I got to put my toes in the sand [in Virginia Beach] and watch Right On (a black band in purple suits).

I had S’mores Pop-Tarts for breakfast and got to the ship at 6:15. I was able to shine my boots, find a new belt buckle, do my hair (extremely tight), iron my uniform, and get to muster at 6:59. We had to go topside and it was a bit windy. I sleep right across from my sponsor. I thought it would be hectic, but my 1st day was awesome. Everyone is so helpful. We had to re-muster at 8 and then I met Jacob Sweeney who replaced Canady [as my sponsor] for the week since she’s going on leave.

I checked into PSD and into disbursing. I met DK3 Blake Edwards who will be in charge of my pay. I met his friend Vincent Liuzzo on smoke break. Everyone in my work center is knowledgeable I’m told and will be willing to help me if I help myself. We had a meeting upstairs that kept me till 4:30. I was in civi’s after [working] hours and WO3 [an officer] was making fun of me [for staying at work]. Lonnie called because he was in the parking lot waiting for me. The galley was closed at 6:30 when we arrived at Ft. Eustis, so I bought us sandwiches and lemonade at Charley’s.

He has community bathrooms, but a house-sized fridge. We put in Blade Trinity and I fell asleep around 10 pm. He set the alarm for 2 am. I was sitting in the freezing car. He had to be to work at 6 and didn’t know how bad traffic would be. I got to my rack at 3 and climbed in that tiny thing. I don’t have my navy tags [name badges] on [my coveralls] so PO suggested I change for check-in. I couldn’t find the iron so my back is wrinkly. I got my sheets, saw the career counselor, and the PO in charge of restriction, urinalysis, and apparently (my rack!).

I got out [of work] at 130, but have to leave in uniform to go to the store for those tags before it closes. I came back for my sweater and waited till Vinny got out. We drove to OS2 Jacobs’ house and followed them to a store to pick up a $200 game machine (Pac-Man pinball size). We helped move it into his game room and he showed us his 6’x7′ TV (projector) and all his Star Wars legos and every other game system ever invented (PS2, Xbox) with at least one game each.

After quarters [morning meeting], I went to radio [the telecommunications office] and filled out my form to get an e-mail account set up. They needed me in berthing to clean. I sponged a few lockers and cleaned out the gear locker. I took out the trash. On my way to meet Ken MacDonald, I got lost and hit my head on the way up the ladder well. I climb 4 ladder wells from Q-Deck to my berthing. I found my way to PSD to get a copy of my ID for my CO [commanding officer, Mr. Pringle].

PO Brinkerhoff took me through egress training. You have to find a way to an exit blindfolded. I made it in 1.5 minutes. He showed me how to don my EEBD [emergency escape breathing device]. Then I had to pick up some TS [top secret] items from Gonzalez. Sweeney was in CIC [Combat Information Center] and I got the code from [ET1] Keller. I got into a ship shower for the first time. The water knob is time controlled. We were supposed to have 2 GQs [general quarters drills] but only had one. I took my nap at the SLQ [-32] and Brinkerhoff made it easier when he put the slobber guard [not its proper name] over the keys.

After GQ, I got permission from Chief to help the ITs [info techs], so I went to [level] O3 with my utility jacket on, and after 2 or 3 computers had to drop it off in berthing. A truck [was] parked at the bottom of the brow and we dropped them off there. I should have stayed to help throw them away, but when I got to the ET shop Roby said I could go. I wasn’t having to be told twice. I was going to get my lifeboat assignment and leave. I saw Jacobs and asked for directions. He told me to change and meet him in his office. I watched Punk’d while he finished some paperwork.

After lunch, I was sitting on his couch looking at his filthy floor. I got to sweeping. He moved the couches, table, and carpet for me and when Cat [his wife] got home, she vacuumed. Vinny came over after he got off work. I didn’t bring my [skate] board [because I don’t own one]. A 7-year-old was telling me that I should ask to borrow someone’s. She introduced me to her dad who retires in 200 days after 20 years. I watched [Vinny] skate for 2 hours. I was cold, got bitten by bugs, and was in my own little world when a kid (actually 32 that looks 24) announced his board had rolled. I wasn’t paying attention till I felt something hit my ankle.

I woke up at 6:15 when the lights come on and got ready for my first duty day [June 5]. I was able to wear my coveralls. I helped CTT2 Matthew Saul do a PMS [planned maintenance system] on the SLQ-32. After lunch I went to the EW shop with my laptop. I found some of Saul’s CDs and burnt them onto my PC. I left to get ready for the 16-20 [4-8pm] watch with Jake. He started teaching me MOOW. I was going to go to berthing for cleaning but Brinkerhoff sent me to the fan room again. I had dusted and sponged yesterday.

