31 October 2012

Are You There, Sleep? It's Me, Starr.

So I've been laying in bed for several hours now, hoping to get to sleep early for once. However, my nonstop mind had other plans.

I just had my first huge freak out about leaving! Well, not so much leaving as actually being there and doing everything! I have no idea why or how it came on tonight, but it did.

I'm down to 6 days before my feet touch San Antonio soil. Wow. Do y'all remember when I first got my ship date?! It seriously just feels like 2 weeks ago. Most people feel like it was forever ago, but not me. I'm so anxious/nervous/excited/scared. I have taken my PT regiment way too easy lately. I know I'll end up regretting it, too. And on top of that, I need to lose about 5 pounds by Tuesday. Gahhhh.

I feel like time is just dragging by now. In a week's time, I won't be in my own bed anymore. I won't get to cuddle my child (cat) or my husband. I won't be able to call my husband whenever I want. He's my best friend, and not being able to just pick up the phone to hear an encouraging word, or a simple "I love you" is going to be the worst. He's always gotten me through everything. He's my rock. Despite the problems we've encountered these last few months, he's always been there for me, and always will be. I don't think I'd be able to make it through this week, or BMT, without him. Those scarce phone calls are going to be my lifeline. If all I was ever allowed to say to him, and hear him say to me is "I love you", I would make it through. It would be enough.

Sorry for getting all mushy, but as my time at home draws to an end, I feel like my emotions are all over the place! I just have to remind myself, it's only 2 months of my entire life. And the result of it will be worth everything we have gone through.

Signing off for now! Hopefully I can get some rest! I'm planning on a nice, long PT session tomorrow! Good night, all!

23 October 2012

Picking My Own Brain...A Collage Of Random Thoughts

Hey guys! Today officially marks exactly 2 weeks until I'm stepping off of that bus, onto Lackland AFB! Ahhhhhhhhh. I'm still super pumped, but the nerves have definitely set in.

I'm starting to miss my September shipper friends more and more!! I wish that they could be here for me to talk to about all of this! We were all really good at keeping each other distracted when we wanted to be, or getting serious and talking about how we're feeling, or what's going on in our lives. I've been in contact with them via mail, though! I haven't talked to my soulmate, Brittany, though. I never saw her address posted on her Facebook page, so that makes me sad. =[ I sure could use a good laugh, or even just a nice convo with her about anything. Which reminds me....PLL premieres tonight! I swore to her that I would watch it and fill her in on all the juicy details, but alas I cannot. I may just make an entire post dedicated to it, though, that way she can read all about it when she gets out of BMT!!

Anyway, I've had several "Oh Shit!" moments lately. From walking down the Christmas aisle at the store, to just looking at my oldest nephew, I realize how much I'm going to miss everything and everyone. My husband nearly gave me a heart attack yesterday when he informed me he was going to have to do the taxes alone this year. =\ Yeah. NO. I'm praying to have a relatively short Tech School that way I can get back before April 15 (coincidentally my oldest nephew's birthday =]) and file those taxes! My poor husband is having to take on a lot while I'll be gone. I've always handled the bills, and most of them are in my name. I'm the one that calls to get stuff taken care of when a company messes up our bill, or anything like that. I'm the one that pays our property taxes and has our vehicles assessed and then gets our tags renewed. I'm the one that goes grocery shopping and actually makes a list, a budget, and sticks to both. I do not fear that he won't be able to do it. I have complete faith in him. He can do it, without a doubt. But, I just feel like since he has to do everything by himself, he may become overwhelmed. It's a good thing he has his mom and my mom close by to help him with everything. I'm sure my recruiter could also provide him with a considerable amount of advice, since he's done it himself, and has put many married recruits through.

Now, I'm down to picking out jobs and bases. This is the one thing I've been procrastinating on. Which is ridiculous, I know. But, I keep saying, "Oh, I have plenty of time for that!" Well, two weeks away, and still nada. I've enlisted the help of my friend Lee, (see Interview with an Airman, part 2) to sort things out. He's researching a few jobs I wasn't sure of. Bless his heart.

Tomorrow, I get to go to one of the nearby colleges with my recruiter for a career fair! I'm rather excited about it. However, I'm not excited about my 0430 wake up call. I have to be at his office approx. 0630. Yikes! We have to get to the college (roughly an hour or so drive), set up our little booth, and be ready to go at 0800. Craziness. But, I'm happy to do it. I legit have the best recruiter out there, and he's helped me out so much through this process, that this is the least I could do. I plan on making him take a picture with me before I leave. Hahahahaha. That's another reason I'm hoping to have a rather short Tech School. His contract is up next year, and he expects to be gone from this area by July. I graduate BMT the beginning of January, and most of the jobs I'm looking at have a Tech School length of 1-2.5 months (just in class days, so we could probably say 3-4 months to be safe). That would put me arriving back home for RAP in May-ish. Fingers crossed!

Alright, time to call it to a close. Gotta get back to my research on jobs and bases that my husband wouldn't mind. =] Have a lovely Air Force day recruits!

19 October 2012

What's In My BMT Bag?

Hello hello! Today I'm going to try and give a detailed description of what I will be taking with me to BMT. Remember, I have a packing list on this blog, and several of the Facebook groups. That's what I used. Some people think I'm taking too much, but trust me, I'm not. Everything I have, with the exception of maybe 3-4 items, is required. And, it all fits in my super tiny bag, with room to spare. If I get there and they tell me to buy different stuff, or to throw something away, I will live. My feelings won't be hurt over something that trivial, I can assure you. Okay. Now to get down to details!

