February 22, 2009

Jeff's First Week at Boot Camp.

"My first impression of Boot Camp was boredom. A lot of routine and not much of it very challenging. I definitely did enough to prepare physically. Mentally, I'm way ahead of the curve. So when it came time to find an R-Poc, I didn't hide like my dad recommended. They asked for people who could pass the fitness test and had leadership experience. With a few other qualifications, they narrowed it down to about 12 of us with me being tenth in the line. They had each of us stand and state who we are, job field, etc. They were checking for command voice and other things. They went through the nine before me, talked amongst themselves, saying things like "maybe" or "possibility," but told most of them to just sit down. They got to me and I sounded off and they didn't even check the rest. I was their man. Immediately things stopped being boring. My official title is Recruit Chief Petty Officer, or RCPO, so I don't know where "R-Poc" comes from. Now I'm the head of 87 recruits and they look to me for everything. I have less time to do our assignments and I'm expected to do them better than everybody else.

I have people coming up to me every other minute asking question and offering suggestions. At least they all respect me. You would love to see me leading this division. I really have my own little army now. A bunch of guys were messing up regularly and not caring (easy things, like standing at attention and military bearings) and it was holding the whole division back. A couple of clowns even disrespected me in front of other recruits, so a few nights ago after TAPS I stood in the middle of our barracks (pretty big because there are 88 beds in there) and I gave what many now are calling the "Braveheart Speech." It was very calculated and it had the perfect effect. At one point a know-it-all spoke up and talked back to me a little. Unfortunately, I had to break him. I didn't want to, but in about 30 seconds the kid was incapable of speech. I had to do it because the kid (married and 21 years old) made it public knowledge that he wanted my job. He even approached our Recruit Division Commanders and told them he was ready to take my place if I make a mistake. After my speech I went over to him and he was crying in his bunk. At first he didn't want to acknowledge me, but I quickly brought him around and we "truced." He thinks of me now as a close friend and even wanted to be my bunkmate when we changed barracks, but he got beat out by another, faster, kid.

I'm now their fearless leader and most of them really respect and admire me. A few just obey me, but they're the exception. I have a lot of work and responsibility, but at least I'm not bored anymore."

Gratitude Tag

It seems like these things come when you need a little reminder. :)

10 Things I'm Grateful For:

1. Oddly, the Navy. It's giving Jeff a chance to excel at something he's always wanted to do. I think it's going to be very good for him and therefore our family.

2. Letters from Jeff. I can have the most horrible day and it doesn't matter when a letter shows up.

3. Jeffy. He makes everything worth it.

4. A relatively healthy body. It may not be perfect, but it functions pretty well, and for that I am grateful.

5. A nice bed. It makes life more comfortable.

6. My parents. I had a great childhood/youth.

7. Good examples. I'm surrounded by a lot of them and I need it.

8. A church that uses its resources to bless people's lives.

9. A husband that made it possible for me to finish my degree.

10. Sam, for tagging me to do this. :)

I tag Hilary and Eden.

February 18, 2009

"I love you very much and think of you and Jeffy often. I miss you very much. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. This is no worse than DEP meeting, just longer. The hardest part is that they made me RCPO so I have to babysit 88 recruits and be held to a much higher standard. They tell me regularly that if I screw up (mispronounce something) they'll fire me as RCPO, but if I keep my job, I'll get a special collar device and lead my division's drills at [some word I can't read]. I love you!"

Blah Blah Blah

Sometimes you just don't want a title.

Things are going well for us. I still miss Jeff, but am concentrating on keeping busy and being a good mommy. I still get moments of sadness, but generally I'm feeling fine.

I'm going to hang out with a friend from Draper on Friday and on Saturday I'm going to hit Provo with my sister. Yay for friends! That's one thing I will miss when we're in a new place.

Jeffy's cute as ever. He waves bye bye to people now and is getting really social. I can't wait for him to go to nursery--only 5 more months! :) Somebody asked me in Walmart the other day if he was about two years old. Um, nope! He's only 13 months! He's a big kid! And he sure is fun to have around.

Well, that's it. Just wanted to spread the word that I'm ok and feeling better about life. Thanks for all the well wishes!

