day 24

I went to the infirmary this morning and got a bucket load of painkillers and anti-inflammatories and the doc signed me off duty for the day. Two days ago we had to do a lot of equipment shuffling and somehow in the process I hurt a muscle in my back, which has made lying down unbearable and sleeping impossible. The regular pain killers weren’t doing enough, but I made it through the big show last night. When the act of trying to adjust my position in bed made me want to scream out this morning, I decided a.) that my roommate might kill me if I did, and b.) I should get it checked out.

Now I can lie down peacefully, though still moving carefully. And I can sleep!

Except for when the phone rings. Certain people on board have company cell phones (that don’t call out). Being the Tech on Duty this week (port manning) I have my roommate’s phone to answer while she is off the boat in port. Thankfully now, my supervisor suggested I forward the calls to his phone.

So, sleep, sleep, and more sleep for me today. I’m supposed to see if I’m cured tomorrow. Doubtful, but I can’t wrap my mind around the thought of not doing my job. I’ve just adjusted to working/being on call 7 days a week. It satisfies my addictive and plucky (or maybe busybody) facets. Besides, why else am I here? I get enough vacationing in my down time. I don’t need more!

I got my first mail this week and it is so exciting. It’s just like what I hoped it was like for my friends when I sent them care packages when they served in the armed forces overseas. It filled me with joy.
Doesn’t hurt that one of the goodies included was a box of dark chocolate non-pareils. :)

CNN says, or maybe it was a viewer comment, that this oil spill is the biggest US environmental disaster in history. First, US history is not so extensive, though I don’t know of any environmental disasters before the Industrial Revolution. Second, I consider the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki US disasters.

One of my shipmates said over lunch today that it wasn’t a disaster. That the Japanese deserved it. My head exploded. Good thing I hadn’t had enough sleep, rendering me useless at forming words. Otherwise that man would have had significant welts from the lashing he would have received.
That partial conversation is stuck in my craw right now.

My poor craw and my aching back.

Peace and painkillers,
Jme