Living in Paris

Yay!!!!! I get to move to Paris, France. Let the European adventures begin!

I am in AFRICA!!!!!

 Lately my head has been spinning with life decisions. I decided to stay with Schlumberger and work internationally. So last week I got an email and it said can you come to Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Before I could even think about it, I said yes. Next thing you know I have a doctors appointment that day to get vaccinated for Yellow Fever and some other diseases. I had to take two online courses on Ebola and Malaria. The next day I spent packing and mentally preparing for Africa. I was nervous at first, mostly because I would be traveling alone overseas to a place that has a dangerous reputation.

Equatorial Guinea is the is a small volcanic island off  the west central coast of Africa.

 

 

 

My flight from Houston connects in Paris, France to Douala, Cameroon to Molabo, Equatorial Guinea. In Houston we had mechanical issues and I end up getting stuck in Paris. Which is the best place to get stuck in! I spent the day enjoying French culture, wine and the beautiful city. I had wine and a chocolat croissant under the sparkling Eiffel Tower! The next morning I get to the airport and start my travels to Africa. When I arrive in Africa the airport is a little scary. They are moving fast yelling at you for your vaccination records and taking everyone's temperature. They are taking temperatures because the ebola outbreak, and quarantining those who are sick.  You are then fingerprinted and photo is taken before they will let you in the country. It almost felt as if you were getting booked into prison. When I got my bags and exited the airport all I see is a huge beautiful mountain and the color green everywhere. It is so big and beautiful here. The trees are just bigger and the sky is just so blue. I get into my Schlumberger car and my manager meets me at the airport. I have a nice dinner and the hotel is beautiful. There is a huge party going on and everyone is just dancing drinking and having a blast.  The next morning I sleep in get up and go to the beautiful pool. The pool has the nicest bar and lots of tropical birds flying around. You can see the mountain in the background and it was so much fun. I am looking forward to spending some time in E.G. I really want to check out the endangered monkeys and sea turtles. I want to also get some sand from the black sand beaches.

E.G. is home to so many endangered species of monkeys.

Sea Turtles on the black sand beaches

I am going offshore as a data engineer for the first time. I wake up early and head to the airport/heliport. I am actually headed to the Titanium Explorer. The rig I worked on when I was brand new. So its going to be cool to see some of the people that I made friends with almost two years ago. The ship looks different. I see some familiar faces. Its like deja vu and little weird at first. Like how in the hell did I end up back on this rig. The job is hard and stressful at times but I am still on a high of being in Africa and spending the day in Paris that I can't complain. This morning  I received a call from one of the guys on the rig. "Whales!! Starboard Side!!" I have never jumped up so quickly! There was a pod of whales. Little ones too. Seeing humpback whales in real life is pretty spectacular. I love stuff like this! I love being able to see so much of the world. I don't think I could ever stop traveling.

 

I am so happy to get my first African stamp on my passport and it will definitely not be the last. 

When I started this blog I named the address inthemiddleofthegulfofmexico.blogspot.com, well I have now worked in the North Atlantic, Canada and The Gulf of Guinea in Africa. I definitely wasn't thinking ahead when I chose the name.

Love and Miss you all!

New Offshore Adventures Aboard the Discoverer Spirit

I have had a lot of time off and a lot of training in the past four months. Its time to get back to work. I am currently on the Discoverer Spirit in the Gulf of Mexico. I traveled to New Orleans Sunday night and came out to the rig Monday morning. My helicopter ride was amazing. The chopper was  brand new with leather seats and head rests. I had so much leg room I felt like a million bucks traveling to work. We took of when it was still dark and landed as the sun was rising. It feels so good to be out surrounded by the beautiful water. The Gulf is so much different than the North Atlantic. They both have their own beautiful attributes. The weather has been great! Cool nights and sunny days. I really like the crew I am working with they are very experienced so I have the opportunity to learn a lot.

I will be out here for three to four weeks. Most likely four and hopefully three. Today I get to go explore the  ROV unit. The ROV is the robot that is on the sea floor. There are cool cameras and lights so you get to see what is down there at around 4000 ft. We saw an eel that had the face of like a catfish. Below 3000ft the ocean is a mysterious place. The guys said... “once you get below 3000 ft. you see some weird prehistoric looking shit”. They will call me if they see anything cool, I really want to see this five gill shark they say creeps around. I am on my second shift out here and I am already making lots of friends. This industry gives you the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn so much. Deep water drilling uses cutting edge technology. It is the best of the best. So I am thankful that I get to be a part of such a cool operation. I also get to learn everything hands on. It also helps being a friendly girl thats eager to learn because everyone wants to teach me stuff. 

I also will be thankful for when I go home! I need to settle in a nice place near the water and buy a paddle board. I love the ocean so much. Even though Galveston isn’t the most pristine of all beaches. It is the closest to my base and my best option for some salt water fun! It is also a cruise port so that means I will be going on lots of last minute cruises. I am really excited about that!

