"Students in my energy class turned in their essays today, so I'm in the throes of grading. A mixed bag, as usual.
"The students are having a surprise 'retirement party' for Lee Parker after dinner tonight. He's unaware - that is, if all has gone well and no one has slipped up. The captain is going to page him over the PA system: 'Professor Parker, please report to the patio on the 03 deck.' I cancelled astronomy so that this can happen. Just added on a few extra minutes to other nights to make up. I don't usually go the full hour in astronomy anyway, so that was no big deal.
"Had a nice thunderstorm with lightning and booming about 4 a.m. But I wasn't interested enough to really wake up and see it. Sun was out when I got up at 6:30. This is probably our last hot day. We'll round the tip of Baja by noon tomorrow, then we'll start to get into cooler water. Satellite photos show the marine layer extending almost to the tip of Baja. In fact, I just noticed, on my way down to the computer room, some puffy 'pre fog' type clouds developing this afternoon.
"We have a 2-star admiral on board. He joined us in Costa Rica. Actually, a retired admiral. As I understand it, he now does 'consulting' work, including for MARAD - Marine Administration - the governmental agency that actually owns the ship. His job - for which I presume he's well paid - is to act as an 'observer.' That seems to consist mostly of sitting on the bridge kibitzing with officers and cadets on watch. Apparently he does this every couple of years since most of the officers already knew him. After we arrive in Vallejo, he flies to Hawaii to 'observe' some ship that the Navy is re-commissioning. Tough life for retired admirals. But he's a jovial sort and is entertaining at dinner. Anyway, having an admiral aboard requires certain naval protocol. Apparently we will be flying his flag when we enter San Francisco Bay. (Admirals are called 'flag rank,' and ships carrying an admiral flies their special flag to denote their presence aboard.) All government ships, such as Coast Guard, are supposed to see his flag and 'dip' their flag - although I don't really know what that means - in deference. Of course, we'd have to then dip our flag in the very unlike event that we pass a ship with a 3 or 4 star admiral. It should be entertaining."
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