I'm a Square Peg

Veteran's Day.

I suppose today is a good day to reflect on my service in the military so far.

I, like so many others, found myself sitting across from a Marine Corps recruiter one fateful day in April. I stared down at these little tags that they make you put in order of importance to you and I felt...peace. I felt as if I was in the right place for the first time in my life.

I sat there thinking about myself and what he was telling me that I would have to be able to do. He explained what boot camp would be like and how hard it would be, but I wasn't even thinking about that. My heart was swelling with an overwhelming confidence that if I set my mind to it, I would be able to do it.

I went home and I told my big sister that I was going to be a Marine. That my life had just been changed forever. It wasn't about what my recruiter had said, it was about how I felt and what I knew about myself.  It was what I was supposed to do. I just knew it. All of my life I was waiting for this feeling.  I was hoping that some day, I would finally feel like I was somewhere that I belonged. There I found it.

I joined the Marines the day after I graduated high school. It was an amazingly exciting day. Throughout all my time in the Delayed Entry Program, I made some of the most amazing friends. In fact, I consider most of them to be my best friends. I created more of a connection with these people in a few short months that I have with any other people in my life.

Unfortunately, it was all too good to last. I decided to go out on one last innocent little bike ride that turned into an accident that completely changed the course of my life.  A little over two years ago, I had surgery on my arm and I cried. I cried for what I had lost. I was devastated that I would no longer be able to live out that dream and be that Marine I knew I was meant to become.

Lucky for me, about a year later, things changed. I found myself sitting across from a recruiter again but this time in an Army recruiting office. I had a stack of medical documents and high hopes that this would work out, that I would finally be able to be a part of the Military like I knew I was supposed to.

It didn't take long. I spent a couple of days with the recruiters filling out paper work, went to MEPS and that was it. I cried like a baby when the doctors on the med deck told me I was qualified. I raised my right hand (again) and I said the oath of enlistment and I was on my way.  I was an Army Reservist.

All of my training was...incredible. I tell everyone how easy it was and that it wasn't a big deal, but it was. I made life long friends and I just...fit there. I felt like I was finally good at something. For once in my life I didn't feel like a square peg in a round hole. I found a square hole that I fit in perfectly.

I'm finally a place that I belong.  Even when it really sucks.

Today I know a few combat veterans and TONS of service members. If I mentioned them all in a Facebook post, It would be over 100 of them. Most of which aren't from basic training or AIT. They're more veterans and servicemen around you than you may even realize.



So happy veterans day.

An 800 Mile Weekend

 I accomplished a lot of big things this past weekend. On Thursday, I drove home to Salt Lake. That's about 400 miles from my dorm in Las Vegas.

I went and played warrior for a few days. I qualified on the rifle range, got a new team leader, learned a few new things about how to be a good soldier, ate some tasty MREs, shot in the pouring rain...Let me tell ya, it was a pretty eventful weekend. 

As you can see, I didn't do an amazing job on that qualifying thing...but! I qualified and that is what matters. It doesn't help that I got saddled with a weapon witha grenade launcher attachment. It made my M16 about 3 or 4 lbs heavier causing my unsupported positons to be a bit more unstable...but, I shan't blame the weapon. I will simply do better next time!

After my ever so exciting weekend of shooting and running around with eye-pro and kevlars I got to jump in the car again and drive back to my new home and return to "real life." I packed up the last of my things (including my insturments...I was going crazy without them) and I headed down the road. I drove 300 miles before I stopped for gas...300 miles in the car without stopping is kind of a lot, in case you were wondering.

I also got quite lucky. I got to drive through the Virgin River Gorge (you know the part of I-15 that runs through Arizona?) in a lightening storm complete with sheets of rain and crazy semi-truck drivers...I also got to experience high winds through the Moapa valley nearly blowing me off the road. It was just great.....

Okay maybe not, but I made it safe and sound, and that is all that really matter. We'll just chalk it up to better luck.

Of course, this morning, after that exhausting drive...I woke up at 6:26 and I'm all like...uuuuggghhh... and this became my reality.

Yep. That sums up my morning. Jogged to my car in the parking lot drove like a bat out of hell, and of course, I still make it to work with time to spare like always...but oh man..You should see my hiar.

No. I'm not going to show it to you. It's too awful.

But, the important thing is, I made it to work.

Now, I'm back to reality. Working hard, thinking about finding myself a new job..Now that I have my mandolin and guitar back with me, maybe I'll just start playing on the street until people give me enough money to afford my college education. That would be pretty nice...

