Well, the moment I've been working and training for has almost arrived! On Sunday, I will head up to Dallas to spend the night in a hotel before 'shipping out' for Army BCT (Basic Combat Training) on Monday the 31st.
I'll be at BCT for 10 weeks at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Then I'll head down to Fort Benning in Georgia for 12 weeks of officer training. I should be finished with BCT/OCS mid-July, barring any injuries. After that, I will head off to branch school...I won't know until week 6 of OCS where that will be and what I'll be training for.
I'm really anxious to start this next chapter of my life, and I'm praying I don't suffer any setbacks like a major injury. So, if you pray - or decide to think about me :P - pray that I make it through healthy.
Thank you for supporting and encouraging me throughout this very long and, at times, very frustrating process over the last year and a half. I know a lot of you have strong political beliefs that prevent you from being 100% ok with my decision to join the U.S. Army, but I really want to thank you for being genuinely happy and excited for me when I found out I was accepted. It made me realize (as if I didn't already know!) just how awesome my friends are!!
I will try to keep a journal while I'm at camp, and then transfer some of my memories into a blog post once I have time and internet access. I won't have any access during BCT, but I might have some at OCS. I will get a physical mailing address once I arrive at BCT, and I will try to post it quickly (before they take my phone away) as a Facebook status update...so if you get bored, or want to send me words of encouragement, you can always write me :)
Wish me luck!
HOOAH!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Another 'Leaf' has turned...
...no pun intended ;) 'Leaf' is my dad's nickname for me...once, when I was about 8 or 9, he was raking leaves in our yard in Virginia and started calling me 'Leaf" because he said that I grew like one. It stuck. Which is fine by me because my other nicknames were 'Lizard', 'Missy Mouse', and 'Chicken Legs'.
Sooooo....this 'Leaf' has turned. Again. I can't believe I haven't posted since March, but there has been a LOT happening. Not sure where to begin. First off....I joined the Army!! I leave for basic training on January 30th, 2011. After 9 weeks there, I head down to Georgia for 12 weeks of Officer school. Both will be grueling, both mentally and physically, but I'm looking forward to the challenges. I am just praying that I remain healthy throughout my training. I won't know what my job is until halfway through OCS (Officer school), but my goal is Intelligence. It's one of the hardest branches to get into, but I'm going to do everything to reach that goal.
I quit my job as a nanny...maybe a little prematurely. I get to spend more time with my family before being 'shipped out' for training, which is always nice :) I thought I was shipping out in October or November, and gave my 2 weeks notice. I went to sign my contract and they told me that I was leaving in January. Oops...
So, I packed my stuff up in Boston and moved it down to Texas! Kim helped me with the move, and was brave enough to make the 32 hour trip down south in my car. It was actually a very nice drive...we stopped in Lancaster, PA to say hi to my aunt and uncle, but ended up staying a couple of days. I love Amish country :)
I arrived back in Abilene, TX on August 31st, unpacked some things at my dad's. Yes, I'm living with my parents again at age 32....but everyone gets along so well that I've been enjoying myself. Except for sharing a bathroom with both my younger brother and my dad. Boys have disgusting bathroom habits...
I spent 3 weeks in September helping my younger sister with her 3rd baby. It was really awesome to be able to help her out! I spent 4 days/3 nights in the hospital with her, which meant sleeping on a pull out sofa and jumping up every hour or less to pick up the baby when he cried. I loved it, though! When you have something as beautiful as a newborn to distract you, sleep deprivation isn't really a big deal :) The 3 weeks went by quickly and then I headed home to get started on my workouts.
I've been working out with an Army recruiter every morning from 6-7 am, and that has helped A LOT. It means I can also ask questions about basic training, which has helped to relieve some anxiety I've been having about it. It's not going to be fun - it's not meant to be- but I feel more confident now than I did a month ago. I also started the Atkins diet about 2 weeks ago and I thought I'd be ready to strangle people by now....but I haven't experienced any moodiness or irritability associated with the diet (unlike my brother...wow!) and I've lost almost 5 lbs. I'm thinking that if I'm lighter, then these freaking push-ups might be easier to do. Also, less weight to carry when I run, better for my knees. I'm no spring chicken, people! I've got to keep up with all the 18 yr olds that I'll be surrounded by!
My brother, Matt, and I will be going to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving...he hasn't seen my dad's family in about 20 years, so it will be cool to 'reintroduce' him, I think. I miss being within a car ride to my dad's family, so I'm really excited to see them all again.
Oh, yeah. Speaking of cars....I totaled mine! It was last May, and it was my fault, but everyone was ok. I was a wreck - no pun!- but driving in Boston is scary dangerous. I'm really glad to be back somewhere where's there's virtually NO traffic! I ended up buying a Honda Civic...awesome car, by the way.
