Thursday, September 29, 2011

Again

Same today as yesterday, except this time I kept the blue plastic rifle with me and I shot right away when they came in, and I got killed right away. The time went by faster, because I played around on my smartphone while we were waiting. And this time there were six of us, instead of three.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Back

A perfect wedding and honeymoon will put anybody in a good mood. Even though I had to come back here, and leave my Darling behind, I've been happy in my work.

Tuesday was the first day back... I checked in late Monday night, moved my car (which had been surrounded by a construction zone while I was gone), unpacked, did my laundry, and was ready to start all over again.

They didn't have me on the muster sheet or the working party list, so I checked out to Medical and got the immunizations they told me I needed when I did my PHA a couple weeks ago. Reported back in and was sent to Bldg. 52 (on the 2nd deck) to look for an MA1 Persenger. No one had heard of an MA1 there, so I ended up working for an OS1, painting doors on the 2nd deck.

There's a new PT muster at 1430 four days a week, so I showed up to this. It was exactly what I wanted to do myself... a timed run of the mile-and-a-half PRT course at Liberty Station. It almost killed me... short breath, coughing afterwords, pounding head, sore knees... but I did it in 14 minutes exactly... and that's with not running for a long time!

Today, I had a Dentist appointment at 0700. Checked out with Holds at a quarter till, got done very soon... but yes, I need to floss more... and then turned in my updated Page 2 in Admin. While I was in there, I filled out a name change chit. So soon I'll be able to put on my new name. Went ahead and ordered the new name tapes off "www.mynavyexchange.org" tonight :)

But the working party today was with the EODs, like yesterday was supposed to be. I figured out that they meet on the second deck of the EOD building across from 51. After a long bit of waiting around, we headed out with a group of them to the Sub Base. Drove the chief's truck up the hill behind the column of EODs walking up the hill as if they were in Afghanistan. Up in the old parts of Fort Rosecrans, there's a mock Afghan village set up... and there we three students played bodies for their exercise. One was a hostage, one a townsperson, and I was a bad guy. I was a Taliban hostage taker, wearing a white "man dress", as I heard it called, and a pair of my own blue plaid flannel pants wrapped around my head for a turban. I got killed and dragged by my wrist so the guys could find the hidden basement under the carpet I was lying on. It was a lot of waiting around, but I enjoyed the out-of-the-ordinary experience anyway.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Week In Review

It's been a bit of a wild one, especially with all the anticipation of going on leave and getting married this weekend. When I return near the end of the month, I'll only have 4 days of holds left... after being on hold for 4 months.

Monday, I had Quarterdeck duty in the morning and Shuttle driving in the afternoon. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, but that didn't work, since I had the 07-12 bag check watch at the turnstile in Bldg 11 that day instead.

Had nothing Monday morning, but a student came by my perch in Lib Hall asking if anyone wanted to go work for the Seabee's for two weeks; they were desperately in need of more people, and since there's no food provided, they give $70 a day. I told him I was going on leave, and couldn't. But he came back and said they'd take me for the next three days anyway. Just then the Quarterdeck called and said they needed me to escort the cleaning lady in Bldg 52... their duty section must have been really screwed up... that's an assigned watch station. So as she cleaned the 8 heads, I mulled over if I'd be able to work everything out in the hour and a half I'd have left before they wanted to leave. :)

When I found him, DC1 told me what I knew... it wouldn't be worth it. So I went about the rest of the day as usual. Four hours of Shuttle driving after I finished lunch.

Tuesday's watch went just fine. The 2nd class who supervised was talkative, and the minutes ticked by. And in the afternoon, I was a good sailor, and did a substantial workout. Lots of upper body stuff, including assisted dips and pull-ups, push-ups, free weights and crunches. And after the new muster at 1430 in PT gear (that I found out about while walking by morning muster), I went for a short run around the triangle a couple times.

Wednesday morning I was a little taken aback that I was scheduled for the same as Monday. The original schedule had given me the day off... possibly I was a little too unhappy about it in the office... but it worked out just fine. The truck was in the shop, so the only Quarterdeck vehicle was the CO's sedan. Dropped a 1st class off at Third Fleet when I went to get fuel, but other than that I was practically off. Of course, there was the four-hour shuttle in the afternoon, but that's not too bad.

