October 11, 2009

So I actually have some time. It's Sunday. I went to church with one of my wingmen (Jessica Lee). Aka Jett Lee. We have more nicknames. This girl in my flight (Rider) is a hairy girl. So I call her Chewy (after Chewbacca). It's fun. We all are actually doin good. Not killin each other. There has been tense moments, but no big fights or any major blow outs.

I was thinking the other day. I'm getting used to the ways of life here. It's normal now. It's the same thing week after week with a few twists here and there. 3 1/2 more weeks and I'll be able to talk and text again. I'm on the downhill slope! Almost there!

I'm really hungry right now. At least it's "grilled cheese sunday" for lunch. I've started to memorize the food schedule. My favorite is BBQ chicken sandwich Fridays! My mouth just watered! I had my first MRE (meals ready to eat). It consisted of lemon lime gatorade powder, one brown sugar cinnamon pop-tart...which is my favorite kind. Raveoli, crackers, and some other stuff I traded with people for. I got to have trail mix, Twizzlers, cookies. Basically they give you a bunch of crap to eat. 1300 calories in one MRE! Next week is BEAST week! It's our week in the field. I think it will be pretty fun. Then after that, time will go by so fast. Thank goodness! I'm so glad.

So I'm still making more friends. It's funny how week after week I get closer to different girls. There is a girl from my flight, Ashlyn Schmidt. She is 4'10"! And you think I'm short! she is adorable! So tiny and cute. I told her she is like a puppy that never grows up! Anywho, she knew I didn't get any letters, so her mom wrote a random letter of encouragement to a trainee that wasn't receiving a lot of mail. This girl gets at least 2-6 letters a day! I got 3 this week. So anywho, it was cute and thoughtful. So don't worry about me. I have a few wingmen watching my back. Don't forget about your little trainee out in San Antonio. Oh the weather is crazy here. It's either hot and sunny or cold and rainy. I can't think of anything else to share. Wednesday I might be able to sneak another letter, but not sure.

Kristi

October 10, 2009

Holy crap. I have so much to say and so little time. This week has been crazy busy. I'm so tired! I can't think right now. Let me fill you in on life.

Monday (5th), I got fitted for my blues. Not gonna lie. Not my favorite military uniform. In fact the pants are awful. They are straight up mom jean style slacks! UGLY! I've been very sleep deprived this week. We woke up at 3am today. 4 yesterday and 4 monday. Then all day long, I've been trying to get everyone's clothing in order (folded correctly, rolled correctly, as perfect as possible). I hope my letters aren't boring. I just tell my weekly account of "Memoirs from the Top Bunk." Okay, back to Monday! So, Yay! We got our name tapes on our ABUs. Exciting right?! I'm officially half-way through BMT! Woot! So in our box lunch Monday we got OREOS! So, in a nut shell that was Monday. I got all my dress stuff for graduation.

Tuesday (6th) we had classes all day. I think. I really can't remember Tuesday.

Wednesday (7th) we had the obstacle course. Sounds fun. It wasn't bad. But I hit a low this week. Nothing depressing, just found a lack of motivation. We do the same thing day after day. I was a little down on myself. I'm okay. I promise. I think it just hit me that I've written about 8-10 different people that haven't written me back. Maybe they never got my letters. It's been known to happen. I don't know what but a few trainees have said the same thing happened to them. So I don't get it, I just wasn't feeling the support from home. Which is funny cause it hasn't bothered me until it's been four weeks. So I finished the obstacle course. Fell in the water twice (which actually felt good. But my boots weighed like 20 pounds afterwards). So that was Wednesday. Oh! We had our M16 weapons evaluation too. The top ten girls from my flight that could break down and rebuild it in four minutes and knew the parts went to get tested. So I had one of the girls in the flight go, "Hunter-Lovelady knows her stuff." So I got volunteered to be one of the ten. Lankford was right. I could break it down in about 28 seconds and put it back together in 40-something. I also knew all my parts. So me + nine others went to get tested. We had to break the weapon down under 2 mins and put it back under 2 mins. This is all for points towards your flight. The eval was worth 20 points...we got 19. One of the girls messed up putting it back together. But everyone knew their questions. It was good.

