"Sweaty Guy"

Lee sweats a lot when he is outside, working out, etc so it came to no surprise when I learned that he's being called, "Sweaty Guy" by his Drill Sergeant. In Lee's most recent letter he wrote that the Drill Sergeant approached and yelled, "Where's my Sweaty Guy?!" Lee had to respond, "Here Drill Sergeant, moving Drill Sergeant!" Lee said that he ran up to the Drill Sergeant and was then told to lay on the ground and play dead. Everyone yelled, "Man Down!" The Drill Sergeant then told everyone how to treat a heat casualty. They were instructed to strip Lee down to his undies and place him on a stretcher. The unit was then instructed to place a rolled up ice sheet under Lee's legs, each armpit, neck and one sheet over the entire body. The ice chest is then dumped over the victim. Lee said it was, "Cooooooold!" He also said that they have true heat casualty victims daily since the heat/humidity is fierce. They have these ice chests dispersed all over the base and monitor the guys constantly by little portable devices on tripods. I got a letter from his Commander with graduation dates. I am very excited to have actual dates. It makes counting down to see my soldier a lot easier. The Commander's letter also mentioned that his platoon would be "eligible" for a Family Day in August! Meaning, if no one screws it up I can see him. This would mean me flying out there in August for Family Day, September for OSUT Graduation and October for Airborne Graduation. Lee's family offered to help pay for the August trip if it is confirmed that his platoon is granted the privilege. I thought that was very sweet and generous of them to help. Tickets are approximately $700 for that particular weekend. Ridiculous for a 2 day trip non overnight pass but I don't think the Commander cares what I think...Let's all keep our finger crossed that Lee gets the "privilege" of seeing me!

Fireworks

Lee arranged for these to be sent to me also! "One week closer to seeing you again." Love, Lee He's so sweet and thoughtful and romantic...

Happy Birthday, Lee

Lee arranged to have flowers sent to me on his Birthday...So sweet.

"Wish I could share my Birthday with you!" -Lee

Bit of Lee News

Lee has said that Reception is horrible. They aren't able to do much PT, just a lot of sitting and standing. He sounds pretty bored. In Reception you get yelled at and treated like crap. He's looking forward to getting shipped to Sandhill to start training so he can at least earn priveledges and start PT. I've read on my forums that he'll have the opportunity to be treated like a maggot rather than just dirt. Ha! He said that the food has been decent in Reception but you're usually given a spoon only. He ate a steak with a spoon! The other day he had ribs and had to eat them in 3 minutes. In the mornings they're given 50 minutes to potty, shave, make their bed, sweep their bay, mop, clean the latrine, clean out the washer/dryer, and close any open windows. Lee said that many guys seem fresh out of highschool but there are several his age and older. The younger guys are acting out but he hopes they settle down once they ship out. He said they're having a 90-100% huimidty levels and their is a heat exhaustion casualty everyday. He said he unforutnately stands out not only bc of his age but also bc he sweats so much! He said he wouldn't be surprised if his ACUs(camo) differ in color than all the other guys ACUs soon bc of the sweat. The drill sergeants picked 70 out of 270 to take to a UFC fight the other night. Lee was one of them but his immature battle buddy wasn't. From what I gather, he doesn't stand a chance. Sounds like morale is low bc everyone had been looking forward to starting training last week. Having to be in Reception one more week and being delayed is testing their patience. Lee said there is another engineer in his barracks. The guy missed the birth of his baby girl. He didn't go home bc him and his wife had rather him get training out of the way. Graduation will be the first time he see his daughter. Lee said that talking to me for 5 minutes the other day was amazing and it was really hard to hold back emotion. He said waiting in the phone line is a scary place. It's like a funeral home. Everyone misses home so much and many guys burst into tears when they hang up the phone. Lee said that his favorite part of the day is when they are allowed time to write home bc he feels like he gets to talk to me. He ships to Sandhill today and I'm sure he'll be greeted with the sterotypical yell in your face greeting. I was wondering how I would respond to that and imagining myself in his shoes. I'd cry or laugh outloud I'm sure. You can follow his training by the link to the OSUT Journal beside my blog. Let me know if you have problems locating where he's at in his training. It should be the first Friday of Week O. (Although technically it's not bc of the delay.) I have it saved to my desktop and highlight each day we conclude. Countdown.

His Voice

His voice brings tears to my eyes and his words make me belly laugh. I do hope I get another love letter today. I've gotten 3 so far... and I've gotten a 5 minute phone call from Lee for a quick briefing. At 15 seconds, I was like, "What do I say in 15 seconds?!" "I love you, bye." And that was it. They are overbooked so his training is delayed a week, therefore delaying his graduation. Ultimately, that is one more week I have to wait to see him. He will be in Reception for another week. Waiting. He's had his dental checkup, vision and hearing test, shots...He had 4 shots in his left shoulder at the same time, 1 shot in his right forearm, one shot in his left butt cheek and 4 vials of blood taken! He's a pincushion. He got fitted for his running shoes and combat boots. He's got his ACUs and his hair has been shaved. He's done everything you do to process in the first week so I'm not sure what he'll do this week while he waits. i carry your heart with me i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart) i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet) i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) ee cummings

Thick

I've been writing Lee a letter since he's left. I'm still waiting for a letter from him so I can get his address. By the time he gets this envelope, he may have a book. It'll be one big chapter.

They've Got My Back

While Lee is gone, I am often reminded how blessed I am to be surrounded by an enormous support system. Our friends and family have been absolutely, hands-down unbelievably wonderful. Words cannot express how thankful we are.

The Yard

I mowed the front and backyard yesterday after work. I didn't want to get eaten up by bugs or hurt myself with the edger so I wore jeans. Lee's jeans! They were saggy and a horrible fit but I avoided getting mine dirty and I had a pocket for my phone:) Didn't get to the edger last night, I think Dad will have to help me figure that bad boy out first. It wasn't my first time to mow our yard but a definite first to wear Lee's jeans!

Roller Coasters

I used to love the thrill of roller coasters as a kid but these days the only roller coaster I'm riding is that of emotion. Lee has left for training. I have been doing an insane amount of chores daily even if they don't need to be done just to keep me busy and have something to control. 'The Army Way" is full of surprises. I've had my phone glued to my hip since he left but I left it at the house yesterday evening while I took Cooper for a walk. As I was walking in the front door my vm notifier was going off. I missed his call(s). He left 4 vms and if only he had called once more...devastated. Sick. Woke up with my eyes glued shut from crying my eyes out last night. He said he won't be able to call for weeks but hopes to send a letter soon. Strangely, the song "We are Strong" is ringing in my ears. Ha. I think I'll be OK.

Independent

We've had our 3rd drill. We've celebrated our birthday and we've said our goodbyes to the family. If I hear one more..."What are you going to do while Lee is gone?" or "How are you holding up?" or "I'm thinking about you." I'm tired of feeling like a victim but I'm making Lee laugh because I hold my breath when I get anxious and clean like crazy. He's coming back. It's not forever. Every obstacle brings a new adventure. This is me being positive. Make me laugh. Tell me stories. Don't feel sorry for me or us for having to be apart. My soldier is a warrior. Hy husband is a Hero. Ha and I'm his "dependent" according to my Military ID Card. See below for a bit of my favorites from Theodore Roosevelt: Man in the Arena. "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." "Citizenship in a Republic,"Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910