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! = )