Thursday (8th) we had open ranks. It's where our flight stands in formation and everyone has to be in uniform and do the right commands. It's pretty easy. But we got an 11 out of 15. The evaluator guy went around and asked people questions. Everyone did pretty well. We had a few dumb demerits that cost us the 4 points. Like one girl's shoelaces weren't properly laced. Isn't basic training exciting? :) We also had our fourth week PT eval in the morning. We ran a mile and a half. Push-ups and sit ups in a minute. So I was sore from the obstacle course. I only did 28 push ups and 38 sit ups in a minute (each, not both in a minute. 2 separate mins) I feel brain dead! :) I think that was all to Thurs. Oh and classes.

Okay, ready for Friday?! :) So this was a day I actually was not looking forward to! But it actually turned out to be a really good day! I had a few bad days in a row. But I'm okay. I don't want to blow it out of proportion either. I just wasn't motivated this week. But the gas chamber changed that. For whatever reason I wasn't nervous at all. I just kept telling myself, "it's not gonna be that bad!" So we learned how to put on our gas masks. Which I've done before with my brother. It's pretty easy. Then you check the seal. Then we put on our MOPP gear (boots, pants, jacket, gloves and mask). We lined up and got ready to go in the chamber. I was pumped and ready to get it over with. So we had to take a few deep breaths with our mask on once we were in there. It wasn't how I imagined it. I pictured it being really cloudy. It wasn't. So we did 10 jumping jacks. Moved around. Then it was time to take the mask off. You had to take a breath and say "Sir, trainee Hunter-Lovelady reports as ordered," then hold your mask to your chest and slowly walk out. Some people started choking on the gas right away. NOT ME! :) I was a friggin bad ass! I did what I needed to do. It wasn't til I got outside that it actually starts hurting you. I don't remember coughing at all. But I'm sure it was done. I just remember my eyes burning (not crazy bad) and I had to blink a million times to get it out of my system. My whole flight kicked ass. No one threw up or was over dramatic. We just did what we needed to do and got out. It took about 2 minutes for my eyes to stop hurting and I could blink normal again! I was so happy after this. It was the confidence booster I needed!

Today (10th) we just cleaned up and did laundry stuff. Literally all day, folding and rolling. But always having fun at the same time. We sang some Aladdin. A Whole New World! It was great. Half the flight was downstairs in the chow hall all day doing KP. Two of my lil buddies were down there and told me they missed me when they got back. So I know I'm doing something right around here! :)

It's 11pm and I need to get some sleep. I'll try to write more tomorrow if I can! I've had no time this week. I hate that I can't even write all that I want to write! But you basically know the events of last week. Oh! This week. Monday (12th) Holiday, Tuesday (13th) flight photos and individual pictures! :) Wednesday (14th) Nothing special...classes. Thursday (15th) Pugil sticks! YAY I get to beat up on someone. Friday (16th) M16 weapon range! I've been waiting for Friday! I can't wait to go shoot the ol weapon. My goal is to get expert. I will not settle for anything less. 3 weeks from Friday I graduate! :)

Kristi

October 3, 2009

Thursday, me and 19 other members of my flight went to another squadron to work in the kitchen all day. We woke up at 2am and left at 3 to march about a mile and a half away from our squadron building. Just in case this is confusing, our squadron building is made up of about 10 dormitories and a bunch of classrooms and a dining facility. So I was in charge of cleaning off the trays and pushing them through the dishwasher. Sounds kinda easy, but when you got 4 trays coming at you at one time...not so much. Anywho, we (me and 5 other girls) were back in the Clipper (where we wash the trays, cups, plates, bowls and silverware). We did this for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So we started at 4 something and didn't leave til about 8 at night. After each meal, me and another girl had to clean where they serve the food. It took about an hour to do. So we all did a really good job. We really came together as a team. Tifre is one of my favorite girls in the flight. She is a tiny, black girl from Texas. We laugh a lot. We worked together in the clipper. We joke around a lot and pick on each other. We always say "you're gonna wake up dead tomorrow!" to each other. She has the cutest, tiny voice. It makes me laugh. She's my home girl. We had patio break and got to eat out of the vending machine. I didn't have any money of me. So Tifre hooked me up with a dollar and my friend Mitchell hooked me up with one too! Wingman concept! So since we never get sweets, I got a bag of peanut M&Ms and a rice krispy treat. Holy! I don't think I have ever enjoyed either one so much in my life! I was in heaven for about an hour today.

