Just 45 more minutes

Yesterday was a wonderfully rainy, cool, spring day. In the evening Jenn took the kids to Turner's soccer game and I went to help a friend who is building his new house.

We both got back about the same time and decided to crank up the electric blanket, bring the laptop into bed with us and watch something in bed in the electric warmth of our king-sized love sled.

I went to feed the animals and Jenn went to put the kids in bed while ours was warming up. When I came back in, the kids were in bed, the bed was warm, but Jenn was upstairs watching Lost on the big screen. She was 10 minutes into an episode. I said, "So, I have about 35 minutes or so before this ends?"

I grabbed some Star Trek and made my way downstairs. When Jenn was done she came down and asked, "So, are we going to watch Star Trek?" You know the way nearly any woman on the entire planet would ask that. That's how it was.

I responded, "No, we'll watch something we both want to see." She said, "Right now there's nothing I'd rather see than Lost."

"That's how I feel about Star Trek."

"I'll see you in 45 minutes."

In the can

OCS Zero Phase is now done. I will be attending the real OCS (Phases 1-3) beginning at the end of this month.

BTW, a jock with cup IS on the packing list. I was told just because there would be some hand-to-hand combat training, but I know the real reason.

OCS Zero Phase Drill #1

So, two weeks ago tomorrow I attended my first drill of officer training. I know, I know. It's been two weeks, but that's how long it's taken me to recover from it.

How was it you ask?

Imagine the worst place in the world to you. For some it may be a vegan dinner with Cameron Diaz. For others it may be an opera performed by Special Olympians that got the "Also Participated" medals--not even the bronze.

You there now? OK. Now, imagine getting kicked in the groin for two+ days straight while you're there. Also, you don't really get to sleep because of the groin kicking or anticipation of having to talk to Cameron Diaz in between bites of tabbouleh.

What was good about it? It ended. What sours that goodness? I go back for more in 3 weeks, and then again 3 weeks later, and then 4 weeks after that I go to South Dakota for 8 weeks of it straight.

I better re-check the packing list. I'm sure an athletic supporter (complete with cup), should be on the packing list.

Best Music Video Evah!

A lot of people will say that "Thriller" is the best music video out there. Although it is very good, that's just plain BS. THIS is the best music video evah!

A-1 Steak Sauce Please

Random Appreciated Artist

You know who rocks? Richard Marx.

No, you're gay!

Better?

So, I had my OCS orientation on Saturday.

Looks like all the same crap I talked about before will still come to pass, but instead of Alabama, I will be in South Dakota.

That's better . . . right?

Peanut Butter Jelly with a Baseball Bat!

Jenn got a new phone a couple days ago. It had this as a pre-loaded ring tone. No one in our family can get it out of their heads. Now it is in yours.

Ring

I don't want to turn this blog into a log of my weight loss and excercise efforts on the road to Army officer school, but this impressed me. I was sitting here at my desk doing work and playing with my wedding ring.

It came off.

Cool. For the past 8+ years my fingers have been too fat for it to come off so easily without soap, lard, or whatever (of course I've never used lard!). Today it just came off. Not slipped off easily like a donut on a pencil or anything, but pretty easily.

Perhaps the 11.6 pounds (but who's counting), I've lost in the past 3 weeks have all come from my hands.

Crazy, thy name is Chesnoslova (or sometimes Tom).

Time for an update. A bit ago in a post titled "Chubba Bubba", I wrote about how I was 'mildly' overweight and was told by the Army in no uncertain terms to get in better shape. Well, despite the warning, I did not and my direct commission was denied.


This means that instead of having it handed to me I have to spend a gut wrenching 8 weeks in the summer in the Alabama heat while I am yelled at, ridiculed, belittled, and then built back up. Officer school makes basic training look like a cake walk. Since I haven't been to basic training type school in 10 years, it may be tough on me.

When I say tough, I mean that when you first arrive you're yelled at to, "Get off the f'n bus", "beat your face" [do push ups], and follow what may be the most asinine rules. For example, when running (not walking. There is no walking), from one place to another and you come within 6 paces of an officer I will have to say, "Sir, officer candidate Ashton. Good morning sir." This of course changes depending on the time of day, gender of the person and rank of the person. There is no simple, "Hello," or "How are you?"


So, ya. I pretty much screwed myself. And guess what else? After this, I have many months more training to do before I'm even deemed competant enough to perform my job. Oh, and I have/get to go to a school where I jump out of airplanes.


So, why did I include the word "crazy" in the title of this post. Because 1) I am crazy for knowing beforehand what awaits me and I still volunteer for it. And 2) my preparation for it. Northern Utah on the Idaho border in January is not the time or place for fun outdoor training. Running in the snow and ice is nearly a daily occurrance now. I got excited Sunday night because for the first time in 2 weeks all the snow had melted off of the roads and I would be running on dry roads the next day. When I woke up, another 6 inches of snow had fallen.


On the days when I'm not running, I am road marching. This is basically walking. Walking in full uniform with a 40 pound backpack. I will be required to do several in the school I am going to with the biggest being 10 miles, 40 pound pack, in 3 hours 3 minutes. This doesn't seem entirely tough to me right now as I have been doing 4+ miles a couple times each week in snow and ice. Plus, did I mention I do it in the morning? Last week those morning temperatures were Tuesday: -12(F), Thursday: -16.8(F), and Saturday: -something crazy(F).


So, that is where the crazy comes from. Temperatures, going from zero work outs to at least 7 per week, eating way less calories and fat grams and way more fruit, fibre, and vegetables, and best yet, losing 9.5 pounds in 2.5 weeks. Just 30 more to go!