Well, I suppose that's all I've got for you today. Have a lovely Tuesday everyone :)

On Becoming A Soldier

Right before I left for training, I posted some advice to future Soldiers.  When I posted that, I wasn't even really aware of what I had gotten myself into and what it really takes to be a Soldier.  Reading it now, it still have some good advice in there. But there are many other things I would like to tell people who are considering becoming a Soldier, or heading off to basic training.

 

Now that I have actually been through basic training and I really do know what it's like, I've got a few new words of wisdom.

 

1//There are a number of things that you will hear repeatedly in training.

Move with a purpose

If you are told to go somewhere, run. You are no longer on your own time.

Pay attention to detail

Listen to your instructions. Don't get all high speed and do things you weren't told to. They don't always like initiative! Maybe they didn't want you to do whatever you though was overachieving

Don't get complacent

   And for the love of all that is holy, do not get complacent. Right when you start to relax and think you've got it down is when you start to make mistakes.

 

2//Make Friends.

My bunk mate was my best battle buddy and I am so glad that I met her. We helped each other through some tough times during basic and it made it so much easier to have someone to lean on when it was getting hard to stand. Not only that, I she has become a life-long friend.

 

 

3//Sleep

Don't think you're super man and can stay up all night. Go to sleep. Chances are, you're going to get sick and you're going to be hungry and tired. Sleep! Life will be so much better if you just go to bed when the lights go out.

 

4//Don't be a shit bag.

There is no way to sugar coat this. Don't be a Blue Flacon. Don't ruin crap for you battles...just mind your business and take care of yourself. That's not to say that you shouldn't help people out when you get the chance, but just...don't be a shit bag Soldier. No one will like you!

 

 

5//Write letters call home, and keep your head up.

Basic training doesn't have to be hard. Personally, I found it pretty easy to get through, but the experience is different for every body. Just do your best and remember your warrior ethos.

 

Bring On The Red Bull

That's sarcasm people. Ya get me?

 Over the past....3 weeks, I have been obnoxiously busy with all sorts of stuff!

I was inducted into the United States Army Chemical Corps

We had this cool ceremony where we got our regimental crests. It was something that I was really quite proud to be a part of. 

I got to see my parents for the first time in two months!

I graduated from AIT on 24 June 2013! 

I sang the National Anthem at said graduation (yuh...seriously. I did.)

I said goodbye to all my friends that are being spread out across the world to go to work.

I moved into a new building, with a new roommate. I am now in a different company with new rules, a different Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and a whole lot more freedom. And a mini fridge! We pulled a switcheroo with the room across the hall. So ours even works.

I chopped all of my hair off yesterday....

Along with my new hair style, I also got this awesomely painful sunburn to go with it. It is just....so cute. 

And now, here I am. Blogging in my "spare" time. I really should be napping, but instead, I'm just going to compensate later with a lil' 16 Oz Red Bull. 

I have been having the time of my life for the past few weeks. I am not quite ready to return to the civilian world and be a weekend warrior once again. I know that it's inevitable, but I don't like to think about it too much...

I know that I have to move on and do work, but I kind of just want to stay put. I was just starting to get used to being here and living this life. I don't want to leave it yet. 

For the first time in quite a long while, I feel like I can say with confidence, I am happy.

Bigger Than You & Me

Although I have always been appreciative of the Armed Forces, it means something completely different to me now. I believe I said something to the same effect last memorial day, but even since then my views have changed.

Ever since the first day of basic when I put on that uniform and looked in the mirror, I felt completely different about the military.

I always knew it was hard work, but until you live it, it's impossible to understand.

I work 16 hour days. Sometimes Longer.
I have been away from home for nearly 6 months. I'm missing the first months of my nieces life...

I wake up at 04 every day. On the weekends, I think I get to sleep in because I don't wake up until 05.
I eat in a cafeteria every day. The same old food every day every meal.
And I can eat it in ten minutes. No matter what it is or how it tastes.
I have to work out every weekday. It doesn't matter if I don't really feel good, if it's raining, if it's
cold, if it's hot...I'm out there getting it done. Plus, this vest is torture.

All these friends I'm making? We're all about to get spread out all over the world.
I live my life checking my watch just to make sure I'm not late for something.
I sustain relationships through the phone, letters, and internet.

I am constantly challenged in ways I never would be otherwise...
I have to wear my hair slicked back in a bun every day... (that's seems stupid, but it's the principle.)
If my bed isn't made in the morning, I can get a counseling statement that goes on my record!
I lose sleep every other night pulling fireguard.
I spend more time in formation than I do doing anything else.

