8th Floor Scientist

Glomar Challenger

The scientific drilling program I work for started out in San Diego back in the 1968 as the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP). The drill ship was the Glomar Challenger.  In 1985 the program was renamed the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) and was moved to Texas A and M University (TAMU) at College Station, with a new drill ship named the "JOIDES Resolution" or the "JR" for short.. In 2003 the program was renewed at Texas A and M and renamed the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) partly due to the inclusion of a riser drill ship, "Chikyu", operated by the Japanese government. At that time a complete re-fit of the JR was completed that rebuilt the laboratory and living spaces.

JOIDES Resolution (JR)

During ODP days the JR had a floor that was called the 8th level, even though there were only seven. You might think this is some kind of superstition, kind of like not having a 13th floor in buildings, or maybe an ode to the psychedelic pioneer Roky Erickson and his "13th Floor Elevators" only it's the "8th Floor Scientists." But no. in way back times, there was a temporary van welded to the roof of the sixth level. This would be expanded into a complete floor. The designers thinking they were creating a whole new level numbered it 8th even thought the temp building and thus the expansion, was the 7th. Engineering drawing actually labeled it the Lab Stack 8th level. To make things even more confusing the 8th level housed the downhole measurements lab (DHML). On the JR we have downhole tools that measure insitu temperature, pressure and take water samples. Downhole being the top level meant everyone had to go up to downhole. As I said before, st the beginning of IODP the ship labs went through a complete change. At that point downhole moved down a level and the operations office moved up to the top level. Now I don't even know if that makes it 6, 7 or 8 levels and it really doesn't matter. What matters is, I'm used to going up to downhole. Many times I run out the door of the ops office, up the stairs to downhole and then find myself on the roof. I usually stay up there a while and look at the stars, just so no one knows how screwed up I am.

IODP is strictly scientific in nature and we actually go to great lengths to make certain we do not drill where there may be hydrocarbons (oil and gas). Past achievements include finding evidence in deep earth core samples of changes to the Earth's magnetic poles, evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics and evidence supporting the theory of an asteroid collision with Earth which would eventually destroy the dinosaurs.  That's only a part of "ODP's Greatest Hits."

Now the program is up for renewal in 2013 and they are looking for a new name. Some want to drop drilling from any new name to distance the program from oil drilling. I'm sure the BP fiasco has something to do with it. We need oil, and we need domestic drilling, even offshore, at least until alternative energy sources before practical. The industry needs to learn from BP's mistakes, but move forward. While my program has nothing to do with that industry, other than sharing some of the same tools, I do support the drilling industry. I have a lot of friends in the oil field and lets not forget there was a great loss of life and livelihood from the BP accident. Having said that, this offshore drilling moratorium is like throwing the baby out with the bath water. It is putting even more people out of work, hurting the economy even more and putting even more dependence on foreign oil which damages our national security. But I'm getting way off subject, so let me put my soap box back under the work bench and get back to my point, if there is one.

Even though there has been a lot learned about the environment and natural history, there are those uninformed that think we are going to drill a hole in the bottom of the ocean, letting all the water out, draining the seas or some other craziness. Some think we're disturbing the marine life, hurting "mother ocean" as one bar room crazy called it. For one thing, we monitor the area for marine mammals and stop operations that may be harmful to them, if  they enter that area. Come on now. The program is run and operated by a bunch of scientists that tend to be liberal and pretty damned tree-huggerish. They want to learn more about the earth and environment, not hurt it.  So I guess that's one reason they want the name changed to emphasize the program's scientific accomplishments.

Many suggestions have been offered for the new name. I like " Center for Ocean Research, Deep Earth Science (CORES)" or "Deep Earth Exploration Program (DEEP)", but I like having a pronounceable acronym for when I have to answer the telephone. One suggestion for a new name that I heard  was, "Sub-sea Exploration Project (SEx Project)". While it's catchy, I'm not sure how the connotations would effect the program, particularly when dealing with drilling equipment suppliers. The best idea may be just to add Scientific to ODP and be done with it. DSDP, ODP, IODP, SODP ? Call me when the scientists get it figured out. I'll be on the roof looking at stars.

The Phoenix

Like the mythical fire bird, the Phoenix, I rise, reborn from the ashes to become greater than before. 

