Baldo and Lauren

March Showers Bring April Babies

2012-03-04T07:06:00.012-08:00

We celebrated Baby Besich at my baby shower yesterday. I still can't believe that I just had a baby shower. That means that I am going to have a baby, and soon.

It was beautiful, it was delicious, it was charming, it was full of love, it was more than anything I could have imagined. Many thanks to the people who helped put it together.

Let the photo documentation begin!

Thank you to everyone who had a hand in Baby Besich's special day. We love you!

And I'm 30!

2012-02-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

Weeks pregnant, that is.

Come on, people, don't age me more than I already am. Twenty-eight is just around the corner (shudder).

To celebrate this milestone (in my eyes, at least) let's take a look at the progression of Baby B.

Week 19
The ultrasound that confirmed Baby B was a BOY. There might have been a celebratory Tim Tebow fist pump thrown by the baby daddy. I just love this little guy's face.

And don't get me started on his little leg. So cute!

Week 21
First official belly picture.

Week 23

Merry Christmas!

Week 24

Welcome home, Colton!

Week 25

The "I-must-wear-a-belt-to-accentuate-the-belly-so-people-don't-think-I'm-just-gaining-weight" phase

Week 28

Three weeks sure makes a difference...

Week 30

Helping the boys work on the nursery by documenting my belly? Yes.

Watching Baldo work on my craft project? Yes.

Enjoying the heavenly mix of Kool-aid and lemonade? Double yes.

Excited for the imminent arrival of Baby B?

YES!

Last Night

2012-01-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

Last night I caught a glimpse of our near future.

So I quickly snatched my phone and snapped a picture to send to Baldo who was somewhere in the Superstition mountains camping with some scouts.

Presh.

1st Annual Besich Photographic Year in Review

2012-01-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

Miss me, miss me, now you have to kiss me.

Well, I think it's safe to say that I totally dropped the blogging ball over the last 6 months. So terribly sorry. I'm making a resolution to improve, I promise.

The other day I had the idea to make a photographic year in review for 2011. I told Baldo, and, long story short, I woke up this morning to a finished product. Perks of marring someone who does this as part of his job:)

The only credit I can take is that of song selection. Everything else is the brain child of the man with the beard, or the guy with the hairy belly (if you were a lucky recipient of our Christmas card).

Without further ado I give you the 1st annual Besich photographic year in review:

Giving Thanks

2011-11-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

I've been known to say that 2011 will go down in history as the worst year of my life (so far). It all began on January 5th...Baldo learned of his grandmother's passing the same day his company shut down leaving us stranded on a tiny island 6,000 miles away from home. The next few months were a whirlwind of packing, crying, moving, more crying, job applying, more crying, teaching, a LOT more crying...you get the picture.

All this time I've been trying to figure out what I need to learn from this terrible, awful year. I've known that life wouldn't always go the way I planned, and trials were unavoidable, but knowing it and experiencing it are two different things. I'm not proud of the attitude I've had during much of this time, but I'm finally starting to realize that my trials can either make me bitter or better.

I choose to be better.

Baldo and I have a blessed life, despite all of the terrible, awful roadblocks along the way. We're healthy, we both have jobs, we have awesome families and friends, and
we're having a baby.

I am learning to be thankful for this terrible, awful year. At least I know it will eventually end, and the next year will bring a whole new type of experience: Motherhood (and a 10 year high school reunion).

Bring it, 2012.

If...

2011-08-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

If...

*Life wasn't so busy we would be bored.

*We didn't work so much we couldn't play so much.

*I posted more on this blog...my friends would ask me why I posted more than Lauren on "Her Blog."

*Lauren wasn't such a great teacher, student, musician and wife...She would be posting a lot more.

We hope you guys are all well. Remember when we use to hike on the weekends... here's a pic from our last hike on Guam...

Yep. We lived there once.

Fifty Nifty United States

2011-07-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a challenge for you.

Visual/spatial skills have never been my fortè. At 27 I still can't correctly label every state on a U.S. map. But before you lump me with the likes of Miss South Carolina, please know that I could at least sing you all fifty states.

It turns out I am not alone. Awhile ago Baldo and I put ourselves to the test with some friends. With blank U.S. maps in hand we traveled back to 5th grade geography and ~~cheated~~ hurried our way through the list. My score? 36. I am not smarter than a 5th grader. Only one of us came close to a decent score, and we commenced calling him a teacher's pet the rest of the night. LOSER!

If you have a few spare minutes to destroy your self-confidence, print off this map, give it a go, and post your results in the comments. I secretly hope you do horribly so I feel better about myself.

Who Am I?

2011-07-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

I am a woman. I belong to a sisterhood of underestimated power. We are strong. We nurture, we mend, we uplift, and we create. I refuse to define my worth by the size of my bust, or the weight of my body. All women are beautiful. I have great ideas, a curious mind, and a big heart. Sometimes I care a little more than I should, but if I don’t care, who will? I find joy in marriage and in the prospect of motherhood. God loves me, my husband loves me, and I love me. I love being a woman.

Who Am I?

2011-07-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

One hundred words.

That's it.

I'm going to discover a new identities, and write.

That's it.

One hundred words.

The First Step...

2011-07-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

The first step in addiction recovery is admitting you have a problem.

Well...

I have a problem.

My sister-in-law popped my Sprinkles cherry a few weeks ago and I can't get enough. How do I know I have a problem?

Exhibit A:

I went three days in a row this week...without even realizing it until the lady taking my order asked, "Are you the the girl with the cute jellies I saw a few days ago? I recognized your bangs."

Exhibit B:

My husband just caught me job hunting on the Sprinkles' website. He wasn't too happy.

I have since vowed to avoid Sprinkles until I get back from my San Diego trip in two weeks. I think I can make it. But if I can't...

don't be mad, promise?

Hong Kong: The Places

2011-07-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

Remember like 5 years ago when Lauren and I traveled to Hong Kong?!?!

Here's a trip down memory lane (And if it sounds like I'm a grumpy old man it's because I'm sitting in the airport in Boston trying to get home after a long week away from my Duke, and the flight is getting pushed back and back and back and back.)

Back to HK: Our first morning we hit the streets, and learned really quickly that Hong Kong is not a early-bird type of city. They stay up late and wake up late. We walked around, and saw the only people awake were those cleaning the streets. As you can see the weather is great, and Lauren was able to put on a jacket for the first time in over a year! In this picture we found a fresh fruit market! Buying fruit that wasn't $10.00 was heaven.

We found the Hong Kong Temple!

So you know we had to make it a photo shoot kind of event!

We loved to take the ferry across the Harbor, but would not love to ever touch that water...way too many unknowns in there.

This is Kowloon looking at Hong Kong Island.

So Raymond met with Big Mike through work and lives in Hong Kong. Raymond spent one full day showing us the real Hong Kong. We were like old pros after learning all the tricks from Raymond. Here we are at the Peak of HK Island. If you are hooked and watch the Bachelorette...this is where the guys met up with Chris. (Yep...I just related my blog pictures to the Bachelorette).

Now that I think of it...I can relate all these pictures to that show, but I won't. We just watched the Harbor light show. If you like lasers and bad old-school music...this is for you.

Traveling with Lauren is so much fun. If you ever get a chance I would encourage it. We play silly games, talk about crazy crap, and most importantly we take a BUTTLOAD of pictures.

We met a kid taking pictures too, and he hooked us up with this one. We had just hiked up a lookout tower. The steps were straight up. Since we walked everywhere to begin with...it was not the most fun I had.

At said park, There is a memorial of the doctors that lost their lives fighting SARS. HK was hit hard since there are so many people, and so much contact between the people. Oh, and that's what Lauren looks like reading.

Lauren just got some crazy hot dog on a stick and then we took this picture. She was happy. I'm not sure if she thought by doing that to her hair made her fit in with the people better?!?! She was only 3 ft. taller than everyone there, and white!

Lauren would always stop and look at crap, so I would always have to turn around to make sure she wasn't taken and sold into a crazy underground world of American girl prostitution. Never watch the 2008 hit Taken before traveling overseas. So, Lauren caught my look back.

While in Asia if you don't throw up duces in your pictures...get out of the pictures. Even though Duke Nuts is smiling she was not feeling too well after the high speed ferry boat ride to Macau.

Really expensive car, and not so expensive red shorts. Love it.

Macau is like walking the streets in Portugal. It was a nice getaway from HK for the day.

Of course Lauren wanted to take pictures of this sick Library. It was full of old people reading books and the paper. It was in the middle of two streets.

15 minutes of cable car ride gave us some great views of HK.

And it lead to the middle of nowhere. What would you build in the middle of nowhere? I would build a huge Buddha. My Buddha would have his hand up saying "talk to the hand," because "talk to the hand" is one thing I want to bring back.

Lauren loves her fake Ray-bans.

All those people took the cable car to get here. Just think about the lines.

