More Great Visitors

Wow! Another busy week. The new group came in on the Saturday flight that our last folks left on. It was kinda neat, the group leaving all gave me hugs as they left. We tell people when they get here that they are joining our family, and it's true; once you've been here you are forever part of the Midway family. Case in point. Two sisters who had been here on the late 70's came out on this trip along with their families to share with them a place that had been so special to them. So, almost half of the trip is related to each other. Great folks. I asked the sitsters to share some of their memories of the school they attended. It's gone now, done in by termites, but, it was fun to hear some of their stories. They were the last class to be there as the base was being "mothballed" and dependants were forced to leave. The class left a time capsule buried near the flagpole, so the quest of the week is to find the spot where it might be buried. Stay tuned.

They also have their twelve year old son with them. Wish I'd known earlier that he was coming, would have been fun to have Ben out here at the same time. Good snorkeling at the cargo pier yesterday and out on the reef today. Sara is bringing an underwater camera when she comes out, so, I'm excited to get some fish photos on here. Of course, she's insisting that I read the manual before using the camera. Sigh.....I thought was the LAST thing you were supposed to do. I guess I can understand her point since I've had my present camera for...several years....and still haven't read the whole manual....

Lots of chicks hatching and lots of Laysan chicks losing their down and getting ready to fly. I can't wait to see that. Right now they are flapping their wings, stretching, and getting stronger.

What else... We had a NOAA ship in late last week and there's a Coast Guard ship coming tomorrow. The NOAA ship was supplying the other stations in the island chain, doing some research and dropping off and picking up people. The Coast Guard ship is going to pick up the nets out of our pile of marine debris. We also did a little service on Memorial Day. Next week a 737 comes out bringing a tour group to be here for the anniversary of the Battle of Midway. Once again, for a place so far from anything, we always have something going on around here.

John, in the picture above is headed to Laysan Island for 4 months as a volunteer. He'll be camping out in a tent most of the time. Yep, we have it pretty easy here on Midway.

Later, Murray

Better

Ya know, there's nothing like a new group of visitors to put me in a better mood! The new folks, 13, plus Wayne, the naturalist for the Oceanic Society, arrived on Saturday night. Great bunch of folks. One of them, Jim, was stationed here in 1958-59. One of only 13 Marines on the island. Their main job was security. It's been enlightening having him point out where things USED to be before being bulldozed into rubble. He lived in a Quonset hut right across from the Midway Mall and they also had the brig right there. He's pretty amazed at the changes to the place. Who wouldn't be? So many of the buildings that were here were taken down by the Navy before they left. Most of them needed to be, I might add. Many were falling apart or had hazardous materials in them. I've been reading all the historical documentation I can get my hands on, trying to figure out where things were and what some of the buildings still left standing once were used for. One of my favorite things to try and figure out is what was done in a building that used to stand down at the south end of the island. Double barbed wire fences and big steel doors. Rumor is that it was some kind of nuclear installation and I found one refence that indicates they were working on nuclear armed anti-submarine torpedoes. Still working to verify that one. Kinda freaky....

Took folks down to Bulky Dump and found the "albino" albatross chick everyone has been talking about. I think she's gorgeous! Not really a true albino, just very blonde. The true albinos don't ever come back and it's thought that they go blind at sea because they have no eye pigment to protect them from the harsh glare. "Blondie" should do OK, 'cause she has dark eyes. There's another chick nearly as light over by the harbor. Maybe they'll find each other one day....

Our visitors are kinda unique in another way. They like to work and help out with projects. Not the kind of visitors I'm used to. I rank these folks in the eco-tourist category rather than "general" visitors. This group helped us pull the "evil weed" Verbesina out in the Pan Am field. Pan Am field is where the Gooneyville Lodge was located before the termites decimated it. The Pan American Clipper Ships flew in the 30's and 40's, hopping people from island to island across the Pacific to Asia. Passengers would stay on each island for a couple of days, hanging out on the beach and eating 5-star food. Beautiful planes, from the pictures I've seen. Anyway, with another 14 or so helping hands, we were able to put a big dent in the weeds. Hopefully, the group next week will help us finish it off. Oh, yeah, I seem to be slightly allergic to Verbesina. Itchy eyes and runny nose....sigh....

