Lots and Lots of Updates!!!

WOW!! So much has happened and there is so much to update on since my last post. I’m finally getting around to it after hearing tons of nagging from my mom to update my blog and I’m running out of time so I figured now is as good a time as any.

First an update on my knee. It is completely and totally better!! Thank Goodness. I ended up taking almost two weeks off (let’s just say that I paid for that on Tuesday when I went running again, but more on that later). I obviously took time off while in Vegas (we left on a Monday, I hadn’t done PT since that Thursday and then didn’t do PT again until the next Tuesday after I had gotten back). I would have liked to have worked-out at least a little but the hotel/casino didn’t have a gym and that’s probably a good thing because I needed to rest. There may have been some minor pain and soreness after the run but nothing serious that stopped me. Every once in a while I will notice minor soreness but that is to be expected, it sure isn’t going stop me now!!!

VEGAS! My mom and I haven’t had a vacation since we went to California’s Grand Assembly years ago so since I am getting ready to leave what better time to go on vacation. I got the option of choosing between Chicago or Vegas, the obvious choice was Vegas since I could easily go to Chicago whenever! The trip was a blast, it went by way to fast but at the same time I was so ready to come back home!! Day one: we flew to Vegas arrived early afternoon, we checked into our hotel/casino (Harrah’s). The room was extremely nice (it was an upgrade); there were pillow top mattresses, a huge flat screen TV, it had a safe so if you won BIG you could keep your winnings safe (Hahaha), it had a mini patio with enough room to stand, it even had a mini plasma TV in the bathroom. Room 1408 in the Mardi Gras Tower of Harrah’s Casino is amazing!!! I changed clothes (I don’t believe in dressing up when your just going sit on a plane for three hours) and mom freshened up and then we hit the town (which amazing enough was right out our casino/hotel doors (even though there were no doors)). We were both starving so we stopped at a gourmet Chinese restaurant called Ming’s Table. The food was delicious and I got my first drink while in Vegas … a very yummy and very strong Strawberry Daiquiri. After food we walked down to Caesar’s Palace. First stop Harry Winston; mom got to try on an $8,000.00 diamond ring but my topped it BIG time. I got to try on a $923,000.00 ring (14 carat yellow diamond center with two .62 carats on either side, that equals 15 carats)!!! I feel in love and my heart stopped for a minute, I think that made my trip, not very many people can say that they’ve tried on a million dollar diamond. Now only if I could find a man who could afford something like that. The guy was very nice (nicer than a lot of people at the cheap-o stores), the store was nothing like a jewelry store we have in Springfield (they have a small case of things and you tell them what you want to try on, they sit you at a little table, and bring the diamonds to you). The security guard made me laugh, the second the guy opened up the case and pulled out the diamond the doors were locked, he was blocking the doors so no one could enter or leave it was funny to watch. After Harry Winston we shopped the rest of the mall which had everything from Tiffany’s to Cartier, Louis Vuitton to Coach, and tons of other boutiques. I got my giant 10 shot, ½ yard long island iced tea all of which I finished myself (I think my mom was afraid that I was going die from alcohol poisoning, I didn’t but I did get completely and totally drunk and lucky me I woke up without a hangover). We watched the living fountain statue thing that freaked me out. Then we shopped some more, everything else just wasn’t quite as nice after trying on that million dollar ring. We walked down to the Paris and bought tickets for the Eiffel tower and then headed back to Harrah’s. Day