Okay, back to KP...my big splurge for working all day long was a granola bar (chocolate chip) and chocolate milk (which I love). I worked my ass off Thursday, but it was fun and I had fun with my girls.

Friday, we larned self and buddy care (SABC) and we learned how to drag people and carry people. It was fun. My friend Marianne Sheehan (GI Jane) is hilarious. We laugh all the friggin time (when we can). She is another one of my favs. During our 4 armed carry, I was laughing and I couldn't get my grip on her wrist. Luckily we were carrying a 90lb girl. Or I would have dropped her. We just get giggly around each other. You know me...I love to laugh! It well...just makes me happy! Life is too short to take it really serious.

We were buddies when we were doing the "chemical burn on the legs" station. We would take turns pretending to clean the wound, take the pants off and bandage the burn. So when we were done...I turned into the jokester. I leaned forward as she was laying on the ground and sang "looks like we made it" (Shania Twain, You're still the One) It was friggin hilarious. LOL! I'm laughing now just thinking about it. She laughed and we got in trouble. Figures! "There is nothing funny about being in war!" Now we sing that song and change the words to fit everything we are doing. It's really fun! I'm glad I have people to joke around with. It makes life much more bearable.

So that's my funny stories. Time is really starting to move and pick up the pace. This next week should really go by fast. I'll let you know what will happen.

Monday = getting fitted for our blues uniform/getting name tags on ABUs :)

Tuesday = all day in class/most likely PT eval

Wednesday = obstacle course

Thursday = open ranks, which is where...

We line up and they ask us a bunch of questions. This could make or break us! If we get a perfect score we get a 2 hour break to the mini mall. Which means we can eat good food! I just want ice cream! There is a BK in there too. So I might get an Angry Whopper! We will see how that goes. I know my stuff. So hopefully we will be "shit hot!" Well I'm trying to think if I have anything else. Oh

Friday = gas chamber.

I hear that we snot like nobody's business! I can't wait to tell you about that one!

I need to go to bed. I'm doin good. I hope to leave basic and say that I never broke down. I have teary eyed moments, but they are few and far between. I blame it on the menstrual cycle when it comes around. Speaking of the menstrual cycle. I think everyone is about to be on it...cause let me tell you. Everyone has been bitchy the last two days. Except for me...I'm always a ray of sunshine. Seriously I need to go to bed.

Kristi

October 2, 2009

I hope that the rain [in Atlanta] has calmed down by now. I'm not sure what church I will go to Sunday. I actually might go Mormon. There is a girl in my flight that is Mormon. It's just a break from the regular schedule of life. It's almost the same thing day after day. We don't go off base. It's a bunch of trainees that meet together in random buildings. It's not a normal church environment. We can't even talk to the guys.

My aches and pains are fine. I'll have moments of being sore, but I'm not gonne be ripped or anything like that when I'm done. When we work out two or three times a day...which has become rare. I'm just tired. Everyone in the flight is starting to get sick. But we are toughin it our and making it. I'm still holdin up like a champ! :)

Wednesday September 30, 2009

Hi! So, it's Wednesday and because I have kitchen duty all day tomorrow, I can send a letter on the way out! :)

I got my name tags, dog tags and name badges (it's like a name tag pin for our Blues.) My name is really tiny. We will get them sewn on our uniforms Monday! :) I also got my military ID today. It's horrible. I look dead cause I was so tired when they took it.

Time is flying by faster! So, that's exciting! I have a few girls in my flight I'm getting closer to, so it has provided me with more laughs. I'm not having a horrible time. I just hope time continues to fly.

Tomorrow is October 1st, my first government pay day. Woot! It shouldn't be that much, but it's something!

I can now do 30 pushups and 40 situps in a minute. That's one minute each. We work out all the time.

Kristi

September 27, 2009

So I have a lot of free time before Wicca. It's at 1300-1500. It's about 9:43 right now. We got up this morning at 5:45. On the weekends lights out is at 2200. We have a dorm chief which is in charge of us when our instructors aren't around. Ours is a fellow trainee that is 35 and has 6 kids. So she is pretty balls to the wall and pushes us...aka is bitchy. But that's what she has to do. So only 5 more weeks and it will all be over.