Love and miss you all! 

P.S. 

I can iMessage from 12pm-Midnight after that I am sleeping so don’t call me I will call you :) 

Love, 

Hillary 

The Voice

I arrived on the Stena Carron drill ship yesterday. I really was excited to come back. I actually like this ship and like making $$$$. I am working days now. Which is good for my sleeping schedule but kinda bad for my social life. I made friends with the night crew and day crew is like a totally different world. All new people.

It is COOOOOLLLLLLDDDDDD. Like literally freezing. Like guys who work out side have frost on their face. It was snowing today, It was so beautiful. It is dark and scary though even in the day. The North Atlantic is just a scary ocean.

Anyways I am working with a nice guy he is from Serbia and lives in Vancouver. I love meeting new people from everywhere. Well he went to lunch and the drill floor calls me. Hey geo we need one of you to come to the toolbox talk so I tell him, “Oh I’m sorry, Alek just left the unit for lunch and we need one person in the unit at all times to monitor”. He tells me to page him. I don’t even no how to use the ships intercom, because I normally use the radio that responds to the drill floor. The most I say is copy that, or please repeat. Anyways, I dial the paging number and say my page, “Alek please call the mudlogging unit, at 4028, Alek please call mudlogging unit 4028”. I take a breath then hear my announcement It sounds good I didn’t mess it up. Then I hear the page go off again of whistling, hooting and hollering. These guys did that right after I spoke. It was so embarrassing.

I go to dinner tonight and this guy sits next to me, he says, “Hi I’m Roger”. I smile and respond, “Hi I’m Hillary”. He looks at me and says, “ohhhhhhh you are the VOICE”.

Anyways, that was my day.

Also on a side note,
Dear Scottish men,
I can’ tell if you are about to punch each other out, break out in to laughter or what. YOU guys are always yelling at each other. I also can’t understand a damn word you are saying and it doesn’t help that you all talk at the same time.
Sincerely,
Your Dallas Doll (what one of the Scottish guys calls me)

Life in the North Atlantic

I arrived aboard the Stena Carron Drill Ship Wednesday October 2nd. Upon arrival I received an in depth briefing of the ship. It is huge. The ship has like 11 levels and is just MASSIVE. The galley looks more like a restaurant than a cafeteria. The lounges and gyms are AWESOME. The amenities are great on the ship but its hard when you don't know ANYONE. I was very tired and went straight to bed my first night.

This is what it looks like outside IM SOOOO SERIOUS! The sea here just looks mean and unforgiving. 

The first two days I didn't really talk to anyone. It kind of seemed like when I walked into a room the party was over and everyone went back to work. Like I think being a girl is just so much harder out here. I am such a people person I need to be talking to people and making friends or I will go crazy. Every time I go into the break room people just leave. I was thinking the scottish guys hated me or something. I told my self maybe I should go in and tell a sexist, racist inappropriate joke to break the ice.

The Canadian wellsite geologist is really nice to me and has a really laid back personality. He sits with me at lunch and tells me all his travel story's so its nice to know someone and have conversation.

Today we had to move 46, 30 lb buckets of samples up HUGE flights of stairs across the rig. Thank god the other guys I work with stayed after their 12 hour shift to help. Great teamwork out here. I really like them. I was literally dying. I seriously didn't think I was going to make it. The boats rocking back and forth its raining and cold. IM EXHAUSTED!!!!!! Then out of nowhere this Scottish guy comes and he starts carrying like 2 buckets of samples at a time! He's like so strong and helping me. I WAS LIKE YESSSSSS MY HERO! Then his scottish friends start helping because he is. Then they all are being nice to me! So the Scottish guys don't hate me! Well now I have to take all the buckets and wrap them and ship them. I have a long night ahead of me. Love and miss you all.

Hillary

Commuting to St. Johns, The Worst Traveling Experience of My LIFE!!!!!

Thursday morning I wake up double check that I have packed everything and wait for my driver to take me to the airport. I arrive at the airport and wait in line to check my baggage. I finally go to check in and the computer kiosk check in system says "reservation not found". So I have to go wait in a completely different line. Tick Tock Tick Tock. I finally get to the ticket agent 30 minutes later an hour and 10 min before my flight. She is typing making zero eye contact then finally looks at me and smiles. Oh Miss Fort, your reservation is cancelled. My company booked my flight from Dallas to Houston to Newark to St. Johns. I was in Houston so they told me Its fine just skip the Dallas leg so we don't have to rebook. Well that cancelled my reservation. I call the guy who books the travel he texts me back "out of office sorry call BCD travel". I wait on hold trying to call my agency. The agent says well there's a problem. Its now less than an hour before your flight departs and Canada is considered international ( I was thinking well its a different country so yeah I would think so). Then I was like ok whens the next flight?
Agent: "well... we are completely booked"
.....FML
Agent:" I can put you on standby". As an ex flight attendant. Flying standby is one of the worst experiences when all the flights are booked. Its basically running around the airport like a chicken with its head cut off. Looking completely insane.  So I get on the standby list. I wait an hour or so for the next flight. I get the LAST SEAT. I'm like this is not so bad. I'm one lucky gal!

