Our ship has been infested with crickets. We are keeping track of them by the lbs when they die and throwing them overboard. We think they came onboard with the Italian and Spanish Marine trucks they drove on land via the LCU a few weeks ago. The other ships in our group are having the same problem. For cleaning stations everyday at 1300 for the past few days the goal was to get everyone outdoors to perform the cricket dance it seems. Brooms flying everywhere and feet stomping... people said it looked like a clown fest. Anyway, the crickets are gone, for the most part. Luckily, the majority of them didn't make it into the skin of the ship and we weren't living with any in our rooms. It was a little scary to go on the bridgewing at night and fear their jumping up your pantleg because it was so dark you couldn't see where they were but you knew that you couldn't step without stepping on one. The Green Osprey Exercise is in full swing. We are working with ships from the Netherlands, England, and Senegal and still have the Italian and Spanish Marines onboard. I was supposed to cross-deck to the Dutch ship the other day but the cross-decking was cancelled. I think they will start up with the rotation here soon again. I hope they do! When I went to the French ship Lafayette it was a lot of fun and it was only for a few hours. This cross deck with the Dutch ship last all day. Like 0700 to 2000! Everyone is getting really tired from the exercise and the Senior SWO put us in 3 sections to punish the OODs with their inattentiveness to detail when we almost ran aground as well as into a ship the other day. It is too bad they are punishing everyone though... Oh well.
Less than 30 days until home! I turned in my leave papers and if anyone is wondering I will be out of town to KY 22DEC- 29DEC and then in Va Bch at home. We are on a month of stand down so in addition to those days when I don't work the other part of the time I will be off 2 days and then work 1 day. Not a bad deal I suppose. Let me know when you guys want to come visit... grad school folks.. I'll def be in town for your winter break!