Friday was a good day. I was bored like always but unlike normally I started bugging the engineer for things to do. I was suppose to go out on the op that day, but didn't feel like getting into the Zodiac. I really do need to get use to that damn thing. I know there isn't isn't anything to cruising through the bay, I'm just not comfortable about the going over the breaker from the beach. So since I was a pansy that day I was around to learn another useful skill, and that would be driving the tractor. For those people out there that have been driving since they were twelve years of age this wouldn't be a big deal, but I grew in suburbia and those weren't as common in my neighborhood. It wasn't as bad and scary as I had thought it would be, I still need to practice being gentle with the clutch but it isn't as bad as working a automobile. Not that I have problem with standard tranny, shit the hell I don't. That's why don't drive anything but an automatic. If I could drive a standard I wouldn't have to pay as much for car. I have no problem of course with towing an empty boat cradle around, even while using the pickup. I'm just not comfortable with a boat on it. Without a boat I can see over it for cars that may be following, but with an ACB on it I can't see shit. That includes backing down ramps. I can't figure what I'm going to use as a reference while backing down. That would be a great help, especially for those of us that would rather not drive over the edge of the ramp and spill the boat and boat driver over the edge. I did tow a boat out of the water though it too was kind of nifty. The backing down was a little tricky I had to learn not to over correct when I steer. just a little at a time is all you need. Of course next time I do this I'll have to remember to put the truck into 4 wheel drive and lock the hubs BEFORE I head down the ramp so I won't have to get my feet wet after I hook up the boat. Cristal would have been happier also if I had done that since when I tried to pull the boat BEFORE locking the hubs he got splashed with water as he leaned on the window sill of the truck. Of course it was just his day, I splashed him with fuel earlier when he was showing me how we refuel the tractor.

It has been a long time since my last blog, and in that time so much has gone on in life. I've started my new job at NSWC. I'll be working with the boat support group. They provide the picket and life boats for they're various swimming and diving exercises. At first I was a bit overwhelmed with magnitude of what I am to be responsible for. It was spelled out more than a couple of times," Training can't be rescheduled so be on spot on time all the time. Also I'm going to be the one in charge this time around. On the Princeton I came as a 2nd class so I had lots of time to grow into the job. Now however I have 3 months to be familiar with the job. Not a problem if it were not for the ones that ARE in charge . They either seem a bit hesitant of giving up the importance of being in charge, or have other things that on their minds other than getting me familiar with the job at hand. Then there is the chief that is in charge of the shop. There are many thing that sends shiver when I think of the amount of time I have to work with this guy. Firstly there is his seeming tendency to bow over at the least amount muscle from those above him. This is understandable of course since he is a new chief, and probably a weak 1st to begin with, and feels that he needs to show that he can work with other leaders of different groups on the base or command. However at what cost? A LTCDR from ACU1 stops by the shop and claims he owns the pier on which we park our boats. So chief tells us to move the float and the boats. BM1 Brown had to find a new home for our boats for over the weekend, while BM1 Haskins readied the boats for getting underway. In the end Haskin's decides to call over chiefs head to ask what is going on, bad move. It got us out of moving the boats, but it is never a good idea to jump ones chain of command. On Monday chief got us all together and berated the crowd to avoid singling out the one in question, always good, about going over his head, and it made him look like an idiot. Of course in my mind I had to ask how much of an idiot he would have looked if we had moved the boats and ended and ended moving them back later that day. To caught throw it all, I think he's a pussy, doesn't know any of his people, has no clue as to operations, what boats are up, which ones are down, or any of the like. Now the lack of knowledge could be brought about from lack of being kept informed, which would fall on Brown's lap. However I have a hard time defending him for being a pussy at the expense of ones people. We are in charge because of our people. It is our people that make us successful, or make us look like fools. It is that reason we need to look out for them.
Other than the above examples I like it here at NWSC. I still think the SEALS are still a bunch of prima donna, though they are good at what they do. As I've probably pointed out earlier I love driving boats. It is one of the reasons I stayed a BM. If it weren't for it and other loved activities I would have left the rate for one that is more loved in the Navy. I know that I will be scheduling more than a couple of boat ride for myself a week in order to stay familiar with the OP's.
We got our first new guy since my arrival. This is good for me since a lot of people are due to leave in the next couple of months, and we're already short as it is. The new guy is coming from the C.B. unit on the base, and like all the other fleeters that I know he hated just about every freakin' day of it. They too are prima donna, but unlike the SEALS they lack a sense of Identity. They are Navy people that will never put to sea. In fact they see themselves more as Marines then Navy. So though Fleeters take part in the majority of their operations they are still second rate citizens. I've been hearing stories at how the brass wants the battalions thinking as if they were one unit but neglect to crack down on what it is that separates them. Mainly it is their Goat Locker, If the chiefs don't get along their people won't get along. We only know what our bosses know. Another reason I praise God that I am where I am is that though life on shore duty is boring at least I'm out on average at 1200. While the BM's at the C.B. unit have to stay till 1600 every freaking day. Now that would be too bad if there was something to do but there isn't. It's sweeper all freakin' day. Some of them are so bored there that they've taken up dressing up crafts with fancy work just to kill time. Once again a sign that those that are in charge have about their people. Otherwise they would say to themselves, " Hey these fleeters are coming to shore duty to relax, and this would be the best time for them to take things they can't do while at sea." Some things like, say, get educated. I don't know if this from naivete, or they really don't care. Either way I don't care, I'm happy that I'm at the boat units. I talked to the XO and DOT, that mean director of training, and they seem to know that this is what shore duty is for. So as long as we have their confidence, by getting boats on spot on time, then we are free to pursue other activities. In fact we are strongly urged to do this, its better than the alternative of drinking and getting in trouble.
Wow this is a book and I haven't even covered my leave which was a great transition period from the Princeton to this command. I got to see the rest of the family that I don't normally get to see. Mainly Lora and her kids, got new pic's of her new son. I even got to see Maria and her family in FL. Even though they now live here in San Diego again I don't consider it to be a waste of time since I was able to see the FL that Beau had grown up in. I even got to see Uncle Denny and his son, my cousin, Barry. Wow I took 250 photo on this trip I can't wait till I have to shuffle through the photo's and try to remember what the heck am I looking at.

