Just a few odds and ends to catch up on. First off, I want to post about a give away that one of my fellow Navy wives is doing. Please go visit her at Lovely Yellow Ribbons ... the post is a few posts down for the Christmas give away. She does wonderful artwork.
Also, I want to thank Jen for tagging me. I haven't forgotten about it, but I think I will have to do the 6 (or 5) random facts about me another time.
The last is a thank you for the award given to me by Margie ... she passed on the Kick A** Blogger Award. Unfortunately I will not be able to pass it on this time.
Thank you for taking the time to visit me. I continue to be busy ... though we definitely get into Groundhog Day (each day can be very similar). I am finishing up my Thanksgiving squares and trying to decide what to do for my Christmas exchange. Thanks again to everyone that has left me a note and those that have thought of me while I'm gone.
Happy Stitching!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Long awaited update
No, I have not fallen off the face of the planet ;). I've just been extremely busy and not had much time to sit down and update my blog. I am way behind in reading other blogs, so I might be playing catch up for a long while once I return home.
Let's see ... first off, I have received my squares from Melissa and Jayne. I love both sets. I will try to get some pictures loaded at some point. I also have my partner for the Thanksgiving round, which will be Nancy K. Now I just need to sit down and stitch the squares (which I can now that I received the fabric I ordered from Mary Kathryn). I apologize for the lack of links, but I don't have the time to add them in.
First, to answer Laurie's question a few posts ago ... no I am not part of a carrier strike group. I am on an LHD, which is a large deck amphib. It is the flag ship of an expeditionary strike group. So the ship I'm on is very similar to an aircraft carrier. The majority of the aircraft we carry are helos, though we do have a handful of Harriers. We don't have a catapult, but that's alright since the Harriers are VSTOL aircraft. VSTOL is Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing. All but two of our aircraft are Marine aircraft (we have two MH-60s which are the SAR (search and rescue) detatchment, flown by Navy pilots). In addition to the Marine ACE (aviation combat element, I think) we also have a few other elements of the MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit). There are about 1400 Marines embarked on my ship (there are about 1000 Sailors on board). We also carry LCACs (landing craft air cushion), which help to land the Marines and all of their gear if they get sent ashore.
There are two other amphibious ships in company, an LPD and an LSD. We also have two destroyers and a cruiser that make up the rest of our strike group. We stayed together during our Atlantic transit, but have been given separate taskings a lot of the time. So sometimes we see each other and sometimes we don't.
My ship had the opportunity to pull into Haifa, Israel. It was a great port visit and an excellent chance to visit Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. I don't know that I would ever have a chance to visit Israel otherwise. I look forward to sharing pictures with you all. It was very interesting to visit the Holy Land and actually see the places that the Bible talks about. It made a lot of it much more real.
I have to wrap this up since I need to go to bed. A quick stitching update ... I've actually had a chance to work a bit on DH's stocking. I'm currently working on that, the violin piece I had started (I'm on to the back stitching so almost done with that) and I need to start Nancy's squares. I have a few other projects that I hope to start, but trying to finish others before I start them. Have a great day!
Let's see ... first off, I have received my squares from Melissa and Jayne. I love both sets. I will try to get some pictures loaded at some point. I also have my partner for the Thanksgiving round, which will be Nancy K. Now I just need to sit down and stitch the squares (which I can now that I received the fabric I ordered from Mary Kathryn). I apologize for the lack of links, but I don't have the time to add them in.
First, to answer Laurie's question a few posts ago ... no I am not part of a carrier strike group. I am on an LHD, which is a large deck amphib. It is the flag ship of an expeditionary strike group. So the ship I'm on is very similar to an aircraft carrier. The majority of the aircraft we carry are helos, though we do have a handful of Harriers. We don't have a catapult, but that's alright since the Harriers are VSTOL aircraft. VSTOL is Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing. All but two of our aircraft are Marine aircraft (we have two MH-60s which are the SAR (search and rescue) detatchment, flown by Navy pilots). In addition to the Marine ACE (aviation combat element, I think) we also have a few other elements of the MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit). There are about 1400 Marines embarked on my ship (there are about 1000 Sailors on board). We also carry LCACs (landing craft air cushion), which help to land the Marines and all of their gear if they get sent ashore.