Pun intended. Don't let Big Mike read this.

Closest thing to ever kissing Buddha.

I'm a Besich, so that means we can't open our eyes very well.

"Talk to the hand."

I will have orange doors in my house. Just got to talk my dad into painting them.

Buddha's got back.

Saying prayers. I will not joke about this.

So this picture makes me tear up. The Kimball boys were so much fun. At the end of our day with them... we had a newfound respect for Stan and Lynnsey. We hope to be half as crazy as they are when we have all boys ;-)

I grabbed her butt in the picture right after this one. Lauren didn't upload it. I wonder why?

Boe is a stud. The chicks were all over him. 1) Because he is super cute. 2) Because it is good luck to rub blonde hair.

Chilling!

Lauren hates mascots. That's why I always make her take these pictures.

This dude in the suit was a little sketchy around the kids.

Boe is getting yelled at because he was being loud next to the Panda. The kid is one. I don't think he understands her.

He does understand that crocs shouldn't be that big.

One day this picture will be with a little brown boy with dark hair and sunglasses. For now... Boe is a great practice. (Freaking heavy as a mother...but great practice.)

I Know, I Know

2011-06-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking.

"Where the BLEEP have you been?"

But believe me...the last two months have been a whirlwind of activity, and long story short: we're back in the AZ.

Yes, Baldo has a job.

No, I don't (yet).

Yes, we will finish our Hong Kong posts.

Yes, we are happy to be back.

Yes, we miss Guam.

No, we're not pregnant.

I think that covers everything you want to know.

I miss your faces.

You might know us from...

2011-05-14T06:42:00.001-07:00

So Lauren and I are often told we look familiar. On Guam it's because they have seen me on tv. But now we know why so many people in mainland USA think they have seen us. Thanks to the Brimhalls, in Mesa, we tracked down this ad that uses one of our engagement pictures. Take a gander...

She Deserves Diamonds is right! And this cute couple deserves to be in more ads!

H to the Kong

2011-04-15T03:43:00.000-07:00

You have waited long enough. Since someone took 770 pictures of Hong Kong we have decided to bring you three installments. Including, but not limited to food, places and absolute craziness in the most densely populated place IN THE WORLD!

Since I'm fat we'll start with food.

I know I said we would talk about the food, but Lauren was more than happy to see new choices in her beverage selection. While hiking up to the big Buddha, cream soda was her weapon of choice. (She looks hot in that picture, don't you think?)

Anyways (funny story alert) ((don't tell her dad alert))... She was so excited to try new drinks she "accidentally" picked up a can of Jolly Shandy.

We've never heard of it, and it was next to Sprite. So Lauren being the adventurous world traveler picked the Jolly can of "soda." While we waited for our ferry to cross the harbor to Hong Kong Island...Lauren took a mighty swig of the Shandy delight. If I had a picture of her face right after the massive gulp... this blog post would be a million times better. I watched as she quickly started to read the can...something wasn't right. "Sodas are not made in breweries. Sodas and barley don't go together. WHAT DID I JUST DRINK!" Leave it to her horrible husband to laugh. Almost 27 years completed without ever tasting an alcoholic beverage...down the drain and into the trash (even before I could steal a swig). Needless to say the rest of the trip of full of drunk jokes! I made her walk straight lines, and touch her nose!

Here's a quick lesson I've learned the hard way. Guam = the worst place in the world for fresh bread. Me + "the worst place in the world for fresh bread" = a long grumpy year for Lauren.

I love my breads, and Hong Kong was full of bakeries popping out fresh bread at all times of the day.

One night on Hong Kong Island we went to "Times Square" at Causeway Bay. We wanted to find a hole in the wall where we could be the only tourist to eat. The picture above is what caught Lauren's eye. They're called Hot Pots. Looking in the small restaurant we noticed there was no open seats. We take that as a good sign. Then we see a lady pushing a couple sitting at a booth towards the wall. It's called table sharing. Talk about killing the mood for the young couple we sat next two. We laughed, and talked...the couple next to us finished their dinner in quiet. Sorry to those two...where ever you may be.

This is what we got at the little hole in the wall.

And this is our clay Hot Pot. From the street to our table...If you could just taste how good it is through this picture!

Below you will find Lauren's favorite food. Asia, Europe, a small island in the Pacific or Mainland USA...

Lauren loves her Dogs.

Her affinity for dogs started when her family bought a hot dog cart for the kids. Now no matter where we find ourselves Lauren finds her dog.

Hong Kong experts, Tina & Sam, told us to wait in line to eat with locals. Best advice. This is the smile of a guy who just ordered Ox-Tail Curry.

In that bowl of goodness you'll find a lot of tail. Lauren even tried some of it. If you are want to know if we liked it...we ate the leftovers for brunch the next day.

Action Shot. Lauren was walking around feeling the need for something from the streets. Food on a stick can never go wrong, right? I guess they can go wrong if you don't like octopus or fish balls. That's why Lauren went with the safe bet. (Told you she always picks the hot dog)

Dog wrapped up in bacon. Let me clarify. Hot dog wrapped in bacon. I don't know why all these pictures of food are with me in them...Lauren ate way more than I did this trip. (And drank more too!)

I did love that in Hong Kong you can find Fanta everywhere. Don't you want to Fanta?

A non-alcholic Grape Fanta is how I roll. This reminded us of our summer trip to Spain where Fanta was easier to find than bottled water.

Nerd eating bread. It took us a while to find a place to sit down. With so many people a public chair or bench is hard to find.

Could you wake up to that every morning? This is where you guess if I am talking about the love of my life or Lauren. (I just wrote that for affect.) I love my boo bear. I also love...you guessed it:

Pastries swallowed up by fresh fruit.

And to wrap up our food frenzy. To make all those with good taste jealous...

Jamon Serrano! Grocery stores were like my second home. We made these beauties a couple of times for lunch. You may not think cheese, bread and Jamon is anything special, but this put tears in my eyes.

Hong Kong also gave Lauren bad gas. But that is a blog post for another day.

Saying Goodbye to a Frenemy

2011-04-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

FOR SALE:

One candy-apple-red scooter. Low miles and great for the pocketbook (100 miles per tank!). Purrs like a cheetah and runs like a kitten.

This crotch rocket packs 50cc's of premium gas power. The aerodynamic design allows for state-of-the-art cruising speed topping off near 30mph. (35mph if you are going downhill!)

A handful of Triple-A and Double-A batteries is all you need to keep this chick magnet starting for years!

WHY ARE WE SELLING THIS FINE PIECE OF CHINESE MACHINERY?

Exhibit A (sick pictures of blood. You have been warned.)

This is from the first scooter crash. Bike vs. Dog = Lauren looses.

Exhibit B (sick pictures of blood. You have been warned.)

This was the scene of crash #2 (We are now calling it the "final crash.")

Bike vs. Rain = Lauren looses.

Her elbow was sooooo close to being scab free.

But it was quickly reopened spewing out a thick mixture of puss and blood. (Of course I had to snap a picture.)

So buyer beware! This island cruiser is not for the faint of heart (or Lauren.)

(Side note: Don't judge her shirt...it was one she was given for doing service with the youth at church.)

Photographic Memory

2011-03-30T05:59:00.001-07:00

Dear Self,

Please remember this moment when you are smoldering in the hellish July heat of land-locked Arizona.

Love,

P.S. Nice form!

And Then My Helmet Saved My Life

2011-03-22T02:15:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to this guy:

my helmet.

What do you get when you cross a huge black dog and a sassy girl on her candy-apple-red scooter?

A trip to the hospital.

The scooter is okay, the dog is okay (unfortunately), and I am okay, thanks to my helmet.

I told Baldo I was trying to fill my yearly trip-to-the-ER quota.

He didn't laugh at my joke.

"Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?"

2011-03-15T00:31:00.000-07:00

El Senior came to Guam for a visit.

So did a tsunami.
And since my dad was en route to Taiwan via Tokyo, he was stranded on Guam for an extra day.

Our first day, Senior and I visited the Latte of Freedom, a misnomer that should be changed to the Latte of Two Dollars. Two dollars for a climb to the lookout? What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?

We planned a fantastic night out on the town, but tsunami warnings confined us to the jungle.

Don't those fries look delicious? Too bad they were gross. Quite possibly the worst fries I have ever eaten in my life. Bleh. Thinking about them makes me gag.

Our resident eye-witness reporter touched base with CNN periodically throughout the night. Did I say CNN? Oops, I meant Good Morning Arizona. One day...

Senior loved Fuji Ichi Ban, a local ramen joint with stuff-your-face dishes like these:

(photos courtesy of our awesome camera)
We went twice in two days. Don't judge.

Senior on beach.

Senior on hike.

Senior's daughter swinging on a rope.

