ready, get set, go....

It's only 7 more days until we get underway. Can I just say how freaking excited I am! Not even because I am going to get to travel to places I never thought I would (which lets face it...is pretty bad ass!). But since I reported to the Spencer about a month ago, this is all we have been working towards. From new fire pumps to new flight decks, all of our work has been geared towards the hopes of minimal complications during this JIATF patrol. I can't wait to watch the ship run smoothly because of the work we put into it!
This week we spent most of our time securing for sea. Everything from shop vacs to oregano has to be tied down so it doesn't go flailing about. Shit, I got knocked over in the shower the other day and gashed my leg from just being moored to the pier. What is it going to actually be like when we get out there? I don't know...but can't wait to have that answer!
Sure...there are things I'm really not too thrilled about. I'm going to miss talking to you all the time! But hey...at least I can write back now ;-) I am definitely not looking forward to it being 120 degrees in most of our working spaces.
It's the excitement of the unknown that has me totally hooked! I feel like a kid at Christmas...
BRING IT =]



THEY SAY THAT JESUS LOVES ME, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU...

IT'S A RAINY NIGHT IN BOSTON. HAD SOME AMAZING CHILI AT THE CAFE AND TOOK THE T UPTOWN. WAS WALKING BACK FROM BORDERS (IT SEMI-STOPPED RAINING) AND I PASSED 3 HOMELESS PEOPLE BEFORE I EVEN HIT THE HARBOR!

I DON'T GET IT! WHAT PUSHES SOMEONE TO THAT POINT? WHAT MAKES SOMEONE THINK THEY HAVE LOST IT ALL AND THE ONLY OPTION LEFT FOR THEM IN THE WORLD IS BEGGING FOR A FEW CENTS OUTSIDE OF A 7-ELEVEN? THERE HAS TO BE A MOMENT IN THEIR LIFE THAT PUT THEM THERE. AT ONE POINT THEY DECIDED OR REALIZED THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. DID THEY LOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE OF DEPRESSION, DRUGS OR ALCOHOL? DID THEY LOSE THEIR FAMILY TO A DRUNK DRIVER AND JUST GIVE UP? WAS THEIR MOTHER A CRACK ADDICT AND THEY JUST DIDN'T EVEN REALLY STAND A CHANCE? I'M GUESSING IT ALMOST HAS TO BE A MIX OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. JUST ALL OF IT HIT THEM AT ONCE. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE!

 IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MY HOME, JOB OR FAMILY I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT I CAN COUNT ON TO TAKE ME IN. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. PEOPLE THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF ME EVEN THOUGH I'M AT MY WORST. PEOPLE THAT WOULD GIVE ME TIME TO SNAP OUT OF IT...OR TO KICK ME IN THE ASS AND GET ME BACK TO REALITY IF NEED BE. SO WHERE ARE THEIR PEOPLE? HOW AM I FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MAYBE HAVE A HANDFUL...AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE ONE? JUST ADD THIS TO MY LIST OF THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE IN THE WORLD...





it's the simple things in life...

Surprisingly there aren’t a lot of coffee shops downtown. Sure there is a Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts on about every block. However to find a coffee shop that has character and real personality here is apparently harder to come by than you would think. I mean seriously…even Red Lion has one. I often found myself going to Borders, the harbor or the park to read, study and listen to music until now. I have made the ultimate discovery! The equal exchange café is an organic coffee shop about half a mile away from the base. It has everything I could possibly want. Good coffee, music, and organic chocolate muffins are all you can really ask for in life right? The staff is great, and starting to get to know me already :-) and last but not least…they have free wi-fi. Which is defintely going to come in handy now that I finally came out of the dark ages and  bought a laptop (yes Jac my shoes finally dried out from that trip ;-)

So if you need me, and liberty has been piped, chances are that’s where I’ll be.