HAZE GRAY AND UNDERWAY..JAN 2011

             HAZE GRAY AND UNDERWAY JAN 2011....based on true events from someone i know..
  Ok,, The day was cold and cloudy and it even rained , perfect conditions for a underway period. For those who have gone out to sea , the stories OR events I'm about to tell are not new , but may even bring back ship life. Well , like the rest of the crew we have our sea bags and other bags of stuff we need for underway time.. Uniforms of course , but for me seasick pills , tums. Tylenol, aleve, crackers , chips , snack bars , phones , play station , sleep machine,. But like always Supply has stores , or parts or materials or whatever you want to call it. The problem is once again the back part of the ship is secured until we get underway , so we do it the old school way , make a chain gang from the pier to the quarterdeck , and we hump away, heaving and throwing boxes to each other. But what do you call a person who throws a box at you when your not looking.. Yea, a fucken idiot. Ok,. I let it go the first time , but the second time and finally the third time. I said Hold Up.. wait until i turn around alright.. well not exactly in those words I was more creative or street verbiage.. ok,, well after this evolution. of course we get set for underway.. and off we go.. yes, I get sick , yes m i get a headache and yes it sucks.. The food is terrible , MY tummy hurts and I'm running to the bathroom or head for those military types.. But Guess what? I keep going , or we all keep going. We have too, no replacements on sea duty , you are it. You are the cleaners , the security, the fire fighters..
     Next day or so.. we have a GQ.. GENERAL QUARTERS, that's were you go to repair lockers,, me. Im at repair 4 , mid ships past mess decks.. ok.,. Well we dress out and anyone who has put on a ffe , and a scba.. knows very well it gets hot.. thank goodness it was a cold day, but I still sweated my ass off and I was sore because of couse after many years away from sea duty. I forgot to properly wear the ffe and scba.. So my arms hurts and my shoulders hurt and my back hurts. Great way to start off the underway period.. But soon the drill is over.. and guess what the next day.. we step it up a notch and do it again.. of course I'm sweating again , cursing again, and praying I don't fall out.. That's is embarrassing , if that happens to you..The ships crew has no mercy on feelings or what health conditions you are in. If they certify you as ready for sea duty,, you very well better be ready.. So of course , I bear down and take it and suffer until the fucken drill is over,, Guys when its over I'm so relieved.. but before we eat lunch.. in fact i was already holding my tray.. when the next damn drill comes up.. Of course we pass ,. and we all run to the line like kids.. Why? The food sucks.. it's either over cooked , undercooked , still frozen or has no taste or all of the above.. But we still eat it , because there's only so much crackers , cookies , chips and soda you can have before you need some real food. I mean , I do enjoy breakfast.. it/'s the best meal. ask any lifer sailor .. but after that good luck.. I mean I eat alot of salads and fruits. and guys I hate salads so imagine that.. I love to eat , but the food on board is barely edible.. When you see the majority of the cooks are skinny ,, it makes you wonder ?
   Like i said theres tremendous drama , and emotions on board , and when you are on board the only thing that matters is whats going on on board.. We don't watch much tv.. or even look at Internet because the pace of the ship , is work ,, and of course you have the division police looking and checking on spaces. As for me. The Chief wants me to be the LPO , and is encouraging me to take the lead. But I said I need to get my quals done and learn the operations before I really let go so to speak. Like I said, I'm trying to keep a low profile , just observing , not showing too much emotion or my true personality.. Imagine that.. 3 weeks in.. still holding true to my low profile observing approach.. Even though at times it has come out.. and Who knows how much longer it can be contained.. But so far so good.
    Final thoughts.. Sea life is hard , its unforgiving and it has no feelings or cares about what you think and feel. The ship needs attention and care and the crew provides that. Everyone on board understand that and for those who don't. They get reprimanded , reminded on a daily basis,..Why ? they need to do what they are told to do.. One thing is certain , in order to get along you must go along , but theres some that don't get it .. But as the aspiring LPO , I need to take notes and hype the ones that want to succeed and get help for those that need it.. Its not fun, and I know it will be a challenge but I'm up to it.. Wish me luck and stay tuned to the tales of sea life.. THE SOURCE PRODUCTIONS @ 2011...