Highlights of the trip:
Picking him up late (payback for Europe, dad)
Making up songs while waiting for our clothes at the laundromat
Crying together while watching my favorite new show, Coming Home
Sneaking him into school to show him my classroom on the day I called in sick

Love you, Dad!

What I'll Miss Most

2011-03-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

What I'll miss most about Guam are scenes so beautiful they look ripped from the pages from a National Geographic.

One such article in NG would feature Spanish Steps, a short, steep hike down a cliff through a jungle ending at an ocean escape only imagined in dreams.

See? I'm gonna miss this.

We, along with Tina and Sam, joined Stan and Co. for a day at the Steps. Gosh, what a day.

Yep. I'm definitely going to miss this.

A little love to the Girls

2011-03-02T04:58:00.001-08:00

If you have ever been away from family for an extended period of time you know what this post is all about. In no particular order since they all have our hearts...

meet Starla.
She sports the retro-Bieber hairstyle and attentively watches Glee with Pop-pop.

And Harper.
Not only has she perfected the upward facing dog (while posing), but she has read the entire Harry Potter series...twice.

And Anilyn.
You know what that looks says? "I know what you did last summer." As the newest addition to the Besich family Anilyn is watching her three older siblings. She's making a list, and checking it twice.

We try to Skype these girls as much as possible...we don't want them to forget their crazy aunt and TV star uncle love them with all our hearts.

Good posts come when you wait...(sorry for making you wait)

2011-02-21T03:07:00.000-08:00

Hidden Waterfalls and Natural Ocean Pools

Living on an island presents many advantages:

a beach is always 5 minutes away,

you get to pay more for EVERYTHING (gas is now $4.12),

Lauren has been pleasantly warm for the past seven months (a moist 90 degrees daily),

laws and rules are more like suggestions and guidelines (it's like a bad game of Red light/Green light on the roads),

BUT the best part about island life is the plethora of picture-perfect adventures.

We went on one recently with some awesome friends of ours. We're so glad we did. It's not often we drag ourselves out of bed early enough on the weekend to take in the sights of Guam (it's okay to shake your head at us in shame). Our adventure led us to some hidden waterfalls in the village of Talofofo (aka "God's country" to the locals) and some natural ocean swimming pools in Inarajan. (We could just make up crazy names of villages and you guys would never know.)

Let the photo documentation begin! Readers, please meet our adventure crew: The Kimball family. Stan, Lynnsey and the four boys who we will refer to as Synonym, Mohawk, Bowl, and Mole.

Synonym is the brains on the left and Mohawk didn't spike his hair for this trip.

We caught Lil' Mole in the midst of his favorite activity...picking at a mole. I don't think Stan appreciated it very much. Stan will be wearing a turtleneck next hike for sure.

Where's Baldo??? Atop the first of 5 waterfalls.

When parents cut hair...you can almost always expect a happy bowl cut.

Mole loving life...picking, watching, sleeping and pooping all on his dad's back.

Attempting to look cool, calm, and collected while trying not to slip off the rock. That's not a rope, but a root of a tree helping on our way down.

Obligatory family photo op with waterfall background...regular backgrounds eat your heart out.

Chilly pants! Try not to look at my ten-year-old girl chest (Guess who is writing captions for this photo).

Despite incriminating evidence, Baldo did NOT punch Synonym in the face. He was just trying to get the little guy to flex.

Who doesn't love hidden waterfall caves? Lauren doesn't...I had to drag her into this secret hole most people overlook.

Or death-defying cliff jumps? (Okay, it seemed a lot higher than it really was).

Baldo has talent for posing for cameras in mid-air.

we bet yoU That If you were with us you would have jumped into this nasty brown water with us. (For the older readers: try to decode a secret message in that last sentence)

After 5 waterfalls, lunch and geocaching (Lynnsey never leaves the house without her gps) we took to the Philippine Sea.

Where's Baldo?

A cement diving board...was more than inviting for the boys. They didn't heed the no diving sign on the cement pillar.

Baldo tried to photoshop a tan on Stan, but gave up...just too white he said.

Here's a synonym for synonym...fearless.

Here's a synonym for Baldo...Crazy.

Below is the "picture of the trip." No photoshop here...just one amazing camera. (The Canon t1i)

Weekend adventures are in the forecast so bunker down folks...it's about to get crazy on Guam.

SLIS: Teamwork, Teamwork!

2011-02-21T02:11:00.000-08:00

Divide and conquer.

These words of advice have saved me a lot of stress over the years. My most recent teamwork experience was with my 8th grade Language Arts team last school year. We planned the majority of our lessons together and divided the workload for the preparations. Our team leader could often be heard saying "work smarter, not harder," and as a result we taught an enjoyable school year with success. Since last school year I moved to a new school (on the other side of the world) and miss the teamwork I experienced back home.

According to Irwin's presentation on teamwork, some people have a hard time trusting in teamwork. In my current teaching situation, this is how I feel, mainly because I don't really know my fellow 10th grade English teachers. I recognize the sadness of this situation considering the fact that we are nearing March with only three months left in the school year.

In his presentation, Haycock emphasizes the need to plan, plan, plan in order to succeed as a team. From my experience when I am prepared for a team meeting, we have a good time. When I didn't prepare everything I needed to prepare, our meetings were less productive and more frustrating.

The advice given to us by Haycock and Irwin lessens the anxiety I feel when knowing group projects are on the horizon.

GO TEAMS!

Pretzel Party

2011-02-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

Pretzel, pretzel, we want a pretzel! Thanks to Baldo's newly found culinary talent, we have been enjoying some pretty fantastic treats.

Tonight's spotlight: the pretzel

My boo is head-over-heels in love with pretzels and often dreams about the twisted carbohydrate dripping with gooey nacho cheese (although I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind swimming in a pool filled with nacho cheese). So one night he decided to make some. He did the research, found a recipe, stumbled upon a few secret tips a voila! We were in pretzel heaven.

(you can wipe the drool from your mouth, it's okay)

They were a hit. I believe all 8 were gone by the next day.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

2011-01-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

Lauren has been MIA ("missing in action" for those of you who don't live a stone's throw from an Air Force base) for good reasons. She is preparing unprecedented, never before seen, lesson plans of the Hunger Games for her classes. Best part is the kids are excited to read the book...so excited they raised the money on their own to buy 30 books. I'm sure that will be a blog post soon. She is also in grad school. She hits the gym multiple times a week. She also finds time to play with her new camera.

Lauren loves watching her cilantro grow. With the new camera even the smallest drops of dew show up! Side Note: If you are one who hates cilantro, you are not alone.

Plants on a walk look so much cooler through a lens.

Lauren is now looking at everyday things in a different paradigm. Light poles double as fake trees in downtown Guam.

Below I took control of the camera and took a few pictures of my favorite subject:

Blog watchers... Even with her busy schedule she has many blog posts in the works. Check back soon!

So You Want to Be a Librarian?

2011-01-22T23:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes I do.

A master's in Library and Information Science wasn't always a part of my life plan. It wasn't until I moved to Guam and exposed myself to their library system that I discovered my passion for community literacy.

This month I begin my master's program in the School of Library and Information Science at San Josè State University. This decision has catapulted me into adulthood. While completing my undergrad I probably spent too much time socializing and not enough time studying. I probably didn't realize how much money my dad was paying for my education. I probably could have tried harder to get straight As instead of waiting until my last semester to fully apply myself.

This time around, my life is a little different. I'm married. I'm financing my own education. I'm a teacher and understand the value of time management. I like to think I am more mature and have more to bring to the table.

I'm ready.

Daily I advocate education as the most important investment. Recently in class my students read an excerpt from Kaffir Boy that began with the following quote:

"Education opens doors where none seem to exist."

I was a believer, and now I am a doer.

On a lighter note, I found a video that suited this occasion. Enjoy.

Scrabble Brained

2011-01-16T16:54:00.000-08:00

Folks, I am 0-4 in my Scrabble challenges against Tina. I should be studying the dictionary right now, but I'm headed to the pool for a barbecue.

Game #1:
Christmas. On the beach. I came unprepared for the Tina Chau. Who knew she packed such a punch? My pride got the best of me and I held on to WIZARD for far too long. What a rookie mistake. I lost. Big time.

Game #2
It was a great end to Tina and Lauren's day off. We spent all day frolicking around the island and landed on the beach for our Scrabble showdown. We played until there wasn't a drop of sunlight left. And...I lost.

Game #3

An epic evening. Tina's bingo on a triple word score in the beginning of the game dared to destroy any chance of me winning...until I also scored a bingo on a triple word score. The Scrabble fates were on our side that night. Unfortunately they were on Tina's side a little more than mine. I lost (shocker).

