I'm Sweeping in the Rain

(on the way home after dinner and some errands)

 Friday morning was all that stood between most of the ship's company and a much-needed weekend.

Thursday had been very busy with certain checks on the equipment that needed to get done, and the guys that came in to fix some of the lagging on some of our piping. I helped STG2 with unscrewing the cases of some CPUs to check the status (it seems that much of a tech's job is unscrewing little screws).

So during our "fast cruise" practice on Friday (I wasn't on the watch bill), I did a thorough sweepers in Sonar 2 & 3, cleaning up after the lagging guys and the inspectors we had down there. I buffed my boots a little while we were waiting for the freshwater wash-down, then joined the other E-5 and below Sonar Techs on the boat deck and starboard and port breaks for sweeping water after lunch. We were just finishing when a light rain began. :)

Three Duty Days and Some Work Too

 (navy.mil photo, shared from a friend... thanks, James!)

You can only see the top of our mast, poking out from behind the USS WASP (LHD1).

Well, our holiday stand-down is now a thing of the past. We're back to regular, 6-section duty, after eight days of 3-section duty. I had the pier sentry watch at one time or another every duty day. I got to meet different people from the WASP each time, which also provided pier sentries. My favorite pair was from my last watch... an AC (air-traffic controller) and an AT (aviation electronics tech), both females, both fun to talk to. Our worlds are very different, so it was interesting comparing notes. I was very grateful to the WASP for providing a heater for the last two watches... and AC3 thought of bringing it up to the door of the tent so we could comfortably keep a good watch on the entry point.

We tipped each other off as to which persons in civilian clothes were officers from our boats or not. And AT2 successfully kept me from checking my watch every ten minutes during the last two hours or so... made it go faster. :) But I was relieved about 20 minutes late from the on-coming duty section... just barely had enough time to get breakfast before Quarters (it was a miracle, actually). And on the watch before this one, on Sunday, I was surprised how many people were sightseeing. I stopped two different people from taking pictures out their car windows!

Yesterday's duty day was even exciting at times... we ran two drills that evening... one for leaking refrigerant (toxic gas) on the refer deck below the galley (I got suited up all the way... coveralls, boots, hood, mask, helmet, SCBA - air-, gloves) and I watched the team leader respond on his radio. GM1 selected me to be one of the actors in the ATFP (anti-terrorism force protection) drill after that. I was a disgruntled Sailor who started shooting computers and a shipmate in CSMC... I ended up shot and in handcuffs... the reaction force didn't slip up at all.

What was singular was the real alarm we had after I had gone to bed with my alarm set for 4 precious hours later. Only after a half-hour's rest, I jolted awake and ran up to the repair locker to find the Chiefs in charge and people hustling. I started getting dressed out, even though I was in my undershirt, sweatpants and tennies. I helped someone else get a mask, but that was pretty much it. It was a real refrigerant alarm, which turned out to be false (thankfully).

As for the working days, there were a few jobs on our queue. Finished sanding and painting the dome p-way on the 3rd and the 4th. I was also able to fix a dilemma and get the part number from our tech rep on Friday, for the thing we replaced the day before. Monday, I updated all the security check-lists. On Tuesday (first day with everyone back) I worked topside (pretty much all day), helping the GMs sand and paint rust spots. But before we started that, I took the initiative to mop up the old water up there from the stopped up drains. It had frozen a little, so I was very pleased with myself for getting that bone-dry and ready for the preservation work. We dumped two-and-a-half mop buckets full of rain water over the side!

Wednesday was interesting... I had a couple trainings, one for sponsoring (mentoring) new Sailors, then another quick one for our upcoming schedule. Right after that, there was an all-hands working party for two hours... a mammoth stores on-load of soda and chips and various things for the ship's store. It was kinda neat knowing that everyone was lending a hand. Made passing all those boxes a little bit easier.

