30 Days

So it's down to 30 days.

         I wonder what It's going to feel like when I'm sleeping in Boston on my last night before I leave. Waking up at 4 am and then sitting in MEPS(Military Entrance Processing Station) and instead of going home like I have the last three times I've journeyed to that facility. I will be taking a bus ride to Logan Airport and hopping on a plane to Chicago to Great Lakes, Il to start my recruit training, or 'Boot Camp'.
         I won't be scared because this is what I have dreamed about for years growing up. I've learned so much about my grandfather being in the Air Force and my step father being in the Army that I have been so intrigued over these years about what drove them to make that decision to enlist.

        But before this all happens I would like to set some goals for myself to try and attain while I am in the Navy. I set some personal goals while I was in AmeriCorps and I'd like to think that some of them have been accomplished. One great accomplishment would be that I actually completed the whole year with my team. I think that if I hadn't finished with a full team, my year would have completely sucked, I would have thought that the year was a repeat of my previous NCCC year in Denver. Not that that wasn't a great year, I loved every second of it. Everything must change and things can't stay the same all of the time. Another personal accomplishment was to prove to myself that I am capable of being a leader. Last year was the toughest year of my life, I grew leadership skills that I will take with me for years to come. I made some tough decisions that I had only dreamed of being valuable enough to make. Last year showed me how much potential I really have to do great things in this world. So with all of those goals I would now like to set the bar really high for new personal excellence if you would.
        I have six years to attain these goals and plenty of time to do great things so here they are.
1) To become more organized
    I am always losing my personal belongings, I hate it! I'm one of the oldest recipients of the Congressional Award this year and I leave my cell phone and wallet on the bus or out in the common areas so people have to track me down to give it back to me. Enough of that, I'm going to take care of my personal belongings and never lose anyhing ever again.
2) Stop being lazy
    Often times I look around my house and see different jobs that should be done and I don't take action to do them myself. I want to become a hard working human being. I want to get slapped around in boot camp enough that it shows me how much I take for granted around here because this needs to change. While in AmeriCorps I jumped on the opportunity to do extra work or stay later when needed but when I get home I just become lazy. I hope to god that I get in shape about this. What happens when I have kids and own a house someday? I can't just push things back and take care of things later.
3) Get in Shape
    Since I've been home I have been maintaning a pretty laxed work-out regiment. I have been running, but nothing like when I was in New Orleans running 20-30 miles a week. I want to come out of boot camp with abs that will cut steel.
4) Quit smoking
    Ok this one will be pretty easy in boot camp, it's coming out of boot camp that will be a problem for me. Tons of people in the military smoke cigarettes and the temptations will be there for me to indulge. I just have to stay strong and be healthy. I need to think before I act.
5) Think before I speak
   I would think that boot camp will help me with this. It's always been a problem with me, especially when I am speaking. I need to use words when describing objects, not just say 'It's next to the thing' and impersonate myself digging a ditch when the word is just a shovel. Seriously Chris, learn how to talk please.

          I will think of more for future posts, but for now I would like to go to bed. I will wake up tomorrow and go to my recruiters office for a 30-day in-processing. Which means I will waste half a day because my recruiter tells me the wrong thing everytime I talk to him. I end up having to cancel work plans beause he takes me on journeys around Massachusetts without even filling me in that I'm leaving the office that day. Like Jim says "I don't mind wasting my time while I'm getting paid, but if I'm not on the clock, then you're pissing me off"