Sometimes its difficult.....

May 30, 2010

Sometimes its difficult to get an internet connection so some of my entries may be a day or two behind. We will be in Vietnam at 0600 tomorrow so things are beginning to feel pressured. Everyone is working hard to gather supplies for going ashore where there will be several screening clinics to evaluate people for surgery. These will be the surgeons and nurse anesthestists. I am still enjoying the trip although I am really getting tired of just eating, sleeping and rocking back and forth. LOL. Another photo for you guys. (it takes approximately 10 minutes to load a photo because the internet is so slow or I would post more for you) And...another beautiful sunrise in the South China Sea.

Love and prayers.....

Dolores

Zoomba.......

May 29, 2010

I am really enjoying Zoomba...a South American dance exercise but it will end as soon as we arrive in Vietnam because we will be so busy. I am riding 10 miles a day on an exercise bike and I haven't done that since I was 10. Some photos of a sunrise and a sunset in the South China Sea.

I love and miss you guys...

God Bless.....Dolores

The path of the ship was changed because there was a typhoon in our way so we went through the Strait of Luzon, a place where a lot of battle ships were sunk during WW II. These are the Philippine Islands and I guess there are thousands of them. There is also a photo of a 'man-overboard' drill where we all have to don.. life vests and meet out on the flight deck for muster (head count)

We passed by a ship (the first foto) and that is the only ship I have seen otherd than the Mercy. I was told it was 139 degrees on the deck (don't know how true that is) but it was really hot. Two days to Vietnam. I love and miss you all.

God Bless......Dolores

You can't tell a book......

By its cover!!!

I was walking the deck one day and saw a high ranking female officer (by the scrambled eggs on her hat) kind of ambling along, almost like an elderly person ambles (I know because I am old and I amble) and I thought, ummm she looks pretty old and is probably just finishing out her military career on this easy assignment before retirement. Later, I saw her again with a lower ranking escort helping her with her food tray and that same thought ran through my mind again....just waiting to retire. And, then one day I was walking past the gym where the Zoomba class (high energy South American dance exercise) was being held and behold....right there on the front row was.....who else???......the scrambled eggs lady.....dancing like she was 20 years old. Maybe there is hope for me!!!! So, I learned a good lesson that day....You really can't tell a book by its cover.

God Bless you all.....Dolores

You can see

You can see what I see.........every day.......the sea.

God bless you all...

Dolores

Vietnam....here we come !!!

"All ashore that's going ashore!!" The gangplank is being raised and we are headed for Vietnam and, finally, some real work....the meat of all this. I am so fortunate to be on this vessel, to be able to use the talents that I have been blessed with. I want to take a photo of every child, every adult that I am privileged to take care of so I can remember each of them and also so that I can share these precious people with my friends and family since they can't be here. Goodbye beautiful Guam.

Asian-American celebration

The U.S. Navy has changed and I did not realize it. There are more sailors who are Asian-American and/or Latino than there are caucasian. It is really cool to see how well they all get along and how well they work together. We enjoyed a celebration of their their traditional dances and food and I enjoyed it very much. We will soon reach Guam which is considered miconesia and I am looking forward to seeing the island since my dad served here in WW II.

More photos from Hawai'i

Sunshine......at last.....Hawai'i

May 10, 2010

Although I have lived in Hawai'i ..it's beauty never ceases to amaze me. My friend and I walked from 1300 to 2000 and saw as much as we could on Saturday. Sunday our group rented a van and we drove completely around Oahu, stopping at the LDS Temple where we took some nice photos. We had lunch at President Tanho's beautiful Japanese decorated home and I was able to send the one email. Here are some photos.

