Relax Overload

So since our inspection has been over 2 weeks ago I have only had to work 2 days. It was absolutely the best feeling at first but then I started my 2nd 4 day weekend and it was too much. I think it would have made a difference if the hubs didn't work literally the whole weekend. And I know everyone says "but you're in San Diego, how could you be bored?", but it isn't that simple. With gas prices being almost $5/ gal, trying to save money to fly back home for a couple weddings and not wanting to explore too much of this fun city without including my husband, activities can be limited. I original plan was to tan in my backyard on all my days off, but it came to an epic fail when it rained and was a high of 60 both weekends I had off.

This first weekend I was starting to crazy with baby thoughts. I have to say that it is incredibly difficult when you are trying to have a baby to not read into everything that your body is doing. Since I was bored and have intense baby fever I filled many hours reading so many articles on the best ways to get pregnant and there were some silly ideas out there. I started to go crazy not being able to think about anything else.

And then I was given such a sweet gift that has occupied my time and my mind. :)

                                                       Meet Rory Rodriguez!!

She is 3.5 months old, 4lbs, a chihuahua  mix and we saved her. I love her so much!! And our other dog Ripley loves her too. They play together all the time, constantly picking on each other like siblings do. Because she is a puppy I have been kept a little busy making sure she gets potty trained and starts learning some tricks. She already knows sit. :) My husband asked me what we are going to do if we get pregnant and I said "We will just have a very busy house." and that's the way we like it.

The End!! :)

Oh my goodness!! So INSURV (this big inspection for our ship) is finally over!! This week was very tiring and the my first experience on a ship was an exhausting one. But now I am about to enjoy 4 days off in a row, work 1 day, then 1 day off, underway for a day and then another 4 day weekend!!! It's going to be AMAZING!!! It's too bad that my hubby works alot while I'm off but sleeping in will be awesome! Also having a life will be an amazing feeling. I will now have the time to do the things I enjoy like crochet, read, go to the beach, be outside, go to theme parks, go hiking, see all of San Diego and get to see my husband for more than an hour a day. Let the relaxing begin!

More Journal Entries

16Nov10
Today was much better than yesterday. we had our swim test this morning, which was easy. We had to jump off a 10 ft. platform, which is just like the diving boards at the Fargo pool, swim a length of the pool, tread water for five minutes and self inflate our coveralls. today is the only day of swimming I will do. We also had to IT this afternoon. Chief had a row of about 5 girls and 4 guys who were reported of cussing at other recruits, pushing while marching and talking back to our leaders, that had to stand and watch all of us work out because of them. It  sucked. Hopefully they felt bad enough to get their shit together. Or so we thought but alas it ended up being the same girls screwing around before taps (bedtime) that caused us not to get any mail tonight. The males got their mail and we didn't because the females were too slow getting ready for bed. That made me sad because I am really longing for the comfort of home. I'm starting to over analyze things and starting to get paranoid that Michael is going to send me a letter ending things with me. I would be heartbroken. I know this is just as hard on him, if not more hard on him, than it is on me. Believe me this is extremely hard for me, but at least I'm doing something brand new everyday. I can't imagine being in Fargo waiting for the person I love. Hopefully I'm still that person for him. I miss his voice. Just about every entry I talk about the things i miss. I'll try and talk about more things that are happening here.




19Nov10
Today was a pretty good day. I traveled around base by myself to my security clearance interview and didn't get lost or in trouble. I also got to talk to my mom on the phone for a little while. It was awesome to hear her voice. I'm starting to get really worn down. I keep thinking about home and how I'm constantly tired, constantly sore and ready to leave. But we got our first batch of letters yesterday and it was AMAZING! It helped so much to hear from Erin, Michael, my mom and dad, Linette and Duane and Grandma and Grandpa Nies. Their encouraging words really make a difference. I hope to keep getting letters from everyone! Two days ago I saw SR Auer in the galley (cafeteria) and almost started crying. She was in DEP with me right before I left for boot camp and is here at basic. We became pretty good friends. We gave each other a quick thumbs up and a smile since we never allowed to talk. She was a little piece from home that I needed. Luckily for her she graduates next week if she didn't today actually. I know I'll stay in contact with her because she was my first Navy friend.


