25 November 2005
24 November 2005
Lindsay called...
and I am thankful. This was a good call. She got to talk to everyone via speakerphone for a bit and then individually. She is doing a bit better. More good news is that she took her PT test Tuesday (as scheduled) and PASSED. Not only did she achieve Basic Training standard, but she has already reached US Army standard. She seemed very relieved. We all were too.
She now has to focus on four more days of actual Basic Training and then she has a make up week. She will be doing her 10k "make up" road march soon. She also has a 15k road march and FTX (field training exercise) this Tuesday it sounds like. These last few things are the only things between her and graduation. She seemed very happy to be able to talk to everyone. I think she was on the phone for almost an hour.
She did tell me that she was still feeling anxious about her last week or two, but seemed to be confident. We leave in twelve days! I can't wait!!!
Happy thanksgiving.
She now has to focus on four more days of actual Basic Training and then she has a make up week. She will be doing her 10k "make up" road march soon. She also has a 15k road march and FTX (field training exercise) this Tuesday it sounds like. These last few things are the only things between her and graduation. She seemed very happy to be able to talk to everyone. I think she was on the phone for almost an hour.
She did tell me that she was still feeling anxious about her last week or two, but seemed to be confident. We leave in twelve days! I can't wait!!!
Happy thanksgiving.
23 November 2005
Photos from Lindsay!
This past Sunday, the soldiers were allowed off base. The photos below were taken at either a church, a gas station or bowling alley. Looks like they got some good coffee finally! Lindsay sent the camera back to us to be developed. So... here they are.
22 November 2005
This one hurts to type...
Postmarked 19Nov05 (this would've been Saturday, at the start of the three very bad phone calls we received):
Dad,
Hi. Well, today was the first day of week seven. And I've never been more emotional in my entire life. I swear, it's like one minute I'm crying my eyes out and the next I'm laughing really hard. This is seriously stressing me out. I feel like it's not even worth it sometimes. I know it sounds stupid, but I seriously can't stay motivated at all. I'm really sick (even worse than before... my head hurts like crazy, my skin hurts when I touch it, it hurts to swallow... etc.). I'm run down, drained, tired and ALWAYS FREEZING. I swear to God Missouri is the coldest state on earth. Not even joking.
We just went on an FTX yesterday and it was so miserable. There are no heated buildings on the site, so if it gets cold, sucks to be you. It got down to like 20 degrees or something and we slept out there. Then in the morning (4am) they made us all get up and pull security which basically means go sit in the hole you dug up the day before with your weapon in 16 degree weather for an HOUR. I cried because my fingers were actually numb. Plus I'm ridiculously sick, so if I even move my WHOLE BODY hurts. This can't be good for you. Seriously. Ow.
Today at range detail (five people from each platoon go set crap up on the firing range for the company to use) we sat in the ammo shack and listened to music and loaded ammo into magazines for about 2.5 hours. Summer of '69 came on and I cried. Seriously. No joke. I friggin' BAWLED MY EYES OUT. It reminded me of home and I was in a really sucky mood so when I heard it I flipped out. It was pretty sad looking. I just got my sweats on. I'm so cold. Crafton said I have a fever. Nobody else is cold but me. They're all walking around in shorts and t-shirts w/flip flops. I can't even write because I'm so cold. This is seriously miserable. I am in hell. It's official.
Three more weeks feels like so long from now. DS Allen didn't let me do the 10k foot march because of my back. So as of now I'm in non-graduate status, which really makes me in an even better mood. Not. This is ridiculous. I need major help dad. I don't know how much longer I can take it.
I was in a better mood earlier. When we did night fire. We all waited until the sun went down, put tracer rounds in our magazines and put our M-16's on burst and it was like a lazer light show going on. The drill sgts. were lighting off pink and orange flares (one of them started a fire on the range). I was so excited and happy, but I took medicine before it so I wouldn't feel so bad. However, now I feel like poop and I'm going to cry.
Sorry for the bad note. I'm gonna try to write everyone one by one.
Love you,
Lindsay
p.s. WRITE BACK
Dad,
Hi. Well, today was the first day of week seven. And I've never been more emotional in my entire life. I swear, it's like one minute I'm crying my eyes out and the next I'm laughing really hard. This is seriously stressing me out. I feel like it's not even worth it sometimes. I know it sounds stupid, but I seriously can't stay motivated at all. I'm really sick (even worse than before... my head hurts like crazy, my skin hurts when I touch it, it hurts to swallow... etc.). I'm run down, drained, tired and ALWAYS FREEZING. I swear to God Missouri is the coldest state on earth. Not even joking.
We just went on an FTX yesterday and it was so miserable. There are no heated buildings on the site, so if it gets cold, sucks to be you. It got down to like 20 degrees or something and we slept out there. Then in the morning (4am) they made us all get up and pull security which basically means go sit in the hole you dug up the day before with your weapon in 16 degree weather for an HOUR. I cried because my fingers were actually numb. Plus I'm ridiculously sick, so if I even move my WHOLE BODY hurts. This can't be good for you. Seriously. Ow.
Today at range detail (five people from each platoon go set crap up on the firing range for the company to use) we sat in the ammo shack and listened to music and loaded ammo into magazines for about 2.5 hours. Summer of '69 came on and I cried. Seriously. No joke. I friggin' BAWLED MY EYES OUT. It reminded me of home and I was in a really sucky mood so when I heard it I flipped out. It was pretty sad looking. I just got my sweats on. I'm so cold. Crafton said I have a fever. Nobody else is cold but me. They're all walking around in shorts and t-shirts w/flip flops. I can't even write because I'm so cold. This is seriously miserable. I am in hell. It's official.
