gettin' "smoked"

I am really, really sore this morning. We had a long week...court martial trial memo was due, the criminal law instruction course wound down and PT seemed extra hard (at least for me). Thursday, my platoon did a ton of pushups and situps (just over 200 each!). So when I woke up at 5am for our 4 mile run yesterday, I was looking forward to getting it over with and getting into the weekend for some sleep! This is where the getting "smoked" part comes in...getting "smoked" basically means being exercised until exhaustion as a form of "corrective action" (aka punishment...but more to teach a lesson). So yesterday, 1 person (out of 112) was late to the first formation before PT. So, to make a point about how important it is to be on time, the entire company was "smoked" after class. (Company = entire class; Platoon = about 50% of class; so we have 2 platoons that make up 1 company). So we did lots of pushups, some situps and then more pushups. It is what it is. It could have been a lot worse. But I ache all over today. And, of course, the girls want to go outside and play as the weather is getting better!

Blues Reception

Last night was our first formal reception. It is called the "Blues Reception" (the new Army dress uniform is blue...except Guard and Reserve can wear the Class A "Green" until 2014). The reception is a formal meeting of the commander and his spouse. So we went through a receiving line to begin the evening. Mostly drinks and light dining while the students mingle with each other and the faculty.

Enya and Grace were downstairs in one of the mock courtrooms with the babysitters. They did really well considering they were with "strangers" for nearly 4 hours. It was a rare opportunity for Karina and I to socialize for so long without them with us. We really enjoyed it.

PT

We had our 2nd physical training ("PT") test on Monday. I actually did considerably better than my 1st test (and much more than I had expected). I've also gained 3 lbs in 4 weeks. I'd been told earlier that heavy guys lose weight and skinny guys gain....so I am now the heaviest I've ever been in my life (155 lbs).

The "PT" results:

Push-ups: need 34, did 44
Sit-ups: need 38, did 65
2 mile run: need to do in 18:18 minutes, did it in 16:28

So the Army is certainly getting me in shape!

I have also learned that I may not be going to Ft. Benning, GA for the officer training. Most of the Reserve Officers are likely going to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. I likely won't know until the end of the month.

We are currently being taught military criminal law....court martials, rules of evidence, etc. It is one area of the law that I am not really interested in practicing (and likely won't as a Reservist). I am really more interested in legal assistance for Soldiers (which comes in April) and international/operational law (comes in April, too). The classes have more of a feel of CLE seminars (continuing legal education for you non-lawyers out there!) which means a lot of info compressed into a small amount of time. So my brain is a bit fried right now!

Girls have adjusted and are doing really well. We've enrolled Enya in a "ballet" class on Saturdays...she was running around in her pink tights today and is really excited about it. Weather has been great since the end of last week, so we've been able to get them outside to play.

Girls enjoying the park

We've finally had some warm weather. Karina got the girls outside to burn some energy off. You can see my school in the background above the trees.

the crazy life at the Residence Inn

I've been here almost 2 weeks now. Enya and Grace are getting used to the new confinement here at the Residence Inn....they are used to having more running room. We haven't had any complaints from the neighbors (yet!), but wow, when the two of them get to chasing each other around the suite it can get pretty loud! It has been really cold here so Karina has been a bit trapped here. It is supposed to be in the 70s this weekend though so hopefully they'll be able to get outside more. I, of course, am getting plenty of outdoor time every morning before the sun rises! I am definitely getting into really good shape....even if it is painful at times.

my typical day

We're settled into C'ville (short for Charlottesville). I am getting more time with the girls than I had thought. The girls are adjusting to my schedule. Enya was pretty excited to see my "school" last night.

My typical day:

I wake up around 5am (tomorrow it will be 4am), have PT for an hour, shower, eat and start class around 8am.

We get about an hour and a half for lunch that allows me to come back to the hotel (we are at a Residence Inn) and have lunch with the girls.

Afternoon class is about 2 hours give or take. Homework is pretty light (all 3 days so far!), but there frequently seems to be some admin task that fills part of the rest of the afternoon.

But so far, I have actually spent more time through the day with the girls than I ever have in my day job...of course, I am completely wiped out and all Enya wants to do is have me run around outside with her!