24Nov10
Crazy how busy I've been the last few days. Monday was our first inspection where we were inspected on our uniforms and bunk drill. everything is timed! We start off in PT shirt and shorts and have 20 minutes to put on our NWU (blue camouflage) the precise way. We then stand at attention while the inspector asks you a question and looks at every detail. If something is wrong you get what is called a "hit". Three hits and you fail. The same goes for the bunk drill which consists of 2 minutes to strip your bed, then 12 minutes to put it together. I completely kicked ass and was 1 of 6 out of 80 recruits who had absolutely zero hits on both parts. Then Tuesday we spent all day studying and folding because today we had our first academic test and zone inspection where they check to see how meat your locker is. I, again, kicked ass! I only got 2 hits for zone when the division average was 6 hits and I was in the top ten highest scores of the division on our test. I'm so proud of myself! Other crazy news is that our division gets to perform drill and drum line at graduation and i get to be 1 of 4 snares. we also will perform at a graduation a few weeks before ours and it will be in front of MCPON; Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy who is 4 steps below the President in the Chain of Command. He is the highest enlisted rank and there can only be one. It's a huge honor! This makes me so motivated to be here; that I'm doing things no one else I know will get to do. I like that I'm not just going through things to just pass but to try and get 100%. I also work my ass off all day to make sure I don't screw up so it's nice to see the rewards of my efforts. Bradford and Lopez are the same way. We work hard, don't get daily recognition but it shows in our individual scores. Just gotta keep on truckin'! All the letters I get really help with the motivation. we finally get to receive our letters daily but can only send out on Sunday still. I figured out it takes about a week for the letters to get here. it will be screwed up tomorrow since it's Thanksgiving. It doesn't feel like it at all. Some of the girls are really sad about it, which I'm sad too, but I just don't focus on that. This is my family right now and we will have Thanksgiving together. It's all good! I hope everyone at home enjoys the holidays enough for me. It's so funny to me that I hate the winters but while I'm down here every time we got outside and I smell that 30 degree air it makes me miss home. while I miss it though, I know I won't when I'm in Florida in January, February and March!
I hope I get more pictures from people. Krissy sent me a picture of the kids and it is so cute. also the card smells like a nice clean house and Bradford, Lopez and I couldn't stop smelling it. My mom's letter also made me laugh with quotes of Legally Blonde and Michael's with a drawn picture of Homer Simpson as a Petty Officer. Things like that definitely make me smile after a long day of yelling. It's weird how when you first get here the yelling is scary but you truly get used to it. Our RDC's are just starting to lighten up a little but ours are also known to be the toughest ones on base. Our Chief is awesome though. Chief Dobbs pushes us like nothing you've seen before and he says he does it so we can be the type of sailors that get early promotions. Those ones are called EP Sailors and they are elite. They are the ones that earn ribbons, medals and promotions. That's my goal too so it's nice to have the person heading who is leading to push you  to that goal. I know I can do it. I feel like this is where I'm suppose to be finally.

Baby Fever

I haven't written on my blog in quite some time and I have realized that I miss it. Being so far away from home and not having close enough friends to confide in out here it really helps me get things off my chest. Now, my husband is my best friend and is absolutely amazing! I share everything with him and he is so supportive and loving, but you know how sometimes it just feels good to get all your thoughts out of your head? 