Basically my life is the same day after day. We get up, do PT, eat, shower, set up the dorm (make beds, dust everything with flip flops) and do detail (mine is tightening beds). I also have tunnel crew on Friday nights. The tunnel is where all the Sergeants and important people have their offices. So it's a little intimidating, but it's not too bad. There are about 8 of us and we knock it out within 45 minutes.

After detail we normally do drill stuff or go to class. Then we have lunch. Then more drill or class or processing. Then it's dinner time. Then we have our evening briefing as a flight. Our MTI hands out mail and we shower and get everything ready for the next day. It sounds pretty boring... well it is kinda dull. It's like being stuck in a basic training version of the movie Groundhogs Day.

We have lost 3 girls to various things (i.e. sickness, injuries). We will probably lose a few more. It's kind of a sad reality. I just better not be one of them. I'm never homesick. Oh wait, that's cause I don't have a home to be sick from. So i'm basically just missing friends and family and Chick-Fil-A and beer. Oh I'm also missing a long, amazing shower. I never feel clean! I also would like to sleep the whole night without waking up.

Okay so, I had to take a break to do drill for a minute. But I'm back now! I still have 40 mins til chow. Since I have a minute to actually think, I'll continue to try to think of stuff to share. The first week here (zero week) is the craziest. I've heard that 3rd week is pretty crazy too. After this next week I think it will all be down hill from here! Time is starting to go by faster. Which is good.

I have fun marching! It's nice when everyone is in step and we don't look like a hot mess. I think I'm losing more weight. Every week I feel a little smaller. I don't think it's anything crazy. I feel so disconnected from the world. Feel free to let me know any college football stats. I can't believe I'm missing it. I need to wrap this up. It's about time to go eat. I'm always hungry!

Kristine Amber Hunter-Lovelady

September 26, 2009

I am excited for the time to go by.  3 weeks down!  5 more to go!

Time is starting to go by faster.  I think the next week is going to be crazy.  I keep myself out of trouble... for the most part.  I got in trouble once for announcing "Gentlemen entering the dorm" when there was already a man in the dorm.  Not a big deal.  A few push ups and flutter kicks later...good as new.  I'm slowly getting stronger!  I can do like 15 push ups without dying! :)

We store all our clothing in a wall locker.  I was one of the few that passed the first time around.  Everything has to be perfect.  Things have to be grounded to the side, flush with this or that.  Everything perfectly folded or rolled.  No dust... or loose strings.  It's what we spend the majority of our evening time doing.  But we worked out a laundry system and we wear the same stuff every other day.  so stuff stays folded.  I got yelled at once for screwing up.  Not a huge deal.  I'm doing pretty good still!  I'm not the dumbest and not the smartest!  I think lack of sleep doesn't help my memory.

Today they came through our dorm and made it a hurricane.  Clothes everywhere.  Everyone's stuff was everywhere.  We get things perfect and then they destroy it.  I think the official term is call a "shake-down".  They start banging on the lockers and yelling at everyone.  It's pretty chaotic, but I just keep my "military bearing." :)  I'm mentally tough when it comes to getting yelled at.  It doesn't bother me.  I even had two girls tell me that they thought I handle everything really well.  I think being 25 and knowing that it's just a game makes it easier.  Some girls can't handle being called "stupid" or "female" or "little freak."  It's amazing to me that they take it personal.  I'm just here to do my time and get out.

I have a lot of little stories to share, but when I write, I can't remember what to say.  I'm making more friends and I feel like my flight of 46 girls is slowly coming together.

I'm going to the Wicca service again tomorrow.  Last week I went to the ceremony and we got "cakes and ale" aka box juice and 2 nilla wafers.  We don't get sweets.  Fruit is as sweet as it gets.  I am eating healthy and only drink water and gatorade every meal.  I feel better.  It's amazing what exercise and a good diet can do.

I think it was Tues or Wed I had to take a flight physical cause I might be riding around in airplanes doing ATC.  I am guessing that was it at least.  Anywho, urinated in a cup, drew blood and did an EKG.  My heart is good.  I did more vision stuff...eyes are good too.  Well the moral of the story is we had two box lunches and in these box lunches were...ready for this OREOS!  Holy Snickees!  I savored the flavor!  So I was a happy kid.

