So I haven’t been able to access the Blogspot home webpage to update my website myself. I have had a trusty agent do so.. so that will explain perhaps why it doesn’t necessarily sound like me in the phrasing.

The Suez Canal was pretty intense when we passed through. Our entire ESG went through together and had lots of topside watchstanders that were armed. There were Egyptian armed military members on both sides of the canal for miles on end. We had police escorts and there were many people watching as we went through. The whole transit took about 12 hrs and we had two different watchteams that rotated through so we were only on watch for about 5 hrs at a time. I was able to get a lot more pictures this time since I was on the bridge during the daytime rotations. There actually ended up being a bunch of scuba divers about 200 yards from the ship which was kind of a big deal for force protection issues.

We had another underway replenishment a few days ago. Purely by coincidence, but again, I was the Officer of the Deck for the evolution. I think that makes probably around 7 strait unreps I’ve had to deal with while on watch. It isn’t so bad since we have additional watchstanders for special evolutions that cuts the amount of work down for the rest of us. Our next one is scheduled for about a week away. Seems like we have to do it everytime we turn around since we have the Marines onboard a little while longer. When they are onboard they double the size of our ship’s company. So, we have approximately 700 onboard altogether.

Yes, we have had to go through the series of anthrax shots. I have had 3 now and they all hurt immensely when you get them. My entire arm was sore. To make matters worse they gave one shot in one arm and then the 2nd shot in the other 2 weeks later. They said that it is required to do it this way. Some people have huge red welts the size of a tennis ball. So, all in all I was lucky eventhough I was in bed for a day after getting this last one a few days ago. I may be here long enough to get one more before I leave.

We had a steel beach picnic yesterday on the flight deck. It was sure good to have some real grilled food. They had steaks, brats, pork chops, and salmon. You could only have two and they were down to steaks and brats when I went through so that is what we had. It was at night so we saw the sun set from the flight deck. I took some pictures since I’m getting down to my last few days here.

Just received word today that my big Engineering Qualification that I am trying to get before I leave will occur on the 19th of this month. I have a practice oral board on the 12th. So, just a little over a week to buckle down and commit some of this to memory. The engineering department head went through a list of stuff with me this morning that will be asked.. 90% of it actually. I just have to find the information and understand it by then. There is one other LTJG that is leaving in Bahrain too who will be taking the oral board with me as well. Hopefully we’ll do outstanding and not have to worry about anything the week following the board between when we have the board and when we are scheduled to go to Bahrain.