What a Way to Bring in the New Year

We turned over leave periods on Sunday the 30th... muster was at noon, and we were let go at 14. It felt like deja vu as we lined up in Sonar 1 for quarters. Strange to be back in uniform, but I didn't mind at all since my Christmas leave was so wonderful and relaxing. While we waited for the muster report to be registered in admin (so we could leave - it makes sense, I promise!), I organized my drawer and shined my boots. I didn't mind leaving when they let us go, either. :)

Had to be there at normal time on New Year's Eve for my duty day... my first one since August (before I was a FSA)! I had the last watch, so it wasn't a problem that I had inadvertently arranged for a dentist appointment that morning. Went to turnover in the morning, then left a bit later for Dental. The folks there are very accommodating, and the doctor was even friendlier than my civilian one back home (retired Navy). I first had an exam with the doctor, then a walk-in cleaning at the clinic upstairs. Went straight back to the ship (felt bad for leaving it while on duty) and had lunch. In the afternoon I stenciled all the pipes in the dome room. It was the only job for the day, and I was glad of it! It ate up two hours! :)

Other than that, I watched some football on the mess decks during dinner and afterwords, and only got about an hour-and-a-half sleep before I got up to usher in the new year with my husband on the phone. It always surprises me how fast an hour will go when I talk with him. Right after his new year, we hung up because I needed to arm-up for my contact sentry watch. I was pretty excited, actually, as I walked down the pier with my weapon belt strapped on. Although it was my first armed watch, I was the senior petty officer present, and made all the log entries. The cold wasn't too bad with all the layers I had on... it was my poor feet that hurt after standing so long. Very glad to do my duty though. Finally, I am a help to my section.

The next morning I was wiped out after turn-over. I was falling asleep as I sat down in Sonar, waiting for the CDO (command duty officer) to announce the official turnover. I went straight home and took a three-hour nap. What a blessing that it was a holiday and I could do that!

Today I had another dentist appointment early, so I went straight there. They were fixing a cracked sealant, and they did more than expected because there was a bit of decay underneath. So my lower left jaw had to be numbed... but I was so glad! I think this was the problem I had right before I joined the Navy... but I (or anyone else) couldn't figure out. It was terribly sensitive in boot camp, but had since mellowed out. How wonderful! Anyway, I returned to the ship as soon as I could, checked in with my acting LPO, and went right to work with our STG3s on sanding our cooling skid. Made a make-shift needle gun out of a screwdriver and hammer for some rust in tight places... and then we painted. Gave one of the 3rds a ride back to their housing on the way home. I'm feeling pretty up-beat about the Navy at the moment. Our new 1st class complimented me on my shiny boots today. Funny how little things like that mean so much.

Twenty-Two Days Haze Gray

This was certainly my longest underway, and also my first opportunity to really start learning and qualifying for my job. I got most of the way through 3M and CSOSS quals (needed for doing maintenance, or being useful to my division), and finished a couple basic ones. I got to launch my first bathythermograph, as well as be the one to throw the emitter body over the side... while the XO watched. Did some training another day on the torpedo tubes, and I gave the Sonar ranges brief to the wardroom a couple times. The first time, I felt like my heart was in my throat, but my LPO who came with said I sounded fine. Also, near the end of the cruise, I was finally able to complete my M9 pistol shoot on the flight deck; I qualified, and it was a ton of fun.

In the later part of it I was able to experience "rough seas" for the first time. Once when the waves were up to at least 14 feet, and the wind up to 55mph, I stuck my head outside the port break and observed exactly what heavy seas look, sound and feel like. I was mesmerized by the angry ocean. I just stared... it's exactly like you see in the movies... except it's a real, live, dangerous, frothing, swelling, churning, raging sea, and your life depends upon staying on-board. Down in Sonar, we experienced mini earthquakes as the dome came up out of the water and crashed back down. And on the bridge once for evening prayer, although the outside world was completely dark, I observed white water submerging our bow and splashing on the bridge's windshield. What's neat, was that my husband shared Psalm 89:9 with me in his letter that night (we wrote each other letters over Facebook messages every day), which says: "You rule the raging of the sea. When the waves arise, you still them." I certainly included that with my evening prayer that night. I thought it incredibly cool that it used the same word that first came to mind when I watched.

