Yet another week down!  All days are still kinda a blur cause i dont jump on here daily to debrief as to what happened just try to remember the highlights of it all. Sunday I was chose along with a few others in our duty section to go shop at Walmart on behalf of the US Navy for Toys for Tots fundraiser to which my floor alone raised a lil over $2,000!  So we hit up 2 different Walmarts locally shoppin with carts full of toys.  We spent all but $2.56 cents!  It really made me miss my kids alot though pickin out toys for other kids other than my own.

 

The rest of the 1st part of the week was just cleaning cleaning cleaning for the most part.  I went to Navy Legal to get a paper notarized cashin out my retirement from the Corrections Center.  Gonna settle the remaining debt, buy the wife somethin extra special for holdin it down in my absence without a hiccup and some presents.  Not ballin like we were last year this time so will be a big time budget unfortunately :(  While i was there i went ahead and got a Power of Attorney drawn up for her to be able to function fully in decision making w/out me bein present.  i was gonna get a will drawn up as well as a precaution but decided to wait till i fly back home so she can be there and know what exactly it will be sayin before its drawn out and signed.  Made me think cause as i was there another guy came in advisin he had just got orders that he'll be deployed to Afghanistan.  Dunno how long he's been in the service etc but confirmed its very real and even the Navy can and will be deployed into danger.

 

Also went to the Navy Federal Credit Union and opened up yet another checkin/savings acct.  Absolutely no use for'em but thought id put another CU on tap in case we ever needed'em.  Took a test to qualify for Phase 2 Liberty and passed!  Phase 2 liberty gives you freedom to wear civilian clothing when we're on liberty, permission to drink alcohol (if youre of age of course), and overnight liberty long as you call in at 2100 and check in, and permission to drive your personal vehicle on base.  I dont plan to use it at all really but its good to have on tap in case me and the boys hop a train to Chicago and decide to stay the night or somethin.  Got that slip filled out wit a quickness and submitted it so it could be in effect this holiday weekend in case i wanted to put on some civilian clothes!

 

Went to the USO on base since they have a free wi-fi connection there which is way faster and better connection than the aircard i have with Verizon.  Posted up there for a few hours and got 3 episodes of Prison Break that ive missed since ive been here in Great Lakes watched.  Got a few more to watch before im current then its on to Heroes, Bones, and several other shows ive fallen behind or missed the Season Finale's to.

 

Thanksgiving was pretty sucky.  We got up at 6am and mustered downstairs at 7am.  Came back upstairs and sat around the room doin nothin, went to breakfast round 10 which by that time had become lunch.  Watched CNN on the galley tv about the Mumbai terrorist attacks.  So tragic.  Came back up to the room and dinked around online and flipped through some mags.  Video conference called wit my parents and kids which was nice to be able to see'em.  Rest of the night was mostly just chillin till it was time to go to watch at midnight till 4am and that suuuuuucked.  It was so slow and quiet, nothin much goin on and of course i get the dude that dont show up on time for his watch.  When i finally did get off work i was soooo tired.  Came upstairs and crashed only for a couple hours till i had to get back up at 6am and get dressed to muster at 7am.  When that was over straight back upstairs to sleep for a few hours before gettin up.  Found a wi-fi connection in our room mysteriously that was unlocked so used that to download a few shows from itunes as well as caught up on a lot of prison break episodes!  Went to the USO for awhile and hit McDonalds (on base) on the way back to our dorm where we watched 2 of the Matrix movies before crashin

 

Today (saturday), got up, showered, and watched the final episode of Prison Break to get me back current.  Was disappointed when i went to go watch Heroes, NBC.com is missin the 1st few episodes so i dont even know how the season starts!  So i abandoned that mission and we got dressed for the Dinner we had in Highwood, IL.  It was soooo much fun!  We decorated some of the city sidewalk trees with lights, and the locals showered us wit tons of free foods!  We walked the small town and hung out then went to the dinner where they fed us more.  Walked back to the town center where the mayor, congressman, state rep and others were all in attendance.  Took some pics wit santa and the mayor and we all headed back to the base!  Yet another week down!

This is a special exclusive segment cause it has to be done and right a wrong ive done.

 

Before i left for bootcamp i f**ked over a friend pretty bad to which likely cost me a friendship that i took advantage of.  In my darkest times i'd lash out at her when she was only tryin to help me and id become overly sarcastic and hurtful in my words to which there was no excuse and justification for.

 

I fed off her energy along with other friend's of mine to which even with them i'd lash out feeling discouraged and depressed at my job situation.  Again no excuse nor justification.  It was wrong.  Ive apologized to them to which theyve forgave and moved on but this one friend the wounds may have scarred, and even the reconstructive surgery isnt hiding the scarred wound.

