I'm the Happiest I've Been in a Long, Long, Long Time

Why?

Because Christopher passed his PT test with flying colors.

Why?

Because I booked the trip to his graduation.

Why?

Because I got a non-stop, round trip airfare from Boston to Charlotte, South Carolina for $157.50.

Why?

Because I can honestly be proud of my son and how he has turned his life around.

*******************************************************************************

Round trip Airfare for 3 people $532
Rental Car for 5 days $301
Hotel for 5 days $400

Seeing my son Graduate from Army Basic Training......................................

PRICELESS!

Lucky Me

I got to talk to Christopher 3 times Saturday. He is sounding sooooo good. He's till getting over being homesick, he doesn't cry all the time now. He's doing extra PT with a buddy cause he's having trouble with doing 70 push-ups in 2 minutes ( required to pass PT portion).
That's huge for my son. He's doing what he needs to do in order to succeed. He's changing, growing, maturing.

He's making me proud.

I cannot wait to get my hands on him at Graduation.

The Funniest Thing I've Heard in Forever

Go HERE to Suldog's Blog.
Read.
Listen.
Laugh.

Stealing Hugs

I've gotten a few more letters and actually got to talk to Christopher twice on Sunday and once on Monday - all legal calls! His mouth was going a mile a minute. I actually had to cut him off on speaker phone Sunday cause I was going into the church for Mass. My Grandmother got to talk to him too and he called my Mom Monday (she was working Sunday). It was good to hear his voice.

He's still having ups & downs but he's doing it and excited about graduating. He has big plans about eating at the Texas Roadhouse, drinking Sprite, eating the homemade chocolate chip cookies he wants me to bring and a huge kit kat bar.

He told me he's going to be talking to me all day long on family day because he has so much to tell me. He sounded so much better. Now he's coming into Blue Phase where they will be putting everything they've learned into practice in an encampment:

Victory Forge

Victory Forge is a 7-day field training exercise combining all previously taught basic combat training skills. It is the culmination of basic training.
Soldiers are continuously challenged on all the skills learned throughout the nine-week training cycle. Here is a general description each day during Victory Forge.

Day 1 - Pre-Combat Inspections (PCI), prepare and produce an operations order (OPORD)

Day 2 - 10-Kilometer foot march, quartering party procedures, occupy a position and establish a defensive perimeter, conduct tactical feeding, introduction to night operations and rest plans

Day 3 - Conduct "Stand-To", undergo Nuclear, Biological and Chemical training, issue a squad-level OPORD, defensive operations, conduct troop-leading-procedures, go through the Teamwork Reaction Course, conduct squad-sized tactical exercises and a night tactical exercise

Day 4 - Same as Day 3

Day 5 - Same as Day 4

Day 6 - Recover from the defense, conduct PCI/stretch, issue squad and platoon-level OPORD, move to and conduct the Night Infiltration Course, execute the
Live Fire Night Infiltration

Day 7 - Conduct PCI and ensure personnel and equipment accountability, 15-Kilometer foot march, participate in an After Action Review, and after-operations maintenance which culminates with the Rites of Passage Ceremony symbolizing the transition from Soldier-in-Training to Soldier in the United States Army.

That's when he'll know for sure he's made it.

I got 6 letters yesterday! He thought I was spraying my perfume on the envelopes I sent (I wasn't) and he said it was like getting a hug so; I sent him a small swatch of fabric in a baggie with my perfume sprayed on it with 'A hug in a bag for you. Love, Mom'. It was his routine to catch a whiff in the morning, kinda like a hug to start his day.

Someone stole it out of his wall locker, that and $20 out of his wallet. Of all the things to steal - a 2 inch square piece of scented fabric.

I imagine that when all you smell all day is sweaty guys, a lil perfume can be a slice of heaven. (Although, I wouldn't mind smelling a sweaty guy occasionally)

My solution? I've cut up 90 pieces of fabric, soaked them in 4 different kinds of perfume or powder, put one each in a tiny envelope, slapped a label on it that says:

"Whether it be your Sweetie or, your Mom,
May the hug held inside, give you warm thoughts of home!"

Son can pass them out to whomever wants them.

I'd gladly give a free hug to every soldier I could, no need to steal one.

Update on Son

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, they worked!

Son went and begged the Commander to let him stay. Christopher got docked some pay, was put on restriction for 14 days and had extra duties for 14 days.

He seems to have turned the corner though and basically done 180 degrees. He just had the opportunity to be squad leader! He's having fun now and said he's kinda bored. Yea, bored.

He sounds so much better in his letter now.

Halfway through it!

I cannot wait to see my baby again at graduation in March.

I got 12 letters Thu & Friday. His attitude has changed and he's really trying to think about things positively like I said in one of my letters. He's feeling much better about everything.

Thanks so much you wonderful Monkees - you've done it again!

Ave Maria

I stole this from Heart in Hands Facebook post.
I thought it was a hoot and very interesting how iTunes shuffled my answers.
Give it a shot if you like.



RULES:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 10 friends (make me #11 so I can see your results).
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have Fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
Betty Lou's Gettin' Out Tonigh (Bob Seger)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
You're All I Have (Snow Patrol)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
I'm Lika A Bird (Nelly Furtado)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
W^O^L^D^ (Harry Chapin) "Feeling all of forty-five going on fifteen"

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Can't Get Enough of Your Love (Taylor Dane)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (Neil Young)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Passage to Bankok (Rush)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Mississippi Queen (Mountain)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Back Off Bitch (Guns N' Roses)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays (Garth Brooks)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Wicked Garden (Stone Temple Pilots)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Hello Lonely (Theory of a Deadman)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
I'm Going Home (Hootie and the Blowfish)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Can't Get Enough of Your Love (Barry White)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Mess Around (Ray Charles) hahahahaha!

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Angel Song (Great White)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Dancing with Tears in my Eyes (Ultravox)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
More Than a Feeling (Boston)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Girls, Girls, Girls (Motley Crew) LOL - No, I am not a lesbian

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Democracy (Dan Fogelberg)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
YYZ (Rush)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Ave Maria (Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarati, Jose Carreras)