I saw whales! Not sure exactly what kind, but I think they may have been Fin whales. There were three adults and one calf... and more than once an adult breached, completely out of the water. That was the day I went topside to observe a small boat operation and Man Overboard line-handling. Once we had a real Man Overboard scare... someone saw a life-vest out on the ocean by itself, so we ran the drill like it was real and investigated. I was also able to observe an UNREP (or underway replenishment) from the bridge wings. BM1 didn't want me in harms way, so he sent me up there to watch. I was able to observe what the officers do for safe navigation, and it was pretty interesting. There were also a couple of times where I observed pods of dolphins that seemed to come out of nowhere. They were very noisy on our Sonar... most STGs find them very annoying. There was one time we got to see a surfaced submarine when we were down near Florida... and on the way home we were very near the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. I went topside to see them with my own eyes both times... and both times they were very small, far away, and I was nearly blinded with the bright sunshine.

This was my first real chance to serve the ship by giving the Evening Prayer every night at 2155, just before Taps. There were two days where I skipped, but otherwise, I climbed the 4 ladders up to the bridge every night, usually with my note cards or my Bible in hand to read a few verses and pray some encouraging words. At first I was very timid of entering the bridge, besides speaking to the entire crew on a microphone. Took me a couple nights to learn to put it right up to my lips... the BMs on watch were very helpful... holding red flashlights for me so I could read, making sure it started on time, and telling me all about the helm on the days I was early. Once I got used to it though, it was a real joy. I had to pick out verses every day, but I knew they would be blessing someone, somehow. And people did randomly encourage me in it.

And weekend Holiday Routine was very fun. It began with pizza and ice cream on Saturday night, then a couple rounds of Bingo to follow it up. My very first game I won a substantial gift card! What fun! I had to run back aft to a space I had never been before to pick it up, but I managed to find it and claim it. They played the game by broadcasting the numbers over the ship's site TV. And Sunday morning was the real plus, if you didn't have the first watch. Two Sundays of the three I was able to sleep in and attend - and co-lead the ship's Divine Service. We had four people total each time, but the one long-time member who came said numbers would swell on deployment. We sang Christmas hymns, prayed, had a devotional and got to know each other better. A refreshing time for sure.

Sonar started out in 3 section duty (5 hours on, 10 hours off), but about half-way, we had another person qualified Sonar Supervisor, so it turned into 4 section (5 hours on, 15 hours off). I was switched to section 4, and our new supervisor was super motivated, so we did a lot of training. I wrote a lot in the Sonar Log, which indicated our location and status every watch at turnover.

For relaxation, I watched a few movies and read 570 pages in a compilation of short mystery stories by Dorthy L Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey stories). There were a few times that I was able to get brief naps in the Sonar equipment room between watches, and that helped tremendously. And for PT, I worked out a few times on the bicycle just outside the female berthing... although very hot in that little space, it's also very convenient, being just steps away from the shower and my rack. 

It's very refreshing to pull back in and get a little time away from the constant humming of the ship.

Frocked!

Today was my proudest in the Navy so far. After starting the day off very normally as an FSA, by the time Quarters and sweepers had passed I was on my way to put on my new (with insignia sewn on the day before by my own hands - and my friend's sewing machine) and freshly pressed pair of coveralls for the ceremony on the flight deck at 0900.
 
Even the sun was smiling today! Brilliant blue sky with a light breeze and calm seas as we sped along at a good speed. It wasn't hard to stand at attention, it was such smooth sailing. CMC (command master chief) came out and arranged those of us being frocked by rank and name. The rest of the crew stood in a block behind us, and the officers and chiefs stood port and starboard as normal.
 
