M.L.I.S.W :: Cat Bums

in

I'm back at work - and you know what that means - more absolutely bizarre conversations. My Life Is So Weird. Back ground: after we've been in port for a few days house sanitary tends to slip by the wayside and sometimes the common heads get pretty yucky...like rivals a third world nation hole in the ground yucky...

I had to go to the bathroom really bad and opened the door to the head. It looked like someone had had explosive diarrhea. I almost threw up in my mouth - slammed the door shut and then ran up a deck to the next common head. (For the record I could use my own head but that's about four decks up...too far!). I fly open the next door and there is no toilet paper.

I was standing in the passage way trying to make a decision. Do I run and get TP? Do I run up to my own room? Do I grab some paper napkins from the galley?

Just then the First Assistant Engineer walks by and sees me awkwardly standing in the passageway.

1AE: you okay mate?

ME: I need some toilet paper.

1AE: ummm. (Insert: I can tell he thinks I just pooped my pants and have a mess to clean up...). Too much information?

ME: no, I mean there is none in here...and the head down a deck....have you seen it?

1AE: all I know is someone on here has a butthole like a cat.

Pause...

We both start laughing hysterically.

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clearly these instructions go unheeded...

Shaka Awesome

in ,

The past two days have been lovely. After a hectic, grimy, scorchingly hot port stay there is nothing better than waking up and finding yourself at sea.

Yesterday morning I had a few minutes of solitude on the bridge wing.  These are the seagoing moments that keep me going.  They are what sustain me when I feel like throwing in the towel in port.  I had my sunglasses on - I had a coffee cup - I was feeling good - and then two dolphins showed up.  Sometimes, when I see dolphins I just think 'thank you friends!'.  I know that seems a little tutti frutti - but seriously - nothing makes me feel like everything is going to be okay like seeing dolphins.

I haven't got Big Bertha out yet - so we're a little short on photos around here.

Everything here is shaka awesome.  Hope you are all feeling shaka awesome too!!!!

 

shakas

via

The Past Few Days...

in

...have been some of my hardest shipboard days ever. I realize that sounds dramatic but it's nothing short of true.

Between all the work scheduled for the port stay, the inspections and the full crew change I've literally been going non-stop. IN THE HOUSTON HEAT.

The one saving grace? Cargo only worked until 1800. I really don't know how I would have survived otherwise.

It must be said however; that 'vacation mode' sets in quickly when you step off the ship and 'work mode' requires a more painful translation.

Climbing in and out of the cargo holds, climbing up to the crane cabs a few times a day, sheesh just the ladder ways up to my deck! These physical activities are unique to shipping - minus going to cross fit boot camp in a hot city there isn't going to be anything similar.

I'm happy to say that when I stepped outside this morning and the Houston humidity slapped me in the face I felt a teensy bit better than I did on morning day two.

I hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

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Planning Station

in

As things have mellowed out a bit I've been focusing on paperwork. Primarily the stability side of things. This means I've been drawing lots of boxes and putting them in their proper place in my stability program.

Time zapper. It's incredibly labor intensive and there are literally too many boxes to draw.

Instead, I lump large groups of boxes together and figure out their cumulative weights and dimensions. This also takes time...just not as much.

Coffee is a critical component of any shipboard task!

Just thought I'd keep you all posted on my goings on...

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