June 24, 2011

SEA DAY

Well, people come and go so quickly here….my cabin mate was just informed that he is moving into another cabin because he is a dance captain. So I may, or may not, or at least not for long, will have a single room. I am not counting on it. My best hope is that it is not a twenty-something party boy! Apparently my only assurance is that it will be a member of the department, but not my team. So it could be Youth Staff or Activities. I guess I will find out tomorrow.

So, thus ends my second week at sea. I am glad to say that my training is for the most part over. I have one more training to do, and that will take place when we are in Falmouth, Jamaica next week. So no Jamaica for me, mon. I was not really excited to see that. I will be able to go out to Cozumel though, and that will be fun. I need to get off the ship and do some exploring. Hopefully I will have the time to do it. We shall see.

I-95 is full of luggage carts the length of the ship, which makes movement difficult and exiting a hatchway downright dangerous if you are not paying attention.

Today I got to help guide a tour that the Hotel Director was giving to some distinguished guests. One of the stops was the Helicopter Pad. It was a beautiful view from the front of the ship…nothing but water in front of me.

Got the camera out and charging, so pictures should be included soon. Thanks Ralph for the use of your camera!

I have to admit that now that I am getting the hang of things here, and my brain is not on overload trying to remember, place, and find…it has more time to think and dwell. Thursday was a hard day for me, I really missed you badly and our home. It may be because I was so tired that I was more susceptible to this feeling, but I was really down. Kept thinking that if it felt like this after only two weeks…what would month two, or month 5 thru 7 feel like. It has been so many years since I was deployed that I had forgotten this bump. Thinking it through though, I am much better off than when I was deployed. There was no Facebook, not even a chance of calling home, no internet to keep in touch…all of which exist now. In a way, that makes things tougher because you are so able to miss the things you love because they tease you with a pseudo-accessibility.

I can tell that once I have a cell phone I will really need to watch it or the bill will quickly eat into any paycheck I receive.

By Friday I was better, but Lord, this might be tougher at first than I had thought. I was so eager to leave Key West and get a break from the downward slide I felt myself to be in. No shows, no cabaret and no work. Here I have all the work I can need, but no family. I know things are tough for at home right now financially, but Monday is payday, and the money will start flowing back to our account. And I am looking forward to seeing you on the ninth. I have arranged to have the day off, so as soon as they let us off the ship I will be there to meet you. I think once we get to see each other, and have the pattern of monthly visits, things will be easier for both of us.

Face it, this is better than any deployment…here the only thing they are pointing at you are cameras!