SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2004. 0856

Dearest blog readers:

Interesting beyond words on so many levels. Very eventful, and completely insane. We have had a more dramatic week in these two divisions than anyone could've seen coming. If "Reality TV" made a series on bootcamp, they wouldn't have to stage anything.

This week brought one girl getting up in my face threatening to "pop me," and it brought a whole new level of running the division. We had half of each division in their racks this week, due to getting wisdom teeth pulled out, and the other half had all kinds of separate appointments and make-up-classes to get to, and it's my job to get them there. We had 2 shipmates (one from each division & gender) moved to other divisions and facing further consequences based on certain allegations that may be impossible to prove either way. And, I went down to dental for a mandatory appointment, which I was not happy about; so I had a very long talk with a Captain there about my last experiences and lingering effects, and the result so far is that the best dentists there did my last procedure and also that I started a new medication to try to bring back the feeling in my lip/chin where it's been numb since getting my tooth pulled. So the new medication has steroids in it, so that's a really strange feeling. Plus the things zap the snot outta me, just in case I wasn't tired enough because of being up latest and earliest. (I am literally falling asleep writing this, which is why it looks so bad.)

I am looking forward so much to graduation in 12 days, more than ever now that it's so close. I'll be really proud when I'm standing there, but I'll probably fall asleep halfway through the ceremony anyway.

I have been getting letters and pictures from a few people, which have been holding me together. Thank you. And I'll be seeing Josh & Beth (and maybe Karleen and maybe Gordon?) at graduation and getting off-base for Liberty weekend, so I'm really excited about that. I may just see if the girls wanna hit a day spa one day of that weekend, because my muscles are so shot.

Anyway, that's the news from near Lake Michigan, where all the recruits are subhuman, the petty-officers are all kind, and all the officers salute smartly.

Next Sunday is my last here before graduation.

I went to the "protestant liturgical" service this morning and actually really enjoyed it. And wrote down the words to 2 of my favorite hymns: Come Thou Fount and On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.

"When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging Grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand."

May the Grace and love of Christ be with you all,
Patty