I was listening to NPR on my way home from work today and heard a quote that annoyed me to no end. What the reporter was trying to accomplish was to listen to voices on both sides of the line of the Pres. Race in a particular state to show that victory may not be a shoe in for either Kerry or Bush. The first voice expressed my point of view that yes Bush is a little less then Mediocre, and though I agree with removing Saddam from power I don't agree with how it was done. I don't agree with the pretense that was used to accomplish this. Yes there were Chemical weapons found after the invasion the latest find was actually rigged in an ambush configuration, just think that could have been in Israel. We even have intel that reveals Iraq was in process of buying material from the French through a third party country. However thinking that Iraq was going to roll over and take being invaded, rebuffing colonialism is part of their nationalism, and that we would get any help from the common people after the celebrations subsided and life went on was a fantasy. The normal everyday Joe was use to having someone else handle the trash, so when something blew up it was blamed on the occupying forces inability to protect. So all this in place when reality and fantasy met head on and the exit plan that this administration hoped on bit the dust, they showed they didn't have a plan B. That meant that more people had to be mobilized, some from other forward deployed positions. Some groups had to be extended, some groups have been in theatre for greater than a year. This will affect recruitment numbers for years to come, which brings up other sore topics have nothing to do with this string of thought. All this put aside to fire Bush before we finish the task that we the people had put into motion could worse, far reaching consequences than before the invasion. Right or wrong the Iraq must have our support until they have a workable government and can police themselves. There is no reset button here if we pull out now they will still be without a central government and therefore susceptible to rebellion for decades, much like the nations in Africa. Also without Military protection Iran could walk right in like Iraq did to Kuwait in the early part of the Nineties and the world would be short of an Iraq. All this means more deployments to the same armpit more often in order to keep the peace and maintain balance.
Kerry doesn't have a position. All I've heard promised was that he would get our troops out of Iraq. He promises to upgrade the military, and so on and so forth but from what I have seen he's a flip flopper. I would have more comfortable in McCain ran again, but Republicans wouldn't back him if he was trying fire a republican. Even Wes Clarke would be better, scary as he seemed his image was closer to the people than rest of the democrats candidates. The Opposing quote against Bush just wanted people to vote to get Bush out of office. It seemed no thought of the aforementioned points were considered. Also he mentioned that lives were mentioned that lives were wasted in Iraq. I couldn't agree with that either, it showed a lack of knowledge international affairs. What we did was free a country from a tyrannical regime. What we are doing is keeping the larger nation of Iran from taking the Al Arab if not all of Iraq from said nation. The Al Arab is the only inlet of goods into Iraq. It was the reason for the Iraq - Iran war. Taking Saddam out of powered could stabilize the Arabic world if we play this transition properly. Also what was revealed, and probably why this transition is taking so long is the fact that none of the Government know how to be democratic. It was as foreign to them as the Arabic language is to us.
I tried to find the link to this report but I couldn't. But in the end these two drastic view point shows:
A) If the only knowledge of the issue you know is what your being fed by
CNN, ABC, and FOX, you need to do more studying. Pick up the Economist,
Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs. Star looking for Information in the
back of the rack.