We just switched around beds last night, so the flight would function better.  It's true, it did make it better.  I even got a 5 min shower tonight! :)  It's kinda funny how not shy everyone is.  We all just run around naked and could care less.  So before I moved beds in the bay, I was living next to the "ghetto".  At least that's what I called it.  It was a group of about 5 black girls.  When they got together...it was bad news.  Loud, lazy and flat out annoying.  So luckily they split that clan up!

We also learned how to fight with our M16A2 training weapon!  It was fun.  We did some tactical marching...which was boring.  I was pretending that I was shooting people! :)  We also beat up dummies with our weapons.  It was fun too.  Oh and we low crawled in the sand!  We had sand everywhere!  I had it all on my face and in my ABUs, in my weapon.  It was a mess.  So we learned how to fight.  The end.

Next week is first aid week.  Aka First Aid and Buddy Care.  It should be fun.  Next week we are doing the obstacle course and shoot guns!  Woot!  We get our name tags too.  I don't know if I already said that, but next Monday...the 4th or 5th...we will get our name tags on our ABUs... Then it's official, Hunter-Lovelady will be on my chest! :)

I'm adapting pretty well to the environment.  It will be interesting if I take any habits with me after basic.  I don't think I will.  But who knows. I sure as hell don't want to roll my socks and fold everything perfectly!  I know that once or twice a year I will have a physical test that I have to pass.  So I can't get fat! :)  I can't wait to get to tech school.  I can't wait to get my phone back!  Freedom...sweet, sweet freedom.  I miss it.

Kristi

September 18, 2009

I have a minute and wanted to write again. I just got done rolling my shirts and socks and trying to perfect my wall locker! It's never good enough :)

So, today we learned this fun drill movement. I can't remember the name of it, but I was having fun turning left and right as a whole flight.

Anywho, I think I might have injured my abs a little. The left side started hurting when I started doing sit-ups today. It hurts like a mofo when I try to do it. Just not enough time to heal before it gets strained again.

I'm going to the Wicca service to do the mayvine (I think that's how you spell it) ritual thing. There is gonna be juice and Nilla wafers and I don't have to eat fast. I feel like I'm constantly starving. I eat 3 times a day, but we are always doing something. I feel like I've lost some weight already...That's what happens when I take sugar out of my diet!

I'm a 2nd weeker starting tomorrow... so I'll graduate when I'm an eight weeker. I really need to go to bed. I want to write more. It's my escape from here for a moment. I feel like I'm in a dreamland here. I always think that the concept of basic is wise. I mean you take hundreds of everyday people and turn them into airmen. But the things we do are just silly sometimes. We have hardly any freedom. I really don't see myself staying in for longer than six years.

SLEEP...what I need and what I won't get enough of... Things I miss the most...a good shower! I can't wait to take a 30 minute shower!

September 18, 2009

I can finally write letters. It's my tenth day in training. It's lights out right now and I'm sitting on the floor with a flash light. I haven't been homesick. I have no idea how I have been doing so well. Okay, so I wish I could tell you everything but I can't cause I would be up all night writing letters!

It isn't as bad as I thought, I just march around a lot. Make beds a lot. Fold clothes a lot. Hopefully if all goes well I'll graduate in seven weeks from today! I can't wait! I think about it all the time. I can't wait to have freedom back. We literally are on their time. I'm always tired. I think the average night of sleep is about 5 hours. I've started to come down with a cold. But, hopefully I'll hold up okay! I have received about 6 shots. It was crazy - I got 2 at one time in opposite arms! Oh and shower time isn't that bad. It's just a big party. We don't have time to even think about each other being naked.

PT (physical training) sucks when we have to do a bunch of push ups and sit ups. I can't even hold my arms above my head cause they are so tired. Running isn't that bad. Basic is all about team work. I run with this girl named Jenny Lankford. She is married and from Illinois. Our motto is never leave an airman behind. So, I run with her and push her to keep going. I'm all about team work. It really doesn't suck that bad. As long as you do what you are told...it's a little easier. We have already lost 2 girls from the past 10 days. One girl actually went to the bathroom and was going to make an attempt to take her life. I mean there have been moments I want to go home...but I wouldn't ever dream of that being a way out. Like I said though, I'm doing pretty good. Just taking it one day at a time.

