Monday
Yellow legal pad lined paper
Dear Mom,
Good news (fun stories) and bad news. Bad first.
Friday I broke out in a rash on my ears, legs and arms that itched terribly. I went to my Dr on Saturday and he gave me a shot and pills. Next day I was worse with a rash swelling my face and having the rash around my eyes, nose, and mouth. I went to the emergency room and the Dr asked me if I had a fungal infection – yes, I had spots that were being treated. He wasn’t 100% sure but he thought my body was having a rare allergic reaction to the fungus. Oh good. Now, I take partial responsibility for my other injuries. It was kinda stupid for me to go out to the point to watch the waves when there was a typhoon around, but this rash I did not deserve. It wasn’t any boonies I got into, nothing I ate, but a reaction to a fungus I didn’t want in the first place. He gave me steroids to reduce the swelling so that 6 hours later, I could blink and smile. By the evening, I almost had a face again. This morning I’m puffy and red again. I look like I’ve taken a beating. Nothing itches but the bumps are still everywhere. Enough of that – hopefully I’ll be well very soon.
Everyday off is like a mini-vacation. One day after I got my pap smear and a haircut, I went diving, took a walk along the beach, went wave boarding in our lagoon, went water sliding, and watched D*** in a volleyball league. Great day! While walking on the beach, I found a coral head maybe 4-5” in diameter buried in the sand. Had I found it in the water, I could have been arrested for taking it. As it is, I have a beautiful coral head in my room.
Another day off, 9 of us went back to Managaha island but I didn’t snorkel this time – I just ate and drank myself silly. We were on a fairly secluded part of the island so the women ended up sunbathing topless and the guys took off their trunks to sun their buns – lots of blackmail pictures! 5 of them stayed overnight there and got eaten alive by the mosquitoes. Four of us sane people left. We went to one of my supervisor’s homes. She lives on a hill overlooking LauLau Bay (a place I scuba) and a breathtaking view. She’s Japanese but she’s been on Saipan for 3 years and is a white wannabe – only likes white men and tries to forget the Japanese language. The house has outdoor plumbing so the outhouse sucked but the shower was great – never seriously showered outside in the bushes with a great view before. We went for Indonesian food which ended up being the best I’d ever eaten. The next night we went for Japanese food (a la Benihana’s) but it wasn’t half as good as the Indonesian. Korean food will be the next culinary excursion.
During the hash run, the hares make it a theme hash as a murder mystery party – sort of a who dunnit. Since I’m still not running due to my back, I was the victim and ended up laying in the boonies for 1.5 hours until the party found me “dead on the trail.” It was freaky to lie in weeds in the middle of nowhere on an island in the middle of nowhere. Weird – thought a wild band of Chomorros were going to come kill me or something. I survived though with no less than 30 mosquito bikes – no connection to my rash) and it was fun to watch people deduce “who dunnit” based on the clues they’d found on the trail. I really like the haole community here and it’s fun to get off PIC property once in a while.
The past 2 weekends were tennis tournaments. D*** got first place in his singles division and 2nd place in the doubles. He also plays volleyball in the Saipan league (sort of like city league in the states.) He doesn’t know how he’ll shop all his trophies home – must borough. He leaves Oct 4th – boy am I going to miss him.
On the male issue – S**** and his father are going to Eastern Europe in October. Bryan bought a new house in Riverside, Bernie’s doing very well, Joe is acting a lot in plays and continues his arts education through the community college. Scott is still plodding along, Bruce is still trying to get his girlfriend to marry him, Jeff is back to full time teaching, and life goes on. Amy again had Denise move out of the apartment – wonder how long this one will last?
I wish you’d get your butt on a plane so you’d come visit me – but I know you won’t. I miss you and you’d stay for free here but I know you don’t want to fly. Oh well. Guess letters will suffice. Thanks for the fax number. I may need it for getting a hold of you quickly. I heart you.