We took everyone over to Eastern on Monday. I did part of the tour for the first time. Haven't been over there for a few weeks and the the Sooty Terns are back in force. Thousands is a weak way to describe it. And, if you think the Laysans are noisy, you ain't heard nothin'! Raucous and shrill as hell. And they don't put up with any crap from the Laysan chicks. This one wandered too close and the tern pecked him several times until he backed off . Poor little dudes, everyone pecks at them. They are getting ridiculously big now, some look like downy bowling balls. They will actually have to lose weight before they can fledge. Not that that will be a problem. The parents will soon be leaving and it will then be up to the chicks whether they live or die. Many won't make it. But, enough will figure out how to fly and in a few years they will come back and start dancing. Many of them have more feathers than down and are looking pretty comical.

Of course, it would look better if I had rotated it before I posted it, but, I didn't. And I'm too sleepy to figure it out. So, turn your head or pick up your laptop and rotate it. Goodnight and Peace to every one of you....

Murray

A Tale of Two Teeth

Hopefully this is the last post about my teeth. After going several days of walking around feeling like my crown was going to fall out, I got on the G1 and went to Hono last Monday night. Touched down about 4am and got to the bunkhouse where we stay while in town at around 5am. Thank goodness they changed my dentist appointment from 7am to 9:20 am. Hitched a ride in to the office with John, a guy who's going to volunteer out at Laysan Island for 4 months. Then had to hitch a ride to the appointment 'cause someone needed the truck. When the dentist pulls off the crown, he makes one of those noises any patient hates to hear, a sharp intake of breath. Turns out the tooth is shattered under the crown and there's only a stub left. Shit..... He builds it back up, does all the stuff you have to do to get a crown made and sends me on my way. Thursday afternoon I go in and they put it in. I'm grateful to him for getting me in and taking care of it so fast. I'm grateful to my Moab dentist for covering the cost. I'm pissed at myself for having a crown put on in the first place. How did this all come about? Back in second grade, just when my front tooth was coming in, I g0t it shoved back up into my gums by colliding with a kids head. I snuck up on him playing some kid game and just as I was about to grab him, he turned around and started running. Smack! When the tooth grew back out, it was crooked. In 5th grade, Bryan Freeman was rearing back to throw a rock just as I was bending down and rock and tooth collided. Now the tooth was crooked AND had a corner missing. Sigh....Over the years we kept trying to put a fake corner on it, but it would never stay because I always cracked sunflower seeds with it. Those of you who know me remember the "bag a day" seed habit I once had. Years of therapy and 4 stints in rehab and now I've been clean for a long time....ANYWAY, many years later, in my 40's I briefly had the money and the insurance to get a crown on the chipped tooth. The dentist screwed it up and I was in pain for almost a year. Then it chipped, so I go to a new dentist. He inspires a lot more confidence and he talks me into getting a veneer on the other front tooth so that they match better. I thought it over for quite a while 'cause I'd already taken a pretty good (just not pretty) tooth and messed it up. Vanity got the best of me and I went for it. And they looked great! But, then that veneered tooth shatters (still wonder why?) and now I have two weak-ass front teeth. But, they look good. Shit... So, from here on out, I have to be really careful with what I eat. No biting into apples and other stuff that puts a lot of stress on them. Sigh....

I'm not really impressed with Honolulu. Just another big city. Granted, I only saw a small portion of it, but the traffic was really bad. When I think of Hawaii, bad traffic is not what should come to mind. I'd get off work and stop at the Ala Moana Mall to have dinner at their food court. Remember, I had a temporary crown, so was eating a lot of rice. After dinner I'd walk around looking and doing a little shopping. (Coolie cups and a small soft-sided cooler). I looked at all the choices of stuff in that mall and was just amazed. We as a people in this country have a lot of options on most everything: cars, clothes, food, schools; it's kind of obscene in a way compared to what some folks in the world have to deal with. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather be here than there. It's just....a lot. Choice is good in so many ways. Choice of where to live, choice of what you want to do in life, choice in who our President is (well, not that much choice, I guess) It got me to thinking about the choices I've made in my life. Boy, I've made some doozies. Some, I really regret. I've done some really dumb things and I know I've hurt some people. I'm really glad I came out here, but, sometimes I wonder if I'm losing my son. Or is it just his hitting that age where he likes to be with friends more than the old man. I know it's a natural progression and it happens, but....it's hard.... He chose to not come visit out here. I think in years to come he will regret it, 'cause it probably is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but, I have to respect his decision. But, it's hard.... So, go hug your kid and tell them you love them, 'cause all too soon, they'll be spreading their wings and going their own way.
Love ya,
Murray

Denied!

