11.19.98

(11.16.98 CCC  [ In Executive notepad]

Combat Conditioning Course.  Kinda cool -- rope climb 15 ft, couldn't do it -- damn work gloves & inserts & (never been able to do rope climbing) wall hurdle 6 ft 5 of them, easy enough, wire bridge (hauled ass), barb wirse low crawl (no bullets overhead) easy stuff.  Small time course.  Confidence Obsticle Course (COC) Next time -- whenever that is 5th week I think...6K tomorrow, no time to write at the bay -- DS Drudy talking 'bout his exp w/ Iraq/training Saudis (Clasroom #2 FATC (Field Artillery Training Center) 1/79) Phase change ceremony was today...)

(11.17.98  another missed entry (communication classes))

(11.18.98 [ In Executive notepad]

BRM today.  Practice Practice range  MRE lunch/dinner.  Yelled at by SDS about latrine again -- damn PVT's not respecting 1st (my) squads mandated closure 20min b4 formation & 10 min latrine breaks no-one cleans up after themselves..so we get yelled at...so damn frustrating.
Smoked - Front Back Go dirty as Fuck green soiled PTs we all had to wash them as a Platoon...)

BRM started yesterday -- dry fire range safety procedures, zeroing, grouping...qualifying on "Weaponeers" basically video games -- 467800 shots counted thus far on the one I used...
7 of 9 on my second try (ed note: within the req'd 1 inch circle at a simulated 25mtrs).

MREs again.  Missing christa big time.  Missing Tori -- the two women go hand in hand in my memory now -- never one w/ the other -- she wrote in her letter how lonely she was -- never actually said it outright, but close enough -- makes me feel bad, she's such a close friend of mine, despite the time-frame.  So long b4 I'll get long term contact, if ever...so many things lost due to this commitment -- friends, options, and despite my denial of it, I am changed, if by nothing else than the physical "abuse" and the train of though being drilled "Stay Alert, Stay Alive!".
It's very minor really -- I'm essentially the same man -- having a non combat MOS makes it so easy to remain myself...

Got a letter from Justine today -- 3 pictures, 2 of Katrina & I, one of the family at my going away dinner...I look way younger -- 23ish, w/ hair -- and I proved it tonight :)
She's good, Oakley's gained city status, Katrina's growing & adorable as ever -- dancing more now.  Justine is maybe losing her job due to a union cutbacks -- she knows by now -- lord I hope she didn't...

Elliot was hitting my pillow mimicing my body -- he sat on my bunk talking to Cook & ANgerhauser drawing on the next bunk -- shook shit around and I told him to be still...

Lights in 5 minutes...