Carla's Conundrum

Almost Half Way.

2009-03-19T05:26:00.000-07:00

Well I think we are almost half way done. I have been to 3 different places so far and they are all starting to look the same. I have now been to Hong Kong, Sasebo (Japan), and Busan or Pusan depending on who you ask(Korea). We are on the boat for about 3 and a half weeks before our next port which will give us all time to save up. I know I don't have any pictures up yet but it is difficult when you can't use thumb drives in our work computers so it may be a bit longer but I will work on it. Well some news for the family. I have decided to try for orders in Whidbey Island Washington and if I get them I will be re-enlisting for another 3 years. I am really excited about it and was ready to get out but I am a little scared to right now with the economy the way it is. I also just took my exam for E-5 and should know by the end of may if I got it. Hope all is well with the family. Love you all.

One down

2009-02-12T16:32:00.000-08:00

Hey just wanted to update everyone. I am doing good out here on the ship. We are one month down. We are getting ready to pull into our first port which I am very excited about. I will post some pic's after we are back underway and leave there. Yesterday we had Strike Group photos with a couple of forgien ships which was very cool. I will have more pictures later but her is the one I do have. There is a sub out in front of us on my right and a foriegn ship on my left. I think it's a Japanese one but not 100%. Hope you all enjoy the pictures as I get them on.

One Last Weekend

2009-01-12T15:22:00.000-08:00

So it was my last weekend before going to the Boat so my boyfriend came down to see me before I leave. Thought I would share a picture.

2009 Deployment

2009-01-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that it is down to a few days left here on solid ground. For all that don't have my email I can be reached @ carla.nielsen@cvw9.navy.mil in the ship and my mailing address will be
YN3 Carla J. Nielsen
CVW-9 Staff
Unit 25118
FPO AP 96601-4407

Hope to hear from you all soon.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-12-20T18:48:00.000-08:00

So I promised an update so here we go. I did get a chance to go home for Thanksgiving and for Kayla Jo's baby shower which was loads of fun. I spent a lot of time cleaning and rearranging furniture but had fun doing it because we all know Amands is in no condition to do it. I did spend a month before that out on the ship and 4 days in San Diego which was nice because I got to spend time with my new boyfriend. We spent one day at Sea World because I haven't been there since I was little. Yes I have a boyfriend and yes he is in the Navy just in case any one is wondering. At least he has a job. I know I am so proud myself I found a good one with ambition. I am not going home for Christmas though because of duty and I am going to Washington to see my boyfriend before I deploy. I am planning an being very lazy except when he takes me snowboarding, which I can't wait for. Anyways, I will keep you up to date as much as I can but Amanda will have most of my info and how to reach me if anyone would like to and yes Uncle Scott I will you a ships babeball cap and mail it to you but send me your box number and the zipcode. Here are a few pictures from Sea World and one of me and Nathan. Talk to you all soon.

Crazy

2008-12-19T07:21:00.000-08:00

OK I know I haven't updated this in quite a while. I have been so busy with work. With all the work-ups on the ship and getting ready to sail halfway around the world has been keeping me more than busy. I promise this weekend when it is quiet and most of my friends are out of town for the holidays I will have time to do more work on this. Right now I don't have any pictures with me so I can't post any but this weekend should prove fun. I will keep you all up to date as much as I possibly can and Amanda will be helping me as much as she can. I would love to know how everyone is doing. So drop me a line and I will be in touch.

Fun in the Sun

2008-07-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

Well I am finally off work for 2 weeks enjoying Vegas and Family. Today we went to the pool and had lots of fun learning how to swim. Now we are just relaxing for the rest of the day before we go to my sisters for dinner and to play with the dogs. So far this trip has not been what I expected. The Jeep has been overheating so Laura drove up to get me. Guess it's time to start working on getting something differnet.

I'm Back

2008-06-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

Ok well I finally went out on an aircraft carrier. We were out for about 30 days and man what an experience. It was a lot of fun but a little difficult at times. All the ship really did was trot around about 60 to 90 miles off the coast. I did get to see some of the coast of Mexico when we were heading back in which was cool I guess. Other than that you really have to learn how to walk funny and don't cut yourself shaving in the shower. That was kind of hard at times. My office is all the way forward so we feel everything and we are right below the flight deck and one of the four cataputs so whenever they launched a plane we knew because we had to hold on to the computers so they didn't rattle off our desk (and it is extremely loud). It is very cold on the ship even though it was may. I did get to see a whale one day and one of the submarine's that came out with us was at periscope depth and you could see that sticking out of the water. I went up to a place on the ship called Volture's Row which was awesome. From there you can see almost all the flight deck and it amazing to stand up there at night and watch an F18 launch and trap or miss the trap and shoot sparks all the way down the deck from the tail hook. I wish I could have gotten some picture's of that but you can't use a flash at night. I hope on my next trip I can get some during the day or maybe a video at night. These pictures are from in port in San Diego when we were waiting to leave.

Crazy

2008-05-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

If anyone read Amanda or Laura's blog's you know we had quite the weekend in April. I wish I could say that things have slowed down but of course they haven't. If anything for me they have sped up. We are starting work ups on the boat so I will be leaving just before Memorial day and will be back on my birthday for about a month out on the boat. Yes this will be my first time so I am very excited. I really hope I can get some picture's but we shall see. I will post more when I return and let you all know what it is like. I will miss you all.

And yes happy cows do come from California

It's Warm

2008-03-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

So I am finally getting to see the sunshine again. It has been so warm in the afternoon's here in Cali that I took the windows out of the back of the Jeep. I am not so sure of that in the morning's though. It is still pretty chilly but it is nice to feel the wind. What a week at work. Everyone in the office is deploying for a few weeks and we are getting set for some quiet time (well as quiet as it can be with F-18's flying all day). This week we got a treat when some WWII bombers were practicing for an air show. It is fun to watch those old planes and it's easy with a runway about 50 yards out the back of the office. I will try and get some picture's if I can. I don't know what the rules are on that yet. I did get some of my pictures sent to me so this one is of me shooting an AK-47 when i was in training in August of 06.

The Beginning

2008-03-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well this is the first one. I figured my sister's seem to like it so i thought i would try so the rest of the family can keep up with me. I have been very busy these past few years. I know it has been a while but I joined the Navy in August of 2005 and have kind of been on the move ever since. I spent about 14 months deployed (2 months of training in MS then 12 in Afghanistan). Wow what a country. I never in my life thought i would be in a third world country but until you see it with your own eyes you just can't imagine what it's like to live that way. But I am now back in the states and divorced. I finally got to spend time with my family for Thanksgiving and when I transferred to Cali I got to spend 2 weeks at home for Christmas which was really crazy with the nephews. I love them and miss them more than anything. Will be doing some traveling this year and next year so i will work on getting some picture's up for everyone to see.