Thoughts From a Wandering Soul, Now in the Charm City

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Anything to Avoid the Draft

In an article today published by the Boston Globe entitled "Military considers recruiting foreigners" they lay out the possibility of increasing the number of military members by opening up enlistment to non-citizens and even possibly opening up recruiting offices overseas. I am not sure how this sets with me. There are pros and cons to the idea. However, one that really irks me is that it is another way to avoid the Draft!

Friday, December 22, 2006

Colorado (Cont.)

Had a good day! Went skiing and had a wonderful time! Lucky I got to Colorado on Tuesday since the airport closed yesterday. There is a ton of fresh powder and the conditions for skiing are great!

At the Top of the World!

Can't see the mountains because me the snow, but they are there. We had lunch at 11,000 feet. It was a 4 diamond restaurant. Wonderful!

Monday, December 11, 2006

Close but No Cigar

Here are some insights from our neighbors to the north!

Friday, December 08, 2006

How I Got Here

I am sure that to some of you my actions yesterday may have come as a surprise.  This is something that I have wanted to do for sometime.  I wanted to do it before I left for Poland, but then I got accepted to the Jagiellonian.  I wanted to do it after I came home from Poland, but then I was hoodwinked and moved to Cleveland.  That part of my life is a black hole that could have ruined me.  I am glad that I have found a much better life then I ever could have had there. 

I got in touch with my real friends, the people who have known me since childhood.  I looked at myself.  I took a long hard look.  I was determined after I left Cleveland that I would not make a decision based upon anyone else who was not my FiancĂ©e or husband.  I looked at what my dreams were.  I looked at my wants, where I wanted to live, what lifestyle I wanted and what would make me most self-reliant.  I found that I love to live in new places.  I began to understand that I do not mind moving to new places.  In addition, I found that I do need some direction in my life.  I decided that I wanted to use my degree and I want the opportunity to learn more languages and use them.  I want to see more of the world and more of the United States.  I am not afraid of the road ahead.  I rather dig the uncertainty.  

However, there are things that are truly certain.  One of the things that is set in stone is that I will not have a life for the next 6 months.  Over the next 6 months, I will be doing things that I have never done before.  I will have to confront my fear of heights.  I will learn how to shoot a weapon.  I will go for an extended camping trip.  I will be in a place that is very different from anything that I have ever done in my life.

Taking all of these things into consideration, I decided to go for it.  I took the ASVAB and rocked it.  Even before that, I started a program to take off the weight that I had put on during my misguided adventure in Cleveland.  I went on an entire cruise without eating a single sweet thing!  Then there was the paperwork!  The first lesson that I learned is that the military is nothing without paperwork.  There is a ton of it!  The Questioner that I had to fill out was extensive.  I had to document every place that I have lived in the last 7 years!  That was a good time.  In addition, I had to have all of the transcripts from all of the colleges that I attended.  The ones from Poland took the longest.  Furthermore, I had to get letters of recommendation.  The packet was large. 

I have been running and making it to the gym at least once a day.  Sometimes I make it there 3 times a day.  I will truly kick ass by the end of this.  I will be in the best shape of my life!  So bring it ON!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

I did it!!

Today I made my future path more clear. Today I signed my contract to become an Officer Candidate in the United States Army!
It has been a long road to get here. I have been working on this for the last 3 months. The process sped up when I finally made army height and weight standards! I went to MEPS on Thursday of last week and to my physical. Yesterday I went before the OCS board, interviewed, and was granted the opportunity to become an officer candidate. Today I went to MEPS, signed the contract, and swore in! I will be leaving on February 15th 2007 for Fort Jackson, SC! From there I got to Fort Benning for 14 weeks of OCS! I am so excited!

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Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The Countdown

Stay tuned…  Big news will be announced tomorrow!  The wheels are in motion.  Things have been approved.  Tomorrow contracts will be signed!