How Do You Measure (Half) a Year?

The folks in RENT measured all five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes in many different ways: in day lights, sunsets, midnights, cups of coffe, inches, miles and laughter and strife.

As for me, I haven't counted up all of the miles traveled in the past two hundred sixty two thousand eight hundred minutes (but I'm sure someone on the NIMITZ has and it will be part of our "End of Cruise" deployment statistic). However, there are many ways in which we all look back and reflect on the past six months. Over the next few days, I'm going to spend some time (when I'm not furiously trying to finish up everything that I want done before Tiger Cruise) reflecting back on all the ways to measure this deployment.

But the first one came tonight when I sat down at the computer and read the Plan of the Day for tomorrow. Over the past week, we have all submitted to one person on the staff how many pounds we had each lost this deployment (10 for me, thank you very much!). He has tallied up the numbers and the total thus far (we still have 12 more days to go) has been ~170 pounds lost on the DESRON staff.

Using the staff-decided average of 1 Laufer = 120 pounds, it was declared tonight that "so far, the Little Beavers have lost 1.4 Laufers- how much more to go?"

So then, this guy Pete, who's lost 40 lbs said "So I lost 1/3 a Laufer!" Now the joke on staff is to report everything in weight in relation to "a Laufer."

Also, today was a milestone day- our LAST Sunday underway. Which meant, our last Sunday church and Sunday brunch. And believe you me, at brunch I ate as though it was my last brunch on earth. I finally slowed down after my 3rd full plate and I haven't been able to think about or get near food since (that was at noon!)

Alright well, off to sleep. I think I'm coming down with something. Most of the crew has been getting really sick and of course this would happen right before Tiger Cruise and Homecoming. I think it is because it is getting really cold. It's about 59 degrees where I stand watch and 62 degrees in my stateroom so I am continually at a perpetual state of freezing. My head hurts, my body aches and my throat is sore. I'm pretty sure that's a recipe for disaster so despite how busy I am, I think it is most important to try and get some sleep.

Til next time!