We don't belong here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The enormous Navy flag. My batterries went dead after this so there's only three pics...

I was trying to get a picture of the color guard. They brought them down, at attention, on the elevator. It was pretty impressive.

A mural on one of the hanger bay doors.

Last night's escapade...a story for Grandpa

So the USS George Washington is in town for the first time ever and to foster relations they hosted a reception onboard their vessel. Now, let me say that this was for the bigwigs. We didn't get an invite until their 400 people maximum ended up with just over 200 reservations, or so I was told. At any rate, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to smell diesel fuel and enjoy the gentle sway that only a Navy grey ship can bring so we took up the offer. We started off at Fenwick Pier on Hong Kong Island and they ferried us out about 45 minutes to the ship. Now, let me stop at this point to say that Hoss got an important phone call just as we were getting ready to board and so I enjoyed a bit of people watching while he took it. There were sailors (with the pale skin that comes from working below decks, out to sea for too long) coming off and an endless stream of black clothed, fancy-dressed diplomats climbing on. The best was when I saw two Brits with a full jug of Carlsberg and two full mugs trekking it to the ferry. Now, if this were sailors they would have gotten a small smile and a "I don't think so..." but as the were diplomats the officer on deck simply looked at them with a generous smile and said "Ahhhhh a booze cruise." Anyways we ended up on the last ferry going out and took our seats in the closest row to the door. The ride out was uneventful, but once I stepped off the ferry I knew I was truly out of my element. I will try to describe to the civilian side what I saw. We landed on the aft, lower portion of the ship and had to walk up a series of stairs. Now if you've ever been on a Navy ship you are used to the dull, grey interior. I would have to say that this wasn't it. Every landing had a different mural and the floors were a spotless blue. Even the railings on the ladderwells were covered with blue canvas. Yes, I am describing what felt like Officer-country to me! And as I mentioned we were the closest ones to the door, hence we were the first ones off and onto the ship...So as we stepped up from the last ladderwell onto the quarterdeck I saw the red carpet rolled out and lined, on both sides, with sailors. When they saw us the Boatsman's Mate at the end started piping us on board and the minute his whistle sounded the seaman lining the carpet (In dress whites) went into a full salute. Now, as a former enlisted sailor I have lots of experience with the red carpet and officer-country and I can tell you I stayed FAR away from both with full fear of a reprimand at the hands of some grumpy officer looking to take it out on me. The only time I touched the red carpet was when I was the one on the side saluting, we never walked on it. So, as I heard the piping and stepped up I felt like running, trying to enjoy the moment was the farthest thing from my mind. But I got the nudge and full-grin from Hoss and I stepped onto the red carpet. However, that's not the last of it...As I stepped onto the carpet of death, guess who stepped onto the other side?! The Captain of the ship himself. He was waiting to personally welcome each and every guest. All I could think was wow and I shook his hand, glad to have the shocking experience over with. But, it wasn't over...as we stepped into the first hangerbay I saw an even longer red carpet. This one stretched the entire length of the hanger bay and was lined with every State flag. It was a very cool sight to behold, but again Hoss and I looked at each other and took a deep breath to keep us from walking around. This was the grand entrance that lead us to the reception in hanger bay two. It was incredible. The food was delicious and had roast carving stations, fresh rolls, vegi and fruit tables and fabulous trays of hors d'oeuvres being carried around by poor sailors in tux tops. Now, I say poor because when I was in it was mandatory for newbies to spend 90 days of "cranking" on the messdecks. It meant 12 hour days of stinking like food, washing dirty dishes and every once in a while throwing on the tux tops while the stressed out cooks took their anger out on your petty mistakes. As you can tell just walking onto the decks was bringing back all kinds of memories. Memories of a life that felt a hundred years past. I even had to stand at the opening, where the elevator comes down, and just feel the moments pass. I remembered so many mornings when I would stand in that same area and watch the sunrise while the horizon rocked up and down. Those moments, before I started my day, were some of the most peaceful minutes I have ever experienced. There is nothing so beautiful as watching the sun come out of the sea with not a single other thing to get in the way. Anyhow we socialized for about an hour and then they held the ceremony. It started with an introduction from the CO who greeted us and welcomed the Admiral in charge of the group. Then the Consular General spoke. It was fairly boring. After this they took people up the elevator to the flight deck to see the aircraft and others were escorted on tours. We left early without seeing anymore as we were trying out a babysitter and had already been gone a few hours. Anyhow, just thought you'd appreciate the memories...Oh yeah one more. Looking at the pad eyes in the deck (the recessed dents in the deck that have a cross over the top so you can tie down the aircraft) brought back all kinds of memories from my Shellback ceremony. At one point they brought us "pollywogs" topside and there was a guy with a fire hose washing down the decks...The decks were filthy from the aircraft fuel, engine grease, and all kinds of other nasty stuff and the worst of it had collected in the pad eyes. Well, our job at that time was to dry out the padeyes, with our mouths. They aimed us one facing the other and we blew as hard as we could to empty the water out and got drenched and gross in the process...crazy, but the certificate and feeling at the end was well worth it. Hope everyone is well!