B) Just because people can vote doesn't mean they should. An ignorant voter
could be as dangerous as an infant with a .44 magnum.

Wow what a ride. I wasn't really expecting to ride that far. Mostly because I was experiencing some chafing from a bad idea. I thought that if I shaved the hair under my ball sack it would relieve some of the discomfort of sitting sitting on a bike seat. Unfortunately that would mean I have to shave down there or the stubble would make life worse. All that put aside though it actually doesn't hurt while I'm in the saddle, only when I walk. So I started from NASSCO thinking that I would go to Santa Fe Station downtown and ride the trolley the rest of the way home. Not even half way there how ever though I figuer that it would be a bit crowded on the trolley at Santa Fe, not alot of room maybe for a bike, so I should go to Old Town instead. No Problem I've ridden that far before. The only problem is CalTran in it's ineptitude has a road construction project that has completely obliterated the bike lane on the Pacific Highway just outside of M.C.R.D. . I've been down that road 100 yds from the last entrance to the highway the trail disappears and traffic is diverted to share the two lanes, as if a bike that travels 20mph could compete with the rest of vehicular traffic that travels 70. The speed limit there is 50 so I know the slowest vehicle is at least 10 mph over, but even at fifty that isn't the best way to survive for another day to take the chance. So I had to find another way around. There is one but it requires me to get off my bike and walk on a platform that fit either me or my bike not both. Got to love Caltran for spending Millions of Dollars to support vehicle traffic that will in the end cost billions of dollars to clean up after, and completely forget about cyclist that may use that same venue.
At Old Town I got on the trolley and was going to the end of the line but instead decided to stop at Fashion Valley on the way back. Beats me why I changed my mind but I along a path I didn't even know existed and came out Mission Valley center, I love when I discover new stuff.
At Mission Valley Center I got into my mind that it would be a good thing to get my bike tuned. I mean it's been sitting on Leona's porch for over a year so it could use a least a little cleaning. When a returned after the perscribed two Hours my bike was still on the rack so I figured that it a lot more fucked up then I thought. Turned out it was just that my back rim has a flat spot so he had to compensate on the brakes. So Eventually I'm going to need a new back rim. On the way home my rims started to make a funny screeching noises. At first I thought it was the warped back wheel hitting the brake pad, no problem. As I progressed though I notice the noise was also coming from the front wheel also. Not only that but it was getting louder than the back one. Turns out though that the front wheel was put on crooked. I have quick releases so the fix was quick. Just loosen spin the tire, so it will center it self and tension again.

