tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25211827035483759892011-11-27T20:25:49.955-05:00A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-34755758690287127012007-08-29T21:48:00.000-04:002007-08-29T22:24:23.401-04:00

In a DK thread, someone (who really seems to be afflicted with an imperial notion of what goes on in the CNMI) generalized the problem in a manner that reeked of a vision that we are all a bunch of savages running around the islands and are in need of some glorious demigod of advancement to save our hairy, smelly souls.Angelo puts a stop to it swiftly because, while not perfect, he is a man who

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-70755595122950671152007-08-29T19:28:00.000-04:002007-08-29T21:02:10.951-04:00

Can we please, once and for all, lay to rest the purported monopoly the Republican Party has on morality, ethics, or any sort of higher ground in the American culture? Further, can we please take that extra millisecond to lump in the Christian Right with the burial?After literally years of folks like me being talked down to by moralists who, from perspectives based on my own worldliness, are

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-86081707044997124182007-08-19T06:51:00.000-04:002007-08-19T06:52:57.464-04:00

For, God created all men equal.::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-70684931159097212852007-08-13T21:47:00.000-04:002007-08-13T21:52:08.580-04:00

... So you know.I believe our plane arrives @ 5, but I'm not sure. I have no idea where we're staying either. All this Bureaucracy and nobody passed a form on to us about the details.Goeth Figureth.I will be going to that coffee shop for a real cup of coffee. That is, if someone tells me how to get there.:::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-17375356029642190302007-08-09T17:56:00.000-04:002007-08-09T18:03:50.629-04:00

But no more:PS: Hey, Mike! Drop us a line. Suz would love to hear from you.Everyone should know that Mike is an excellent painter, BTW.::::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-54108987042590413642007-08-08T17:48:00.000-04:002007-08-08T17:57:25.844-04:00

????Suz just wrote me from school and said she felt it too.:::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-3834111666911773912007-08-07T18:09:00.000-04:002007-08-07T18:10:20.831-04:00

A young man took his own life last night here. Apparently, this is a fairly common occurrence on Rota with young men. While I have no further details about the young man, his age, or his family, I ask that you please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers today.I can't find an article in the paper, so if anyone sees one, please link it.::::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-61695819781365801442007-08-07T00:12:00.000-04:002007-08-07T02:31:43.378-04:00

Looking out from our balcony, just past Wedding Cake Mountain, we can see the Island of Guam. By day, it looks like a small hill lurching from the sea; but by night, it resembles the lights of a mainland city as viewed from the far outskirts of town. It may as well be a million miles away if you are on Rota, a million and one, to be exact.Rota is nestled between Guam and Saipan: two islands that,

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-68046689033441390752007-08-05T21:24:00.000-04:002007-08-05T21:58:48.675-04:00

First off, please forgive the dead air on our blog since the 29th. Honestly, the past week has been one of boolean contrast, for which there were no moderate 'in-betweens' to ease the polarity that has enveloped us.The most positive thing to note about Rota is that the people of this island, whether Chamorro, mainlanders, Philippines, or otherwise, are all representatives of the salt of the earth

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-40052444043700053892007-07-29T19:53:00.000-04:002007-07-29T20:13:56.633-04:00

We are still sans-apartment, but Suz's boss and her husband graciously and furthermore, heroically saved us from homelessness (or, at least, draining our wallets at the hotel) and put us up in their guest room until we find a place.One thing to note about them outside of how omnipotently hospitable they have been to us is that their house is the nicest house we have seen on the island. I'll ask

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-49164230537870595012007-07-28T02:26:00.000-04:002007-07-28T02:43:44.272-04:00

Sorry we have been out of touch for the past few days. It has been a really stressful time.We are having some trouble finding a place to live because all of the landlords who own the places we are interested in are either in Saipan or are in places unknown, and therefore, we are stuck in a small hotel with no internet service until we can figure it all out.Right now, we're in Suz's classroom,

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-79775927459944374182007-07-25T01:55:00.000-04:002007-07-25T01:56:37.464-04:00

More Later.::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-56903741669116418352007-07-24T20:39:00.000-04:002007-07-24T20:44:38.991-04:00