I land in Newark at 5:50pm we were delayed in sky for landing space. My flight leaves to St. Johns at 6:11. I am of course sitting in the very back. I finally get off run like a crazy person all the way to the other side of the damn airport and make my flight. I get on the plane huffing and puffing and sit next to a what you would think is a charming young man.
We talk he has a cute Boston accent. He's an engineer. He keeps asking the flight attendants for drinks and I thought he was joking bc we haven't even taken off yet. Well we get in the air and he orders some wine. Then another. Then another. He then buys me a drink and is like come on you have had a horrible travel day. So I accept the offer. Don't get me wrong he didn't really have to twist my arm to get me to drink a glass of wine. So we chat the flight is full. People all around. Its a 3 hour flight. He starts to get louder and louder. Laugh more and be almost touchy with me. I'm thinking what the F$%^?? I can attract creeps at any altitude, longitude or latitude. Then I am not making this up. He "whispers" (a whisper that can be heard by the 15-25 surrounding passengers. "HEEEEYYYY COMMMEE HAVEEE SEXXX WITh ME IN THE BATHROOM"". He gets up and stumbles winking and walking away. Everyone on the plane looks at me. Im like, "Hey I don't know this guy!! I have never met him before in my life." So he is in the bathroom for a long time and I look back the flight attendant is out side the door. I'm thinking the disgusting worst. And I am going to have to sit by this pig the rest of the flight. Then he opens the door smoke trailing behind him. The flight attendant follows him and is like "sir ....sir you cannot be smoking in the bathroom". This guy is like running to his seat. I am on the Aisle he is in the middle I have to get up to let him in. He stands next to me like I'm with him and his girlfriend. He looks at the flight attendant and yells I wasn't smoking I went in there and it was filled with smoke. He looks at me again like I should be defending him or something. I announce once again I have never met this guy in my life. The guy looks at me like, "you bitch how could you". We take our seat as he gets in he spills his last glass of wine allllll over me. Then he trys to clean it up. I was like hey PAWS OFF I got this. The rest of the flight was awkward.

We get to St. Johns I just want to get off the plane. I leave go through customs go to get my bag. And wait. And wait..... everybody gets their bags. EXCEPT ME. All of my equipment for my morning flight offshore is in my bag. This is the worst case scenario when traveling offshore. I fill out the claim then head to immigration for my work permit. The border guy is like where is your packet. I give him my documents I have received and then he's like noooo I need your packet. I have no idea what this packet is. He says we can legally send you back to the US for this. ( In my mind I'm like please do). I am being interrogated and Its like I have no energy left I don't care if I work here or if I don't. Finally after an hour or so of him making phone calls he is like how would you like to pay for your permit?
Another thing my company failed to mention. I haven't got offshore pay in so long and didn't get paid till the next day. I didn't have the money to pay for it. They take all my identification and say come downtown to immigrations in the am pay the money get your passport and IDs. So I leave legally not allowed in Canada. Go to the hotel and my companies credit card is declined. I AM RAGING NOW. My company makes 97 billion dollars a year in profits. WTF??????????? I call my mom and dad has to pay for room. I go to sleep update my company on whats going on. In the AM I go to front desk they are like are you checking out and I say no I have to stay another night because airline lost my bag. They  say ohhh well we are booked full. So I have to go to another hotel and my companies card doesn't work their EITHER. IM LOSING IT AT THIS POINT.

Anyways hotel situation was never solved. I'm pissed how unorganized my company is. I finally get my bag. It has been HELLLLLLL.

I leave for my ship in the am. 2 hour chopper flight. I'm really nervous hope my bad luck ends here!

Till next time
Hillary

Training in the North Atlantic

I arrived in St. Johns, Newfoundland last week. I absolutely love it here. I have never met a nicer group of people. They are called “Newfies”. The men are complete gentleman and are good looking Irish guys! Its really easy getting used to being called Lovey and My Darling all day :). The women are so nice and friendly. You can’t meet a stranger here. I feel like I fit in the culture really well. The North Atlantic Ocean is breathtaking. The cliffs along the shore with waves crashing against them are breathtaking. The trees are greener, the sky is bluer. This Island off of Canada has such charm.

On my last ship I learned so much from the marine department. I miss hanging out with the guys out there. Most of my blogs have been about learning all about ships! Right now I am at the Marine Institute in Newfoundland. It is a college for mariners. So everything I was taught on the Titanium Explorer I am using now in my practical hands on training. I have 13 days of training out here and am being certified to meet Canadian cold water offshore survival  standards. I have learned to put out all types of fires, I have learned to escape a fire with compressed air to breath and a gas mask on, in the dark where I have to feel for my exit. I have learned to davit launch lifeboats and rafts. I basically have learned and physically practiced everything that could aid in survival from top to bottom, inside and out.