Game #4

I came into the game feeling the most confident yet. I was winning in the beginning, but I got careless. Because we were playing at a barbecue, I didn't feel the need to challenge the word XIN. Big mistake. Huge. Hoping Tina would return the kindness, I laid down the word HEMI. She challenged me faster than a redneck running to a corn dog festival. (Bekka, there is nothing wrong with a good corn dog). She won the challenge. Scores were close until the very end, when Tina laid down HERM. Herm? Come on, herm? What the heck is herm? I threw down my metaphorical red flag and asked Sam to check the word. The Scrabble dictionary let me down hard that day. HERM is most definitely a word. HEMI is not, and neither is XIN. I dropped the ball and- yep you guessed it- lost the game. What have I done to deserve this?

Enjoy your streak, Tina. It will end one day.

Eye Spy

2011-01-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

I spy with my little eye...

part of my new toy.

Life is good.

"That's My Wife"

2010-12-31T06:45:00.000-08:00

So it's 12:45ish Jan. 1 2011. Lauren is in bed because I'm making her clean the church with me bright and early. In a few days I think we hit our 6th month mark in Guam (Lauren is so much better with dates).

Since taking this crazy leap of faith to an island few will ever experience...I have continually said "that's my wife."

Here is my attempt to express my love to "boo-bear" and remind you all of that girl you probably miss dearly:

I wish you all could have seen "boo-nuts" (don't judge our nicknames) at my work Christmas bbq. Dancing and Singing in the parking lot, she put on one of the best shows ever for some of the best co-workers ever. That night ended with "that's my wife." (Sorry no picture of the dance, too busy laughing)

Christmas day...we took a lot of pictures and I'm sure Lauren will post some of the better pictures, but this one is my favorite. If there is a camera I'm making sure my euro-trunks are on! It takes a special women to put up with me. I'm pretty sure I'm doing/saying a lot of stuff right before this picture was taken. And look! It worked. "That's my wife."

Not sure if she's posted this picture before on the blog... But this sums up what I'm trying to get at...She might be your friend, cousin, niece, sister or daughter....but that right there..."that's my wife."

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry {Christmas}

2010-12-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house

"Traditions are scarce!" I cried to my spouse.

So off to the store with some cash in my hand

To find the goods that would make our night grand.

Martinelli's, summer sausage, and cheeses galore

One movie per night, I can't ask for more!

This holiday season feels more like it should

With family traditions anew in our hood.

The Sun Will Come Out, Tomorrow

2010-12-16T03:18:00.001-08:00

"Tooooooooomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow,

you're always a day awaaaaaaay!"

Folks, I'm happier than a little red-headed orphan right now. 2:45 tomorrow afternoon marks the beginning of the glory us teachers know as Christmas break.

Hallelujah.

Amen.

Rock on.

My plans are a-brewing: Cooking, baking, lounging, planting, SLEEPING, shopping, beaching, snorkeling, tanning, laughing, Just-Dancing, reading, EATING, scootering, movie-watching...need I go on?

Life is good.

To My Girl, J.

2010-12-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight as I was lying in bed my mind took longer than usual to clear itself and fall into peaceful slumber. One thought triggered another until I realized the importance of today's date. A very special birthday for a very special person. This one's for her.

I wrote this last year for a book the ladies at my church put together.

"But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ."

Mosiah 16:8

It was December 12, 2009, and my father and I were busy finishing up some Christmas shopping. During this time of year, shopping becomes stressful. Parking lots are chaotic, customers are frantic and store clerks are hanging by their last thread of patience. Questions bombard my head like "will he like this?" or "what size does he wear?" and "can I exchange this later?" Despite starting my Christmas shopping in September, I still found myself in the middle of purchase pandemonium in the electronic section of Costco. My last big Christmas purchase lingered before my eyes and, as I pranced through the checkout line, elation filled my body as we exited the warehouse.

Running errands with my father has an advantage: free lunch. As we left the parking lot my father started driving in the opposite direction of our next destination. Maybe there was a new Thai restaurant he wanted to show me? Perplexed, but trusting he knew what he was doing, I went along without questioning him. Not ten minutes had passed before we pulled up to the gates of a cemetery. Baby Jasmine's cemetery. The realization sank in like an anchor to the ocean floor. Tomorrow was her birthday.

Last year my brother and his wife gave birth to their first child, Jasmine Pearl Higgins. The birth of a new baby usually brings joy and excitement, but for my family it was quite different. Ali, my brother's wife, was only half-way through her pregnancy when she went in to labor, and Jasmine only lived for an hour.

Recalling this event filled my heart with sorrow. Weaving our car through the cemetery we passed other families leaving mementos and paying respect to their lost loved ones. I couldn't help noticing all the groups of people with their chairs, picnics, and music desperately trying to feel close to those they missed dearly. Death's sting was still fresh in their hearts, and this was how they treated their pain; spending hours at a cemetery staring at a headstone. It was then my sorrow melted into peace. The sting of baby Jasmine's death is swallowed up in Christ. We will see her again because we are an eternal family.

My father hammered an adornment, a metal Christmas present topped with a green bow, into the ground next to her headstone. The questions that had previously bombarded me were long forgotten, and the only gift I was now thinking about was the gift of eternal life made possible through Jesus Christ. Is there anything more important than this gift? If you ask my brother, his wife, or baby Jasmine, the answer would be, no.

Merry Christmas, Baby J.

"Find your voice, stomp that yard, all that crap..."

2010-12-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

I'm going to let you in on a little secret.

I love acapella music

Perhaps it's because I'm cheesy. Perhaps it's because my mother's cousins have been singing acapella since I was 4. Perhaps it's because I'm a band nerd and hearing five-part harmonies sung tighter than skinny jeans on Thanksgiving sends chills from my inch-long roots to my unpainted toes.

My current love affair:

The Sing Off.

I love the coordinated outfits, the vocal percussion, the heart, the blood, the sweat and the tears. I even appreciate Nick Lachey's dramatic prompter readings. This stuff thrills me.

I wish I could sing like them. I wish the students at the school I teach spontaneously broke out into song and dance like in Glee.

Unfortunately, our wardrobes are not coordinated (unless you count the uniforms), Sue Sylvester does not roam my halls terrorizing the no-gooders, and my school cannot afford Nick Lachey or a prompter.

C'est la vie.

Chapter 6: All I Want for Christmas is a Christmas Tree

2010-12-06T16:00:00.000-08:00

Before anyone gets the wrong idea about this post, let me start with a disclaimer.

Disclaimer:

*Christmas trees are aplenty here in Guam. We didn't want to buy one.*

I am no Grinch. Just fiscally responsible. What is the point of buying a Christmas tree when we already have one tucked away in my parents' storage unit? But to keep the Christmas spirit alive in our humble abode, I used my connections at work to score some butcher paper. Sprinkle in some Santa hats, a dash of construction paper, a dollop of Baldo's creativity and a pinch of Mariah Carey's Christmas CD, and you get this...

Eat your heart out Rockafeller Center.

Stress Relief

2010-12-05T23:08:00.000-08:00

How do I forget about the students who cursed me out and then proceeded to storm out of my room today?

I put on a happy face.

Happy Mustache Monday, everybody.

An Orphan Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T15:23:00.000-08:00

This year we spent Thanksgiving with a few other orphans living in Guam without family. Good times were had, yummy food was devoured, and delectable desserts were savored. We all missed spending the holidays with our families, but these folks are as close as it comes to family out here.

Please meet our orphan crew:

From left: Diane, Robert, Tina, Sam, and Baldo

Our dinner didn't start until about 7:30 because we had to wait until Baldo and Tina were done with the news show. Tina let Baldo fill in as co-anchor that night. He did great!

Sam spent all day giving TLC to the turkey...and it was amazing.

Yum, yum, turkey drum!

Finally, the moment to chow arrived.

Can I get a "what-what" for how svelte my main squeeze is looking these days?

What holiday celebration isn't complete without a little Martinelli's? (but literally a little Martinelli's...get it? The bottle is little.)

Because of all the wonderful food, I changed into my comfy clothes about 10 minutes into dinner. Skinny jeans should be prohibited on Thanksgiving Day.

Go Devils!

Please meet our new friend, Black Forrest Cake.

He's definitely the reason I had to change into my comfy clothes.

And yes, I'm eating some leftover cake as I write this post. You would be too if you knew how good it was.

We survived our first holiday away from family, but we thought of them often. This year I'm grateful for the technology that allows us to communicate often with our families. I'm comforted knowing they are a Skype session or a Gmail call away. These luxuries make our long distance from home easier to bear.

We hope your Thanksgiving Day was enjoyable, although we know it's nearly impossible without us there.

I'm only kidding.

Sort of.

Tales of a Scooter Sass

2010-11-14T23:51:00.000-08:00

I think my bad luck started when I woke up this morning and found a gecko scurrying across my kitchen floor. It was an omen...I should have known.

On my way to school I passed by a dead dog. Gross, gross, gross. If my misfortune had ended there, the day would have been considered a success.

But if my misfortune had ended there I would not have written this post.

Lauren's Scary Scooter Story

My story is based on five true events.