I'm in Charlottesville

Charlottesville is beautiful....at least what I've seen so far. I got here yesterday afternoon. The accommodations are great. I am staying at the Residence Inn, just a couple hundred yards from the law school. It looks like there are a lot of shops/stores right across the street, so we should be able to get everything/anything we need without difficulty. It should be easy for Karina and the girls to navigate the area.

Since my last update...I survived the gas chamber! The Cadre took it easy on us though. Basically, we donned gas masks and then marched into a little room, ran around in circles and then (in order to leave the room) took our masks off, recited our name, social security number and place of birth...the Chief let me go out as I was halfway through my social...he could have held me the entire time. It mostly just burned around my eyes. I coughed a little bit for a few minutes outside, but otherwise didn't have any other issues (ie. no snot running down my face!). The rest of the week was mostly paperwork processing.

School starts Monday. 0500 PT (5am physical training) and then class at 0800. Got my first set of books yesterday. The law school is beautiful, too. I woke up early this morning (6am) so I decided to get a little running in since we are running 3.5 miles on Monday. After the run, had some coffee and orange juice in the dining area of the Residence....they have a full complimentary breakfast every day so that should be great for the girls.

I'm really enjoying this. Still an alien world for me, but I'm getting used to it. The saluting thing is still going to take some time to get used to. Karina and the girls arrive tomorrow. Can't wait to see them...seems like I've been away for a month.

My first pic

Spent the day in the field, again. Did 2 mile road march with about 35lbs on my back at 7am, then spent the day outside in the cold (high of about 40 today), did 7 hours of field classes (land navigation, first aid, camouflage, etc), ate more MREs, crawled through the dirt while the First Sergeant yelled at us to "Hurry up!" and then 2 miles back. It was cold, really cold. And we stood all day long. So my legs are really sore tonight. Luckily, no blisters for me. But quite a few have them. I'm just sore and tired so I am going to bed after I post this.

This picture is off of my cell phone, so it is not so clear. But that is face paint, not dirt!

MREs....

Today was our first day in the "field" (aka the great outdoors!). It was pretty cold...I think the high was around 45, but when we first got there (at 7am), it had to have been in the low to mid 30s with a fairly strong wind. So we did a lot of moving around and boot stomping! But the events of the day kept it off our minds. We were at the pistol range. So I got to shoot a 9mm. Was fun. We also had some basic instruction on operating a radio and, of course, while we waited, we marched around the field in formation.

Today was also the first time I've eaten a MRE (Meal Ready to Eat). I had chili with beans. It comes in a packet...you place the chili packet into another plastic bag that has a heat packet in it and add water. In about 2 minutes, it is hot and ready to eat. Was actually pretty tasty. The MRE also came with crackers and peanut butter & jelly, corn, a milkshake packet that I didn't have enough time to make and a candy. The whole thing contains around 2000 calories. When in the field you get 3 a day and are expected to eat them...something about the need to take in huge amounts of calories to help with the lack of sleep and all of the activity. I have 2 of them to eat tomorrow...chicken and a cheese/veggie omelet (not so sure about the omelet!).

Tomorrow, we have our first ruck march. Boots, helmets, backpack, the whole thing. Only about 2 miles as we are marching to the field where we will be spending the day. 2 miles shouldn't be too bad since we are already running that far, but it will be different with all of the gear on our backs. It is also supposed to be the coldest day so far, so I'm going to double up on the long johns!

I am really enjoying it. It helps that my classmates are nice. Can't believe that it has only been a week. Seems like a month. Karina tells me that Grace is sick and so is Grandma now (and Karina is feeling it a bit, too). So they are definitely working overtime up there. Will see them a week from today!!

Friday!! well, I still have to work tomorrow...

PT (physical training) at 5am tomorrow morning...which means getting up around 4am. So much for sleeping in on Saturday.

Today we did a lot of drill and ceremony...marching in formation: right face, left face, forward march, etc. Was fun...well it was more fun as we did it better and the First Sergeant was happier. Looks really cool when 100 people are doing it.

There is just so much information to remember. A whole new language. Had a Chaplain visit the class today to discuss his office and role. More leadership training as well....sort of like what you would expect from an "effective" leadership training for a corporation.

So I am doing well. Enjoying it. I miss Karina and the girls terribly though...seems like I've been away forever. Got to talk to Enya a little last night and heard Grace laughing which is the best thing ever...