I was reading some pages on the web and was reminded of the lastest and greatest scandal to come from our foray into Iraq. The latest and greatest for those that may have been asleep for the last couple of weeks is the misbehavior of certain guards at the detention center. Yes I understand the stress that their under, extended in the arm pit of the world just a few weeks before they were to head home. That would piss me the fuck off . Too think that some arm chair warrior in charge didn't think far enough ahead to understand that arabs won't roll over just to let an invading force to come into their backyard and change thing around, didn't matter how good the intention may be. It is in their nationalism, if anyone ever bothered to check their history. But it doesn't excuse what they did. What they did was to undo any headway that they had made in the that little corner of the world and make it twice as difficult for the remainder of their watch as well as those that have to come relieve they're watch.
However do I feel that Sec Def should lose his job over it? Would you fire the CNO because a Commanding Officer runs his ship aground? The answer is no, the same as a wrongful shooting verdict doesn't mean the Chief of Police is going to lose his job. Instead what should happen is that all personnel involved should be punished, Jail time, then kicked out of the Military.

I was reading some pages on the web and was reminded of the lastest and greatest scandal to come from our foray into Iraq. The latest and greatest for those that may have been asleep for the last couple of weeks is the misbehavior of certain guards at the detention center. Yes I understand the stress that their under, extended in the arm pit of the world just a few weeks before they were to head home. That would piss me the fuck off . Too think that some arm chair warrior in charge didn't think far enough ahead to understand that arabs won't roll over just to let an invading force to come into their backyard and change thing around, didn't matter how good the intention may be. It is in their nationalism if anyone ever bothered to check their history. But it doesn't excuse what they did. What they did was to undo any headway that they had made in the that little corner of the world and make it twice as difficult for the remainder of their watch as well as those that have to come relieve they're watch.
However do I feel that Sec Def should lose his job over it? Would you fire the CNO because a Commanding Officer runs his ship aground? The answer is no, the same as a wrongful shooting verdict doesn't mean the Chief of Police is going to lose his job. Instead what should happen is that all personnel involved should be punished, Jail time, then kicked out of the Military.

I was reading some pages on the web and was reminded of the lastest and greatest scandal to come from our foray into Iraq. The latest and greatest for those that may have been asleep for the last couple of weeks is the misbehavior of certain guards at the detention center. Yes I understand the stress that their under, extended in the arm pit of the world just a few weeks before they were to head home. That would piss me the fuck off . Too think that some arm chair warrior in charge didn't think far enough ahead to understand that arabs won't roll over just to let an invading force to come into their backyard and change thing around, didn't matter how good the intention may be. It in their nationalism if anyone ever bothered to check their history. But it doesn't excuse what they did. What they did was to undo any headway that they had made in the that little corner of the world and make it twice as difficult for the remainder of their watch as well as those that have to come relieve they're watch.
However do I feel that Sec Def should lose his job over it? Would you fire the CNO because a Commanding Officer runs his ship aground? The answer is no, the same as a wrongful shooting verdict doesn't mean the Chief of Police is going to lose his job. Instead what should happen is that all personnel involved should be punished, Jail time, then kicked out of the Military.

I was reading some pages on the web and was reminded of the lastest and greatest scandal to come from our foray into Iraq. The latest and greatest for those that may have been asleep for the last couple of weeks is the misbehavior of certain guards at the detention center. Yes I understand the stress that their under, extended in the arm pit of the world just a few weeks before they were to head home. That would piss me the fuck off to no end. Too think that some arm chair warrior in charge didn't think far enough ahead to understand that arabs won't roll over just to let an invading force to come into their backyard and change thing around, didn't matter how good the intention may be. It in their nationalism if anyone ever bothered to check their history. But it doesn't excuse what they did. What they did was to undo any headway that they had made in the that little corner of the world and make it twice as difficult for the remainder of their watch as well as those that have to come relieve they're watch.
However do I feel that Sec Def should lose his job over it? Would you fire the CNO because a Commanding Officer runs his ship aground? The answer is no, the same as a wrongful shooting verdict doesn't mean the Chief of Police is going to lose his job. Instead what should happen is that all personnel involved should be punished, Jail time, then kicked out of the Military.

