Today's post is brought to you by the letter S

S is for words like Scuba, Snorkel, Softball, and Shell Smokin' Wheels. 

We joined the AG's office softball team - it is "fun with a purpose:" a chance to get outside and play, but also a chance to meet people and establish some ties with the community here. Yesterday night was the first practice, but I wasn't feeling well so Nick went alone. The practice ran over three hours, and it was quite dark by the time Nick got back, but he said he had a lot of fun. The first game isn't for a couple of months - and this is "team pitch" softball (the pitcher is from the same team as the batter - like in little kids' little league, when the coaches pitch), so it probably won't be particularly competitive. Apparently the AG's office plays on the hospitality industry league - against the restaurant and hotel teams - because they couldn't compete against the policemen and other tough guys of the Gov Guam league. 

Also, we started SCUBA classes - tonight is our third class and our final classroom lesson. Next week we have two classes in a swimming pool, and two actual dives in the ocean! We shall see how that goes. If nothing else, we got some excellent snorkeling equipment out of it. We've taken the masks and snorkels out into Tumon bay a couple of times, and we have been amazed at how much can be seen out there - even in very shallow waters, there are little coral thickets with tropical fish, hermit crabs, sea stars - an innumerable variety. The first day out, we saw more fish and sea creatures than we've seen in our whole lives combined, in the wild - but we also a few cone snail shells, and a sea snake, which scared us right out of the water! 

So there is plenty to keep us busy these days - and this weekend, Shell of Guam (yes, that Shell) is sponsoring a motorsports event called "Smokin' Wheels," which includes a barbecue contest. It runs all weekend long, and we'll surely be there for some of it!