Yesterday, Thursday, we suspended the Quarterdeck driver assignment. So it was only a half day! I had the shuttle for the first 5 hours... ended up driving 9 people around, so it was even needed. :)

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

more

This day was much like it's predecessor. Again I got out of bed late, and arrived for muster at the last moment. I thought this was my day off, but the coordinator had other plans. I was to drive someone immediately to 32nd street. When I got back they wanted me to go again... but Buck was very generous in taking that run so I could take care of things in my room. I can't remember how many trips I made to 32nd... it was at least five circuits.

I started reading in one of the suggested reading-list books... Lincoln on Leadership. Interesting little piece for a self-help book. The first chapter spoke about how he made so much time for meeting with people... visiting them and letting them visit, in order to understand them and let them know he cared.

But since I've been on two days in a row, I get the next two off, with only chow relief as my duty. Not a bad deal.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Never Stopped Driving

I woke a little to late to do things like use the head or have breakfast (I had to put away everything I left out in my room last night). Made it to check in right at 0630, and since I was the quarterdeck driver, I didn't stop until around 0930 or so. Both the vehicles needed gas... and after I got back with the truck (no problems this time), there was someone to go up to Third Fleet. When I got back, there was another person to go up to Third Fleet, after dropping one off at medical across the street. Then I finally filled up the tank for the CO's sedan on the way back.

I had about a half-hour's break before the next call, and I was able to set up a dental appointment, figured out that, no, I cannot take the advancement exam this Thursday (no surprise... I don't have Time in Rate yet), and get some cash at the ATM. Sat down to do Internet at 1000, and at 1002, ring, ring. "Go pick up Seaman Someone across the street and take them to Balboa Medical." And when I finally returned (just as I got through the gate) they called again and told me to go back to Balboa to pick someone up. Frustrating, but alright... except we didn't have the person's phone #, they weren't there when I arrived, and the OOD just changed over, so we didn't even know their name. Came back late for lunch and empty-handed.

But the Hold's Office was great. My chow relief did two hours and I was able to get a good lunch and lay down for a moment in my room before I grabbed my sunglasses and went back out to run the shuttle for the three remaining hours.

I had two students Under Instruction, and they did all the driving. It had been so long since I did the shuttle, I guided us up Canon St. instead of continuing on to the Sub Base first. Duh! But I caught the mistake before we passed Talbot St. and we got back on track.

Oh, and this morning (and during the first two shuttle runs) I saw the USS Antietam steaming and then docking at Coronado! She must have passed her in-service I helped with in July!

It rained last night and this morning, so this afternoon was oppressively muggy and hotter than usual... and I have an annoying headache. Even with a couple of Ibuprofen this afternoon. It must be because I'm so tired that I hate being here right now. Lord, please, some good sleep tonight.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Sixty-Six Years

Fleet Admiral Nimitz signing the documents on behalf of the United States on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, on this day, 1945.

(this was an off-day in celebration of Labor Day)

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Another Odd One

Today as duty driver I had a pre-arranged assignment. I was to take 13 people, including our chaplain, LCDR Harris, to the Veteran's Hospital in La Jolla at 0900-ish. Since it takes about a half-hour each way, I was supposed to stay with them to make it economical. They were visiting vets to show them we cared, thank them for their service and give us students the experience. We only met a few people (limited time), one a 70+ yr old Air Force 20+ year supply guy, and by contrast, a young Marine, currently an E-4 (just like me), and injured from breaking his neck in football practice. He was incredibly positive, even though it took several weeks just to get little twinges of feeling back in his toes... He was able to move his arms around, but needed a device to help him hold a pen to sign the waiver so the chaplain could take his picture with us.

We had erroneous directions to begin with, so it was a good thing we left early enough to get there on time. He had given STG2 (in charge of duty drivers) directions to the Vet Hospital in La Jolla... which turned out to be the veterinarian hospital. lol! And we had to leave behind one of the working party before we left base in the morning; he had not shaved that morning, and he was caught by STG1 Harvell.

I also got to drive the FC's up the hill to Third Fleet before all this went down... and I filled up the tank at the sub base on the way back in preparation.

When I got back (almost at noon), I had a lunch break. Hibbard was my chow relief and ended up with a run to 32nd and Balboa Medical. I was able to lend my GPS to Dailey and turn in my new BEQ form before hanging out in the office for the rest of the day. I emptied all the trash from the office, and as I was replacing the can liners, I was requested to drive chits down to TSC on 32nd street. It was 1430, so by the time I returned, it would be time to quit for the long weekend! :)