Blar

So, we were supposed to be pulling into Mayport today, for our last "port visit" before deployment.
That's what we've been calling the time we're in port, since for some reason, that's all we do.. Go out to sea for a month, back in for a week or so, back out.. You know the drill.

Well, anyway.. Good parts about this underway..
I got my ESWS pin, which I'm not sure how to put pictures up, even though it's only one.
Nevermind, I found a button that has "Add an image" labeled on it.

Umm.. I played video games for the first time in 15 days after getting my pin, which was awesome.
Now I can spend some offtime enjoying what I do best, aside from fixing my guns, which is playing video games.

Well, it's almost time for watch, but not quite, but I can't sleep.. So I'm sitting here, watching my friend play games.

Hope to see you all sometime soon!
Also, the ship's internet sucks, and doesn't like the file size of this picture.. So I'll send it to myself, and upload later.
Or you can ask my mom for the picture, because who knows when I'll actually be home?

Finally.

So, last night, I had my CPO board for my Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist(ESWS) qualification last night.

We went in at 6:30pm, and it ended around 10:20.. When we finished, they sent us outside the Mess, and called us in one by one, starting with me.

They told me that, if it weren't for me, the other guys would have had a much harder time on many of the topics. My weakest topic was Operations.. Since I don't really like it at all, but I had to learn it.

Well, I got my pin, as well as two of the other three.. The other guy just had no clue what was going on, and that's not trying to be mean. He really didn't have any idea.

I get my actual pin tomorrow, not sure what time.. But soon I can wear my Surface Warfare designator pin! I am really looking forward to it.

ESWS..

So, I just found out that I have my CPO board tomorrow, after one day of doing my Murder board last night.
And it was Sunday today, so NOONE wanted to do anything to help on the parts that I was weak on.

Which was only deck seamanship and I wanted to go through engineering just a little, but I did fine on the murder board with that.

Well, here's wishing me luck.. I hope I get it. I need this pin.

Christmas

Well, it's that time of the year again.
I hope you all have a great time opening presents, and I'll be down in Orlando soon enough!

I miss you all, and can't wait to see you.

Hmm..

I've got nothing today.
Sorry to disappoint.

Well, I guess I do have something.

I'm on duty. Yay.

Holes in the Ship...

So.. When we left Norfolk, the aft tug rammed into the ship, punching a hole in it.

It was fun fun, especially since the hole was just above the waterline, and every single wave that went up high enough, filled up one of our spaces with seawater.
Well, if that wasn't bad enough.. The CO, in his ultimate wisdom, decided to perform high-speed turns..

Anyone who has been on a ship, which is some of you reading this, knows that high-speed turns can completely cover the fantail. Which it did. And flooded out not only the battery shop(which is the space the hole is located), but the adjacent space. Real badly. Like, it took an hour to clean it up.

Oh! While on the topic of seawater, while performing mag sprinks, the firemain burst. Awesome, right? Not really. It took 3, count them, THREE valves up from the burst to secure the firemain. That's bad.

So.. After that was done, and we cleaned up the mess and rinsed it with fresh water so that it wouldn't rust(but we all know it will still), the FCs got to go to bed. Which includes me.

Anyway.. There is also a crack up in the forward pump room. Which has been there... A good while, from what I'm told. This CO is awesome. Risking the lives of his crew to go to Norfolk to (insert explicit comment here) so that he can put on a star sometime soon.

Honestly, we should just move the drydock up 2 years, and skip this deployment, but we know that won't happen, because we're the "Mighty Mighty Vicksburg".

Can't be mighty at the bottom of the sea.

Alright.. I think that's all.
Oh, I go on leave soon.

Austin is taking first leave, so he'll be here soon. Freaking awesome. I miss that guy.

And Ryan is taking second leave, so we'll be hanging out a lot. Even more awesome. Since he was gone the only time I could have hung out with him for more than a few hours.

Alright.. That is it this time.

John-O out.

Cheese..

That is all.