Today was our second day of bringing the media on board. Rear Adm. Charles W. Moore, Jr. (above at podium) took questions from CBS, WTN, AP, Navy Times, and the Navy's own Navy/Marine Corps News in Indy's Media Room this afternoon.

Fireman Apprentice Nathon Hartman (right-photo, on left) from Aanandale, MI was busy answering questions for a Navy Times reporter while around the corner, the Navy/Marine Corps News team was making BTFN Howard Terance (below; center) from Fair Hope, AL "famous."

The last stop on the "Media Tour" was the bridge where Capt. Milliken gave an interview (below left). While waiting, I snapped this (below) photo of the BMs on watch. (L to R) BM3 Douglas Stone from Cincinnati, OH who's been aboard Indy two years; BM3 Jason Reid from Ludington, MI, he's been here two years too; Seaman Paris Lockhart from Anchorage, Alaska who's been here for one year; and BM3 Jeremy Beckner from Albany, OR who's been aboard Indy three years.

After the media left today, I had the chance to walk around Indy and grab some Sunday shots. While I was working my way to the HAZMAT shop, I couldn't resist one of Indy's famous fresh dinner rolls. MM3 Jerry Favor (right) from Columbia, SC couldn't have agreed more about Indy's dinner rolls. "Really, I can't think of any hard part about being here," Favor said. "Maybe it's because I like to travel." When I got to the HAZMAT shop (hazardous materials) I met up with AT2 Robert Nichols (below and left) from Laurel, DE and AMHAA Vincent Dean from Brooklyn, NY. They both agreed that the hardest part of being on board Indy is the lack of time to yourself. "Just finding a little refuge from the rest of the crew really helps calm a hard day," said Nichols.

Looking around for a few more good shots of shipmates doing their thing, I stopped by the Aft Gym and saw Airman Agustin Cruz (below) from Kingsville, Texas working out. He was sweating up a storm, I think I caught him at the end of his pushups, but when I asked about getting a photo, he pumped out another ten. He said his native home is in the country, and being surrounded by water has taken some getting used to. "Sometimes you don't know what to do out here," Cruz said. "You really have to just take one day at a time and find a way to relax."

The CODs (carrier on board delivery) brought out more than media today, they brought M-A-I-L mail! Roughly 1,000 pounds of bills, W-2s, the Yokosuka Base paper, and oh yeah, cookies and chocolate kisses.

The Navy Times and Navy/Marine Corps News also took the time to highlight some of Indy's "unsung heroes," the engineers. Now, before two days ago, I had only been down in a Main Space once, and that was more than six months ago. Today I found myself back down in "the pit" as I followed the media, who were led by the Chief Engineer (left in blue), CMDR Craig Little.

"While I was down below where the unsung heroes work, I was really impressed with the way everyone seemed pumped even though they work where no one sees their work but them," said the Navy Time's Reporter Jon Anderson.

Indy was running flight OP's all day. While I was out on the flight deck, lightning was making large arches in the background, as the jets would come in for landing. It stormed a little bit here today, but it blew by pretty quick.

Out on starboard watch was Seaman Rachel Quenton from Roanoke, AL who's been here two years. He said the hardest part of his job is when the schedule calls for GQ at 7pm, then the midnight to 4am watch, and then having an UNREP (underway replenishment) that begins around 5am. "I mostly write my wife Yolandria when I'm not working," he said. "I write her every two days or more."

Working in the VFA 195 Dambusters' ADMIN shop was (below, left) YN2 John Vanover from New Albany, IN and YN3 Gene Dyal from Sacramento, CA. "Actually, I'd rather be in port," said Dyal. "The underway port calls and cultural diversity are great though ...I do like the port calls." Vanover said being away from his wife is the hardest part of being here.

These guys (above) are the crew that takes care of the Royal Mace's, VFA 27, jet engines. They said the pilots have been going easy on the birds, so they haven't had to work "as hard" lately. Pictured here: AD2 Gerry Duque from Dededo, Guam; Airman Brandon Viana from Los Angels, CA; Airman Marvin Smith from Bolivia, NC; ADAN Steven Molina from Holly, Mich.; AD3 Daniel Kubera from Boston, MA; AD1 Dante Casem from Baguio City, Philippines; ADAN Sean Madden from Kansas, MO; AMS1 (AW) Denis Morin from Nashua, NH; and AD3 Josh Schnitzius from Louisville, KT.