Yesterday we did our capsized underwater helicopter evacuation . I have done this in Houston to be certified in the gulf but here it was way more intense. We wore a huge flight suit and boots so it was harder to escape but I got it done. My nervousness has changed to confidence and adrenaline rush during this training. We did it over and over and over. They train you well here, the guys who teach the class are all mariners and ex military. They have the best leadership personalities and push you and make you confident in your abilities. There was a crash here a couple years ago and everyone but one person died. One girl got out but didn’t make it to the surface in time so they decided to put compressed air cartridges in the flight suit. We practiced over and over getting oxygen underwater. I was always scared to go scuba diving and now I know I can go after today.

Today was sea day! We used all of our survival training out in the ocean. Its like the final exam. We had to launch lifeboats, life rafts and do everything in real ocean conditions. We jumped off of the vessel into the cold Atlantic ocean. We had to climb this rope net along side the huge boat. We even had to float around out there in the freezing water waiting to get rescued! At first I was nervous about getting bit by a shark but the guys and instructors are so great and told me that they will let the shark get them before it gets me! One thing is for sure chivalry is NOT DEAD in Newfoundland!

I really wish I could have gone to school here. Don’t get me wrong I love SMU and learned so much, but this marine institute feels like home. Its all Newfoundland Navy guys teaching everything. These past five days I have learned so much and built up so much confidence. I really am glad I went through this course!
Pictures coming soon :)
Miss everyone!

28 Days... Starting Now

My time off was great. I got to see my family in Dallas for my moms birthday. I had so much fun hanging out with Kevin and my sisters. I got to see Laurens baby Addison. So sweet. I got to see Brandy and my future God Daughter. I am so proud of mommy to be brandy and I can't wait to spoil Brooklyn Monroe rotten. I went to Chicago to visit my South Side Sista Angie. Had a great time. GO CUBS !!! I also had some great pool and beach days with Rachy :)

I flew to New Orleans yesterday had some great vietnamese food and a dirty martini. It was great. I got to crew change at the same time as some of my friends so it was an awesome last day on land. The start of a very long day.....2:45am Wakeup call FML! A couple hour drive to the heliport. Then I was on the last flight so I was stuck at the heliport all day! I still get anxiety when I am on a helicopter. I guess I am just an airplane girl. I land at the rig around noon and take a shower unpack. I have to be on tour at 6pm so I only get a few hours asleep. Of course during the 4 hours I get the fire alarm goes off. 

So when a fire alarm goes off... you grab your life jacket and go to your assigned station immediately. Its not like a school fire drill.... since your on an oil rig and the alarm is going off it can be pretty scary. I went to sleep in my new pajamas that are silk pink and white stripes. I am on the top bunk all comfy. Then, BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEEP. I jump up and literally slip off the top bunk those PJs are slippery! Then fall down on the ground because I didn't estimate the height of the top bunk. I grab my life jacket and then I realize I don't want everyone to see my pink silky PJs. So then I have to decide what to do? Be the first to the lifeboat in pink PJs or change so I don't look absolutely ridiculous..... all I needed was a teddy bear to make the outfit more dramatic lol. 
I choose not to change and head to muster station.

Luckily as I'm leaving my room they announce to disregard the alarm. PHEW. I try to get at least another hour of sleep. 

I come to the unit. I brought goodies for everyone. Its amazing how something as small as sour patch kids can brighten someones day. Mike my data engineer is so nice. He brought Starbucks Blonde roast coffee and made me a pot and said here let me make you some coffee so your transition will be easier. Blonde Roast is described as soft and mellow, like my new blonde hair :P. 

Its nice seeing people... I am def. a people person and its like a little community out here! 

This hitch I am back in SPONGE MODE. I need to learn more!!!! I am going to complete all of my jobs task sheets (these task sheets display competency of my specific job). I also want to learn some more cool stuff in the marine dept. <3 those guys! #TeamMarine! Lots of interesting blogs to come this hitch! So stay tuned :) 






  
 

Its been a while... time to UPDATE

My time off was great! My grandparents came to visit and took me and my sister to the Astros game. Yu Darvish almost pitched a perfect game it was AWESOME! Minute Maid park was great. It was so good seeing my grammy and papa! 

Then I got to spend the night camping with my sister and friends in Galveston. It was a BLAST. I had a lesson in celestial navigation via my new iphone 5. It was AWESOME. I used the compass to check that I was looking at the correct stars! I love camping.... when the weather is nice and for short periods of time lol. 

Then I had a wonderful vaca with my family. Great cooking from my mom and fun fishing with my dad! The beach house was awesome! We caught lots of red fish and a HUGE bull red that I tagged! Some sheep heads also!  And I had a lot of fun catching this stingray! 

