PFC Rhynard

I enlisted yesterday; swore in at MEPS (Military Entrance & Processing Station) after the longest day ever on one hour of sleep. Freeway noise and I did not make friends on Sunday night. Anyway, I'm now PFC (Private First Class) Rhynard of the United States Army! :D And I'm kinda excited about it, as you can probably tell. :)

I got the linguist job, although it's still dependent upon one more thing, which should turn out fine. I'm shipping out of Indianapolis to Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC on October 6 for Basic Combat Training (BCT; 9 weeks, 4 days, please write), and then I start Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in Monterey, CA at the DLI (Defense Language Institute) on February 1, 2010. (The military loves it some abbreviations.) As to what I will do and where I will live in the meantime, I have no clue. Nor do I know when I will find out when the Army will decide what language I will learn and whether I will become a signals intelligence officer or a cryptologic linguist. (I'm hoping for the latter.) It's all up in the air.

All I know is that I just have this little Army bag to hold all my worldly possessions to take to boot camp, and, as a woman, former camp counselor, and generally overprepared overpacker, that is intimidating and disappointing. ;) haha but I guess I can buy the bug spray, foot powder, and everything else I will deem necessary at the post when I get there, and they won't take it away from me. I will miss my dear little iPod, my cell phone, my friends and family (of course!), the internet, and, to a large extent, Colts football (!!!) while I'm at boot camp. Can someone promise to DVR each game? Haha. (But I'm so serious. If any one wants to . . . I'd be forever grateful haha.)

And now, I feel like I'm in limbo. I really want to start running outdoors now, though. Anybody interested in joining? I am pathetically unmotivated when it comes to running alone; I can't stand the lack of companionship and the diversion that companionship provides. Anyway. If anyone feels like running 3-4 miles a day, 4-5 days a week . . . get at me. :)

My bed and Fred the Giraffe beckon. Goodnight, all. :)