Day #01.

My cell phone alarm tried to wake me up this morning at 0550, but I dismissed all 4 alarms without hesitation. Luckily, I awoke 7 minutes later and rolled out of bed, leaving my enthusiasum under the pillow. Dragging my feet with every step, I slid my PT's on in a zombie-like fashion, put my hair into a half bun, brushed my teeth, and headed for my car. PT pants swishing, keys jingling, slight whistle in the wind...I was NOT in the mood to face the day.

What I assumed was a regular day of Pushups and Situps, turned out to be ran by First Sergeant C, who just so happens to be very fit and HOOAH, if you will. Exercises I've never heard of, a million pushups, a thousand situps, endless pouring rain, and a pulled muscle later, we were finally done and stretching out. I had an appointment at the Dental Clinic at 0800, and it was 0730 when I left PT. I sprinted to my car, raced to the barracks at a whopping 25 MPH, and took the fastest shower of a lifetime. My boot crossed the threshold of the Dental Clinic at 0759! It was fantastic. I felt like that one bicycle rider with one nut after he crosses a finish line of a marathon for testicular cancer. Except I didn't raise my arms in triumph. Or get a bottle of water.

After the Dentist, I headed across the hospital to Family Practice #01 and was seen by my doctor for a simple razor burn leg rash that won't go away. She always finds a way to make me feel uncomfortable and awkward, like I shouldn't be there wasting her time. And she does my female appointments too, so it's much worse than I'm explaining here. >_<  On top of that doctor visit, I had to be at Mental Health at 1030. I had my first few minutes to relax all morning, it was spectacular.

Mental Health bound, I turn up the Sublime and prepare myself for the unleashing of my emotions to a complete stranger.

Mrs. M. is a very nice woman with nothing but intentions to analyze my every move, and my every word, and of course to help me get better. Every dry swallow hurts my throat as I talk too much for my lungs to handle. By the end I'm dying of thirst and drained. And did I mention that I didn't feel any better after the session with her? Spilling your guts out to someone you just met isn't as easy as you would assume. It takes a toll on you mentally and emotionally, leaving you wrung out like an overused sponge in the kitchen sink.

Lunch is over, and back to the Detatchment I go for a fun-filled afternoon of staring off into space until I'm tasked out to do something meaningless. Oh yes, the Army is so fun kids. Sergeant H catches me walking by his office, and waves me over so he can talk to me about something, after he gets off the phone. "Franco, you're going to be the new Barracks NCO." All I can think is 'SHIT, are you fucking serious?!' but all that comes out of my mouth is "Roger, I can do that, no problem." I've just dug myself into a hole of more meaningless bullshit, and it's no one else's fault but my own.

I sign for the connex's filled with yard work equipment, sign for a key to some shitty shed behind the barracks, go back to our section office, and plop into a slippery yet comfortable leather desk chair like a whining little child. 'Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.' Sergeant S enters, asks me to shred some paperwork, and sends me home. I never thought the moment would come!

Who knows what will happen tomorrow...





212 days remaining.