The deal was that Combs, another FSA, would take my workday today after I took his Monday. He had a four-day weekend last weekend, and I'd have a four-day weekend this weekend; and combined with my half day yesterday, makes it more like five.
As I noted last, we had a problem with the water tanks... the problem continued all day long on Saturday, even though they promised we'd have it back Friday night. They had it up and running on Sunday though, so that was nice. I had a job again! Weekend duty isn't too bad... there is no quarters in the morning, no stores on-loads, and no berthing inspections... so I don't have to worry about straightening my rack, folding my blankets, locking everything up in my drawers and hiding my nearly-empty-backpack behind my pillow (I don't have enough room)... at 0445. :) So one can relax a little bit. I think I took several naps over the two days, watched a lot of football (Navy/Air Force, Gators/LSU college games on Sat -they let us off for dinner- and a bit of Dolphins/Bengals on Sun), and read quite a bit in The Hobbit.
I was sort of ready for everything to start up again on Monday, and the transition wasn't as bad as coming back from a weekend off, believe it or not. It was kind of hard to go straight into long days of work though. We had stores on-load right away. My self-appointed project of this week was to straighten up the condiments on the mess decks. Separated out the ketchup, mayo and relish packets... and good thing... we had burgers yesterday and we're out of the mayo bottles. Also, no one had bothered to notice that we were out of coffee creamers all weekend, and I even had the CO ask for some Monday morning. That really got my interest spiked in getting the 1st classes to get some for me from stores (only they have the keys). Put them out after lunch, and got several comments in just a few minutes... especially from the wardroom. Also thought we needed ketchup and mustard, and brought up a couple cases of those. Good thing, because people drink ketchup on burger days. :)
Tuesday was the other scullery guy's last day. We got an un-designated seaman as his replacement, and I like this guy a lot better. Takes care to do everything well, and thinks about what's going on. We talk about music too, because he likes classical and singing. I showed him everything and set him up to work that day, and the next day he told me he wished that FSA was a rate! :)
It helped a whole lot to have this long weekend ahead of me through Monday and Tuesday. Even though Wednesday was a half-day, I worked like crazy. We had stores on-load and a milk on-load right after it. Helped CS1 down in the refer (walk-in fridge and freezer next to it), and took the trouble to get the milk and juices loaded up, even though I'm not in charge there. Our new mess decks MA is not a hard charger like FC1 was, and I find myself leading quite a bit. I don't mind though... :) We've had a lot of new people in, and since I celebrated my half-way mark yesterday, I have a bit of seniority.
The five long days in a row are over, the four off are upon me!
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Just Another Day
In class today we decided to do the labs today and go over schematics and troubleshooting Friday and Monday, and test on Tuesday. The lab consisted of going through the turn-on procedure. Baldwin and I were paired again... we're doing it by tables, since there are two to a desk.
Otherwise, I did a lot of reading and finished Battleship Sailor. What a story that guy had. He was perched on the maintop of the USS California at his battle station while Pearl Harbor was attacked, having a bird's eye view of the carnage. He abandoned ship three times... those in command oscillated back and forth twice, and the third time, he had gone back alone on orders to man the radio for a short time. He dug in with others with a Springfield rifle and steel helmet on Ford Island for a few weeks before being ordered elsewhere.
Otherwise, I did a lot of reading and finished Battleship Sailor. What a story that guy had. He was perched on the maintop of the USS California at his battle station while Pearl Harbor was attacked, having a bird's eye view of the carnage. He abandoned ship three times... those in command oscillated back and forth twice, and the third time, he had gone back alone on orders to man the radio for a short time. He dug in with others with a Springfield rifle and steel helmet on Ford Island for a few weeks before being ordered elsewhere.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Quiz, Test, Now New Topic
That's what short auxiliary classes are like; one yesterday, another today.
Monday morning we had some down time (continued my reading), then we took a 15-question open book quiz, and later reviewed it. I took the trouble to write down the questions and page numbers I found the answers on for my notes. And that came in handy for the 40-question Fathometer final test we had on Tuesday. It was so frustrating, because we had to flip through this extra-wide, 100+ page tech pub to find the pickiest little answers... such as, what hertz does this test point read on this part of the equipment? Beats me. I took a long time (with most of the others) to complete it, and only needed extra help with one question.
