I worked the ship this afternoon. I started in Pri Fly, and then mid-day I was moved down to the Traps where we explain the landing process. That was a lot of fun. When I start the chat I have just a few guests there - by the end, they have accumulated to the group and the group is quite large. Afterward, I walk them up to the PLAT Cameras built into the flight deck to point them out and I leave them at the Frensel Lens ( the Meatball ) for that interactive display. They seemed to enjoy it, and I really enjoyed it.

The evening event tonight was a collection of international computer programmers. I met people from all over the world - which was nice but would have been nicer if they all had a better handle on the English language. Still - we had fun.

I've been getting lot of hours in lately. The company where I work is going out of business - that's not good news, but it does free up lots of hours to work on the ship. I've been out there everyday this week.

Today I met a WWII Vet. He was in the Army and a vet of the North Africa campaign. He was with the group that landed in Casablanca. What an honor to speak with him and show him and his son around the ship.

We had a Special Event last night - a few execs from IBM

We gave them walking tours thru the ship. The DOW started me with the first group, and told me to take them thru the Admiral's Quarters. Great - I've only been up there once before, and I'm not sure how to get up there and out on the flight deck. Another docent and I took a preview trip up there - talk about the blind leading the blind ! We got lost of course and ended up on the port side of the ship under the catapult. We had to jump a fence to get back on the flight deck.

Good thing when I took the guests I had better luck.

They all had a good time and nobody got lost - that we know of.

A great crowd on the ship today - over 3800.

I worked the Pri Fly in the morning and on the Hanger Bay in the afternoon.

I met a gentleman today, very elderly, with a special cap on. It was for the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a war hero from WWII. He was awarded that for flying in the Army Air Corps - the predecessor of the Air Force. I gave him a mini-tour through Primary Flight Control. And can you believe it ... he thanked me ? I told him, "Sir - you are a genuine American Hero from American's greatest generation, and Thank You !"

This was the week for Special Events - one each night.

Today was fun because I got meet many Marines on board. They were retired and having their reunion in San Diego this week. I got to hear a lot of Marine stories - kind of like sea stories, but with a Marine bend to them.

I spent this past weekend with my parents, so I wasn't at the ship. All's well, I had a great time and the ship didn't sink without me.

I worked a Special Event tonight - it was for a company called Brown and Forman.

There will be Special Events every night this week - so stay tuned !

The 4th of July was a beauty in San Diego. The turn out on the ship was great. It turned out to be a long day - but that's ok - I had a great time. I worked the island tours in the morning and roamed the flight deck in the afternoon. I spelled the pilot on the traps for his break, and the pilot on the catapult later. I had fun doing that.

We had to 'sweep the deck' of guests at 5:pm - so the fireworks crowd could come on at 6:pm

Here is our number - brighter than the fireworks

A beautiful day on the bay in San Diego.

The turn out today was weak in the morning hours - but it picked up in the afternoon. I worked on walking tours through the island ( Pri Fly, Chart House ,and Bridge ) all day.

I met a former Midway Battle Group Commander, and a retired Lt Colonel from the Air Force today. Both were distinguished looking gentlemen and they enjoyed the walking tours.


Here is a pic of the USS Reluctance - the ship from the 1955 movie Mr. Roberts. It's docked across the harbor from the Midway. I can't quite make out James Cagney's palm tree on the Captain's bridge - oh yeah, Jack Lemon thru it over board !