For my birthday since it was Sunday we get to choose any church to go to. I went to the Wicca service. It was interesting. A good break from basic. We were all lined up in a huge circle. There must have been almost 200 trainees there. This Sunday it's some service thing and we get to drink juice and eat Nilla wafers! I'm eating healthy. Lots of fruit.

I have a really nice MTI (military training instructor). His name is Staff Sargeant Bell. He is from Georgia...at least I think he is from Georgia. I have many instructors. I'm really lucky to have him. Like I said, it hasn't been that bad. It has moments of pure hell and then there will be days we sit in class and learn. I need to work on my push ups and sit ups. I'll have a million stories to share. I feel overwhelmed now cause I have been waiting 10 days to communicate. I just wanted to write a letter. That's all I have been wanting to do! I am so happy to get letters. I hope I'll get to write more often now.

Like I said, I haven't broken down yet... I'm not intimidated by their yelling. I think they are stupid. I haven't screwed up royally. Just minor stuff...like...my feet won't be at a 45 degree angle. My shoulders aren't all the way back at the position of attention...blah...blah. I can't wait for the next seven weeks to go by!

Man, life is crazy. I'm glad I'm older and more mature than most of the girls. There are a lot of 18-20 year olds. They also laugh and freak out when I tell them I'm 25. I'm not the oldest. There are a few late 20s and one 35 year old Air Reserve of Air Guard. I haven't regretted my decision. It has been easier than I thought and harder too. As long as you look like you are trying that's all that matters.

So the other day we got fake rifles. M16A2 It doesn't work, but it's a real gun. I have been making a few friends. We all have jobs to do everyday. DETAIL! Woot! I hate detail. Cause we have so much time to do stuff in. I'm a bed tightener. I worked with my wingman Elisabeth Mitchell. She is from Illinois too... or something like that. I'm so excited that I get to write. It's about time!

Oh...back to Wicca. So, it's all about balance and harmony with the 5 elements. Earth, air, water, fire and spirit. I love off the wall stuff. So the lady leading our class was corky to say the least. She told us to imagine a place where you find yourself. Where you feel balanced. For me that place would be the beach. I love the beach. I love walking on the beach at night and looking at the stars!

So, there hasn't been a day yet that I haven't started to fall asleep without notice. It's crazy! I'll be reading and my eyes are crazy heavy. Our ABUs and combat boots make me hot! So I tend to get sleepy. I almost fell asleep standing up today doing drill exercises. I have never been this tired in my life. I don't even know how I'm writing other than adrenaline!

Gotta wrap it up so I can get in bed. Thanks for writing. I really appreciate it!

Kristi

CORRECT ADDRESS

My actual address is:

AB Hunter-Lovelady, Kristine, A

PSC #3 320 TRS/FLT 724 Dorm B3

1320 Truemper St Unit 364036

Lackland AFB, TX 78236-6095

If you've already sent mail with the letters mixed up, I still most likely got them.

Basic Training Address

Here's my address where you can write me letters. (Please)

AB Hunter-Lovelady, Kristine, A

TFC#3

320TRS/SLT724 Dorm B3

1320 Truemper St Unit 364036

Lackland AFB, TX 78236-60595

Leavin On a Jet Plane

Well....here we are! Days before I go and trying to not get too nervous. Am I prepared enough? Probably not. But, I'm just going to take it one day at a time and hope the next 8 1/2 weeks move quickly. Thanks for all the prayers and "good lucks" I'll be 25 next sunday. When I grow up I'll hopefully be an Air Traffic Controller! Thanks to everyone who has been supportive in my decision. I really appreciate all the encouragement. I know it will be the same encouragement that gets me thru the hard times. Letters will be my saving grace! Hopefully the next time you see me I will be a little wiser, more confident, skinnier, buffer and even more ridiculously good looking! = )

The first day of the rest of my life

Sept 8th! The big day....or so I think. I went down on July 7th to go to BMT and I "had the wrong date". I still believe that someone bumped me! If all goes well I will graduate on November 6th. So, pray that I will not get hurt or have some sort of horrible illness! Unfortunately, stupidity is incurable! I'll have to keep that one a secret.

I'm excited for the adventures that are in store for me. The possibilities are endless! I'm also excited to actually have a career that can will make me stinkin rich when I get out! So...here is to the first day of the rest of my life!