Kelsey and I went to Reggae Fest in Galveston it was a lot of fun. 

I went to New Orleans before coming back offshore. It was such a great time! I went on a carriage ride through the city it was so amazing. The perfect city to take a carriage ride through the french quarter. I had lunch  (amazing muffalatas and pellegrino) on the Mississippi river and watched the ships go by. I spent the day appreciating a beautiful city. It was PERFECT. Then I learned how to play CRAPS at the casino!!! I was LOVING it! I want to go back to the casino ASAP!!!!!! Ahh it was just soooooooo perfect. Then, Angie came in town we had a great girls time. Lots of live music, food and lots of fun! 

Beniegts at Cafe Du Monde' 

I got back to the rig April 22nd. 

So far it has been good, its nice to see and talk to my rig friends :) I have been busy working and learning. I got to go the rig floor and watch up close tripping (pulling pipe in and out of the hole) drilling, and was even up there for the BOP (blow out preventer) tests :/ kinda scary. The days have gone by pretty fast, I have been out here for 11 so far. Not to bad, 3 more weeks to go! :/ I am gonna try to do my job, learn as much as I can, and work out!!!! Bikini season is right around the corner  !!! 

This Hitch I decided to bring stuff for me to have 1 night a week where I pamper myself! But I was thinking what if while I have a face mask, robe on while I am painting my toes the alarm goes off. THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD!

FUN STUFF 

So today I got to take a real flashing light test for MORSE CODE, like with the ship mates that were taking it. Some of the guys had to use the book to look up letters and numbers. I did it without any book reference! Its so cool that I know it. I practice the alphabet before I go to sleep frontwards and backwards..... its become my way of counting sheep I guess.I need to practice my numbers. I know them but I have to think about it vs. second nature. Well anyways I did really good and the chief mate who taught me was proud that I did really good! A+ for me :). This blog is mostly catch up with some fun stuff also. I will think of some really cool stuff to write about b/c I have been slacking I guess I need to get on the guys and tell them to teach me some more!!!!

I get a high off of learning new things, everything out here is so interesting  ESP in the marine dept. <3 those guys, they are all so smart in an east coast academy way and I love learning from them!!! 

This was what we wrote our answers down on, while the instructor used a flashlight to signal code. 

I gotta go.... my neck hurts..... (b/c my brain is so big ....) 

It's a BIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sweetest little bird was migrating to South America, then something happened to his wing en route. He made an emergency landing upon the Titanium Explorer. So happy he did. He is a beautiful bird! The guys on the ship have been taking good care of him. I think he is a great addition to the crew :) !!!! 

4 days left but who's counting ?

So I have really been trying to plan my schedule! I want to take advantage of my time off! I have some open spots so let me know if I can schedule you in ;). I wish I could stop counting the days, hours, and minutes I have left out here. I feel like I need to chill out! I have always been a dramatic person. Mom, my favorite story is the one you told me when I was really little and I learned that the potassium in bananas helped with muscle cramps, anyways I got a cramp and collapsed SCREAMING at the top of my lungs, "SOMEBODY GET ME A BANANA NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I'm sure there are more examples of drama. 

Anyways, in 5 days I am going to be at a ballpark, watching baseball with my fam and drinking a beer with my papa! I imagine it to be like the scene of of "old school" where Will Ferrell, is like, "alright ok ill have one......" I am really looking forward to it! GO RANGERS! I will cheer for them unless they are playing the cubs or my YANKEES!!! <3 Derek Jeter! I am learning that it is kind of obnoxious that my teams are the Cowboys and the Yankees. Oh well at least I don't like the Heat as well. Def a Mavs Girl ! 

Meanwhile on the rig, this morning I was walking up to tour ( pronounced tower for some odd reason) and it just means like your shift. The moon was so big and bright, I had to stop and look over the side of the ship and just enjoy the moment. Yesterday it was even bigger an brighter,  it was a full moon and it was beautiful. Today it still looked full but is getting a little smaller, which if you remember from previous blogs the term for that is, waning. So the technical term for todays lunar phase is a Waning Gibbous. There is something about the moon that in your heart brings you closer to the people you miss, knowing that they can look up and see the same moon as you, even if they are a world away. So many writers write about the moon, and the theme is usually sadness. Is it because when we are sad, we look to the moon and stars for help? I think so, its humbling to gaze into something so much bigger than you. I can see how Thoreau, Emerson and other artists get inspired when they remove themselves from society and put themselves far away in nature. Im not comparing my situation of being stuck on an oil rig to the transcendentalist movement. I'm just saying I understand it a little more being out at sea, stripped away from the items in my life, and the people I surround my self with, its hard but a good thing to experience. I found a poem from my girl Emily Bronte, its a pretty poem, there are so many about the moon. Speaking of which, I need to bring my books Wuthering Heights and Madame Bovary, I want to read them out side somewhere secretive on the ship with a flashlight or something. Kelsey that romance english lit and history class was probably one of my favorite classes. I got so much out of it. Mostly that, Madame Bovary C'est Moi!!!!!!! Enjoy the peom, I miss you all! 