When the CO came to me (last in the line of 2nd classes), as the XO read my full name and title, he received my salute and congratulated me, and called me his "favorite blogger". He also thanked me for conducting evening prayers on the 1MC. I was very proud and pleased (and thankful).
 
After the ceremony I got congratulated by a bunch more people, then I finished checking out of S2 Supply division, and checking back into CA (Sonar). I only had WEPS, SUPPO (both officers) and finally CMC...and Chief let me go when I returned the signature sheet back to her.
 
Oh, it was nice to be back with my division! I've already trained on a scenario, a spot check, and a couple quals since being back! I am so excited to get completely qualified for my job, then work on the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) - pronounced "Eswaas" - pin. It's a requirement to have in the next 18 months.
 
And as a bonus, since it's Saturday, we had pizza and ice cream tonight. It felt like a celebration.

Petty Officer Second Class!

 First call... first call to Colors. (21 NOV 12, 1648)

I made it, I made it!

The scores came out late on Tuesday the 20th... people were finding out on the Navy Advancement Center's page on Facebook. I didn't bother because I thought for sure I'd be disappointed (with that little twinge of hope that never leaves me - I told myself no, but I was bursting with yes, yes, yes!). I heard people get congratulated every now and then, but not me. But right before dinner, someone came by and congratulated me! I could barely believe it! While I was serving, Senior Chief came over to shake my hand, saying I was on a fast pace for first class. :) That night I went to the NEX and got everything I needed for my uniforms.

All the next day, between serving the chiefs, cleaning their heads, laying down a thorough sweepers in the p-way, taking out trash, and doing the scullery that night, I got lots more congratulations. The CO announced the 31 names of people from Truxtun who were advanced over the 1MC during sweepers. People began to leave for our Thanksgiving 96-hour liberty that afternoon. It was very slow during dinner. Couldn't leave immediately though... we had LSC on duty that day, so she inspected our cleanup afterwords. When we did leave, I took my uniforms with me so I could sew the new tabs on the next day (Thanksgiving) at my friend's house.

Although I had Thanksgiving off as well as the weekend, I had to come in on Friday. It was a pretty easy day... Holiday Routine... no Quarters or Sweepers or anything like that. We did have breakouts after breakfast... I shared a pie with my friends during lunch and took a nap in the Chief's Mess during the toxic gas drill that included the mess decks after lunch... and I took all the morning's trash out just before dinner. Worked the scullery all three meals... but very easy as there was only the duty section there to eat.

Signing off for the first time as an STG2 Select...

Situations Rectified

I had work this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. And although I thought Chief told me on Friday that I'd just have to find someone to switch with me for Thanksgiving, she ended up approving the Special Lib chit. CS1 gave it back to me approved on Saturday. That was a very pleasant surprise! :)

Today, as the ship's plans changed at 1500, I was let off. I was only there because we were going to get underway early tomorrow (it was technically my day off). As I changed, I noticed that my military ID card was nowhere to be found. I searched high and low... literally: all through my rack, and even the deck of the head... in the pockets of four garments... in Sonar 1, the scullery, the galley... even the cleaning gear locker (everywhere I had been during the day). I obviously had it this morning at 0630 (I was allowed to come in late), and I remembered putting it in the left breast pocket of my coveralls (like in boot camp). I checked with the quarterdeck and the duty master-at-arms. No returned cards.

