3.25.2011

What Do You Think?

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.

3.18.2011

Do You Know Where Flies Sleep?

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.

3.16.2011

3.11.2011

Japan Earthquake Unleashes Tsunami *UPDATED*

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

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!

    3.09.2011

    Awfully Wet Dry Season

    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”