Moonlight Summer Moonlight, Emily Bronte

'Tis moonlight, summer moonlight, 

All soft and still and fair; 

The solemn hour of midnight 

Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere,

But most where trees are sending 

Their breezy boughs on high, 

Or stooping low are lending 

A shelter from the sky.

And there in those wild bowers 

A lovely form is laid; 

Green grass and dew-steeped flowers 

Wave gently round her head.

FML

My schedule has changed three times during this hitch. I have changed rooms also which is so inconvenient. I am switching to days for the last week. I came to work at midnight, six hours later than usual. I got some sleep worked out ect. I have been in the unit I work at for 15 hours now! I AM GOING INSANE!!!! I know you people want smiles and happy stories. But lock your self in a storage container for 18 hours and then come talk to me. I took a pic of where I sit and monitor multiple drilling parameters. Like, I have to pay serious attention to whats going on during this 18 hour shift. I was gonna try to get through the day without B$%^&#* but I couldn't make it! 

I need my dads speech, when I thought I couldn't ride a horse, snowboard or drive a standard. Shortly after screaming, crying and throwing a temper tantrum, I realized I could do it. So I can do this but I still want to throw a fit! I want SLEEEEEEPPPPPP! and I still have another week out here! I WANT TO GO HOME! I want to blow dry my hair! I want to lay in green grass! I want to have a girls night! I want a glass of wine! I want to wear a cute outfit! I want to go to a bar or restaurant with people !

"I want it daddy and I want it now" (I always get compared to the brat on charlie and the chocolate factory, I don't think I act like her though) 

My Cell 

Ok I had to vent I think I pretty much got it all out. On a positive note I only have 7 More days left on the ship. I have a three weeks off when I get back. I am going to use my time wisely and enjoy every second of it. I will appreciate everything and everyone more than before. I will be happy. I will jump on my bed! Take bubble baths every day! I will go to the beach! Go crabbing! I am going to the baseball games which will be fun! I have plans with Jenny for girls night! So its not that bad I will be home soon enough. 

This picture is my happy place. I mentally go here when I feel like I'm going crazy! I just imagine that I am laying at the beach in the hot sun! 

Hard Hat

Shout out to Craig the safety guy! Thanks for Pimpin' out my hard hat ! I feel special now :) ! 

The Color dots are so people know what type of personality I have! 

Now all I need is a SMU sticker and maybe a Dallas Cowboys star :) and Ill be set! 

...9 more days!

Story Time 

Exposition: Last week I had to switch rooms when the crew change happened, there was some confusion but it was sorted out. Tonight, I am walking to the nightly safety meeting and then to lunch. I am walking down the stairs and am now cornered, by a guy whom I have never met, I’m not sure if I have even seen him on the rig. He works in the drilling department, I notice from the personality stickers on his helmet....HARDHAT ( I really need to stop calling them helmets). The stickers are red and yellow, which means pushy, mean, impatient. Ill talk about that in a few. Anyways Im awkwardly cornered by a rando with like a half smile on my face. 

Rando - “Hey so did they find you a room”? 

Me- “ ummm yeah” a little confused because this was like a week ago. 

Rando - “Oh Ok ..... well I wanted you to know that you can room with me”. (he’s smiling really big) 

(crickets chirping, Im not saying anything .... there is like no expression on my face what so ever all I can think to do is blink, and I feel my eyelids blinking really hard soooooo awkward) 

hmmm is this where I say thanks but no thanks, laugh, or what? Like I want someone to tell me where the line is between sexual harassment and taking a joke. I have no idea at this point. Seriously ... I guess I will just have to learn how to deal with these drilldos and get over it. 

Me- half smiling “....UGHHH haha (awkward fake laugh) No Thanks........., maneuvering my way down the stairs. 

Vantage Personalities

Vantage is so awesome, (this is the drilling company) they have all of their employees take a personality test. Everyone is different so the way you communicate to one person might not necessarily work for another person. I am Blue Green, which means I want to know exactly how to do my job, and get really good directions before starting a task. I don’t respond well to getting yelled at in front of people. Loyal, friendly, very supportive. I basically have a good personality. The drill people have like crazy personalities. This personality test is soooo cool! I love that their company does it. I will have to look up the specifics of each personality to share with you guys its really cool. 

State of Mind

So the past few days have been kinda lonely out here and I’m mentally drained. Four weeks is a long time and I haven’t slept in my bed in  like 5 weeks. Its sad watching crew changes people leaving who got out here after I did going home before me, Im starting to feel like I’m on alcatraz again. Tonight was a hard night I started listening to “sitting on the dock of the bay” and sat looking over the side of the ship. 

(SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY

- written by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper

- lyrics as recorded by Otis Redding December 7, 1967, just three

days before his death in a plane crash outside Madison, Wisconsin

- #1 for 4 weeks in 1968

Sittin' in the mornin' sun

I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come

Watching the ships roll in

And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay

Watching the tide roll away

Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia

Headed for the 'Frisco bay

'Cause I've had nothing to live for

And look like nothin's gonna come my way

So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay

Watching the tide roll away

Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time

Look like nothing's gonna change

Everything still remains the same

I can't do what ten people tell me to do

So I guess I'll remain the same, yes

Sittin' here resting my bones

And this loneliness won't leave me alone

It's two thousand miles I roamed

Just to make this dock my home

Now, I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay

Watching the tide roll away

Oooo-wee, sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time

(whistle) 

Coffee and Conversation 

The company man and I have coffee and conversation ever now and then. He is a really nice guy I love his stories. He gave me some advice.... get out and go see the world! I need to listen!

Anyways, The COMan  gave me some GOLD information he said since he was little he has gone crabbing in Galveston. He gave me directions to the best secret place to go crabbing. Im so excited, Im debating hijacking a lifeboat to come home and go crabbing. He said a full cooler of crabs guaranteed in an hour. He also has a sail boat and told me where I can go to learn how to sail, that is on my list of things to do since I’ve been learning about boats. Im making plans to go to the Kemah Boardwalk as soon as I get home, and Rachel and I are going Crabbing.  Our coffee convo got me out of my bad mood I was in. 

Kemah Boardwalk 

Thanks mom for the itunes card! I love FB GIFTS Best Idea Ever!!!!!!!!!!!

I also love all the 60’s music ideas you gave me also. 

Production

Exploration to Production 

I am in the exploration part of the oil industry. In exploration we find a spot, drill and hope we find oil. There is more science behind it than a crazy person closing there eyes and putting their finger randomly on a map, but thats the idea. 

So I know we drill for oil, then a production company produces the oil. To understand something is different. Its kind of like a math problem. You put log(1) in to your calculator, you get 0. You know the answer is 0, but most people don’t understand why. 

Today I learned about the process of pumping oil and am I learning to fully understand how it is done. 

When I was at the bridge, you could see a ship in the distance (I was told it was about 3.5 miles away). You can see the lights in the distance. Then I got to go to the window and use the binoculars to see the ship up close. I could see a green light. Which is starboard side which means right. So if we see green we know they are headed in the direction to the right of us. It was really cool! 

Standing outside the bridge was pretty amazing the water is dark blue with the waves breaking, seas are 5-10ft crashing along side the ship. The moonlight hits the white of the breaking waves. It was just beautiful, you almost forget that there is a huge oil derrick behind you. The water out here is so blue and beautiful some times I just want to dive in! The sea is calling me!!!! Don’t worry I wont, I will have to wait for sea and sunshine when I get home! 

 OK back to production! ..... 

In the distance there is another ship, this one is not passing by this one is the FPSO the BW Pioneer. They take the oil from this area for production. How do they get the oil? After drilling a well a subsea trees, or a “christmas tree” (they are called christmas trees, and they actually resemble a christmas tree with ornaments)  Subsea trees are used in offshore field developments worldwide, from shallow to ultra-deepwaters (Im in an ultra deep water ship, sooooo cooooool). The deepest subsea trees have been installed in the waters offshore Brazil and in the US Gulf of Mexico (where I am), and many are rated for waters measuring up to 10,000 feet deep.

This is a christmas tree.

***Cool fact ***

Schlumberger is a technology company and we actually manufacture these christmas trees!

After the christmas tree is put on the well, there are hoses and pipes everywhere that flow to the production ship. This ship stays here collects all the oil. Some refinement is done, and then tankers come and get the oil. In some areas there are actually pipes that take the oil straight to shore. It is pretty amazing how this is done on such a large scale! In the distance you see a flame burning over the ship, its burning off the gas brought up to the ship. Its pretty intense looking. 

Today was a good day I learned a lot! Tomorrow I will write about some cool MUD STUFF. 

Funny Rig Stuff: The guys in the marine dept. call the people who work in drilling, the "drilldo's". How  hilarious is that, and to family who doesn't get it, please don't ask lol ! 

Love and Miss you all! 

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” 

Mahatma Ghandi

what happens when we ASSume?????

This is a mans world........

The nighttime company man, that is really nice to me is back on the rig. He is usually out on the rig floor working. He always tells me that anytime I want a good cup of coffee to just go up to his office and grab one. I was dying for a good cup of coffee tonight so I ran up to the company mans office to grab one. 