Real quick:We made it to Tokyo @ 5:00pm yesterday afternoon. As anticipated, the hotel for our layover got all messed up and we had to find our own,We'll be in Saipan @ 3PM Saipan time if anyone wants to meet two unimpressive and slightly obtuse Mainlanders.Look for the married couple who look sick of each other.Gotta run and board the plane.LoveAndrew & Suz

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-71240337094647160062007-07-17T10:33:00.000-04:002007-07-17T13:19:54.246-04:00

I'll check in later on this evening.It's crunch time and Suz and I are scurrying about, trying to get everything out of the house.If you live near Quakertown, PA, there's a great place to donate your furniture, cookware, and (small) appliances. They are a Mennonite organization, but they do not attach testimony to their charitable services, so you that shouldn't be a concern if you were worried

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-49731570895826922542007-07-14T16:30:00.000-04:002007-07-14T16:39:14.516-04:00

So you guys over there know, I'm updating my blogroll as fast as I can. Please keep in mind that I intend to do some real designing when we get over there, thus, the site's kinda messy look will change.Also, if I didn't get to your link yet, please forgive the delay. We're swamped.Suz will be contributing soon, too. She's a lot busier outside of the house than I am, so she hasn't had a lot of

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-623688738035245962007-07-14T00:40:00.000-04:002007-07-14T01:00:00.830-04:00

I like a wide range of music, from issimo to Jazz and back around to industrial. Moreso, I like to play and hopefully, my guitar won't get squashed on a steamer to Rota.One thing to note is that to my wife's (et. al.) chagrin, I have an uncommon affection for the Cocteau Twins. In all I've heard thus far, and believe me, I've heard a lot, they reach right in and put their fingers on my

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-35456503294958848492007-07-13T15:43:00.000-04:002007-07-13T19:37:19.650-04:00

Where have I been lately?Welp, Lemme' put it this way:If you are a person moving out of country and want to keep your bank, let me save you some time:Forget about it.I just went through the most annoying 2 days of my technical life trying to set up a check scanner. From the moment I opened the box and read the (incomplete and lousy) directions, horror ensued. Couple that horror with waiting

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-26955507267699789592007-07-11T22:36:00.000-04:002007-07-11T22:40:50.000-04:00

Over at the Saipan Blogger's spot, there's an excellent list of CNMI bloggers, many of whom will likely be hazing us when we get over there.Click here to chiga-check it out!Thank you sir, may I have another.Pics tomorrow, BTW.Thx,Andrew:::::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-59295826343982091962007-07-10T13:14:00.000-04:002007-07-10T13:44:13.513-04:00

We're back... Discuss.Here's a topic to get you started:Right now, it's 96° in SE Pennsylvania. Yesterday in Bennington VT, it was 94° (which is very hot for even Southern VT.)Saipan and the CNMI have one of the most equable climates in the world. (Average mean temp= 83° F)We're pretty busy, so we'll get back to you later.In the mean time, how are we doing with this blog thus far?PS: Somewhere

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-12354561438400871642007-07-07T17:44:00.000-04:002007-07-07T17:52:10.073-04:00

We're taking our final trip to see my uncle in VT.Thank god, they've accepted one of our cats (2 down, one to go.) That should be an interesting ride.We'll be back Monday barring any internet cafe' along the way. In the mean time, ponder this: Suz and her mom found an old globe she gave her mom way back when the USSR was still the USSR.Closer inspection revealed that yes, Rota indeed, is a place

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-26420889812826615532007-07-07T11:14:00.000-04:002007-07-07T13:53:23.926-04:00

This is really one of the things I am most excited to participate in when we get to Rota. I think it's an inspiration for everyone, no matter where we're residing around the world.Imagine if everyone on earth planted a tree, or just bent down and picked up that piece of trash.Here's a vid of their one year anniversary.Be sure to visit their blog and contribute if you can via their store or their

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-5334083400370663922007-07-06T21:09:00.000-04:002007-07-07T01:05:10.742-04:00

I plan on keeping my speedbag up for as long as possible before I take it down and pack it in my carry on.I hope you guys in Rota like Boxing, because I intend to start training whoever is interested, especially with the Speedbag and double end bag.It's a great workout and chicks dig it! And from my pespective as a married man whose wife digs me hitting it, a lady with speedbag skills is all that

