Bootcamp Journal

Posted on July 26, 2004 by TheJessicaness

Thursday, 22 July ’04, around 21:30:
Most people by their first night in bed have already written letters to someone. Luckily, I don’t have that need because that is one less thing to get in trouble for. This is recruit handwriting [all caps] and this is my first risky journal entry. This has to make itself hidden till Sep. 19 [as I mail it home in pieces]. I am looking forward to every day at boot camp. I have yet to have a bad experience. From your recruit station, you will ride a shuttle to your DEP station. You will go through MEPS and swear in active duty. You get to MEPS at 6am and leave the airport for basic at 6pm.

You will have slept in the Radisson. While staying there, I was walking back from the gas station when a metal ring caught my feet. I bruised my left leg by my knee and scabbed my left hand. When you first get to basic, you will get off the bus and [go] through double doors. Then a big dude yells at you till you get to use the phone. I got yelled [at] to move quicker. I called Mom and told her I made it and how much fun I was having. After, you go to a big room where you will be issued everything but 1st and 2nd issue uniforms. I cut myself getting the locker keys off the ring.

Already, I realize some people are gonna have major problems. I was so tired but couldn’t tell, that was the last thing on my mind. You sip and walk to take a piss test, then height and weight, [and] again more yelling. I have already made some male and female companions, which shall remain unnamed until out of basic for their safety. The first night you get a 1hr nap, depending. Before you are up all day in chow, head [bathroom], and ship [barracks]. The food is good, but some shouldn’t be there (cake, soda). You have 40 girls in 8 shower heads at the same time. It gets wet and dangerous.

In the ship, you will make your rack [bed], organize your locker, and stamp everything with your last name, last 4 [of your] social, and division #. My second night, we got the rest of our division. We started with 18 and now have 88. We were in rack by 22:00 on Wed. We got all the new recruits caught up, some are still behind. We have a Private Pyle [reference to Full Metal Jacket] but haven’t come up with a nickname for the other [one] who makes mistakes in our division. I’ve been nicknamed Spice.

Today, we got blood taken, 1st issue uniforms, and we have been in and out of classrooms for lectures, meds, waiting, and studying. In the ship, we have started note time, and the chaplain (priest) came. Already, too many people crying for who they miss. I hope they make it. I’m glad I joined young to have no husband or kids to leave behind. I don’t miss my friends because I know the true ones will keep in touch. We got to send a paragraph of comments home where I told Mom about Pyle and RDC Vargas. I like him. I think that he is good at what he does.

People still don’t know how to stay in step so they can march closer. I hope they learn soon. I’ve got to get some sleep, more meds tomorrow, and finally PT on Monday. Wish me luck.

Recruit’s comments: Mom, this is nothing like Barry said. I know that I haven’t started PT yet, but I’m having fun. I’ve made new friends, haven’t messed up too much, and have a good RDC (Vargas). It’s yet to get worse before I graduate, but I love the choice I made. I feel exactly like Joker in Full Metal Jacket because I take care of Private Pyle, more details later gotta go. I already cleaned the head and got fire watch! Love Jessica

Friday, 23 July ’04, 21-22:00:
Today, we got [our] eyes and ears checked. We got a new galley, and I got to be [a] road guard. The female RDC is always missaying and I smiled. Vargas caught me and said fuck 10 times. Then another PO called me a disgrace in his service for posting guard in the road (I was on the curb.) Well, again, Vargas heard, bitched, and told me he knew who I was. It’s TAPS, and I haven’t gotten in trouble yet. We did do 8 count[s] and jump[ing] jacks for not staying at attention. And while on road duty, I talked to the OOW. Oh! and I saw Nick Schubmeil. He is a recruit from [Copperas] Cove and has been here a month.

A shipmate says we have 56 days left. I prayed tonight with Pyle, she’s Catholic. Some people are getting edgy as they get more homesick, but others continue to grow better. Again, more stenciling. We still need shots, pap smears, and 1st issue. I’m looking forward to shaving my legs on Sunday. Goodnight.