Latest and Greatest beer is

3lb light malt extract
3lb wheat malt extract
8 oz heather tips
2 oz cascade hops
Edinburg yeast.
5 gl of filtered water

I also used some grain for steeping, but since I'm new to the grain game I can't remember what I used. I saw heather tips and wonder how that would affect the brew. The man behind the counter recommended I cut back on my bittering agent because it may overcome the subtle flavors of the heather tips. What I did was increased the amount of Heather tips and allowed them to boil for an hour before adding the hops. I think the hop flavor may overcome the heather tips. I think before I try this again I'll try to make a tea of the gruit before adding it to the beer.

I first used edinburgh ale yeast for my last batch. It was more or less an accident I bought American Hefeweizen Yeast but left it out so long that it was flat when it came to use it. So I had to run to the brew shop to pick up some more yeast. Unfortunately they didn't have American Hefeweizen so I had to get Edinburgh instead. I wasn't sure it was going to work out but I broke the case out for out Cinco de Mayo BBQ Fri. , Siete de Mayo this year, and it tasted just fine. A little flat but other than that not bad at all.

Back from the longest week in memory. It started on Monday of last week, about 30 Mar 2004. All week long was force protection week. Then on Friday, just in time sweepers for liberty we got underway till this thursday. Not that it was all bad, if we had stayed in port I would have had duty on Saturday. On the way out made our attempt to qualify for our day navigation. We did great out of the harbor but once we cleared the line of demarkation the OS's got sloppy.

Today was a mellow day. I finally got my income tax done, and I can expect a little over 12,000 back as a refund. That means 1,200 back to the church. I know it isn't really necesary to give money back to the church, any respectable cause will do. However I don't have any other charity in my back pocket worthy of such a prize, and this 1,200 will go a long way towards the new Rock complex. I feel that this central christian training center is the best plan so far. I just hope that Satan doesn't put in his yeast into the mix too soon. I know eventually it will happen, for all good things are but for a season, good meaning any thing created by God that is. The rest of the money I'll use to pay off bills, invest, and then spend.
After income taxes I went to my car and suprise suprise the damn hing wouldn't start. I had to bring out the jumper pack, which by the way is only at 50%. So now I'll have to find the charging cable for it before the next episode, which happens often.
I was going to head to Burge King, which is just on the other side of the complex, to eat lunch but since I had to jump my car I had to find some place farther away since now I probably don't have enough charge in the jumper pack to light an LED. So off I went reviewing in my mind as I hit the freeway where to go to eat, as I listened to Drew Carey's audio book. I don't often listen to audio books, correct that I've NEVER listened to audio book before. But this was extremely funny and honest, as he says in the book honest is the only way for him to be. I think he would be a fun guy to hang out with, he likes beer, and he doesn't pull punches, to good combonation to have in a pal. His book is Dirty Jokes and Beer: a book for the unrefined. The one thing that we may have to talk about is his walk with God. My thinking is that he may have been raised in a very strict home and was not taught to have a relation with God when he was taught the Law of God. Some families seem to get stuck in the rules and regulations when teaching the Bible to kids. If kids were taught even the smallest bit of psalms, not just the word but what they mean, they would know that it was a book of love song from God to us, just as they were love songs from David to the Lord.
As I listened to his tape I eventually ended at UTC. After eating a Burger King there, imagine 22 eateries in UTC and I choose Burger King, and I headed off to browse. Actually I headed off to Hops, it's a brew pub that's been at UTC for at least 5 years. I don't like to go to UTC without paying it a visit It is kind of like the early day of Starbucks, I couldn't pass up a Starbucks that I had discovered, but now that they're just about everywhere stop in for a coffee isn't as fun. Hop's it seems needs a face lift. They also need a new brew master, if the brew master doesn't have enough time to work for Hop's AND Karl Straus then he should quit one or the other. It show in the variety of beer that they have, as well as amount of the selections that are out.

Brew is ready for bottling, I think the next time I'll go back to lead hops. So far this pellet stuff doesn't give me the taste I like.

