Russell's First Post!

Hello from half way across the world. Things are going well out here, we
are officially out to sea and the weather could not be worse. I feel
like a ball rolling around in that little bingo wheel most of the time,
but I've heard that the typhoons should break up soon and I'm looking
forward to some smooth sailing. Ship life is much like I remember it,
duty every six days, sick call all day long (apparently people don't know
that they are only supposed to get sick during working hours), people
getting seasick, others hitting their heads of low hanging objects often
requiring sutures, if you don't know the ship is not really designed for
anyone over five and a half feet. We have taken the Marines on board so
everything I just mentioned has doubled. The line to get food is over an
hour long, and they don't even have the courtesy to hang one of those
signs like they do at Disneyland telling you 60 minutes from this point.
Oh ya, no Fast pass either. Obviously I can't say where I'm at or where
I'm going, so do this, close your eyes and picture in your head
someplace exotic and beautiful, clear skies and warm weather, a hammock
tied up under a palm tree, a local serving you a drink you can't even
pronounce. Now look a little more closely around your surroundings, you
won't see me there. Ok I know that was a little cheesy, but if you
closed you eyes like I said you aren't even reading the rest of this
anyway and you'll never know. That's about all for now, we miss you and
keep us in your thoughts, give Kristi a phone call every once in a
while, or send a text, or an email. If you think I've got it rough try
getting settled in a foreign country where you don't even speak the
language. Imagine the phone call to the cable company to get Internet
hooked up, and all of the other things you have to do (it would be to
long to talk about everything). Now try doing it all alone. She is truly
tougher and stronger than any of us will ever know. Talk to you soon.
Love you.

~Russell