Back from the mutha fuckin briny deep.

4 1/2 months can take a hellaciously long time when spent with 450 people you could honestly give two shits about. A few friends, a handful of those I can tolerate and laugh around and then a whole shite load of those I could truly live without. But, hey! It's the Navy!

Anyway, I'll keep this short as I'm ready to catch up on email, gossip, and all the goods.

First stop was Hawaii for Force Protection drills and then off to Hong Kong. Plenty of sight seeing, great food, shopping for Xmas presents to pour all over the kids upon my return. And then, off to... Shit, doesn't matter. We've been rerouted.

The Tsunami hit and we spent the next 45 days of the coast of Indonesia supplying relief to the victims. Nothing reduces in ego by an order of magnitude like seeing an ocean full of people's homes, everything they own, and occasionally, the people themselves. Truly one of the most humbling experiences of my entire life. At least we had the feeling that something was accomplished. The carrier group used the helos on board to ferry millions of pounds of food, water, and medical supplies to remote locations. Dozens of people were flown from mountainous areas to reach medical facilities that were able to save their lives. In general, some order among the storm.


After all of that, a few needed days in Singapore to decompress and remember what humanity and civilization were. More shopping, more food, and much alcohol...

Hawaii for a day and finally, today, March 1st, home. At present, my beautiful daughter is playing with the really for real Hello Kitty stuff I got her over there and my son is playing a game. I had forgotten how beautiful they are. Well, not forgotten, but been away for so long that I forgot how much a simple smile and hearing "Daddy" can move me to near tears. Love them kids.

Well, missed you all and now I'm back. So, leave the door open and a beer in the fridge, because I'm coming out tonight!