Well my latest thoughts are all about a baby. I have baby fever so bad! I have always had a little hint of baby fever in the back of my mind, but it really came out when the hubby and I decided that we were going to not use any form of birth control and see what happens. Our first thoughts were that we were just going to have newlywed fun and if a baby comes from it then great!, but that quickly turned into both of us praying and hoping for a baby soon. :) Throughout my whole life it is drilled into my head that having a baby is a no-no, so to actually be old enough, married and in the right place in my life to actually have a baby as a blessing is a very exciting feeling. It makes the baby fever intensify immensely. It's also very encouraging to have a husband who wants a baby just as bad. While we have only been trying for 2 months I am already anxiously awaiting for God to decide when our miracle should be a reality in our lives. So of course now that I have babies on the brain I see them everywhere! So many girls are now pregnant or actually about to deliver their babies. I'm so happy for them, I just keep hoping that one day it is me. :)

Some more of Boot Camp

13Nov10
The hard thing about being here is finding an escape. I am so used to having my alone time and being by myself that a lot of times at night it gets overwhelming. Things with the females aren't better. It feels like high school where the "popular" girls run the place but no one actually likes them. I'm starting to feel lonely here. I was really stressed and down earlier and then I had a nice chat about real life with Lopez and Bradford; that's right, it's just like the movies where we use last names only. We had real conversations and actually laughed. Our female leader kept telling us to stay quiet but I refused to listen at night, because I literally don't say a word all day long so I need to talk to people at night, visit and laugh. Otherwise I would go crazy. I am glad I talked to some of the girls tonight, because now I can sleep stress free for a little while.


14Nov10
On Sundays we get what is called Holiday Hours. we get up at 0600 like every other morning, but at 0700 we have spare time to take a long shower, fold and iron our uniforms, go to Church, shine boots, visit a little and write letters. After all the chores I had to do I didn't get as much time to write as I wanted to. I am going to make it a point to write back each person that has written me and I didn't get as much time to send out all the ones I wanted to. I started to tear up when I was writing my letters and thinking about home. I'm really starting to miss everyone and can't wait to receive letters from everyone. It is weird to think that Thanksgiving is coming up soon. Definitely don't feel the holiday spirit around here. I wish I could spend Christmas with Michael and my family. I'm trying hard not to think about all the holiday traditions I'll miss.


15Nov10
Well today flat out sucked. It was so stressful. I had my Top Secret security clearance interview this morning and that went great. My interviewer approved me for recommendation for TOP SECRET clearance; makes me feel bad ass. :) But then on the way back to the ship I had to be the Detail Leader. A detail is a group of 3-10 sailors transporting from one building to the next. So I was put in charge and had to call out marching steps, greet higher ranks when passing, salute officers and make sure my detail gets back correctly. In real life this doesn't seem like such a daunting task but in boot camp life this could be an evolution that can get you, what we like to call, a beating. You don't actually get beat, just exercised till you can't go anymore. Well I was pretty confident that I could do this, but nervous as all hell. This was too much responsibility that I ever wanted. It wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have 2 girls behind me breathing down my neck and telling me to do things I'm not suppose to do, plus argue with each other about it too. So because I was thinking about a hundred things to do right or get yelled at with bitchy girls arguing behind me, I didn't salute an officer. That may not seem like a big deal but it was. I'm the type of person that succeeds at just about everything I do that is hands on the first or second time I do it. The officer called me on it and I felt so dumb. I got down on myself today. My RDC's didn't even know that I sucked coming back so I didn't get in trouble but I want to work my ass off and not be at the bottom of the barrel. I know I'm not at the bottom at all but when things like this happen it can really shake me up and make me second guess myself the next time. I know I will learn from this and it will make me better, but today was just one of those days where I couldn't get out of my funk. Which makes me seek comfort. I miss Michael and my mom and dad, Krista, Ryan and all my siblings. I really want some letters fro encouragement. So tonight is the night of crying. I'm sad and lonely and had a rough day. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. It doesn't help that I'm so tired and sore. I'm also tired of these girls. Lopez is awesome. She lets me vent and understands how stressful it is here. My other friend, Florez, who we call "Flowers", is so cool too. She's in another division that lives in our compartment. She always brightens my day. She will be in Florida while I'm there too so we said we would go to the bars together. I can't wait for basic to be done. It feels like it is a really long ways away. I just want to start the rest of my life and be done getting yelled at. Also.....I hate my short hair.