Event #1

After grading a six-inch high pile of papers (progress reports are due Wednesday) I finally started my journey home. I rounded the first corner and remembered the dead dog I saw earlier this morning. Enter paranoia. I felt uncomfortable driving by the dog without the protection of an enclosed car because I knew it would be surrounded by flies. Convincing myself not to looked failed, and no sooner were my eyes glued to the putrid scene. The dead dog was still there, but so were about a hundred nasty flies. I managed to pry my eyes away from the dog just in time to dodge a horse fly that probably would have knocked me off my scooter if it hit me.

Event #2

Thanking my lucky stars I continued driving on the windy road until I spotted some stray dogs a short distance ahead. I wanted to do everything in my power to prevent another road side fly feast, so I positioned my thumb over my scooter horn ready to sound it if needed. The dogs stayed out of my way, thankfully, but a few moments later I lost myself in deep thought and forgot my thumb was on the horn. Then for some unknown, unintelligible reason my thumb pushed down on the horn startling me to the point of almost falling off my scooter.

Event #3

With my heart racing I zoomed into the jungle canopy and started noticing how windy it was. Naturally this lead me to think about the probability of a snake falling from the trees directly onto my head. Out of nowhere something fell and hit me right on my chest! Maybe it was a huge leaf, a butterfly, or a flying squirrel? It fell so fast my chest felt it before my eyes saw it.

Event #4

Certain that I had seen the worst of my drive home I turned up the hill towards my street. A few yards ahead I saw a man walking a dog on a leash followed by, yet again, another stray dog. As I passed the trio the stray dog wheeled around and started chasing me! If we had been on a flat road that dog would have eaten my scooter dust. Sadly for me, my scooter maxes out at a whoppin' 10mph uphill...so did the dog. In case you didn't know, I am not a huge fan of dogs. I was sure my life was ending at that moment, but my trusty thumb once again found its way to the horn and blasted the dog off my trail. Once more, a crisis was averted.

And finally,

Event #5

Surely I was out of harm's way. Or so I thought. I scoot-scooted my way to the back of our house timid and shaken. All that was left of my journey was to park my scooter on the back portch. But after all the excitement from the fly feast, awkward horn blow, falling unidentified object, and dog chase, my motor skills were impaired. I rode up the ramp and ran my moped right into the wash basin! I definitely won't tell you that I also almost ran into the water heater. Now my candy-apple-red scooter bears an ugly white blemish; a scar that tells the story of Lauren's scary scooter ride.

Here's an Idea... Swass it up on the Beach!

2010-11-07T02:35:00.000-08:00

(If you have never heard of Swass, don't worry it means nothing.) I uploaded all these pictures from our young men campout, but then noticed they are in reverse chronological order.

You leave these kids alone for 5 min. and they start doing crazy push-ups.

We drink it straight from the nut, coco nut that is.

Even Cpt. Dr. Pres. Stan Kimball does! (He has a lot of titles)

Camping with these guys is not for everyone.

But views, like this, make it all worth it.

Young Men from the two northern branches went on a morning hike.

Northern coast of Guam.

The hike was more like... a stroll on the beach.

Yigo Branch Young Men.

Old water-well built in the 40's

This was the only water source in the 70's after a major typhoon.

Super clear water.

Part 2 of the stroll.

Cpt. Dr. Pres. Kimball motivating the troops to press forward.

Okay the Night Before: Spent the night playing on the beach and catching...

A flesh-eating baby pre-historic shark fish (or that's what I thought.)

Crazy creatures every where on the beach, and look there's also a crab.

Crab only has one arm, after the kids got to him.

Hunting fish and things in the rocks.

They could have done this all night if we would have let them.

You don't know where that crab has been, don't eat it.

On Guam food is everything. So an overnighter must have a delicious spread.

Bro. Besich provided the super hot Habanero Sausage.

Add some rice (because you add rice to everything) and bbq chicken and you are living the Guam life.

It was 90 degrees all day and all night, aka Fun. But on a side note... these boys are pretty amazing and it is more than a joy to serve them.

Chapter 5: I Saw the Sign

2010-11-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

Fact: Politics is a big deal in Guam.

Fact: Political signs are an even bigger deal...

literally.

Can you believe this? The inside of this a-frame billboard probably has more square footage than our house.

FYI- You don't pronounce 'Gutierrez' here the way every other normal person in the world pronounces it. You say "Guh-tair-ez." Pronouncing the true Spanish way only brings snickers and scoffs. Not that I know from personal experience...

Firsts

2010-11-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

A few firsts occured this weekend:

1. This was my first Halloween without a costume. October 31st snuck up on me and I wasn't prepared. Boo :(

2. This was the first time I entered chili into a contest. I won Family Favorite!

3. This was the first time someone's Halloween costume disgusted/amazed me all at the same time.

WARNING!!! The photo you are about to see may cause disturbance to individuals uncomfortable with female processes.

Sorry, I had to show you this. Forgive me?

Chapter 4: Island Goggles

2010-10-30T04:45:00.000-07:00

Just because I'm white doesn't mean I look like every other white person alive. Just because I'm white doesn't mean I'm related to every other white person who lives in Guam. And just because I'm white doesn't mean I can't dance...on second thought...

Anyway, that's not my point.

My physical appearance is somewhat of an oddity here in Guam. I'm taller than about 80% of the student population at my school, some students can't fathom why I'm so white if I'm from a hot place, and many have told me I look like Taylor Swift.

Which leads me to wonder if they even know who Taylor Swift is.

This is Taylor Swift.

This is me.

I get that we're both tall and have long hair, but the similarities end there. While I'm flattered they chose Taylor Swift to be my celebrity look alike, I think they have lived on an island too long and suffer from *Island Goggle Syndrome.

I have more proof.

One day Baldo covered a news story at my school and was seen by a few of my students. Later in class said students asked if the guy with the microphone was my husband. Upon confirming their suspicions they then told me that he looked like Tony Hawk. Other students in the class agreed with this statement which also leads me to wonder if they know who Tony Hawk is.

This is Tony Hawk.

This is Baldo.

Besides the fact that they are both male I don't see many resemblances between the two. These mismatched comparisons are sure indicators of IGS. Researchers are still scrambling to find a cure to stop this insanity.

*Island Goggle Syndrome: a condition impairing the brain's ability to successfully distinguish physical features of persons not native to one's island.

Don't Hate Me...

2010-10-26T01:25:00.000-07:00

But we live in heaven.

We finally made it to Ritidian Point this weekend for some bright rays and relaxation. The second my feet touched the sand I looked around and asked myself, "Ritidian, where have you been all my life?"

That day the fates blessed us with a slight breeze in the air, occasional cloud coverage and water that was cool to the touch. Uh-maz-ing.

Our beach set up rocks.

And so did our lunch.

Holla' at your Spicy Italian! (and your Spicy Mexican!)

This picture is for the view of the beach.

And this one is for the glasses. Again...don't hate me because I have sweet shades.

We snorkeled for the first time, too. Is it weird that I sang Little Mermaid songs to the cute fishies I saw? Too bad I didn't have a waterproof camera to document the underwater coral city we explored. I guess you'll just have to come visit so I can take you myself.

If I've said it once, I'll say it again: don't hate me because it's almost November and I'm lazily lounging on the beach. At least you get to wear cute sweaters and scarves.

The best moment of the day came as we were packing to leave and I realized we weren't on vacation; we live here, and I can come back and visit my little fishy friends and dawdle with my feet in the surf as often as I wish.

You should come sometime, too.

Gonna Catch Me Ridin' Dirty

2010-10-10T02:16:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you live on an island. Don't judge me; it's my life.

I do what I want.

Teach: Lauren Besich

2010-10-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen, A&E has a new series documenting Tony Danza's first year as an English teacher in a Philadelphia high school.

If you didn't know, I am an English teacher, so naturally I have my DVR set to record every episode.

I'm still deciding if I love or hate this show. Let me give you some background on what's been going on.

Three weeks ago I started teaching 10th grade English at a local high school (shout out to my s-n-l, Bekka). This was my second time taking over someone else's teaching job, and if you never heard my stories, the first time was no walk in the park. Three weeks ago I was scared, nervous, and expecting the worse, but I was met with kind, respectful, and awesome students.

That honeymoon period, however, has ended.

Defiance, apathy, and dishonesty become my daily battles and at the end of the day I wonder if it's worth fighting. I wonder if this is what I want to wake up to for the next 30 years. I wonder if I'm cut out for this. I wonder if I made the wrong career choice.

This is why I haven't decided if I love Teach, or if I hate it. I often find myself wincing when I watch the show...not because of Tony, but because watching brings back bad memories I desperately want to forget.

things that make me wince

1. Monte (student)- always complaining he's not challenged enough and every episode asserts that he doesn't want "Mr. Danza to get in the way of his education." Do us a favor, Monte, don't talk so close to the camera and sign up for an honors class. It's not Mr. Danza's fault that he has students with a reading level 5 grades lower than yours in the same class.