Three more weeks feels like so long from now. DS Allen didn't let me do the 10k foot march because of my back. So as of now I'm in non-graduate status, which really makes me in an even better mood. Not. This is ridiculous. I need major help dad. I don't know how much longer I can take it.
I was in a better mood earlier. When we did night fire. We all waited until the sun went down, put tracer rounds in our magazines and put our M-16's on burst and it was like a lazer light show going on. The drill sgts. were lighting off pink and orange flares (one of them started a fire on the range). I was so excited and happy, but I took medicine before it so I wouldn't feel so bad. However, now I feel like poop and I'm going to cry.
Sorry for the bad note. I'm gonna try to write everyone one by one.
Love you,
Lindsay
p.s. WRITE BACK
19 November 2005
She sounds pretty rough
Lindsay gave us a phone call today (30 minutes!!!). She sounds really sick. She missed her chance to go to the Doctor's today, so she has to wait until Monday now. Problem is, her PT test is Tuesday. She seems to be keeping her chin up, but is just really physically drained. She needs all the support we can give her for these last couple weeks.
She has a few really important milestones coming up. Her PT test is next week, a 10k road march another FTX and a 15k road march. She also has to make up a push-ups test. These are all going to take every last bit of strength she has it seems. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She said she would be able to call again tomorrow.
On a scheduling note, she will be shipping directly to Ft. Myer on December 9th (right after graduation). Right now it looks like she will be coming home on December 19th and going back to Virginia on January 3rd.
And finally:
18 days until we see her!!!!
20 days until she graduates!!!
30 days until she's HOME!!!!
She has a few really important milestones coming up. Her PT test is next week, a 10k road march another FTX and a 15k road march. She also has to make up a push-ups test. These are all going to take every last bit of strength she has it seems. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She said she would be able to call again tomorrow.
On a scheduling note, she will be shipping directly to Ft. Myer on December 9th (right after graduation). Right now it looks like she will be coming home on December 19th and going back to Virginia on January 3rd.
And finally:
18 days until we see her!!!!
20 days until she graduates!!!
30 days until she's HOME!!!!
17 November 2005
"Our company moved into White Phase yesterday!"
Dated 09Nov05:
Fasha,
Hi dad. Ugh. I am SO sore it's almost ridiculous. My arch support in my running shoes and boots suck so I keep getting major pain all the way up my back. My knees hurt too. And my pulled muscle isn't doing any better. To tell you the truth, I think it's getting worse which sucks a lot.
I refuse to go on sick call (the doctor's office/pharmacy) because I'll miss training and I might get put on code again (no run/jump/march). That means I can't do jack crap because the doctor said. And if I do, I get an article 15 under the VCMJ for disobedience. SO, that's why I'm not going. Plus, I only have four more weeks left (hopefully) until graduation (if I graduate... nervous). The last week we really don't do anything but get our crap together. So really, I only have three weeks of training left. Woo.
We're getting fitted for our Class A's today. I'm excited! They're pretty. I get to put my weapon qualification badge on them. We qualified yesterday (Nov. 8). I sucked really bad. I was pretty much pissed the rest of the day because I got friggin' marksman. What the heck?? I shot crappy. I got a 28. A sharpshooter is a 31. The day before qualification I got a 34. What kind of crap is that?? I got nervous is what that is. DUMB. I feel embarassed wearing that stupid badge. However, I should just be glad that I qualified at all or I'd be a restart. I just want another chance. I'm 100% positive that I'd get sharpshooter. UGH. Okay, all that is doing is making me irritated. NEXT SUBJECT.
Our company moved into WHITE PHASE yesterday! I was so excited. Our company commander (Captain Flores) said he was proud of us because out of 175 soldiers, only two didn't qualify. He said that showed that we were paying attention to our drill sgts. and working as a team. I wonder what blue phase will be like.
I've been wanting family day to get here already. I get to walk around in my Class A's and leave the fort for a whole day. I don't get to change though, which sucks. I keep thinking about my graduation and knowing that all of you are proud of me and it's making me, like, cry. lol. I just can't wait. I'm going to feel so accomplished. Heck, I already feel like I did so much already, but I know I still have more work left to do.
Oh, I forgot to tell you (I think, if I did, disregard this next statement). One of the girls in my bay bought me a bible at the px the other day. It's really pretty. It's all green leather with the Army emblem on the front of it in gold. It's like a soldier's bible. It's got helpful stuff in it like what verses to go to when you need help, fearing failure, need to be cheered up... etc. It's really useful. It was like 20 some dollars. She's really nice.
For Christmas exodus they might make us wear our ACU's home instead of our Class A's. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. My ACU cap doesn't really fit me right. It's too small. Kara has BDU's instead of ACU's. BDU's are the dark camo print stuff. ACU's are the digital light stuff with the tan boots. I actually like the BDU's better. They look cooler. ACU's are LAME.
But yeah, I still don't know if I'm going to take a bus home or a plane home. A bus to Chicago is only like $141. Whereas a plane ticket is like $300-500. Lame again.
I was looking at my pictures yesterday during qualification while we were waiting for everyone to get done and everyone loves my pictures. lol. They all wanted to see them. I have one of you in the gas mask [from PFDC tour banquet, jn] that Mrs. Cogo gave you. They thought it was funny. Are there any new pictures of us on the website? If there are, send me some of them. I really want to see them. The last ones I saw were the ones where I was on the wall with Crafton, Morrisette and Staggs, the M-16 water one and the gas chamber one.
This sucks. I want a break to come home and tell everyone about basic. I'm supposed to be cleaning right now, but there isn't anything left to clean. We did it all already, but if we told the drill sgt. we were done, we'd be running laps or getting "corrective training" of some sort. So, we're all hiding out in the changing bay sitting around acting like we're cleaning the latrine.
I had fire guard last night. Actually, it was supposed to be my night off, but one of our females got sick and went to the hospital, so I covered her shift. It wasn't that bad since it was the first one (9-10pm).
