The story thus far
Ok, I haven't written in a long, long time. Time to start writing more. I know that I have lost people along the way. Maybe they'll come back. If not then that's ok; this is for the soul purpose of documentation and narcissism.
Adjusting to live on the Bataan has been as hard as I thought it would be. I'm quite comfortable sleeping in the berthing compartments but the lack of having a place to go home to really gets to me. Especially duty days when I cannot leave the ship. And on the day I do get to leave the ship....what is there to do? Go to the mall? Drive around and look at stuff? And after that go back to the ship? I really need to get a place out in town.
Here's the problem. They only grant that to folk that are my rank with four years in. I hit my four year mark 2009, Feb 28th. And when that day comes, assuming it gets granted on that day, I would have about a month to get a place and get my furniture here because we go on a six month cruise in early April. So chances are it will be denied. And when we get back that will be useless too seeing how most apartment complexes require at least a one year lease. By the time I get back I will have about six months left in the Navy. And on that glorious day I plan to leave the miserable town of Norfolk.
When I got onboard, the put me in the overflow berthing where the marines sleep. It's pretty much empty so I did like that. However, last Thursday a pipe burst and it flooded out. So now I have to move into a real berthing with people there. That's gonna suck. Not looking forward to that. Being ship's company sucks.
However, I did discover something at the Norfolk base that is awesome. Wireless internet! THANK GOD I bought a laptop when I was in Pensacola! So I have my internet back! Once we get back to the Norfolk base in May (the ship is currently in the shipyards in Portsmith) then maybe life will inprove.
In the meantime, I have been spending my weekends at hotels. And that gets pricy! Fortunately for me, I have discovered a ability that I did not know I had before joining the Navy. Whenever I get to a new place I seem to have a nack for learning the area and finding the best places to eat, learning the area in general, and in this case...finding the nicest, cheapest hotel. So here I am at a Motel Six that is tucked away from the main thoroughfare. It used to be a Fairfield Inn so it's very nice! And only $60 a night! It's the best secret in Norfolk and I found it in less than a month! Like I said, I have a nack!
Money is tight. Apparently, when you are ship's company literally half of your paycheck goes toward the ship. For medical, dental, meals (which suck), etc. So I am currently making $1008 a month. It's funny, I checked my Leave Earnings Statement for a year ago and I was making more money when I had less time in the military and at a lower rank! How wrong is that! Thankfully my car insurance dropped when I moved to Virginia and that is the only positive thing I have to say about this state thus far.
My good friend Wurl was here shortly. I've known Wurl since boot camp, he was there in Pensacola with me, and in Jacksonville as well. We would always hang on the weekends and just have a great old time. We would get hotels on the weekend where we would drink, watch TV, watch movies, etc. But he was attached on the USS Washington and they departed to Japan two weeks ago. So now I am alone..which is no big deal. However, I do miss my friend.
So here I am 37 days into my time on the Bataan with 679 days left till my tour of duty ends. How do I know this? Some guys in the shop where I work sent me a spreadsheet that tells you all of this. Apparently, living on the boat sucks enough that someone created this thing. lol
I wish I had something more pithy to write. Surly that will come now that I have limited internet access.
I've also become a little Myspace whore so I have a lot of pictures on there of this and that since I have been here. Check it out...if you want just reply and I will give you the address.
Adjusting to live on the Bataan has been as hard as I thought it would be. I'm quite comfortable sleeping in the berthing compartments but the lack of having a place to go home to really gets to me. Especially duty days when I cannot leave the ship. And on the day I do get to leave the ship....what is there to do? Go to the mall? Drive around and look at stuff? And after that go back to the ship? I really need to get a place out in town.
Here's the problem. They only grant that to folk that are my rank with four years in. I hit my four year mark 2009, Feb 28th. And when that day comes, assuming it gets granted on that day, I would have about a month to get a place and get my furniture here because we go on a six month cruise in early April. So chances are it will be denied. And when we get back that will be useless too seeing how most apartment complexes require at least a one year lease. By the time I get back I will have about six months left in the Navy. And on that glorious day I plan to leave the miserable town of Norfolk.
When I got onboard, the put me in the overflow berthing where the marines sleep. It's pretty much empty so I did like that. However, last Thursday a pipe burst and it flooded out. So now I have to move into a real berthing with people there. That's gonna suck. Not looking forward to that. Being ship's company sucks.
However, I did discover something at the Norfolk base that is awesome. Wireless internet! THANK GOD I bought a laptop when I was in Pensacola! So I have my internet back! Once we get back to the Norfolk base in May (the ship is currently in the shipyards in Portsmith) then maybe life will inprove.
In the meantime, I have been spending my weekends at hotels. And that gets pricy! Fortunately for me, I have discovered a ability that I did not know I had before joining the Navy. Whenever I get to a new place I seem to have a nack for learning the area and finding the best places to eat, learning the area in general, and in this case...finding the nicest, cheapest hotel. So here I am at a Motel Six that is tucked away from the main thoroughfare. It used to be a Fairfield Inn so it's very nice! And only $60 a night! It's the best secret in Norfolk and I found it in less than a month! Like I said, I have a nack!
Money is tight. Apparently, when you are ship's company literally half of your paycheck goes toward the ship. For medical, dental, meals (which suck), etc. So I am currently making $1008 a month. It's funny, I checked my Leave Earnings Statement for a year ago and I was making more money when I had less time in the military and at a lower rank! How wrong is that! Thankfully my car insurance dropped when I moved to Virginia and that is the only positive thing I have to say about this state thus far.
My good friend Wurl was here shortly. I've known Wurl since boot camp, he was there in Pensacola with me, and in Jacksonville as well. We would always hang on the weekends and just have a great old time. We would get hotels on the weekend where we would drink, watch TV, watch movies, etc. But he was attached on the USS Washington and they departed to Japan two weeks ago. So now I am alone..which is no big deal. However, I do miss my friend.
So here I am 37 days into my time on the Bataan with 679 days left till my tour of duty ends. How do I know this? Some guys in the shop where I work sent me a spreadsheet that tells you all of this. Apparently, living on the boat sucks enough that someone created this thing. lol
I wish I had something more pithy to write. Surly that will come now that I have limited internet access.
I've also become a little Myspace whore so I have a lot of pictures on there of this and that since I have been here. Check it out...if you want just reply and I will give you the address.