2. Ms. DeNaples (asst. principal)- could she have made Tony feel like a bigger idiot on the first day when he didn't sign in when he got to work? Ease up, lady...

3. The first-year-teacher ignorance no first year teacher is immune from. It sucks.

4. The Resource room (SPED testing/work room) incident. I'm going to leave it at that because I don't want to say the wrong thing and offend someone.

5. When Paige (student) walked out on Tony when he was talking to her. That's happened to me twice in the last two weeks...with the same kid.

6. Charmaine (student) asking Tony if he was nervous, then telling him he should probably wear and undershirt so he doesn't get sweat stains. Some people's kids...

7. When Tony comes to the realization that his students aren't doing their work at home. Talk about a kick in the you-know-where.

8. When Monte (student) corrects Tony in front of the whole class. Been there, done that. Sigh...

9. Every time Tony is summoned to the principal's office. Dun dun duuuuunnnnnnn.

10. Every time Tony cries.

things I love

1. Every time Tony cries.

2. When Ms. McCloskey (asst. principal) tells him it's ok to cry because everyone does it at one point.

3. Tony has a student named Algernon. Have you ever read Flowers for Algernon? If you haven't, please do.

4. Tony's enthusiasm and dedication...even when things are tough.

5. Ben a.k.a. Kyle and Howard a.k.a. Frankie.

6. "This is an emotional profession." Agreed.

7. Tony teaches 10th grade English and so do I.

8. Tony is always wearing a blue shirt.

9. "Those who care, teach."

10. Tony Danza, a famous actor, knows what I go through.

I love Teach because it assures me I am not alone in my struggles, but I hate it because it reminds me of those struggles. I wish I could call him up on the phone and discuss our triumphs, failures, hopes and disappointments. We could lesson plan and bounce ideas off one another. We could motivate the other to "keep on swimming."

I'm not one to quit at first sign of trouble. I've endured before, and I can endure again. I'm thankful for the attributes I develop and improve every year I teach. My all-time favorite quote by Benjamin Cardozo never fails to recharge my batteries:

"In the end, the great truth will have been learned, that the quest is greater than what is sought, the effort finer than the prize, or rather, the effort is the prize, the victory cheap and hollow were it not for the rigor of the game."

Get Your Nails Done, Get Your Hair Did

2010-09-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

In my quest for Kardashian-esque hair, I sojourned to the hair dresser with a plan in my head and some cash in my pocket.

Three hours later...

I'm a happy camper.

"Tower this is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by"

2010-09-19T01:59:00.000-07:00

"That's right Ice...man. I am dangerous."

"I feel the need...the need for speed."

"And if you screw up just this much, you'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog *poo* out of Hong Kong."

"Communicating. Keeping up foreign relations. You know, giving him the bird."

"Too close for missiles...I'm switching to guns."

"Goose, whose butt did you kiss to get in here anyway?"

"Take me to bed or lose me forever."

"When are you going to stop those jockeys doing a fly-by on my tower at over 400 knots. I want somebody's butt, I want it now, I've had it!"

Slug Poo and Other Curious Business

2010-09-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Once upon an evening as I scrubbed the dinner wreckage, I looked out the window and discovered a mysterious creature. After intense examination we decided this mysterious creature was a slug. A big brown blob camping on my typhoon shutters. Eww, gross. Forget questions about how he got there, I wanted to know what was coming out of him.

The jury was out on whether the big brown blob was laying some babies or dropping a deuce, but Baldo's research concluded that BBB was indeed "dumping his truck."

That jerk pooed on my shutters!

And for the record, as soon as he took care of business he bolted. I feel so used.

On a brighter note there has been a strange sighting in the casa de Besich. We were lucky to catch a glimpse of the intruder before she apparated. We have nicknamed her "The Yellow Power Ranger." She's sneaky, she's quick, and she's ~~strikingly beautiful~~ dangerous.

BE CAREFUL!

Moving on, last night I found my new favorite snack.

To whatever genius married my two favorite flavors, BBQ and curry, into one treat: thank you.

Get funky!

Housewives of Guam

2010-09-08T02:15:00.000-07:00

One word perfectly describes the last nine and a half weeks of my life- unemployment.

I read, I cleaned, I cooked, I shopped, I unpacked, I organized, I dreamed and I made important decisions.

I became a legit housewife.

I've considered petitioning Bravo to bring their drama-packed reality show to Guam.

Here is my resumè:

I make scrumptastic cake balls. You can't have just one.

I wash dishes by hand.

I'm a skilled beach bum.

I only eat high quality cuisine.

Following the steps of former "Housewives" I plan on releasing my first album. Shocked to find out I could sing? You're not the only one...

And like any singing power-couple the hubster and I would perform a duo. Soon you'll hear our names tossed around like Jay-Z and Beyoncè; Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Passion? I've got it.

Kids in the neighborhood call me Chef Boyardee.

I'm always up for a workout.

Hopefully ABC will invite me to participate on DWTS. I have a mean lasso move.

I also try to make the world a more beautiful place...one person at a time.

How can Bravo pass up this plethora of material?

Things That Make Me Go WHOA

2010-09-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Hiking Mount Lam Lam

Our destination...

Almost there!

Oh hello, Virgin Mary, fancy meeting you here.

Needless to say I made it to the top in one piece, but next time I'll bring a machete. I don't have a picture of me on the summit because, well, because...I don't really know why. Use your imagination.

Mount Lam Lam makes me go WHOA!

Welcome to the Jungle

2010-09-05T04:15:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago we moved into our new pad. We scored a nice little duplex situated deep in the jungle of Yigo, Guam. Care for a tour? Please, join me...

the facade

our yard/parking lot

view from the front door

f.y.i. those are banana trees. I just found out yesterday.

Now let us take a look inside where the magic happens...

family room

my work space

the kitchen

Pink cabinetry is SO in right now. My fridge has feet...

the master suite

the uber spacious hall closet

the guest/storage wing

We are now accepting reservations. We might even clear out the boxes for you.

engineering at its finest

Sadly, the a/c vents didn't aim downwards. This is how we fixed it.

our froggy friend who visits every night

He blends in with the concrete slab a bit...hopefully he doesn't get stepped on!

The Chamorro culture has taught me that we need no more than the basics for survival and happiness. The furniture you see came with the house, we gave up the luxury of having two cars, and we don't have a washer, dryer, microwave or dishwasher, and yet, we are happily surviving. Perhaps "surviving" isn't the right word. We are happily living.

The Great Debaters

2010-08-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

August 18th marked a milestone for Baldo and his news station. They brought exclusive coverage of the Gubernatorial Debate to the people of Guam. Politics are huge in Guam...like huge. It was no surprise that the debate was the hottest ticket in town last night, so how could I miss it?

Not only was GNW bringing live coverage, they were the only station bringing live coverage.

Word.

Reporter Baldo Besich was hard at work brainstorming,

interviewing,

and fine-tuning his live reporting skills.

I was in charge of tasting all the yummy food and desserts...

(Notice the lack of dinner pictures...my hunger outweighed the need to snap my camera)

The debate taught Baldo and I about the passion Guamanians have for their island. I was touched to hear the chants in the lobby before the debate began.

Vivà Republican!

Vivà Unidad!

Vivà Guahan!

We love this stuff.

Chapter 3: Street Signs Are for Whimps

2010-08-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

And a whimp am I. My FOB* status leaves me at the mercy of maps and street signs to find my way around Guam. Only, there is one problem; many of the streets here don't have signs. Trips to the grocery store resemble games of hide-and-seek, and of the six libraries here on Guam, I've only managed to find two. To save time, frustration, and fake swearing, I've started asking for directions. It only took a few times to realize the islanders use landmarks and not street signs to give directions.

Sometimes they are easy. Enter exhibit A:

"Excuse me, where do I go to get court clearance?"

"Do you know where the basilica is?"

"Yes."

"The courthouse is right across the street."

"Oh! Ok, thank you."

Other times the directions are more sophisticated. Enter exhibit B; calling a sushi restaurant for their directions.

"Hello, where is your restaurant located?"

"We are in the Blue Lagoon Plaza."

"Which road is that on?"

"It's next to the Holiday Resort."

"Is it on Route 1** or Route 14?"

"Ummmmm....."

"We are driving by Kmart right now."

"Oh! Ok, when you get to the Kmart go down the hill and turn right. You'll pass the Holiday Resort. When you see the Bank of Hawaii on the right get in the center lane. You'll turn left where you see the Subway. That's the Blue Lagoon Plaza. We are in the back."

"Ok, Thank you."

**Just a side note, calling a road by its route number is a dead giveaway you're not from Guam. Not many people on the island call, or even know, a road by its route number.