I write this at sea aboard the research ship, JOIDES Resolution. I hope to get to more life at sea type posting, but I thought I would catch you up to speed on my life since I last posted from sea. I'm already half way through this expedition and this is my first post, so I apologize. I'll try to do better. I guess you get what you pay for.

A lot has happened since I last blogged from sea; divorce,death, birth, marriage and even threats of a tell all book, as if I were some former steroid using athlete with a gambling problem and a host of other addictions. I have done a lot of stupid things in my time, but no real drugs or dog fights and only an occasional small bet on a football game or poker night at the neighbors house. Still a lot of bad and a lot of good and quite a bit of bad that lead to good things, happened to me and around me in little over a years time since writing about working at sea. I don't mean to sound pious, quoting scripture, but I know it helps to pull me back to center, when I get off kilter, if I read a little from the good book. In the end  this verse helped me through a lot of the crap I would go through:

"... we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." -- Romans 8:28

 I've stumbled and staggered and strayed often from the path, but I will continue to at least try to find my way back. I may be rough around the edges and I may like to hang out in questionable establishments with sometimes questionable people. I often lose my temper, and I generally know when I'm wrong, though it takes me some time, sometimes to admit it to myself. I'm not a hypocrite, I just fall short like everyone else. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I don't know that I could have made it through these hard times without believing and it turned out much better than I could have imagined in the end.

If you read my previous blog  "I don't Love the Ocean, I love the Coast",originally posted a little over a year ago, you know I work at sea from time to time for up to two months per stint. I ended that series of postings, sometime in the middle of the 60 days, somewhere near the equator in the South Pacific, probably at a point in the expedition, when I became depressed enough at being out there to not care about updates to the outside world. It's a big ship, but it gets smaller over time. People start to annoy you more than they do on shore where you can get away from them for a while. At the end of your shift you can't go home to the comfort of your loved ones, or the sanctity of your own home. The best you can do is try to find privacy in your small stateroom, while your roommate is out on shift. Levels can get on up there on the stress scale. The same scenery of open ocean and clouds everyday, at times I start to hope for a little bit of a storm just to see a change. Then again there is the rolling of the ship from side to side that makes sleeping difficult. Even if you do sleep through the night you may wake up feeling tired from instinctively attempting to keep yourself from rolling from your bunk. Towards the end of the expedition all the fresh fruit and vegetable are gone, and other food items are in short supply or not available. Just a few reasons why I might get a little cranky before the end of the 60 days and some of the reasons I long to get off this ship.Of course there is great rejoicing and celebration in town the first night in port at the end of an expedition and Hawaii was no different.

During the port call prior to leaving Hawaii, I had become quite comfortable at a place call the Irish Rose near Waikiki in Honolulu and of course that's right where I headed upon return. I proceeded to spend a good chunk of my sea pay, including buying "a round of Jagers for the boys at the bar." To say the least it was a long night out, early morning up and long flight home. Little did I know, that this was only the beginning of a long journey.

The next morning, before I could shake off the haze from the night before, my wife of 22 years told me that she had filed for divorce 5 days before.  I was devastated, caught completely off guard. My first instinct was to do anything to change her mind. I didn't want to tell our three teenagers what was happening, but there was no avoiding it in my emotional state. After one night home in my own bed, I was relegated to an air mattress on the living room floor. Another week would pass and I had my own room in the converted garage. All the while trying everything to stop this insanity.

When divorce is eminent, it ceases to be an emotional relationship and becomes strictly business. I am not a believer in divorce generally and spiritually I believe it is wrong except in rare cases. This is why I didn't see it as a business relationship at that point. I don't want to go into too many details, but lets just say I should have realized the divorce was going to happen and I should have taken precautions to protect myself and my family. Hiring my own lawyer would have been a good start. When I did come around to the fact that this marriage was really over, I changed bank accounts, found a place to live and a place to sleep. A good friend gave me a room, rent free, and I lived at Duddley's Draw on Northgate. Even with no rent, this arrangement took a toll on me financially and emotionally. But it pushed me more into my music, as well. I starting writing a lot more, started finding a lot more gigs to play and getting more serious about actually making money at this thing. But there was a big hole in my soul.

