I've been so busy studying for this firefighter's test that I haven't had a chance to really write a blog entry (which I could then quickly upload when I was off the ship and around Internet...looks like it will only be once or twice a week).  I don't have too much time, as I have to get back to the ship soon for class again...I feel like I'm in school again! 

We had a big test today that determined if we would go home or not. Thankfully, I pass the test, so I don't have to worry about that "part" of the whole thing. But I still have a movie to watch today, more tests tomorrow and on Saturday, I have to put on a big fireman outfit and put out a huge fire! I also have to go through a huge maze without any light (and two people). Finally, I have to jump into the water and flip over a huge raft. (I'm not too worried about that)  It sounds hard...but I also think it will be fun too. I think I tend to over-think everything, and freak myself out for no reason.

I'm starting to understand the layout of the ship, but only the crew areas. We aren't allowed in the "passenger" areas yet, so I have only seen part of the ship so far. The crew here is very...interesting. There is a type of every person on this ship, and I've already seen some pretty crazy stuff.  I'll tell some stories next time, when I have more time to write.  Let's just say that the guys like to stare..a lot. The girls here are considered "fresh meat" because we don't know their history with girls, and they like that thought. Um, creepy.

The food here is so gross. The crew food, at least, is just not good. It's always the same thing every day, and it depends who makes it on how the taste will be.  I've found that salads, fruit, potatoes,  and ice cream are good, and everything else is iffy.  All the people who said I would be getting fat....looks like I'll be in tip-top shape. I'm eating healthy (super healthy), walking A TON (and I haven't even started my real job yet) and the thing to do when you are bored is work out.  Maybe I'll get some nice abs now. Ha ha.

Well, it's time to go for now. I completely UNDERPACKED and need to purchase some more stuff (more? ahh!). I'm going to make a fun list of all the LIES the recruiters told me...and everything I forgot/needed but wasn't told.

I'm in Hawaii! It's really beautiful here!  I've been really busy with training, learning the ship, adjusting to a new time zone (we are five hours behind Wisconsin…meaning that all my friends are "in the future"), and making friends (I made some great ones!).  I'm really excited too-it looks like I'm going to have a fun time here. Some things are a little bit of an adjustment…such as the fact that my recruiters failed to mention things that you kind of need to know…such as the recruiter who told me not to bring my cell phone (um, you really need it here…everyone has one!) or my laptop (really, really need that!).  I'm thinking of making a post telling you what is true and what isn't! (I'll have to do that soon)

As of right now, I'm in "class" for a week because if I fail this test we have on Thursday (and Saturday), I will be shipped home at my own cost from whatever island they leave me at.  Thankfully, I have to get a 70% or higher (that's 15 questions wrong) so I think I'll be fine.  I did really well in school, my mom reminded me, it's just that I hate multiple choice questions. They always have such similar questions, and I get all confused and choose the wrong ones!  But a 70%…I didn't really get C's too often…I'll be fine. I passed the first test already…so that's good!  (oh, these tests are on fire safety, CPR, and other stuff like that)

Friends…so I met a girl named Krystal who is going to be a Junior Waiter…we were sitting next to each other filling out paperwork when we got to the ship and she helped me figure out the tax information (yup, nothing has changed…that stuff still confuses me) and we just "clicked".  :)  I also met a friend name Lady who is Ultility (her real name is Felicia but she asked us to call her Lady). She started work this week (she takes the test next week) so I haven't seen her much.  And then…I met Jessica, who is another new photographer with me!  :) She started work last week and is taking the test this week, so I learned all this cool "inside" info about the photography department. Yay!  Don't worry everyone, I have plenty of postcards and letters coming your way.  AND phone calls and skype dates too! :) (although the Internet is a little slower than I planned…but it's not too bad. And at Starbucks, which Tiffany will love, it's free!)

Pictures…I know that I promised pictures but I haven't really had a chance to take any yet. I'm going to be carrying my phone around with me now, so I'm going to start snapping them and uploading them like my friends have been doing.  Next week, when I have my camera with me 24/7, I'll be able to take more pictures, no worries!

We went walking out last night on the beach, which was beautiful, and there was a full moon…but my camera was dead so I couldn't take a picture!

from google

I hate dead animals. I hate seeing them, thinking about them, I hate it all. Therefore, it only makes sense that I would not like seafood.  I don't mind eating meat, because I can't see the animal I'm eating.  However, when someone eats a lobster, you see the whole animal. You know what you are eating. That's disgusting! I don't want to see some creepy eye staring at me, reminding me of what a horrible person I am.   Ewww.  I can think of a lot of other foods that are just as tasty-and don't make me feel grossed out.  What is the East coast known for? Lobster. Everywhere I go, people are eating lobster!  I understand most people don't think like me, so no one is going to stop eating their food just because I'm grossed out, but couldn't you least not have your dinner's eyeballs staring at me? That would be the polite thing to do, correct? But no, every time we go out to dinner, some lobster is staring at me, saying "They killed me. They killed me. And you didn't stop it!"  Thank heavens that you can buy other food and not have eyeballs attached-or I'd become a vegetarian.  Some leafy green vegetables sound really good right now...

This trip has been fun, but hasn't had as many photo moments as I had planned. I enjoy taking pictures of land and beautiful nature, but I have found that pictures of people are what I enjoy the most. 


People are so interesting, because they make different faces, move around, and are just ALIVE.  Nature is alive too, but you and I can probably take the same picture.  However, I might catch someone laughing, while you catch them smiling. I might zoom in on their face, while you catch their whole body. It's just…more interesting.


