no prob. i graduated toc 2 days after katrina hit. left houston on sunday, got to lafayette that night and went to the shop on tuesday. was on payroll that day and went offshore on friday. work slowed down a little a yr or so after rita, but i was already cored on my boat as night shift LT so when my boat went out, i went out. got to day shift LT and had to show up at the dock earlier for load outs and stayed longer when we hit the dock for de-mob. since i was LT of the boat, i had to work it in dry dock for 3 months through winter of '07, which was good because the divers that were cored didn't work it. i got to chose 3 guys to work it with me on days and 2 guys on nights. i chose the guys who proved to me the most. i haven't been in the gulf since this last december and won't be back until jan. i'm in cali taking care of legal crap this year. i keep in touch with my buddies and coworkers and i get mixed word. some are keeping busy with just a little time off while others aren't working enough. it's just crazy right now and not only do you have to bust your ass like always, to get on jobs and stay on jobs you probably have to kiss as much ass as possible. you don't have to kiss ass when work is steady though, you just have to prove yourself a hard worker, eager to learn, and pays attention. like i tell all new guys when hiring on...show up at the shop to see the hiring guy with your offshore/dive gear packed so they can see that nothing is stopping you from going to work that night. the more ready you are and less excuses you have, the better chance you have of landing a job quickly. getting that 1st job is just your foot in the door and you'll have to prove you want to be there and don't want to be at home relaxing because there's a 100 other guys that want the job you're on.