Boot Camp Continued...

10Nov10
My ass hurts!!! We got our shots today and so my arms are sore and my butt hurts so bad. We got the "peanut butter" shot in our butt to really boost our immune systems. Also had a nice female exam. Actually that was oddly the best part of my day. I thought it was ironic that the most I have laughed and smiled within the last week was when I was sitting, waiting to get a pap smear, how ridiculous does that sound?! That's because a Petty Officer put hip hop music on for us to listen to so we got to rock out for 30 minutes. It was awesome! 
As for the girl drama....it sucks! Majority of our females are 18 so they are struggling with taking orders from peers that are in a leader position. Well their bitchy attitudes have now got us a one way ticket to shit town. Our female Petty Officer, who we call Miss Trunchbowl (from the movie Matilda), has promised us an IT session tomorrow to makes sure we know we aren't in high school anymore. Shitty! At least we get to sleep until 0600 tomorrow! It is 2300 now so time to get 7hrs of sleep instead of 3 like the last couple nights.
                 58 more days....




11Nov10
Happy Veteran's Day! Crazy to think that technically I am a veteran. Of course I haven't earned the right to be acknowledged on this day but I hope one day it will have big meaning to me. Today was a very stressful day. The IT today was hell for 90 minutes. I was sweating constantly! The good thing was that I did it. It was the toughest workout I have had in my life but I survived and was way above average for fitness which has motivated me more. There were girls crying, guys puking, a girl was cheating on her exercises so we had to do ones longer, a male decided to get a drink in the middle and they made him stand in front of us and drink his whole canteen; he later puked. I hope I get awesome muscles out of this crap. We still have girls not listening, talking, rolling their eyes, talking back and giving attitude. Even after we weer IT'd for girls bitching last night, they still don't get it. We have weak links that need to be weeded out. They don't take direction at all from their peer leaders. Our female leader is weak in the fitness and the RDC's threaten to fire her already, we'll see. I know I can do this. And at graduation recruits can get honorable recognition, which would be badass! I need to stay focused and do the best I can. 
I'm really missing my Michael tonight. I miss his arms around me and his kisses and smile and laugh and all his cheesy jokes. I really want a letter from him just to have reassurance that he's still there. I trust that he is. I just want the comfort of having him tell me he loves me. I need to remember how good this will be for us. We can be together completely after A-School and travel the world together. this the first night of tears. I'm stressed, tired, sore from shots, missing Michael and my family and the combination of all of them has just gotten to me tonight. But Alas!....one more day done. Think I need to write out the days to cross off. Then I can see how taking it one day at a time will add up.


12Nov10
Just breathe. Today was better. I kicked ass today. I only had to do 20 jumping jacks for the day and other females had to do more exercises for mistakes they made all day. I know I can handle boot camp. I know I can kick ass. I feel like this is where I'm suppose to be. I feel like I am myself and that I am on the right path. This doesn't feel like some crazy idea I will never accomplish but something that is right for me. The discipline I am getting is making me stronger and making me be the person I've wanted to be. I feel like I will finally be successful and proud of myself. I need to focus on these long term goals and feelings and not pay any attention to all the drama. I honestly would rather have the RDC's yelling in my face and IT'ing for hours than have to listen to the females complain. We aren't working as a team and some only focus on who is bossing who around rather than getting the job done. Dealing with these females is stressful. Especially when I get along better with males. It's not that I don't get along with someone, I just don't understand how some people don't do their job. We are getting paid right now and we need to make sure we get shit done and do our job. I need to keep doing what I'm doing; making sure I'm squared away and being a team player second. I truly believe that members of a team need to worry about themselves first before they can tell others what to do. Hopefully we can figure it out, the sooner the better. Tonight has to be a short entry since3 I have watch tonight at 0200 to 0400 but I have to iron my uniforms first at 0100. Ouch! but we did receive our NWU's (Navy Working Uniform) with our last name sewn onto them. Love them! 
                  Goodnight!