It smells like bleach in here. Yuck.
Oh, that guitar pick you sent me... the words wore off. So now it's just a yellow pick. lol. I've been doing so much crap, nothing is left on it anymore. Hmm... which do you like better... ACU's or Class A's? What do you think of me in my spiffy ACU's? lol. Did you flip when you saw a picture or laugh at me for looking like such a complete dork? HA! I'm getting bored/tired now. That sucks. See, I can't even write anymore. So... with that I will be on my way... to clean doorknobs or something. Bye!
Love,
Lindsay
Fasha,
Hi dad. Ugh. I am SO sore it's almost ridiculous. My arch support in my running shoes and boots suck so I keep getting major pain all the way up my back. My knees hurt too. And my pulled muscle isn't doing any better. To tell you the truth, I think it's getting worse which sucks a lot.
I refuse to go on sick call (the doctor's office/pharmacy) because I'll miss training and I might get put on code again (no run/jump/march). That means I can't do jack crap because the doctor said. And if I do, I get an article 15 under the VCMJ for disobedience. SO, that's why I'm not going. Plus, I only have four more weeks left (hopefully) until graduation (if I graduate... nervous). The last week we really don't do anything but get our crap together. So really, I only have three weeks of training left. Woo.
We're getting fitted for our Class A's today. I'm excited! They're pretty. I get to put my weapon qualification badge on them. We qualified yesterday (Nov. 8). I sucked really bad. I was pretty much pissed the rest of the day because I got friggin' marksman. What the heck?? I shot crappy. I got a 28. A sharpshooter is a 31. The day before qualification I got a 34. What kind of crap is that?? I got nervous is what that is. DUMB. I feel embarassed wearing that stupid badge. However, I should just be glad that I qualified at all or I'd be a restart. I just want another chance. I'm 100% positive that I'd get sharpshooter. UGH. Okay, all that is doing is making me irritated. NEXT SUBJECT.
Our company moved into WHITE PHASE yesterday! I was so excited. Our company commander (Captain Flores) said he was proud of us because out of 175 soldiers, only two didn't qualify. He said that showed that we were paying attention to our drill sgts. and working as a team. I wonder what blue phase will be like.
I've been wanting family day to get here already. I get to walk around in my Class A's and leave the fort for a whole day. I don't get to change though, which sucks. I keep thinking about my graduation and knowing that all of you are proud of me and it's making me, like, cry. lol. I just can't wait. I'm going to feel so accomplished. Heck, I already feel like I did so much already, but I know I still have more work left to do.
Oh, I forgot to tell you (I think, if I did, disregard this next statement). One of the girls in my bay bought me a bible at the px the other day. It's really pretty. It's all green leather with the Army emblem on the front of it in gold. It's like a soldier's bible. It's got helpful stuff in it like what verses to go to when you need help, fearing failure, need to be cheered up... etc. It's really useful. It was like 20 some dollars. She's really nice.
For Christmas exodus they might make us wear our ACU's home instead of our Class A's. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. My ACU cap doesn't really fit me right. It's too small. Kara has BDU's instead of ACU's. BDU's are the dark camo print stuff. ACU's are the digital light stuff with the tan boots. I actually like the BDU's better. They look cooler. ACU's are LAME.
But yeah, I still don't know if I'm going to take a bus home or a plane home. A bus to Chicago is only like $141. Whereas a plane ticket is like $300-500. Lame again.
I was looking at my pictures yesterday during qualification while we were waiting for everyone to get done and everyone loves my pictures. lol. They all wanted to see them. I have one of you in the gas mask [from PFDC tour banquet, jn] that Mrs. Cogo gave you. They thought it was funny. Are there any new pictures of us on the website? If there are, send me some of them. I really want to see them. The last ones I saw were the ones where I was on the wall with Crafton, Morrisette and Staggs, the M-16 water one and the gas chamber one.
This sucks. I want a break to come home and tell everyone about basic. I'm supposed to be cleaning right now, but there isn't anything left to clean. We did it all already, but if we told the drill sgt. we were done, we'd be running laps or getting "corrective training" of some sort. So, we're all hiding out in the changing bay sitting around acting like we're cleaning the latrine.
I had fire guard last night. Actually, it was supposed to be my night off, but one of our females got sick and went to the hospital, so I covered her shift. It wasn't that bad since it was the first one (9-10pm).
It smells like bleach in here. Yuck.
Oh, that guitar pick you sent me... the words wore off. So now it's just a yellow pick. lol. I've been doing so much crap, nothing is left on it anymore. Hmm... which do you like better... ACU's or Class A's? What do you think of me in my spiffy ACU's? lol. Did you flip when you saw a picture or laugh at me for looking like such a complete dork? HA! I'm getting bored/tired now. That sucks. See, I can't even write anymore. So... with that I will be on my way... to clean doorknobs or something. Bye!
Love,
Lindsay
15 November 2005
Please disregard the last post...
Bambi is alive and well. My "hunting" trip turned into a "non-hunting" trip. I just didn't have the energy/interest/passion to go out this year. I didn't even go out today (opening day... the horrah). I did, however, do a bit of running and writing. I took my guitar up there and spent many an afternoon playing away. Even wrote part of a new Nirvana-ish sounding song (see the music blog). Anyway, not one of the guys got a deer this year (this is really nothing new). Although the other two that were up there with me did work very hard this year to bring home the venison. So... I'm back a day early and it's raining. Sounds like "song-writing" weather to me.
12 November 2005
10 November 2005
"...the only way I'm going home is in my Class A uniform, graduated and on a plane..."
Dated 05 Nov 05:
Everyone,
Hi! How are you all? I'm okay. A little freaked out though. We qualify with our weapons on Tuesday. If I don't qualify I get restarted in a different company. And since you know how absolutely freaked out I can get, I'm not going into details.
