Back from the briny deep, y'all!

Holy crap. Long trip. But a good time. First off, the port visit to Yokosuka, Japan was okay. Not great, but okay. I really had very little in the way of time to sight see, visit Tokyo, etc... With everything going on with the Chief's Transition / Initiation (i.e., weird shit for my promotion) I really didn't get to do as much as I wanted to do. I did however get to go out and drink. A lot. Something I hadn't done in quite awhile. Dear Lord, I sang Karaoke... What in the name of all that is holy did I do...? There was REM, Oasis, Eminem, Neil Diamond... And the list goes on. Jaegermeister is my Kryptonite...

Then it was Vladivostok, Russia. Wow. Again, Wow. Seriously. If I wasn't happily getting divorced while dating an incredible woman, I would so move to Russia. Except for that whole "Wait, I'm in the Navy" thing. The women there are incredible. I had whiplash. Every ten feet was a gorgeous woman. And another. And another. Ad Infinitum. The place was great to say the least. The people were (mostly) friendly and more than willing to try out the smattering of English they knew. And we (mostly) were willing to learn a smattering of Russian. Most of which I have now forgotten of course... In case any of you (well, the "I'm looking for some really cool, hot women of a foreign nature" group of you whoever that may be) are interested in meeting... Well, I already said what you'd be meeting back there in those parentheses, so I shall continue. The women in Russia are somewhat guarded, but once you talk to them, they are open and honest and a pleasure to be with. They are used to men that spend what money they have on alcohol, drugs and cigarettes and ooze some sort of pungent odor (think Sex Panther / Bigfoot's Dick) produced by there own bodies. Mostly due to an overindulgence of the previously mentioned items and an under-indulgence in soap. Consequently, most of the men look 10 to 15 years older than they are. While there, I met some journalism students and went to a museum on their campus. Very cool. Would have been better if I had had my friggin' camera Alas, I didn't. Did get some pics of various memorials, statues and the like. I will upload once I replace the cable I lost.

Then, Guam. Not that exciting. Been there. It's a haven for Strip Joints, bad bars, Hookers and "Massage" Parlors. Beer is expensive and so is gas. We spent way too much time there. The only good part was that a stripper named (Real Name Deleted and replaced with Stage Name) Wicked Felina took a liking to me and I got to hear all the juicy strip club gossip. Amusing to say the least.

Next, Saipan. I was prepared to be bored but was pleasantly surprised. I've never been a WWII buff, but that has changed. The Pacific Theater is really very fascinating. The push into Japanese territories was long and bloody, but amazing. The Battles for Saipan, Rota, Iwo Jima, etc The Battle of Midway, all of it. I ended up at a US Park / Museum of WWII history (Saipan in particular) and later had dinner with two of the three US Park Rangers that work there. Very cool people. I left there with a US flag flown over the Memorial on the 60th Anniversary of the US Invasion of Saipan and a new interest in WWII.

At this point, it should have been head to Hawaii and go home to Whale's Vag Err, San Diego. But no. We had to bottom out the ship leaving Saipan and damage my sonar dome. Garbage So, back to Guam for emergency repairs and spend more money in a godforsaken mountain island where temperature and humidity are both over 90. All the time. Plus lots of rain. Typhoons suck. Badly.

So, we're home now. Three weeks late, but home. I will add some pictures to this poor excuse for a journal as soon as I am able. Until then, Take care of yourselves. And Stay Classy, San Diego.