Getting a new phone

Well its a good thing I got that extended warranty on my phone, i think the software is messed up on mine. Sometimes it works for a few minutes, sometimes it doesnt. Its really annoying. Getting a brand new one of the same kind I have this next Tuesday. Sorry for not being able to be in touch.

Cell phone down

So lately up here cell phone coverage to everyone has been messed up. Just letting yall know in case ya try to call. If its an emergency, call the house phone 907-220-0645

Me and my 50 cal partner

Here is me and Hutch.. Mount 5-2, port side :)

All i want for christmas is a Hoola hoop

Just bought tickets to come home for Christmas! I will be in Indianapolis Dec 15th at 11:30pm!

the Snow pictures!

First Snow!

Although there may be snow already on the tops of the mountains, yesterday was our first official snow, and boy did it! All through the evening and the night, about an inch and a half from what I had on the deck. Looks pretty nice up here now. I will post some pictures later today after work!

Sunday drive in the Mountains

I love having a Jeep! That thing can go anywhere! Here are just a few pictures from my little excursion today. More to come when we get more snow!

No go on the Patrol

So I just found out that I am not going to be going on patrol. They dont want to take any chances with me getting hurt out there. Plus now I will have time to finish up my flight physical so I can get out of here! Also here are a couple pictures of the pumpkin I carved!!

Finally some pictures of the House

So ive been living in here for a little while now, but just never got around to putting up pictures of the new house. So here are a few of my bedroom, the hall, family room and kitchen/dinning room. Also one of the outside looking at the house and then one looking out at the view from the front porch. Its nice having a house, even though I dont have as much extra money laying around anymore, its well worth it to have my own bedroom and house to relax in.

Minus one gallbladder

So here is a picture of the 4 little cuts they made to take out my gall bladder. They pulled it out through the belly button, that one still hurts a bit. Feeling a lot better since the surgery, but still got a little ways to go before I feel normal! So here it is

So whats New..

Well lets see, whats new? Still up here in Ketchikan, but now I finally have a house off base with my to roomies Jarvis and Ryan. Its really nice to have a house to relax at. I finally figured out what was wrong with me, and thus had my gallbladder out on Monday. Things are starting to heal up, and I even ate mcdonalds this morning without any problems! Its hurt though, specially since I cant have pain meds :(. So I will not be getting underway right away with the boat for this patrol, which is FINE with me! I also found out by the flight surgeon on base that I should be able to go aviation still!!! So things are starting to look like they are gonna go my way for a change, but not getting my hopes up to high. That is probably the best news that I have heard in a while actually. I loved being at the air station in Kodiak when I was there. So thats about it for now. I will post some pictures later today or tomorrow!

Just thought I would throw a few more pictures on here from some LE (law enforcement) boardings this patrol.

Basket drops

Well I am back on the boat after have being at the air station in Kodiak for a few weeks. It was a good experience so say the least, although this flight physical thing is giving me some problems. Got to do a lot of cool stuff and learned a TON. I will admit I did miss the boat just a little bit, I like being out on the sea, but I think I would like it more if it was on my own terms instead of being ordered out here for months on end. Only a few days untill we are back in Ketchikan though. I am moving into a 3 bedroom house with my two friends off the boat, so that'll be nice to not have to live in a dorm room with a roommate anymore, those things are pretty small. After that its time to come home for a little while and see the fam and friends! Here are some more pictures I found on my computer. Enjoy!

Looks like I am comming home!

Well I got my plane tickets to come home, I will be getting in the morning of the 25th! No need to come all the way down to the airport to get me, I reserved a rental car for the whole time i will be home. Cant wait to see yall!! Here is another picture!

Big fish

So this isnt exactly the biggest Halibut to be caught, these things can get up to several hundred pounds. I think mine was about 30, but it fought like it was a 100 pounder.

Law enforcement

Perhaps one of the best parts of being on a boat is the law enforcement side of things, jumping from a small boat onto a ship and climbing up and down huge rope ladders to get to the main deck not really knowing who or what your going to meet.

A New Post!

Well i know it has been a while, im not very good at this thing lately, but here are some pictures that I have taken lately. I am stationed up here in Kodiak at the air station trying to get used to working this midnight shift and also trying to catch as many day flights as I can. I am averaging about 6 hours of sleep and 1 hour of free time a day, but it is worth it. Im learning tons of stuff about aircraft and life at an air station. I think I am going to like doing this for a while! Well, here are the pictures, i'll try to get some from my flights when I can buy an adapter for my little SD card. Enjoy!