Oh, I got into trouble for the first time yesterday. Our PG (Platoon Guide) told me and two other people to go out into the hallway to talk about an issue (we were cleaning our weapons) so I said "okay." Just real quick. So we walked out into the hall and started talking. Then the drill sgt. came and made us do squat thrusts (basically going down into the push-up position and jumping back up). So we were doing them and I started to get mad. So when the drill sgt. started yelling at me, I answered like I was supposed to, but was pissed and had an attitude. So... he made me to 150 squat thrusts with two push-ups in between each thrust. Needless to say I was pissed. THEN TODAY HE CALLED ME A LIAR AND SAID I WAS FAKING MY MUSCLE PAIN IN MY BACK. Friggin' retard. I hate that drill sgt. Ugh.
Anyways, sorry. I was really mad and had to get that out. Whew. Okay. Moving on.
I just sent a letter to Melissa saying hi and other stuff like that. I got Kara's address from mom, but I'm not allowed to write to other soldiers in Basic Training. So that pretty much sucks a lot. But I do get to see and talk to her every Sunday at Church! Woo!
You know what? I am SO ready to come home. I want to graduate. This morning (when my DS called me a liar for my back) he asked me why I wanted to fake sick and go home, but I told him the only way I'm going home is in my Class A uniform, graduated and on a plane because I DID MY TRAINING! [that's my girl!!!, jn]The thing is with sick call, is basically anyone who goes is automatically a "liar." So, by people going that are actually sick/injured we get crap for it. Ugh. I'm still mad about that.
I want family day to be here already. Only 33 more days left as of today. I can't wait. Alright, I really need to take a shower, make my bed, clean my locker, do PT and massage my "fake injury." I'll write more to you all later. Send me as much mail as you can because I could really use some cheering up right now.
Love you guys,
Lindsay
Everyone,
Hi! How are you all? I'm okay. A little freaked out though. We qualify with our weapons on Tuesday. If I don't qualify I get restarted in a different company. And since you know how absolutely freaked out I can get, I'm not going into details.
Oh, I got into trouble for the first time yesterday. Our PG (Platoon Guide) told me and two other people to go out into the hallway to talk about an issue (we were cleaning our weapons) so I said "okay." Just real quick. So we walked out into the hall and started talking. Then the drill sgt. came and made us do squat thrusts (basically going down into the push-up position and jumping back up). So we were doing them and I started to get mad. So when the drill sgt. started yelling at me, I answered like I was supposed to, but was pissed and had an attitude. So... he made me to 150 squat thrusts with two push-ups in between each thrust. Needless to say I was pissed. THEN TODAY HE CALLED ME A LIAR AND SAID I WAS FAKING MY MUSCLE PAIN IN MY BACK. Friggin' retard. I hate that drill sgt. Ugh.
Anyways, sorry. I was really mad and had to get that out. Whew. Okay. Moving on.
I just sent a letter to Melissa saying hi and other stuff like that. I got Kara's address from mom, but I'm not allowed to write to other soldiers in Basic Training. So that pretty much sucks a lot. But I do get to see and talk to her every Sunday at Church! Woo!
You know what? I am SO ready to come home. I want to graduate. This morning (when my DS called me a liar for my back) he asked me why I wanted to fake sick and go home, but I told him the only way I'm going home is in my Class A uniform, graduated and on a plane because I DID MY TRAINING! [that's my girl!!!, jn]The thing is with sick call, is basically anyone who goes is automatically a "liar." So, by people going that are actually sick/injured we get crap for it. Ugh. I'm still mad about that.
I want family day to be here already. Only 33 more days left as of today. I can't wait. Alright, I really need to take a shower, make my bed, clean my locker, do PT and massage my "fake injury." I'll write more to you all later. Send me as much mail as you can because I could really use some cheering up right now.
Love you guys,
Lindsay
09 November 2005
"Do you hear that Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability..."
Came across another one of those entertaining quiz thingies. This one tries to pinpoint which movie villian you most closely resemble. Turns out I am the one person I fear.... Agent Smith. Dude scares the life out of me...
Favorite Agent Smith quotes:
[hearing the coming subway]: "Do you hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability."
"I hate this place, this zoo, this prison, this reality, whatever you want to call it."
"You are a plague, and we are the cure."
"Never send a human to do a machine's job."
Lieutenant: "I think we can handle one little girl".
Agent Smith: "No, Lieutenant. Your men are already dead."
"I am the Alpha of your Omega. I am the beginning of your end."
Hmm... I think I actually like this guy after all...
Favorite Agent Smith quotes:
[hearing the coming subway]: "Do you hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability."
"I hate this place, this zoo, this prison, this reality, whatever you want to call it."
"You are a plague, and we are the cure."
"Never send a human to do a machine's job."
Lieutenant: "I think we can handle one little girl".
Agent Smith: "No, Lieutenant. Your men are already dead."
"I am the Alpha of your Omega. I am the beginning of your end."
Hmm... I think I actually like this guy after all...
07 November 2005
"Me and Crafton own the place"
Dated 02 Nov 05
Everyone,
Hi! How are you all doing? I'm... okay. Not horrible and not great either. I'm VERY sore and we were smoked until muscle failure. I can barely do 10 push-ups anymore because my arms don't work anymore. That's NOT COOL because the PT test is in three weeks. BRM qualifying is soon too. Like, next week or so. Sorry my writing sucks so bad. Lights out was a little bit ago and I'm writing in bed by flashlight. Don't you like the stationary? [she got some cute military cartoon stationary at the px, jn] It's so great. It was only $3.75 at the PX. Woo.