Something happened almost to the day of the date that my divorce was scheduled to be finalized. It made me wonder if this wasn't God's plan all along. I met Amy. She was nothing like what I was looking for and everything like I wanted and needed. This new relationship made me see how good a relationship could be. I had gotten used to a bad relationship, over the years like a frog in slowly heated water. I didn't realize I was boiling until it was too late.


It's taking time to heal old wounds and leave the past behind, but I couldn't be happier in my new life. Well maybe a winning lottery ticket, but I can live without that too as long as I have Amy. She is an incredible woman, incredible mother and an incredible wife. We got married in February at the "Bar at Hullabaloo" during one of my shows. We didn't tell anyone except the preacher, what was going to happen, and I have to say it was a great ceremony. I can't promise a marriage at all my shows, but it just goes to show you, you never know what you might miss at a Dean Ferrell show. I can tell you you'll never see me get married again, but just maybe at a live music venue near you, a renewal of vows for our anniversary.

Self-Eval - Arrogant Bastard

It's that time of year at my day-job for Annual Performance Evaluations (APEs) which includes Self-Apprasials. These things are kind of like a resume for a job you already have, and are hoping to keep, possibly even get a raise in pay along the way. So, obviously, you highlight the good parts and ignore your bad in the hopes that your supervisor is either convinced by this narrative of the past year's hard work, or at the very least, is too lazy to write his own evaluation. In this case he might just copy your self-eval into his own evaluation of your performance; a win win situation.

My problem with writing this self-appraisal, is that it goes against most peoples sense or modesty. Your are forced to self promote and it makes you feel arrogant and cocky. For some people this isn't a problem. For me it's difficult, though my ex-wife might disagree.

Now for those of you who want to be brutally honest, I have written an example self-appraisal:

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PART 1. PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL A. Employee Self-Appraisal Form For each evaluation factor, provide a response in the comments section. Describe and evaluate your overall performance and/or achievements for this review period. Please provide specific work-related examples that document your assessment. Comments or performance examples: I have been very effective over the past year at criticizing other employee’s research and development. By pointing out possible flaws using abnormal logic and as little factual information as possible, I have been able to appear very knowledgeable without the need to suggest any alternative solutions. I am currently involved in an effort to publish a work entitled, “Self promotion through Nay-Saying and Defeatism.” My previous publications include, “The Effective Use of Complex Words in Academia and Industry to Confuse the Competition” and the somewhat less scholarly, “How to Get Ahead at the Expense of Co-workers” Review of Last Years Goals and Objectives Objective Result Improve job avoidance skills I have become a master of walking fast with a stern look to give the appearance of concern and a sense of urgency. Also, created official looking labels for empty boxes, which I can carry through the halls at irregular intervals. Study the art of “pencil whipping” Developed system of using copies of 2 year old self evaluations to reduce time evaluating my performance. (i.e. next year the supervisor you will receive a copy of last years self-eval) Implement Project Management Successfully manipulated co-works into taking on assignments for which I take credit Organization Skills Concluded that disorganization and a cluttered desktop, gives the impression that an employee has taken far too many projects but still has the ability to cope and succeed. Add additional lines if needed. 2. Describe the most difficult part of your job and the steps necessary to overcome or improve. Comments or performance examples: Not enough time for Ebay™ and online shopping. Resolve to spend at least 1 hour at the start of the day, 1 hour at the end of the day, and 1 hour before and after lunch browsing through “Auctions Ending Soon” Organize the remaining time to include a combination of reading personal email, and browsing through news web sites with the occasional visit to sites of questionable moral value. Use spreadsheet to prioritize shopping options while looking busy 3. Describe what your supervisor can do to assist you in completing your current duties and responsibilities more effectively and efficiently. Comments or performance examples: Reduce face to face meetings, sending all communications via email. This will allow me to do my “work” remotely, in some case with out the need to even get dressed. In those cases where I can find Wifi access at a local pub, dressing will become necessary. 4. Describe specific goals you want to accomplish during the next review period and, if applicable, explain how your supervisor can assist you in reaching these goals: Comments or performance examples: In the following year I hope to safe guard any information critical to the functioning of our operation. To achieve this goal, I will prevent co-workers from learning the proper operation of critical tools and equipment and providing incorrect information when they appear to be learning on their own. I will keep co-workers busy defending their own ideas and projects against criticisms to prevent them the opportunity to learn my job, thus maintaining my job status as irreplaceable. Copyright 2007 Southward Tack Publishing

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