Spare time...and lots of it

I haven't written in awhile because I haven't worked in awhile. It's been about a month and a half since I was last on a rig. Work is picking up in the Gulf and I'm on call to work on a deepwater drillship once drilling begins again. I went to a "Spud Meeting" (pre-job meeting) last Monday and they described the changes they had done to the BOPs (meaning blowout preventers, which were what failed to stop the Deepwater Horizon explosion) since the drilling moratorium. How they were really busy making the necessary changes so that operations will be safer than before. One safety guy made a comment on how in retrospect, some things about the old BOP were disturbingly unsafe. Not comforting. So in approximately two weeks I will be returning offshore for a 4 week on, 2 week off rotation. I've never been offshore for 4 weeks straight, and will write about how that goes. Hopefully cabin-fever doesn't set in. I should be okay, though, as I've heard that this rig is really nice and has a fancy gym.

At this point I'm fully aware that no one is reading this, other than my devoted and supportive boyfriend. Maybe one day I will turn these posts into something--an article perhaps. I have told two people that this blog exists, but never got a response (likely busy) so I assume they're not reading this which is perfectly fine with me. I'm reluctant to tell anyone about this blog, probably for the same reason I won't let anyone hear me sing: I don't want to find out I suck at something I love doing, which in this case is writing. I know these postings aren't beautifully crafted, as I don't write drafts or think of clever language or metaphors, but I like to write and this will do for now. This blog helps me to convince myself that my job is part of some bigger plan. That the life experience gained on an oil rig will prove invaluable when I'm an investigative reporter or science writer or executive something. This job can't just be a job, and I can't just be a field engineer.

Rachel Bernard: on the surface, a mild-mannered engineer, but who is in fact an undercover reporter on a secret mission (so secret that even she does not know what the mission is)