Basic Training Journal: Monday, September 1st

Today was pretty cool. We got up at 0430 and did some stretches. Then we chilled in the bay before breakfast. We watched Blackhawk Down after breakfast, then had lunch. We had a 4 hour pass after lunch from 1330 to 1730. We could go to the PX, recreation center, clothing & sales, use the phones at the bay or at the recreation center.

I bought some stuff I needed at the PX and I also bought a Milky Way and split it with my battle buddy. We could eat candy, soda, etc., just don't bring it back to the bay. Absolutely no cigarettes or alcohol. I also ate a personal cheese pizza at the PX snack center, and an oreo milk shake. Trust me, candy, snacks, and soda tastes so much better after only eating DFAC food for a month.

After we stuffed our faces, we went to check out the recreation center. We can't use taxis so we had to walk to get everywhere, which consumed some time. The rec center has tons of video games, pool tables, phones, and you could also order pizza from Pizza Hut or Little Caesars. If you just wanted to relax, they had comfy couches to lay down on and watch TV on a big screen. We didn't get to use the phones because people wouldn't get off the phones which got me angry. The whole company got the pass so there were lines for almost everything, but it wasn't that bad.

Almost forgot: We also used the internet at the PX telephone center. The cost was 18 cents a minute. I was only on for about 15 minutes because I got upset with the ungodly slow connection speed....I think they only had 56k there. I checked my site and armybasic.org, but I couldn't remember my password so I couldn't post or send a PM to anyone at armybasic.

We had dinner right after getting back from the pass...then the same old same old.