Oh, guess what. I'm a squad leader. Heck yes. There are four squad leaders in a 45 person platoon and the drill sgt. said me and Crafton own the place. HAHA. Which is cool. And he said I'm tough as nails. HA. I own you all. Oh yeah, I can also shoot a target 300 meters away square in the head. How flippin' sweet is that?! Uh, yeah... awesome. Well, I gotta go. I want to fill you in on the squad leader thing more.
Love you guys!
Lindsay
p.s. WRITE!!!
Everyone,
Hi! How are you all doing? I'm... okay. Not horrible and not great either. I'm VERY sore and we were smoked until muscle failure. I can barely do 10 push-ups anymore because my arms don't work anymore. That's NOT COOL because the PT test is in three weeks. BRM qualifying is soon too. Like, next week or so. Sorry my writing sucks so bad. Lights out was a little bit ago and I'm writing in bed by flashlight. Don't you like the stationary? [she got some cute military cartoon stationary at the px, jn] It's so great. It was only $3.75 at the PX. Woo.
Oh, guess what. I'm a squad leader. Heck yes. There are four squad leaders in a 45 person platoon and the drill sgt. said me and Crafton own the place. HAHA. Which is cool. And he said I'm tough as nails. HA. I own you all. Oh yeah, I can also shoot a target 300 meters away square in the head. How flippin' sweet is that?! Uh, yeah... awesome. Well, I gotta go. I want to fill you in on the squad leader thing more.
Love you guys!
Lindsay
p.s. WRITE!!!
05 November 2005
"Drill Sgt. I have one thing to say... I am awesome"
Dated 01 Nov 05:
Everyone,
Hi, how are you all? I hope you're doing okay. *sigh* Today WAS an alright day... but got worse and worse as it went on. In the morning (and a lot of the afternoon) we had BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship). I love BRM because we get to shoot our guns! Oops, I mean "weapons", ha! Anyways, today was my third day shooting it. We were practicing shooting at 75m, 175m and 300m away. I was really excited because I was AWESOME. I hit all the 75m, 16 of 20 175m and 6/10 from 300m. I own! Anyways, so when I was walking back to get off the range, my drill sgt. (Allen) put a clearing rod in my face and asked me how I did. Haha, then I go "drill sgt. I have one thing to say. I am awesome" and then walked away. Haha. But when I walked away, he hit me with the rod and called me a "moo-cow." Yeah, interesting. Anyways, basically if that was my qualifying round, I would be a sharpshooter. I keep telling you, I'm awesome. Not only would I qualify, but I'm 5 points away from an EXPERT. That's right, OWNAGE at it's finest.
Oh yeah, not only does my drill sgt. know me by name, but the FIRST SGT. of the whole friggin company does too. He smacked me on my helmet today because I'm a specialist and I "cheated the system." Pssh. Whatever. Oh, I just remembered. My drill sgt. Allen told me I shot like a girl (to get me motivated) the other day, and I must have been really awake because I said "if I shoot like a girl, then I must be shooting like the rest of the males here." Wooooooo! I got an M&M for that one. It was good too!
DS Allen said I haev an attitude, but I know how to use it. Which means I haven't screwed up too bad YET. *knock on wood* Anyways, after lunch all of us (the whole company) got the crap scuffed out of us because we're not disciplined. And it was from the 1st sgt. too which = VERY BAD!! Yeah, people are stupid.
Anyways, the whole day has pretty much went to crap because I got sick again (I still wasn't all the way better) and we kept getting smoked. LAME. And I'm really friggin tired, but I'm writing you all a letter because I feel like craaaaaaaap. We're qualifying in like a week and a half and our FINAL PT TEST is in like two or three weeks. Scary. I'm really afraid of the last few weeks. They're gonna HURT.
I'm supposed to get my platoon photos back during week six or so. I can't wait until family day when I can wear my class A's and get to spend the whole day w/you guys. We get to leave the fort and everything! Can we say COFFEE??? HECK YES! Oh, I got a letter from Sgt. Kwik. Woo. It was about time. He said every time I write him a letter, I get one back. So woo. Letters for Lindsay. Oh, dad, my writing on my guitar pick is starting to come off. I keep it in the pocket of my ACU's and with all that moving around the writing is wearing off. I sleep with both guitar picks. I have William (my fife doll) and I put the picks in his shirt and go to sleep with all my special stuff. Aww... he's so cute. I told Kara at church that I slept with a William doll and she flipped and wanted it. Lol. I might let her borrow it for a week just so she can feel at home.
Oh, if you can... send up any pictures of me and Kara and/or the Old Guard because she doesn't have like any pictures. Okay, it's 9:25 and I am SO TIRED. So, I'm going to bed. I love you!
Good night everyone!
Love,
Lindsay
p.s. write as much as you can!!
Everyone,
Hi, how are you all? I hope you're doing okay. *sigh* Today WAS an alright day... but got worse and worse as it went on. In the morning (and a lot of the afternoon) we had BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship). I love BRM because we get to shoot our guns! Oops, I mean "weapons", ha! Anyways, today was my third day shooting it. We were practicing shooting at 75m, 175m and 300m away. I was really excited because I was AWESOME. I hit all the 75m, 16 of 20 175m and 6/10 from 300m. I own! Anyways, so when I was walking back to get off the range, my drill sgt. (Allen) put a clearing rod in my face and asked me how I did. Haha, then I go "drill sgt. I have one thing to say. I am awesome" and then walked away. Haha. But when I walked away, he hit me with the rod and called me a "moo-cow." Yeah, interesting. Anyways, basically if that was my qualifying round, I would be a sharpshooter. I keep telling you, I'm awesome. Not only would I qualify, but I'm 5 points away from an EXPERT. That's right, OWNAGE at it's finest.