Tom

Kodiak.. Home of the real Bears

Well we sailed up to Kodiak finally. We were stuck in fog for 4 days! I never have seen that much fog in my life! It has been pretty nice up here so far, compared to the times I have been here in the winter. Tomorrow I have the day off so I plan on goin out around town and getting some video. I hope everyone is doing good back home. Say a prayer for my little bro who is in the hospital right now and just had his appendix out. And I could use a little one to so I can hopefully pass my flight physical to go aviation! Well on watchright now, not technically supposed to be on here!! Everyone take care!

Tom

Short one

Well the boat is comming along, still workin some long days trying to get her looking good again. Went to the Doc today and all my tests came back clear, so they don't think its a gallbladder issue, maybe just an infection in my stomach or something. At least that can be treated with medicine and not surgery. Next up getting a camea down into my stomach, that should be interesting, but hopefull. Hope everyone has a great 4th of July! I will try to get some more pictures on soon! Oh and for the family, there is a new movie in the works, filming has began.. This one should be good, expect another month or so and it will be done! Take care!!

Tom-

Ok, so its been a month!

Yeah it isprobably way over due for an update to this thing. So lets see, what is new, we are back into the swing of things in-port. We are working long and hard to get our ship fixed up and looking good for when the new Captain arrives in July. As for me, I am doing alright. Found out that I may have to get my gallbladder out, we can thank genetics for that one, and one bad reaction to vicoden probably didnt help either. So I have been on a Zero fat diet for the past few weeks, AKA im a forced Vegetarian... I love to eat meat, so for anyone who knows me, this isnt easy. On the upside, I am losing weight like it is my job, probably a good thing considering all that stinking boat food was putting on the pounds. Other than that, life is good, the weather has been pretty nice, and my time here in Alaska is slowly comming to a halt. Hopefully in a couple months I will be at Air Station Sitka, and 4 months after that driving across country to my AET A school. I hope everyone back home is good, and happy fathers day! I found some random pictures on my lap top that I dont think I have posted before. The first is of my favorite food in the entire world, SUSHI! Second is a picture of probably my best two friends up here, Eric on the left and Ryan on the right. And lastly of our c130's at Kodiak, the future plans I might be workin on. Enjoy!

Tom

Spring Patrol

Well I know it has been a long time since the last post, things have been very busy the past few months. We are currently finishing up spring patrol and are in Seattle for the time being doing T.A.C.T (Tailored Annual Cutter Training) which is where a bunch of Navy and coast guard guys come and grade us on how well we do our jobs. Also on top of that I have been mess cooking, so 15 hour work days have been my norm for the past month. Being in Seattle is nice though, I have missed seeing lots of people, buildings, and cars. Well here are some photos from the boat on our spring patrol. Talk to yall later!

Tom

Comming up

Well its been a while since the last post so I figured I would update. Finally feeling just about 100 percent now after the surgery and being sick off the meds, so thats good. This past week we have had this thing called CART going on the whole time. It is where we have Navy chiefs and officers come on board our boat and inspect Everything and also judge us on how well we do our drills. Needless to say we have been working 10 and 11 hour days all week trying to fix every little thing they point out. Today is the last day though and now we get time off untill we get underway for our spring patrol next wed. Hopefully this one wont be as bad, its going to be a little warmer now and much more sunlight! The plan is that we get underway next wed and we will be out on the Bering untill the first week of May, then it is straight down to Seattle for a week of Fire fighting school, and then sail to the Navy base in Everett, WA for two weeks of drills and inspections. Estimated day back to Ketchikan is June 1st. It is going to be a long and busy couple of months, but hopefully some of it will be fun. I am sure I will get plenty of new pictures! Stand-by for the next post sometime!

Tom

Its been cold

So, sorry there haven't been to many pictures lately, after the surgery and getting sick off the meds I just reallly haven't taken that many. But here are a couple from a quick hike I took out at settlers cove, if ya look back in earlier posts you can see what the stream looks like in spring compared to winter. Starting to feel a lot better now so I will try to get out and take my camera along with me. Few more weeks and we will be setting out on the next patrol for 26 days, then down to Seattle for 3 weeks! Thats it for now, take care!

Tom

the JEEP

She has a few flaws and quirks here and there, but she is mine and she runs like a champ!

My Barracks room..

So here is where I live, I currently do not have a roommate, and I hope it stays that way! Nice little setup I have going on in here.

Achieving new heights in snowboarding

So this past port call in Juneau we went snowboarding. After two ski lifts and a two hour hike to the summit of the mountain I looked out and saw nothing but the ocean and surrounding mountains. Went up to the edge where there was a 20 foot drop into a huge treeless mountain face and jumped.. good times.. Here are the pictures