Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Preperation for Departation

I have about 13 months left in active service, at the end of this week i'm changing companies because the one i'm currently in is deploying relatively soon and they are not allowing Females... save the commander but eh. the only thing i need to really correct is my run time, and its smooth sailing.

so since the end is approaching, and rapidly though it might not seem like it, i've been getting ready for the freedom. I plan on going to college to take the classes that my dad is currently in, his instructor can't wait to meet me because as of right now, only two females have complete the Refrigerant and Heating course. i think it'll be a comfortable challenge after the Army, and it'll be nice to get back into the school environment. ultimately i'll have my dad's help with the class, so any homework and anything i can get proper help without waiting on a teacher or anything.

i'll also have a job secured if dad's business takes off. i'd be his little helper.

as it is, i've also been trying to help my parents lose some weight. it's a scary, and sad, thought that i, my 150 pounds that i don't look like (guys would pin me 120 the lightest, 130 the heaviest), am half the weight of my dad. he's gotta lose 80 lbs to be in a healthy range, and my mom has to lose about the same herself. i've been trying from the sidelines for a few years now (since i joined the Army), but they always get busy taking care of my Autistic brother.

ah well, all i can do now is focus on the next while. mebbe i'll get somewhere safe.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Warrior Series

Since the origanl arc started to hit paperback, though i wonder if it ever had a hardcover, i've followed a series called Warriors, which is a tale about feral cats and the life they live. it is such a powerful series, it's worth looking into, even if you aren't much of a cat person.

the origanl arc follows a normal, young housecat name Rusty and his yearning to explore the woods, catch his own prey, and feel free. he encounters these wild cats, who invite him into their clan. he joins, and is renamed Firepaw, an apprentice of Thunderclan. he uncovers many serects as he continues to rise up through the ranks, his warrior name is Fireheart, and by the end of the Series, he becomes Thunderclan's Leader, Firestar.

the next series deals with four chosen cats, and two other tagalongs, who must travel far in order to find a new home for the four clans. the clans make the Great Journey to their new home.

the next two series go hand in hand, starting with the story of two powerful cats born as decendents of Firestar who have powers beyond that of Starclan, with the current series adding the third member of this trio. Jayfeather is a Blind cat who is the Medience Cat, who can walk into the dream of any cat and in his dreams can see clearly. Lionblaze is a powerful warrior who cannot be harmed in battle, whether it be from other cats or even a fox. the final member, Dovewing, has ultra sensitive hearing, she can evesdrop on any clan within the lake terratory.

currently waiting on the final book of the fourth series. ontop of those, there the Super Editions, long books that give us insight into an important Cat's life. while the first one dealt with Firestar rebuilding a fifth clan, Skyclan, the next one showed us Bluestar's life (she lead before Firestar). then we got to see how Skyclan was faring after Firestar had left. next was Crookedstar's tale, which spoke of how his life, and why he  was the way he was. rumor has it the next is title Yellowfang's Secret, Yellowfang is a warrior turned Medicne Cat who started in Shadowclan and later joined Thunderclan.

the fifth arc is rumored to take place in the past.

such an interesting series.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Home Stretch

heh, a fitting title :P for i am indeed on a home stretch, and it's gonna be a tough one.

first up, another PT test, company wide. Passing this test will give me my Specialist, and I've gotta do my best and hardest, i want to go home that rank, and have a family photo and a special photo of me and one of my Aunts, who's in Maine's National Guard, she's suppose to be a SGT but they haven't pinned her because an actual slot hasn't opened up.

When the PT Test actually lands, I'm not sure, it's either the 13th or the 14th; if the 13th then i have a day to prepare for the second obstacle of the week, if the 14th, it's the same day.

the second obstacle is the Gas Chamber. i haven't been in one since Basic, and in basic i nearly panicked because the C2 they used choked me up and i couldn't tell if i sealed the mask right or not because it stung to breathe. it won't be as bad as the PT test, but something that I'm not really thrilled to do.

after that, i get up reallly early on Sat morning, sign out, and get my roommate to get me to Austin so i can head home, I'll be back in Maine about 3pm, i soooooooooo cannot wait. the cats miss me, as i posted a video of me bowling away, my parents told me one of the cats, Fluffy, kept looking at the computer looking for me. of course Fluffy and Pepper both know me well, i was the guardian that looked after them in my room when they were young kits, and i became one of their humans as they got older. my parents recently acquired another cat, George he's called, a friendly cat, I've met him before, and he's a youngin compared to the ladies.