Oh yeah, not only does my drill sgt. know me by name, but the FIRST SGT. of the whole friggin company does too. He smacked me on my helmet today because I'm a specialist and I "cheated the system." Pssh. Whatever. Oh, I just remembered. My drill sgt. Allen told me I shot like a girl (to get me motivated) the other day, and I must have been really awake because I said "if I shoot like a girl, then I must be shooting like the rest of the males here." Wooooooo! I got an M&M for that one. It was good too!
DS Allen said I haev an attitude, but I know how to use it. Which means I haven't screwed up too bad YET. *knock on wood* Anyways, after lunch all of us (the whole company) got the crap scuffed out of us because we're not disciplined. And it was from the 1st sgt. too which = VERY BAD!! Yeah, people are stupid.
Anyways, the whole day has pretty much went to crap because I got sick again (I still wasn't all the way better) and we kept getting smoked. LAME. And I'm really friggin tired, but I'm writing you all a letter because I feel like craaaaaaaap. We're qualifying in like a week and a half and our FINAL PT TEST is in like two or three weeks. Scary. I'm really afraid of the last few weeks. They're gonna HURT.
I'm supposed to get my platoon photos back during week six or so. I can't wait until family day when I can wear my class A's and get to spend the whole day w/you guys. We get to leave the fort and everything! Can we say COFFEE??? HECK YES! Oh, I got a letter from Sgt. Kwik. Woo. It was about time. He said every time I write him a letter, I get one back. So woo. Letters for Lindsay. Oh, dad, my writing on my guitar pick is starting to come off. I keep it in the pocket of my ACU's and with all that moving around the writing is wearing off. I sleep with both guitar picks. I have William (my fife doll) and I put the picks in his shirt and go to sleep with all my special stuff. Aww... he's so cute. I told Kara at church that I slept with a William doll and she flipped and wanted it. Lol. I might let her borrow it for a week just so she can feel at home.
Oh, if you can... send up any pictures of me and Kara and/or the Old Guard because she doesn't have like any pictures. Okay, it's 9:25 and I am SO TIRED. So, I'm going to bed. I love you!
Good night everyone!
Love,
Lindsay
p.s. write as much as you can!!
03 November 2005
02 November 2005
"...he said I wasn't allowed to get stressed out..."
Dated 30 Oct 05:
Everyone,
Hey! Well, it's Sunday! Church day! They usually call Sundays the "three C's" day. Church, chow and clean. haha. We're supposed to get a phone call every Sunday, but sometimes the stupid people in our platoon screw everyone over and we don't get to use them. I hope we do today [she didn't, jn].
Grandma Ruth sent me so much stuff. She put gum in the package but the drill sgts. didn't find it. She also sent me some Mary Kay stuff, pens, paper, post-it notes, stamps, pre-stamped postcards, a sketch book, graphite pencils and lots of Burt's Bees lip stuff.
I made two really good friends here. Venicia and Crafton (Crystal & Casey). If you can, and have time, send them a little care package. They don't get too much mail and I would appreciate it if you got them something small like Burt's bees or pens and paper/stamps, that type of stuff. They never get any packages and the smallest thing would help a lot.
Oh, dude, guess what. So today, I was getting ready for Church and my friend Crafton asked me if I would go to her church with her today, so I said "sure" (her church is Protestant). So we went, and we walked into the bathroom and Kara was up there!!! AHHHHH. We both flipped out and wouldn't stop hugging. lol. I started crying when we were hugging. Then she started and it was like the water works in there. haha. All the other girls looked at us like we were insane. HA. So we're switching churches every week to see each other. WOO! It was so good to talk to someone. lol.
[Kara is from New Hampshire and is going into the Old Guard F&DC with Lindsay, jn]
I was just informed that my platoon (again) probably won't get to use the phone tonight. Wow. What a surprise. NOT! Well, I'll just have to tell you this then. When we were in the simulation for the M-16 (it's like duck hunt on Nintendo) I was feeling a little stressed (just because I was). And so I started drawing, trying to get my stress out. Anyways, the drill sgt. caught me and took my notebook in front of the whole platoon. About an hour and a half later, he called me into his office and was asking me why I was drawing and stuff during training (first of all, I was just sitting in line doing nothing). So I told him I was stressed out and was trying to get over it so I can chill and he said I wasn't allowed to get stressed out because I'm one out of three people in the whole platoon that keep it going. The other two are Venicia and Crafton. And he said that I need to chill because he needs me to keep everyone in line. Haha.
It's funny because I got away with saying some crazy stuff to him over the past couple weeks. One day, I was climbing this huge vertical ladder (60ft.) and all the rungs are 5 feet apart and he was shaking it to get me scared (ha, it worked!) and I yelled down from the top "THAT'S NOT FAIR DRILL SGT., I CAN'T TELL YOU TO SHUT UP!" lol. I thought I was gonna get it but he just went "oh really Natiw?" and shook it more. lol. Everyone laughed their butts off.
Then last night I got a letter from Emily with the teen girl squad cartoon in it and he looked at it and went "what the heck. I don't get it." And without thinking I went "I didn't think you would drill sgt." and everyone went "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!" lol. But then he actually laughed at me and chucked the letter across the room, haha. Woo. Yeah, funtime!
I've been in a weird mood lately. Sometimes I'm like "Woo! LET'S DO THIS THING!" Then others I'm like "meh.... I miss my family, blah, blah blah." I'm really tired right now. There isn't anything to do. It's cleaning day. All we do is sit around, clean, eat, more sitting around, eat, sit around, formation, personal time, bed. I <3 Sundays. lol.
Oh, but seriously, those packages. If you can, send one to PVT Venicia and one to PVT Crafton. Crafton is like my closest friend here. In my pictures that you sent me with me on the wall with three other people, Crafton is the really short girl sitting right next to me. She's so funny. I would send them myself, but I can't lol. But yeah. I should go write other people now so I don't seem retarted for getting letters and not writing them. OH, I don't get in trouble for getting letters, so SEND THEM!!!! XD. lol.
