We had our second ballcap winner picked Friday and while I was on the bridge for the ballcap signing, a FOD (foreign object damage) walk down was taking place. (Above & right) Everyone that's available musters up on the flightdeck and gets in a line. Then, they slowly walk the length of the flightdeck looking for FOD, anything on the flight deck that does not belong there, or small loose objects that could get sucked into a jet intake.

(Below) Before leaving the bridge -- This is a reporter taking a photo of me taking a photo... I wonder who's shot came out better?

Sweet said he's been here for three years and chose Hawaii as his favorite port. "We've been to a lot of great places and I've learned a lot about other cultures, but Hawaii was really it!" he said with emphasis on "it."

Popping into my workspace today was LT John Podolak (right) from Bristol, CT, whom I was hunting down the other day to fulfill a photo request. He heard I'd stopped by and came by to just drop a photo off. So, I didn't take this photo, but it's not often I get to go flying with these guys. Pretty much never. Podolak has been with VS 21 for a year and a half in the position of co-pilot. "The challenge is to stay as good as you were when you first began," said Podolak. He said the hardest part of being here right now is missing his wife Brittany who's in San Diego.

Next door to ADP is Indy's Inventory Control Office (right). Any request to buy equipment aboard Indy will pass through this office for approval. On average they deal with 200 request a day. They'll research the item to be sure its being purchased at its lowest cost. Indy's Inventory Control has won the "Price Fighter Award" for her sixth straight year because of their work. Pictured here (right) is SK3 Samy Berhanu from Houston, Texas; SK1 (SW) Benjamin Bamba from Fairfield, CA; SKC (SW/AW) Bert Malaca from Livermore, CA; SK1 (SW/AW) Edgardo Paguia from Manica, Philippines; SK3 Marvyn Christmas from Washington, D.C.; AK2 Mark Etheridge from San Diego, CA; SK1 (SW) Joselito Reyes from Laguna, Philippines; SKC (SW) John Triana from Nacogdoches, Texas; and Airman Le Anh from Orange County, CA.

(Above) Ringing 'em up as fast as they could line up was SHSN Jeffery Espinosa from Long Island, NY. Working in the "Junk Food" store, he's surrounded by candy bars, chips, soups, and even microwave popcorn. "The best selling item, everything..." He said being aboard Indy has been good for helping him grow more mature and independent. "I don't like being away from my family so much, but it's been good for me."

Checking out planes to VFA 27 pilots was this group (right). In charge of scheduling maintenance for the planes, they keep track of all major work and parts that have ever been touched on each of their aircraft's.

I really didn't get to start shooting some pics until noon. It was a little warmer today, and by noon a little humidity kicked in. Looking out the hangar bay door, I say the Boatswain's Mates out taking care of the ship. Seaman Travell Young (above) from Chicago, IL has already seen dozens of whales, dolphins, sea snakes and other "wildlife" in his short time here. He reported aboard three months ago and this is his first cruise in the Navy.

Out shooting a Sun Line was the navigator, Commander Mark Ackerman (left) from Huntington Beach, CA. Using his Sextant to get Indy's Line of Position, Ackerman stays proficient in guiding the ship without the aid of electronic devices. "Our GPS works great, we don't normally do this just for a comparison reading, moreso to practice the age-old arts."

BM3 Christopher Sweet (above) from Dallas, Texas pipes "Sweepers, sweepers man your brooms, give the ship a good sweep down both forward and aft... " It's the call for personnel to take a few moments and sweep up the spaces they maintain. We're 4,500 men here, the place can get pretty dirty

Helping guys not feel sooooooo far away from loved ones is the ADP shop (left). (L to R) DPC (SW) Alfred Sison from the Philippines; DP2 Anthony Lucenio from Houston, Texas; and RM3 Eddie Smith from Tuscalousa, Ala. Dealing with more than 1,000 computers on Indy, the ADP shop maintains the LAN which provides Sailors here with email accounts. "From the states, email goes to a satellite then down to Hawaii, then back up and then down to Guam, from Guam it'll go back up to a satellite then down to Yokosuka, then back up and down to Bahrain, and finally from Bahrain it goes back up to a satellite then down to us." they said.

While on my way to Indy's "Gee-dunk" (not jee, ghee) store, "Touch and GO," there was a line in the P-way for Hepatitis-A shots. HM3 Stephen Hermus from Dallas, Texas was sticking AOAN LARRY Payne from Perris, CA (below left) with a needle. Payne is part of VFA 195's ordnance crew and spends his time putting bombs on planes and changing them out. "I'm not ever nervous," he said. "I figure, the worse that could ever happen is one could go off." he said with a very small grin.

Pictured here is AZ2 Mark Bonilla from San Diego, CA; AZAN Time Maine from Albany, NY; AZAN Jason Carlson from Kearney, Neb.; AMHC Quintin Tan from Quezon City, Philippines; and AZ2 Steve Walker from Houston, Texas.