Smashing Pumpkins Melon Collie ("the blue disc")
Sunday, May 9th, 1999 Mother's Day
2035
I sit here, thinking of everything that has brought me where I am. All the days of Basic Combat Training, even before that the state of agitation waiting at 95th AG Bn caused, then NBC training, BRM week, FTX, finally traveling to Jackson for AIT, and then Benning for Airborne training...and now I sit here. I'm at my new home for the next two years--*my* actual room that I currently share with a ghost of a man named PFC Cole, who apparently has this bed but lives off post...even then he will be leaving in about a week I'm told.
Compared to the former resident, and, indeed, compared to most of the residents here at Leland Holland Barraks, I am a Spartan. While everything I have with me is set up or packed back away, I do not envy SPC Mariogiatta (or something like that) who swapped out into the room I stayed in this weekend...he must be still setting his computer and stereo up, let alone the rest of his things...but I AM HOME!
This entry will be uploaded early next week. I now edit my pages, surf the net, wordprocess, etc. etc. with a Compaq Presario Notebook Computer, model 1670. With a 350 Mhz AMD-K6-2 Processor, 64MB SyncDRAM, 13.3" full color TFT display, 8MB Video Memory, built in 24X CD rom, 3.5" floppy, and 56K modem, plus JBL pro audio, a chunk of dough was lost...However, I am happy. With this little joy I will have at my fingertips the opportunity to create the journal I desire..."futuristic" or cutting edge, or simply more personalized...whatever. Even now I am updating old links, typing three composition books worth of BCT/AIT/everything in between entries--amounting to some seven months worth of this journal. If I can have that all completed by the end of the month, it'd be an accomplishment alone.
Tomorrow I connect my phone line, and, armed with that magic phone number, I can complete the paperwork and drive home with a 1999 Ford Escort ZX2, the other necessity of mine beyond this computer, a new set of wheels. the deal is just about already finalized, I just need to set up allottments in my military pay to pay for the vehicle--requiring a phone number. I also need the phone to jack into the net and do my little dance, make my little love, and get on tonight...
Thus far, I have one day of experience on my MOS. It was cakewalk. My superior introduced me around, and everyone is so damn nice, all the NCO's are way down to earth, made me feel more welcome than I could have ever expected...hmm, well maybe I could have expected more, but I didn't...My superior drove me around the base to show me the major stops we would have to make--MP station (where we saw Navarro--he lives in the same barraks as I do...we lost each other at the mall yesterday), LOD report office, Urinalysis office...and that was pretty much all. Mondays are spent at the motor pool doing I'm not sure what what but I'll discover tomorrow. This tuesday I'm attending an actual court martial to get a feel for one...and, my superior said, since it could be the last one this year (we don't get too many legal problems at my brigade) I definately should be there...Office work consisted of changing a few names and dates on documents, printing them for the adjutant to sign, and then making a few copies of other documents. Promotion wise, it looks as if I have excellent chances here. To begin with, I'm filling an E-5's slot as an E-3, so if I can do my job well, that makes me look really capable right there. The other soldiers working in the same office areas are not upwardly motivated so I definately have an edge there. PT is a big indicator of motivation here and I've already impressed the 1st Sergeant with my performance on the company run Friday morning--circuit training. My superior is eager to get me maxing my PT test and I'm eager to do so myself. Promotion points are easily attained through further military training-i.e. correspondance courses during down time, and there are three local unis that have classes leading towards my english degree...
I'm excited as all hell about my living arrangements. These barraks were just opened in 1997 and are still brand new. The room I'm in is actually bigger than the one I had at Humboldt, has it's one shower, restroom, full size fridgerator and microwave. I have my own walk in closet, new carpeting, a mess hall right across the street that serves somes of the best mess hall food I've had since enlisting, if not the best period (although I have had a bad habit so far of missing meals on the weekend, he he...those two MRE's I brought with me from Airborne school are both dinner casaulties...)
The brigade has a hollywood (no weapon or combat gear) jump wednesday. They jump about 3 times a month, and, if I can get on the manifests, I'm free to go on any of the other jumps going on around here...
In essence, life here is good...in fact, better than good, I'd have to say life here is awesome. Fayetville is large enough to entertain. Raleigh is only an hour or so north. Myrtle Beach is within driving distance, etc. etc. I have beer in my refridgerator...
And I'm 2/5 of the way through Les Mis...:)
Now all I need to do is meet a beautifull woman and fall
madly in love...actually, I gave up on beautifull years ago...all I seek
is a woman that is beautifull to me, and, if necessary, me alone.
("the red disc")
I am at peace for now. It's taken me a long time to get here, what with all the trauma of the last few years, with the training environment I subjegated myself too, the constant moving about and unpacking only to pack back up and move again. I believe in traveling light, I just can't seem to do it when a final destination is in sight. For me to be a traveler, I'd need to have no idea when to come back I think...that presents a problem I can see...
I have one set of BDU's all squared away-unit patches, airborne patch and crest, sewn on properly. My red beret (actually maroon) has it's crest and flash, and is molded, or getting molded I should say. I have my highly polished boots. Unfortunetly, I have three sets of BDU's requiring sewing, and one extra blouse. I have no telephone, and I have no grinder for PFC Cole's coffee maker (which is so raunch I hesitate to use it anyways...), and I have no starch for the set of BDU's I shall wear tomorrow and the next day, and until I get my other uniforms done, which requires me to have my car. I hate taxis, still, they rip rip rip holes in your wallet, even when you're not getting ripped off and set up fair they gouge you...
Tomorrow, hopefully, all should go as planned. We shall
see.
2230
So I just got off the pay phone with Mum and Dad. Forty five minutes of parental love and homely vibes. The cat's well, so is my neice. My neighbor had a stroke a couple of weeks ago but is in recovery and doing well. That was the man who encouraged me about my decision to enlist...good man I'm very glad he is doing better. Dad is working pretty much like a regular person now. His old place of employment, Tosco Oil Refinery actually closed down and gas prices have soared back there. I guess Chevron is having problems too. Mom and Dad are hooking up with Alex on ICQ regularly now I guess...Friday night they're planning a big pow wow at 6:30 their time (9:30 mine). By then I should be able to jack in and say hello. Apparently Alex is well but is having problems selling his house to go meet with the "love of his life" in Europe (forgot the country...) I remember the time I thought I loved Val and wanted to go to Chicago...
I told them about the barraks and my car and the computer and how things were looking good right now--about my job here and all my NCO superiors.
But everything is well enough back home and I told them I would probably be back for Christmas only...I'm trying to get Mom to have that set in her mind. I really don't think I'll come back any earlier than that. The logistics of it just don't work out too well...Too much money for the flight for too few days there.
But it's getting late and tomorrow is a big day so I should
be going now...Tra La La...Ting - a - Ling...