So I found out in order to get a new one I'd have to get a special request chit signed and go to PSD (the ID card place) that was probably closed. No, wait, there's another one at the NEX. I was told I'd need a form from admin... and that the request had to be signed by MA1... (he said he didn't, but he did anyway)... then someone told me all I needed was the request signed by the CO, and I could get back on base in the morning. Then admin said no... I needed the chit signed by my entire chain of command. Got MA1, my LPO, Chief... then back to admin, and that's all I need. Then someone told me if I get it undersigned by the DIVO, then I'd just use the form. Got DIVO's signature (found him in his stateroom), then ran into the Sonar Divo (ASWO) and she got the CO to sign the bottom line for me. Then I went back to Sonar 1 and found my ID at the desk in the card reader where I'd left it while trying to log into Navy Knowledge Online for the second version of that silly training I completed back in AUGUST on the Code of Conduct (if separated or captured). Good grief! So frustrated and so relieved! Even though it was two hours later, I did get to go home.

The weekend was much calmer. Saturday I served all three meals, and Sunday I washed the trays, plates, cups and utensils in the scullery. I found time both days to scrub the grime in the sinks in the scullery to make it look better in there. Saturday I watched a couple movies on the mess decks during down time... MIB:3, and Dark Knight Rises. Rather entertaining for a duty weekend. Sunday went much slower... but that's probably because it was the second day.

A Mere Three Days that Seemed Much Longer

The hardest thing to bear during this underway was the fact that we weren't going anywhere. There was lots of testing and training, of course, but for an FSA like me, who isn't on any watchbill at all... it was long.

So I did some training with the Sonar guys on my own. Our recently honored STG1 "Truxtun Sailor of the Year" (congrats!) suggested this to me while I was trying to get online for something or other before "Sea & Anchor" got going (pulling away from the pier and getting underway). I used to be assigned to Line 4, but ever since we left Mayport, my name was nowhere to be found. Not bad timing actually... the weather took a drastic change from calm and cool to very windy and stormy in a matter of a couple hours.

After breakfast on Tuesday, we had to get all the unsorted trash out as soon as possible. I had the wardroom and chief's mess bags and time was running out. Even though the wind was whipping and the rain (or sleet, maybe?) was very cold, I went all the way down the pier and back with no coat (or warm article of clothing of any kind). I held the flap of the collar of my blouse up over one ear to stop it from getting stung from the cold and the wet. Tricky to do with two big bags of trash. By the time I got back to the ship I looked like the object of a Man Overboard drill. I nearly felt like it too.

There were spots on my undergarments that weren't wet... but other than that, I was dripping. Changed into some refreshingly dry clothes and coveralls forward in my berthing (I needed to switch from NWUs anyway :) then stuck my dripping things into the drier in the self-serve laundry back aft.

This first day was neat because I was able to eat all my own food... had bacon, cheese eggs & toast at home before coming, and brought my leftover lasagna for lunch and my leftover Olive Garden for dinner. :) I also worked lunch and dinner in the scullery again. The other guy took care of the Chiefs... it's as if I needed a break from the routine with my old routine. We also had a Captain's Call in one of the helo hangers that afternoon where the CO rewarded some people and told us all he knows about the ship's schedule.

As I was saying, I did some training with Sonar. Did some signoffs on my qual for working the fatho-meter, and other auxiliaries... then STG1 suggested I join the Divo (our officer), Senior and a couple other techs working on a torpedo countermeasures check early the next day. Although very tired, I enjoyed doing something with my division again. And besides that, since I lost sleep, the mess MA let me skip working breakfast... which was very nice. Had to clean up all the Chief's dishes afterwords though... the other guy was keeled over, feeling sea sick. Thankfully, I haven't had any problems with that beyond feeling a little queezy before taking a pill.Took one each day, just to be safe.

