Video - Leading the revolution

My mom is an occupational therapist and and a health care revolutionary. In Salisbury, Md., she's introduced the nursing homes where she works to Skype. If you've ever been in a nursing home, you know that they can be lonely places for its residents. Mom's helping to lift that weight by bringing them face to face with loved ones.

No, she doesn't blog.

Videos - The world is not flat

The last time Nimitz was out to sea we hit some rough water.  It's not your average workplace!

(See your chess board Uncle Gilbert?)

Driving up to Bremerton, Wa., I hit some hilly stretches along the coast of northwest California.  During my time on this planet, I've slid off wet roads in several different vehicles.  I was pretty nervous driving this, especially in the rain.

The high life

I slept in a bed! My buddy at combat camera, Tony "Hooch" McCormack, let me crash at his place on base last night.  I cannot understate how nice of a change it is from sleeping in a rack on the ship.

And yes, there's two beds in this room.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Get in my belly!

I'm not sure if I've eaten or napped more. MC2 Ted Green and his wife, Mary, opened their place to us lonely homesick Sailors, and we're loving life.


Also, Call of Duty Black Ops is a never ending source of entertainment for these guys.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Happy birthday...

Photo by Kathy Slaughter.

...grandma!!!  She's turning 90 and feeling 20!  Look at her, you can tell she lives life to the fullest.  This photo was taken last Christmas.  We were opening presents and I was trying to wake up.  That morning, grandma had more energy than I did.  Keep it up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Road trip photos

My drive up the coast is rapidly fading into memory.  What better way to preserve it than to post photos for the world to marvel at?  These were all taken with my Samsung Epic.  The above photo of the Pacific Ocean was taken off Highway 101, in northwestern California.

Lying on my back on a hiking trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Mist hangs above a lake on the eastern side of Highway 101, in northwestern California.

A moss covered tree at Lost Man Creek.  I made it out ok.

This Motel 6 was cheap, but I realized with horror why.  There was no shampoo and no COFFEE MAKER!!!

But dogs on the blanket was cool.  I like dogs.

This shower doubled as an escape pod!

On Treasure Island, a woman sits immersed in her book.  Across the bay is San Francisco.

I'm here!

I made it to Bremerton, and after much checking of my paperwork at the gate, have parked my car, and am on my way to the airport.

My buddy from A school, Chase is driving me. That's his wife lauren in the backseat with their new puppy. He's a purebred boston terrier and just arrived on a delta flight.

I feel privileged to have been here for this welcoming of a new family member!


Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

More gas adventures

 

I'm in Chehalis, Washington and I just realized that I can talk into my phone and it types out the words for me. (I added the city later) That makes my phone even easier to blog with then the laptop!  I'd probably give up blogging with the computer completely except I can't control much with the Epic.  No photo cropping, for example.

The cell doesn't recognize emotion either.  I don't know how to make it put an explanation point even though I'm yelling right now.

Anyway I'm outside of my first washington gas station. When I swiped my card at the pump a message popped up asking me to verify a 45 cent charge.

When I went inside to talk to an employee an older lady was inquiring about the same thing. Turns out this place charges 45 cents for every debit transaction. No credit cards allowed. The employee was in the process of explaining to the confused elderly woman how to accept charges at the pump.

It'd make sense for them to pump your gas for you here.

I'm 94.9 miles from Bremerton.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Weak stomach? Turn away!

This is the ugly side of life on the road.  I'm currently in Springfield, Oregon.  I wanted to make it to Portland but heavy rain forced me off the road at sundown.  I don't do curvy, unfamiliar roads at night in the rain.

A local recommended Roaring Rapids Pizza Company for delivery to my hotel room. 

On their online menu I noticed "smoked oysters" as a pizza topping.  I'm from the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland.  It's the best seafood in the world.  I love seafood, including oysters.

Don't ever get oysters on pizza.  GROSS!!!  They're the little raisin looking things. The photo shows exactly how much Brooks "normally human garbage disposal" Slaughter was able to eat.

Just awful.  Learn from my mistake!  Looks like it's ranch sunflower seeds for dinner...

I'm 280 miles from Bremerton.

I changed my mind

 

Maybe I was too quick to judge that gas pumping law.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Strange...and delicious!

I'm in Grant's Pass just north of the California/Oregon border. If you ever come here don't try to pump your own gas. They won't let you! Silly law. The good news is the folks are friendly and the steaks at Denny's are delicious and tender!

I'm 415 miles from Bremerton.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

And they call ME old man

I'm at Prairie Creek Redwood State Park, wandering around in awe of these massive, ancient trees.

How's this for contrast:

My Jeep "Little Bear" Patriot was built in September of this year.  This "mid-sized" Redwood is hundreds of years old.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

I'm golden!

I'm on my way to Eureka to spend the night, and just had to stop at the McDonald's to eat. This big bridge was there too so I got a pic in front of it!

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Slobber

I miss having a dog. Diego and Vicki's dog, Lucy, just gave me a nice fish-breath wake up.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Tapa The World

That's the name of the restaurant and these are my Cali people! Vicki is on the left there. She's my bestest friend and she's a year older today. We're in Sacramento, their place of residence, and the stopping point on the first leg of my journey north. Diego and she are not just newlywed doctors, but Jenga champions!

In case anyone's in the dark, I'm driving to Bremerton, Wa., as part of the USS Nimitz's homeport change.  Most of us with vehicles are being given 10 days (and money) to drive up ahead of time to drop our cars off.  We then fly back to the ship, and will ride the Nimitz up to Wa. in December.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

"Slaughter we need a post! What happened???" (community relations event)

 Our carrier is a corvette!  The Nimitz turns everyone sideways when she does high speed turns.  Photo by MCSA Andy Jandik.

I went out to sea, that's what happened!!  First of all, forming angry mobs outside does NOT increase the likelihood I'll put a blog post up, so knock it off.   But thanks guys...

As you've probably figured out, I haven't been on dry land much in the last few weeks.  It's pretty hard to blog without internet access.  Tomorrow I start my four-day drive up to Bremerton, Wa., so lemme put some ship stuff up to quench your thirst.  (I'll be posting details on the trip in the next couple days.)

In the spotlight.  Photo by MCSN Glenn Slaughter.

MC3 Adam Wolfe prepares to host The Thursday Show, on the channel every Nimitz Sailor watches to get the good gouge.

Linus on the flight deck.  Photo by MC3 Amdahl.

A few weeks ago, Linus Phillips came aboard USS Nimitz.  He has been battling a type of cancer called Burkitt Lymphoma.  The Make-A-Wish foundation made it possible for him to have his number one wish granted.  He wanted to visit not just any carrier, but specifically the Nimitz.

His parents said this:

“We just found it so amazing how much energy and commitment the Navy put into every little detail of Linus’ wish. It was highly emotional for us to see how much they cared about our son.”

Linus Phillips, 12, looks on as Cmdr. David Appezzato, Mini Boss aboard USS Nimitz, writes an announcement for Phillips to say over the 5-MC during his tour aboard the ship.  Photo by MC3 Merrill.

How many of us work in a place that's number one on a little boy's wish list?   Here's a kid that knew more about that ship than many of the Sailors.  He clearly loved everything about Navy carriers.

How's that for perspective?

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To the person that posted on my Facebook wall a few weeks ago,  I can't find your question to respond.  Write me again!