It’s pouring rain outside. We’ve already gotten 5 inches and I heard some thunder. We had command PT on Wednesday and PO made sure all the broke [LLD] people went to the gym. Me and Heath sat in the sauna and Braley watched others play volleyball. I got ready and trudged through the rain. While people were cleaning the classroom, Smith took off his boots and rung out his socks. McClellan got onto him for that. I splashed to my room, got my raincoat liner and dry socks, and headed back to class. It was so wet and I was so cold in class.

We went through 4 lessons, a bunch of sunset pictures, and a leak in the roof. When we went into class it was Thunderstorm Threat 1, leaving an hour early at midnight [aka balls military time] it was Threat 3. We waited on the duty van while water poured in from the ceiling, spilling down the stairs and blowing over the sidewalk. I went at a fast pace through the 4-inch puddle that had collected. I ripped my badge off as I passed the guard shack and hopped in. Brews Bros. got hit by lightning and due to the alcohol content started quite a blaze.

Me and Holloway went in for midrats [midnight food rations], but the only person from our class on the list was Scott. PO said just write your name and take someone else’s. It’s rainy and I don’t care. When Hollaway stepped outside his bag fell apart. I put on dry clothes and blow-dried my hair. I’m gonna call Mom for my license number, sew on Wise’s [male version] patch, and go to the sauna tomorrow. Whitney woke me up and said PO Murphee wanted me in the office. I stood at the door in my PJs. He told me to go change. I went back with pink socks on, no belt, and a slept-in ponytail.

I was talking to a guy waiting on his friend and when PO came out I asked if I should come back because I can only stand for 10 minutes [doctor’s orders]. He told me to stand correctly at parade rest and stop bullshitting. Finally Chief calls me in. If the Navy would have gotten me as a child they would have loved me because I really paid attention to detail. Barry could verify that. I was a picky little kid. Chief asked if there was something he should know about and when I said no he yelled at me to get out of his office before he… what’s he going to do? besides piss me off.

I took off my wet boots and found out school was canceled. Me and Meg got hair dye at Walmart. I’m waiting till the end of April to do mine so it will be pretty for my next duty station. I also got a new pink watch. It’s got a timer, alarm, navy time, and night light. I bought 2 things at the mall: a metal notebook with Edward Scissorhands on the front and A Darkside of the Zodiac book. I read that and had to adjust the clocks for DST and went to sleep.

Today is room inspect day. I made it to my room at 10:30 to see the paper lying on my bed. When I saw sat circled, I almost pooped myself. How in the heck?! We got 3 hits: uniforms out and bedspread on rack, deck dirty under ironing board holder and carpet under racks need cleaning, and toilet dirty behind seat. He wrote: marginal sat, get these discrepancies fixed. My closet and secretary were unlocked, we had TP on top of an empty roll, tub was dirty, fridge is dirty, and the whole carpet is just dirty. Plus, I saw something on the mirror. He let me off easy.

I go for a walk and head for the woods behind the Q. We have a creek with a small bridge on it, something I would know if I’d ever done a perimeter run, there’s 2. I got halfway over the bridge, listened to the frogs, and looked at the stars. I went behind the library where there was a powerline through a tree that looked like a burning cigarette. Next, I came to the obstacle course where I swung on the ropes. I picked up a softball by the field that I played with and still have. I went to the Q for coffee.

Breakfast was great, but it was even greater when I sweated it off in the dark sauna (because the light switch was broken) for 40 minutes. I threw everything in my closet in a quick attempt to get ready for the beach. I was wearing Nelson’s shorts with Shirley’s shirt. I grabbed a white tee and changed in Angie’s car with Strickland driving. We went to Crabs [a seafood restaurant] to eat. We order drinks and a color page for me. 2 out of 8 people want to eat here, so as we leave I give my calico crab to a guy at the bar. He agrees with me that it’s pretty. For the name and age, I put Tacawetta, 11.

Chief asked if I had gone anywhere this weekend and knowing I hadn’t signed out I immediately said no. He said ok and held up my phase card [how long I’m allowed to stay off base]. We had PO Juarez teach us a lesson for evaluation, and then we went to the lab where I worked with Soto who doesn’t know anything and I had a migraine. It made me throw up. I just heard a remix on the radio to PIMP. It was POPE. ‘You saw him on your TV, he put his life on the line for you and me.’

One month till Friday the 13th. I will graduate Shipboard Ops and be home with my girl [Tiffany] and Peanut [my pug]. I cleaned my room (the plug-ins, smoke detector, etc.) and passed out. [After I woke,] I had to run back to lock my stuff and get the pile of sand in front of my bed removed. I had to muster at 7 am for mandatory fun (pool, tug-a-war, foosball), a base competition. The safety brief was an hour long. We spent all day at the pool tables cheering people on and then we got the karaoke started. There were 2 good [decent singer] girls and 3 guys at least.

It was a Kodak moment to see all these people from different backgrounds joined together singing in harmony. That’s part of life that I enjoy most. It’s a good time to bond and it makes everyone feel better because we are all in the same position of being homesick or hating school or duty. I won’t mind roving watch, school is great, and I’ve been having an ok Navy time. I dyed my hair auburn brown. It left a slight pink highlight which blends with my hair because no one noticed.

Whitney let me borrow her phone, so I was able to call Jack and leave a message, Holly but she wasn’t home from school yet, Mom to discuss our plans [to visit between Florida and Virginia], Neal to find out that he’s going to San Diego today, and Tiffany said she mailed my package. The airport returned it to her once because they couldn’t mail it. She told me she removed the drug paraphernalia and sent it back. I stopped by the post office and opened my [mail] box to see a letter from her which made me very happy, but when I saw the notice that I had a package I jumped with joy.