Tuesday was also my duty day, but again I was blessed with Supers. So only the morning and afternoon musters.
Today I found out I tied for second, with an 87.5%... which is passing. STG2 said if we failed this, we'd fail the entire set of courses... and possibly be dropped. Apparently, there had been trouble in the past with people not caring about learning the aux's.
Today we started learning our second to last aux. Baldwin and I wheeled the equipment into the classroom from the lab (via the normally off-limits elevator) while STG2 and Wagner managed carrying the 6-inch thick, 8.5"/11" tech manuals. We've moved into another classroom for all of our aux classes. We had time to familiarize ourselves with the manuals, then STG2 pointed out the various components. Otherwise, I only have three chapters left in Battleship Sailor.
I stayed a while on base, reading a little more because I finally had my dental cleaning appointment after class. Once the hygienist started, I was worried she didn't know what she was doing, especially since she poked me in the gums right off the bat. But I completely changed my mind by the end. It was the quickest and easiest cleaning I can remember, and my teeth feel great.
Monday morning we had some down time (continued my reading), then we took a 15-question open book quiz, and later reviewed it. I took the trouble to write down the questions and page numbers I found the answers on for my notes. And that came in handy for the 40-question Fathometer final test we had on Tuesday. It was so frustrating, because we had to flip through this extra-wide, 100+ page tech pub to find the pickiest little answers... such as, what hertz does this test point read on this part of the equipment? Beats me. I took a long time (with most of the others) to complete it, and only needed extra help with one question.
Tuesday was also my duty day, but again I was blessed with Supers. So only the morning and afternoon musters.
Today I found out I tied for second, with an 87.5%... which is passing. STG2 said if we failed this, we'd fail the entire set of courses... and possibly be dropped. Apparently, there had been trouble in the past with people not caring about learning the aux's.
Today we started learning our second to last aux. Baldwin and I wheeled the equipment into the classroom from the lab (via the normally off-limits elevator) while STG2 and Wagner managed carrying the 6-inch thick, 8.5"/11" tech manuals. We've moved into another classroom for all of our aux classes. We had time to familiarize ourselves with the manuals, then STG2 pointed out the various components. Otherwise, I only have three chapters left in Battleship Sailor.
I stayed a while on base, reading a little more because I finally had my dental cleaning appointment after class. Once the hygienist started, I was worried she didn't know what she was doing, especially since she poked me in the gums right off the bat. But I completely changed my mind by the end. It was the quickest and easiest cleaning I can remember, and my teeth feel great.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Aux's
The first three days of class on the Fathometer have gone by. The first day wasn't much because it was interrupted by a "Captain's Call" or something, where all the staff members had to go hear him speak a few words about something. But on Thursday we started off with a short lab (in the classroom), doing a check on the equipment. Baldwin and I were the first to go, and after that, I spent a lot of time reading Battleship Sailor as other groups did it. Today we finished up the labs (some folks had their PRT yesterday) and then went through the Tech Pub... a super-wide (landscape-printed) technical manual solely for the Fatho, bound together by 7 or 8 clip rings. It's similar to the Tech Doc, but I think it's much better organized. And they lied to us... we will be having tests... they just don't mean much because there is no mandatory extra study. Only a 75% is required to pass.
Speaking of percentages, yesterday we were given a final class ranking from Maintenance. I did indeed stay at third place, only under one percent from second with a final of a 97.22%.
And two more folks have been given orders this week: first Fierro on Wednesday... he is starting out in San Diego on a destroyer, but within a month it is being reassigned to Everett (San Diego was his first pick, Everett was not on his list). And today Baldwin got orders for a destroyer in Pearl Harbor, his third pick. So the rest of us (6 of 11) went down to the student resource center (SRC) to check for orders to no avail. Also looked at my PRT scores... this cycle I scored an EXCELLENT. Last cycle it was a GOOD, although my run time was almost precisely the same. It was my pushups that improved. My first two PRTs were both OUTSTANDING. Must bring it back up!