Saturday, 24 July ’04, 20:00:
Today wasn’t very eventful. I was road guard for breakfast and lunch and didn’t mess it up. Everyone’s feet and legs are sore, including mine. Tonight, we had no showers, but I look forward to that and a call to Skinner [my recruiter] tomorrow. We went to the NEX and bought more socks and tampons. 4 pairs of shorts are $32. We talked too much and owe Vargas. He said we are going to close the windows and make the walls sweat. Oh dear! Instead of writing letters home, I will send these journal entries to be kept safe where Mom can read them and get an idea of what is going on.

And soon, I will be dressed in utilities and dog tags. We are getting better at marching. Vargas gave us a compliment. I can write more tomorrow. I definitely need my sleep. I love you, Mom, and am looking forward to Florida. I have found 3 others going. Yeah!

Sunday, 25 July ’04, 10:30:
I’m glad I’m keeping up because time flies. I’ve got shin splints, but at least I got to shave them, though I can’t go to medical because that will set me back a week. I’m gonna try and call my recruiter, but either way, please call her and tell her I’m having a different experience and I have seen Nick. Not much time left. Don’t worry too much and tell Tiffany I love her. I will write her next Sunday and just send you my journal. I love you. I don’t want to waste this sheet, but we have so much to do on our day off.

Though, no matter how bad it gets, we are not allowed to be late to chow. We are in Ship 01 with Divisions 331 and 332. I’m in 331, but at yesterday’s lunch, me and another shipmate sat in 332. Well, I finished eating even after I found out because I wanted to be full before getting in trouble. Vargas only told us to sit, yet another small getaway. There’s gonna be an awesome party for sure after graduation before I go to Florida. Sorry, just taped my guidebook and talked to Vargas. Envelope, here I come. You can write me as much as you want, but I don’t get mail on Saturday or Sunday, and I can only mail [out] on Sundays.

Tell everyone I said hello and tell Jason to be gone as much as possible so he doesn’t die of [his] father’s irritation and boredom and that he should take the ASVAB and join the Coast Guard. It’s well worth [it]. I send him my luck for his junior year. Tell him to enjoy high school because once you are out, you can’t go back, though out of us kids, who would want to. Ok, love you, oh, and don’t think I forgot. Tell Fatass and Faggety [Peanut the pug and Pancho the Boston terrier] that I love them, and I hope Ugly Mutt [aka Maggie the Boston terrier] rots in the yard. She’s too greedy and ugly.

I’ll write you before I come home or call you to tell you what I want to eat. The food may be good, but having the same thing every day gets a little too repetitive. A little pic [four squares facing four others to represent the shower situation] before I go, and cadence. [The] head has pull curtains. I can poop better than I did in the bunkhouse. Cadence: 1, 2, 3, 4, left on odd. And 88 bunk racks 3 feet apart. We’re on the 2nd floor outta 3. Time for lunch chow. Bye. I love you.

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Three Days Before Bootcamp

Posted on July 16, 2004 by TheJessicaness

Barbara is supposed to be coming into town tonight. I have matured from looking 10 to 15 [years old], though I still think I look 12. Wednesday, we (Barry, Mom, Jay, and me) made the trip to Nana’s. We ate dinner with Byron [Barry’s brother], John [his boyfriend], Connie [Barry’s sister], and David [her husband]. Then they all went for a swim before Jason and Barry played parts of songs on the acoustic guitar that Bob [Nana’s boyfriend] has.

Late that night (12:30), me and Jay went for a dip, both kinds. I jumped off the diving board, and he went to the other end. He gave me some [smokeless tobacco, Barry used Copenhagen], and it was sour. I had it all over my wet face and hands. I began to spit and slowly began to empty my lip. As I got dizzy, I jumped back in. With the water, I got an extra different feeling. We were out there till Mom said it was 1:30 and time to come in. At 2, we were both having ice cream and mine with pineapple cake warmed. Then we headed to bed while Jay got another dip and played some CDs.

I woke up at 10:10 on Thursday. We had to be to the mall in Arlington by 11:00 for glamour shots for me and Mom. The other 2 walked the mall for 3 hours while we got hair and make-up, found wardrobe, then waited our turn. We had casual, formal, and me dressed in the American flag. Then they [the photo company] took their signature photo: each one of us in black and white with a red rose. Very awesome. I also took one in a cowboy hat that I thought was cute. I rated my make-up a 9 and hair an 8. It was a fun but expensive time.

