December 31

Well the 2nd port visit you HAVE to cross the equator to get to I think.
Can't say when that is but I will say when we cross the equator I think.
Just crossed the international dateline so now I'm a day ahead. (It's Dec
31st now and I get to celebrate the new year 22 full hours before the rest
of you.) Date line there's nothing except saying you did it (if the captain
chose to hit the dateline AND the equator at the same spot you're a "golden
shellback" and a blue shellback is anything below or above the arctic circle
with various designations depending on how many of these combinations you
can come up with. The shellbacking is quote "a pretty Disney initiation type
stuff" Its one of those things where everyone you ask (probably going back
to when grandpa was in the Navy) says that its not like it was when THEY did
it, that its kind of lame now (but then they endlessly reminisce about the
thing and still take pride in the whole shellback thing). Its like that I
guess.

Well our watch is now 5 hours same time every day for a week then you shift
to the following time after a that week. I'm from 12-17 now. So anytime
AFTER work ends until 06 the next day (aside from if you have watch) is YOUR
time. Technically lights out is at 22 but if you WANT to not sleep you can
do whatever. Right now work is ending around 1700-1900ish at night (which is not
bad but if you have the 0200-0700 or the 1700-2200 your basically working a really
LONG day.

Al