My feet and legs constantly hurt and I am always wishing I was somewhere else.

But, with all this being said...I couldn't be any more proud to be serving in the military. I make sacrifices for my country every day, and I'm not even over seas! Imagine the types of sacrifices all of those who
are deployed are making as I type out this post.

This Memorial day weekend has been really great for me. Yesterday I hit the mini-golf course and spent some time with some friends that are leaving me this week for their duty stations and their homes...I had the day off and got to spend it out and about on post. I went bowling, enjoyed some real food, and went swimming. I couldn't have asked for a better day...I hope that today you took a moment to appreciate what you have because of the brave men and women who have fought for it.

They deserve at least that...they're all working for something so much bigger than you and me...

TGIFF

Last Memorial day weekend my family was out of town and I was chillaxing at home. They were all at a music thing, but I had to work and I couldn't go.  It was the same weekend that J broke up with me for the first time.

One whole year ago.

That is so crazy. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around that one. Time passes by so fast I can hardly catch my breath.

But today, I am in, yet again, an entirely different place doing completely different things look forward to a whole new life.

It's funny how much the military makes you appreciate all the little things. Sure, at home when it was Friday I was happy. I rarely worked on Saturdays and I usually got to go out and party that night. I always had good Fridays. But here? Here it's completely different.

I wouldn't say that I live for the weekend, because the days truly aren't all that bad, but the military just brings a whole new appreciation to the phrase "TGIF" And now, that's not a typo in the title up there. I am saying "Thank Goodness It's Freaking Friday."  But the things I look forward to on the weekends here are so different from those that I looked forward to at home.

At home, I wanted to go out with my friends, maybe see a movie with my family, do some shopping, stay up late just because I didn't have to wake up here.

Here? I look forward to walking to the PX, drinking a redbull, eating some Chinese food or some pizza (that's pretty much all they have there...) maybe buying a movie, sleeping, wearing an outfit that I picked out for myself and not one that was put out by my platoon sergeant, and going to the library.

It's just so hard to do all these simple things here it's so nice to come upon a weekend and be able to wear a tee shirt and jeans...It makes you so grateful for all the things that you have in the civilian world.


I am so excited to have an awesome Memorial day weekend! Yay for 3 day weekends!

Imma Stressed Mess!

Please, blog, forgive me for this neglect.

On Saturday, I was put in a position of leadership: Platoon Guide. I am now responsible for 59 soldiers. 59 new soldiers who all think that they know everything and beyond. It is so very frustrating and it's taking up all of my free time. In fact, this is the first time I've gotten my lap top out since I was put in this position. Really, I should be folding my socks...I had my first opportunity in days yesterday to do laundry, but of course, I didn't have time to fold it.

On top of that, my wall locker is a disaster. I straightened it up over the weekend and it's a big old mess again! It's so hard to keep it neat when you only have enough time to toss your dirty PTs in the laundry bag, change, slick the hair, and run to formation. Being in a leadership position, I've been making a special effort to be extra early to formation...It's annoying and giving me far less time to do everything.

The food here is not nearly as good as it was in Ft. Sill, but I am allowed to have on of these Nutri-grain bars at a time in my room...They aren't really enough to hold me over until the next chow, but it's something. It more than I had in basic, that's for sure! I'm really growing to like these bars.

Unfortunately, this weekend I won't get the change to go and get some real food due to this little thing the Army likes to call, "mass punishment".  DEFAC all weekend :P

I don't know what it is about food and me, but my wold seems to revolve around chow time, so I think about food...all the time. It's only natural that it would appear in my first blog post in a century.

Well, It looks like it's about my bed time (2020...ha, never thought I'd see the day I would say that!) so, I'll leave you all with this.








I'm working really hard to look on the bright side. I've passed all of my tests with over 90% and I'm in the running for honor graduate. I'm working really hard and continually putting my best foot forward. Being the PG is very challenging and very rewarding at the same time. Hopefully it will get better with time, or maybe it will just give me a lot of experience on how to deal with people who want to do your job for you...

Got My Heart A Racin'

First, I would like to apologize for my lack of posts. I'm so busy and the internet is about as fast as snail mail...It's quite frustrating. Don't be surprised if my posts aren't quite as pretty as usual. All the sites I use to format are too high-speed for the net connection here...so for a while, my posts might be lacking in the pizzazz department, but I'll do my best!