Jeff's Boot Camp Address

If anyone is interested in having Jeff's address, let me know and I'll pass it along. I was going to post it, but this is an open blog and I don't want Jeff getting weirdo stuff.

Whose Idea Was This?!

Well, it's begun. Jeff is in Illinois, on a bus, headed for nine weeks of boot camp. I'm stuck here, alone. He was pretty gung ho before about making a career out of the military, but after facing long separation for the first time today, he's coming around to my way of thinking--get training, get degree, get out. We'll see how he feels after surviving boot camp.

It's been a whirlwind of emotions the last few days. Yesterday, Jeff, Jeffy and I went to DEP--Delayed Entry Program headquarters--to do the last paperwork stuff. From there we went to the SLC Airport Radisson, where they put people before the ship out. Jeff got checked into his room and we went to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Good thing Jeff had a meal voucher! Those prices were way out of our comfort zone! He was just glad it was a nice hotel and not a trashy one like he had stayed at in Richmond for processing in Virginia. Jeffy proceeded to make a huge mess of our table, so we left a nice, bit tip. Jeff had a meeting that night at 8:30, so we got to spend a little time together after dinner. We (mostly I) decided that I didn't want to come all the way back home just to go back early in the morning to see him swear in, so I got a spur-of-the-moment hotel room (not at Jeff's pricey place, obviously) and Jeffy and I had an interesting night.

The next morning I packed up the kid, stopped at a grocery store for some breakfast and headed over to MEPS--Military Entrance Processing Station--for some . . . processing. Jeff had been there since 5 or 6 am. He got all his paperwork processed and passed his physical, etc., so at about 9:30 I went to some special room there and watched as an old Army Captain swore him and two other guys in. That was kind of fun to watch. One guy looked pretty scared; one guy looked apathetic; Jeff looked very serious. From there, we waited around for his travel arrangements to be made. Once they were finalized, Jeff took a cab to the airport and I met him there. I wish we could have gone together, but rules are rules!

The earliest flight they could get him was at 5 pm, and we got there a little after 11 am, so we had some time to burn. Jeffy was getting cranky due to lack of naps, and both Jeff and I were running low on energy as well. But we found a playplace, got some food and hung out for a while together. I was doing well and staying strong for a good long time and I was feeling confident that I could send him off with a smile, but that fell a little short. I pulled out a letter I was writing for Jeff to take with him, and as I wrote it, I started to weaken. I actually thought about how my life will be for the next nine weeks and I was doomed. I hadn't really thought about that before, mostly as a defense mechanism, I think. Anyways, the water works started and I had a hard time shutting them off. Jeffy was getting really ornery so he and I had to leave before Jeff actually borded. So he walked me back to security (I had been allowed past it because he's Military) and we said our goodbyes. I've been weepy ever since and expect to be for a few more days. I'm trying to be happy and calm around Jeffy, though. He's been especially fussy today--I think he can feel that mommy is sad. Poor little guy. I'm glad I have him.

I'm sure things will get better. I just have to tell myself that it's temporary and focus on goals that will make me happy and help me to progress. I sure am looking forward to that one phone call, though!

So if anyone is bored and looking for someone to hang out with, I'm your girl. I need all the friends and outings I can get.

The English Major In Me Tought This Looked Fun

One Word

Where is your cell phone..........................heaven
Your hair....................................................dark
Your father................................................integrity
Your favorite thing...................................baby
Your dream last night..............................weird
Your favorite drink...................................agua
Your dream/goal.......................................bakery
The room you are in.................................sewing
Your fear....................................................c-sections
Where do you want to be in 6 years......civilian
Muffins.......................................................blueberry
One of your wish list items......................furniture
Where you grew up..................................usa
The last thing you did...............................babynap
What are you wearing..............................clothes
Your TV......................................................packed
Your pets....................................................yuck
Your computer..........................................hiding
Your life......................................................nomadic
Your mood..................................................content
Missing someone........................................soon
Your car......................................................old
Favorite store............................................porters
Your summer.............................................uncomfortable
Your favorite color.....................................blue
When is the last time you laughed..........morning
Last time you cried...................................tuesday