Over the past week we have been experiencing some computer bandwidth issues that limits us to very specific times we can use the internet; which is in the evenings. By the time the computers are available, so many people want to use them and usually it takes time for me to get my thoughts together and when the time is limited....I just can't write. So anyway...all excuse aside...I'm back!

This past week has been a busy one. After arriving here in the La Republica de Dominicana or the Dominican Republic (which by the way has so many beautiful people), we got started with getting our gear palletized and staged to get it to shore. On Monday after leaving Haiti, I actually slept until 8:52, which seemed like an eternity! There weren't any loud voices shouting over the 1MC saying 'so-and-so letter and number muster at the CASREC, for combat cargo' or 'BREAKFAST for the CREW!!!', nor were there 35 alarm clocks going off all at once. It was GREAT!!! The leadership here on the ship allowed most of the ship (I think some people had to work early) to sleep in after all the hard work done in Haiti. Would it be bad to say that I hope more days like that are ahead of us?? I'm looking forward to my next sleep in day.

On Tuesday the ceremonial group did the opening ceremony at the officer's club at the local Navy base. While they were there, the few of us that were left behind prepared to meet our gear at the base and load it into the truck that we'd be using all week. Well...an hour and a half after our boat was to take off, we finally boarded and headed for the shore. Upon arriving, we sat around for another half hour or so trying to get a ride to the base.....after hitching a ride, we finally get to the base and lo and behold, the ceremonial group had already grabbed the gear and loaded it onto the truck. DOH!!! Talk about a hard days work! Sheesh! I don't know if I can take too many of those hard work days! :) This week has been filled with lots of rehearsals. We are joining together with the brass group to form a very large show type band. And regardless of what some of the less excitied band members feel, I think it will be exciting for people to see all of the band members performing together....up until now, it has been totally separate so I am looking forward to the gigs that we perform as one group.

Today was my very first performance with the entire band since the pre-deployment party in Norfolk. That was nearly a month ago. It was a really great day today. We started out riding in a Helicopter to shore. It haven't ridden in a helo since I was in supply nearly 10 years ago. The best part was that the doors stayed open as we flew over the ship and water. It was quite funny to see the faces of those seated across from me. If you have ever seen a sky-diving video and have seen the faces of the divers....that's what their faces looked like today. It was awesome! I was a bit taken aback today as we rolled up to the site. The patient site doubled as our performance area. As we exited the van, we were right amongst the people waiting in the lines. It was not like that in Haiti. At no point did I feel threatened but it was a bit strange just walking through the group of folks....I don't why, it just was The overall length of today's performance was about 4 hours. We played 2 hours and the brass guys played just about the same. For the most part, I think that the patients really liked our music. At one point during the brass set a fine lady who was probably pushing 85 held up her little cane and proceeded to dance to the music. Her toothless smile brightened my day and made me wonder if when I get older if I will still dance to a tune that touches my heart. She was awesome! I snapped several pics of her...I'll be sure to share of course when I get home and can post pics. During some of our songs, we had people singing and clapping which was great because I didn't think we'd have a captive audience. Most of the people were there waiting to see a med tech or dental tech...so we lucked out. We had an audience who couldn't go anywhere...that is if they wanted to receive their medical treatment. SCORE!

The ride back to the ship was very interesting. We got back to the base from the performance site just fine. We were scheduled to take the helo back. There were a couple of groups in line to go before us...so we waited until our turn came up. After a little while, it started to drizzle....then it picked up to a steady rain. After waiting there for quite a while and just before our helo was to come get us...we were told that we needed to board the bus/van because we were taking the boat back and the helo wasn't coming. DANG!!!! We made our way over to the dock and boarded the boat headed for the ship. By then the slow drizzle had stopped to a trickle but by the time we started loading the boats...it was in an all out down pour! I don't know why but for a second I thought 'I don't want to get soaked' but then I thought 'suck it up goober'. So on the way back I was sort of shielded by the cover of the transit boat but not really. As the ship tilted and moved, water slowly made it's way to and through my pants and shirt. It was really cold and I was soaked! As we got near the ship and waited to board the life boats to take us to the top, I spotted the spouts on the side of the ship and they were gushing water. We got closer and closer to the boat and all I could think of was the ride at Six Flags. The one that you are seated in that gi-normous intertube with about 12 other people and it never fails, as the intertube twists and turns, someone gets slammed with the 'waterfall' water. Well it didn't happen exactly that way that is until we got into the lifeboat. We were about half way up the side of the ship and lo and behold, a young lady seated across from me got totally slammed with the 'waterfall' water for the rest of the way up. I thought I was wet...she looked like she fell into the ocean. Bless her heart. Thank goodness for ship laundry...Dinner was amazing tonight. I had a lobster tail, baked potato and a salad! Not back after a hard day's work!

Thanks for stopping by....
Keisha