two involved waking up late, eating breakfast at the hotel, then going back up to the room to get ready. We headed to the Venetian and shopped and shopped some more. We took a gondola ride; the driver was named Mario and was funny and we got to ride with a lesbian couple (they held hands but refrained from any PDA, thank goodness)! We shopped some more and shopped a little more. We stopped at an authentic Italian restaurant for lunch where I had Fillet Mignon spaghetti and meatballs (I think I prefer olive garden)! We went to the Mirage and saw the dolphin habitat and looked at the white tigers and lions. The dolphins were cute; I’ve never seen them before there was a little 9 month old baby. All the lions and tigers were asleep, it was way too hot and they were exhausted. They had a little 7 month old leopard that was adorable. After that we headed to the hotel, I wanted to go swimming but the pool was disgusting and mom was tired so we went up to the room; I uploaded pictures to facebook and relaxed and mom took a cat nap. After that we then headed down to the Bellagio shopped and shopped some more. We got to touch and look at a Hermes Birkin bag ($8,000.00 and that’s a small one). Then headed and shopped some more. We watched the fountains at Bellagio and then went back down to Paris and went up the Eiffel tower. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate heights (yes I know I’m airborne). I was literally shaking and visibly I was terrified! We were in line for a long long long time which just added to the anticipation and fear. Took the elevator up 438 feet in the air (that’s half of what the real Eiffel tower is) and I freaked the hell out. I managed to look out the window from the far wall (I refused to go to the window) so I got to see all the lights but I didn’t enjoy it. On the way down the elevator I kept my eyes open and watched the view as we made it down to the ground. It’s one of those things that now that’s its over and I know it was safe I wish I would have not been so scared and enjoyed it, but oh well. After the Eiffel tower we headed back to the hotel and called it a night. Day three started off with Starbucks for me and mom sleeping in and being lazy! We walked down to the fashion shop mall and shopped it all day long! They had a Nathan’s Hot dogs so we ate lunch there, I’ve had them before when I went to Coney Island in New York back in 2002 but mom was sick that day and stayed in the hotel so she finally got her Nathan’s hot dog. We then took a taxi to the sign and had our pictures taken, then headed back to Harrah’s. We walked back down to Paris to get a couple things and I got a huge Strawberry Daiquiri in an Eiffel tower cup (currently being used as a piggy bank; I was very disappointed when I didn’t get a buzz or better yet drunk off of it). We ate dinner at the Range steakhouse which was delicious!! Then went back out on the strip and watched the Siren’s of Treasure Island show, after that we headed back to the hotel. We wanted to see the Chippendale’s but they were dark. It was an early evening considering we had to get up at 5:00 AM to get to the airport and fly home. I was ready but at the same time I wasn’t. We woke up, I got Starbucks (I needed some help waking up), got our stuff together and headed down to check out. I hadn’t gambled any while in Vegas and I knew I couldn’t go home without gambling so I sat at a slot for five minutes and played the free five dollars I got from the hotel. Then it was time to fly home, I wasn’t panicking this time although I probably should have considering we had a very rough driving pilot unlike the flight to Vegas. I got home and took a multiple hour nap (the time change really messed with me)!!! All in all the trip was a blast it took several days to get used to the time change (they are two hours behind us), I know I’m probably leaving stuff out but this was the majority of the trip and if you couldn’t tell it was pretty much all shopping!