Then there are times when directions are so long they have to be written down. Exhibit C:

The most advanced directions involve made-up street names. Exhibit D:

"Where can I find the Dededo Cost-U-Less?"

"Do you know where hamburger road is?"

"Hamburger road?"

"Yeah, the road with McDonald's at the end?"

"Oh, right...yes I do."

Etc, etc.

And exhibit E:

"Which street is the hospital on?"

"Do you know where the Pizza Hut intersection is?"

"Let me guess...it's the intersection with the Pizza Hut?"

"Yeah, that's the one."

Etc, etc.

Different as this technique is, it is fool-proof. I never get lost when I follow their directions. Next time someone asks you for directions, consider using the island technique and your street cred will skyrocket.

(Dislaimer...the island directions technique has not been tested on non-island areas, therefore its success cannot be guaranteed. The authors of this blog are not responsible for any loss of street cred.)

*Fresh off the Boat

"When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big PIZZA Pie...

2010-08-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

That's amorè."

To my husband, pizza is a major food group that should be consumed at least once a week. Imagine his shock when we saw a Little Cesar's Hot 'n Ready pizza for not five, but TEN dollars.

Hafa Adai, and welcome to Guam.

It was a matter of principle. How could we buy a ten dollar Hot 'n Ready when we know we can get it for five dollars at home? And we're only talking Little Cesar's pizza. Dare to venture how much a large pizza costs at Domino's? $22.50.

We held off for about a month. Come on, it was only a matter of time before I bought a pineapple for $4.29 because it was a really good deal. Don't judge me; you don't live here. The sticker shock starts to wear off after awhile.

We had one of those days and we needed something to make us feel better. Something round, cheesy, greasy, and saucy.

Oh, and two for one.

I am now a believer in thin crust pizza. It completes me.

It was worth paying $22.50 to see the look on this kid's face.

What do you get when you cross two large pizzas with a delivering episode of Big Brother?

A good night.

Two Inches Deep.

2010-08-03T04:51:00.000-07:00

On a good day I like to consider myself a person of substance, but even people of substance have their moments of superficial weakness. I like pretty things. Some of these pretty things happen to cost a lot of money (translation=I don't get to own them). What's a girl to do? In hopes to cure my insatiable hunger for pretty things that are expensive, I share a few with you via a blog buffet. You are invited to feast your eyes along with mine. I won't be offended if you have better, more worthwhile things to do like clean up the BP oil spill, plant a garden, play with a child, read an inspiring book, solve the budget crisis, or discover a cure for the common cold. I understand. Let the shallow showcase begin!

1. If you know me, you know I have a love affair with Coach, and this spearmint colored tote strangely tickles my fancy. I attribute this attraction to the impending two-year summer I will experience here in Guam. It's bright, cheerful and would look so good on my arm.

2. My six-year old self is dying right now. I used to wear jellies like they were going out of style. Unfortunately for me they did, but two decades later they are gearing up for a reunion tour! I saw these pretties in a store down the street and fell in love. Fortunately for my bank account they didn't have any in a size bigger than a seven (No shoe was offered in my size: nine. Apparently I have freakishly large feet for Guam standards). Adding insult to injury, I already know what outfits I would wear with these...c'est la vie.

3. My heart has been pining after a beauty like this for a few months. Maybe Santa will be extra nice this year? The price tag isn't this only thing holding me back. Perhaps it's lack of photographic knowledge, but I'm willing to learn. My future children need this investment! Or so I tell my husband. Either way, this camera tickles my fancy.

4. I'm diverging from the path a bit since this box collection isn't terribly expensive nor is it pretty, per sè, but it's going to be a pretty amazing addition to my collection. Twenty-one more days until the mystery behind District 13 is revealed! Have I said too much?

Phew, I'm feeling better already. Now I can focus on the more essential tasks like getting a job.

But that's a story for another day.

Is Your Home Safe?

2010-07-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

Please meet our watch dog.He's mean, green, and ready for a fight.

He scares away all the bad guys...and sometimes the good ones too. I don't even want to go near him.

He's that good.

Viva Chamorro!

2010-07-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Liberation Day is a pretty big deal here in Guam. It's the one parade they hold all year, so of course I had to go! Baldo was covering the parade for work, so I partook in the festivities alone. What fun I had! I strategically set up camp next to the Cham's Authentic Thai Food tent, a brilliant move on my part (their pad thai is to die for). Then the parade started and this is what I saw:

It was a fun day.And now, Baldo's news story.

Chapter 2: Hey Speed Racer, Slow Your Roll

2010-07-20T04:02:00.001-07:00

If there was a 12-step program for road rage, I would fall somewhere between admitting I had a problem and coming to believe there is a power greater than myself to restore my sanity. My road temper subsided during my stint as a missionary, but since moving to Guam, it is on the rise.

Before you judge me, hear my case. Transitioning from metropolitan life to island life has been enjoyable. But there is something missing from my life...

65 mph.

My roll has been slowed. Mostly in thanks to this guy,

this guy,

and on a blessed rare occasion, this guy.

Sigh...one day I will drive on a freeway with a speed limit equal to my father's age. With speed cameras. And photo radar vans. And sneaky cops! On second thought I'm good with rolling on the slower side.

Stay tuned for the next installment of Ga-ga for Guam

Chapter 1: Lizards are Loose in Your Laundry!

2010-07-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

It really wasn't as bad as it was in my head.

On our first Guamanian morning I woke up to turn on the air conditioning. As I bent my sore back over to reach the button (our bed is hard as a rock), I saw some movement out the corner of my eye.

I jumped back and bent lower. Sure enough a gecko scurried across the floor and the screaming commenced. Certain that a I had happened upon a serial killer waiting for his prey, Baldo rushed into the room ready to fight, only to find his squirmy wife pointing to a measly gecko. Two shoes and a missing tail later, our apartment was gecko free...at least I hoped. How did he get in here? Were there more? Had he crawled all over my clothes in our open suitcases? It was too much to think about. For now I will feel comfortable knowing we got rid of the perp.

New Kids in Town

2010-07-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

Drinking a gallon of milk: $6.49. Savoring a McDonald's double cheeseburger: $4.85. Filling up your 44oz at CircleK: $1.49. Surviving your first week in Guam: priceless.

I should write a book titled Moving to Guam for Dummies. In it you would find chapters such as "To Run, or Not to Run: The Red Light Rogue," "Streets Signs are for Wimps," "How to Cope When Your Boss Tells You to Stop Wearing Ties," "Hey Speed Racer, Slow Your Roll," and "Lizards are Loose in Your Laundry!"

Amazingly I kept myself busy while Baldo worked at the news station. Dina the banker and Tom the realtor, my new BFFs, gave me great tips about the island; where to eat, what to do, etc. I'm sure they'll make the "Acknowledgment" section of my book for all the help they gave me.

Our next big feat is finding a place to call home. Wish us luck...it's stressful.

Show Me What You're Working With

2010-07-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

Day numero uno in Guam officially ended. The votes have been counted, and the facts have been checked: we live in paradise. Here is your proof.

Not bad, Guam. Not bad.

Here's Lookin' at You, Kid

2010-07-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

It's late. Or should I say early? My eyes hurt. I'm hungry. I'm moving to Guam in about two and a half hours. Right now my thoughts are focused on our baggage making the weight cut-off. Fifty pounds? REALLY Continental? I wish Southwest flew to Guam.

I'm amazed at how simple-minded TV shows are at 3:00 in the morning.

Everyone is asleep... even Baldo.

I'm going to miss my mom.

And dad.

And some of these people:

*No babies were injured during the production of this photograph.

Arizona, you've been good to us.

Deuce

2010-06-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

June 13, 2010 = Two years of marriage.

I feel confident that we're transitioning from newly weds to nearly deads with grace. Let's take a look back to how this began...

It's been two years since we did this

a little of this

A LOT of this

more of this

and we wouldn't have enjoyed it without a few of these.

I couldn't have found a better person to make me laugh when I'm sad, to tell me I'm beautiful when I feel I'm not, to eat my food when I cook, to turn off my straightener when I leave it on, to scrub the toilet when I don't want to, to take care of me when I'm sick, and to love me despite of my downfalls.

Boo, I love you.

Jump

2010-06-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

“We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.” -Harrison Ford

Almost six years ago I was on an airplane 13,000 feet in the air with a parachute on, attached to a man standing at an open door getting ready to jump…and jump we did.

Today, I am standing with a man getting ready to jump 6,453 miles across the world to a tiny island in the western Pacific Ocean…and jump we will.

In less than thirty days we will call a new place home. We will say goodbye to family, to friends, and to a desert that has seen us grow and mature for the past two and a half decades.

The pictures on our walls have come down, the dishes packed away, and possessions sold.

My emotions switch between anticipation and anxiety daily. I feel certain that we belong there, but nervous as to why.

