"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