(Edit: I finally managed to make a little picture for this weekly post! Yay!)

As I mentioned last Monday, each week, I'll be sharing a few things about my basic training experience. Today, I've decided to share my favorite training events! We were lucky enough to have a Facebook page that had pictures and stuff so our families ( and now you!) can see what it was like. It's really cool.

Without further ado, I give you...

The Top 5 Best Training Events

5. Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) and Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (ARM)

I didn't know how much I liked shooting until Basic. It was so fun. We ended up doing tons of shooting by the time we graduated and it was really cool to get some solid fundamentals of shooting. I think I will definitely keep up with it and work on it in the civilian world to qualify expert eventually!

4. Grenades

Have you even thrown a grenade? yeah...probably not. It's probably one of the most exciting things I've done so far. Pulling out all the safeties and chucking a little exploding ball out in front of you...it's kind of exhilarating! The boom shook my soul...It was...amazing!

3. The Final PFT 

That's our final fitness test. I was so motivated for this thing, I did so well! My first PT test I didn't do very well. I ran a 185 PFT...I didn't even pass everything! I couldn't believe it. So when it came time to do my final PFT I was really hoping to do well. I had worked hard on my own and wanted it to show. Well, it definitely showed! I ran 2 miles in 15 minutes and 7 seconds, I did 28 push-ups (over doubling my first score) and 69 push ups. I MAXED my run and did over 75 points in the other two events. I was so proud of it that the dang PFT became one of the high lights of my experience. 

2. Treadwell Tower 

Treadwell Tower is a rappelling training event with a rope course deally attached to it. When we came up on this tower...I wanted to pass out. It was our first actual day of training and I almost peed my pants at the top of the 40 foot tower and on the rope course that we did, but once I completed it, I felt so awesome and confident, which was probably the point. 

That picture is even me! Woo!

1. The 16k!

The 16k is often dreaded by young privates like myself, but I was so pumped for it. We ended up practically having to skip our final big training exercise because of lightening storms and a ridiculous down pour that happened that whole week, so we got a good night's rest before we headed out. I was so excited and proud to be so close to the finishing point of BCT that I barely even felt the pain. When we finished, I had big old blisters between my toes.  My wrist was sore and stiff from carrying my weapon, my back hurt from my ruck...it was painful, but I had no idea until we finished. It felt so good. 

I'm Back, Did You Miss Me?

HELLO! 

I am currently hanging out at the USO in the St. Louis Airport just waiting for my bus to arrive and I thought that I would stop in and say a thing or two before I head off to AIT and get too busy to blog about what's going on. 

First things first!

I had a giveaway going before I left that never got taken care of because I was gone. Don't worry, a winner will be picked and something will be sorted out, I promise!

Second of all. I missed my bliggity...so much. I missed all of my readers, I missed writing my witty little pieces, I missed tweeting and facebooking and all the annoying parts of bloggings all put together and I am so happy to be returning to this thing that I love so much.

I would also like to thank the awesome ladies that blogged for me while I was gone! I so appreciated them and their efforts to keep my blog from dying out. I was so worried, but I think that it was alright :) I could have asked for better bloggy friends. 

What I've decided to do with my basic training experiences, is tell you a little bit about them each week.  I suppose it will be a "Military Monday" sort of thing. Hopefully that works out as well as I think it will. 

But until then, I'll give you a few wonderful highlights. 

1) I reached one of my goals and I was promoted to Private First Class effective 12 April!  Only 18 out of 210 were promoted and I was one of them.  I am so proud of it and the extra money really doesn't make me sad at all. 

2) I was able to serve as a squad leader. It felt so good to be given some responsibility. I was more than happy to march at the front of the formation and do a few little things here and there to help out our Platoon guides. 

3) My entire family came to see me graduate! Including my wonderfully angelic niece. Meeting her for the first time was probably the best thing....ever!

And of course, there is so much more to tell and many exciting things that I got to experience. Overall, basic training was a fun and educational experience. I am really glad to be done and moving onto the next part of my training. I really hope that it's everything I hoped. 

Oh, side note! While I was in basic, my mom sent me my mail that was going to my home address. That meant that I found out I got into UNLV while I was laying on the floor in the squad bay going through my mail for that evening! So, it looks like I've got yet another great adventure ahead of me. More on that to come as well! 

I am also hoping to get a new design up and running here soon, but we'll have to see how much free time I have before that happens! I hope you are as excited as I am about what is to come!

