Thursday, August 30, 2007

This is Mike's mom. He is teaching me how to update this so that all of you will know what he's up to while at boot camp. I'll do my best to keep you informed. This computer is awesome and he may not get it back when he comes home :)

I hope to update you at least once a week. It will depend on how many letters he sends home with new information.

Michael is getting VERY excited to leave. I can't say I'm as excited to see him leave but am happy to see that he's geared up for the upcoming challenges.

Julie

An Update...

Well, here is the latest. I am shipping out of Milwaukee, WI for sure. I will be in Oshkosh on the evening of September 3rd to meet one last time with Staff Sergent Hall. Then he will drive me to Milwaukee later that evening. Once we arrive in Milwaukee I will stay the night at a hotel. Around 4:30 AM I will wake up and leave for MEPS. MEPS is a medical facility where all branches of the military send recruits to receive medical exams before they ship to boot camp. After my medical check is over, I will then be bussed to the airport. I will fly to California and this is where I am unsure of what exactly happens. From my understanding, I will hang out somewhere with other Marine recruits until about 11:00PM or Midnight. From there we are bussed to boot camp. The first week is not exactly boot camp. I have to see a doctor, dentist, get my hair cut, sign lots of papers, swear in, receive my uniforms, and lots of other things before I can even start boot camp. After this, we have an officer speak to us and introduce us to our drill instructors. And then they come out in their Smokey Bears and unleash hell. Well, this is all I have to give you right now. I am sure I will update you one last time before I leave. Thanks for checking up on me!

T-Minus Thirty Five Days....

As of Today, August First, I have thirty Five days until I leave for boot camp. It has been a month so I thought I should update you all on what is going on.

I have started a more intense work out plan starting this week. I am running at least once a day. Maxing out three times a day on crunches, and doing some basic arm exercises. I am running more often now because I have to run another IST before I leave. The IST consists of a mile and a half run in under 11:30sec max crunches in 1:30sec and max pull-ups. I am in contact with a recruiter from Mankato to run this. Last week Kayce, Matt Chaffee, and Eric (Lance) came to visit me one last time before I leave. We had a great time together and a very sad goodbye.

This weekend the parents and I will be driving down to Iowa to see Kyle (my brother) and his girlfriend, as well as meeting her parents. It is going to be lots of fun as we are spending the weekend on a lake while boating and jet skiing. On August 16th I will be flying out to NJ to see my sister Katie and brother-in-law Ryan. Katie is pregnant and I want to see her before I go...if I do not, I do not know when I would see her next...it could be a really long time. I also hope to drive down to Iowa again to spend time with my cousin Ryan. He and I would like to go to a go-kart place in which the karts go about 40 mph. I am really excited. Other than that nothing else has changed. I am still working at Higley Ford everyday and enjoying it, I am still single, I am teaching drum lessons, and I am still playing with Reach. I will keep you updated with my shipping to boot camp as I am informed. For now, good bye.