OG:1.068
FG: 1.020

While I was making coffee today I noticed something that may cause my beer to taste a bit wierd. My Brita filter needed replacement, and while I was replacing it I remember how slowly water is filtered through the filter compared to the speed at which I placed 1.5 gal of water into the brew pot and 3 GL into the cooling bucket. That's right I didn't use filter water this time I used straight tap water. I've not had tap water straight in my neighborhood so I don't quite know what flavors into the beer but I'm going to find out. I also tried using a wort cooler last night but I don't think it worked the way I wanted it to. It's about ten foot of plastic hose that I ran through a pot of cold tap water. Maybe I should have tried to find copper piping that would fit my plastic hose, or maybe just get another 5 gl bucket to dip the hose into.
While I'm plugging in memories into my external hard drive I went to Oggi's Saturday for a pizza and a beer. I didn't plan it that way I was actually planning on going to Costco to buy something I could heat up and eat at the apartment. However as I drove around on auto pilot I ended up at Navy Fed. So, since I was there I drew out some money. Since now I had the cash in hand I might as well go out to eat, and since I was in the mood for pizza I might as well go to Oggi's for a beer. As it turned out all this must have been guided by God. For what purpose I still don't know. While I was waiting on my pizza some guy that looked familiar sat down next to me. Since I couldn't place him I ignored him, you wouldn't know how often this happens. Then opprotunity knocked, while watching a boxing match one of the fighters did a standing 8 count. This happens alot in boxing, a fighter at about the sixth round gets tired so grads the rope and hangs on while the ref. counts to eight. When the ref. gets to eight the boxer lets go and continues boxing. This time though instead the boxer took a knee two second later, probably thinking the counting would start over, but since he didn't throw any punches between the time he grabbed the ropes and then took a knee it counted as the same count so he was out. He was pissed at the ref. but that didn't change anything all his bitchin' and bellyaching couldn't change the call anymore than it could change the course of a river. I saw the similarities as to those of knuckleheads that would be U/A for 29 days and come back, and jump ship again before the capt. could see them for their first offence. So told the guy next to me and found out he was on the Mighty Mac from '94 till I think '97. While we were talking we both found out that one of his buddies was on the, "McFuckme," (I guess not all people were happy there) at the beginning of my arrival on board, and he didn't even know.

I guess this is batch #6, since I can't find a entry anywhere for that batch. I using American Hef again, this time I steep some grain for 30 minutes to add a little more flavor. True different yeast bring very different flavors but the background flavors after will still be the same. Actually I did a lot of changes in this batch, not really something I wanted to do when I started brewing but we'll see how things go. Like I said I don't really like making too many changes at one time. I want to appreciate what different components do to the beer. I used fuggle hops that have about 4.2% Acid, also give to the beer a earthy flavor. Next time I'll try Saaz which I'm told will give a fruitier flavor. Instead of dumping half in the wort at the beginning of the boil and the other half at the end of the boil I dumped the whole 2oz at the beginning and put about 2oz of orange peel at the end of the boil. I also used a different extract mix. I used my usual Amber, but mixed it with a pale wheat malt. The musslin bag I use to put my Hops in isn't holding as it should be I might have to go back to leaf type hops because it's easier to strain out that pellets.

To summize
American hef yeast
fuggle 4.2% alpha acid
Orange peels about 2 oz
amber extract
light wheat extract
OG=1.068

batch #4
belgium ale yeast
fuggle yeast
OG: 1.064
FG: 1.020
Used pellet type hops

best batch so far. tastes a bit like hef, smells delicious.

batch #4
belgium ale yeast
fuggle yeast
OG: 1.064
FG: 1.020
Used pellet type hops

Malty, thin sour, slight sediment, at least it isn't thickly sweet like last batch. Maybe next batch should have half amber, half light.