When I walked in there was another guy in the office, the main company man. I was like, “Oh hi, I’m Hillary and The nighttime company man said I can grab a cup of coffee”. So he is really friendly and says, “of course grab a cup”. He was talking to me and being really nice. He then says, “ok so I’m gonna need you to come back at 0230 and make sure this office is clean”. I didn’t really know what to say, so I reply with, “and if its not clean do you want me to call someone to clean it, I’m not quite sure I understand”. He says, “Just make sure it gets done tonight, tell the galley guys if you have to..” So at this point I understand now whats going on.... he thinks im the friggin cleaning lady haha.... I didn’t have my PPE/ Uniform on because we can’t wear it in the accommodations, so its not like I’m dressed in Schlumberger blue. So I say, “well I don’t really have communication with the galley, or anyone in the housekeeping department”. He then looks at me inquisitively, eyes squinting, ....”where do you work?” I respond with “GEO department.” He looks shocked and embarrassed, “YOUR A GEOLOGIST!?” 

I say, “yes lol no worries”. I then just smile ! We then laugh and start talking, it was a total honest mistake. He said I should have introduced myself to him earlier...and then said I am welcome to coffee at any time. WOW my life has drastically changed since the cup of KEURIG coffee is the highlight of my day out here. (Missing my Nespresso!) 

                               ...But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl 

Time and Travel :)

So I know what latitude and longitude is, I just usually thought of it at as a position on google earth. Not necessarily linked with time zones. I have been learning all about time zones, its really cool. I love this stuff! During the time I'm not working I get to practice ETA problems for fun. The last one I did that was really tricky I got a 100! Heres how you figure them out!

Calculating ETA

What you need to know

1. Distance 
2. Speed 
3. GMT, Each locations ZD

GMT, Greenwich Mean Time

There are 25 integer World Time Zones from -12 through 0 (GMT) to +12. Each one is 15° of Longitude as measured East and West from the Prime Meridian of the World at Greenwich, England. 

Calculating Time 

To calculate the time it will take you use the equation D=ST, distance is represented by nautical miles, nm. Speed is represented by knots, kts. Time is represented by hours. 

Ex. Distance 7100 nm @ 23 kts, 

D=ST, so T=D/S, 

7100nm/ 23kts = 308.6956522 (this can now be converted to days, hours, and minutes) 

Calculating ZD 

Longitude ˚   = ZD (round to the nearest whole number) 

15˚

If the longitude is in the western hemisphere it is (+), if eastern hemisphere then   (-) 

For Example: Dallas, TX Longitude is 96.8039˚ W, so we divide 96.8039˚/ 15˚ = 6.45, rounded to 6. We are in the western hemisphere so it is a positive, +6. 

Converting to GMT

Greenwich Mean Time, The ZD in Greenwich is 0. To convert time to GMT you either add or subtract the ZD.If the ZD is + you add to convert to GMT and if negative you subtract. This was better explained to me by remembering the sun rises in the east and sets in the west and looking at time on the globe from that perspective. 

Ex. If it is 1200 in Dallas, what time is it GMT? 

We know Dallas is +6, so we add 6 to 1200, we then have 1800 GMT. :) Greenwich is ahead of us so thats why we add to convert to there time. 

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

Great Circles

Great circle navigation is following the shortest route between two points on a sphere, the earth in this case. A great circle on any sphere is one that divides it in two equal halves: the equator, any longitudinal line through the poles, or any similar circle that has its center at the middle of the earth.

International Date Line

On the opposite side of the prime meridian, ZD 0, there is the international date line, located at 180˚, ZD +12,-12 on either side. When crossing the dateline from the west you automatically go to the next day. For example, if it is 1200 December 25th, once you cross your new time is 1200 December 26th. Time flies when you are having fun ;)! 

In other news, I have been on the rig for 10 days, so I still have a ways to go. I am running out of conditioner, so at least  I know next time what to bring more of! I have been getting some good workouts in, which is good! Im trying to get ready for this summer :) The gym is so awesome here. I will have to see if I can take some pictures to show you guys how cool it is. 

When I get home, I am so excited to go to the Museum and planetarium with Rachel. I haven’t been to the downtown museum of natural science in Houston, and I got a groupon for us to go.  We can spend some sister time together. Im so stoked about the planetarium, those are so much fun especially since its hard to see some good stars in Houston. Also I have been reading so much about stars I want to identify some :) I love love love love museums! When Schlumberger hired me, we got to have a catered dinner and a museum party, that included a knowledge based scavenger hunt, It was like the best night of my life! Except the team I was on got a question, that the answer was pluto, then we had to find pluto in the museum. The interesting part was this question was made pre pluto being kicked out as a planet, so they took pluto out of the museum planet section, and we couldn't find it. Since I was thinking this is probably not the place to get competitive and throw a fit I just let it go, but my teammates and I were pissed. We then got to make a parachute out of random supplies and had a contest to see who can build it and fly it to a target. Ours had the most lift time and was well designed, but did not hit the target :( . Creative Problem Solving is my S&*% !!! I get like high off of those kinds of activities! 



 The chicago field museum is the best one I have been to though so far. I love that city! 

Me and Sue, the biggest T REX ever!!!!!

Anyways, 

Love and Miss you all! 

Hill