Memorial Day on the ship was certainly memorable. The guests were happy and enthused. I met families touring the ship, vets leading their friends and family members, and general public out for another beautiful Southern Calif day at the ship.

We had a fly-over by some WWII vintage plans in the morning. They really made a hit with the early arriving guests.

It looked like we might be short a few hands today, but there were several walk-on volunteers and we had plenty of docents to give the guests the best of the ship.

While docenting today, I met a cool family down on the mess deck. A very trip young man in an Air Force uniform with his Dad and Mom. I showed them around and they had a great time. At the end, the Mom took our picture. Here is Matt with his Dad, take a look - he's the future, and one of our 'brightest and best':

This weekend was also the opening of a few new sections of the ship: Officer's Country and the CPO Mess. We had to work out the wrinkles of getting the guests in and out of these sections, but I think it's working pretty well.

What a busy Sunday on the ship - we had over 4000 guests today. The holiday weekend really brought them out.

I got to start day giving my friends a personal tour of the ship. Here is the cool couple on the flight deck:

In the middle of a long holiday weekend.

Sat was a busy day - we had a Vets Memorial Service on the flight deck, we also had some vets from the USS Ticonderoga. Heros, every one !

Here is a pic from the Memorial Service - the guy in the back is playing taps. The wreaths were tossed into the bay by the Vets or memorate their fallen comrades.

Saturday I worked on the flight deck all day - and got sunburned of course. But I met some really great guests and had a good time.

In the morning I worked staging the guests for their tour up on the bridge. I told them no cell phones, watch for low overheads, be careful of the ladders going and back down etc... I also had a few minutes to tell them a story or two about the ship and answer questions as we waited for the Air Boss to let me know when they were ready for the next group. It's a fun place to work. In the afternoon I worked up on the porch as guests were led into Primary Flight Control. Both assignments were out in the sun. So I got a little burned, but it was worth it. The SPF45 sunscreen didn't phase the Southern Calif sun off the deck or the bay. Oh well.

While up on the porch, I spotted a Russian Submarine. Man your battle stations !
Here is a pic of the sub

It turns out that it's a decommissioned sub, and a museum like us.

Whew - close call.

I didn't go to the ship today, instead I attended a funeral/memorial service and I'm glad that I made the right choice.

They made it a celebration of the family and of his life instead of just a depressing funeral. We spent 4 hours having a grand time remembering, celebrating, and sharing the good things. I met family that I hadn't seen in years, and some new members I hadn't met before. There were some tender moments, funny times, and moving experiences. Every emotion was exercised.

Among his many interests, Jerry was a golfer, and in the end we all went to the driving range to hit one for Jerry. You would have had a laugh seeing us all tee off. No experience or talent necessary - we just all hit one. What a treat and a great send off.

Fun event last night - it was a group from a conventioneers of tele-medics. That's right - they medic you from remote. What will they think of next ? ! !

They had a good time on the ship. There was suppose to be just 800 guests, but over 1000 people showed up. I guess the extras didn't want to miss out on our cool ship-tours. There was an 'open bar' for the conventioneers - which could account for their overall jolly mood.

I was assigned to the Mess Deck. That's a fun spot - I got to tell the ship's story from down there.

This group ate pretty good too. They had stations on the flight deck for meatloaf sandwiches, chicken pot pies, and oriental stir-fry. After our watch, we got to partake, and I did ! I had to at least try all three stations.

Then we found the dessert station. Ice cream over brownies, topped with hot fudge and fresh strawberries. The crushed nuts and m&m's were optional. I think those medics trying to create new 'customers' !

It was a fun night.

We had an SE tonight - that's a Special Event. It was a banking company that manages the electronic transfer of funds - I know, it's confusing to me what they really do too.

There were suppose to be 1,000 guests - well, over 1,400 came on board ! They had an open-bar, a DJ, and just finger-food. We streamed them thru the island - no stopping please, lets keep the line moving. I worked the Bridge, their first station on the tour. They were plenty happy when they got to me and when they left me too. I pointed out the Capt's chair and the helm, and kept 'em moving. I was a good enlisted man - I saluted everything shiny that came thru the line. The guests liked that.