well today was a bit hectic. Like most days BMC tells me that my primary concern is one task and then hits me with a bunch of other tasks that need to be done right now. We recieved the red links of our STBD chain today. Didn't really get involved as I tried to busy myself on paperwork, hate the stuff actually, I would rather be on deck doing something than on my ass looking at something. The RHIB returned today. We had to park over at the boat yard at NAB because the STBD davit was down last underway. Then we had to keep it over there because the outdrive was stuck in the up drive. I remember the drive over there in the boat. We couldn't get above 5 knots but we left a rooster tail like we were cruising at 30. I couldn't help thinking of some poor schlep on the beach watching us from the beach as he had to come to terms with these two contradicting pieces of evidence. Masterson was suppose to pick it up. For some reason BMC had some sort woody for him and his family counsling appointments. He told me to send him and not to take any gruff about having to go to his meeting. Chief said he would be back long before he had to go to his appointment. So I told Masterson exactly what I was told to tell him. And as always when BMC tells me to tell someone something I told Masterson it was BMC speaking,'Thus sayeth BMC.' Chief dislikes when I do that but I think when the directive comes from above me or at least from someone else than me then that person should get credit, good or bad. Masterson out right said no, told me that he had to be out the door at 1015, at least thats what he told me he said. I thought he said 1115, so when I saw him in the in civilians at 1000 I asked him if I was correct in hearing that he needed to leave at 1115. I told him that if he needed to leave at 1115 than he was a little early to be in civvies. He didn't correct my error, in fact he basically ignored me. So when I saw BMC he asked me if I sent Masterson like he said to. I told my story and that I sent Rust and McCurdy instead. He wasn't to please with the story wanted to put him on paper. On and on went the day whenever I sat down to do paperwork I would either be called to the Quarterdeck or have to answer a call to the Quarterdeck for Walsh, who happened to be at school. Then it was lunch, right lunch we put the boat in the skids. We had SIMA over to watch the operation as he shop checked the davit. It seems that the job for the Hydraulic motor finally came in now that our avail is done. Didn't take long for him to know that the motor needed work. Firstly it takes 10 minutes for it to warm up, before that don't even bother move the controller because it won't do anything. It's like the cover plate is removed and the electric circuit is aligned for manual operation. However everything else indicates that it's otherwise. 10 minutes later when the fluid reaches optimal temprature the systems kick to life. Sounding like it were suddenly under load. The scary thing is while waiting for the ten minutes though Bryant kept demonstrating how useless the controler by moving it down 5 then up five, and Rust would cross between the davit arm and the deck edge even after I pointed that the arm wasn't latched in the up postition. In retrospect it could have a scary moment. If Bryant were demonstrating the controller when the hydraulic fluid actually reached the hoist he might snap the wire. Since it wasn't latched if Rust were walking in front of the arm might have been crushed.

Good weekend this week. I finally got to see Return of the King. It's a good thing that all the movies were finished at the same time that way the fire wasn't lost somewhere between the first and the last movie, like maybe Matrix. Transfered batch #4 to a secondary container for clearing. Heard that the Yeast on the bottom of the primary container could change the flavor of my beer. Asked the staff at Ballast point whether it was fact or fiction, he agreed that it was true. So here goes nothing. I'm also trying to use a hop bag because I'm sick and tired of the slow messy task of filter the hops out of my wort when starting brewing.

batch 5
3 lb pale unhopped malt extract
3 lb amber unhopped malt extract
belgium abbey ale yeast
12% alpha acid hop
OG: 1.070