On Wednesday I decided I ought to go ahead and get a new pair of boots and dress shoes and dress white trousers. My boot camp boots are worn, cracked at the ball of the foot on each and dinged up so much... I started working on shining the new ones and the difference is remarkable. I was amazed how much better of a shine I got in five minutes on my new pair than I did for the first few months on my old ones. Amazing what practice can do! The old dress shoes were really the catalyst for the spree. Since my foot fell asleep on watch last time, I realized I needed a roomier pair. This time I got Men's 9 E, and I think that'll do the trick; they're much roomier and lighter too.
On Thursday I got my new dress white trousers fitted for hemming; I'll pick them up Monday. These were much needed because my boot camp pair were hemmed too short... and had become a little too tight. And I hear we might have to wear them for our graduation 22 MAY.
Speaking of percentages, yesterday we were given a final class ranking from Maintenance. I did indeed stay at third place, only under one percent from second with a final of a 97.22%.
And two more folks have been given orders this week: first Fierro on Wednesday... he is starting out in San Diego on a destroyer, but within a month it is being reassigned to Everett (San Diego was his first pick, Everett was not on his list). And today Baldwin got orders for a destroyer in Pearl Harbor, his third pick. So the rest of us (6 of 11) went down to the student resource center (SRC) to check for orders to no avail. Also looked at my PRT scores... this cycle I scored an EXCELLENT. Last cycle it was a GOOD, although my run time was almost precisely the same. It was my pushups that improved. My first two PRTs were both OUTSTANDING. Must bring it back up!
On Wednesday I decided I ought to go ahead and get a new pair of boots and dress shoes and dress white trousers. My boot camp boots are worn, cracked at the ball of the foot on each and dinged up so much... I started working on shining the new ones and the difference is remarkable. I was amazed how much better of a shine I got in five minutes on my new pair than I did for the first few months on my old ones. Amazing what practice can do! The old dress shoes were really the catalyst for the spree. Since my foot fell asleep on watch last time, I realized I needed a roomier pair. This time I got Men's 9 E, and I think that'll do the trick; they're much roomier and lighter too.
On Thursday I got my new dress white trousers fitted for hemming; I'll pick them up Monday. These were much needed because my boot camp pair were hemmed too short... and had become a little too tight. And I hear we might have to wear them for our graduation 22 MAY.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Checking In
Yes, that's all I had to do today. FPCON (force protection condition) DELTA has been set today for training, meaning they have locked down the base. So class is cancelled and I'm stuck off base (darn?). :) I had to check in with STG1 Fletcher before 0715, so I sent him a text when I woke up at 0648. Feels so good to sleep in.
Yesterday, in anticipation of all this going down, we didn't have to come in until 0700. We were let go a few minutes after 1000, having accomplished nothing at all... beyond me reading a couple chapters in The Sand Pebbles. But it was hard to focus with all the chit-chatting going on. It would be impossible to remember all the topics of conversation.
Yesterday, in anticipation of all this going down, we didn't have to come in until 0700. We were let go a few minutes after 1000, having accomplished nothing at all... beyond me reading a couple chapters in The Sand Pebbles. But it was hard to focus with all the chit-chatting going on. It would be impossible to remember all the topics of conversation.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Grade Point
Results from the first two tests were posted this morning: 96.24% overall, tied for 4th place with Nordgren. We went through the next two power-points today, General, Physical and Documentation Description, and Functional Interfaces... about 150 slides altogether. In the waiting times I read in a new book from the library about the USS Olympia, which I've visited in Philadelphia. The details about the battle of Manila Bay were quite interesting.
Witte says it takes about a month for the scores from the advancement exam to get posted.
Finally, it's the weekend! I slept for 4 hours when I got home.
Witte says it takes about a month for the scores from the advancement exam to get posted.
Finally, it's the weekend! I slept for 4 hours when I got home.
Friday, February 17, 2012
How Time Flies
Suddenly, it's the long weekend upon us!
Tuesday was pretty standard: Class at 0500, breakfast at the galley, quarters at 0730, power-points until getting let out.
Wednesday was PT, got there early for Baldwin; normal set of cardio, shoulders and abs. Finished labs during class, did a lot of reading in Big Red.
Thursday was the odd one.
