To be fair, I've been busy. So, let me bring you up to date....
The Great Plumbing Labors
So, we had a leak. And by a leak, I mean a gallon every five minutes. Except, we couldn't find it, nor could we see any evidence of said leak aside from a spot on the wall under the second sink in the kitchen. That's right. Phantom leakage.
Four separate plumbers and days of Josh sitting through handheld jackhammers and accent barriers to explanation later, I think the leak is fixed, which is good, because it was flowing under the kitchen tile to the point that once it was stopped, we got to watch the water seep up through the tiles for a few days. Water bill made it look like Tesla Pete was having strippers up to the jacuzzi every night, which he denied vehemently, and I believe, just because, well, he usually falls asleep before the strip clubs open.
But I digress. The leak is fixed, but the plumbing saga continues: First floor half bath cold water faucet no work-y. And the icemaker is still Tango Uniform, but the appliance guy promises me that he's tracked down the issue and is waiting for a part, so someday soon, cocktail hour won't take three days of cube-tray preparation.
Other issues still to be resolved: there's a window in my room that was spidered up good when we moved in that we're waiting on glass for. It's not a big issue; I'm just concerned weather's going to hit and it's going to actually lose structural integrity on us. There's also a bad seal on the patio door here that is likely leaking AC like a sieve, but Tesla Pete says I'm worrying needlessly.
Oh, speaking of power bills, fun Tesla Pete fact: The Tesla Roadster driven two or three times a week and left on persistent parasitic charge adds less to our power bill than the garage dehumidifier. Take that, Big Oil! Now, if we could get Guam Power to stop schtupping us on the power bill, we'd be kicking some major bootie.....
First House Guest
We had our first house guest right before the Customer Visit. I think it went well. I'd tell you more about it, but we need to work out a moniker for said First House Guest that's actually appropriate. So, you have to wait. So there.
What I can do, though, is tell you about the food. Since Pete and I are not often cooking, there was a lot of dining out going on, and I gave said First House Guest a tour of what Guam cuisine I knew. So, let me give you a sampler....
Places to Make Josh Take You or Go Yourself When You Visit Guam for Vittles
Roy's at the Hilton. Oh, get the blackened ahi. Seriously. Spicy soy sauce is amazing with the thing, and it looks like a piece of edible art. Go on Friday. Sit at the bar. If Jaime is the bartender (and he usually is), tell him you're a friend of mine, and he'll spoil you. Tesla Pete's Pina Colada is usually bottomless and technicolor by the end of the meal, and the place has ambiance to spare. There is an actual sit-down part to the place, but usually, the bar area has live music, including jazz flute. That's right. Jazz. Flute. Sometimes singing, too. I've run into local government legislators and the Guam Food Guy who does reviews at Roy's. The place is great even just for Happy Hour.
The Beach. It's on Gun Beach. And I mean right there on it. Philippine Sea is five or six feet from the end of the place. Open air, cabana style set-up. Fair prices on bevs. Friendly staff. Local folks hang there during the day on the weekends. About a mile's walk from my front door, to boot. Get your beach on. Food's pretty good, but just chips with the sandwiches, sadly. Great beach to walk, though.
Shoreline. South on Marine Corps Drive near the Chamorro Village and marina. I stopped there just because, and have gone back not always by choice but sometimes by need. Again, ahi is the bomb here. If it were closer to my place, we might have to monitor me for gill growth. Fair prices, great tapas menu that was just redone. Friendly staff, good vibe. Great place.
Meskla Dos, or, as Tesla Pete and I call it, The Dos. Best burgers on Guam. Period. Full stop. They even have the damn trophy by the register. Fresh-made lemonade. Milkshakes. A mile or two from our place down Marine Corps Drive. Oh, and TP swears the BBQ is the bomb-diggity, though I keep getting the burgers.
Tu Re' Cafe. TP wasn't impressed with his sandwich, but the stir fry offerings are amazing. And then there's the view: you're literally a few feet from the edge of Alapong Cove. Beautiful vista. It's kind of like a jumped up coffee shop with classy food. You can even see Other Josh (aka Doctor Josh, aka Hugh Jackman Clone Josh, etc, etc)'s place from there. I'm sure he refers to me as Other Josh, too. :P
(Yes, there's another Josh here on the island. We first met in Augusta, Georgia. Small damn world. He's a dive medical officer with the Navy, and when he relocated out here, we caught up. It's good to have friends at the far ends of the world.)
The Hawaiian Grill at the Micronesia Mall. Don't judge. It's flipping wonderful. Think Mongolian BBQ, but with island flavor. Big portions, and it's just friggin amazing.
I'll probably add to this as time goes by. There's so much good food here that I'm likely going to have to hit the gym twice as hard to get back to trim, but I just can't say no. The good news, though: It's all pretty good for me. Well, most of it, anyway.
So, now, you're caught up, for the most part.
Here's what the near future holds:
Sunday (weather permitting): a five-to-six hour hike to Cetti Bay. This is supposedly one of those wonder hikes, but pretty tough. There shall be waterfall action, I am told. Old Spanish roads. Et cetera.
Next week: First guest bedroom set will be ordered. Delivery time approximately one month. So, mark your calendars, folks.
More later this weekend. Hopefully with pictures and a few boonie-stomping stories....