$40 a sheet whether you get 8 wallets or two 5x7s. And they all have to be of the same [picture], and with 20 there to choose from, it can get pricey. We talked down the package from $2,155 to $795. Holy shit!! I was shocked. It took me 10 minutes to get over the fact. I don’t see how anyone can spend that much on 17 pictures [but I’m sure glad she did]. I understand $40 for time, hair, make-up, and wardrobe. Then $1 a print and $5 each touch-up, $10 shipping and handling, and that only adds up to $152. I want to help pay and I have my $100 birthday money in my purse.

I can tell how much fun Mom had today, and she’ll get the final pictures in 2 weeks and get to look at me every day till I get back. She didn’t mind too much having to pay such a lump sum. That’s a lotta cash, even on credit card. After that long day, we ate at Mexican Inn, checked out the ghetto of Ft. Worth, then went to Connie’s. I saw Jenny [her 23-year-old daughter] and Hayden [Jenny’s two-year-old son]. I met Jenny’s 26-year-old friend [with no name apparently], who shared a French fry with me. She is currently in a wheelchair for MS [multiple sclerosis], but after chemo [therapy] should be able to walk again, which she told me is in 2 months. That’s good.

She’s as positive as Grandma Baker [also diagnosed with cancer]. I need to call and check on her before I leave. On the way to Nana’s, I finished a book called Tangerine [about a family that moves from Texas to Florida]. On the way back [to Florence], I memorized 9 general orders, listened to my radio [a Cosmo CR 2509 that could be hung or be propped up on its plastic foot with an antenna the length of my elbow to fingertip and a Lisa Frank sticker of two cats, one in a pink Converse shoe. There was a light button for the screen and FM 88 to 108 MHz and AM 540 to 1600 KHz stations. I listened to Classical and Eminem on this the most.]

I took a nap, then ate a sausage and 2 cream cheese kolaches just to get home and finish the last of the strawberry cheesecake ice cream. Now, at 12:55, I’m ready to go to sleep after I do push-ups, of course. I’m falling short at only 12, though doing them every day, a bunch, I’ll be able to build up my 15 average. [I’ll need to do 20 in 2 minutes in boot camp, less than half the men’s requirement.]

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Visiting Dad Before Bootcamp

Posted on June 18, 2004 by TheJessicaness

On the plane from Austin to El Paso, I sat between a girl my age and a grandma. Then, from El Paso to Phoenix, I sat between a married couple. We had no problems this time at the airport [recognizing each other]. The first night here, I called home, and Barry answered. I asked for me, “No, she’s not.” Ha Ha. Is Mom there? I confused him but got to talk to Mom. I went with Grandma and Dan [her boyfriend] to the lake on Tuesday. I got up on the ski once, fell, and hurt my wedding finger. Then, got drug around on the kneeboard quite a ways.

My arms are sore, and the back of my shoulders sun-warmed, but it was worth it. I had heck of fun. Wednesday, I slept late, then I tried out the Bowflex, got up to 5.5 mph on the treadmill, burned 100 calories in 9:40 [under 10 minutes] on a bike, and did a few laps in the pool. I’ve slept nice without my dad’s snoring or having to use earplugs. I was helping Great-Grandpa [Herbert] and [his sister] Auntie [Eleanor] with the laundry. I pushed start on the dryer, but the lint guard wasn’t in, so in an effort to stop it, Great-Grandpa (GG) pulled the start button out.

I had to fix that and clean the lint guard with my fingers, not a paper towel, as advised by GG. Then I went upstairs laughing as I told Grandma. She’s taught me how to play this pharaoh computer game. You build an Egyptian city. I called my mom again at noon. It’s hard to know when with the 2-hour time difference. It’s hard to adjust, and now I’m going to California for another hour’s difference. I guess I better get used to it if I’m in the Navy [or will be soon].