 

I tried to (sincerely) apologize prior to leavin for bootcamp to which it was not accepted and was basically told to f**k off which i had comin to me and i obliged and deleted their info.  But throughout bootcamp i couldnt stop thinkin about the situation cause it was just wrong and never shouldve went down like it did.  And the horrible part about it was it never had to go down like that.  But in my ignorance i allowed it and at that time didnt care.

 

You never realize what you have till its gone right?  Yeah, true story.  You were a good friend, and im sorry i acted and said the things i did.  It was hurtful, wrong, and even though i have mad love for you i walked over you and other friends and it was just sh**ty.  I wouldnt want to be treated like i treated you and i wish i could take it back.  Most would probably just let it go and let you just fade into the past as a memory but you dont let the good friends just fade away and disappear.  You try with everything you have to hold onto'em regardless of the bad past or bitter feelings.  Forgiveness is whats bein asked even though things never be the same again or what friendship we had was unhealthy. 

 

You had an energy about you exclusively to the point i thought you needed ritalin to calm down!  And i latched onto you because of it cause in my darkest hour you didnt come wit drama, you came to help.  The arguments and fightin to be friends and lean on each other i meant what i said at home depot.  I lied to you 1x and admitted and apologized for it.  But i got mad love for you cause you were a true friend in my darkest hour as one by one those i thought were my friends fell off week by week in the end i truly could count on my hands how many truly kept in touch cause they wanted to and were my friends and i knew that even if i became a multiple finger amputee i'd still be able to count you on the remaining fingers.

 

This is not a letter to the masses, this is a letter of apology to only one specific exclusive person.  And even if this apology is never accepted, this letter will forever remain a public record on the Book of Lon.  Im only sorry i didnt write this soon. And you know exactly who you are cause i told you it was here. 

 

Im sorry, from the bottom of the soul you probably think i dont have, Im sorry.  Im back on my feet, Im mentally back together, and want to pick up the crumbs and piece back a friendship.  Not askin anything else of you so i hope im not askin too much.  When i come home on leave next month i hope you are one i can see and have lunch together and mend the wounds.  If not, as i said, this letter is open ended and will always be posted long as this autobiography continues to be typed.

 

Thank you for takin the time to even read this, just know, i AM sorry and bein way over here in Great Lakes i dont know any other method of showin "sincerity" other than posting it right here for ALL to see. 

 

IM SINCERELY SORRY

IM BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!! Whaddup ya'll?!  How you been doin?  UGH! 8 weeks of bootcamp and bein cut off from civilization i was havin anxiety attacks without my Blackbery! it sucked!!  Lemme tell you Navy bootcamp aint no joke!  Now i cant compare it to the likes of the marine and army bootcamp cause they're the more rough and tumble types (and for those of you not military savvy, the Marines ARE an extention of the Navy!) I didnt even know that ish!  When i got there from the minute i stepped off the plane i was in trouble.  They aint playin.  Got scolded IN the airport for talkin in ranks to another i had flew in from SeaTac wit.  As well as i had bought in the giftshop at O'Hare some shotglasses, an Obama Presidential Button and a deck of cards containing all political figures in a cartoon drawing type pic.  Well the petty officer was NOT amused wit the button and i got reamed for havin my own freedom of choice in voting.  And my deck of cards? unopened?  STRAIGHT into the trash. I was PISSED.  They even threw away the new Godfather Returns book i had just bought from Amazon.com a few weeks prior!  And once we got to bootcamp via bus, it was on.  They hustled us in and gave us the chance to make a phonecall home to say we got there safe so i tried to call home but got the VM so that sucked, called my best friend Cake too but no answer so my adverture began without any verbal voice of goodbyes.  They sent us through to get our "ditty bags" with are our sweats, shoes, hygiene stuff, NEX card and stamps.  Maybe some other things too.  Put us in a room after we changed INTO the sweats and boxed up any personal unauthorized belongings and clothing. (my ipod, clothes, backpack, etc).  That 1st night was soooo rough.  They processed us through the night and into the next day.  We got NO sleep until the next night (got there weds didnt sleep till thurs night, but keep in mind the day started at 0500pst wednesday)  First week was gettin acclaimated to the new surroundings, orders, and what we'd be doin the next 8 weeks.  Come sunday is called "holiday routine" where you can write letters home, take an extended shower and hangout and talk.  Those were the best times cause everyday EXCEPT sunday you were on military showers where you had 12-15min to get in get showered get dressed and back out in front of your rack.  The 1st shower, hell, the 1st week was the funniest thing ill remember.  All us guys, all strangers, and uncertain bout everything and everyone were hesitant to get naked!  All shieldin our dicks and SILENT as we filed in the mass shower hahahahahhahaha.  That changed later on though.  That sunday though it really hit home how long i'd be away from my family and friends and as i tried to write a letter home i shed a tear.  A tear became a few and i quietly without bein seen went into the head (bathroom) and closed the shower curtain that was the toilet stall door and quiet wept in silence.  Tryin to get my bearings back i went on to Sunday church service which did help.  Came back and finished my letter home as well as a couple more letters before holiday routine was over at 1300.