and I've already planed with the family that we are all gonna go bowling when I'm home.

first, get through the week...
yikes

Monday, November 28, 2011

The Weakening Control

I think my leadership should be very glad i have some control over my anger, not a whole lot, but enough to keep from being completely stupid.

right now, i'm trying to decide how i want to whip my squad leader, do i string him by his toes and gag him or something else?
oh and no worries, nothing comes to light of this, it's just what i wish i could do.

personalities to not match up, he and i have been clashing since day one. sure occasionally we can joke around and be all cool, but he keeps getting up in my ass about the smallest shit, like today, i was running, coughing every step of the way, but i still manage to complete the exercise within the recommended reps, so what was the big issue? sure i was slow, but when aren't i slow, i'm the only female that actually does pt with the platoon; two others are on profile, another is post-preg pt, and the only other female is the commander who does her own thing.

as fed up as i am, these are the assholes i gotta contend with for deployment... *sigh*

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Drift

a whirlwind of insanity has arrived. everyone seems to be getting under my skin, questioning the things i do, make me question myself, and make me want to throttle them.

they should give me some credit, i hold myself in check more often then not, i could probably do some damage if i let loose.

sure, i passed my PT test, but honestly i don't feel any real accomplishment. the commander cheered for me, my SFC gave me a hug, he had paced me and feared right at the end i wouldn't make it. but now it feels like everyone wants more from me now that my mind is somewhat cleared.

'if you get an attitude again, i'll make you do corrective training' piff, maybe if i didn't feel so bogged down and singled out...

and here i want to survive a full deployment before i get out with them. that's what's got my Squad Leader questioning me, because i mentioned that the longer i spend in the military, the more i realize this ain't for me. why do i want to endure deployment? for the experience of one start to finish...

i dunno anymore. and no one understands me here, nor does it feel like they want to. yes i want to learn, but how they do it clashes with how i learn...

i'll live, i'll make it, christmas is coming, the much needed break will be here.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Hotels

I've been to several different hotels of recent years, none i've ever paid for, but i've gotten to see quite a verity. I've gotta say, the one i'm in now is one of two really good ones i've been in.

last time i was in San Antonio we were at a Holiday Inn, it was an okay place, a little on the low end of decent, public bath rooms weren't the best looking, as the toilt seats were scuffed up, my room door rubbed rather hard against it's frame, but otherwise worked. but the room was nice.

Right now i'm sitting in a hotel called Double Tree, and it by far is much better then Holiday. save for the Room AC, which i will get used to eventaully, it's very nice. perhaps it's because it's so much smaller of a hotel (6 floors vs many in Holiday) but this place is much more comforting. more peaceful.

however, the only place that is even better then this is Gray Wolf Hotel, and not because of it's water park.

i've a dislike for elevators. it's not the small space, but the movement... i've always been this way for as long as i can remember, which goes back a ways, i believe it was around my little brother's birth, but all i know is it was a hospital elevator and i didn't like the movement. it's in part with my ears, i'm sensitive to elevation change, and my ears don't pop either. i'll ride them, i'm just not comfortable.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Hot Heat

It's a drought, it's Texas....
I'm from a cold state, Maine...

In Texas, the temperature is known to go above 100, for days on end >.<
In Maine, rarely does it go above 85.

In Texas, an dustin' of snow shuts everthing down
In Maine, it could be a blizzard out and we'd still be off to school, if the roads are clear.

Texas is too hot for me
I'd rather be home in Maine where it'd known to get below zero.

Besides that, i can put some of the guys to shame on a PT test. Male minimum for ages 17-21 is 42 pushups, that also happens to be female max for the same group. pushups is my strongest event, i average (least in the past few months of struggle) between 35-45 pushups, having once peaked at 47 and not having been under 35 since i left AIT. today i beat a fellow battle buddy, he only did 43 pushups, i did 45. i'm also often compliemnted on my 'perfect' pushup, close hand elbows next to my body... i think the only style push up i've yet to do is the one arm, but i'm slowly getting there.


Situps are alright, i noramlly average 60-65 but i've been touching 70 recently. the guy that was holding my feet today praised me for reaching so high, but it's not quite maxing, i'm 8 shy of that.

and the run kicks my ass, today i've been the closest i've ever been to reaching min without pity or a push from the SGTs, 20 seconds shy.

but the sad thing, i'm reaching 'batallion standard', i'm just failing my run. batallion's standard is 240, today's test i scored a 243.

i just find it sad, but funny.