The Norfolk Naval Yard

We got to go on a big ship today. Not the biggest...like an aircraft carrier, but still a HUGE ship.

My nieces new husband is out at sea. In fact...he is extremely close to the situation in Syria, on the USS Truman. Kinda scary.

So, we got to have a friend of his give us a tour on the USS Wasp. 884 feet of gunmetal gray.

We were warned not to take any pictures on the flight deck. In fact...at one point, our guide Dave actually took our cameras, and locked them up.

There was a top secret F-35 on the top of the ship. Billions of dollars. I asked myself..."Do I really look like a spy in my shorts and golf shirt?" I guess you never know. It took them over 2 hours to airlift the "bird" over the edge of the ship to the dock below.

The ships really are massive...hard to even grasp. 3 of us boys followed Dave down to his bunk to check out the lower decks. Cramped...confining...narrow. Not exactly a place for anyone with claustrophobia.

I put a few pictures of the "guts" of the ship on my FLICKR PAGE. This shot was taken from the bowels of the ship...looking through the elevator where they can lift the fighter planes up into the ship.

I was so charged up when we left the ship that I grabbed the first little pretty girl I saw. I grabbed her up in my arms...and carried her off...just like in the closing scene of An Officer and a Gentleman. "Love lift us up where we belongggg." A very Hollywood ending to a great day.

Thanks to my niece Lindsey for our pleasant stay and tour.

"Anchors aweigh...my boys! Anchors aweigh."