There are two other amphibious ships in company, an LPD and an LSD. We also have two destroyers and a cruiser that make up the rest of our strike group. We stayed together during our Atlantic transit, but have been given separate taskings a lot of the time. So sometimes we see each other and sometimes we don't.
My ship had the opportunity to pull into Haifa, Israel. It was a great port visit and an excellent chance to visit Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. I don't know that I would ever have a chance to visit Israel otherwise. I look forward to sharing pictures with you all. It was very interesting to visit the Holy Land and actually see the places that the Bible talks about. It made a lot of it much more real.
I have to wrap this up since I need to go to bed. A quick stitching update ... I've actually had a chance to work a bit on DH's stocking. I'm currently working on that, the violin piece I had started (I'm on to the back stitching so almost done with that) and I need to start Nancy's squares. I have a few other projects that I hope to start, but trying to finish others before I start them. Have a great day!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Blogoversary Winner
Sorry it has taken me so long, but I have been having trouble with the internet on my ship. Without further ado ... using random.org ... comment #9 is the winner. So Monique ... keep your eyes open for a package from me. It may take me some time but I won't forget about you :). Congratulations!
I also found out that my Halloween Fair & Square exchange has been received ... Melissa - I'm glad you like them. Have a great Sunday!
I also found out that my Halloween Fair & Square exchange has been received ... Melissa - I'm glad you like them. Have a great Sunday!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Bridge watch 101
Well, we've been underway for two weeks now. We pulled out of Norfolk on a grey, windy day to head down to NC to pick up the Marines that would be deploying with our strike group. After spending a few days anchored off the coast of NC, we met up with the rest of the ships in our strike group and headed east across the Atlantic.
I have been spending most of my time standing watch on the bridge as the Officer of the Deck (so basically in charge of the navigation and driving of the ship while we are underway). I spend anywhere from 2-5 hrs at a time on the bridge (possibly longer for special evolutions). I have a watch team that consists of two other officers (a Junior OOD and a conning officer), the quartermaster of the watch (QMOW), the boatswain mate of the watch (BMOW), a helmsman, lookouts and a messenger. The JOOD helps me with the running of the watch team, taking care of checklists and helping with comms with other ships and such. The conning officer basically drives the ship ... they give the course orders and speed orders to the helmsman. The helmsman is the hands on the wheel of the ship. The QMOW concentrates on navigation ... they plot where we are and let me know if we are on our required track or not. The BMOW passes word over the 1MC (announcing system) as well as overseas the helmsman, lookouts and messenger. The lookouts do just that ... look out and report any contacts that they see. The messenger is there to run errands such as taking the Captain's night orders down to CIC (combat information center). We all work together to make sure that the ship stays on schedule, balancing flight ops, contact management and many other evolutions.
The thing I loved about crossing the Atlantic was the clear nights when you could see thousands of stars. There's very little light pollution in the middle of the Atlantic so that was an amazing thing to see.
On the stitching front, I did have a chance to finish Melissa's squares for the Halloween Round of F&S. They left the ship a few days ago so hopefully they will be arriving shortly. I have also worked some on DH's stocking as well as my violin piece. I am not going to post pictures at the moment ... so you will have to put up with wordy entries. The main reason is that we don't have a lot of bandwidth on the ship to upload the pictures.
Just a reminder, you still have a few more days to sign up for my blogoversary give away in the previous post. I will draw a name on the 18th. Happy stitching to all!
PS - Thank you to all who have volunteered to send me packages while I'm gone. I appreciate the love and support from this community!