I am putting some photos in that I've taken so far.  These are unedited, although there are a few in my collection. I do plan to edit. However, I think there is something to be said for those photos that are great from the beginning, and need no editing. Thus, enjoy! :)

On a different note, I have noticed  that I tend to see pictures everywhere.  It's not as weird as it sounds. When I see someone smile or laugh and tilt their head, I think "click". I often find myself always wishing I had a camera attached to my head and could take a picture as quickly as I think.  I suppose photography is as close as I'll come to having a camera in my head. It's pretty fun to look back at a picture and think "I took that".  I've come a long way from the photographer I was in high school (with a film camera and early digital) to the one I am today. I know I'll become even better in the years to come.

Anyway, trip aside, I wanted to mention that I found a blog of a guy named James who used to work on the Pride of America ship. He worked on ships for 5 years total and now he has some job traveling.  That's pretty cool-I'm excited for my first chance on the ship! I noticed he mentioned what to pack, so I copied and pasted that into my little notes I've created by googling other crew members.  Everyone keeps mentioning, "Pack half of what you are planning!" I know that I better watch what I bring!  I was so worried about having things to do when I'm off-duty, but according to his blog, he likes to either nap (long days) or talk to people. I'm pretty sure (being a social butterfly) that I won't have to worry about finding something to do.  Of course, bringing my laptop along, I will always have something to do!

I'm starting to get a little nervous. I don't know what to expect! I'm currently working on finishing my website, so I can have people look at my work without having to e-mail it to them, and I know that I'm good. I'm great at taking pictures-it's something I love doing!  I'm just worried that I won't know how to do I their way-or that I'll do something wrong.  I know that I will be fine, but still, I'm a little nervous!  I'm going to be far away from friends and family (just like when I lived in Arizona-or in Florida actually) but it's not like I won't make new friends! 

Okay, this is starting to be a blog all about my worries. I better make this more cheerful!  I have a week and a half left, and I'll be in HAWAII! :)

I'm currently lounging in a hotel room, enjoying the free wireless. This morning, around 2 am (I never went to bed), my parents and I got in the car and headed for New York. I, of course, went to sleep. I sleep about half of the trip, making it a really easy car ride.  Why am I headed back to New York again? Well, not really New York city, just Albany, New York. We are only staying here tonight (after driving 14 hours, you want a rest) and then heading to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. It's going to be a vacation where I get to take lots of pictures, and enjoy the scenery.  By the end of this trip, I will have seen almost all 51 states, excluding Hawaii (which will be soon!), Alaska and a few other states.

Anyway, I have some news!  I found out that I will be leaving October 8th, which is exciting, and a little scary because I found out yesterday, we left today, and I won't be back till October 4th.  So I only have three (or less) days to pack, shop (I got a new packing list) see people, etc. I will be a very busy lady!

Ready for a fun story? Yesterday, I went out to Waukesha to close a bank account and I had a doctor's visit (I have had lots of those recently).  After that, I went shopping at Kohls because I have to get more business casual outfits.  My friend met me there, and he decided he wanted to help me shop.  His choice of outfits for me was…interesting.  He kept picking these not so cute outfits and I was just laughing at him. He insisted he was just trying to figure out my taste, so he could from there. I'm not so sure though. I think he was covering his tracks. ha ha

Then we went to the mall, where another male friend of mine met us there.  Together, the two guys proceeded to help me pick out clothes. So imagine me running around stores, with two guys following, grabbing clothes off the racks and saying, "This would look good" and then holding blue or purple shirts up to themselves to show it off. Several clerks raised their eyebrows.  It was so funny. One of the guys even said, "You don't think they think we are…?" and then he just started laughing.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. -Dr. Seuss

I've always been really good at buying stuff on E-bay, but I've never sold anything.  Well, as I've started packing up all the stuff in my room to put it in the attic, I've set aside some things to be sold.  These are stuff people told me probably wouldn't get me any money, but I thought I'd try it anyway.  I didn't do so well at first, (my first item sold for a .99, but it was worth much more! and I lost .25 with my second item because I didn't count on shipping being so high) but I just sold two more items, and finally, might make some money! Two other items have already been bid on, but don't end until tomorrow.  So it looks like my success with e-bay is finally starting, and now I'm on the hunt to see if I have anything else in my room to sell!

I may be off on my adventure sooner than I thought.  The Merchant's Mariner Credential that I have been waiting for arrived this weekend, and I e-mailed them I had received it this morning.  While it is not a bad thing that I have to leave early (I'm excited to be in Hawaii), I'm not sure that I'm ready yet. I have a list of things I wanted to get done before I left, and it's not completed yet!

I'm hoping that they won't be able to get me on the ship until October, which was my original departure date anyway.  I want to go the second week, as that would be perfect timing! (my parents planned a vacation with me, and I still want to go on it)

I've been looking up photos of my new home, and thought I would share them with you. Photos found on flickr and google, by looking up "Pride of America".  I did not, of course, take these photos, since I'm not on the ship yet!

Owner's room

Awesome swim area for families, singles, couples etc.

  Room with a balcony.  Looks nice, right?

This just looks so pretty!

    I heard these things are fun. I wonder if I can

        go on when guests aren't around?

Hello home!

       outdoor cafe for guests

    one of the US themed restaurants

     I showed this to my guy friend and he said,

    "I bet all the ladies will like that." lol

They put up a window that looks like a porthole.