1200 Hours. Got my Insurance squared away -- but need to go elsewhere (Welcome Center) to get my Direct Deposit slip...furniture/dusting detail & the usual barraks maintenance...Roster 80 AC (that's my roster) is reporting for FTB tonight...shit. PT big time...

Got Combat training equipment today -- on loan --helmet, pack, sleeping bag, parka, etc. $520 of equipment.

Contraband...was offered a cigarette a few days ago by one of the other privates...refused. One cigarette is grounds for $200 fine & demotion one grade.

Sitting in the bleachers backwards the other day Roman, one of the females asked is I would shine her boots -- so I spit an buffed by finger -- dried and looked like shit...other wax was needed & be buffed...she was mad...careful what you ask for...

I just got my glasses, amber, high impact plastic frames -- I look not so 1/2 bad, but a little funny...near stuff looks super funny, but far stuff looks clearer, closer...

 I found out my pay after deductions $790/month...deductions include tax & $100 MGIB not so bad, about what I was pulling at CK...

These glasses slide around on my face a bit...

Everyone has a story. Chris Jones was an 18 year old Army enlistee, fresh outta West Virginia -- long line of Army ancestors dad & grandpa, uncle, etc. "Good Old Boy", "redneck" -- mechanic PVT almost made Specialist but was leaving the service soon so they refused -- married, son, turned sour...cheating--no ill will. divorce -- remarry true love baby on board 2 families to support...reenlist at 25...Good Man, bears his weight, reads everything, admits his close mindedness, a bearing and wisdom beyond his "1/3 life" 2...a man to miss...

Dull green eyes, BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform [it's not BTU])

A story in every reason. A life for every reason. We are soldiers, black, white, hispanic, male, feamle...alike in one single thing...we serve our nation some selflessly, some downright narrow minded and selfish--these are actually hardest to discern I think...I do love the USA & so far Military life looks good...I've been pondering career service -- it's options and possibilities.

Six days in.

I was thinking of Allisandra yesterday...she should be back from South America now...If only I hadn't been dense.

1455 days left until I must decide again.