Two summers, two Christmases, two birthdays, two anniversaries, two New Years’…what changes will I miss? Will my niece be able to talk when we get back? Will my sister get married? Will everyone I care about still be around? Will the Suns finally make it to the finals?

I’m going to miss this place. I’m going to miss my friends. But most of all, I’m going to miss my family…both of them.

Please, if you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Guam, feel free to stop by. We’ll take you to the best beach, feed you the island’s tastiest cuisine, and show you the most breathtaking sunset.

We’ll be a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Let's Get Crackin'

2010-06-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Why does eating crab...

make me want to do this?

Can You Fix My H-E-A-R-T?

2010-05-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

I have a new friend.

And his name is Holter.

Holter goes everywhere with me...at least for the next 24 hours. You can say we are like peas and carrots, PB&J, Siskel and Ebert.

I heart him.

Since She Won't Do it!

2010-05-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

I will post an update...since she (my beautiful wife) won't do it. A lot has happened since our last post, and we apologize for that. I finished school at ASU with a BA in broadcast journalism.

My mom put on a great party and my mother-in-law made an amazing cake. Ps. I love Lauren's shirt.

The party got a little crazy. Would you expect anything less?

So my big day came and you would think that this picture would have been the best part of night.

You would be so very wrong.

This is what really made Lauren's night. Die hard fans of "Back to the Future" already know why this night was so special. Lauren met.... Biff!

We also celebrated Lauren's birthday since our last post. We ate at Joe's Farm Grill.

But this is all you really need to know. I was made best husband ever because of this...

And if you think that is a ton of fun... you would be surprised that more stuff has happened since the last post. I will quickly try to review some things that we documented with a camera.

Lauren and I got a glimpse at what our kids might look like thanks to Andy and Ali.

Blog stalkers meet Starla

She is beautiful!

We also got to spend some time with great friends.

Hit the lake.

And babysat our all-time favorite.

Until next time. This has been a message from Besich.

Forever Young

2010-05-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

What do I do at night when my husband is at my parent's house catching up on LOST? Wikipedia my upcoming age: 26. Yes, the big day is Thursday, and yes, I just used "wikipedia" as a verb...sue me. Normally birthdays send me into fits of giddiness, but this year I find myself unprepared. Unprepared for accepting that I'm officially in the second half of my twenties. I'm SURE my students think of me as a washed-up grown up who is always telling them to spit out their gum, pull up their pants (Baldo would want me to add that he hears that a lot too), and watch their language.

But wasn't it just yesterday when I was able to stay up later than 11:00? Wear a swimsuit without worrying about what my thighs looked like? Eat Top Ramen everyday without care? Stand up after sitting cross-legged without my knees going into shock? Will myself to do a backflip off the diving board?

When did this happen?

At least I don't have gray hair...yet.

Dramatics aside, let's look at number 26's claims to fame:

a rhombicuboctahedron has 26 sides

26 letters in the English alphabet

men can no longer be drafted in the US at age 26 (lucky for me?)

26 is the gematric number of the true name of god- YHWH

26 is the atomic number of iron

26 is the number of spacetime dimensions in bosonic string theory (sounds exciting)

in a normal deck of cards there are 26 red cards and 26 black cards

there are often 26 episodes in a television program each year

See? 26 is exciting. I have tons to look forward to, unless I was hoping to be drafted. But then I would have to be a man...

When is Baldo coming home?

It's a Lauren Thing

2010-05-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

CDs. Road trips. Concerts. Hair cuts...it’s a Lauren thing. My buddy and I were able to get together last night for some delicious Dutch oven pizza, discussions on Ruth and Facebook stalking. It felt good, mainly because we hadn’t really seen each other in a few months, and yet I felt like we hadn’t skipped a beat. I’m thankful for buddies like this. They make life so fun.

You Can't Always Get What You Want

2010-04-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

My birthday is coming up in under a month. Usually when I’m asked what I want for my birthday, panic sets in, my eyes gloss over and I turn comatose. It’s a lot of pressure creating a birthday wish list. Do I ask for the practical gift or the selfish gift? Need or want? Alas, what follows is my uninhibited birthday wish list; complete and utter selfishness sprinkled with a dash of materialism.

Let us start with a few clothing items…

Next we move on to some shoesies...

Accessories...

(Although, I have no idea how I would wear this)

It's a headband, people.

A girl can never have enough aprons.

Or watches?

Housewares...

This is the sit-with-your-eyes-not-your-bum chair that goes in the living room-you-look-at-but-don't-use.

I can probably make something like this.

The garage accessory...

And finally to balance out all my selfish commercialism...

World peace.

Resume

2010-04-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

After a lot of hard work...I am proud to show you my resume. This is what I will be sending out to the many stations across the country. Enjoy and let me know what you think of it!

Baldo Besich Multimedia Journalist Resume from Baldo Besich on Vimeo.

"For love? For love? Eff love."

2010-04-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

This goes out to my Sister-in-law, and I will send a little of this out to my cousin Charlie.

Skivs

2010-03-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Ebelskivers, where have you been all my life? I can't stop thinking about you. You haunt me. Sweet and savory? What else is there to offer a girl?

Am I right, or am I right?

I love you.

Love. It.

2010-03-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

The past always finds a way to creep back into your present. Our night began with chats about how to teach poetry to my 8^th graders this week. This chat lead us on a treasure hunt for Baldo’s blue notebook, a project containing poetry he wrote as a young lad, so off to his parents’ house we went. Alas the booty was found and the reminiscing began. Amid the scrapbooks and old handmade birthday cards from ex-girlfriends (gag-why do we still have that stuff?), we found some of Baldo’s old work from photo class.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Can anyone say Milwaukee mudslide?

Riddle me this...why I am I so attracted to him in this picture?

A Break During Spring

2010-03-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

We "hit" the strip!

Saw some fountains!

Went to a night club!

Sinner lost my money!

Lauren hated this mascot. After this picture it bit her head and she freaked out! (p.s. we went with some good friends of ours)

And we did a little of this ;)

Needless to say I had a great break and I love my wife for putting up with these funny blog posts.

MR. FIX IT

2010-03-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

WILL YOU POST A COMMENT ON OUR BLOG JUST TO SEE IF IT WORKS NOW? MY FAVORITE HUSBAND LOOKED AT IT AND THINKS HE MIGHT HAVE FIXED IT.

LETS PLAY A GAME... COMMENT ABOUT HOW YOU LIKE/HATE WHEN PEOPLE BLOG IN ALL CAPS!

HOV Crack Down

2010-03-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

So this story I did about the HOV lane here in Arizona worked out really well. ABC 15 picked up the story and ran it last weekend during their 6pm show. NBC then put it on their website as well. When I load the video it is always too big so here is the link to youtube. I hope you enjoy it.

We Need Your Help

2010-03-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

Next week=Spring Break=VEGAS! We need to know where to eat and what to do. Let's hear it...ready, go!

CPR

2010-03-09T10:24:00.000-08:00

Riddle me this. What does CPR stand for? Cardiopulmonary resurrection, of course! I’m glad my duties as an educator of the future leaders of America allow me to right such grave errors. Cardiopulmonary RESUSCITATON. Sigh…much better. Let’s hope he didn’t plan on becoming an EMT.

*This light-bulb moment brought to you by the students of Mrs. Besich.

Dreams Can Come True

2010-03-03T21:30:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars, people. April 15th. 7:30 pm. Tempe Center for the Arts. Arizona Wind Symphony. You, me, the bari sax (aka the source of my back problems), and a little of this…

while hopefully wearing one of these...

If I've done anything good in my life, please let this dream come true.

Come, if you dare to be amazed.

On the Desk!

2010-02-25T20:51:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to My Valentine

2010-02-15T09:55:00.001-08:00

Baldo, you are the man. Even better, you are MY man. You are the whip cream to my chocolate pudding, the Rhett Butler to my Scarlett O'Hara. Happy birthday, Boo.

The weekend was fab. We ate our hearts out. First at Pane Blanco, second at Chelsea's Kitchen, and third at Kade and Carlie's for V-Day breakfast. We are finger-lickin'-good food fiends. As for the gifts, Baldo scored an ASU t-shirt accompanied by a Mickey Mouse microphone (thanks Antie Tina!), moolah (thanks mama Jess!) and some delicious euro swim trunks (from yours truly). Please see the picture below if you have no idea what euro trunks are.

To fully appreciate the size of these beauties, please compare to a pair of my own swim bottoms...

Oh yeah, baby.

50-A Tribute

2010-02-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

My mom turned fifty years old yesterday. She is a rock star. No formulation of words could ever give her the justice she deserves. Where would we be without our mamas? Without further ado, here is my tribute to the best mama I've ever had...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Look at that adorable mug...I love you.

Let me just say, I got it from my mama.

Plug my work

2010-02-08T18:19:00.000-08:00

So if you ever wonder what I do all the time... here you go. This is one of my latest stories