So You Want To Be A Soldier

On my journey into the military, I've learned a few "dos & don'ts".  I was also given a lot of advice as to how to do it.  I have been approached by all kinds of people interested in the military asking me questions about it and wanting advice. So, I've compiled somewhat of a list about becoming a member of our armed services.  I have learned quite a bit from my experiences joining the Marines and then the Army Reserve and I would like to share that knowledge for the sake of other who might need a little bit of guidance 

Although I say "Soldier" I really mean pretty much any person who wants to be in the military.

Well, I've got a few words of advice for you. 

• Do your Homework. Before you make a decision to join a certain branch, talk to recruiters, read up on the branches and make an informed decision. Join the branch that best suits you. 
• Do study for the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery).  Despite what "they" say, that score does matter. I got a high score and qualified to do almost anything in the military. 
• Don't get talked into something you don't want to do. Recruiters are good at their jobs. Make sure that you are your own advocate. Don't get pushed around. 
• Do pay attention to the physical requirements of each branch! They are all different and you need to be sure that you meet them before you attempt to join. 
• Do pick a job that you will be interested in doing. Lots of people get in and end up feeling very stuck in the job they got pinned with. 
• Don't expect it to be the quickest process in the world. Joining the military can be messy!
• Do be honest with your recruiter. Tell them everything they need to know (i.e. medical history, law violations etc.)
• Do pin point the reasons that you want to join. It is so important to do it or the right reasons. It could also help you decide which branch is right for you. 

So there are a few Dos and Don'ts that you should know before joining. There are also a lot of things that I have learned since being in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) that I think that future service members should know. 

• Keep you paperwork in order. They give you so much crap that you need to keep...It's also a good idea to get copies of everything for your personal records. Don't rely on someone else to have it. 

• There's a bunch of knowledge (at least for the Army and Marines) that they want you to memorize. Do it! It's going to save you lots of headaches once you get to basic and will put you ahead of the game. 
• Stay on top of your game physically. Check out your PFT (Physical Fitness Test) requirements for you gender and age and work to meet them! Knowing that you can pass that test is going to give you some serious peace of mind. 
• 
• Find out about pre-basic promotion opportunities! I'm getting promoted before I leave so I will get to wear a chevron when I get to basic...I'm pretty proud of it!
• 
• Girls, if you have short hair, you might want it to be a pixie cut! You're going to hate having to gel back every little flyaway!  If you hair is long enough for a nice bun don't cut it! I was given this advice a while ago, and this was my last hair cut because of it. 

• Get everything squared away before you go. I've got 2 weeks left and lots of stuff to do. You don't need to be stressed out in your final days at home!
• Stay motivated.  Keep your head up and remind yourself exactly why you are doing what you're doing. It will help you more than you know! 
• If you are a reservist, attend your unit's drill weekends. You will learn a lot and get the chance to work with people that you'll be dealing with after basic. I'm so glad I went. 

But, I looked...terrible and don't wear nail polish in uniform! I took that off after I took the picture...

And now, I shall shamelessly plug my awesome giveaway I've got running!
Please, enter today to win an Origami Owl Living Locket today!
Tina is running some amazing promotions for this month for Valentines day! Check out her design page, tell her I sent you and get yourself some of the most adorable jewelry you have ever seen. 

Tina Graham: Origami Owl Independent designer

Can You Ever Be Just Whelmed?

Holy moly, blog. My life is so hectic right now.  Last night, I just fell apart. I started crying alone in my (okay...my sister's old room. Mine is a wreck and I don't want to deal with it right this minute...) room, because I was feeling overwhelmed with everything I have to do...

Today, I got home from work (of course we were busy as crap...) and I thought about the zillion things I had to do. Of course, instead of doing them, I hit the gym, went to Cafe Rio, messed around on Facebook...And did all but the things I was supposed to accomplish. 

Well, I did one thing that I needed to. I finally completed my UNLV application...It's basically decided that I'm going there. Although I would really like to go to Washington, I think that it probably isn't very realistic. Besides, I would get to keep my civilian job, and likely move up very quickly if I go to Vegas. 

You wouldn't believe my checklist of shiz I have to take care of before I leave...The funny thing is, I haven't really procrastinated. It's just that there were things I couldn't do until now...