Had a good day today. Went to church, last day at Marriot, next Sunday We'll be back at SDSU. Todays sermon was about dating and Marriage. Miles introduced a couple points that I thought Melissa should hear so I got the Disk of the sermon. It'll give me a reason to head over to her apartment and visit her and Dominic.
After church I headed over to Oggi's for a beer or two, or four, and watch the Colts lose to the Patriots. I actually wanted the Colts to win, but that isn't how it went. I got there at the half and the colts were down 15 to 3. When they got back to playing the Colts made a good push and made their only TD in the entire game. It was petty pathetic actually after last weeks performance when opposing team couldn't do anything to stop the colts offence. When they tried to blitz the Colts would adjust their play and still make the first down. This week however they were on the dirty side of the stick, there wasn't anything they could do to make more than a yard or two. Toward the end Manning kept getting caught behind his line, rule of thumb if it takes more than 3 seconds to get rid of the ball then get rid of it. I however think it would be better if he just ran with it.
After the disappointment that the colts will have to wait another year, or 20, to get to the superbowl I was off again. I had to get to Ballast point brewery I had to get some supplies, malt, hops, and yeast to make some somemore beer. I thought about buying another carboy because a freind of mine changes his beer out to another container when the airlock's bubbling slow to about 1 bubble every 30 seconds. He says he does it to help clarify the brew, and so the flavor won't be affected by the yeast that fall to the bottom as they floculate, that means flock together and fall to the bottom of the carboy. The staff at the brew supply store agreed. Of course he said he doesn't bother when working with Hef, which is suppose to be cloudy, or Stout, which is opaque anyway. I was going to buy American Hefewiezen again and add steeping malt. one of the staff said that I should try a light malt if I'm going to add steeping malt. Said something about how the darker color would hide the colors brought on by the steeping grains.
On the way home I had to stop off at Ralphs to pick up some groceries for my dinner. I always wanted to make butterfly chicken since I saw Alton Brown cook it on Food Network before I left for 'pac. I was suprised to actually accomplish it with out screwing it up to much. I had to put the chicken back into the oven when I noticed that it was a little pink on the bottom but that was about it. I didn't try the au jus thouh but maybe next week.

batch #4
belgium ale yeast
fuggle yeast
OG: 1.064

Used pellet type hops

Batch # 3
American Hef
OG= 1.084
FG= 1.030
Attenuation = 64.2

Somewhat Malty, but didn't wait. I bottled anyway, someday I've got to learn a little patience. Tomorow, maybe, I hope to get another carboy. I have a freind at work that brews, that says he siphons the beer out into another container for secondary fermentation. Says that having the beer sit on the scum that results from the many dead bodies of yeast that have floculated effects the flavor.

OG=1.084
FG=1.038
Beer should be ready to bottle by next week. Can't wait for it to finish so I can try other combos and see how they work out.

What a fun duty day. I had the first watch, pier three tower watch that is. spent it with an OS2, spent most of the watch talking. We talked about anything and everything. We talked about OP's, his boss. My belief in God and his son Jesus that was sent to earth to save us from our sins because our sins had become so great that the stand in sacrafices could no longer cover the foulness of our sins. Also people can be judged by their hearts if they had never heard of God or Jesus but once they get word that their may be a God out there that created the world and came to earth as a man to die for our sins, and does not find out if this is indeed and instead continues to go about his life as he has always done. I agree that no matter who he asks the answer will be jaded with bias. For instance I'm bias to the side of Christianity. I have taken the belief structure and broken it down to it's component parts and found it to be more believable then other religions, even darwinism. It is up to each person to come to that decision for his or her self.
Our reliefs were a little late. It was suppose to be from the Shiloh, but since the Bunker Hill had to stand by when they didn't make it by 1237. When I got back to the ship I asked Senior Chief I could go to McD since chow had secured 7 minutes ago and since no one had informed them that we were going to be late they didn't save any food. Of course I'm not going to complain about missing mess decks food. On my way out I noticed the XO and CHENG looking over the side. I briefly went over to see what they were looking at. It appears that we had a small spill from one of the overboard discharge. I quickly slinked out before they had us take the punt down and have us swab up the oily sheen.

In the middle of making a roast. First one since I was in a kid and I must have forgotten how long it takes. I'm using the Alton Brown technique. I started it the roast at 1730 it is now 3 hours and 29 minutes later and I'm still waiting for it to finish. At the moment I'm waiting for the roast to cool below 118 degrees Fahrenheit then I'm going to put it back into the oven for 15 minutes to brown and crust. I'll have to remember to start at 1500 if I want to do anything in the evening other than surf the net and watch TV.

I finally got around to paying my registration on my car. It didn't cost as much as I thought it. I thought it would cost me $356.00 but since I'm legally a resident of Nevada. Of course I couldn't tell you the address without looking up my parents address but I'm claiming their house as my home of records.