I've decided to go through and edit this, with what I didn't end up taking. I've made a video on what you should/shouldn't take with you to BMT on YouTube!

•All of this fits in a plain black backpack with no logos from Target. It was $10.

Paperwork:
•I'm bringing this in a small accordion file. I have my SS Card, BC, Marriage License, and copies of my husband's SS Card and BC. I'm also taking a small address book, just in case.

Clothing:
•3 Plain T-shirts, 1 black, 2 dark gray. I purchased these at Academy. They're the BCG brand, in the men's dept for $4.99 each.
•Yoga pants to sleep in until we get our PTU's. I took sweatpants instead, and only slept in them one night.
•One pair of jeans. They're from Gap, obviously lol. They're the Curvy fit, so kind of like a boot cut.
•4 pairs of crew length socks.
•One regular white bra
•8 pairs of underwear. I have two that are Champion brand from Academy, $11.99 a piece. I have these to specifically leave folded in my security drawer. Obviously, I'll wear them a few times so they'll show use. The other 6 pairs are the Gilligan O'Mallet brand from Target. I got these on sale for $6 for one two pack! There are 4 black and 2 cheetah print. I know, cheetah! It's fine. I actually recommend taking all white, if you're going and buying new ones. Some MTI's will want your whole flight to have all white undergarments (including bras), so don't spend a lot on different colored undies, because you may have to end up wearing those terrible granny-panties from the Mini-Mall. They literally come up to your boobs.
•8 sports bras. Two of them are also from Gap, to leave folded in my security drawer. They've been worn before, so that's good. They're nude and white. The others are from KMart. I got them in 2-packs, 3/$18!! I have 1 black, 2 gray, and 3 white.
•3 pairs of black compression shorts. These are from Academy, the BCG brand for $10 a piece.
•One pair of black flip flops for shower shoes. I got these at Old Navy. Just take any color you can find, if you don't have all black. It'll be better than showering in running shoes!
•1 Livestrong bracelet (for those of us shipping on the 6th!) I didn't have time to stop and look for anyone! 
•1 pair of white/gray Asics running shoes (not pictured)
I also wore a black fleece jacket down there. I didn't really need it, during the day because it got really warm. But it was nice to have while flying, and when we had to march at night.

Toiletries (all liquids are under 3 oz):
•3 bottles of Pert Plus 2in1 I seriously didn't need this much. I thought I would. One would've sufficed.
•2 bottles of Dial body wash ^Same.
•1 tube of Sensodyne Pronamel toothpaste
•1 stick Degree deodorant
•2 bottles of Tresemme hairspray (non aerosol) I acutally dumped one out, and filled it with detangler spray, and marked it. I'm VERY happy I did.
•1 bottle Tresemme hair gel
•1 pack of 30 count Qtips
•1 pack face wipes (10 ct)
•1 pack of feminine wipes (45 ct)
•1 4 pack of Chapstick
•8 tampons Didn't take.
•4 pads Didn't take.
•1 rectangular toothbrush holder
•1 full size toothbrush
I also didn't take the razor pictured. I knew I wouldn't be able to use it.

Hair accessories:
•3 mesh buns
•1 package of hair ties
•1 package of bobby pins
•8 hair pins (came with mesh buns)
•1 compact/brush combo
•1 comb Didn't take. My brush was fine.

Make up:
•MAC powder compact
•Avon Smooth Minerals blush (bronze)
•MAC eyeshadow (nude color)
•Maybelline eyeliner (black)
•Covergirl mascara (black)
•1 blush brush (MAC)
•1 eyeshadow brush (MAC)
•1 blue/white stripes make up bag

This should be everything pictured! Just comment with any questions or concerns! =]

18 October 2012

Say What?!

Holy cow! It's been almost a month since I've last posted! My deepest apologies to you all! I've just been crazy busy. Between PT, writing letters to my September Shippers, work, husband, family, everything! But, I finally quit my job! It's been weird to just sit around and not do anything really.

I only have 18 days left as a civilian! Whaaaaaaat?! It's so surreal. My last post was 42 days out, now I'm almost at 2 weeks. Holy moly. I'm completely packed, though! I'll post a picture, maybe even a video if I can get it to upload, later. I'm so pumped, but the nerves are setting in! My PT has improved tremendously. I can now run for a little over 20 minutes at a time. Andddddd 15 push ups! Woot! It's weird that 2 months ago, I couldn't do any. But, it goes to show that hard work pays off!

I had my last DEP call today. It wasn't our usual PT session. We had to meet the Flight Chief today! He just wanted to answer any questions we might have had, and get to know those of us leaving in the next month, and to make sure we're still qualified. Also to remind us of the ramifications if we did anything stupid. Haha! He was a pretty awesome guy. But, he meant business!

I did my background investigation a while ago, now. I haven't heard anything back from them, so I guess everything went well! It was a 2.5 hour long interview! Phew. It wasn't too bad, though. My interviewer guy was pretty cool. He had been in the Air Force a while back, then joined the National Guard, then was an FBI Agent. He was hardcore.

Anyway, I'll stop here for tonight. I assure you, there will be AT LEAST one more post before I'm off to Lackland! Watch out for my picture/video! Good night, all!