That morning (the second day) was taken up with a GQ drill. Dong, Dong, Dong... General Quarters. All hands to General Quarters! I went to Sonar 1 again, and this time I felt more confident in saying what I should over the Sonar net. I stayed awake just fine (can't say so much for the last practice in Norfolk - yikes!) and thought of how fortunate I was to have sleep the night before. Lunch was crazy, because it was right after the drill and the whole ship was hungry! I was serving Chiefs hamburgers from the grill before I ate myself. During clean up from lunch, there was a Toxic Gas drill which included the mess decks. My role was to get the heck out of the way. Retreated to Sonar for a little Facebook. :)

Maybe I spoke too soon about my rest... during Heat Stress, Eye Protection and Ear Protection trainings by powerpoint after dinner, I could barely keep awake even with one of the new seaman poking me in the arm every so often. LOL

Finally remembered my now-dry NWUs Wednesday night and put them away neatly in my rack. I was at a loss when I tried to get into my sweats right after that though... I finally remembered I had uncharacteristically left them out that morning. Checked the table over in the corner, and thank God, they were there instead of being thrown out. Nothing except an exact list of articles can be left out... I thought to look there since I saw a new posting of the berthing rules in one of the stalls in the head  just before.

Thursday, there was an UNREP, or underway replenishment, where we come alongside some sort of supply ship and take on fuel or stores. I wasn't a part of it, so I'm not sure what went on. I worked on getting a chit printed out for Special Liberty on Thanksgiving, but Chief ultimately shot it down. Lunch was crazy again... I was doing three things at once... taking care of the Chiefs, plating up more desserts, and keeping the cups and utensils filled on the mess decks. We were spread out a little too thin, and I even caught myself being short with someone.

Chief had me scrub the floor under the stainless steel counters in the Chief's mess and my little corner of the galley. She had a meeting with all the cooks about the schedule and about qualifications while I was scrubbing away with some steel wool (there were some tough spots) and all of a sudden I felt like Cinderella.

Coolest thing happened though... I got my Lay Leader approval from the CO! (via Admin) So I went up to the bridge at night to ask permission of the OOD to give the Evening Prayer. He gave it, of course, so at 2155 (tattoo, just before taps) I read a prayer I typed out the hour or so before over the 1MC (PA system).

Today we pulled in during lunch hours, so lunch was three hours long in order for all the people to get a chance to eat. After lunch all the FSAs were pulled aside to get the 30+ bags of trash up two ladders from the trash room and onto the pier (and then down the pier). And when I got back, the Chief's mess line still needed to be cleaned up... and a pile of dishes needed cleaning. Soon after that though, I was let go. Whew!

From Rack #30 and Near It

I went on a picture craze one night while we were in Florida...

A few instructions...

And outside... I know it looks like prison, but really it's just a fan of some kind. I'm sure I'll find out when I do my Surface Warfare qual.

In the Chief's Mess

Since it is the center of my life for these last few weeks... I thought I'd give a tour. Obviously, this is set up for breakfast... the most important meal for me. We take egg orders and take the china plates out to the cooks to be loaded. I did cook LSC eggs once... it was a special order and it was after the meal "secured".

Tues, Thurs, Fri & Mon

(that's Wed the 7th, Sat & Sun the 10th & 11th off!)

Well, I couldn't get out of what work I had fast enough this week. My husband was here with me until Sunday night, and to make it more bearable, he had to work a couple days too (long distance on his laptop). It was a lot of fun to come home to him after working, as if it was a regular occurrence.

I got a lot out of Tuesday... I was able to take my PFA during the day... the curl-ups (97), the push-ups (37), and for the first time, the bike (115 calories burned in 12 min.). Haven't seen the official score yet (it hasn't been posted in my file online), but I know I did just fine. I think it's a combination of Outstanding, Excellent and Good... which should average at an Excellent. Not bad.

They let me off for most of lunch for this... I stopped by a mini NEX for a chicken salad sandwich, and went to the Q-80 gym for a real shower (the ones on the ship are obviously cramped). Earlier, one CS1 had told us we were required to take it on our day off... but that morning the other CS1 was looking for volunteers. My hand went up so fast... I was very glad to take care of it first thing.