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-18776373477349364452007-07-06T12:02:00.000-04:002007-07-06T12:18:54.120-04:00

Sorry about this, but I had accidentally turned moderation on. I turned it off just now, so the comments should be all set.If I lost a comment, please forgive me.. [we are] new to blogger and we'll likely make some dumb mistakes like this.But this one was my fault..Commense Smackdown.Love,AndrewPS: I'm not new to blogging, just to Blogger, so please be patient if I screw something up. Patient,

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-37650255386521759422007-07-06T11:02:00.001-04:002007-07-06T11:03:27.093-04:00

(Bumped up from yesterday)We thought that we'd mention a site and program that is happening in the CNMI that we are highly impressed with and think the world (or the 80 people who on average visit us daily thus far) would be inspired by.It's called Beautify CNMI!Please visit their site. You can also support them by buying a product in their store!http://beautifycnmi.blogspot.com/Here's a cool vid

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-68703466202868915032007-07-05T19:04:00.000-04:002007-07-05T19:31:04.107-04:00

I'm seeing a lot of Guam, which is good, but no Rota Island and not enough Saipan. And so:Saipan is an island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or "CNMI" for short. Saipan is north of the Island of Rota, which is the sothernmost island in the CNMI. Rota island has many fine features that help to contribute to the CNMI as a major tourist destination. For example, Rota Island,

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-59152176471656798522007-07-05T12:47:00.000-04:002007-07-05T13:37:58.867-04:00

We are wondering if there is a specific reason that there is currently no ferry service linking Guam and Rota, or Rota and Saipan.I am told (and somewhere have a photo) that one can see Guam on a clear day from the summit of Wedding Cake Mountain, which makes the lack of a ferry route curious to us.Also, should luck intervene on our current financial situation, we thought we might buy a boat

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-65246683317504888372007-07-05T07:23:00.001-04:002007-07-05T07:32:08.385-04:00

We are waaay behind in opening our store. That said, my lurking around has led me to discover lots of nice stuff in other stores of Saipan/Guam Bloggers. And so, if any of you would like affiliation with our store, please drop us a line and we'll fill up our side bar with your shirts, stickers, etc.Please note that we won't market products that don't adhere to our labor policies, such as black or

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-36487447670306402682007-07-04T12:18:00.000-04:002007-07-04T12:21:33.962-04:00

We'll be out shopping for supplies to ship today... and later, some visiting.I hear there is an Apple Store in Saipan. Is this right? If so, shall we wait to buy our (first ever) laptop til we get there?We'll check back later.:):::::

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-88528403594782245072007-07-03T12:08:00.000-04:002007-07-05T19:18:41.083-04:00

You may notice that Operation Rota uses "Operation Rota" a lot in the beginning. Also, you may notice that we will have some odd terminology such as "Rota Island," or "The Island of Rota" instead of simply "Rota." This is deliberate because Google and Google ads have not resolved (from our observation) certain parts of their algorythm that keep on topic and filter out similar topics with the same

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-48729954139403119282007-07-03T10:43:00.000-04:002007-07-03T17:07:15.415-04:00

We have talked to several CNMI Bloggers and are in the process of adding their links to our Blogroll.Please take a look to your right and check out these new links. Also, The Saipan Blogger sent me an excellent artilce about the impact bloggers are having in Saipan. Please give it a read when you get a moment."The network, started in December 2006 with the purpose of uniting the community around

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-14127282700958903112007-07-01T12:23:00.001-04:002007-07-02T19:46:26.898-04:00

Right now, this blog is about our personal experiences as we dive into the unknown. You may notice that much of the content you’ll see in the posts will be written within a context of an intimacy one would share with a friend or family member. This is deliberate as my wife and I, as of July 2, 2007, will be sending a link to this blog out to our friends and family so that we can raise a little

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521182703548375989.post-8405574006395070692007-06-25T14:55:00.000-04:002007-06-28T15:29:38.547-04:00

My wife has at last received her contract to teach English on the island of Rota, the southernmost island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, (CNMI, for short.) After literally months of discussion, we have decided that although there will be enormous difficulty for two late-30’s people who happen to be immersed in the many and various trappings of the supposed “American dream”

A G Gattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707063806121327005noreply@blogger.com8