Dear Diary,

The coke machine broke today. The captain called it a “beverage emergency.” Yes, during a tour of the bridge, he proclaimed that he finally had something to do. When we aren’t in transit, the captain likes to say he has the best job in the world: he enjoys the view. In reality he manages all of the teams (drilling, hospitality, science, kitchen) and is the leader of the floating island we are all on. He also monitors our dynamic-positioning system which controls the 12 massive thrusters below the ship keeping us in place - we aren’t anchored out here at 2000 meters deep so these thrusters help maintain our position over the hole and also steer us into the swell so we are more stable during drilling.

Dear Diary,

Have I told you about the laundry service onboard the ship? Any time we want fresh clothes, we leave a bag outside our stateroom door and within a few hours they come back washed and folded on our bed. Somehow I still struggle to put them away on the same day.

Dear Diary,

First day at sea and I am thankful for the masks we are wearing, not to protect us from the threat of a COVID outbreak, but to cover the stench of the interior bathrooms being used by our fallen comrads. Sea sickness can strike even the most experienced sea-goers. 

I’ve been lucky to have gotten my sea-legs early. Especially considering our first meal was a delicious steak with buffalo chicken wings. 

Survived the safety drill before our departure - although we were encouraged to wear hard hats and safety glasses would need to be worn for all subsequent drills. Okay, fine