One of my assigned tasks while a Chief's FSA is to empty the trash in their forward berthings and sweep the passageway from outside their mess down to the mess decks... maybe 15 or 20 yards in length. Unfortunately, during the morning sweepers (right after Quarters) it seems like the busiest p-way on the boat. I sweep my pile to the side after a stroke or two to protect it from passers-by. They schedule a half-hour for sweepers, and sometimes I've wondered that this is why it's for so long.

Friday I was counting on being let go early (the MA told me it was okay), but so many people were taking the PFA at the last minute (this was the last day for it), they needed me all the way through lunch. So grateful they let me go early (around 1300), but up to that point I was getting upset because it was up in the air. I was filling in in the scullery while the MA went and asked Chief. [I really admire our MA... he helps out with the work, unlike the previous one, who'd sit back and direct and even yell sometimes.]

Monday back on board was very laid back. And rightly so... it was Veteran's Day, observed. It was the bare bones crew... only the duty section... and no one was directing us at all. I had to ask a couple people to take care of the deep sink after breakfast (I did the scullery, as the Chief's don't get served in port on a holiday or weekend). Since there was no Quarters, and really nothing at all more to do, I told everyone to come back at 1000 (hour before the meal).

I felt like I was stealing something as I left the ship to go do laundry at the self-serve place a couple blocks down (if piers can be equated to blocks...) the road. While the load was drying, I went to MC'Ds (as painted on the parking stalls) for a coffee and a yogurt parfait. It truly felt like a holiday! I walked back to the ship alongside a CS on duty, and we commented on how wonderful it would be if every day was so relaxed (it seems to us, lowly, junior Sailors, that having inspections, field days and musters are really just busy work intended to keep us from doing our regular work and getting what needs doing accomplished... but when you factor in that everyone doesn't have the same standards... well, I suppose that's the way things have to be in an organization like the Navy).

When I got back to the mess decks, on of the CS1s was worried that we all weren't "where we were supposed to be"... i.e. sweeping the P-ways and sitting around in case someone needed something. I volunteered to be the latter after lunch. Turned off the annoying TVs once everyone left, and read a bit in my Bible. The new Sonar Tech (that's going to replace me as an FSA on December 8th - yay! -) wondered why on earth I was sitting around on the mess decks in the middle of the afternoon... just you wait, Henry Higgins! :)

Next day we were getting underway again.

Five Days Underway...Goodbye Florida! Hello, Home!

For some reason, no one seemed as excited about getting underway for real. It's as if all our energy was sapped when we were told we had to wait two more days (on top of the other delay from Friday). Almost like I didn't really believe we were getting underway, or that it didn't matter as much. But we did finally set sail (figuratively) on November 1st. Before we did, we had breakfast to get through and all the trash to get rid of. There were remnants of the paper trash bags from two days before in the Chief's Mess, and in their berthings that I have to take care of. Got that all set up again, and before I knew it, we were Haze Grey and Underway.

(colors before getting underway)

I had reported to the flight deck (on the back end) for line-handler duty, but I had been taken off the watch-bill (probably because someone thought I was gone). Didn't even see Florida fade away. I went back inside to help on the mess decks and I didn't go outside again until that night around 2030. Took my breath away when I saw all those stars... not a cloud in the sky. It was as dark as I've seen it in the woods in Washington or Minnesota, but here there was no break in the horizon... only the ship's superstructure behind me. The Milky Way stood out so brightly, I could have traced it; and I could hardly see a single constellation for all the stars.

Next day (Nov 2) I thought I was a little late... didn't wake up until 0500. But it turned out we didn't have to report until 0530 underway, since there is a night shift. So, saved by coincidence! When setting up the Chief's Mess for lunch, I noticed how luxurious we have it in the modern Navy. Only a short while ago I re-watched Mister Roberts (1955) where a ship begs the supply ship for a crate of oranges, as they hadn't had fresh fruit in months. Today, I set up fourteen different kinds of fruit... the same that was offered to the general mess and wardroom: apple, banana, kiwi, pear, grapefruit, orange, blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon. You see, we had a fresh fruit stores on-load just before we departed Mayport.