I went to Switzerland in August, for 2 weeks. I had the most awesome time, as usual. Why can't I transport my friends whenever/wherever I move?? I miss everyone over there so much...when I go back, it's like time stood still while I was away. Like I didn't miss a beat. My friends were amazing, and I managed to squeeze in a lot of side trips with them during that time. I'm not sure when the next visit will be, but hopefully not too far in the future.
Well, in case you didn't notice....I changed the name of my blog! I'm tired of always having to change the domain because I'm adapting it to my newest home, so I opted for something a bit more general :) C'est la vie....That's life. It's MY life...constantly changing, turning upside down, inside out. But I don't know if I'd be happy any other way.
So, here's to more changes....BIG ones! You know, I've never been very good at testing the water before jumping in. I find it's better, more often than not, to just close your eyes, jump, and hope for the best.
I hope you are all well...I would love to hear from you whenever you get a chance :)
Sooooo....this 'Leaf' has turned. Again. I can't believe I haven't posted since March, but there has been a LOT happening. Not sure where to begin. First off....I joined the Army!! I leave for basic training on January 30th, 2011. After 9 weeks there, I head down to Georgia for 12 weeks of Officer school. Both will be grueling, both mentally and physically, but I'm looking forward to the challenges. I am just praying that I remain healthy throughout my training. I won't know what my job is until halfway through OCS (Officer school), but my goal is Intelligence. It's one of the hardest branches to get into, but I'm going to do everything to reach that goal.
I quit my job as a nanny...maybe a little prematurely. I get to spend more time with my family before being 'shipped out' for training, which is always nice :) I thought I was shipping out in October or November, and gave my 2 weeks notice. I went to sign my contract and they told me that I was leaving in January. Oops...
So, I packed my stuff up in Boston and moved it down to Texas! Kim helped me with the move, and was brave enough to make the 32 hour trip down south in my car. It was actually a very nice drive...we stopped in Lancaster, PA to say hi to my aunt and uncle, but ended up staying a couple of days. I love Amish country :)
I arrived back in Abilene, TX on August 31st, unpacked some things at my dad's. Yes, I'm living with my parents again at age 32....but everyone gets along so well that I've been enjoying myself. Except for sharing a bathroom with both my younger brother and my dad. Boys have disgusting bathroom habits...
I spent 3 weeks in September helping my younger sister with her 3rd baby. It was really awesome to be able to help her out! I spent 4 days/3 nights in the hospital with her, which meant sleeping on a pull out sofa and jumping up every hour or less to pick up the baby when he cried. I loved it, though! When you have something as beautiful as a newborn to distract you, sleep deprivation isn't really a big deal :) The 3 weeks went by quickly and then I headed home to get started on my workouts.
I've been working out with an Army recruiter every morning from 6-7 am, and that has helped A LOT. It means I can also ask questions about basic training, which has helped to relieve some anxiety I've been having about it. It's not going to be fun - it's not meant to be- but I feel more confident now than I did a month ago. I also started the Atkins diet about 2 weeks ago and I thought I'd be ready to strangle people by now....but I haven't experienced any moodiness or irritability associated with the diet (unlike my brother...wow!) and I've lost almost 5 lbs. I'm thinking that if I'm lighter, then these freaking push-ups might be easier to do. Also, less weight to carry when I run, better for my knees. I'm no spring chicken, people! I've got to keep up with all the 18 yr olds that I'll be surrounded by!
My brother, Matt, and I will be going to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving...he hasn't seen my dad's family in about 20 years, so it will be cool to 'reintroduce' him, I think. I miss being within a car ride to my dad's family, so I'm really excited to see them all again.
Oh, yeah. Speaking of cars....I totaled mine! It was last May, and it was my fault, but everyone was ok. I was a wreck - no pun!- but driving in Boston is scary dangerous. I'm really glad to be back somewhere where's there's virtually NO traffic! I ended up buying a Honda Civic...awesome car, by the way.
I went to Switzerland in August, for 2 weeks. I had the most awesome time, as usual. Why can't I transport my friends whenever/wherever I move?? I miss everyone over there so much...when I go back, it's like time stood still while I was away. Like I didn't miss a beat. My friends were amazing, and I managed to squeeze in a lot of side trips with them during that time. I'm not sure when the next visit will be, but hopefully not too far in the future.
Well, in case you didn't notice....I changed the name of my blog! I'm tired of always having to change the domain because I'm adapting it to my newest home, so I opted for something a bit more general :) C'est la vie....That's life. It's MY life...constantly changing, turning upside down, inside out. But I don't know if I'd be happy any other way.
So, here's to more changes....BIG ones! You know, I've never been very good at testing the water before jumping in. I find it's better, more often than not, to just close your eyes, jump, and hope for the best.
I hope you are all well...I would love to hear from you whenever you get a chance :)
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