I gotta go. I'll hopefully get to actually TALK to you all soon providing my platoon stops being retarted. lol. I love you guys. 40 more days!
Love,
Lindsay
p.s. oh, try to make some labels of my address so I don't have to write it out on the envelope please!
Everyone,
Hey! Well, it's Sunday! Church day! They usually call Sundays the "three C's" day. Church, chow and clean. haha. We're supposed to get a phone call every Sunday, but sometimes the stupid people in our platoon screw everyone over and we don't get to use them. I hope we do today [she didn't, jn].
Grandma Ruth sent me so much stuff. She put gum in the package but the drill sgts. didn't find it. She also sent me some Mary Kay stuff, pens, paper, post-it notes, stamps, pre-stamped postcards, a sketch book, graphite pencils and lots of Burt's Bees lip stuff.
I made two really good friends here. Venicia and Crafton (Crystal & Casey). If you can, and have time, send them a little care package. They don't get too much mail and I would appreciate it if you got them something small like Burt's bees or pens and paper/stamps, that type of stuff. They never get any packages and the smallest thing would help a lot.
Oh, dude, guess what. So today, I was getting ready for Church and my friend Crafton asked me if I would go to her church with her today, so I said "sure" (her church is Protestant). So we went, and we walked into the bathroom and Kara was up there!!! AHHHHH. We both flipped out and wouldn't stop hugging. lol. I started crying when we were hugging. Then she started and it was like the water works in there. haha. All the other girls looked at us like we were insane. HA. So we're switching churches every week to see each other. WOO! It was so good to talk to someone. lol.
[Kara is from New Hampshire and is going into the Old Guard F&DC with Lindsay, jn]
I was just informed that my platoon (again) probably won't get to use the phone tonight. Wow. What a surprise. NOT! Well, I'll just have to tell you this then. When we were in the simulation for the M-16 (it's like duck hunt on Nintendo) I was feeling a little stressed (just because I was). And so I started drawing, trying to get my stress out. Anyways, the drill sgt. caught me and took my notebook in front of the whole platoon. About an hour and a half later, he called me into his office and was asking me why I was drawing and stuff during training (first of all, I was just sitting in line doing nothing). So I told him I was stressed out and was trying to get over it so I can chill and he said I wasn't allowed to get stressed out because I'm one out of three people in the whole platoon that keep it going. The other two are Venicia and Crafton. And he said that I need to chill because he needs me to keep everyone in line. Haha.
It's funny because I got away with saying some crazy stuff to him over the past couple weeks. One day, I was climbing this huge vertical ladder (60ft.) and all the rungs are 5 feet apart and he was shaking it to get me scared (ha, it worked!) and I yelled down from the top "THAT'S NOT FAIR DRILL SGT., I CAN'T TELL YOU TO SHUT UP!" lol. I thought I was gonna get it but he just went "oh really Natiw?" and shook it more. lol. Everyone laughed their butts off.
Then last night I got a letter from Emily with the teen girl squad cartoon in it and he looked at it and went "what the heck. I don't get it." And without thinking I went "I didn't think you would drill sgt." and everyone went "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!" lol. But then he actually laughed at me and chucked the letter across the room, haha. Woo. Yeah, funtime!
I've been in a weird mood lately. Sometimes I'm like "Woo! LET'S DO THIS THING!" Then others I'm like "meh.... I miss my family, blah, blah blah." I'm really tired right now. There isn't anything to do. It's cleaning day. All we do is sit around, clean, eat, more sitting around, eat, sit around, formation, personal time, bed. I <3 Sundays. lol.
Oh, but seriously, those packages. If you can, send one to PVT Venicia and one to PVT Crafton. Crafton is like my closest friend here. In my pictures that you sent me with me on the wall with three other people, Crafton is the really short girl sitting right next to me. She's so funny. I would send them myself, but I can't lol. But yeah. I should go write other people now so I don't seem retarted for getting letters and not writing them. OH, I don't get in trouble for getting letters, so SEND THEM!!!! XD. lol.
I gotta go. I'll hopefully get to actually TALK to you all soon providing my platoon stops being retarted. lol. I love you guys. 40 more days!
Love,
Lindsay
p.s. oh, try to make some labels of my address so I don't have to write it out on the envelope please!
01 November 2005
"Someone in our family is in the ARMY!"
Dated 28 Oct 05:
EVERYONE!
HI EVERYBODY! Wow, I haven't written in awhile. I'm sorry. I have ZERO TIME to write anyone. Please make sure everyone knows that (Gr. Boyagian, etc). lol. I got your package w/Rachael's haunted house and witch. Cute Boo! Thank you for the Halloween stuff. :o) Keep trying to send a letter every night. I don't get in trouble for getting them, lol. I get messed with a little, but no push-ups anymore. XD
What else... I'm still sick... it sucks. My leg is better for the time being. Now I screwed up my back. Yeah, fun. Not. I couldn't do the 8k ruck march (foot march with all your gear on). So I was on detail to set crap up. Woo! OH, I SHOT MY M-16A2 RIFLE TODAY and I OWNED EVERYONE. IT WAS AWESOME. I <3>
Okay, I just got out of the shower, lol. You really wanted to know that. So, I told you. I don't have fire guard tonight, Woo! I'm excited. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I had my first FTX the other day. It was actually pretty fun. Field Training Exercise. That's what it stands for. Anyways, basically, what it is, is we all wake up at 4:00am, get our weapons and go on a 5k road march with 30 pounds on our backs, full uniform and a bunch of other crap and go camping in the flippin' woods for a random amount of days. At first it sucked A LOT because it was so cold. But after an hour and a half of hammering tent stakes into the ground you warm up pretty fast. They also made us put camo paint all over our faces. It was hilarious. We only went for one night because it was too cold and we weren't ready for the weather.
