Still Alive

Hey Ya'll, I'm still alive out here. My pass went well. We hung out a lot and just chilled. The highlight would have to be when me and these three guys took on the mouse...that's right, Mr. Chuch E. Cheese for Easter dinner. :-) We had a blast. We were driving around looking for a road house or a bar to go hang out at and spotted the Chuck. We actually had quite a bit of fun. SO here's what's been going on:

Tuesday: I got my test results and finished at medical down at South Fort Hood.

Wed: I stopped at the pharmacy to get my meds (we have to have 6 mos. worth before we leave) and got picked up by our comany readiness NCO at about 11am. We ran around picking people up and such and hit North Fort Hood at about 1430. We got released at 1500.

Thurs: We had our deployment ceremony. Military parades are an impressive sight for those in attendance. They are torturous for those involved. This was no exception. We had to stand there motionless for over and hour on full battle gear while four Generals spoke. Just kill me now. You can see pictures and video of the event if you would like at http://www.10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2008/03/26/story_fort_hood.html

Fri-now: Now we're just in a holding pattern. my company leaves for Kuwait in the wee hours of tuesday am. Untilo then we have formations at 0900 and 1500 daily and just hang out.

I have to be at Battalion HQ tomorrow am at 0600 to go take a language proficiency test in german which i totally expect to bomb. If i pass though I get extra pay for free, so why not? I'm also trying to arange to take the DLAB (Defense Language Aptitude Battery) while I'm stuck here doing nothing. It's the test you take to qualify you for military foriegn language courses. My first sergant says that chances are when the comany leaves that Weekman (the other late arrival) and I will most likely be shipped back down to south fort hood. Round and round we go. :-) I've liked being here though. I like my company and they've been very nice and welcoming. I'm bummed to leave them and go to Camp Shelby. Last word I heard was a departure date between the 3rd and 6th.

So for now I'm hanging out. Watching DVD's and reading. Not a bad gig to get paid for, that is if my pay weren't all jacked the heck up! But that's a different rant. God Bless!

Pass

So, I haven't figured out exactly what I'm doing yet, but I met up with a couple of guys that are stuck here for the weekend as well and we're going to do something. Right now we're headed toward camping, but still looking. I got my guide books though. Anyone who has ever traveled with me knows me and my guide books. :-) Anyway, That's what. xxoo

Holding Pattern

Aahhh...I'm finally done. I finished PDT yesterday. Finally. Let me tell you last night in my own room with an inside flush toilet and actual bed were awesome! I graduated and BARELY made my bus in San Antonio. I got in here at about seven last night and was beat! I also found out this morning that I have a pass from this afternoon until Sunday night. Meaning I"M FREE I don't know that i'll go anywhere, but I can. Aunt Linda was hoping to make it down but that didn't work out, so I'm on my own. Anyway, I took care of my lovely medical apt. this morning and now I'm just in a holding pattern with nothing to do. Wow...sucks to be me. :-) I'm actually really going to enjoy the rest. Anyway, I'm back in the land of cell phone service, so I can also be reached by phone. I'm gonna load up some more pics, so enjoy. love ya!

pics

Let the Training Begin

So we started and ended EMT already. I haven't updated this like i should. sorry. The truth is I've just been too dang lazy to walk to the computer room. Here is an overview of what mike life is like right now.
0430-wake up
0500-0600-outside to PT. Average temp has been about 35. brrr.
0600-0730-personal hygiene, cleaning and breakfast
0730-1700(5pm)-class. boring class.
1700-2000 dinner and relax.
2000-i try to be in bed by eight.
rinse and repeat.

I haven't been sleeping well which is part of the problem. We sleep on these army cots which are no fun and if you have to go to the bathroom-which i always do-you have to go out in the cold and walk to the bathroom. There's no stumbling half asleep here folks. Plus lights out isn't until 2200 and if you know me well you know that I can't sleep with the light on. So I wear my PT cap pulled down low over my eyes and put on a movie or something in my headphones and try to sleep. I am a serious crab when I don't get my sleep. I was also fighting something off all last week, so that didn't help.

I am feeling better now though, so that's nice. Today we started CMAST training. That's Combat Medic Advanced Skills Training. The cool stuff. Jabbing needles in peoples chests, doing surgical cric's (where we cut a hole in your neck so you can breathe.) and lots of other fun stuff. Today our practical exercises were doing emergency extrication's from different vehicles and loading patients onto different vehicles. It was pretty cool.

The food is ok. nothing spectacular, but not too bad either. There is a group that went to Wally world that should be bringing me back strawberries and a can of whipped cream, Yummm!! Anyway, that's all that's going on for now. I'd love to hear from you via email or text message.

As far as my next step...I'll go back to Fort Hood to finish my SRP process and then I don't know. Someone said that we were going to have to go to Camp Shelby, Mississippi to do two weeks training for make-up, but i asked my 1st Sergent about that and he didn't know. Last I heard was that we were headed for "K Crossing" That's the base that serves as the border crossing between Iraq and Kuwait. anyhoo...check out the pics. :-) love ya all!
BRI

Just Hangin"

Well, I really have nothing to report. Clayton tells me I am officially moved out of my apartment and into storage. I still have no reception, so if you want to get ahold of me don't call. Either text or email. Our days are pretty simple. We have class everyday from about 8am until four or five, then we just hang out. I talked to someone at my new battalion and I guess I got switched companies. again. I have found that the key to being happy in the Army is to develop a kind of "Army Zen." A "whatever" kind of attitude. Switch companies? whatever. Go there? whatever. Roach infested shower? whatever. That and do not try to search for logic. That is just exhausting and maddening.

Anyway, I'm bored silly in class, but I must admit that it's a good refresher. So far since being mobilized I've run into three people that I went to either basic or AIT with. I went back to Fort Sam today on a run to the military clothing store. It was like deja vu. I had a lot of fun there. :-) Anyway, I'm just here. Resuscitating dummies and trying to stay awake in class. Practicing my zen. :-)