bought, they had to maneuver the wrong couch back out the entryway.  They said that they would re-deliver today, but I'm not getting my hopes up.  And this time I hope they check it out before they bring it all the way in!  

Just Another Weekend in Guam

Drew & I spent Saturday at Tarague Beach on Andersen Air Force Base.  It was an absolutely beautiful day.  We also discovered Bamboo Willies - a cute little beach restaurant/bar - and tried out their mai tais and smoothies.  Another wonderful day in Guam...

In Memory of My Mom

It's May 7 in Guam and one day before Mother's Day.  I can't believe it's been one full year since my mom passed away.  That was, by far, the worst day of my life.  I miss her everyday and love her with all my heart.  I feel so fortunate that I got to spend over 26 years with the most wonderful mom in the whole world.  And I'm even more grateful that I know she is now in a perfect place with our Heavenly Father.     

She was the most caring, thoughtful, loving, snuggly, cheerful & brilliant person that I know - I strive everyday to be more & more like her.  Unfortunately, I can't remember every single detail of her laugh, her touch or her anymore but I know she is looking down on me & with me everyday.  I love you, Mom.

Flat Stanley Visits Guam

For those of you who don't know who Flat Stanley is, you're really missing out.  But also in luck because I'm about to tell you all about him.  He is a little boy who sadly got flattened by a bookcase, but the good news is that now he can travel around the world in an envelope.  And travel he does.

A little second grader from Pasadena, CA sent his Flat Stanley to Drew in Guam.  Flat Stanley hung out with Drew for about 2 weeks (he'd been sitting here for a few months all by himself while Drew was out on the ship).  And just today we sent Flat Stanley back with the story of his travels, a few snapshots of his adventures & a few Guam treasures.

Dear Miguel,

            I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you.  I was away on a ship for three months and did not get Flat Stanley until I returned back to Guam.

            In my time back in Guam, Flat Stanley and I have been having a lot of fun.  He came with me to work and helped me give legal advice to all of the service members here on Guam.  He was particularly good at giving me help when I was writing wills for my clients.

            Last week he came with my wife and me to a barbeque at the beach.  We took some pictures and he had fun playing in the sand.  Sadly, though, he didn’t really manage to get a tan.  But he did get to see a guy kite surfing with a bright green kite. 

            This last weekend Stanley came to Law Day at the Micronesia Mall, Guam’s largest shopping center, with me.  He really liked watching the mock trial and the traditional Chamorro dancers.  I think he learned a lot too!

            Thanks for letting Flat Stanley come to visit me.  I had a lot of fun showing him around the island of Guam – where America’s day begins. 

                                       Sincerely,

                                       Lieutenant Andrew Coffin