I have been spending most of my time standing watch on the bridge as the Officer of the Deck (so basically in charge of the navigation and driving of the ship while we are underway). I spend anywhere from 2-5 hrs at a time on the bridge (possibly longer for special evolutions). I have a watch team that consists of two other officers (a Junior OOD and a conning officer), the quartermaster of the watch (QMOW), the boatswain mate of the watch (BMOW), a helmsman, lookouts and a messenger. The JOOD helps me with the running of the watch team, taking care of checklists and helping with comms with other ships and such. The conning officer basically drives the ship ... they give the course orders and speed orders to the helmsman. The helmsman is the hands on the wheel of the ship. The QMOW concentrates on navigation ... they plot where we are and let me know if we are on our required track or not. The BMOW passes word over the 1MC (announcing system) as well as overseas the helmsman, lookouts and messenger. The lookouts do just that ... look out and report any contacts that they see. The messenger is there to run errands such as taking the Captain's night orders down to CIC (combat information center). We all work together to make sure that the ship stays on schedule, balancing flight ops, contact management and many other evolutions.
The thing I loved about crossing the Atlantic was the clear nights when you could see thousands of stars. There's very little light pollution in the middle of the Atlantic so that was an amazing thing to see.
On the stitching front, I did have a chance to finish Melissa's squares for the Halloween Round of F&S. They left the ship a few days ago so hopefully they will be arriving shortly. I have also worked some on DH's stocking as well as my violin piece. I am not going to post pictures at the moment ... so you will have to put up with wordy entries. The main reason is that we don't have a lot of bandwidth on the ship to upload the pictures.
Just a reminder, you still have a few more days to sign up for my blogoversary give away in the previous post. I will draw a name on the 18th. Happy stitching to all!
PS - Thank you to all who have volunteered to send me packages while I'm gone. I appreciate the love and support from this community!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Upcoming blogoversary
Well, amazingly enough I am coming up on my 1 year blogoversary in less than a month. I would like to do a give away in honor of it. So you have the next 24 days or so to make a comment on this post. I will draw a name on September 18th, and the winner will receive a gift from me.
I have determined what stash I'm taking with me on deployment. I'm probably taking more than I will have time for ... but I figure that's better than running out. Thank you to those who have volunteered to send me supplies or care packages. I will be e-mailing my ship address to you. Thanks again!
I have determined what stash I'm taking with me on deployment. I'm probably taking more than I will have time for ... but I figure that's better than running out. Thank you to those who have volunteered to send me supplies or care packages. I will be e-mailing my ship address to you. Thanks again!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Another award
I received this award from Jen and Mary Ann. Thanks ladies!
The rules of the award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.
So I'm going to nominate
1. Miss Hope
2. C
3. Rachel
4. Jill
5. Samantha
6. Becca
7. Kristina
I read all the blogs in my blog roll and have a bunch of non-stitching ones on my google reader. I love each and every blog that I visit but decided to narrow it down to seven. I also decided to go with non-stitching blogs this time. Enjoy :)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Memories
I borrowed this from Helen's blog.
I do wonder if there is anyone who reads but doesn’t post comments, I don’t mind as I do read some blogs but don’t comment as well. But it would be nice just to say hello and maybe come and read your blog as well
So who reads my blog?
1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! And if we’ve never met in real life, leave me a comment of your favorite post I wrote and why it was your favorite.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually really funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you.
3.Do you read my posts from a reader,blogroll or is this your first visit?
Thank you
As for stitching ... I've been working on DH's stocking. I have been able to move up to the top of the stocking but don't have a recent picture. Hopefully I'll get one up later this week. Now I just need to figure out what supplies and such I'm bringing with me on deployment to stitch while I'm gone. Have a great night!
I do wonder if there is anyone who reads but doesn’t post comments, I don’t mind as I do read some blogs but don’t comment as well. But it would be nice just to say hello and maybe come and read your blog as well
So who reads my blog?
1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! And if we’ve never met in real life, leave me a comment of your favorite post I wrote and why it was your favorite.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually really funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you.
3.Do you read my posts from a reader,blogroll or is this your first visit?
Thank you
As for stitching ... I've been working on DH's stocking. I have been able to move up to the top of the stocking but don't have a recent picture. Hopefully I'll get one up later this week. Now I just need to figure out what supplies and such I'm bringing with me on deployment to stitch while I'm gone. Have a great night!
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