Thursday, I woke up and went swimming with GG in the 82° pool. I got to watch him shave, and Auntie got to watch me paint my nails ruby chrome. When I had been running on the treadmill, GG had commented on how it made my boobs bounce. [Well, I don’t want to keep going now.] I got to try another Indian dinner with 4 Indian people [Dad’s friends]. Friday morning started off with a nice argument [me feeling attacked] and my crying at the end of the couch.

I don’t think we’ll be able to make one visit without my tears amongst us all. I’m looking forward to California. I cried again on Saturday, in the car, till Caroline made me laugh, telling my dad the straight-up truth. We got to Aunt Tata [my great-grandma’s sister] and Uncle Woody’s at 11:45 or so. We left their house late with toilet paper and chocolate [always a parting gift. I wish I could’ve had more time.] The rest of the trip was great.

Me and my dad went to Colorado to ride a train through the mountains and ate dinner at Mexican Hat [Lodge], “The Home of the Swingin Steak,” where I had a burger. Then I came home [while Dad posted pictures of us in Petrified Forest National Park and Monument Valley on his blog].

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Dear Caroline

Posted on February 18, 2003 by TheJessicaness

You have tried to help be there for me, leaving small messages at the bottom of some letters and writing me some of your own. You have bought me many things including a paperweight, things from Disneyland, gifts when I got in my accident, and the book The Little Prince. I’m especially into Stephen King and have IT and Thinner. If either of you feel that there is a great book with a moral, something else learned, or that I would enjoy, feel free to send it.

We moved into our new house Oct. 6, 2002. It’s been 4.5 months now. It’s great! I enjoy only sharing my room with one person instead of five. It gives us more privacy, but we don’t have as much family time as we used to. Now instead of crapping behind a blanket, we are privileged to a whole room. A copper bathtub (too round to shower safely, but it works) and a black sink and toilet that has its own section so two can use the bathroom.

I’m hoping to send pictures soon of the house and me. Can you do the same? I found a shirt that Dad gave me a while back. It has a pink pig on the front, blue letters “delirium” on the right sleeve, and “aspiral” written on the back top in white on a black shirt. Mom misplaced the shirt that said buttwiper as I haven’t found it.

I got my class ring yesterday. It’s an Ultrium ring with a black background. It has my initials carved on the inside. On the top, it says my school name around a March birthstone (I liked the color!) Inside is an angel head with a halo. On one side is my name, zodiac sign, and graduation year. On the other is the word Buff with a buffalo under it and a capital F under that (school letter for Florence).

Here are some jokes to brighten your day. Oh! And send me your e-mail address, so when I get mine we can communicate that way. A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead went camping. One had to go to the bathroom so the other two gutted a rabbit and put it under her. Twenty minutes later they heard a scream and an hour later, the girl came back to camp. They asked her what happened. She replied, “I pooped so hard, I pooped my guts out, but thanks to God and these two fingers, I put them all back in.”

*other jokes were omitted. I debated the one above, but it always made me laugh so hard as I told it.

Quote: “Thank the thinkers that think they thunk the thoughts that theorized, idolized, or despised.” – Bloodhound Gang. I wrote down some lyrics from David Draiman who sings “Prayer” and was going to finish later with Dad’s Gone Crazy by Eminem and #13 by Stone Sour. Well, good to write you.

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Freshman English: Creative Uses for Chalk

Posted on March 16, 2001 by TheJessicaness

Google image

1. writing implements – blackboard lessons, dark paper drawings, sidewalk art

2.  in food – to get bugs out, in place of sugar in your tea, in your siblings potatoes

3. scientifically – experimenting with different chemicals and elements

4. cosmetically – space of a missing tooth, make-up for Halloween, hair dye

image by: littlepinkmonster.com

5. as a toy – juggling object, as a doll with family and home

6. marker – clothes for yard sale, what page you are on in a book, in place of white-out

7. as a gift – teacher for class, friends, maybe a famous artist

8. throw it – as defense, a new game, in place of rice at wedding exit ceremony

internet meme

9. helpful tool – plug a hole, fill a crack, door wedge, a model

10. jewelry – necklace at the beach, bracelet on a rainy day

11. medical aid – stop a bloody nose, a finger splint

Did I miss any? What things have you found to have more than one use for?

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