Tiffany is working at Stone Canyon Cafe in Georgetown almost every day. Her sister is 6 1/2 months pregnant with another girl. I want to take a trip with her, but we will have to do it on a weekend. I want to fly somewhere and do something crazy. I went to class and Angie started making fun of [flirting with] Mitchell again. She put soda on him. I thought he was going to sit down and let her get away with it, but he turns and lets her have his red Mountain Dew. It got her face, arm, and the wall, table, and floor. I give him congrats.

I could go for days awake, but I can’t find anyone else who can. They should have a Jessica watch, that way I always have someone up to entertain me. It would be easier if I could do more in my room at night, but with me and Whitney having opposite shifts, it’s hard. I left with Angie and Wise to Arety’s Angels [dance club]. I watched the girl dance on stage for a while and saw another girl sitting in the champagne room. Angie and I played pool while Wise spent $15 in a [claw machine] game. He won bride and groom monkeys, a smiley face animal, wedding pigs in an egg, an orange pig, a graduation bear, and a racing magnet.

I got the monkeys, a pink bride and a brown groom. He gave the pigs to Kira, she works there and she’s cute. He said they both have the boar Chinese birth sign. We left when they closed at 3 am and headed to Bedlam’s [a BYOB after-hours club open till 5 am] where I got stamped bed tot. Angie got hit on by every [dark-skinned] guy there. We were on the dance floor and this guy comes up behind me. Angie saw his dick and told him to get his nasty ass… We got up on the pole [to get away from him], which Wise enjoyed and Angie got a $2 tip.

I was in my bed by 7:30 am. I set the alarm for 11:30. I wake up and look at my clock at 7:30. Isn’t that the time I laid down?? I look at my watch on the way to the bathroom and it’s 7:30 pm. Holy shit [not sure why I’m surprised by this]. I just slept 12 hours. King and Crackin invited me to the MWR to play pool. I got a dollar to pick songs [from the jukebox] and picked Stevie Ray Vaughn’s [possibly “Crossfire”], Guns-n-Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle”, Eminem’s “Mockingbird”, and Jet’s [possibly “Are you gonna be my girl”]. We left after midnight.

Gill and her blankets were gone, but her ID, room key, and phase card were on the nightstand. I wrote Mom a $300 check for gas [that she didn’t use]. I watched an hour of Nip/Tuck with Davis, Wilson, and Crackin. Wise had made fun of how trashy I looked in baggy black pants and an XL black jacket. I changed into tight green pants and a black shirt. I went to bed and [my] roomie comes crawling out of her closet. She said it was relaxing to be in there.

Me and Bickford went to Walmart and out of 4 rolls of film I couldn’t even fill 2 of the albums they gave us. I don’t think they gave me all the pictures. I got pictures of the brunch after Grandma’s funeral, the poopies [dogs at home], [Mom’s] Christmas tree, and Tabor at the beach. I went to the NEX and spent $35 on 6 white shirts, 2 service ribbons, a belt buckle, boot polish, 3 E-2 patches, a teddy bear, 3 postcards, and gum. I’m saving the new uniform stuff for Virginia so I look sharp. I’ve also only been wearing 2 sets of utilities so that hopefully the other 2 will have less stains.

After the NEX, I sewed on a patch or 2 on my civi [lian] jacket. I still don’t have a new cell phone. I called Dad and told him about Eric joining [the Navy]. I went to PT muster in my PJs, a shirt that says drunk, and a stuffed lion [that Jarrett gave me]. PO Hernandez told me I shouldn’t show up to muster with toys. I’m a broken [bone in my foot], bravo [night] shifter in PJs. I’m finally allowed to go back to my room where I feel safe, protected from the world outside. Sometimes I just get so nervous being around other people. It makes me want to throw up, explode, or run and hide. The only reason they feel so intimidating is all of my insecurities.

We were discussing the death triangle in class. You have to have possibility, ability, and motive. Mitchell said Soto had possibility because they are breathing the same air. I said he had ability because he cuts grass and Soto said, “I hear they call you Scarface.” [I’m in my room,] Angie slings the door open to ask if I want to go to IHOP. I go with her, Carver, and Whitney. IHOP is closed so we decide to go to Waffle House. On the way, we see a wrecked car and 4 kids. It’s pouring out. [The mom] said [the other driver] had come out of the bar and after the crash he turned his lights off and sped away.

We found a piece of his van. Whitney kept the kids entertained in the backseat till the police, fire fighters, ambulance, and sister showed up. Angie let a little boy borrow her pink sweater. We were soaked. I took off my pinstripe jacket. It was still soaked the next day. I went to PSD to get my travel arranged and a copy of my LES [Leave and Earnings Statement]. I got my Hep A and B shots and my arm hurt for 20 hours. We were in the lab and went 3 hours without a break.

We [Carver and me] were sitting [at Waffle House] and this lady takes some weed out of a sandwich bag and fills a cigarette wrapper that goes in her bra and the rest in her purse. Another night, Holloway joins us. He put his glass in the middle of his waffles. There was syrup and peanut butter all over the table. We were making our way back onto base and the guard wanted us to take our IDs out. He called Holloway fruity and called the other 2 guards to investigate. Luckily, one of them was Lee. He told them it was ok because they were hanging out with me and we were let go.