I responged, but the floor kept coming up. He told me to chip the paint so while Sweeney did that I took a nap in CIC. I went to HAZMAT for the paint. They are ordering it for us. I went to CPR training. We watched a 20-minute video, listened to a 15-minute lecture, then spent 10 minutes practicing on a dummy. The instructor said I broke 2 ribs. I took the test and left. I’ll either get a qual card in 2 weeks or wait till the next class. They let me out of the office at 245 and I waited till 330 to leave so I wouldn’t have to be in uniform [as to not rub it in others’ faces that I was off work early].

I had to clean [marine] troop berthing today. Every rack needed a new bucket of water because it was so dirty. [They only join us for deployment, not in port.] We were able to make that last till lunch. I had to wait around for an M14 safety brief. I watched Saul do a spot check with EMO. We were 20 minutes late for our gun shoot, but we got in. After 3 shots my nose started to bleed. We started with 8 magazines. I only shot 6.5. We had to lay down, sit (in a F’d up position), and stand. Laying down F’d up my elbows, sitting down hurt my legs, and standing didn’t help at all [boo hoo].

Saul had given me a ride. On the way there I had looked at his 4 cases of CDs. On the way back, we listened to The Mars Volta. He use to skate and smoke, now he surfs. He has a lot of CDs from his pastors. We were in the EW shop the other day and someone told me that Sweeney is religious so when I saw a sermon in the CD player I supposed it was his. Saul went to grab it and I told him Jesus was in there. He laughed and said he’s just sitting in there.

I was standing near the POOW office and someone wanted to get by, so I stepped back. If it weren’t for the lifelines I could have died. The first 2 were metal, but the top one was rope and I grabbed it and it went down a little, just enough to scare me. I sat in the shop the rest of the night burning more CDs. Then somehow managed to lock my keys in the office and Brinkerhoff’s were hanging on the inside. I figured there are only 6-10 of those keys on this ship and 2 of them are in there. I went down to wake up Canady at 1230 am, but she was still up. Luckily for her, I would’ve woken her. I can’t get into anything without them.

I had a hairsprayed ponytail, a pink shirt from LA, black pants with a pink stripe, and green-starred (glow-in-the-dark) shoelaces in my Converse. I washed my face and teeth, then put eyeliner on my eyes and chocolate on my tongue. Brinkerhoff realized that I live on the ship. I heard it from him there are only 8 keys. The 6 CTTs, Fred [whoever that is], and someone else. The captain has no business in there. I met Vinny at 730. We went to a car show in front of Jenro’s [Coffee House] to wait for Jeff. He gets off work at 930. They decided to go to Q-Master Billiards to play pool.

They ordered food and drinks and it’s $4 a person per hour. They ran up a nice bill. We stayed till 2 when it closed. [Tuesday,] I started getting ready for watch [midnight to 4 am] and Fulton tells me I can be in utilities. I went straight to bed [after] and passed out in the heat. At 730, Canady is waking me up saying I missed quarters. She told them I was on watch and that I have urinalysis. I was on the phone with Mom, so I let Vinny talk to her. She asked if he was adventurous and his reply was that he skateboards. She told him he must be if he’s hanging out with me.

Then it was off to Star Wars 3 for $13. Yoda and R2D2 were cute. For cleaning stations, I shined the same piece of brass 3 times and started cleaning other p-ways [Navy for hallway]. Everyone was gone so I climbed into a [empty] top rack [in my uniform] and slept [for 4 hours]. I told WO3 that my stepdad was the same rank in the army as a pilot during Desert Storm. I also printed out my DC [damage control] quals. My lower back [due to my period] was really starting to bother me. I was laying on the floor with my feet in a chair. Then my heart was acting up [beating 160 bpm at rest]. I went to Chief but she told me to come back after lunch with my FSA [food service assistant] papers.

I would be working in the galley [something all new people do for 90 days]. I went outside to lay down and was controlling my breathing. I was getting [my heart rate] to slow down and Fergeson came by and slammed something down causing my heart to jump back to its racing pace. My arms were numb and I was so dizzy. When Vinny got off we went by Eugene Marks’ house and I watched his sis [Teresa] get her hair cut. We went to Uncle Louie’s [Ward’s Corner, Norfolk] for karaoke. Vinny sung a sweet song. He did better when his stage fright lessened. Me and Vinny were invited to sleep on Marks’ futon.

My 1st day in the galley I had to bring food up from decks 2 and 3 and drinks from 01. This chic kicked this guy in the nuts, so he threw her and the chair she was sitting in. Then she grabbed a knife [wtf?!] I was able to escape all morning because I had to go to the Boone Clinic for a typhoid shot, [get] blood drawn for HIV testing [done annually], and birth control pills. My second day, I spent all morning making the salad bar and then served lunch.

Blake showed up and we [Mac and I] headed to The Banque [night club]. I had to fill out a piece of paper saying I was under 21 and she [lady at the entrance] scanned my license. We played poker for charity. Once when I almost lost the dealer gave me a look. I didn’t take the extra card and won. I got to drive Blake’s car. He helped me park along the curb. I was going down the stairs at 430 am. I took the first 3 and the rest took me.