And today, we finished the labs and started into the next topic. Got let out at 1000, however, since my husband was coming in at 0930. God bless STG1. We enjoyed that extra time together.
Tuesday was pretty standard: Class at 0500, breakfast at the galley, quarters at 0730, power-points until getting let out.
Wednesday was PT, got there early for Baldwin; normal set of cardio, shoulders and abs. Finished labs during class, did a lot of reading in Big Red.
Thursday was the odd one.
And today, we finished the labs and started into the next topic. Got let out at 1000, however, since my husband was coming in at 0930. God bless STG1. We enjoyed that extra time together.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Test #2
Well, yesterday was the written test. It was more difficult than the first, in that I didn't realize I needed to use the terminal for finding out the answers to command line functions. The whole business of getting into a screen that can manipulate hardware and software is sort of beyond me. It feels unreal... and foreign to my poor, non-technical sensibilities. But with a little help, and near to the end of the two hours allotted, and after the angry tears stopped... (felt rather helpless and hopeless... and that I had gotten into the wrong rate... and what was I doing there anyway?)... I did just fine with a 96% (94 originally, but there was one give-back).
Today we waited a good long time for things to get started (I suppose that was the same yesterday too), I read a bunch more in "In Harm's Way", and then STG1 Gonzales had to teach us a lesson for his teacher's certification, then one-by-one, four of us took our practicals... and we all got 96%'s so far. So it's a solid 96% total for me this round. I've practically given up worrying about my place in the ranking, and my score is alright so far. And we found out that Kosi's orders from yesterday are also to Hawai'i; his first choice. DDG 93. So some of us are hoping that'll stay true for us all. :)
Today we waited a good long time for things to get started (I suppose that was the same yesterday too), I read a bunch more in "In Harm's Way", and then STG1 Gonzales had to teach us a lesson for his teacher's certification, then one-by-one, four of us took our practicals... and we all got 96%'s so far. So it's a solid 96% total for me this round. I've practically given up worrying about my place in the ranking, and my score is alright so far. And we found out that Kosi's orders from yesterday are also to Hawai'i; his first choice. DDG 93. So some of us are hoping that'll stay true for us all. :)
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Again
Woke up just in time to throw on my PT uniform and fly out the door with my NWU's in my bag. And I was there in plenty of time. :) Did a few more push-ups, ran for 15 minutes on the treadmill, did 5 sets of 10 with the bench press, then showered before Duty Section Muster. Same stuff at the galley... and same stuff in class. I finished yesterday's book... and that was all I did. My lab will be tomorrow. Oh, I guess we did fill out our first set of course critiques. But other than that, nothing. Excellent book, by the way. I have to go back pretty soon for the 1530 muster... and then I need to pick up my new set of NSUs from the Van Lady after 1700, and stand my messenger of the watch (MOOW) assignment from 2230-2430 (23-01). What a day!
Just saw this on Facebook:
22 Simple Steps to Simulate Life in the Navy:
1. Sleep on the shelf in your closet. Replace the closet door with a curtain. Six hours after you go to sleep, have your wife whip open the curtain, shine a flashlight in your eyes and mumble "Sorry, wrong rack".
2. Renovate your bathroom. Build a wall across the middle of your bathtub and move the shower head down to chest level. When you take showers, make sure you shut off the water while still soaping.
3. Every time there's a thunderstorm, go sit in a wobbly rocking chair and rock as hard as you can until you're nauseous.
4. Put lube oil in your humidifier instead of water and set it to "High".
5. Don't watch TV except movies in the middle of the night. Also, have your family vote on which movie, then show a different one.
6. (Optional for ex-engineering types) Leave lawnmower running in your living room six hours a day for proper noise level.
7. Have the paperboy give you a haircut.
8. Once a week blow compressed air up through your chimney, making sure the wind carries the soot across and onto your neighbor's house. Laugh at him when he curses you.
9. Buy a trash compactor and only use it once a week. Store up garbage in the other side of your bathtub.
10. Wake up every night at midnight and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stale bread, if anything. (Optional: Canned ravioli or cold soup).
11. Make up your family menu a week ahead of time without looking in your food cabinets or refrigerator.
12. Set your alarm clock to go off at random times during the night. When it goes off, jump out of bed and get dressed as fast as you can, then run out into your yard and break out the garden hose.
