Recent Port Visits

Hey all, here are some pictures from the latest port visit in Jordan. Enjoy and see you soon!

Satisfaction

Today my roommate convinced me to participate in a friendly physical challenge. The event was hosted by MWR, moral welfare and recreation, or something like that. The set up was teams of three people, who each participated in a timed physical challenge (6 mile run, 10 mile bike, and 75 pull-ups). I did the 75 pull-ups. It took 14 minutes, and the last few looked pretty ugly, BUT I’m pretty damn surprised that I was able to finish all 75 in the first place! Oh, did I mention that this morning I took the Navy biannual PT test (2 minute push-ups, sit-ups, and 1.5 mile run). The run was interesting on the flight deck. Winds were strong as hell when running towards the bow, Rick and I took turns drafting each other. Anyway, I am pretty satisfied with myself as it says in the title of this entry. Ha! I’m so full of it.

This morning was interesting to say the least … after the 0500 PT test we rolled into a main machinery space fire drill. I’m a rapid response repair locker officer for any damage control related stuff like that (basically the head of a small fire fighting station). Basically when the bells start ringing, I go running towards the scene, wherever it is onboard. My division are basically the professional firefighters onboard, and they do a good job at it. I’ve learned fighting fires takes a serious team effort. If we go to general quarters though, I’m actually assigned to a specific locker, not just the rapid response. There is a huge difference between the professional rapid response team and the repair locker that I am responsible for in general quarters. Sometimes it can really be a cluster.

Sorry not to many pictures lately. Here’s one of the pull-up hands of death. Ha!

Thanks for the packages. For those of you on the voice recording tape, thanks so much for making me laugh … it was great to hear all of your voices. I’ve been listening to it almost every night before bed. We’re almost home and everybody has started to get the fever … the only cure is more cowbell!!! Ha, anybody watch SNL? People actually have these elaborate excel spreadsheets that track exactly to the second how many days we have left, to include the number of burger days, pay days, holidays, Mondays, fun days, and whatever else days. Personally, I don’t like counting down very much … it makes the time seem to go by even slower.

Well, that’s it for now.

Mark

Some Pics for you, Mr. Mark

Hey all, here are some pics from the home front. Thanks for your support and love, everyone. It's always a challenge figuring out how to communicate with each other. Thank goodness for technology, at least. Hope you like the pics, Mark. Two months left big guy! --Alisa