FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2004. 2324

BY THIS TIME ONE WEEK FROM NOW (oops, "recruit writing" [all caps] has become such a habit, I almost forget how to write in normal/civilian writing!), I will be in my rack after my pass-in-review and first day of liberty. Today, as with nearly every Friday here, there was a pass-in-review (aka graduation) taking place, and when we saw all the graduates in their dress whites marching along, and sailors riding with their parents away from here and all, we got very excited. Some folks even started to cry! One week, just one. And then, assuming everyone behaves, we have a nice, mostly open week during which we'll have a lot more fun.

If I had it all to do over, would I be yoeman again? Well, not that I had any say in the matter anyway, but... Goodness, it's been hard. One of those situations in which part of me thrives, and a lot of me is overwhelmed, and if I weigh the pros and cons, the answer is a resounding NEGATIVE. And at the same time, who else could do it? And would I be happy not doing this job? Probably no one and probably not. I'm glad I get the advancement out of it...if I had come in as an E-3 afterall, I'd've done this job with no obvious benefit to myself except for being sure my paperwork is done correctly. I dunno, it's just too much sometimes, and yet nearly perfect for me aside from that.

I'm also frustrated at the same biggest pet peeve as in the civilian world: hypocricy. The same people who cross themselves before meals are the ones who lose their tempers quickly or have no confidence but plenty of opinions and overreact to most situations, crying or arguing or whatever. One, specifically, upon finding out I'm a virgin, told me (and I quote) "I would shoot myself now!" She has since blamed all my stress on such frustration and made several further comments to that effect. What's more, since she happens to be a leader in our division (and especially now that she's getting cool again), some others have joined in with her. Grr. Argh. Meanshile, in related news, the same shipmates who sing gospel music and talk loudly about going to gospel service and whatnot will (within literally 1 minute) also sing songs about sex (with very graphic lyrics) or what have you, and dance in suggestive ways all the time. Grr, argh again.

In other, not-so-related news (aka moving right along) on Tuesday, I'll be meeting with Captain Moran, the Commanding Officer of Recruit Training Command. Perhaps while or before Beth even gets to post this letter. That is, not just me, but all the award winners and honor recruits. It's for the outbriefing that will help to make this a better place.

My eyelids are closing themselves, so I'm off for now.



SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2004. 2342

With 15 minutes left in July, I feel like it's the new year or something. Insanity! I can't believe it's almost August already, I mean, will be before I finish this letter maybe, or at least before I fall asleep, and yet I haven't experienced summer at all except the being really hot sometimes part. No waterskiing, no picnics or cookouts since I left, no horseback riding, no walks in the park, no... summer. Just a lot of marching and plenty of indoor workouts. I've missed a lot of the PT times due to health and having too much work to do, so only one of the ones I went to was outdoors.

Today, speaking of athletic events indoors, we had Captain's Cup, which is kinda like a field day or such, with a whole bunch of competative, Navy-and/or-physical-fitness-type events. For example, pull-ups and sit-ups, as well as stretcher and firefighting equipment relays.

When they were picking people for the 1.5 mile relay (12 laps around this track, one lap per person, thus 12 people per team, evenly split between genders for integrated divisions), they needed a 6th female and no one was stepping up, so my chipmates started saying my name and I agreed that I'd try it so long as they didn't hate me if we lost because of me. It was so much fun! I haven't done a relay in ages, and the 200 meter (apparently what one lap on this track is) was never my event on the track team. I could compete (and barely that) at the 400 or win often enough on 800-5k (with 2 miles being my best even back then) but never the 200. But the guy in front of me and 2 or 3 before him secured our lead, and I maintained it somehow, mostly because the closest person to me was prolly exerting herself so much trying to close the gap that she died before her 200 was up. But I did what I do in a distance run, and pulled something out of me on my finishing straightaway and took off even faster, giving the next male about the same lead I got and it was kept or widened for most of our runners. When we won, we won by a fair amount.

5 more days 'till graduation, and happy August everyone!



SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2004. 1120

Another week, less than one more to go before pass-in-review, and this is my last holiday routine here, since next week is liberty weekend and then we'll be gone by the following Saturday.

Fantastic.

Gonna go shine my boots, shower, eat, and get back to military life, in that order I think.

Love ya'll!
Patty--I hardly recognize my name anymore--it's either yoeman or SR Tracey.