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