When I finally got out of the office today, I decided (as always - sorry) to head topside to check out the weather and happenings upstairs. I stopped this group (right) of plane captains from VF 154 as they were getting ready to wrap up a day's work. (L to R) Airman Justin Horn from Canõn City, CO; Airman Michael Burdge from Anacortes, WA; Airman Greg Miller from San Diego, CA;

I didn't get around the ship too much until this afternoon, had some other web updates to make, like the Captain's Careline, and also had to take care of this week's ballcap winner. I've also received quite a few emails from people wanting to write "Any Sailor" here after seeing The Montel Williams Show. I've been passing those requests out through the ship, but I can't promise responses. We actually just received the tape with the show on it today and aired it after our live "Captain's Call - call in."

and ATAN Blaine Amante from San Diego, CA. As plane captains, these are the guys who ensure everything is set and ready to go before the pilot climbs in. "It can feel like a lot of pressure," they said, "but it feels good knowing you're in charge of one of these."

He's only been with HS 14 for three months, but three and a half years ago he was aboard Indy with HS 12 before they DECOMED. "Some of the obvious changes are the improvements in the messdecks," he said. "The Hard Rock Cafe, the soda machines, and the music are great." He said another advancement he's been taking advantage of is email. "It's great for morale when you can email your wife or loved one and they can receive it the same day, and reply the same day," Daily said.

Assistant Flight Deck Officer, ENS Scott Dancer (right) from Jacksonville, FL couldn't agree more about the benefits of email. He said he uses it every day, mostly repeating, "... wish I was home."

While ALL of HS 14 was around, I took advantage of the situation to nock off a photo request. AD1 Christopher Daily (left) from Tifton, GA was a little surprised when I said someone requested a photo of him.

(Above) MSSN Carton Hunt from Chicago, IL was part of the crew helping put together the 150 plus pizzas for the "Social." He's TAD from HS 14 and said what he likes most about getting underway with Indy are the tours and other countries he's seen. "Not being with my family is the hardest part about being here," he said. MSSN Federicko Martinez (right) from Los Angeles, CA agreed with Hunt about the difficulties of being away from his family. He's TAD from VF 154 and said when he's back with the Squadron on shore, pizza's a rare item in their mess decks. "I don't mind being out here because it helps me save money," he said. "I really enjoy the ports too because these are places I would have never seen if I didn't join the Navy."

(Above) In front of the camera on live SITE-TV tonight, CAPT Mark R. Milliken (left) and MMCM(SS/AW) Ashley K. Dwiggins held a Captain's Call for Sailors to call in and ask any question they might have for the Indy's Commanding Officer. Questions range from topics such as our port visit tomorrow, to when the next marathon will be held.

Well, this last mug (right) is mine...since I missed out on the Valentine's shots, I took the liberty of inserting this self portrait taken around 2:30 am here while I was digging into these great cookies! Sorry to say, but for the next five days while we are in port, there will be no Notepad. Everyone here will be off in Jebel Ali enjoying a much-desired break. I promise to bring back some port shots... or at least I plan on it. The sun and the camels are calling and I heard someone mention a beach? So, I know this is a rattling mess, but then somedays out here in the big world, rambling is the only thing that makes sense. Until then...

I hope that photo didn't slow you down too much, but I had to give it to you big. That's AMH1 Charles Brown from Newbern, NC working on the rigging flaps in the evening sun. With evening set, I headed down for tonight's "Pizza Social" on the aft mess decks.

(Below) MS2 (SW) Ramone Finster (left) from Oakland, CA and MS3 Jamie DeReaner from Honesdale, PA were busy saucing up the dough. Finster said he's been on Indy before, but recently he's only been here for eight months. "Being underway from my wife and kids is hard, but it's part of the job," said Finster. "I'll talk about how much we were out to sea and where we went, but I'll probably forget about any bad times," said DeRaener. "It's really not bad anyway, and you learn to make good times out of bad out here." DeRaener said the hardest part of being underway is the constant seven days a week schedule, "... and just being away from everybody."