 

(I did get a chance to go top-side... what blue!)

Things were going fine all day, but that night, everyone started field-day-ing all the supply compartments, as Chief promised we would. I handled the Chief's Mess myself, and worked until 2100 (three extra hours after dinner). CS1 inspected my work and mostly looked at the deck underneath the cabinets, the one place I didn't clean. But he let me go, only with instructions to get it next time. Went right to bed as the Internet was down (even though I finally did fix my computer access with Radio).

Next day (Nov 3) was a fine morning: felt like I had a long sleep (the best sleep in the world is out to sea!), and breakfast was already panned and ready to be put on the line. These last few days I had been fighting (just a little) with certain cooks over getting enough of the food for the small, skinny pans for the Chief's Mess, so this was very refreshing. After breakfast though, the ship started going faster, and I felt a little uneasy in my stomach with the rocking as I emptied the Chief's trash. I admit I even forsook sweeping my assigned passageway after Quarters because of it. I sat down at the booth in the corner of the Chief's Mess near the galley door and stayed there for quite some time. CTTC came in and I saw her take a sea-sickness pill. I high-tailed it to medical right after that and got one from HM1 who was standing outside her door with a bottle of pills in hand. I didn't feel alone at least. Went back to sitting down... Senior soon came in and he distracted me with conversation. He recommended eating some soda crackers, and I think it did help. After lunch we secured all loose articles for high-speed maneuvers, but they ended up getting cancelled.

That night we had pizza and wings, and I watched a lot of college football on the flat screen TVs. Got lots of compliments on how clean the mess looked... and then we had an ice cream social a couple hours later, as is the tradition for Saturday nights at sea. No Internet again... I never got a chance to chat with my husband the whole trip.

Sunday the 4th was the best morning in the world to forget to set your alarm. I was an hour late! But everyone else covered for me nicely, and technically, according to the Plan of the Day, I was right on time! In any case, breakfast went off without a hitch, and the Chiefs were still able to place there orders for eggs... there is another guy assigned to the Chief's Mess and he was there. Don't know if I can handle all this wonderful sleep and getting to bed early!

It was an odd Sunday too... we had Quarters, just like any other working day. The one thing that really reminded me what day it was was the presence of the NFL on TV. There was a special dinner that night because of our impending return. Master Chief served crab legs, grilled scallops and steaks to the long lines of hungry and thrilled customers. After dinner I found all the FSAs had scattered after I came out from finishing with the Chief's Mess. Our MA was off at some sort of drill, so lots of people just left. And the scullery was not within CSC's standards. I was the only FSA to help the cooks throw metal over the side that night, and when I got back to the mess decks, she was irate, and had apparently paged the FSAs to come back and clean it up. Only two others stayed to help... and we were not let go until 2100... again.

Monday the 5th was the big day. Sea & Anchor was set in the late morning, and again, I had no station. I went out to make sure, and loved the view of Virginia! I thought of what it must have been like for the English settlers who saw this same bit of land in 1607 after a much longer and harder voyage then mine. I didn't even mind the biting wind stinging my eyes, just so I could have a look at it. My husband had flown in the night before and was at the house, as was confirmed to me in a Facebook message on my phone (we finally had reception!). My heart was near bursting.

I was let off a couple hours after we were pier-side. The culprit was the trash room... It had to be emptied and cleaned... CS2 Kolsh was awesome, and worked very hard, helping us out. Then GSM1 was my savior and let me leave before dinner, although the chain of command didn't want to let me go. He had promised I would be let out early, and he took my place so that I could see my husband sooner. What a nice guy!

I was off like a flash, walking my way towards the mini NEX where I would be picked up. I was even able to hitch a ride with someone from the Enterprise, which had just pulled in the day before, although we had left them behind in Mayport on Thursday. Go figure.

(returning from her last deployment... after over 50 years of service as our country's first CVN)