To Everyone From Jonathan

So here I am again on my little note pad. This is pretty much a note to everyone, so pass this around.

Right now I'm still in Red Phase at the end of my 3rd week here. My platoon is getting sharper after a rocky start. Let's just say I do a lot of pushups on account of my buddies. Oh well. I'm getting sexier every time. I already look thinner (and bald) and I barely recognize myself. I hope you all recognize me at graduation.

I'm certainly having a hard time being away from you guys. I admit that I cry a lot, but I'm determined to stick it out and see you all at Christmas.

So, when I am too busy to think about how I miss you, I'm:
Rappelling
Shooting
Getting tear gassed
Showering with a bunch of dudes
Doing PT
Eating
Cleaning my bunk
Cleaning my rifle
BSing with the Drill Sergeants (limited)
Combatives

The food here is excellent from what I can tell. Perhaps if I wasn't always hungry and eating everything in one chew I'd know better.

Red Phase will be over soon, and I'm looking forward to the "meat" of Basic, so to speak.

We haven't done the sleep deprivation thing yet, but I feel pretty tired all the time anyway. I think it's just the stress.

What's going on over there? I have like zero news sources, and I miss your stories as well.

How the election looking?
What are the kids dressing up as for Halloween?
Have my dogs visited any of you?
How is Brie? Give her a hug for me, please.

It turns out that Basic Rifle marksmanship is pretty easy if you hand Dad and Namps as teachers. Thanks for that, both of you guys. Since human targets are bigger than turtles, hitting them is pretty easy.

The gas chamber, while unpleasant was hilarious. We had our resident Haitian immigrant freak out so badly he was stomping on the floor and screaming like a small girl.

We have a Romanian here as well. He sounds like Arnold Swartzneiger. We had him saying "get to da choppa!" and stuff like that since he joined up.

I'm also becoming an expert at hospital corners.

So, what else to talk about.

My roommates are pretty nerdy and cool with the exception of one. Hicks is kind of a movie critic. Leon is a comic buff. Payne is a religious family man. Zhang is....Asian. He really fits the stereotype. Good at math, likes chess, can't drive, truth seems to match the preconceptions this time.

Zhang and I have already faced off at chess. I won. I consider this affirmation that I am awesome.

If this seems a bit disjointed it's because I only get to write a little at a time.

So, it's Sunday now. Since everyone has a different service to go to, we have a pretty easy morning. I'm still doing work though I'm sweeping and mopping the barracks before doing anything I want to do.

Since you have to be in ACUs to go to church, as we just got punished in my last clean ones yesterday, I can't really go. The laundry service here kinda sucks. They are never on time.

Well, I guess that's all for now.

I love you guys and I miss you terribly.

Jonathan.