Just sayin' hi!

It's been a while since I have just plain old written something here. Not that it's an excuse, but it was a 5-day project getting that Athens post done (if you haven't seen it, it was post-dated for the 17th. There are tons of pictures and you should check it out!!! Best day I've had onboard so far.

I have been onboard for just over 2 months now. Just under 6 months to go. I believe my sign off date is officially March 24th.

I am trying like crazy to sign Brian on for a voyage over Christmas time. There are only 2 voyages he can make based on his break from tour, coupled with the fact that no guests can come on the first time we dock in Ft. Lauderdale because we spend the whole day doing Coast Guard inspections. Not to mention that I can't technically sign anyone on because I haven't worked with the company for 6 months yet... so I need to make friends with someone who has single-berth priviledges and who will be here in December and who has been employed for a minimum of 6 months. It's a bit tricky. All of the singers qualify except their contracts end in November so they can't have December guests, and the new cast won't come onboard soon enough for me to ask one of them because I will need to have completed the paperwork prior. I think the Activity Manager, Kirsty, might be my best hope... but she is a stickler for following the rules, so blatantly asking her to break one may not be the best decision I have ever made...

THAT ASIDE,

I think I'm doing very well. I have more than my share of friends, I have figured out how to meet all of my job requirements while getting off the ship nearly in every port. I'm getting my tan and freckle quota. I am trying to be conscious about tan lines prior to the wedding, but at the same time... BEACHES ARE FUN!!!

Yesterday I went to Adaland, the largest waterpark in all of Turkey (another awesome crew tour). I didn't take any pictures, but once I steal some from Christian, you can expect a post-dated blog entry about that, too. It was absolutely incredible. I won't share the best part now, because without photos I cannot do it justice!

I do get a little home sick every now and then - which is really quite normal. I just miss how easy things can be at home... like RUNNING ERRANDS. I can get a tour bus to the Acropolis easier than I can buy pantyhose *sigh*.

I got a postcard from my mom a few days ago - that was really nice. I always feel special when the mail list comes out and my name is on it. :D

Currently we are in OPP Level 2... only a few GI cases away from Red Code. I am NOT looking forward to this whatsoever. Poor Iain was demoted today to forced hand sanitization. He literally has to stand at the entrance to the shops with a squeezy bottle full of purell stuff and force guests to sanitize before entering the gift shop area. If guests refuse, they are denied admittance. Regular cruisers know what all of these extra precautions mean and ask the crew about it all of the time. We are not, however, allowed to say anything about it to prevent hysteria.

All in all, I really like it here. I like the people, the job, and being an officer :D

Hope all is well at home. 6 months will fly right by!