Monday, May 25, 2009

Long time coming

I always start with the best of intentions....

It's been awhile since I posted here. It's kind of sad because it is
just soooo easy to make an entry! The blogspot people let you make an
entry straight from the web, via SMS or e-mail and yet, I can't seem to
do it!

Part of the problem, I'm sure, is my general malaise at writing.
English and Comp classes always seemed so difficult, "a 4 page paper!?
Double spaced, right? 40 pt font?" I know I will get some bashing from
her but, it's easy for her to write!

Enough on the complaining though.

It's been an interesting week. We pulled in to Costa Rica with the
intention of painting some schools and giving out some stuff. This is
all part of the US intention to let Central and South America know we
haven't forgotten about them. The big news items seem to focus on Iraq,
Afghanistan and what is happening in Europe but down here in our back
yard things are happening too.

There have been a lot of good things happening here recently. The
Fourth Fleet folks have been sending ships down to less visited ports to
see what we can do. Usually ship's company will happily volunteer to
paint and clean schools and churches and hang out with kids. When a big
hospital ship pulls in they bring medical (and veterinary) care that
some of these smaller communities never have the chance to access.
These are the kinds of things going on down south. They don't make the
news most days but there are thousands of people down here making them
happen nonetheless!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Moving on out...

We are in Mayport again this week. After this though, we really start deployment. Our next port is Cartagena, Colombia.

The war on drugs has kind of put a dent in the fun that can be had in Cartagena. There are impressive fortresses and museums there but going on liberty requires two buddies. Finding two buddies that would rather see something historical is much more difficult than finding two buddies looking for 90 centavo brewskis....