13. Once a month take every major appliance completely apart and then put them back together.
14. Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot and allow it to sit for 5 or 6 hours before drinking.
15. Invite at least 85 people you don't really like to come and visit for a couple of months.
16. Have a fluorescent lamp installed on the bottom of your coffee table and lie under it to read books.
17. Raise the thresholds and lower the top sills on your front and back doors so that you either trip over the threshold or hit your head on the sill every time you pass through one of them.
18. Lockwire the lugnuts on your car.
19. When making cakes, prop up one side of the pan while it is cooking. Then spread icing really thick on one side to level off the top.
20. Every so often, throw your cat into the swimming pool, shout "Man overboard, ship recovery!", run into the kitchen and sweep all the pots/pans/dishes off of the counter onto the floor, then yell at your wife for not having the place "stowed for sea".
21. Put on the headphones from your stereo (don't plug them in). Go and stand in front of your stove. Say (to nobody in particular) "Stove manned and ready". Stand there for 3 or 4 hours. Say (once again to nobody in particular) "Stove secured". Roll up the headphone cord and put them away.
22. Wake up at 0-Dark-30, line up in the driveway in a light drizzle, and have your mother-in-law criticize your clothes and read you the newspaper.
Have a Nice Navy Day!!
Yay... look what I have to look forward to. :)
Just saw this on Facebook:
22 Simple Steps to Simulate Life in the Navy:
1. Sleep on the shelf in your closet. Replace the closet door with a curtain. Six hours after you go to sleep, have your wife whip open the curtain, shine a flashlight in your eyes and mumble "Sorry, wrong rack".
2. Renovate your bathroom. Build a wall across the middle of your bathtub and move the shower head down to chest level. When you take showers, make sure you shut off the water while still soaping.
3. Every time there's a thunderstorm, go sit in a wobbly rocking chair and rock as hard as you can until you're nauseous.
4. Put lube oil in your humidifier instead of water and set it to "High".
5. Don't watch TV except movies in the middle of the night. Also, have your family vote on which movie, then show a different one.
6. (Optional for ex-engineering types) Leave lawnmower running in your living room six hours a day for proper noise level.
7. Have the paperboy give you a haircut.
8. Once a week blow compressed air up through your chimney, making sure the wind carries the soot across and onto your neighbor's house. Laugh at him when he curses you.
9. Buy a trash compactor and only use it once a week. Store up garbage in the other side of your bathtub.
10. Wake up every night at midnight and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stale bread, if anything. (Optional: Canned ravioli or cold soup).
11. Make up your family menu a week ahead of time without looking in your food cabinets or refrigerator.
12. Set your alarm clock to go off at random times during the night. When it goes off, jump out of bed and get dressed as fast as you can, then run out into your yard and break out the garden hose.
13. Once a month take every major appliance completely apart and then put them back together.
14. Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot and allow it to sit for 5 or 6 hours before drinking.
15. Invite at least 85 people you don't really like to come and visit for a couple of months.
16. Have a fluorescent lamp installed on the bottom of your coffee table and lie under it to read books.
17. Raise the thresholds and lower the top sills on your front and back doors so that you either trip over the threshold or hit your head on the sill every time you pass through one of them.
18. Lockwire the lugnuts on your car.
19. When making cakes, prop up one side of the pan while it is cooking. Then spread icing really thick on one side to level off the top.
20. Every so often, throw your cat into the swimming pool, shout "Man overboard, ship recovery!", run into the kitchen and sweep all the pots/pans/dishes off of the counter onto the floor, then yell at your wife for not having the place "stowed for sea".
21. Put on the headphones from your stereo (don't plug them in). Go and stand in front of your stove. Say (to nobody in particular) "Stove manned and ready". Stand there for 3 or 4 hours. Say (once again to nobody in particular) "Stove secured". Roll up the headphone cord and put them away.
22. Wake up at 0-Dark-30, line up in the driveway in a light drizzle, and have your mother-in-law criticize your clothes and read you the newspaper.
Have a Nice Navy Day!!
Yay... look what I have to look forward to. :)
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