Time Flies

Exactly one year ago today I graduated from Navy Boot-Camp. It was pretty much the craziest experience of my life and I recently discovered the journal I kept while I was there and thought that now would be a good time to give a little look into the world of military boot-camp:

08Nov10
Well we just finished day 5 and it has been crazy!...to say the least. I was so nervous on the plane and then we had to ride a bus for almost an hour in complete silence.  We got to base and started processing in with a long night ahead of us.  we got to base at about 9:00pm and were up until 10pm the next day.  Boy was everyone tired.  The very first few days everyone got there it was chaos.  Two kids threw up form drinking too much water before the piss test, once we got into our divisions a girl in mine was crying within the first few hours saying she wanted to go home and a few hours later she "hurt her back" while carrying her pack and left.  A few others left within the next couple days.  Those of us that have made it the first 5 days are in for HELL tomorrow.  We will be "fit for duty" after the doctor visit which means the RDC's will be allowed to exercise us when we screw up.  Some people are more screwed than others. I, on the other hand, have done a pretty good job at keeping my mouth shut and literally doing exactly what I'm told to do. I guess things aren't as bad as I though; they aren't good by all means but I have confidence I can survive this hell we have to go through. I just like to focus on my daily tasks throughout the day and dream about graduation and the people I love who I will get to see. I miss everyone a ton but the days are so packed and the nights are so short that I barely have time to think about it which I think helps move things along faster. The food isn't so bad either; alot of chicken like I thought but decent. It was funny seeing everyone eat only salads and fruit the first few meals and only finish about half of it before our eating time was up, but now everyone is so hungry that they just get everything they can and finish it with time to spare. The food does make you gassy which is odd because you literally have zero privacy. ZERO. All the females shower in a large room together, sleep in a large room, piss in a large room with only curtains closing it in. But there's no time to hesitate so all the ladies hop in and lather up in about 12 minutes. Boy I can't wait to have my first real shower by myself! My bunk mate is pretty sweet. Her dad is a retired chief so she gets the "shut up, stand up" mentality. I'm glad I'm not stuck with someone sucky because your bunk mate and you watch each other's backs! we also got issued work uniforms today. It was AWESOME to be in a real navy uniform! It felt like a little reward :). Well got to get up at 0315 which is in about 5 hours so I'm out!
                                                        SR WYMORE


09Nov10
Well after a long day of visiting the dentist, eye doctor and hearing doctor, signing a GI Bill and waiting to get our asses kicked but instead all of the girls have decided to bitch each other out. There is alot of estrogen in here and I have decided to boost moral! :) I started to get to know the girls' names and a little about them. I'm not here to make friends but some of our "leader" (which I use that term loosely) have loved having all the power and want none of the responsibility. AROC (our female leader) got IT'd (Intense Training) tonight because we were slow, but the female division was slow because AROC didn't give us any direction so it was her fault. All the girls are tired and bitchy and are only worrying about what the other girl is doing wrong. Well, I'm going to be the comic relief. Shut my mouth during the day and cheer the girls up in the evening. Maybe that will help calm everything down. It's only been a week so I hope things won't be like this for long. Other wise it's going to be the girls that make boot camp hell, not the RDC's. Some of the girls in Division 905 that we share a compartment with are pretty cool. Yes, we share a space with another division of girls which brings the total to about 80 females in a compartment of bunks. Had a late night chat with them about stupid, bitchy, 18 year old girls. Whatever, all i need to do is my own shit and I'm golden to graduate. Just need to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm still missing everyone but the pictures really help. It's good to see Michael's face! I just hope he hasn't forgotten about me and that I hear from him soon. A few of the girls saw his picture on my rack and thought he was "hot and gorgeous". Of course I agreed! I hope he is doing alright and enjoying time with his friends and family. I miss having his sister around too. She's just about my age and we have a lot of things in common. *sigh* I need to go to bed because thinking about home makes me miss it too much.
                           <3


I'm going to continue to type up my journal entries, but there are a few of them so they won't all be in one blog post.