Gorgeous day today! Sunny, not too hot, water in the lagoon smooth as glass. Matt, Pete and the volunteers went snorkeling out at the wrecked water barge (hmm, not sure I've told you about that....). And I didn't go. What? Murray pass up a chance to go into the water? Surely you jest? Nope, it's true. Earlier in the day that crown that I chipped a few days ago darn near fell out! It bent forward and I thought it was coming out. Ended up grabbing hold of it and shoving it back in place. Nope, don't think it's going to hold for very long. Sooo, what does one do on an atoll 1250 miles from the nearest dentist? You go to the dentist. Looks like I'll fly in on the 12th and come back on the 16th. I have to call my dentist in Moab again tomorrow and tell him to order up a replacement and get it shipped to Hono in a hurry. Major bummer 'cause I had the thing put in

right before I came out here. He's going to make it right, so that helps. Makes me wonder at myself though. I went most of my life with that crooked tooth and it never seemed to hurt my social life. Both teeth were fine except for being crooked and having a chip out. Vanity won out, though at the ripe old age of forty-something. Kinda goofy. Oh, wait! Maybe that's why I've been divorced three times! Gads! I finally figured it out! It was because of the tooth! Whew! I've been wondering for so long....

Let's see if I can find a good picture...

Later,

Shoe

Not Much...

going on the last few days. Just trying to learn several Adobe programs to use on exhibits. Did go out and help on "Chainsaw Friday" cutting down Ironwoods. Began to rain on our party, though and gave it up after getting drenched.

The wind was really blowing the other day and as I was standing up by the Clipper House watching the Laysans soar, I got to thinking about an exersise we did in an interpretive writing class one time. It was a fill in the blank deal where you tried to come up with a simile or metaphor. I sat there thinking about how I'd fill in this: Albatrosses soar on the wind like___________. Came up with a few, but, it's one of those things that doesn't make a lot of sense, unless you've seen them. They truly are amazing. They can go for miles without flapping a wing. On a windy day, the sky is covered with them as they seem to joyfully take to the skies.

Mail has been delayed for quite some time and is causing a bit of discontent. One flight got cancelled due to a mechanical problem, then the Navy jet that came wouldn't bring it for us and now our next flight is so full, they can't bring any. Good thing there is Internet out here...

Quiet day today, too. Spent most of it just reading a book as the weather kinda sucked. Finally got better and went for a walk just before dark. Found a couple of roads I hadn't been on yet and an old bunker behind the Marine Barracks. I'm amazed at the amount of stuff there is here that I haven't seen yet. Still a lot of buildings to explore, though I'll wear a mask in some of them to avoid the mold.

Let's see. What shall I post for a picture? How about a White Tern?

Just heard on TV about a site called.... getmortified.org I'm going to log off here and take a look at it. If you have a shoebox in a closet full of old stuff from junior high or high school, you should check it out. Sounds kinda fun.

Later,

Murray

Snorkeling and Banding

OK, don't hate me too much. Yesterday, all day, my job was to go find a new snorkeling spot to take visitors to. One of the places we currently take them is just too shallow and fragile, so we went looking for a deeper place. First three places weren't great for coral, most of it was dead. First one had some monster lobsters, though. Second two had great parrot fish and big Bird Wrasses. Took our boat right up to the beach in front of the Clipper House and hopped out for lunch. Told everyone that it was probably the closest we'd all come to being delivered to a secluded beach by yacht. After lunch found a pretty good spot. Big coral heads, deeper water, space between the coral and lots of great fish.

Watched the volunteers (Dana, Kristin, and Brent) band Tropicbirds the other day and today I learned to band Laysan chicks. The Laysans tend to come back to where they were hatched to raise their own young. Kinda cool to look at a band and be able to find out how old the bird is. Their are plastic bands with bigger, easier to read numbers that last about 10 years, and a metal one that stays on forever. The metal ones are hard as heck to get on right. Really have to squeeze hard to get it on and you often have to tweak it. Definitely a two person job, 'cause those chicks don't like to be banded and their beaks are sharp. I've got a pretty good scratch down one leg.

And, of course, there are a lot of "cute chicks" around.The one about is a very young Tropicbird, probably just a couple of days.

Check out mom cuddling her chick and keeping it warm.

Love y'all,

Murray