• I've got to do my taxes.
• I have to apply for financial aid for school.
• I have to figure out how to get the money from the Army for school...I checked it out today. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. Seriously, it looks complicated. 
• I have to box up everything in my room for storage. 
• I have to wash all my clothes...
• I need to take care of all of my per-written posts, guest posts, sponsors, giveaways etc. for while I'm gone.
• Freeze my gym member ship. 
• Get leave from work. Also, try to figure out how I'm going to get transferred to Las Vegas in a matter of, possibly, days. 
• Set up auto-pay for my phone bill. I also have to have a minor heart attack over the fact that I'm about to pay $300 for a phone I might get to use 3 times in 3 months...
• AND! I have to catch up with the stuff that I procrastinated. That's pretty much just my knowledge stuff...I didn't get on top of it like I did with the Marines. It's hard, though, when you have a civilian job.  There are not enough hours in the day to get all the things done that need to be done and have a little gym time (also a necessity.)

If that doesn't look overwhelming, I don't know what is...If ya'll have experience, know people with experience or whatever in these situations or have some good ideas that will help me to accomplish the hard ones, I would so appreciate it!  

And...if you can name that movie the title of this post is from...we're best friends!

Progress Report!

It feels like I haven't blogged in forever! Don't forget about my "50 Followers" DefineBliss giveaway! Today is the last day to enter!

She was at a show this week! Here is what her booth looked like!

Adorable!

Today's post is a bit of a mish-mash of everything. Usually, I throw down the Sunday Social, but I was tied up this weekend so I didn't get around to it.  And also, I wasn't really in the mood to blog. I've promised myself that I will never blog when I don't feel like it.  Blogging shouldn't be a chore, right?

I had drill with my reserve unit this weekend.

This month, we did an APFT. If you follow me on Twitter (@camocolored) you know that I passed!

Push-Ups: 26 ( I did 32, but only 26 of them counted...)

Sit ups: 60. (I could have done more. Next time, I will!)

2 mile run: 17:06 (my goal was 17:00!!)

I was sooo proud of that. I was more worried about the run than anything and I completely surprised myself. I think that I also surprised the soldiers around me. The SPC. That was counting for me sounded completely shocked every time I did a push-up. It sort of pissed me off a little. You should never judge a book by it's cover...But at the same time, I got satisfaction out of being a surprise.

I also looked much better in my hand-me-down uniform.

See that fuzzy patch in the center where my rank insignia is supposed to be? Well, because I passed my APFT, it won't be fuzzy anymore!! Woo!

I also "adjusted" my patrol cap so that it fit me a little bit better.

Yay for safety pins!

 I also got to see one of my old friends from the Marine DEP that is stationed in North Carolina. We had a good time talking politics and hanging out. We agree on like...everything so it was pretty easy to talk about. No warfare with words.

Plus, the other day, I got to Skype with one of my other Marine buddies who's on deployment right now. That was awesome. I don't realize how much I miss him until I get to see his face and it makes my week. It's great, but it is also hard to have all of my best friends so spread out...

So that's about it. I'm still living life, kicking ass and taking names, having a little bit of fun, and working like a dog to be the best that I can possibly be.

Happy Monday, Bloggy World

(if there is such a thing as a happy monday...)

What Tomorrow Brings

Have you entered my DefineBliss $50 Giftcard giveaway? Well get to it! Who doesn't love free money?!

In other news...

I'm going to a hockey game Saturday night! I'm so excited. I loove hockey. We don't have a pro team in Salt Lake, but we do have the Grizzlies.  

Source

A few of us in the "Future Soldier Program" were asked to attend a hockey game (free rink-side ticket!) to do a little bit of recruiting. We'll go out on ice and do a little mock-swear in ceremony to show people how cool we are or something. 

It'll be fun to hang out with them.  The only the other girl around and I get along really well so we should have a good time. I'll try to take a few pictures. Being rink-side, I should be able to take some pretty good ones!

You know what else is cool? We went to the ticket office so my family could get ticket. The guys in the office, after hearing what my family wanted to go for, gave them 6 row 2 tickets for the price of ONE! How freaking cool is that?! There are some really good people in this world.

I had another cool military related experience today too. 

At work, part of my job is to test new applicants to see if they have an aptitude using the program that we work with every day. I got to talking to one of my applicants and discovered that I was talking to an officer in the Army Reserve...Needless to say, I straightened up and started calling him sir. Mostly out of habit, but it was cool to run into a commissioned officer in my civilian job. Plus, he passed the test with flying colors, so I got to give him a job too! Awesome right?

I guess some pretty cool things will come out of this Army thing...

It might be pretty okay to be...Army Strong.  I think that what tomorrow brings just might be alright with me. :)

PS--Enter my Giveaway! And please, be honest with your entries so that you can win something cool like this!