Well hey everyone. I haven't written in awhile mainly because I haven't had much time and because I can't find my stamps. I've always been the person to lose her things but I usually somehow found them. This isn't home though. (for the record, I did find them) In this environment, you drop your pen without realizing it, you ain't gettin' it back.

Once my pen rolled off my chair when I stood up and when I went to sit back down, I noticed it gone. I looked around and lo and behold, my pen had found it's way into the guy's pen pouch who sat behind me. He's actually my squad leader now, at least one of them out of the six, and he's a really cool guy...it's just odd... Anyway, I asked, "Is that my pen?" He nodded and gave it to me, thankfully. Whatever will I do without my pen and paper?! [lol]

So basically I have to be extra cautious. Absolutely. No shortcuts. For a laidback, casual, freegoing personality such a myself, and one who has to struggle with some other things, this is going to be quite difficult. I believe strongly that I am making progress, however, and this is good. I am slowly adapting to this lifestyle.

Are things as rough and nasty as before? No. Currently things are looking up. In fact, at the end of our third week, which is this Saturday, our company's supposed to come out of red phase . For those of you who don't know, Red phase is the first and mose difficult phase of BCT. DS' yell and scream expect you to know what you don't know, etc. You get smoked (that's "punishment") for the small screwup. The DS' are always on your butt.

The next phase is white. DSs are less difficult on you, individuals tend to get smoked as opposed to the entire platoon for one person, you're expected to handle more responsibility as a team, see more of the DS' personalities, etc. And then there's blue phase. I think that's the final two weeks of basic or so. Not sure what that entails, but it must be better than the previous two phases. If we screw up too much though, we can be sent right back into red phase and graduate with dishonor. Heh.

9:43 PM

So far everything's been good today. Quite well, actually. I had a test on Combat Lifesaver Course and I barely passed with a 70%. They teach the material so fast, it's paraphrase the book, now you better understand it. I have issues with that. Anyway, I passed and now I don't have to worry about it.

This Saturday I'll be doing a test on applying field dressing, tourniquets, and so on. Yes, they still use tourniquets, but only as a last resort. I think I'll pass that...the DS' can be really feisty though. Like cats, one day they may love all over you, the next...you don't exist. One day they're normal, the next, they feel like scratching you.

As for encouragement, I've found some powerful verses and inspirationals to keep me going. Time for sleep as I'm about to pass out! Nighty!

I should be getting my first payment from the Army tomorrow! Yaaayaaaah!