Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Now we are counting down for the New Year, 2010, the Year of the Tiger and wishing all of you a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year.
We gave the kids cash for Christmas gifts, our grandson a 529-college account, the wife and I bought ourselves a Nintendo Wii with the sports programs and fit board, and of course, The Beatles Rock Band set up. If not for that, I do not think we would have an interest in buying a video game console. My son plays the “drums” in the role of Ringo quite a bit and I play the bass that came with the set. I still lack musical talent, even if it consists of pushing color-coded bars on six frets! When not being member of the Beatles, we play golf, tennis, and bowling. My son who is a senior in high school is interested in Beatles music, history and he visits You Tube and watches videos I saw when I was younger than his age now. The graphics are very good and gives you an idea of what Beatles videos would have been like if MTV had existed in the 60’s.
The countdown until the next cruise has begun. I will leave Seattle for Honolulu on January 4 to meet my old ship Ka’imimoana and sail with her to Western Samoa. I plan to stay with the family for about three weeks before going to Pago Pago, American Samoa and meet the Hi’ialakai in February to start my regular rotation. I will not return home until May 1.
There was nothing wrong with my kidneys after an ultrasound test. I was thankful for that and cleared to sail again. I was never on medical hold but six years ago, I had an MRI and ultrasound at the same hospital in the morning and that afternoon scheduled to go into surgery for gall bladder removal. They slid me in between two other people that were already scheduled. Good timing too, as it was near Christmas and I had bought tickets to the Seahawks game against the Cardinals for that weekend. The kids went to the game with a friend in my place. Christmas 2003 was not very pleasant upon release from the hospital.
Shore time is busy with items to resolve. I contacted the attorney who worked on “L”’s paperwork to immigrate and now I have him working on the stepson’s as well as L’s permanent green card. Yes, it will cost money but when comparing to my own time and my lack of legal knowledge, it is well worth it. They know how to go about it as well as answering questions. All we are waiting for now is a case number and the date in which adjudicate will begin the process for determination.
A day at the office is setting up computers headed to replace the ancient ones we have on board the ship. Most of the computers on the ship would qualify to be plankowners (original crewmembers when the ship was commissioned) if it were human. Many of the desktops are over five years old. New computers that we have for replacement were from the controversial stimulus package that the administration signed this year. We were to have replacement in the past but budgets were cut or funds exhausted before we could procure any. A cynic would say it was bad management but domestic agencies were gutted by Republican administrations and congress, in order to keep their promise of tax cuts and strengthen their anti-government stance.
Shore time also consisted of attending Cisco Routers and Switching Class Part II. Most of the students attend to take the Cisco certification exam. I attended for information and more knowledge of its functions. I see no use for me to get the certification now. I have no intentions of working in the private sector and even if I had to, who would hire me at this age? Promotional opportunities within NOAA are nil and whatever positions created for senior techs like me were tacked with EE degree requirements. At least I am working and earning a good income. I cannot complain about that!
The Newport controversy is heating up ever since the GAO decision. At first, I was resigned to the fact that we were moving and did not participate in any “no to Newport.” Then the GAO decision and press releases from headquarters is what turned my view around on the move. It came as if they were deriding not only the GAO decision but Senator Cantwell of Washington as well. Missing in the entire equation were people. I will write more about it later.
I am working on the Year in Review 2009 and publish that in a few days. I am on use or lose leave and be off until January 4. Ah, that is nice!
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