 

The next few weeks are a blur cause other than my letters home and to others i didnt write notes on what happened nor highlights but come week 2 i became the AROC (assistant recruit officer in charge)  so i was #2 overall of my division!  I'd cadence various songs over the next 7 weeks, and if any problems alot was brought directly to me as they knew id do somethin to handle and resolve it. We did firefighting training, firearms training to which i earned a Marksmen ribbon!  Thats right! your boy, an NRA Life member is dangerously accurate wit the 9mm! lol  I passed all 3 of my PFA's (physical fitness assessments) without incident to include 69 situps and 72 pushups in 2min (each) and the 1.5mi run in 12:45 my best time so needless to say i lost another 7 lbs and gained muscle!  Another memory is what i call "Pastrygate"  which was a scandal in our division regarding someone sneakin freakin cookies out the galley and into our compartment.  Thats a big no-no in bootcamp but some clown was doin it and left a bag in the head with'em still in there!  No one fessed up to the crime so we ALL got IT'd for it (intensive training) which was HORRIBLE.  They worked us over for a good hour +  wit no sign of lettin up.  It wasnt the last time.  It happened a few times after that some gettin caught, some gettin snitched on by others not wantin to be put through that ish again. 

 

The weather was nice here for the most part but now its gotten soooo cold.  probably round 25degrees outside right now mostly blue skies and a slight wind.  I had a watch duty i had to stand this am from 0400-0800 but really was 0330ish to 0820ish almost 5hrs!  I had to walk around outside the perimeter of the bldg making sure all was "secure" it suuuuuucked.  When i was finally off they were mustering down in the rec room area so i fell into ranks as they were doin uniform inspection.  And to my surprise i actually PASSED even though i had just got off doin an outside watch bundled in 2 scarfs, raincoat w/ful liner, watchcap (beanie), and thick gloves on top of my uniform lol.  So as a reward I and a few others were allowed to skip out on doin further work the rest of the day!  Hex yeah!  So im up here on my laptop I got last weekend when my family was here typin ya'll tryin to get back into the loop of whats goin down.  They (my parents and wifey) were only here for the weekend to see me graduate bootcamp which is very pomp and circumstance.  They got some good pics but the most thrilling point was just SEEING them again after so many weeks.  Bein able to hug someone and take pics and see the smile of pride on my parents faces made it ALL worth it.  We stayed posted up in the hotel for the weekend only steppin out to get my A-school dorm supplies.  Had wifey bring my cellphone to me so i could get back in communication with all you and that was a delight!  Bein plugged back in!  The reception is horrible in my dorm room same as internet ( i purchased a verizon aircard that is currently TAPED to the barracks window to obtain a steady constant signal to get internet lol  Got an Ipod clock radio so im bumpin tunes all day we up in our room to the point its become the hub for several others to come over and post up lol. Got a coffee maker for the return of that infamous Cafe Lonay coffee as well.  I didnt buy food cause i wanted to stay in the same habit im in now which is NO snackin, only eatin durin chow times.  I wanna continue to lose more weight and stay in shape for the PFA's we have to do every 6 months.

 

This week was like 1st week of bootcamp, processing us in and all week was a personal finance class we had to take but the good thing about it is the class gave us 1 college credit! hex yeah! I do wanna earn a degree while im in the Navy and some investments too hopefully, we'll see how it all plays out.  As of now they sayin I now go on "hold" with over a hundred others waitin to get into the next class which could take upwards of a MONTH.  That worries me cause that means i wont be leavin here june 2009 but july 2009 if i cant get into the class sooner.  So im gonna see if i can check-in everyday and if theres an extra seat available lemme occupy it.  Till then ill basically become a handyman with everyone else cleaning mopping painting and maintaining the base.  Ugh.  NOT what i signed up to do.

 

Family is doin ok.  My son has pneumonia and has been hospitalized a few times since i left for bootcamp.  Worry bout him daily.  Not admitted but on some strong antibiotic and other ish.  Keep him in your prayers.  He was always at home wit me and his mom so never had his immune system built up to withstand such an abundance of sickly kids round him.  So his immune system just crashed.

 

To the 3 of you that wrote, thank you sooooo much, you'll never know how important those letters were from ya'll.  Mail call is your only connection to the outside world.  No tv's, no internet, no freedom to phones.  Only time you got to call was on "scheduled" times on the instructors agenda which was like 3x.  We had no intel as to the presidential race, NOTHIN.  and outta my whole division i was the ONLY person that voted!!!! wooooow! Election night they wouldnt even tell us what was goin on or who was ahead.  I found out from a cafeteria staff member the following morning on how it all played out and it was an overwhelming feeling! incredible and i supported him since day 1!  YES WE CAN! 

 

thats all i got for now if i think of more ill post up next chance i get!  feel free to holla back! tty soon!