One guest had a little too much open-bar. She lost her finger food and her margarita on vultures row outside the bridge. I radioed down for maintenance - and they took their sweet time coming up with a bucket and mop. Oh well.

It was a fun night anyway - I'm glad I was there to help.

On Sunday I began in the Bridge, standing watch. I had a new recruit to the Docent program there with me for his on-the-job training. They have to complete 20 hrs of OJT. Turns out this guy was a former Conning Officer in the Navy and knew his way around the Bridge like the back of his hand ! He did fine with the facts of course. I reminded him that the guests aren't buying the ship, they just want to see the areas and have a good time. He'll be fine and a great addition to our Docent team.

Later in the morning they gave me the chat at the "trap", then I was to walk my group forward on the deck to the catapult for the "cat" talk. Another Docent was giving the chat talk at the opposite site at the same time. It was a test of a new routine. I didn't mind it so much, but the other docent didn't like it at all. He said when he was walking his group forward, he lost half the group and picked up a bunch of new people too. The idea of continuity was lost. Oh well.

In the afternoon while I worked the island tours, we got a pack of energized cub scouts. The Docent of the Watch asked me to tour them thru the island. I got them to salute - which was the easy part. We called down to the flight deck "ahoy there" in unison. They really liked that. It was a different focused tour since they didn't want facts - they wanted fun, but I snuck in a few educational facts on 'em anyway. We got hur-rah's in for the Air Boss, Navigating Quatermasters, and the Capt too. They all had a great time.

That was the day - whew. It's a good thing I like this, because it wears me out !

Sat was an interesting day on the ship - I began the day with a private tour for some contest winners. Turns out I got the Dad, Mom, and the two kids (ages 5 and 6). They had a lot of enthusing energy - the kids that is ! But they had a great time. The part that the kids liked best was getting to climb into the racks where the sailors slept. Good thing the sailors had already left (15 yrs ago).

Then I stood watch in the engine room for the morning guests. I met many interesting people coming down there. I made "throttlemen" out of many of them.

After lunch I worked in the island - giving tours thru Pri Fly, Chart House, and the Bridge. I met some guys from the 1961-62 Black Knights. They had been pilots on the Midway, and were having a reunion. Very interesting fellows - and heros, every one of them.

Two Special Events during the past two nights on board - Lawyers one night, and Doctors the next night.

The Lawyers didn't have much to say to start with, until they got a few drinks in them of course. Then they loosened up a little. The Doctors asked more "how does this work" type of questions and were much more friendly to begin with.

I think the Lawyers had better food - well, I don't know if it was 'better' - but it was certainly more fancy and I bet more expensive.

I had fun both nights talking up the ship.

I'm looking forward to Sat - I'll be giving some contest winners a private tour in the morning, and standing watch in the afternoon. Good ole regular weekend guests - our bread and butter.

I got a few new stories about JP5 in the drinking water that I can't wait to try out on the guests. I tried them out tonight on the other docents. If their reaction is any indication - it will go over big with the guests. I just need to practice on my delivery a little. Stay tuned . . .

Fun time on the ship tonight !

Tonight I worked a Special Event. An association of commercial pilots (mostly retired) and their wives had a fun event on the ship. There were about 400 guests, and they needed just a few docents, but that's ok.

There was a little 8 piece band brass in the hanger bay. They were really good. Of course they played all the marches. I asked them if they played Gary Owen - they laughed and said "that's an Army song!" Anyway, the band really got the group in the mood for a fun night, or it might have been the open bar - who knows !

Up on the flight deck we gave groups walk-arounds by all the aircraft. We didn't have the bridge open - but they didn't seem to mind.

They were fed a nice buffet dinner on the flight deck. Good thing for the space-heaters, because it got a little foggy and cold up there.

Then the USO Show started. Bob Hope came out. It must have been him, he had a golf club, a printed shirt and told jokes that were just corny enough to be funny. Then Maxine, Patty, and Laverne came out and they really sang up a storm like only the Andrews Sisters could. It must have been them, right ?

Well, the evening was over all too soon, and the 6 busses were lined up on the Navy pier to take our guests back to . . . parts unknown. It looked like a good time was had by all - even me !