Next thing, Fourth of July. It was a lot like Memorial day for me, it really hit home that I was about to become a Soldier and reminds me why I wanted to join and why this is a dream of mine. People always ask and in all honest truth I want to serve my country, the benefits are great but I would have joined if I didn’t get paid for it. I got to see my brother, my father, my aunt and uncle, and grandma and grandpa Parrish for the last time before I leave for basic and it was good. Shot off some fireworks with Ben and answered a ton of questions from everyone else. I don’t think the holiday really hit me until Sunday when we were at church and they had the special service for the fourth.

The Sunday after Fourth of July (that would be July 5th) was also my SURPRISE going away party! Even though it turned out not to be a surprise (both Bre and my mom slipped details). I was surprised by how many people showed up, I didn’t know I had so many people that loved and supported me! It was fun and sad at the same time, having to say goodbye to people that have been in my life forever is never a fun thing to do. Thanks to everyone who showed up!!

Start of the week and the last full week of freedom! Got my transcripts and got them in the hands of Sergeant Carroll for my promotion (that makes me a Private Second Class). It was a miracle I got them so that proves to me this is what God's plan for me is. Then it was PT on both Tuesday and Thursday, my last week with my running buddies and none of them showed up. The run kicked my butt, after not having done PT for almost two weeks I needed to get in the groove of things. My sergeant helped by being tough, I ran 3 miles (which is the most I've ever ran). I felt very good after and ended up doing push-ups till muscle failure after (approximately 84). Push-Ups till muscle failure is one of the Sergeant's favorite things to do (it is also one of the Drill Sergeant's favorite things...this should be fun). This week has been filled with lots of hanging out with friends and saying goodbye’s but it’s been fun and I have a lot of good memories to take with me to basic and AIT and airborne training. I know I’m not saying goodbye forever but it stills stinks!

My visit to Ft Leonard wood. I really wanted to see base before I went to basic, to get rid of any unknowns and apprehensions. It just so happened to be that my friend Eric is home from Iraq and is stationed at Ft Leonard wood so Bre and I got a private tour and I partied it up one last time before I start basic. Going to base got me completely and totally pumped I cannot wait to go to basic, and that may seem crazy but I know I’m going kick some butt and its going be a cake walk!!!

PT test and last future soldier meeting. Today (Saturday) was my last future soldier meeting. I had to take my PT test and I passed (thank goodness I was worried about it). I also got my last promotion to make me a Private First Class (no more private fuzzy for me). After taking the PT test we headed and played some basketball, I’ve actually improved in sports since I enlisted in the Army, something I didn’t expect to have happen. I got punched in the shoulder and have a nice little bruise from it but I defended myself back so they didn’t win! For the first time in all the games we’ve played in future soldier’s my team won! YAY!!! Like usual after playing for 45 minutes or so we went back to the recruiting office and learned some new stuff. We did drill and ceremonies again (we did it a couple meetings ago). It would have been better if someone besides a Private was teaching us, he was stupid and didn’t know what he was doing either. Every time we messed up we had to do push-ups, I only had to do 10 (I have it down pretty good, thanks to the marching band years, and I wouldn’t have messed up if I could have understood the dude). After drill and ceremonies it was time to head home. The rest of my day has been filled with shopping (I still had to get everything off my list), seeing family for the last time and doing more PT (you can always make improvements). Tomorrow is Sunday and then Tuesday I become Army property.

Ship date and details. Tuesday morning at 0900 I report to my recruiting station and wait for the bus. The bus usually arrives around 1030. We drive to Kansas City, Missouri, arrive there around 1600 (4:00 PM). I’ll get checked in at MEPS and then get checked in at the hotel. My mom is driving up to Kansas City to see me when I leave, so I will probably escape for a little while but crash early. I have an early 0430 wake-up call, get up, eat breakfast, go to MEPS, have a mini physical (they make sure your not pregnant and make sure your height and weight are good to go). About the time I’m finishing up with that mom will probably be up and at the station, I will get sworn in a second time and then its playing the favorite Army game of hurry up and wait. At some point on Wednesday I will get on a plane from Kansas City to St Louis and from St Louis take a bus to Ft Leonard wood. That’s when the fun begins! I’m at reception battalion from July 15th – July 24th (the first day of basic training). Basic will then begin on July 24th (unless I get lucky and get to start early). Graduation date, if I calculated correctly, will be September 24th.

Last preparations. Time is running out, I have almost everyone’s address but if you want letters let me know your address. I would love to receive any letters of encouragement and support while in training, from what I hear they really do help (contact my mom for my address sometime after the 24th)! I promise to write when I have time! Everything is in order and I’m ready to go, all that’s left is saying the few last goodbyes! I’m pumped and excited for this journey in my life, my life's dream and goal that I’ve had forever is finally coming true!

Goodbye Blog. I will not have access to my blog while in training. I'm planning on having my mom post weekly updates as well as my bct address while I am gone. I will be keeping a daily journal of everything that is going on and I will copy all the entries into my blog when I finish basic and start AIT. I will be getting phone privileges after the initial period and will take pictures when I can and update Facebook when I can, so look forward to those Facebookers! I’ll miss everyone, keep me in your prayers, continue to give me love and support and I will see you soon!!!

Private First Class Heather