God Bless......Dolores

May 3, 2010
I WILL NEVER COMPLAIN AGAIN………………………..
Do you remember when I was complaining about those six flights of stairs the other day? Well, I will never complain again. Before, as my soreness increased I just took those stairs in my own time, stopping, blowing off the C02--lactic acid that was causing them to ache so badly, then continuing on at my own pace. Today has caused me to withdraw my complaint BECAUSE we had a MAN OVERBOARD drill which resulted in us grabbing a life jacket from the nearest cabinet, putting it on and running up six flights of stairs (no lagging of course or you get run over) and then climbing a ladder to the flight deck where the helicopters land. To my friend Shannon, girl…….you would not have made it and the only thing that got me to the top was unadulterated FEAR. It was worth the flight because after I got up there I met the coolest person..Dr. Le. She was maybe 5 feet tall and the cutest thing. She was going to Vietnam with us and while there was going to meet her grandparents for the very first time and probably the last because they are in their 80’s…both sets. I hope they are able to find transportation to the ship.
I received my assignment today and will work under surgical services, which I anticipated. I am anxious to muster with them tomorrow so I can get to work
Internet is not available to us yet but I am writing these blogs on a daily basis so I won’t forget anything.
　
God Bless you all...Dolores

May 2, 2010
THEY’RE DROPPING LIKE FLIES……………………..
The Navy said rough seas as soon as we get out of the harbour and guess what? THEY WERE RIGHT !! Have you ever seen 15-21 foot waves? When I would go fishing with my husband and a few white caps came up I would yell to my husband “ Start the motor…its time to go in”. A white cap is what….maybe 6 inches high? Well, let me tell you..there was a sramble for the sea sickness pills just in case. Two hours into the trip they were dropping like flies, even the sailors. BUT, I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I’M STILL STANDING BY GOLLY.
Sacrament meeting was nice with the ship lulling some of us into a sleep but that is where we lost our leader. She made it through the meeting but her face was getting more and more pale and finally she said “ I’m gonna lose it guys and that is when we scattered” She spent the rest of the afternoon in her rack while the rest of us guiltily went to the mess and ate steak and lobster. Yes, steak and lobster….this is gonna be a tough trip I can see.
Good night to all and God Bless.
　
　
　

WHAT WAS I THINKING ???………………………...
Saturday night
OMGoodness…….I have not been on this ship for 24 hours and I can barely walk…my knees hurt so bad. I regret all those elevators I took in life. The application for this position said “Do you get short of breath when climbing stairs?” and I innocently thought ‘Well, no, not really’ forgetting that the last time I climbed a flight of stairs was ummmm maybe 10 years ago. I’m not out of breath, just out of shape….
The food is incredible. I feel like I’m eating at Sizzler. The salad bar is outrageous. And, I thought I was going to lose a little weight (sigh). Lights out is 2200 so…..good night all…..love ya…….snoooooore……
Good night to all and God Bless.

May 1, 2010
We launched this morning at 0900 from a beautiful San Diego, California. The sky was clear although the weather was a bit chilly, If you are reading this blog I thank you for following me on this amazing adventure and I pray it will be a spiritual experience for us all. To my loving and supportive family, I love and miss you already and you are in my prayers. The Navy has not yet revealed the conditions of downloading photos but as soon as I find out I will follow their rules to the letter of the law. But, at least I know I can blog and I will attempt to do so at every opportunity. Oh, as we left dock in San Diego one of the Navy ships had all their sailors lined up on the stern and they were all waving and screaming goodbye and good luck to us. It was a wonderful and patriotic feeling…good to be an American.

Thank you US Navy......

May 20, 2010
Thursday

We pulled into Guam today and we finally have internet. I don't know how long it will last but I will post some things from the beginning of my trip.

I am in Hawaii and the weather is beautiful. We attended church today and enjoyed it very much. The Navy is still working on the internet problem and hopefully, it will be resolved within the next couple of days. I will begin blogging the minute the net is up so PLEASE keep checking back. I was lucky to use a computer on base. ALOHA. Be safe all and God bless.

Dolores

Message from Dolores

Mom was able to sneak a phone call to me today from an Officer's office. She wanted to let everyone know that she is having the time of her life and that as soon as the Navy gets their internet up, which should be in the next day or two, she'll send e-mails and publish a new post here.

She's well, not experiencing any sea sickness, and is proud to be able to make the 40 flight stair climb each day despite her 67 year old knees. She says the food is surprisingly good, the people are wonderful, and that she loves and misses her friends and family. She will work her first shift tomorrow in post-op, after which the USS Mercy will dock in Hawaii for a couple days.

Sarah