Oh yeah, we also did land navigation too. It's where they give you a compass, an azimuth and tell you to to find 5 random points in the woods. The first time, we all found our points in 45 minutes. The second REAL navigation too us 3 hours and we only found 3 out of 5 points. We walked about 2000+ meters for that one. It took me 83 steps to go 100 meters. That's a little fact for you, in case you wanted to know. :o)
We were supposed to start white phase today since it's the start of the 4th week, but my whole company is full of losers, so they're keeping us in red phase for another week or so. Lame. We suck. I got stuck in the platoon with the highest amount of attitude problems. Joy. The drill sgts. know me by name already. Lol. One of them always tells me "good job" and other stuff like taht and he's like the hardest drill sgt. I totally owned some guys at some physical crap the other day. HA! I'm still as awesome as... well... me, because there is nothing more awesome. BAHAHAHAHA.
You know what I was thinking the other day? Someone in our family is in the army. The ARMY. What the heck? I sometimes sit here and randomly laugh at myself when I remember that I'm in friggin' boot camp. Seriously, who would ever think that I, Lindsay Natiw, would go through BASIC TRAINING? Gah! I am so frickin' random. I got a package from Old Guard saying welcome and all that crap. It was cool! <3!>
I'm more worried about that 15k foot march I have to do to graduate. I can get pushed off 10,000 fot tall diving boards w/my eyes closed, fire an M-16, run 1.5 miles in 14 minutes, perform first aid, and survive a gas chamber, but I think if anything had a chance of holding me back, it would be the 10k, 10k and 15k road marches. They just plain SUCK! I need to think of how hot to think in them. Oh well, just pray or something. I have to/MUST graduate on time or I swear.... al;ksdjfa;sd.
Okay, this is a really long letter. I gotta go to bed. Long day tomorrow (isn't every day?). Anyways, love you all, and keep writing!!
Love,
Lindsay
p.s. What is the address to the Army website w/the photos? and SEND MORE PICTURES!!!
EVERYONE!
HI EVERYBODY! Wow, I haven't written in awhile. I'm sorry. I have ZERO TIME to write anyone. Please make sure everyone knows that (Gr. Boyagian, etc). lol. I got your package w/Rachael's haunted house and witch. Cute Boo! Thank you for the Halloween stuff. :o) Keep trying to send a letter every night. I don't get in trouble for getting them, lol. I get messed with a little, but no push-ups anymore. XD
What else... I'm still sick... it sucks. My leg is better for the time being. Now I screwed up my back. Yeah, fun. Not. I couldn't do the 8k ruck march (foot march with all your gear on). So I was on detail to set crap up. Woo! OH, I SHOT MY M-16A2 RIFLE TODAY and I OWNED EVERYONE. IT WAS AWESOME. I <3>
Okay, I just got out of the shower, lol. You really wanted to know that. So, I told you. I don't have fire guard tonight, Woo! I'm excited. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I had my first FTX the other day. It was actually pretty fun. Field Training Exercise. That's what it stands for. Anyways, basically, what it is, is we all wake up at 4:00am, get our weapons and go on a 5k road march with 30 pounds on our backs, full uniform and a bunch of other crap and go camping in the flippin' woods for a random amount of days. At first it sucked A LOT because it was so cold. But after an hour and a half of hammering tent stakes into the ground you warm up pretty fast. They also made us put camo paint all over our faces. It was hilarious. We only went for one night because it was too cold and we weren't ready for the weather.
Oh yeah, we also did land navigation too. It's where they give you a compass, an azimuth and tell you to to find 5 random points in the woods. The first time, we all found our points in 45 minutes. The second REAL navigation too us 3 hours and we only found 3 out of 5 points. We walked about 2000+ meters for that one. It took me 83 steps to go 100 meters. That's a little fact for you, in case you wanted to know. :o)
We were supposed to start white phase today since it's the start of the 4th week, but my whole company is full of losers, so they're keeping us in red phase for another week or so. Lame. We suck. I got stuck in the platoon with the highest amount of attitude problems. Joy. The drill sgts. know me by name already. Lol. One of them always tells me "good job" and other stuff like taht and he's like the hardest drill sgt. I totally owned some guys at some physical crap the other day. HA! I'm still as awesome as... well... me, because there is nothing more awesome. BAHAHAHAHA.
You know what I was thinking the other day? Someone in our family is in the army. The ARMY. What the heck? I sometimes sit here and randomly laugh at myself when I remember that I'm in friggin' boot camp. Seriously, who would ever think that I, Lindsay Natiw, would go through BASIC TRAINING? Gah! I am so frickin' random. I got a package from Old Guard saying welcome and all that crap. It was cool! <3!>
I'm more worried about that 15k foot march I have to do to graduate. I can get pushed off 10,000 fot tall diving boards w/my eyes closed, fire an M-16, run 1.5 miles in 14 minutes, perform first aid, and survive a gas chamber, but I think if anything had a chance of holding me back, it would be the 10k, 10k and 15k road marches. They just plain SUCK! I need to think of how hot to think in them. Oh well, just pray or something. I have to/MUST graduate on time or I swear.... al;ksdjfa;sd.
Okay, this is a really long letter. I gotta go to bed. Long day tomorrow (isn't every day?). Anyways, love you all, and keep writing!!
Love,
Lindsay
p.s. What is the address to the Army website w/the photos? and SEND MORE PICTURES!!!
Fall clouds are amazing...
I happened to be getting ready to take this photo and a bunch of geese flew into the shot. Pretty cool.
This was looking more to the right of the first shot.
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